TITLE: There's More Than One Way To Start An Apocalypse (3)
Summary: The Infinity War had happened and Thanos had won. 5 years later the Avengers try one last crazy idea to save everyone they lost, but a mysterious woman from Natasha's past drops in unexpectedly derailing their plans. They soon find out that Thanos was now not the apocalypse they needed to stop.
Fandoms: Avengers, Supernatural
Pairings: Steve Rogers x Reader, Dean Winchester x Reader (previous), Natasha Romanoff x Reader (previous)
Warnings: Angst, The Damn Snap, Mentions of depression and self-loathing, violence, mentions of death, copious amounts of blood, cursing, mentions of past trauma
Natasha woke up alone and disoriented hours later on one of the patient beds. Instinct dictated that she take a defensive stance immediately, but she relaxed when she recognized the plain white walls and the distinct sterile air of the medical bay. She pulled herself up and cursed whoever had knocked her out. It was probably Banner, she thought. He was the only one running around with needles most of the time. She would pay him back for that later.
The walk back to the section they kept the Cradle was quiet and only served to emphasize the clinical vibe from the fluorescent lights in the corridors. She vaguely wondered where the rest of her team was, but mostly she was focused on getting back to your side.
Her heart clenched painfully as she caught sight of you. They had transferred you from the Cradle to a bed when you seemed stable enough to heal on your own. She dragged a chair closer to your side and sat there watching your steady breathing while holding one of your hands carefully avoiding the many IVs.
They had apparently cleaned you up before transferring you because now you didn't look like you went ten rounds bare-fisted with a chainsaw. Only a few blotches of blood on your arms remained along with some flecks along your hairline and ears.
She gently brushed the stray hair away from your face, taking extra care not to touch the oxygen mask strapped to you. she took note of the color and length of your hair now. She smiled knowing that you had always preferred to keep it this way. the color was also returning to your skin. Aside from the many bandages, you looked exactly like how she remembered you.
She held your hand to her lips and closed her eyes as she allowed the relief to wash over her. The tension on her shoulders relaxed and the lines on her forehead smoothened.
" Are you praying, Natasha?"
"Oh my god!" Natasha jumped at the sudden unfamiliar voice. Quick as light she had drawn one of the knives she always kept on her person and pointed it at the threat.
What her eyes met though was a fresh faced boy who looked like he couldn't be much older than Peter. He was sitting up two beds over looking at her with curious eyes and a wide boyish grin. He reminded her of a puppy or an excitable child.
He didn't seem phased at the fact that she had just drawn a knife on him and that she knew at least 70 ways of killing him instantly with it. It was only when she followed his movements and watched as he ripped off several IVs attached to his arm that she recalled who he was. The blonde boy was who brought you here on the brink of death in his arms.
She was slightly embarassed that she overlooked the presence of another person in her vicinity. So much for her world class spy reputation. She blamed Banner and his damn sedative.
"Jack," the boy said as he rubbed the spot the IVs were.
"I'm not god. I'm just," he paused. "Jack."
His smile widened as he slowly approached your bed. A sudden urge to protect you bloomed in Natasha's chest but Jack looked decidedly non- threatening with his Bambi aura. It was confusing as hell to her.
He leaned in closer to examine you with his head tilting to the side and a small furrow on the bridge of his nose as he focused. Satisfied, he turned his head to Natasha and beamed happily at her.
"You have saved her. I am truly grateful, Natasha."
"You know who I am?" she asked resolved to at least getting some answers from this boy disorienting though as he was.
He nodded his head excitedly. "She talks about you all the time! She talks so ..." he paused seemingly trying to think of the right word.
" Fondly," he decided proudly. "She always talks so fondly of you and you would know better than anyone how she gets when she tells her stories. I feel like I've always known you."
A knowing smile crept on her lips at the memory. Yes, you did have a habit of telling vivid stories with the goal to make sure whoever was listening feel like they were reliving it with you. Her heart warmed at the thought of you telling other people about her.
There were questions burning a hole in Natasha's mind. She couldn't help but take advantage of Jack's accommodating nature.
" Are you - ?" she started.
He smiled knowingly. "Like her you mean? Well, yes. I guess you could say..." he paused again trying to find the correct term.
"You could say we're related. Like cousins!"
Her eyebrows raised high and her mouth opened in surprise. This was complete news to her. A thousand other questions sprung from one answer, but she didn't get a chance to ask because Jack suddenly slumped over with both hands gripping his head. He whined and grunted in pain as the high pitched ringing attacked his senses.
"Jack, are you okay?" Natasha asked urgently going around to check on Jack. She remembered that you would have episodes like that too. You always waived it off and said it was just a chronic migraine. She knew it was just an excuse to keep her from worrying and she wondered now if Jack would do the same.
"I'm good. Just a bad headache," he said with a forced smile. You certainly were related, Natasha thought.
"You shouldn't even be standing yet. You came in pretty banged up too," she grabbed his arm and urged him back to bed.
He waived her off and tried to straighten up. "I am completely fine."
He slowly turned back to your unconscious form, his eyes betraying the emotions he felt: gratitude, guilt, and a firey determination. There was a beat of silence where he only stared at you before speaking again.
"We're all completely fine because of her."
Natasha was surprised and grew more confused, but she pushed at the opportunity to find out more. The curiousity getting the better of her.
"Jack, tell me what happened," she swallowed the lump in her throat. She wanted answers but she was scared to know what you had gotten into to end up inches from death and needing 36 vials of super soldier serum to stabilize you.
Jack smiled sheepishly at her. "You'll find out soon enough. Besides, I think your friends are back. I wouldn't want to interrupt."
Natasha tried to not get frustrated at Jack's cryptic words. Whatever she was going to reply got caught in her throat though as her attention shifted toward the sound of the doors swinging open. A voice she thought she would never hear again filtered through.
"Hey, Red," the unmistakable teasing tone of Sam Wilson rang in her ears coupled with his signature smirk.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. This couldn't be real. He vanished with the Snap. As if the universe knew she needed further proof, one by one they started filing into the room quickly crowding the small space.
"It's really us, Nat," Wanda said her eyes filled with tears holding her arms slightly open to invite her friend for a long overdue embrace.
She resisted the urge to rub her eyes for fear that it might dissolve the wonderful illusion in front of her.
She soaked up each face that she had missed terribly for the last 5 years and haunted her dreams all the while she felt her heart break and piece back together simultaneously.
She finally gave in and threw herself onto Wanda's waiting arms staining each other's shirts with tears as they clung to each other tightly. She went from one tearful reunion to another until the fear that this was all just a cruel dream had vanished.
Jack was right. Her friends were back.
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