Trapped in her own Web

Interupting Something Intimate

Natasha headed back to her room after an eventful dinner. They'd been swapping stories about previous assignments for the benefit of the newbie. The others were still trying to find out what had happened in Budapest. She noticed James was absent and so had set food aside for him. She was in a good mood especially since Fury had contacted them about a mission.

That all disappeared however when she opened her door and saw James standing in the middle of her room, dangling the cuffs off his finger. She clicked the door shut cautiously and turned back to face him.
"Why?" He was scowling and Natasha swallowed nervously.
"How did you find them?"
"That's not the point."
"Did you go through my stuff?" She was bordering on the edge of dangerous. Her eyes flashed.
"That's not a concern right -"
"DID YOU GO THROUGH MY STUFF. ANSWER ME OR I SWEAR JAMES BUCHANAN BARNES I WILL -" her temper exploded and Bucky recoiled away from the angry red head.
"YES. Yes I went through your stuff but only because I'm trying to protect you." He stared her down as she turned cold again. "Why did you do it?" She turned away and made for the door but he grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

A growl rose in his throat as he stared into those green eyes. "Why. Did. You. Do. It." He grit his teeth. She shook her head and pushed him away. "TELL ME." He yelled. He was in winter soldier mode as he stalked towards her, she felt her back hit the wall as all she could do was watch his steel blue eyes blaze furiously. "DAMMIT NATALIA, TELL ME WHY YOU DID IT. WHY?" She flinched as his metal fist punched the wall by her head. Memories of Alexei doing the same rose in her mind and she tried to control the rising panic.

James returned to normal and just rested his head on the wall. His voice was thick with emotion. "I'm sorry Natalia, so sorry. I just want to protect you, they hurt you and I feel like that's on me. I just want to be there for you, to do what I couldn't before." He felt her fingers run through his hair as tears dripped down his chin. He took note of her trembling form and stepped back.

(Warning: possible trigger. Panic attack.)

The moment he stepped away she slid down the wall and hugged her knees. The shaking hadn't stopped and she was obviously seeing something that wasn't there. Tears pooled in her eyes and ran down her cheeks. Her breathing became irregular and she brought her hands up and viciously gripped her hair. She bowed her head and curled in tighter. Bucky recognised the panic attack forming and immediately knelt down besides her, making sure to keep enough space between them. He lay a gentle hand on her shoulder and spoke softly to her like trying to calm down a caged animal.

Sobs wracked her body as she bit down on her fist to stop any sound. She would mutter things like "pathetic," and "weak," whilst desperately trying to stop the flow of tears. James manoeuvred himself behind her and wrapped his arms around her. He gently rocked backwards and forwards.
"You're not weak or pathetic. You're the strongest person I know, but everyone has to break at some point. You've been through some tough shit recently but it's all going to be ok. You don't have to talk to me now but when you're ready I'll listen to you, I promise."
"Can't breathe." She shuddered and he instantly backed up and stopped talking. She felt like the walls were closing in. "James?"
"I'm here." He placed a hand on her shoulder and she gripped it hard, using him as an anchor. Her breathing eased up and she leant against James as he sat next to her.

At some point he helped her up and engulfed her in a hug. At first she stood rigid but then relaxed into it and clutched his shirt. He made soothing sounds as they sat on the edge of the bed and he rubbed her back comfortingly. She drew back and kissed him softly.
"Thank you." She detangled herself from him and walked into the bathroom. He heard the shower running and stripped off into his boxers. He then fell back on the bed and closed his eyes, deep in thought.

A warm something pressed into his side and he looked down to see Natalia in one of his shirts. He couldn't resist teasing her slightly, "who knew the worlds most feared female assassin was a cuddler?"
"And who knew the worlds second most feared assassin was the little spoon?"
"Hey that's not true." She snickered. "1, I am the most feared assassin, get your facts right. And 2, how come in the morning you're always the little spoon?" She sat up and turned to face him.
"Actually, most people don't even know or believe you exist whereas I made a name for myself."
"Isn't that dangerous?" He sat up as well and she quirked an eyebrow.
"Well, I'm a dangerous girl." She looked up at him from beneath her eyelashes.
"That I can believe." He leant forward and kissed her.

She reached behind his head and snapped the tie holding his ponytail. He pulled her flush against him as she tangled her fingers in his hair. All of a sudden she was pushed down on her back and staring up at him as he hovered over her. She smirked and drew his head down to hers and locked her legs around his. She twisted herself up and now she was on top straddling him. She laughed down at him, his dog tags hanging off her neck swinging in the space between them. He reached up a hand to loop through them and tugged her back down. A knock at the door interrupted them.

Sighing Natasha raised her body and tossed her hair over her shoulder. She climbed off of Barnes and huffed irritably as she opened the door. "Hey Steve."
"Hi Nat, I heard shouting is everything ok?"
"Perfectly fine Rogers, you worry too much."
"Mind telling me why you're in Buck's shirt then?"
"That's what the shouting was about, obviously I won and I've kept the shirt I'm sure you'll find Barnes sulking in a corner somewhere. Now if you don't mind I'd really like to get back to bed."
"Of course Nat, sorry for bothering you."
"Goodnight Steve."
"Night Nat. If you see Bucky tell him we've got the debrief with Fury tomorrow."
"Will do." She shut the door in his face and flopped back down on the bed. She couldn't stop the yawn that escaped her.

She felt James's chest vibrate as he chuckled. "I guess no night activities tonight." She slapped him lightly. They lay there for a while. Natasha with her head on James's chest and him playing with her curls. Eventually Natasha broke the silence.
"Do you remember Alexei?" James froze.
"You mean your psycho ex husband?" She nodded. "What about him?"
"He's back."
"The doctor. Dr Shostokov, that was him." She nodded again and that was how she began telling James everything that had happened. By the time she was finished Bucky was understandably angry.

"I'm so sorry Talia." He buried his face in her neck as she gently stroked his hair.
"It's not your fault James."
"I should have known, I should have recognised him." Before he could say anymore she shut him up with a kiss. She looked at him sternly and then snuggled in under the covers. She let out another yawn and he couldn't help but think how cute she looked.
"Let's just sleep ok?" He nodded and when he did eventually drift off, his arm was wrapped tighter around her and his body curled more protectively over her.

A/N So this one is definitely better than the last one in my opinion anyway. LOLL to everyone reading this. (Lots of Loki Love).
Fun Fact: RDJ stole the big letter A from the AoU set and shipped it back to his apartment instead of the studios.
Peter Quill at fault for the big snap? Discuss. :)