Remembering Romanoff

Chapter 1

     Natasha readjusted her dress as she walked into the dimly lit room with faint music playing in the background. The sound of glasses clinking and poker chips being thrown could be heard in the distance as she walked into the bar hand in hand with her husband, and partner, Steve Rogers. 

     They are currently on an undercover investigation in order to find a major drug-lord in charge of a mass illegal gambling franchise. It had taken them months but they had finally located his whereabouts and were ready to lock him up tonight. 

     Steve and Nat walked up to the bar and Natasha slipped the bartender a hundred dollar bill, "We're here for Gianni." She stated in her fake New York accent. The bartender grabbed the money and didn't say a word.

      "You heard her. Where's Gianni?" Steve demanded much harsher than originally planned. The bartender pointed to a door behind a set of beaded curtains and Steve and Nat walked over to it giving each other reassuring looks.

     As they opened the door the smell of alcohol and weed hit them and they knew they were in the right place. "How do you want to go about doing this?" Nat asked in her normal voice. 

     "I say we play a round or two and catch 'em off guard." Steve explained before giving Nat one last kiss before they entered what was no longer "their domain."

   Surprisingly they were welcomed with open arms and invited to play. They had a drink or two but not too much in order to keep their heads straight. With Steve previously having a gambling addiction, Nat had to keep a close eye on him but he seemed to be fine so far. Steve leaned over and quietly whispered into Nat's ear, "These guys are either absolute idiots, or they are playing us. Just stay alert." Everyone looked at the couple, but kept playing seemingly unbothered. 

   "So," Steve began to ask. "Any run-ins with any cops or anything along those lines."

   "No. Mainly because I can spot them the second I lay my eyes on them."

   "Oh, can you now?" Steve pushed. Nat elbowed him as a warning to stop but Steve just ignored it.

   "Yeah, I can. Which is why you're gonna walk yourself out that door right now and take your lovely lady with you." He turned to Nat, "Not that is hasn't been a pleasure having you here."

   "Alright, that's enough." Steve stood up and pulled out his gun shadowed by Natasha. This was followed by the sound of six guns cocking. Looking around the room Steve knew they were outnumbered but kept his gun up. "Alright we can do this the easy way and you can all turn yourselves over, or we can do it the hard way which ends in all of you laying on the floor and us walking out."

     "Or...we can do this my way. You two walk out or I shoot that gas pipe behind you and I throw this lit cigarette on the ground." He said pulling the cigarette out of his mouth. "Blowing both of you to bits."

     "And taking you and your men out with it." Steve pointed out. All the others looked around at each other and began murmuring to one another. "Looks like they aren't the biggest fans of that idea, huh?"

     "Steve," Nat said slowly never taking her eyes off the targets, "I wanna bring them in as much as you do, but I'd really prefer to leave here alive instead of orphaning Scarlett." 

     Scarlett is Nat and Steve's six year old daughter who was currently at home with a babysitter. The idea of not going home to her was tearing Nat and Steve apart but they wouldn't let it show. The other 5 gamblers were still talking amongst themselves and the second Gianni turned his head to tell them to be quiet, Steve took this opportunity to shoot him. The shot hit him in the stomach and Gianni instantly fell to the floor. All his men stared in shock for a second and Steve and Nat took this time to run. Steve lead her up the stairs as shots were being fired behind them.

     They ran out of the bar and got into Steve's car. They began driving away and as they turned out of the parking lot a shot rang and the sound of glass shattering startled Steve. Multiple more shots rang through the air. Two bullets hit the cars' tires, causing Steve to swerve off the road and hit a tree. Natasha's airbag never deployed causing her to brutally hit her head on the dashboard. Steve, dazed, looked over at Nat and noticed she was unconscious. Trying to stay awake Steve checked her pulse and tried to sit her up but as the sound of sirens echoed and became more distant and muffled, Steve fell unconscious with his last thoughts being about Natasha.