A Spider's Web ll Natasha Romanoff

A New Neighbor

Washington D.C. hasn't been too bad. I stay to myself and I don't leave the small apartment S.H.I.E.L.D has given me. I haven't seen Natasha since the day I left. I was living an almost normal life.

I haven't been on missions. I haven't had to use any weapons. I haven't had to sneak around or pretend to be someone I'm not. It was... refreshing. Things have been getting better than they were.

I now see a counselor here to talk about things and how I feel. It wasn't something I wanted to do, but it was something that I needed to do. I've learned a lot to help me with the mood swings I have.

Meditation is my favorite technique. It was extremely hard to do at first. My mind was always thinking about something and I was never able to silence it, but eventually I was able to. After a point, it just became second nature.

I feel myself coming out of my shell and opening up again. I wouldn't say going back to my old self, but a lot of my personality was shining through. I don't think I would be able to go back to my old self, not that I'd want to.

Natasha has tried to keep in touch. She calls at least three times a week depending if she's on a mission or not. I admit, I avoided her calls for the longest time, but she never stopped. She was always checking on me and how I was doing.

S.H.I.E.L.D. moved their headquarters to Washington D.C. but I have yet to hear from them, if I ever do. It's been months since I was forced to leave and I'm starting to think they forgot about me.

Currently, I was sitting on the couch, trying to catch up on season eight of Supernatural. I was extremely far behind considering I was gone for over nine months. It was almost lunch time, but I was trying to finish episode sixteen "Remember the Titans" before I made it.

"At least these gods and goddesses aren't wearing their mother's drapes." I quoted Tony Stark.

I laughed to myself and turned the TV off and stood up to stretch.

A loud bang came from the hallway and I instantly became alert. I walked over to the door and looked out the peephole, but didn't see anything. My curiosity got the best of me and I slowly opened the door and peeked my head out.

A bunch of boxes and furniture littered the hallway and one of the doors down the hallway were open. I guess someone was moving in. I wasn't even aware that the apartment was for rent. I contemplated whether I should offer my help, but a flash of blonde made me instantly decide.

A smirk made its way onto my face as I walked down the hallway and to the open door. I leaned on the door frame, watching the person move a couch into the living room.

"Need any help, neighbor?" I asked, a smirk still present on my face.

The person turned around and stared at me before a smile made its way onto their face.

"It's been a while, Margot." They said.

"Yes it has. It's good to see you again, Steve." I said, pushing off the doorframe.

Steve walked over to me and pulled me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around him, returning the hug. It was nice to see him - now that I was ready. The hug lasted for a few seconds, before we both pulled away.

"How are you doing?" He asked.

"Better. A lot better now." I said truthfully.

"Good. I'm happy to hear that." He smiled.

"So they moved you to Washington D.C. then I assume." I said.

"Looks like it. Also looks like you were put here too." He commented.

"Guilty." I shrugged.

"Have you been on any missions?" He questioned.

"No." I shook my head. "They gave me a leave of absence and basically told me to work out my issues before I could come back."

"How has that been working out for you?"

"Could be better, but could be worse. I could have been stuck in my room threatening to kill anyone that tried to enter, but I'm not so I take that as a success."

"I would say so." He nodded.

"I was about to get dinner. Do you need any help moving this stuff in? We can go back to my place for food afterwards." I suggested.

"Sure. Let me just get the rest of these boxes in." He said, walking back into the hallway and grabbing a few boxes. I did the same, picking up three large boxes stacked on top of each other.

"Woah, let me help with that." Steve said, taking two of the boxes.

I rolled my eyes saying, "You seem to forget that I am also a super soldier. I can handle a few boxes."

"I know you can take care of yourself. That doesn't mean you have to do it by yourself though." He said.

I didn't respond, but a small smile slid across my face. I put the box I was carrying on the ground beside the couch and helped Steve grab the rest of them.

Once we were finished, I showed him to my apartment and ordered a pizza for us. When I finished ordering, I sat down on the opposite side of the couch from where Steve sat.

"I'm thankful S.H.I.E.L.D. moved you out here. I've missed my partner in crime." I said.

"I missed you too, Margot. It wasn't the same without you." He said. He opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it. He looked hesitant to say what he was thinking.

"Are you really okay?" He asked.

I paused, mulling over the question in my mind.

"I don't think I will ever be okay, but I'm learning to live with what happened." I said.

"What did they do?" He asked, curiously.

"A lot." I said, images flashing across my mind. "Everything HYDRA is known for. Torturing, experimenting, beating. They did too much. You're one of the very few people I trust, Steve. I need to show you something."

I held my hand up in front of me and made it go invisible so that only my shirt sleeve was visible. "They gave me the power of invisibility."

"Wow." He said, staring at the now invisible hand.

"I can make my whole body go invisible, including anything touching me if I want it to. HYDRA did something to me that made me this way."

"Does S.H.I.E.L.D. know?" He asked.

"No and I don't want them to." I said. "Not yet at least."

"Then your secret is safe with me." He promised. "Have you been sleeping lately?"

"That obvious?" I asked, providing the answer he was looking for.

"You seem tired. Exhausted even."

"I have nightmares and I am a very light sleeper. Any noise seems to wake me up. I can't seem to get a decent night's sleep." I answered.

"Maybe you should go jogging with me sometime. It helps clear my head and it may help you." He suggested.

I thought about it for a moment before I nodded. "Yeah, jogging sounds good."