Tony was sitting at his workbench, more holograms and things floating in the air than Natasha could comprehend. He looked tired, dead tired, she knew after the events of the past few months he was probably overworking himself.
After spending more time with the man, Natasha realized that maybe she had been wrong. Not that she would tell anyone else, but most of them seemed to know. Tony was a team player, and he cared, more than he liked to admit. He was probably running himself into the ground trying to save all the agents and their families that he could, something neither she nor Steve had considered. She doesn't like to admit it when she needs help, but she should've called Tony, and it was probably one of her biggest regrets.
Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself for this conversation. She knew this wasn’t going to go well, them using his funds to search for his parents’ murderer was going to break Tony’s heart. No matter how innocent Bucky truly is, which she thinks Tony will understand in due time, it’s still a very difficult situation. As she requested access to his lab from JARVIS, she saw Tony look up at the ceiling, and then look at her through the glass. He mumbled something to JARVIS, and the door opened.
"How can I help you, Agent Romanoff?" Tony asked coldly.
Natasha didn't let the unfamiliarity deter her, but she did feel a little stab at the comment. Obviously, Tony was not taking kindly to her running off on secret missions with Steve.
"Tony, I know you're upset, but I need to talk to you. Can we put our feelings aside for a moment?" At the look on his face, Natasha immediately regretted her choice of words.
Tony scoffed harshly. "I'm sure you'd like that, but not all of us are robots, I can't just turn off my feelings." He spit out. Natasha did flinch at that comment. She knew Tony didn't mean it, but it still wasn't nice to hear. He must've seen the minute flinch because he quickly amended the statement. "Sorry, I didn't mean that Natasha, I know you're not a robot."
"It's fine, you're right. I can't ask you to do that. I'm sorry. And I’m sorry for all this."
Tony looked confused. "All what?"
For all his ego, Tony never knew when someone had treated him badly. "That I didn't reach out to you during the whole DC debacle. I should've asked you to help us."
Tony was looking at her like she had a third head. He slowly reached his hand out and put the back of his hand to her forehead. "Are you feeling okay, Tasha?"
The familiar nickname slipping out, only made Natasha feel worse. She only let a few people in the whole world call her that, they either had the last name Barton, or were Tony Stark. Don't ask her why, but she connected with Tony more than any other Avenger, outside of Clint of course. Tony got it, in his own way. She trusted him, more than she trusted anyone else that wasn't a Barton, or Fury and Hill. It was weird at first of course, because of the whole Rushman thing. However, after they moved past that though, they were a pretty good match. He and Clint got along like a house on fire too, which only made her like the genius more.
"Yes.” She said with a laugh, as she shoved her hand away. “I’ve had a lot of time for self-reflection these past couple months. Unfortunately, I also come bearing bad news." A look of confusion passed across Tony's face. "During one of my last missions with Steve, we came across some confidential information. Has Steve reached out to you about anything?" Natasha figured she knew the answer, but she wanted to believe the best about Steve. She had spent so much of her life believing the worst, she wanted to have faith for once.
"No? Is someone in danger? What do you need?" Tony, always quick to offer his help, didn't even consider that it was about for him.
Natasha let out a sigh, that was not the answer she was looking for. "No, Tony, no one is in danger." At least not yet. "But it does have to do with you, and it should've come from Steve. I thought he would tell you, but he's more of a coward than I thought." Natasha said icily.
Tony looked a little amused. "Captain America did something wrong? Well, what should Spangles have told me?"
"Tony, this is serious, I need you to promise me you won't do anything rash. You need to wait at least a week before doing anything with this information. Do you promise me?" She didn't want Tony to hurt Steve or Bucky, mostly because it would hurt Tony more than anyone else, but also because Bucky was as much of a victim as Tony.
His brows furrowed slightly. "Sure, I promise. For good measure, JARVIS, lock down the suits except for emergency access." Tony said. "Certainly Sir" The AI responded quickly. Natasha was honestly surprised that Tony listened to her, that he still trusted her after everything.
"Tony, your parents didn't die in a car accident. They were assassinated, by HYDRA, the orders were carried out by the Winter Soldier." Natasha said gently.
His face crumpled slightly. "Wow, that's, wow. I don't really know what to do with that?" He rubbed his eyes with his palms, most likely trying to hide his tears, but Natasha didn't comment on it. "Honestly I prefer hearing that from you, why do you think Steve should've told me?"
"Tony, the Winter Soldier is Bucky Barnes."
Tony froze. “I’m sorry run that past me again? Did you just say that the Winter Soldier, the famous HYDRA assassin, is James Buchanan Barnes? Best friend of Steve Rogers, sniper of the Howling Commandos, killed in action James Barnes?” He questioned, voice rising with each sentence.
Natasha stepped closer and laid her hand on Tony’s arm. She sometimes struggled with physical affection, but knowing Tony, that’s what he needed. “Yes, that Bucky Barnes.”
“Natasha, tell me that’s not what all these missions, funded by me, have been for. Tell me Steve Rogers, and you, have not been using my money, and resources, to find my parent’s murderer!” Tony’s voice cracked halfway through the sentence, and he pulled his arm away from her.
The look he was giving her was heartbreaking. He was furious, but he was betrayed. She hated that she had a part in why he felt this way.
(Not that she’d ever admit it to anyone, but she’s pretty sure she started crying)
“I’m sorry. I- I didn’t want to be the one who told you. I was being selfish. I thought Steve should, it’s his friend, and his missions. Steve may have been being a coward, but I was one too. I’m sorry Tony, I can’t go back in time, but I can do the right thing now. If you’ll let me?” Natasha had very rarely felt this desperate in her life, but she only has so many friends, and to lose one like this? No, she couldn’t let that happen.
Tony looked devastated. “I can’t keep doing this with you Natasha. I can’t keep getting close to you, and then you betray me. This is it, third times the charm and all that. I’m willing to let this go, since you’re telling me now, but this is your last chance. Do we understand each other?” Sometimes, his heart was bigger than his brain. Natasha knew she didn't deserve this, but she also knew that she wouldn't let him down.
“I know, and I don’t plan on pulling something like this again. I’ll only keep looking for the Winter Soldier when, or if, you’re ready. I thought I could clear the red in my ledger by doing missions with Steve, but he doesn’t get it. You get it Tony, more than most others, you want to make up for your past too. I want to do the right thing, and I think you’re the one who can help me do that.” Natasha said, letting all the masks fall away.
Tony needed Natasha, not the Black Widow. To be honest, Natasha needed Tony just as much.
Tony looked back at his workbench. “Okay.” He said quietly. “Please don’t make me regret this.”
“I won’t, I promise.”