Part 9 - 2015
Apparently, the village was still remote enough that nobody recognised the world saving team when you entered the establishment, only hearing the slight mutter of “Иностранцев” (foreigners) from the bar staff. Natasha smirked, indicating for the rest of you to sit at a table while she went up and spoke to them. Ordering your meals in perfect Russian.
“That’s my fiancée” you beamed, staring dreamily at her. You were still truly in a haze that she’d said yes.
“Are you here for the hauntings?”. The Russian accent snapped you out of your thoughts, and the team all turned to face the waitress bringing drinks.
“We just turned up in the area” Steve explained slowly, “what are the hauntings?”
“A lot of supernatural hunters come to out town” the waitress clarified, lowering her voice to no more than a whisper, “just over 200 years ago, the woods were home to a gruesome massacre”. You raised an eyebrow and Nat slid in next to you. “People think the town had been haunted ever since”
“What happened?” Sam enquired honestly, not noticing you and Natasha.
The waitress leant down further, eyeing the almost empty surroundings. Whether it was to set the tone or because she wasn’t meant to be chatting on shift, you weren’t sure. “There’s more in the museum down the road, but it’s a legend around here. Some brave soldiers were escorting a young girl home through the woods last night. They were attacked, and only the girl survived, armed with a shotgun she shot the creature and ran. But the bodies were found the next morning in a pool of blood, their necks snapped and throats ripped open.”
You tried to control your tone before replying, “oh that’s awful”
“Right? that’s not even the end. But that’s what draws the most people to the town, the case was never solved.”
“There’s more?” Tony asked, and she nodded,
“I have to serve another table first but I can tell you more later”
As soon as she left you let out a sigh, “I think we need to see this museum tomorrow”,
“Oh yeah?” Natasha questioned, fingers playing with your hair.
“Yeah, I want to find out what this creature looks like. I bet it’s hot”
“What are you? A monster fucker?” she smirked, and you heard sighs from some of the others at the table. “I bet the girl is the hot one though”
“That’s paedophilia Tsarevna, that’s far worse than monster fucking”
“When she’s a lot older!” she corrected quickly
“Get a room guys, your whole team is Right. Here.” Rhodey sighed, and you gave him an apologetic smile until he returned to his conversation with Tony and Sam.
“So that really happened?” Wanda asked, “with the soldiers and everything?”
“Well they weren’t protecting me that’s for sure” you grumbled, “Natasha was. But then I shot her.”
“I was a lot more violent back then” Natasha added and you nodded,
“it was quite gruesome babe. I’m pretty sure I threw up when I got home.”
“I know” she sighed, fingers tracing shapes on your palm, “that’s what the basement was locked for, so you wouldn’t see me feeding again”
It was a lightbulb moment for you, the whole story clicking as to why she was so private about her feeding. And it only made you love her more, so you told her.
Eventually the waitress came back with your food, and Sam prompted the rest of the story out of her.
“Oh yes” she beamed, “well some people think the girl murdered those men, but no-one knows, because she was taken too. The creature ambushed her and some friends, shooting her in revenge, then taking her away to kill her slowly.”
You hid your face in the crook of Natasha’s neck, hiding the fact that you were holding back laughter, but Nat knew.
“Supposedly the creature looked like a woman, but with the face of a demon. Red eyes, wrinkles, fangs, horns. And it had strength and speed far beyond any human capabilities.”
“Sounds scary” Natasha interrupted, holding your head still when you started trembling with silent laughter.
“Parents warn their children of the creature. That if they go out at night it will come for them, and they will be found as a dry husk in the morning.”
“That’s the stuff of nightmares” Clint panicked, “now I barely want to go outside”
“We’ll protect you Clint” Natasha guaranteed, while the waitress took the opportunity to offer more drinks to stay through the night. It was a good strategy, and Tony even had to commend her for it before she went back to the bar.
“I can’t believe you shot me Nat, so rude” you said with a fake pout,
“And ambushed you, I can’t be letting my witness walk free can I?”
“I’m guessing… that one, did not happen?” Wanda theorised, eyes narrowing at the two of you.
“Some thief shot me, that’s when Nat took me in so I wouldn’t bleed to death”
“And so began the love story”. Natasha held up a hand shaped like half a heart, and you completed it with your hand, grinning cheesily the whole time.
“Awww”
“You guys are sappy idiots”
A retch.
“Better than whatever monster fucking shit they were talking about earlier”
—————————————————
It was another year before you and Natasha got married, and the Avengers group only grew in that time. Thor was given the date, and made sure he was back from Asgard on time. Tony’s intern, Peter, and T’Challa, the king of Wakanda, had joined during the minor Accords scrap which, thankfully, was quickly resolved. Regardless, they’d become friends during the time, and some of the few who were invited to the event.
You held the wedding in the castle grounds, it seemed the only place that made sense. The area was lit with fairy lights, since the actual ceremony was taking place at night… for obvious reasons.
Clint was, of course, the best man, while Steve walked Natasha up the aisle towards you. Wanda took a dual role of flower girl and bridesmaid, walking in ahead of Maria and Pepper. And Tony was officiating because he had, on a drunken night out, received a license, and so volunteered for the role.
You had to force your mouth shut at the sight of Natasha, blinking tears out of your eyes. It was over 200 years in the making and worth every second, but it was finally happening, and you couldn’t be more glad. Plus she looked stunning, her red hair standing out against the white dress.
“Thank you Clint” you muttered again as the two of you watched Natasha approach. He gave you a reassuring nudge.
“Hey” you said softly, stood across from Natasha.
“Hey yourself”
“You look beautiful”
“So do you my love”
“Shh guys, I’m meant to be talking in this bit” Tony interrupted and you laughed, letting him continue the ceremony.
You were ready to begin eternity with your wife.