Chapter 48
Natasha - and she knew that Tony too - didn't enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at all, because she was constantly alert and waiting for someone to break in and destroy her best friend's day. But nothing happened, which was perhaps worse on the one hand, because that's how they would have attacked already behind them. She knew a restless night was ahead of her, and she hoped Bruce wouldn't notice. But her Bruce was much more receptive than she thought, and he could tell his girlfriend's inner mood very well.
"Are you mad at me for what I told you and Barnes?" he asked her as he entered the room and watched her stand by the window for a moment. She didn't react to him at all, so he figured she might be mad at him. He felt his stomach twitch. When she's upset, doesn't that mean he hit the nail on the head? That she really had something to do with James, and she couldn't keep it a secret? On the one hand, he felt anger awakening in him again, but at the same time, he felt a little guilty, because he seemed not to trust her. He trusted her, of course. But still sometimes - and especially at such moments - doubts gnawed at him. He wasn't like her. Bucky was. And Natasha was beautiful. No wonder men looked after her. She could choose any of them instead of him.
Natasha turned her head a little reluctantly away from the window. It was thick dark outside, she didn't see anyone. Yet she believed — or rather hoped — that she could have known over the years of dirty work if anyone approached. But now Bruce was here. She looked at him, standing helplessly there, and apparently didn't know if he could say anything else, which could make the situation worse.
"No?" she answered the question. He sighed aloud and took off his jacket, which he threw too carefully over the chair and smoothed it so he wouldn't have to look at her and gain some time. "I'm not upset. I just... was it necessary?"
He looked at her in disbelief and tried to speak calmly, evenly. "Do you know what it looked like, Nat? How was I supposed to interpret it? You both disappear for a while, and when you come back, you don't tell me the whole truth. You know, I've always been a little jealous of James... So don't be mad at me, but I really couldn't react another way. I'm jealous because I see he likes you. I'm jealous because I know there may be a risk - the risk of losing you," he explained softly, looking away. Whenever he revealed his feelings to her, he felt strangely vulnerable.
Natasha sighed, but a small smile appeared on her face. She walked slowly toward him and gently placed her hands on his shoulders. "Brucie," she said softly, "I'm sorry. I didn't think you could... interpret it differently. I understand you're not completely fond of Bucky, but at that moment... I needed him," she said almost apologetically. "He was the only one who could handle... any complications." Bruce felt his stomach tighten. He still didn't like it. "He respects you. And he would never enter into our relationship, nor would he try to break us up. I trust him."
"Then at least tell me what happened," he asked her. "Why would he be the only one who could handle any complications? What are you talking about?"
She sighed. She didn't want to discuss it, not today, not with him, not here. It was enough for Tony, Rhodey, Peter, and James to be restless. She didn't want to cause Bruce any more worries. They wanted to wait for some development, and then, preferably, to convene a team after the wedding. "Are you sure you really want to know?" she asked in a firm voice. He nodded, not a single muscle moving in his face. "All right," she finally agreed, forcing him to sit on the bed. Then she sat down next to him and started talking, "Remember how Rhodey's phone rang? They called him to tell him that someone had come to the wedding who might want to hurt us. And then... Peter disappeared. There was no time for any explanation, I had to go for it. And I needed Bucky with me. Not only because of his abilities, but also because he would approach it all without emotion and not move an eyebrow if something serious happened. I was sure something would happen. But it didn't happen. Peter was there alone. Someone kidnapped him and then just disappeared. And that worries me."
Bruce was silent for a moment, working on everything she told him. "So we naively thought it was over. But it's not over. There is still someone who has been too patient in recent months and has now finally attacked. Of course. Tony and Pepper's wedding, they really couldn't have chosen a better day. My God." He put his face in his hands. "So what do we do now?"
"We will wait," she admitted reluctantly. "And not to lose sight of Peter."
•••
"It was beautiful," Pepper said as she sat on the bed, watching with a smile her wedding dress, which she had removed a few hours ago. Tony came out of the bathroom and smiled at her.
"It really was. It was beautiful, but the most beautiful was the bride. I was almost jealous when I saw everyone looking at you. Now they can only envy my most beautiful wife," he blinked at her and sat down next to her, tilting his head toward her as if begging for a kiss. She laughed and kissed him. How could she resist?
"Are you sure everyone? Bruce, too?" She laughed, and Tony with her.
"Well, the only one probably wasn't. He was still looking at Natasha. He hadn't seen her in a dress in a long time, so I'm not surprised he was staring like that," Tony joked and took her hand. "Wow. Who would have thought that that wedding ring would suit you even more than an engagement ring?"
"You're crazy," Pepper shook her head amusedly, unable to stop laughing.
"I am, but crazy about you, Mrs. Stark," Tony whispered, pulling her into his arms. At last, they were alone and in the peace and quiet of their room. At first, Tony thought he wouldn't enjoy tonight to worry, but the opposite was true. With Pepper in his arms, he forgot everything and everyone. Now there were only the two of them.