Avengers: Breathe (Avengers: Infinity War Major Spoilers)

Chapter 2

Steve handed Natasha her phone, closed the curtains, then came and sat back down on the chair beside her bed. Natasha unlocked the phone and opened up the contacts.

"There's a hundred reasons he might not answer," she said, as much to herself as to Steve.

"Of course," said Steve.

"A thousand, knowing Matt."

"You can always leave a message. I'm sure he'd call back. Or text him."

"He's not exactly great at replying to text messages," Natasha said, looking at the list of names of the screen. Under M was Maximoff, Wanda. And now Wanda was - Natasha looked at Steve. He was right. Something about this felt wrong. Like they were in one of those tragic Russian plays where everyone's messed up and everyone dies, but at the end the curtain comes down, the audience applauds, and the actors all go out for a drink. Natasha put down the phone, puffed up her pillows, leant back against them, crossed her legs ignoring the twang of pain in her left hip, and picked up the phone again. Steve just sat on the chair like some sort of pained statue. They'd spent the past two years hiding, running, searching. Always searching. Taking down the last of anything that could be used against Bucky. Against her. Using the shadows to make the world a safer place. It felt strange without Sam standing in the corner, leaning against the wall, biting his nails, making comments to make Steve laugh and Natasha roll her eyes, shake her head and smile.

"His provider may be down," Steve said.

"No," Natasha said, "Matt'll be with Verizon or AT&T. Only guys like Clint are with random local providers." She had to believe Clint was out there, organising food and water for his town. Making sure his kids were ok, that all the kids at school had somewhere to go, someone to pick them up. Working with local law enforcement, local council, anyone and everyone who was around. He wouldn't even think that he'd left his phone at home. Or forgot to put it on charge last night, or that it was sitting on silent in his car. Clint would be out there helping. He'd call later. He had to.

Natasha hit 'call'.

For a moment there was nothing, and Natasha's stomach turned. Then somewhere across the world, a phone starting ringing. Once, twice.

Steve closed his eyes.

Three, four rings.

Natasha could feel her heart pounding, threatening to explode out of her chest. Her ribs ached.

Five, six.

"Hi, you've reached the voicemail box of Matthew Murdock. Sorry I can't get to the phone right now, but leave a message and I'll call you back."

Natasha put a hand over her mouth.

"Leave a message," Steve said softly.

Beeep.

Natasha swallowed. "Ah, Matt, it's - it's Natasha. Please call me back. I - I'm ok. Ok. Bye."

Steve opened his eyes.

Natasha locked her phone.

"He'll call back." Steve sounded as though he was as much trying to convince himself of that as he was her, and Natasha felt sick. She looked at the black screen of her phone, willing it to flash to life.

Incoming call: Matthew Murdock

Natasha almost knocked the phone to the floor in surprise as she reach to grab it. "Matt?" she cried.

"Where the hell are you?" came the response.

Natasha laughed and wiped her eyes. She looked at Steve, who nodded, and Natasha realised he could hear every word, but she didn't care. "In Wakanda. I'm safe. I'm ok."