The Side Chronicles, III
A/N: I forgot I wrote all these. might finish a few more and post, we’ll see
“The woman is a danger,” the senator pointed out.
“She’s 17,” Tony laughed maniacally, pointing his arm in your direction.
“Meaning she is nearly an adult, and should be treated as one.”
Those on the team who had been sitting forward in their chairs let out a sigh, falling back against them.
“If I recall, she hasn’t done anything illegal,” Natasha said, bringing a rapt attention to her from everyone in the courthouse. You hadn't even had the chance to do anything illegal. The team hadn’t cleared you for your first mission.
“The risk that she will is too high,” another man argued.
“The punishment comes after the crime,” Steve reminded the courthouse.
“Not when you’re in possession of a weapon.”
“She’s a human being,” Nat snapped. “You forget that I was raised in the same place she was, but I actually graduated.”
“And some would say you should be locked up.”
“If you thought I should be locked up, you would have actually done it. But you need us, whether or not you have the balls to admit it. You rely on us, and so far we haven’t let you down. And just like you need us, you’re going to need her,” Natasha finished.
The courtroom fell silent as everyone took in your mentor’s words. No one else could think of anything to say after that, and it was becoming clear that no one would win an argument with the Black Widow, both because she was right and because she was too quick-witted.
The man leading the hearing dismissed everyone, threatening a potential reconvene in a few weeks after you completed your first mission. You were ushered from the room, anxiety consuming you, though you let a neutral expression mask it. Steve’s hand remained on your shoulder as you followed Nat through the sea of reporters.
The car ride was filled with the team angrily conversing over what had happened, and by the time you’d gotten back to the compound, you were exhausted, overwhelmed, and emotionally spent. You disappeared into your room to take a nap, with hardly a word to anyone.
No one went after you, knowing you needed space. Natasha went straight to fix herself a strong drink, Steve silently joining her ten minutes later.
“I’ve never seen you like that,” Steve observed.
“They weren’t being fair,” Nat answered simply, giving a shrug of her shoulders.
“They weren’t fair to Wanda either years ago.”
“No, they weren’t,” she agreed.
“Nat, what I’m trying to say is-”
“I know what you’re trying to say, Steve. I’m her mentor and teammate, isn’t it my job to protect her?”
“Yeah, but there’s also no shame in admitting you care about her.”
Natasha shook her head lightly, an expression on her face that conveyed her disbelief in herself. “I was raised to not care about anything.”
“But we both know you do care about things, Nat.”
He left it at that, leaving her alone as she stared out into the darkness of the night.
“Shit,” Natasha swore under her breath. This road she was going down was going to prove to be a problematic one, she knew it.
And yet, she couldn’t stop herself from feeling protective of you, from caring about you.
