Touch till you taste (all the time we've wasted)

It's funny how she has all the time in the world now to savour the things that she hadn't had the chance to experience back before things went to the shittiest way it could have ever been. The government was still at her tail, she knew - hell she knew the consequences along the way, even right after the electric shock from her widow bite hit the Wakandan prince, she knew what's about to happen. To her, for the team she has considered as her family, to Tony.... to Steve - but at least she had an assurance he would be okay. Even if that counted being completely torn away from him, it was okay - because at least she knows that as much as he too was trying to make a run from everything, he was alive. And that was enough to put her to sleep every night, as much as there was longing and the feeling of strange yearning in her part.

Manila, Philippines. It had been almost four months since she had been staying in this country. Of course, it was given to learn a little from their language, adapting to the culture... - it was all part of the plan to fit in and as surprisingly as it may sound, she couldn't deny the feeling of amusement despite the struggles she had along the way. As a matter of fact, she was having the time of her life. She loved the long walks by the bay, the exotic food, the people were hospitable even if she was never engaged to any form of conversation between them ever before. But she sees everything, even through the thick glasses and a cap she often wore to hide the cascades of her red locks everytime she goes out. It wasn't home, but she wouldn't mind staying here for a couple more months or so. It sometimes felt as if she's not making a run from the government, the people behind that she owed. It made it easier to forget that it had been that way for months now and that this was nothing more than a getaway but a vacation. Or so she thought

But then along with it, she would think of Steve and it would feel as if she lost all the progress she made of ever moving on. Too much emotions clouded her brain, good and bad. As much as she terribly missed him, the warmth of his hand covering hers, the soft pressure of his fingertips as he pulled a loose strand of hair behind her ear, the genuine smile and the longing gaze - she also couldn't help the anguish sentiment that came along with it. Maybe more than distress, but the surprisingly sense of jealousy that formed in her as she talked to Clint on the phone two months ago.

"I got word on what you did." Clint spoke, Natasha heaved a sigh as she squirmed on her seat, her knuckles tightening its grip on the phone. She missed his voice and it dreaded the fact that this was the closest thing she could ever get to Clint and his family.

"Nat, where are you?" He asked. There was impatience in his tone as he said it. He was worried, hell he should know she too was worried of herself and what's about to happen now that a hundred and seventeen nations will definitely be on the lookout for her too. "Come home with us. It's not as safe as you think it'll be, but at least we've got each other."

Silence filled the air as the thought of home lingered for awhile in her. It was enticing and maybe it's even more than that, which is why it made it so difficult to pretend that she was alright, even if she was fully capable of being alone - she needed her family. Natasha frowned to herself, knowing that she would earn a glare from Clint in terms of her would be decision. "How's Laura and the kids?" She asked instead. A defense mechanism in attempt to avoid any form of argument which will then lead to her own anxiety because she just missed her one way shot to finally being reunited with him.

"They're fine, they're with me Nat. Thanks to you of course... you looked out for them while I was away - I couldn't be more grateful than that."

She nodded her head in relief. She found herself smiling for the first time ever after what seemed like weeks of constant worrying and berating herself for not doing so much more. "That's good to know, Clint."