|Towards the Endgame|

•Chapter 136• Kids Are Trouble

Natasha watched the door like a snake glaring at a possible victim to sink its poisonous teeth in. She should have said something, now Y/n won't even open the door. She knocked again. Harley and Peter were with her; she was not alone and isolated. "Y/n, I want to talk to you, honey." She said. Tony was preparing downstairs. Natasha wants to talk to her before they leave. At the very least, have the door slammed in her face. That girl must be furious. Natasha needs to remind herself that she is still a child and she has every right to be angry. "Please, Y/n," Natasha called out again. Every time she tried, she hoped for some kind of response, even if it were only a squeak of a chair being pushed back. But there was no talking, no movements of chairs or desks, no doors opening, no breeze through the window. A whole load of silence and nothing else. Natasha knocked again softly. If she had been asleep, she would have woken up by now, unless Peter covered his girlfriend's ears and let her sleep peacefully. That seemed a little too easy an explanation to Natasha. As if Y/n would sleep after a confrontation like that. No matter what condition she is in. "Honey, I know you can hear me." Natasha pressed her flat hand against the door, secretly hoping that Y/n was on the other side and perhaps felt that she was there. "I'm sorry, Y/n. I am so sorry." She said through the door. "I know you're probably pissed about what happened earlier with Tony. I know. Shit, Y/n, I am so stupid." Her gut twisted thinking about all the things she could have said. Even if she did not completely disagree with him. Y/n has become more of a danger these days - to herself and those around her. "Can't shut me out forever, you know. No matter how mad you are at me or your dad."

When she heard nothing, Natasha was very close to giving up. Y/n was right; they were drifting apart. Their friendship is not what it used to be. "Y/n, I want you to know I wasn't thinking clearly when it all happened. I would've stepped in if I had a little more time." She said through the door. "Sounds lame, I know. I'm really sorry." She stood there in the hallway, staring at the door. When did it all become so messy? It is one big line of Christmas lights you try to unwind, only for it to get even more tangled than before. Natasha sighed and leaned against the door. "I get it. We can talk later." She said. "Just... just don't get into trouble, alright? I don't want you to get hurt." Still, nothing but silence. "I love you." Natasha turned away from the door and made her way toward the stairs. She looked one last time before she walked down the steps.
Tony was still at his desk typing on his keyboard. When Natasha came down, he barely glanced up at her. "No sign of life?" Natasha shook her head. "She hates me. And I can't blame her." She leaned on one of the other chairs. Tony glanced up from his keyboard. "Don't do that. Don't agree with her when she's behaving like a little brat." Tony told her sternly. He knows his daughter. She needed to be put in her place, and Natasha going soft on her is not what she needs right now. "I don't like shouting at her. I don't want to be angry. But she is just a kid. As much as she wants to be like me or an Avenger, she's not, and like this, she never will be." Tony is harsh on her, but he has let so much slide already. Tony does not enjoy being the bad cop. "I don't want her to hate me. I should have backed her up." Tony glared at the woman. "Even though you think I'm right?" Natasha stayed silent. "That's what I thought. That is why I am her father, and you are her friend." He said to her. "Gather your things. I don't want to put off the drive any longer."

Y/n watched the door sadly from her bed. The boys were quiet, so she could hear what Natasha was saying. It felt more and more like their friendship was splintering. She had discussed this with Natasha months ago – that was just the way it was – but she had hoped that it would have changed by now. She pulled her knees up to her chest and brushed her hand over her legs. The pictures on the wall suddenly became a lot harder to look at. Natasha is not only her friend, but also her aunt in a way, she is family; The Black Widow has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. Natasha is the person she could talk to like a best friend, instead of her mother. "Are you okay, baby?" Peter asked her kindly. Y/n nodded her head. "I want to focus on this, not on Natasha or whatever she and my dad are up to. I have a weird feeling about this girl. I'd rather have this solved than worry about my relationship with my aunt." Pater stood up to sit beside her. He wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder and kissed the top of her head. "We'll keep an eye on the door downstairs when they leave. Why don't you take a nap?" He suggested. She is still fragile. "I don't want to nap," Y/n said to him. "I think you could use a little nap. Just twenty minutes. Tops. For me?" Peter pressed another kiss to her head. Y/n looked sad and tired. Peter would manage a couple of minutes with Harley alone. "I'm not gonna eat your boyfriend, Y/n." Harley chuckled at her. She glared at him. "I would hope not." She snuggled up to Peter next to her. She tried not to think about Natasha or Tony.