natasha doesn’t run when the battle over the accords is fought and done, gets herself a deal with the united nations (much to ross’s annoyance) and stays in new york city.
she avoids the compound, doesn’t push for anything, but she’s always ready to lend a hand, and, honestly, that’s a lot more than tony can say for any of the other original avengers.
and she’s a lot closer to the friendly neighborhood spider-man than he is, so it’s entirely possible that they come to a sort of agreement (and, no, it’s not a co-parenting situation, no matter what rhodey says).
that’s how natasha ends up here, sitting on the edge of a rooftop and watching peter tie up a few thieves with a slightly proud smile on her face.
when she stands and turns to leave, though, something happens that she didn’t expect:
peter drops down in front of her, sticking his landing perfectly, then takes off his mask. “hey, uh, ms. black widow ma’am,” he says nervously, while she has to fight back a hint of amusement, “can we talk? like, one spider to another?”
she crosses her arms, all business, but nods. “what’s up, parker?”
he hadn’t been expecting that reaction, and it shows in the flash of confusion that appears on his face, but he talks anyways. “i just…have i been doing a good job? like, i’ve called mr. stark and left voicemails and then i’ve talked to happy once or twice, but other than that i haven’t really been getting any answers. i dunno if you’re seeing mr. stark much, but has he said anything about me?”
her stance softens a little, and, well, she might not know the kid that much, but she can’t stop herself from feeling slightly bad. “you’ve been doing a pretty good job, especially for someone as new to this as you are,” she replies, and he brightens up some immediately. “and stark hasn’t said anything specifically about you, but i know he’s proud of your progress. you’re a good kid, parker.”
peter smiles at her, light and happy, and, fuck, natasha’s starting to see why tony has such a weak spot for this kid.
“i really don’t think i could, ms. romanoff.”
she smiles at the earnest look on his face, and doesn’t press it. “i’ll be around if you have any more questions or need any help, alright? i’m not too busy these days.”
he tilts his head slighty, a little confused. “why not? you’re an avenger.” sure, he knows something went down back in berlin, but she’s the black widow, she’s a badass! (maybe more badass than mr. stark. not that peter would ever say that to his face.)
“not really, not now,” she replies, and, no, she’s not sad, shut the fuck up.
she considers him carefully for a moment, turns over possible replies, anything that gives a satisfying answer without revealing too much.
the next time peter and natasha speak, the circumstances are much different, and far from ideal.
natasha’s running late on patrol, and when she catches up to him peter’s up against the brick wall, being pummeled by a man twice his size. he’d clearly put up a fight, but maybe he’d been surprised, or it just wasn’t his night.
she’s dropping down to the ground before she’s even finished taking in the scene, kicking the man in the back of the knee and then shoving him up against the wall, slamming his head on the bricks. he never even gets the chance to fight back, out like a light with a few more blows, and she kicks him in the ribs on his way down to the pavement.
with that, natasha turns her attention back to peter, who gives her a small, bloodstained smile. “thanks, ms. romanoff,” he says weakly, clutching his side, and she’s half sure that something’s broken.
“let’s get you back to my place,” she says. “i’ll patch you up.”
he starts to respond, but then he sways, starts to fall, and natasha catches him quickly, picks him up like he weighs nothing.
“you’re…you’re really strong,” he manages to get out, and she laughs a little bit, heading off down the street and shooting a deadly glare at anyone who questions why a thirty-something redhead is carrying spider-man through queens.
peter wakes up on natasha’s couch.
his second is oh, shit, aunt may is going to kill me.
he sits up quickly, side burning, only to be stopped by a few words from natasha, who’s making coffee in the kitchen. “it’s okay, parker,” she says, not even glancing over at him. “stark covered with your aunt. it’s a saturday, too, you’re fine.”
“oh,” he says, laying back down. “okay.”
“you want something to eat?”
“do you…do you have any lucky charms?”
natasha laughs again, loud and bright in a way that she hasn’t felt in a long, long time. “yes,” she replies. “yes, of course i’ve got lucky charms. i’m not a heathen.”
peter smiles to himself, staring up at the ceiling with a hand resting on his bandaged side. “you’re the best, ms. romanoff.”
“- and then i tossed him into a building!” peter rambles on about the crimefighting he had done in the week natasha had been gone, sneaking out of the country to visit an old friend in wakanda. he looks excited, illustrating his stories with gestures and sound effects, and natasha can’t stop herself from smiling as she listens attentively.
he’s shaping up to be one hell of a hero.
it’s a new feeling, strange, but she thinks she could get used to it.
“i think i reached a new bad guy-catching record!”
yeah, she could definitely get used to it.
natasha arches an eyebrow, leaning against the wall of the office. “don’t try to pretend that you don’t know, stark,” she replies. “i know i’m not the only one who’s keeping an eye on him.”
tony shrugs, half of his attention trained on a design friday’s projecting for him. “he’s doing good. you two seem to be getting along well.”
“you worried i’m going to steal your mentee?”
he laughs, the first real one she’s heard from him in a long time, and, damn, it makes her feel good. “maybe rhodey’s right about the co-parenting.”
natasha doesn’t do parties, or presents, or most celebrations in general, unless if it’s a team function or for a mission or sharon begs her.
but it’s peter’s birthday, and may invited her, so…it’s not like she could say no.
she knocks on the door to the parker apartment, half tempted to turn around and leave, but before she can give in to that temptation, may swings the door open, giving natasha a bright smile.
“hey! come in, come in. peter’s going to be so excited that you came.”
natasha gives may a small smile in return, stepping into the apartment. “thanks for inviting me.”
the party’s small (just natasha, tony, may, happy, ned, mj, and peter), but it’s enough.
natasha thinks that home might feel something like this.
