adoration - brutasha

chapter 2 - interrupted

Natasha's POV

"Eighteen Wakandan warriors found dead this morning in a crater crash, sources say the deaths were determined to be caused by brute force, authorities are still looking into the accident."

I sigh and pick up the remote, clicking off the TV and sinking down into the couch, cup of tea in hand.

It's been 16 weeks since the Avengers 'disbanded'. For the first couple weeks after Sokovia I had stayed in the tower, trying to find any trace of Banner, unsuccessfully. I decided to follow the lead of the other avengers, leaving that life behind in exchange for a quiet home in Rhode Island tony had hooked me up with. It was small, a 2 bed 2 bath right on the beach on an island outside Rhode Island with no one else around for miles. Humble, but nice and modern thanks to Stark. I've never been one for the quiet life. Always busy with missions, always on the move. I'm still unsure if it suits me. I run every day, 15 miles around the whole island. I spend hours exercising, it's the only thing that keeps me from going insane. Occasionally I'll get called back to the tower for a mission, but not often. Currently I'm looking for a job so I don't have to keep mooching off the stark fund. Turns out spending years of your life protecting the planet from evil doesn't get you a retirement plan.

I finish my cup of tea and head into the kitchen, rinsing out the cup and putting it back in the cabinet. I run upstairs, throwing out a new pair of underwear and my running shorts, as well as a grey T shirt and a sports bra. I head back downstairs and make my way around the corner and to the laundry room (aka, a closet in my living room that has my washer and dryer in it) I pull two socks out of the dryer pulling them on I then throw on and lace up up my running shoes. I plug in a pair of earbuds and open the door to set off on my second run of the day but before I step out my phone rings from the kitchen counter. I sigh in annoyance and walk back in, flipping it open once I see it's Tony.

"Hey, Tony, hows it hanging?" I say trying to sound not pissed off.

"Long and harry, hard to carry." He said sarcastically. "But that's not why I called." I rolled my eyes and waited for him to continue, sitting down on my island stool with one foot bent underneath me. "Uh-huh." I say in mock annoyance, he laughs when he hears the smile in my voice.

"You been watching the news lately?" He asked me. I pulled my eyebrows together and pursed my lips. "A little bit." I respond. "I heard about the what happened outside Wakanda. It was an isolated incident right?" I questioned, that's what I had assumed.

"See, I don't buy that." Tony began explaining. "This has Hulk written all over it." "What?" I said. "There's no way. Bruce has been missing for over four months Tony."

"Think about it. Bad guy shows up, kills a bunch of good guys, he's gonna take credit for that. What point is there in making a move if no one knows you've made it? But you know who would cause this, and not be able to talk about it?" "Bruce." I breathed out and cursed under my breath.

Stark made a girly noise and clicked his tongue. "I'm telling cap you said a curse word." He said jokingly and I laughed, breaking the tension. I heard someone in the background of the call, and heard Tony dish out yet another snarky remark.

"Is Steve with you?" I asked. There was a pause before Tony responded. "I've decided to get the team back together." He said and this time I was the one hearing the smile in his voice. "Banner would do the same for us." He continued.

"Let me grab my things. I'll be at the facility in 20."

"Twe-" I heard him start before I cut him off by hanging up. I scrolled through my other contacts before hitting one and running back upstairs. I grabbed my half duffle from under the bed and began throwing stuff in it while the phone rang. It picked up just as I was finishing packing.

"Nat?" A tired voice asks. "Why are you calling me at... 5 in the morning?" He groaned and I heard what sounded like blankets shifting and what was most likely Laura's voice, asking who her husband was speaking to.

"Sorry, Clint. Forgot what time it was in Missouri. Listen, the teams all gathering at the tower. Stark needs us. I'll explain more when you get here. Can you bring the quinjet?" I asked and rested the phone against my shoulder and chin as I grabbed the little circle off my dresser and stuck it on my neck, wincing a little as it buried down into my skin. About 2 months ago Tony designed me a nano tech black iron widow suit, all I had to do was tap the circle on my neck 3 times and the nano particles engulfed my body in a thin catsuit. On the back left shoulder there was now a white symbol of a black widow spider. There was a long pause before I heard Laura laughing and Clint groaning again.

"You just nodded, didn't you?" I accused and he laughed.

"Be there in 10."

Just as promised, ten minutes later the quinjet landed on my beach. The sand went everywhere, all in my face, eyes, hair, and clothes. I sputtered and pulled hair out of my mouth, trying to spit out sand. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail with the black hair tie around my wrist, running across the sand and waiting for him to drop the entrance before I walked in. The entrance closed and I took a seat next to Clint.

"Long time no see." He says with a smile before starting the jet back up again.

I feel the pressure push on my chest, pinning me against the seat as we shoot up into the air.

"I will never get used to this." I laugh.