Symptom of Your Touch

Symptom of Your Touch

-

Sleep had come easily for Natasha, for once, and she’d slept for hours after her conversation with Wanda. When she comes to, there’s a groggy moment where she’s unsure of what time, or even day it is, then the events of the last twenty-four hours slip to the forefront of her mind. For a moment she thinks she should just turn back into the blankets, hide away from the world for a few more hours. If she thought she’d get away with not showing up to Tony’s get-together, one of them would come to find her.

Maybe she would make it so she wouldn’t be found. She entertained the thought for a few minutes, glaring thoughtfully at the ceiling above her.

“Ughh.” A groan escapes her as she resigns herself to an evening with what would surely be some drunk avengers. Not that they didn’t deserve to have some fun, blow off steam, and live a little. Sometimes though, she still had a hard time sitting well with this life – this very free, lovable one.

She’d showered before practically throwing herself at the bed earlier that day, so getting ready was a quick affair. She’d chosen a simple black dress – because every woman needed one, right?” She rolls her eyes at the thought. Regardless, she looked good in them. She’d let her hair down, keeping with the straight style as of late.

By the time she makes her way into the common area of the compound, the lights are dimmed, and the music is playing all around, something soft, easily spoken over to allow conversation. She makes a point not to look around the room, doing well not to draw attention to herself from anyone. From her.

“Look who finally joined us.” Clint says to Steve, who’s walking towards the kitchen area – presumably for a refill.

“Bout time.” Steve nods, reaching for a bottleneck that’s sticking out of a bucket of ice.

“What can I say, I require my beauty sleep.” Nat grins already pouring herself a glass of red wine, she intended to take it easy tonight, a drunk Natasha sometimes made the worst choices.

For a short time, Natasha had managed to put the events of the past week to the back of her mind, manages to enjoy the time with her friends.

Thirty-seven minutes is all that passes before the little witch makes her escape from a conversation Tony and Rhodes were having about their suits and makes a beeline for Nat. Who, to her credit stays put, even though she’d had time to avoid the interaction. She watches her cross the room, taking in the casual beauty – she may be keeping her distance, but she couldn’t deny the beauty this woman held so easily. Ripped jeans, a white tee, and that damned red leather jacket looked damn good.

“This is nice.” Is her form of greeting.

Nat nods at the statement. “Mm, it is. Not too often that we’re all together for anything other than a disaster of some kind.”

“I’m glad you’re not avoiding it.”

“You mean you.” Nat says, eyes moving to meet Wanda’s for a moment.

Wanda, though she may have wanted to agree, only smiles at the correction from Nat.

The idea to avoid her had crossed Nat’s mind, but Steve’s suggestion that she act like she could be in a room with Wanda kept her from any inclination she may have to avoidance.

“Can’t hide away forever.” She meets Wanda’s eyes again, as dangerous as that could be. “Something tells me you’d just come find me no matter where I hide.”

“You’re not wrong.”

“I know.” She smiles despite herself. “Nothing’s going to happen here.” She couldn’t tell you which of them she was trying to convince.

“Doesn’t mean I won’t still try.”

No, of course, she wouldn’t. Nat eyes the last bit of wine in her glass, maybe getting a buzz wouldn’t be such a bad idea, may quiet her mind.

“I’ll leave you to enjoy the party, Miss Romanoff.” Nat doesn’t miss the way the younger woman says her last name, drawing it out slightly – enough to cause Nat’s mind to think of all the ways she could make her say her name that way again, and again. Her eyes raise to connect with Wanda’s and there’s a knowing look that greets her. Little witch knew exactly what she’d done.

This was going to be a long night.

She doesn’t bite on the comments from Clint, having watched the interaction between the women. She doesn’t stagnate on the thoughts of Wanda and the way the younger woman had looked at her – the way she wanted her, and just what that could mean.

What she can’t ignore however is the fact that Vision is the person Wanda gravitates to over the next hour, that he is making her laugh in ways Natasha hadn’t heard from the woman before – Not that she’d heard her laugh all that much. She was usually quiet, taking her surroundings. There’s a pang of jealousy she nearly growls at.

Instead, she finishes her second glass of wine.

The two had been close since Sokovia. She couldn’t fault them for that – He had been her savior in a moment that no one else could have been. He’d lifted her from the falling city when she’d had no intent on saving herself. She’d spoken to Nat about it when the spy had not been ready to accept that the witch was somehow now one of them.  Good actions be damned, Nat had been angry about what Wanda had done to her – what Wanda had seen in her mind.

She’d listened though because no one else had been able to get Wanda to talk about that day.

“Glare any harder and he may just combust.”

Nat’s brows furrow, she hadn’t noticed Maria arrive. She looks to the other woman, who for once is not clad in any uniform. Though she was still in what some would call business casual. Nice slacks, a button-up shirt, already rolled up to her elbows.

“I’m not glaring.”

