Trapped in her own Web

She Danced to Forget, He Danced to Remember.

It was a couple of weeks before Natasha was up and back on her feet again. Thanks to her advanced healing system, she was discharged from the hospital the morning after she woke. For Fury that meant she was fit enough for the field, however Cap managed to wrangle her a few weeks recovery time which she firmly tried to turn down. It took the whole team just to convince her to stay in the facility and not overdo it on the gym equipment.

In other news, Barnes was adapting quite nicely to life as an avenger. The US government were still looking for him but Fury made a few calls and now he can happily walk free. Since the hospital he hadn't talked to Natasha and she hadn't sought him out. Wanda and Bruce were working together to try and sort out his memory problems.

Most of his memories had returned, certainly the ones before and during the war. Around the 50s things became a little hazy, Bruce thought it was due to him being frozen but he didn't think it was. Eventually he left for Wakanda where the Kings sister Shuri would put him back on ice and further Dr Banners research.

Steve was more than a little disappointed, but the team tried to help him get over that. Romanoff insisted on sparring with him. Her hearing had been off ever since the explosion but she was slowly regaining it. Steve tried to use it to his advantage, but every time he won she would make them go again until she could pin him down. He wasn't the only one experiencing this.

Truth be told, Natasha hated just sitting around. She wanted to get out there and start hunting Alexei. Unfortunately, he came calling all on his own. She was in the gym beating the crap out of the punching back when Steve knocked politely on the door and told her the doctor was here to make a checkup.

She followed him up to the lounge and froze as her eyes took in the man staring back at her. He rose with a pleasant smile and grasped her hand in a firm handshake. "Dr Shostokov. I took care of you whilst you were unconscious." She nodded her head and crossed her arms.
"I don't need a checkup I'm doing just fine."
"I'm sorry but it's hospital protocol. Things have changed recently and you can't go back into the field until I completely clear you. Now I assume you have somewhere more private?"

Natasha curled her lip and stalked off down the hall, well aware he was following her. She opened the door to her bedroom and stood in the middle of the room with her feet planted and hands on her hips. She didn't miss Alexei locking the door.

He strode over to her and took in her posture. His smirk was sly and unsettling as he prowled closer. He ran his hand over the arm where the burn had been and then across her shoulders and down the curve of her waist and hips. She narrowed her eyes at him and attempted to pull away. His grip tightened, definitely leaving bruises and she opened her mouth to call for one of the others.

He brought his lips to hers in a crushing force and held on tighter as she squirmed. She bit down hard on his bottom lip and when he drew away she slapped him across the face, leaving and angry red mark.

He stepped back glowering at her. "You bitch." He made to move forward but Bucky was heard on the other side of the door asking if everything was okay. Alexei continued glaring at her. "You are mine Natalia. You don't belong to the avengers, to your precious James, even to the Hawk. You are mine and you belong to me."
"Go to hell."
"See you there."

He banged open the door and startled a waiting Bucky. Bucky looked between the two and eyed the Dr suspiciously. Natasha was rubbing her side subconsciously whilst the doctor's lip was bleeding. Before he could connect the pieces the Dr was gone.

"Something you want Barnes?" Bucky swallowed nervously, his Adam's apple bobbing. You he thought silently before shaking it away.

Instead he asked, "Do I know him? He seems familiar?" He caught a wince from the red haired beauty but her voice was unwavering and convincing when she said no. "Are you sure, because I recognise him but it's a bit fuzzy.."
"Maybe he treated you in hospital." Natasha's voice sounded flat even to her own ears.