The Avengers: The Marvelous Masquerade

Hell's Kitchen

Natasha didn't have many friends at Hogwarts. Or anywhere, really. Her family history had all but ensured that her standing in the Wizarding World was permanently stuck at the lowest rung on the ladder.

It was a surprise, then, to hear a voice calling after her as she trailed behind the crowd of students heading towards the Great Hall for lunch.

"Romanoff!"

She paused, swiveling her head to see Bucky racing towards her. His Gryffindor robes were flapping behind him as he pushed past a pair of Hufflepuffs and slowed to a halt beside of her. She couldn't help but smirk at his disheveled appearance.

"Someone missed their alarm this morning," she mused as he walked alongside her.

"I nearly missed Astronomy," Bucky groaned. "Professor Heimdall just about had my head on a platter." Natasha bit her lip.

"You can skip the chitchat, Barnes." She glanced sideways. "What do you want?" Bucky seemed taken aback by her bluntness, clearing his throat.

"I just... uh... I wanted to see if you were coming to detention tonight?" Natasha narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"Of course I am," she said. "We all are."

"Right," Bucky replied, scratching the back of his neck. Natasha sighed.

"Why are you here?" she asked, stepping aside as they entered the Great Hall.

"What do you mean?" Bucky cocked his head to the side, and Natasha frowned at the piercing look within his eyes.

"All of you have treated me like dirt ever since I stepped foot in this blasted school," she scowled. "You don't get to dismiss that and act like it never happened."

"I didn't -"

"We're not friends, Barnes," Natasha spat. "We're not pals. We're not mates. And you have no right to expect that of me after one night of foolishness and no apology."

Bucky's face hardened. Natasha clenched her hands into fists, refusing to flinch. The air between them seemed to thicken, and Natasha found herself holding her breath.

At last, the boy tightened his jaw and spun on his heels, marching away to join his friends at the Gryffindor table. Natasha watched him go, her muscles relaxing. Shaking her head, she collapsed at the end of the Slytherin table and dived into a plate of roasted chicken and potatoes.

******

There weren't many people with the fortitude to slap Tony Stark. Hardly anyone had dared to even to look at him since the "incident". The boy had taken to marching around the school with a scowl that would have curdled milk if given the opportunity. Even Rhodey had maintained a safe distance between the two of them.

Pepper Potts, however, was not one to let a hearty scowl dim her determination.

And so it happened that when Tony Stark entered the library following his release, he was greeted by a flurry of ginger from the nearest table.

"Tony Stark!"

"Pepper, I -"

Before Tony could finish, Pepper had struck her hand across his cheek. A wave of gasps echoed from the tables nearby. He gulped, letting the sting roll across his face as he met her fierce gaze. Her face was aflame with a mixture of anger and relief.

"Could you be anymore of a moron?" she screeched. Tony flinched, ignoring the stares of curious passerby. "You could have been killed! Or killed someone else!"