Broken

Chapter 9

Natasha's POV

It's been almost 3 weeks since Barton was a nosy bastard and he hasn't bothered me so far. I know it's petty, but I'm stubborn as hell so he's gonna have to deal with it.

Charlie hasn't really left the room much. In fact, she's only left twice, both times for food when I wasn't around. I know all of the team are curious, but I just don't want her to be introduced to them. If she is, they'll get close. If they get close, she'll want to be a hero too. If she's a hero, she could get hurt. Not to mention the death that haunts this job like a curse. I just can't risk it.

Bucky's been a big help with Charlie. He's so good with her. Too good. Whenever he starts looking out for her, I feel like I should be doing a better job at parenting. I just don't know what to do about it all.

Tony turns the corner and snaps me out of my daydream. "Hey, Nat? You good?"

My head turns sharply to look at him, "hmm? Oh yeah, yeah, I'm fine."

"I know I should never press, that's something I learned never to do with you, but I can't help but feel like something is on your mind." He gives me a knowing look. "Wanna talk about it?"

"Not really."

"You're gonna have to do better than that, sweetheart."

"I'm still salty about what you did."

"And you have every right to be. I was a dick," he sighs and gulps. "I'm- I'm sorry about that. I know it wasn't the right thing to do and I didn't consider the trauma from everything she's been through," I feel him play with the ends of my hair lightly. "But keeping emotions bottled up like this? Take it from a guy who knows, it's not healthy. It doesn't have to be me you talk to, but please don't keep it all to yourself."

"I just, I don't know what to do," I say, emotions finally getting the better of me. "I feel like I'm being a shitty parent, locking her away from everyone, from the world," tears gather in my eyes, threatening to fall.

Tony wraps his arms around me. "Hey, hey, hey. It's okay," he gently rocks me back and forth. "Take it from a guy who knows his shitty parents, you are not one." He strokes my cheek with his thumb as a single tear falls down my face. "It's your choice what you tell the team and what you don't, especially when it concerns your daughter. Maybe, you should take into consideration what she wants to do."

I make eye contact with him, confusion showing through. "What do you mean?"

"Ask Charlie- that is her name, right?" I softly nod in confirmation, "well, have you asked her what she wants to do? Presuming, of course, that she talks to you," I chuckle a bit, hitting his arm playfully as I sniff back the tears.

"Yeah- yeah. Maybe you're right-," the second I say the words I regret them.

"Always am, aren't I?"

"-Don't- let that get to your head," I chuckle lowly and he joins in soon.

"Me? Have an ego? Never!"

"Shut up, Stark," we continue chuckling for a few minutes before I get up to leave and go to my room. "Thanks," he looks up at me, "for the little... pep talk, or whatever," he laughs slightly again.

"Anytime," now, it's my turn to laugh. "No, really. You were pretty much the only thing that grounded me throughout the whole 'palladium' catastrophe. It's the lest I can do."

I make it to the doorway to turn back, "thank you."

"You already said that, sweetheart," he says as he gets up and makes his way to the opposite direction.

"Fuck you."

"Ya know you love me!"