Frozen Web

Chapter 14

Steve was the first down the stairs, and Natasha was so relieved to see his face she almost burst into tears. As it was, the adrenaline had worn off by now, and her legs refused to support her any longer. Steve caught her as she started to crumble, so that she was able to brace herself against him.

"What the hell is going on?" Tony demanded over his shoulder. "Natasha, are you all right?"

"I'm fine," she replied, even as she struggled with the sudden exhaustion overwhelming her. "Go take care of Clint. He's in his workout room."

Tony disappeared, replaced by Thor, who scanned his teammate worriedly. When he was assured she wasn't seriously injured, his look of tender concern was replaced by black fury as he pushed past Steve to stalk towards the freezer. Loki saw him coming and took a long step backwards.

"Cowardly knave!" Thor shouted, slamming a hand against the freezer and almost breaking the window. "You and I will have words, brother."

"Now, Thor," Loki started pleadingly, "let's not be hasty. Agent Romanov is fine—she said so herself. I didn't really…"

"Silence!" Thor bellowed. "This conduct brings shame to the house of Asgard, and it must be rectified."

With that, he whipped the door open, stepped instead, and slammed it behind him. While the team would usually insist on proper justice in the court of law, this time they all agreed not to hear any of the shrieks emanating from the freezer as Thor delivered Loki a thorough thrashing.

When Thor hauled his foster brother back into the main room, most of Loki was either black or blue.

"Please allow me to convey my deepest sorrow over what happened here," Thor said. "Rest assured, he will be severely punished when we return home to Asgard. But first, my brother wishes to apologize as well."

When Loki didn't add anything, Thor gave him a sharp shake. Loki glared daggers at his older brother but finally ground out, "Please forgive me for my actions, Agent Romanov. I am deeply ashamed and regret any pain I caused you."

"Hey, don't worry about it," Natasha replied, ignoring the pain as she shrugged her shoulders carelessly. "You're the one who got your ass kicked by a human—and a female, too. That's got to sting."

Loki trembled with anger but wisely chose not to reply.

"Look who I found," Tony chirped out from behind them. He and Bruce were helping Clint walk out, each supporting him on one side. "A bit worse for wear, but still standing—sorta. He's not going to win any beauty pageants any time soon, though."

"Yeah, well, you should see the other guy," Clint replied, then noticed Loki. "Oh… you have. Geez, Natasha!"

"Some of that was Thor," she said with a smile. "But just a little."

"As much as I regret being the one to end any merciless teasing aimed at a certain sullen frost giant," Tony broke in, "but we really do have to get you kids to a hospital. I mean, bones are supposed to be on the inside, Arrow Man."

"I hope are not disappointed if I don't accompany you," Thor said, "but I prefer to return my brother to Asgard as soon as possible."

Both Natasha and Clint ended up needed to get carried upstairs thanks to their injuries. Steve gently carried Natasha marriage-style up the steps, but Clint refused to be carried in such a way by Tony and was instead slung over his shoulder.

When they reached the top, Thor called down a portal from Heimdal and shot off into the sky, still firmly holding his petulant brother by the arm. Natasha and Clint were loaded into the back of Steve's jeep, where they would have more room to stretch out. It would quicker to drive than to wait for an ambulance. Besides, none of their injuries were life-threatening—just really painful. But in their line of work, they were used to that.

As they started down the road that would lead back into the city, Steve and Bruce were already arguing over the best hospital to visit, which somehow evolved into the merits of nanoscience vs. neuroscience. They were so happily absorbed in their scientific debate that they paid no attention to their precious patients.

Clint put his arm on Natasha's leg. "I saw how royally you destroyed Loki, but are you all right? Really?"

"Yeah," she replied. "I'm more pissed off than anything. I hope Thor thinks up something really good for a punishment. You might not walk for a while, though."

"Eh, I've taken worse," Clint answered. "Remember Cambodia?"

Natasha let out a pained laugh. "Yeah. God, we get into so much trouble when we're together."

"You know you love it," he said with a cheeky grin. "Besides, you've got to admit we make a pretty good team." He paused before pushing on, "I wouldn't mind making it a more regular occurrence."

Natasha glanced at him, scanning his eyes for his meaning. "Are you sure that's not the post battle shock talking?"

"Natasha, when I was strung up in that weight room and waiting to die, the only thing that really panicked me was the thought that I'd wasted my opportunity with you," Clint said, earnestness coloring his voice. "We'd danced so long around our feelings that I was sure I'd blown my one chance at love with the only woman I've really cared about. And I'm not going to make that mistake again."

"There's a reason spies don't have relationships," Natasha replied, a little more sharply than she intended. "Loki came after you to get to me. You almost died because I cared about you. And I have a lot more enemies than just a pissed off demi-god, Clint. I can't put you at risk."

"I don't think you get to make that choice," Clint said. "I'm a big boy. I can take care of myself."

"That's sweet, but do you really think a relationship like this would last? You'd be gone, or I'd be gone, or we'd both be gone. And no matter how much we'd promise to keep things strong, there'd be the trust issues, or and the empty nights, and the constant worrying, and—"

"Natasha," Clint said, taking her face in his hands gently, "just shut up and kiss me."

And for some reason she didn't quite understand, she did.

Clint's lips felt so good against hers, and as she let herself melt into his embrace, she admitted that they just felt right together. This was where she wanted to be. Of course there would be problems. Every relationship has rough spots, even without international assassination plots and galactic space battles. But they'd face it as a team. Together.

Their kiss was broken by Tony's impressed whistle. He had finally noticed their activity in his rear view mirror. "Now THAT'S the way to celebrate a victory. I think we should do it after every fight. I call dibs next time."

"Sorry, Stark, you're not my type," Clint deadpanned.

"Natasha, I'm hurt," Tony said with falsely wounded pride. "I thought you had higher standards than this pretty boy archer."

Natasha only laughed. "I wouldn't trade him for the world."

-The End-