Madripoor, Madripoor (06/04/2009)
Natasha was on holiday. She refused to let anything spoil her good mood. Not the scratchy blanket; not the fact Clint was still in the room; not the civil war threatening to break. Nope. She was on holiday.
Well, it wasn’t technically a holiday. Masha had just been promoted, and if it had been up to Natasha, she would have requested personal time off for the two of them to go somewhere hot, with a beach and swimming. Swimming with Masha would have been amazing.
But the Deputy Director didn’t get off that easily, so the best they could do was somewhere hot, with a beach and a brewing war. The island of Madripoor was divided into two regions; Hightown and Lowtown. Despite Hightown being the more affluent sector, when Masha had been stationed there, she’d always stayed in an apartment in Lowtown. She said it helped her stay down to earth. Remember that she was there to help everyone, not just the top 1%.
“Maria, your apartment is tiny,” called Clint. “Is that an honest-to-god Murphy bed?”
“I was on a government salary,” Masha called back. “I could hardly afford anything better and still manage to feed myself for the week.”
“Is it weird being back?” asked Natasha, looking up at where Masha was sitting squished next to her on the armchair.
“Sort of,” she mused. “Somehow, everything’s different, and yet nothing’s changed.”
“I like the different part,” said Natasha, wrapping an arm around Masha. “Different is good. You and me are different now. But that’s better, I hope.”
“Yeah, definitely.” Masha pressed a kiss to Natasha’s forehead. “It’s a little awkward, you seeing where I used to live. It wasn’t the most glamorous period of my life.”
Natasha looked around. “Maybe not the most beautiful surroundings,” she admitted. “But you ran the entire SHIELD outpost in one of the most volatile countries on the planet. That makes you a superhero in my eyes.”
Masha’s eyes were shiny. “You’re amazing, Tasha. How did I get to have a girlfriend like you?”
“Gross,” sang Clint. He made his way over to the girls, but before he reached them, a shot rang out. Natasha didn’t have time to blink before Maria’s body was slamming into hers, and they were both tumbling across the floor. Nat’s vision was blurry, but she could make out Clint at the window, firing an arrow with a look of angry concentration on his face.
“Masha?” managed Nat, lifting her fingers to see them red and slick, before her woozy head gave in and everything faded.
Nat came to slouched on the uncomfortable leather of the armchair. She glanced around, shaking her head and instantly alert. “Masha? Clint?”
Clint’s voice came from the bedroom. “In here.” Nat hurried to find him, and was horrified when she spotted the once-white bedsheets, now stained a deep red.
“What happened?” Natasha asked, a look of desperation on her face as she sat gently on the bed next to her prone girlfriend. Masha’s face was twisted in pain, her shirt was so caked with blood it was almost dry, and there was a deep bullet wound visible through the cut-away fabric over her left collarbone.
“Sniper,” said Clint. “We think Maria was its intended target, but she moved to push you out of the way. The sniper wasn’t professional, for sure, but we’re lucky she’s only injured and not dead.”
“Oh my god,” whispered Natasha, stroking Masha’s feverish forehead. “Have you called for a med evac?”
“Twenty minutes ago,” sighed Clint despondently. “There’s a shootout outside that’s been going on for half an hour. Could be related, might not be. Med evac can’t get through, and Maria’s lost a lot of blood, Natasha.”
“Tasha?” whispered Masha. “‘M not— it hurts—“
“I know, sweetie,” breathed Nat, brushing Masha’s hair out of her face. “You just have to hold on for me, okay?”
“Can’t—” she moaned, her eyelids fluttering. “Tash…”
“I’m here.” Nat looked at Clint desperately. “Clint, if we don’t get her some medical, she’s going to die.”
“I removed the bullet,” explained Clint. “But I think it’s becoming infected, and there’s not even a first aid kit in this apartment.”
“I told you we shouldn’t have left our bags on the quinjet,” snapped Nat.
“It was only going to be one day!” said Clint defensively. He sighed. “I know. I’m sorry.”
