Follow You Into The Dark
After crouching behind the rock and keeping her gaze on the motionless aircraft for what felt like an eternity, Natasha watched as the mysterious large spaceship slowly lowered to land on the dry, dark blue-ish ground. She saw some big white letters on both sides, but couldn't read what was written due to the penetrating darkness. A "gate" gradually eased down, until it hit the ground and created a walkable ramp. Natasha could just see two very human figures making their way down the ramp and she caught sight of the sand their steps were kicking up. Her eyes widened and her thoughts started racing. Should she reveal herself? She needed help, that much was clear, but she didn't have any idea who those people were since she couldn't make them out through the darkness. Faintly, she could hear two male voices talking to each other; "She has to be here somewhere, the tracker gave away this location."
"But what if she isn't? I mean, it could just-"
"Shut up, starboy, it's just logical. And now search."
The pace of Natasha's heart quickened instantly and she was convinced that this wasn't real. This had to be a hallucination, right? Her body and mind were so weary that they had just come up with comfort scenarios. But.. it seemed real. Their voices.. on a desperate impulse, she jumped out of her cover –which she instantly regretted when her leg felt like it was being stabbed all over again. Walking wasn't really one of her skills at the moment, but neither was raising her voice. After a few attempts ending up in hoarse whispers, she finally managed to get that one word out clearly. "Tony!" Immediately, the man she had just called for turned around, startled out of his mind. A second man followed the movement, and Natasha felt a deep relief as she saw the confirmation for what she had suspected; it was Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. With surprise displaying in their eyes, the men rushed over to Natasha and where she was still sitting on the ground.
They knelt down at her side, eyeing the way she painfully held herself upright. Steve's gentle voice rang through the silence.
"Are you okay, Nat?"
"Honestly, Rogers? That's the dumbest question you could've asked right now."
Tony let out a short chuckle, glad to see that Natasha's humor and sarcasm was still intact. Only now Natasha started to notice their outfits; the same white special suits the entire team had been wearing on their time travel missions. Tony's black hair was messy, probably from the man running his hand through it a hundred times. While Steve looked more neat, he couldn't hide his concern either.
"How the hell did you guys even find me?" Natasha asked, masking a pained grunt as Tony prodded at her injured thigh.
"Your tracker still gave an active signal.. so we figured you couldn't have kicked the bucket and came here," the billionaire murmured, still assessing Natasha's leg. "This needs medical attention, Nat."
"Oh yeah, what great advice on a planet where nothing and no one lives," the Russian bit back, but her tone lacked any real heat.
Steve shifted a bit closer and eyed Natasha, his toes nervously tapping against the ground while thinking. "We're here with a new kind of Quinjet, can travel through space. We'll get you on there and get back home."
Though they soon found out that was easier said than done. Natasha couldn't walk at all anymore. The strain from her exploring stroll earlier had already taken too much of a toll on her leg. So Tony ended up carrying Natasha bride-style, but of course not without a comment from the redhead.
"This is the most fucking humiliating thing ever. If you tell anyone about this, I will stab you." Natasha said, trying to sound tough and fierce, which didn't quite work. She was exhausted and just wanted to get back home, see Wanda again and fall asleep in her arms.
She was pulled out of her thoughts as Tony set her down on one of the comfortable leather benches and then wandered off to find a first aid kit while Steve handed her a bottle of water. Natasha felt like her whole world had just repaired itself; water was the greatest thing she could get right now. When Tony returned with a first aid kit, Natasha had finished the bottle, and he started to cut Natasha's suit open on the spots necessary. "So eager to see me bare, huh?" Tony let out an amused chuckle in response to Natasha's sarcastic but tired words, while starting to disinfect the deep gash on the Russian's thigh.
"Fuck, that hurts, you idiot.."
"Shut up, I'm treating your wounds here."
Natasha let out a scoff and wordlessly let her head loll to the side, staring at the metal wall of the Quinjet. Looking around, she saw that the cockpit had an open design, just like in the former models. Everything was kept in a grey-ish tone, including the benches and walls. While Natasha preferred plain colors over designs which looked like a vomited bunch of colors, the interior of the Jet really wasn't mentally supporting. There was a corner with all sorts of medical and nourishing supplies, and what seemed to be a bathroom to her right. With a sigh, her gaze fixed on the plain ceiling. She didn't know how this happened, and deep inside herself, she still hadn't fully realized it. All she could make out was that deep feeling of gratitude, a huge relief to finally be with the people she loved most again; sure, the billionaire was going on her nerves on a daily basis, but he was also one of her closest friends. And while Steve was way more laid-back and not so obnoxious, she was also glad to see him again. But what about the rest?
"Hey, guys.."
"Hm?"
"What about the others? Are they.. I just mean.. still standing?" Natasha's voice was a lot quieter now, lacking the usual sarcasm and bite behind it.
"Hey, no worries. They're all okay. Physically, at least. Who of us is okay mentally?" Tony laughed at his own comment before finally finishing wrapping Natasha's leg, who let out a sigh of relief.
"Alright, I'm ready to get out of here. Really not a great vacation place."
"Oh, you tell me about it, Rogers."
Tony moved to the cockpit and started the auto-fly mechanics while talking to his beloved AI, Jarvis.
"The flight back to Earth's gonna take 'bout thirty hours, guys."
Natasha murmured a low "Oh, great," and fully settled onto the bench, curling up and pulling a blanket Steve had given her over her undercooled body. She was in for a long ride until she could finally see her favorite brunette witch again.