Hill scrunches her nose up, pointing at Nat. “Maybe you should tell your face that? Don’t think it got the memo.” She laughs, holding out a beer to Nat.

“The boys have been meddling enough, you shush.” She takes the beer from her friend, taking a long swig. Being sure to keep her attention on Maria, instead of Vision and Wanda.

“Alright, fair enough.” She shrugs, leaning herself against the countertop beside Nat, who’d perched herself on the edge.

Maria Hill was one of the few true friends Nat had made in this lifetime – one of the first few at Shield she’d allowed herself to trust. Beyond reason at some points, and possibly against all good judgments.  

“I’m glad you’re here, it’s been too long.” Since Sokovia, and the fall out thereafter.

“Was starting to think you lost my number.”

‘You know where to find me.”

“Suppose I could pop in from time to time.” The grin that crosses Maria’s face causes Nat to laugh out loud.

“So, what secret world-saving things are you working on?”

“If I told you would have to die.”

Nat rolls her eyes playfully, “Please, I think we’ve already proven you can’t take me.”

Maria’s face sours. “Cockiness isn’t attractive, Romanoff.”

“Pfft, you think I’m sexy as hell.”

She nods. “Got me there.”

There had been a time Nat had entertained the idea of seducing this woman, of giving in to the attraction – but that had been at a time when she was trying to detangle her old life from the one that she was making with Shield, with people she could trust. Compromising that trust, and the friendship she was building seemed like a deterrent to the path she was already on then.

“Ahh,” Maria starts sounding confused. “I think your little girlfriend may want to kill me.”

“She’s not…” Her words fall short as she looks across the room catching sight of the look Wanda had leveled on Hill.

“If looks could kill.” Maria takes a long drink from her bottle. “I may be resisting the urge to meddle.”

“I’ll kill you myself.”

There’s movement to their left and both women turn to face it. They find Tony standing there, looking thoroughly confused. “Not that she hasn’t annoyed me at one point or another, but why are we killing Agent Hill?”

“She’s annoying.”

He thinks for a moment, eyes squinting to the effect of that. “That tracks.” He nods.

“I actually came over here, to the boring side of the party, to inform you lovely ladies that there’s talk of moving this little get-together to a club.”

“Oh god,” It’s maria who answers him first. “Public outing of drunk Avengers; that’s a PR scandal Pepper will love you for.”

“She loved me, despite… well, me.” Tony grins.

“Or a good way to get attacked.”

Tony levels her with an are-you-kidding-me look. “Please, all of us together insights fear, not attack.”

“That’s a fine line.” Nat adds before jumping as something pokes her cheek. She looks up to see Clint, finger raised, moving in to poke her in the neck this time. “What in the hell are you doing, Barton.”

“Looking for your fun switch – it’s gotta be here somewhere.” He jabs at her shoulder this time but leaves it at that as the group around them laughs at the interaction.

“You’re a dork.”

Steve decides to join in, “We do have lives though, Nat, we should live them.” He flashes a smile, and she knew they wouldn’t give in. Time to switch the attention to someone else.

“Alright, alright.” She grins like the damned Cheshire cat. “You lot of buffoons convince Hill to go, and I’ll join.”

Maria balks. “How am I the deciding factor.”

Tony glowers “Because you’re agent no fun, stick up her ass.” Tony’s brows raise with his smile and Nat knows he’s already drunk a little too much.

“Guess you don’t know me that well.”

Nat notices then that their conversation has gathered the attention of most of the room. The ones that hadn’t joined them in the kitchen at least. Thor is sat, sprawled on the sofa, one arm thrown over the back looking far too amused. Bruce was sitting with Wanda and Vision, the two men looking over with looks she couldn’t read. Then there was Wanda, with fire in her eyes, meeting her gaze. She seems calm on all other fronts, but Nat can read that look. She smiles, offering something to ease her. It isn’t well-received she realizes when the younger woman looks away.

“You should give up now.” Nat pulls herself from being distracted by Wanda, again, to Maria shaking her head as she speaks.

“No, they’re not.” She throws her hands up. “Fine, we’ll go out.” She narrows her eyes, pointing at Nat. “This is your fault, and you’re going to owe me dance.”

“Whatever you want, Hill.”

Though she had been worried about a public appearance as a whole group Nat had soon realized that there wasn’t much to worry about at all. There had been the initial crowd reaction to them arriving, not long after the attention died down enough for them all to have a good time. And what a good time they were having.

An hour in they have scattered thought-out the club, talking or dancing amongst the other patrons. Nat had stayed back for most of it, nursing a couple of drinks, keeping an eye on everyone.

Sam is the next to attempt to get her on the dance floor – she was sure it was becoming a sort of game at this point. Who was she to let the game end? They were having even less luck getting Steve to dance, so she didn’t feel so bad.

“I don’t dance.” She calls out to him. Sober, you don't dance sober. she thinks to herself.

“Bullshit.” Comes a voice from beside her, closer than any stranger would dare get.

