BLACK & RED | NATASHA ROMANOFF X READER | MARVEL

25

A surge of panic shoots through me once again once I can switch my train of thought. I know that I can't stick around and wait for the team to come after me.

I need to get out of here, and quickly.

I scan my surroundings, looking for things I can easily grab and pack in a small bag, including all the cash I had. I leave my phone unplugged and running, then quickly change into a hooded sweater with a baseball cap.

I make my way to the nearest window, swinging it open and surveying the drop below. Without a second thought, I fling myself out of the window, landing in a roll on the ground below.

I take a moment to get my bearings, looking around to ensure that no one has seen me. Then, with my mind set on escape, I break into a run, darting down alleyways and through side streets, doing my best to avoid any pursuers.

My heart is racing as I push myself to move faster, putting as much distance between myself and the base as possible. I have no idea where I'm going, but I know that I can't stop, can't slow down. I have to keep running, keep moving.

As I reach the end of the alleyway, I chance a glance behind me. There's no sign of anyone following me, but I know it's only a matter of time before the team and entirety of SHIELD is on my trail.

Out of breath and with trembling hands, I manage to find a public phone in a small town nearby. I pull out a scrap of paper with a number scribbled on it—a contractor I've worked with in the past.

I dial the number, waiting anxiously for the call to connect. When the contractor answers, I quickly explain that I need a ride urgently, and they agree to send a cab to my location.

With the ride taken care of, I book an immediate flight on the most inconspicuous airline I can find, using a cash-only payment method that can't be traced.

As I hang up the phone and wait for the cab to arrive, I feel a mixture of relief and anxiety. I've managed to get some distance between myself and the team, but it's only a matter of time before they start to search for me. But I have no choice. I have to keep moving, keep hiding. It's the only way to stay one step ahead of them, and hopefully, the only way to survive.

As I sit in the cab, a wave of loneliness washes over me. For so long, being part of the team had been like being a part of a family—the only family I'd ever known. And now... now I've torn it all apart with my deception.*

The thought that I may never see any of them again, that I've lost their friendship, their trust—it feels like a heavy weight on my chest.

I take a shaky breath and look out the window, watching the landscape pass by. I guess I'll have to forget about them. I'll get on a plane, find myself a small cabin in Northern Europe, maybe. Or perhaps Spain. It didn't matter. I wasn't going to rot in a severe island prison for the rest of my life. I have to do what I have to do.

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NATASHA ROMANOFF POV:

I storm out of the bedroom, my emotions weighing heavy.

I knew I should have never opened up, never should have exposed myself to another person. Look where it always leads me.

Love is for children.

I should be cursing myself for being so goddamn naive, for letting myself get fooled like that. But deep down, in a part of my heart that I've tried to keep locked away, there's still love for her.

I have to kill that love.

I make my way towards the board room, my steps more determined now. I'm here for a reason, and I'm not leaving until I accomplish it. Fury should be in there, and I know he'll listen to what I have to say.

I spot him is sitting at the head of the table, going over some paperwork as I look into his glass office.

I reach my hand to the door handle and turn it, but I can't bring myself to do it. I stop just short of opening the door, my palm resting on the cool metal of the handle.

Love. It's a stupid, dangerous, and potentially devastating thing. She hurt me. But I can't deny I still love her.

I can't do this to her. I can't send SHIELD on her. I cant turn her into a fugitive.

Another wave of pain washes over me, the memory of the betrayal cutting deep. My eyes narrow, and my hand clenches into a fist. She hurt me. She broke my trust. I have every right to do this.

I stare at the door, my heart and mind waging a war inside me.

But then, something happens. A small flicker of compassion, a stubborn spark of hope, refuses to die. I can't do it. My hand drops from the door handle and I crumple the file. I can't throw her to the wolves, no matter how she hurt me.

I look down at the crumbled file in my hand, the papers crinkled from my grip. I take one last look at Fury's office through the glass, the weight of my decision settling over me. Then, I turn and walk away, heading towards a secluded area outside.

With a steady hand, I start a small fire, using some kindling and twigs I find around me. The flames grow, crackling and popping as they eat away at the dry wood. I take one last look at the crumbled file in my hand, a symbol of my decision, and then I toss it into the flame. The papers catch quickly, the flames eagerly licking at them and reducing them to ash. The fire burns bright, the heat warming my face as I watch the file turn to nothing but black particles.

With a deep breath, I turn away from the fire and start making my way back to the base. The walk feels heavy, my emotions still a tangled mess.

I know where Alana is likely to be, and my footsteps lead me in that direction. I enter Alana's bedroom, bracing myself for the confrontation to come. But to my surprise, she's not here. The room is empty, no sign of her anywhere. I walk further into the room. Her phone was left unplugged. Her drawers were empty.

She was gone.

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Hey guys! I know this chapter was really short and I'm so sorry!

I won't be uploading daily for the next few weeks because I'm going to a camp for a portion of the summer.

Thanks! ❤️