Broken

Chapter 8

Natasha's POV

I release Charlie from my grip and notice that Bucky disappeared, presumably to the training room. I check my watch and realise that it's almost 1 o'clock in the afternoon. "Hey, chipmunk, you hungry?" I ask Charlie and she nods eagerly. "Anything you want specifically?"

"I don't mind, as long as it's not a year old bread. That shit's nasty," she replies.

"Hey, watch your mouth," I say as sternly as I can without trying to sound too serious. I see her smirk and can't help reciprocating the action. Damn it, this girl has been through so much- no. My girl has been through so much and it's killing me.

I make my way down to the main communal floor and into the kitchen. I'm in my own little world, thinking about all the shit Charlie has been through and how she is so strong. I don't notice Steve coming up behind me as I grab my newly-made sandwiches and some other snacks. "What's on your mind, Romanoff?" I jump around quickly, dropping the sandwiches on the table and pull my knife out of my thigh holster, embarrassed I let my guard down like this. He holds his hands up and makes his way towards me. "Just curious. No need to execute me," he says, slightly smug. I put the knife back and pick up the sandwiches again.

"Mind your damn business, Rogers," I say harshly. I know I shouldn't have, but I don't like people snooping around in my personal life. My life, my concern. Not. Theirs.

I push past him and make my way to the elevator, slightly regretting my actions as I go to step in. But before I am safely incased inside, he grabs my forearm. "Look," he starts, all signs of joking gone, "none of us want to hurt you or the girl. We just want to know what you're hiding. It won't last forever, ya know."

"I said, mind your damn business," I shove his arm off of mine and step into the elevator. This is why I don't let myself get close to anyone. I push them away and they end up hating me.

Steve's POV

I make my way towards the living room where some of the team are watching a movie (one of the very rare times it's sort of quiet around here). "Something's up with Nat," I announce, entering the room. "And I, for one, want to know what it is."

Clint sits up from the position he was lying in and turns his head towards me. "Whatever you do, DO NOT confront her," he emphasises. "When I tried, she was on top of me with a knife to my throat."

"Yeah, well I'm not even gonna question it. Do you know how dangerous that is?" Tony responds. "I mean, Barron's her best friend. If she did that to him she would snap our necks in seconds."

Bucky joins the conversation, "look, guys. Natasha is a private person and we need to respect that. The girl is harmless so long she isn't threatened."

"And how come you know so much?" I ask him, curiosity getting the better of me.

"It doesn't matter how I know-."

"Aww, come on, Buck. You're my beet friend!"

"It's not for me to discuss."

"Buck-."

"I said no!" He gets up and leaves the room, leaving us all looking at each other like confused idiots (which we basically are).

After a few minutes silence, Clint decides to speak up again. "All I'm gonna say, is the girl called Natasha 'Mom' in Russian."

"But she told me she couldn't have children," Bruce says, eyebrows creased in confusion.

"That's what I thought," Clint gets up and leaves the room, heading towards the elevator like Bucky.

"I want to know as much as you guys do," Wanda starts, her Sokovian accent thick and recognisable. "But I trust Natasha, even if she does have secrets. She's always helped us all and has saved our asses dozens of times. The least we can do is respect her privacy."

"What she said," Tony says as he gets up to the elevator (no doubt heading towards the lab).

Banner gets up and awkwardly points after Tony. "I'm- uh. I'm with him," he mutters and hurries our of the room.

I look at Wanda, expecting her to leave too. But to my surprise, she merely falls back into the sofa. "Well, this movie won't watch itself and now I've got an entire bucket of popcorn to myself," she smiles smugly.

"Oh no you don't," I counter, taking a seat next to her and diving my hand into the bucket of popcorn she's holding. "Wait, you guys were watching Princess Diaries?"

"Shush! They're great films, okay?!" I laugh at her response and shake my head, reaching out for more buttery popcorn.