“I’m getting you a bell.” She deadpans as she turns to Maria. This was the second time in the same evening Maria had gotten the drop on her.

“You owe me a dance, Black Widow.” She holds her hand out.

“One. One dance.” Nat says taking the offered hand.

“We’ll see.” Maria challenges. She Pulls Natasha from the stool she’d glued herself to earlier that evening. With her free hand, she takes Nat’s half-finished beer from the countertop, downing it.

“Hey.”

“I’ll get you another.”

Nat wasn’t sure either of them needed another drink.

As they pass the couple rows of tables separating the bar from the dance floor Nat catches sight of Wanda above them, leaning on the railing of the balcony overlooking the dance floor.

“Uh uh,” Maria says as they hit the floor. “Get the little witch out of your head and have some damned fun.”

Nat’s about to say something in protest, but Maria cuts off the thought by pulling her in close than they need to be. Okay, so this was happening.

Natasha lets the carefree atmosphere, coupled with the alcohol in her system, wash over her. Her friends were all having a good time, maybe she should as well. Even Clint wasn’t hiding amongst the shadows for the sake of saying he joined the team on a night out. Over Maria’s shoulder, she sees him seated with Vision telling him some story or another.

Maria’s hands on her waist pull her in, and she gives in, wrapping her arms over Hill’s shoulders, moving to the beat of the song playing. She didn’t recognize it, or the next when it started, and she didn’t pull away from her friend. Instead, she moves closer, dropping her forehead to Maria’s shoulder.

The hands on her waist move slowly to her hips, and she doesn’t fight when she’s pulled even closer.

“Remember the last time we danced, just like this?” Nat questions making Hill laugh.

“Oh, yeah. I remember my very, very drunk self kissing you.” She looks just the slightest bit annoyed.

“It was a good kiss.” Nat said with a smirk.

“Care to recreate it?” Maria Hill also doesn’t make the best choices while her inhibitions are lowered.

Nat looks up at her, entertaining the idea.

“Agent Hill, I didn’t take you for the sloppy drunk type.”

 Nat becomes acutely aware of just how much Wanda can’t hide her accent when she was angry. Both women turn to face Wanda, who’s doing nothing to hide the disdain on her face.

Maria’s brow arches. “Excuse me?”

Oh shit. The fog in her mind that Maria had created moments ago clears and she makes to step between them, but Maria’s arm stops her.

“No, she’s got something to say, Nat.” She keeps her hand across Nat, holding her side. A fact that doesn’t go a miss to the little witch.

“Not that I need to justify anything,” Nat says pointedly. “But we were just dancing.”

The younger woman’s brows arch, mouth pulling down slightly. “And had I not interrupted?”

“If you hadn’t interrupted then whatever was about to happen would be none of your concern.” She says matter-of-factly. Like Wanda should have known this already.

Hill, seeing an escalation that hadn’t happened yet takes a few steps back, leaving them to have out whatever was about to happen.

“I think I do have a concern here.” Her hands are flying as she talks, anger radiating out of them, but no magic. So far.

“Why?” Nat tilts her head. “Because of your little crush?” It was a low blow, and the spy regretted it the second the words fell from her lips.

“Screw you, Natasha. For being a coward. For not letting yourself be happy.” The hurt on Wanda’s face shifts to what the older woman can only describe as pity. She’s left on that thought as the other woman leaves her standing there, heading towards the back exit.

She hangs her head for a moment, closing her eyes in an attempt to reset her brain.

“Just go after her, Nat.” Maria nudges her forward. “That’s no way to leave it.”

“Why do I need to fix it?”

“Because you’re you, and you care, and as much as I’d like you to stay here with me – you want to be out there.”

She didn’t have the mental capacity to process that Maria had basically just told her, in a roundabout way, that choosing her was an option. Can of worms, nope. Not now. Instead, she presses a kiss to Maria’s cheek “Thank you.” she takes off, trailing after Wanda with quick steps, slipping through the crowd with ease.

She should have stayed in bed.

“You should go back inside.” She can’t see anyone but knows Wanda is just outside of view. Hiding in the shadows the light by the back door can’t reach. She stays put but looks to the darkness where Wanda was stood.

“Would you rather I be inside with Maria?”

“She’s clearly what you want, so go back inside.” Her accent does nothing to hide the weaver in her voice, and Nat’s stomach drops, she’d made her cry. Good going, you idiot.

“Nat.” She’s a bit louder now. “I’m serious. I don’t want you out here.”

“Too bad!” Nat sighs, gently giving in. “You’re right, Wanda, I'm a coward. I can’t face what I feel for you.”

There’s silence and she wonders just how much she’d fucked everything up with Wanda, with Maria, the team dynamic.”

A laugh echoes through the ally and her blood runs cold.

“Big bad Black Widow’s in love with the witch.” A man comes into view, gun pressing into Wanda’s temple, his free arm holding her to him tightly.

Nat’s eyes find the terrified ones of Wanda.

“Make a move and she’s dead.”