Nat shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut. She opened them, trying to stop the tears falling, and took Masha’s hand. “It’s going to be okay, Masha, I promise,” she whispered. Masha’s eyes were closed, and Nat felt her heart skip a beat, but she was still breathing; irregularly, but constantly.
“I think her lung is damaged, Nat,” Clint breathed. “Damn it, we really need that med team!”
Masha shifted, letting out a groan of pain, her eyes fluttering open. Her normally sparkling blue eyes were pale and wide, and something squeezes in Nat’s chest at seeing her girlfriend in so much pain. “You’re going to be just fine, Masha,” whispered Natasha. Masha’s eyes blinked slowly, and her breathing relaxed slightly.
“I’m okay,” Masha mumbled. “Doesn’t hurt any more.”
“No, no, no,” said Natasha frantically. “Masha, stay with me. Stay with me, Masha. You can’t leave me. You can’t give up on me!” Masha’s breathing was slow and laboured. Clint’s phone rang, and he jumped up, taking the call and pacing into a different room. “Masha,” whispered Nat. “You can’t leave me. Please, Maria. Stay with me. I— I love you.”
Masha’s eyes flicked open for a moment. “Tash,” she breathed. “I…” Her eyes closed and her head rolled backwards.
“Maria!” cried Nat, gently taking her girlfriend’s head in her lap, running her fingers over Masha’s hair. “Masha, you’re okay. Please be okay.”
Clint burst through the door, panting. “Evac is ten minutes out.” He glanced at Maria, a trickle of blood in the corner of her mouth. “Is everything—”
“We are running out of time, Clint,” said Nat, gritting her teeth. “She’s unconscious, but I don’t know how much longer she can hold on.” Natasha turned back to Maria. “You have to fight for me, Masha, please.”
“Romanoff?” Phil’s voice crackled through Clint’s phone. “Give me a sit-rep.”
“Agent down,” reported Natasha, trying to steady her voice. “GSW to the chest, probable damaged lung. We need a med team ASAP.” Her voice cracked. “Please, Phil. I need her to be okay.”
There was a banging on the door. Clint’s head snapped up. “I’ll go see what it is.”
“Nat, she’s going to be okay.” Phil’s voice was concerned, but certain. “We all care about her. We’re going to make sure she’ll be okay. I’ll get on the phone with the base, tell them to ready the med bay. It’s going to be okay.”
Natasha nodded, knowing Phil can’t hear her. “Yeah. She’s going to be okay.”
There was a soft sound from the bed, and Natasha snapped her head up, hurrying over to Masha’s side.
“Masha?”
“Hey, Tash,” whispered Maria.
“Oh thank god,” murmured Natasha, finally allowing tears to spill down her face. “You’re okay. You’re okay.”
“I’m okay,” repeated Maria. “I’m fine. I’ll probably be back on my feet ready to go back in the field in a week.”
“Uh, no,” said Natasha, shaking her head. “Medical won’t clear you for at least two weeks.”
“I’m sure I can convince them.” Maria’s eyes sparkled.
“Don’t.” Natasha’s voice was quiet. “I nearly lost you today. I don’t want to lose you again.”
Maria’s face softened, and she carefully lifted her right hand to take Nat’s in hers. “You won’t lose me. You’re never going to lose me.” She smiled softly. “I’m always going to be here. And, hey. I love you too.”
Nat started. “You heard that?” Her cheeks went red.
“Yeah, I did.” Masha squeezed Natasha’s hand. “I know it was a spur of the moment thing, but I’ve felt like this for a while. I think— I realised it a little while ago. During your op in Nairobi. You were so amazing, I was listening to the feed, and I thought— that’s the woman I love. And it scared me at first. But… I love you. That’s a fact.”
“I love you too,” breathed Natasha. “I love you so much. I can’t believe how lucky I am.”
“That you have such an awesome girlfriend?” asked Maria, eyes glinting. “You said that already.
“No,” said Nat, shaking her head. “I mean yes, but not that specifically. I’m so lucky that you’re alive. And that you love me too.”