Land of Confusion

[NATASHA ROMANOFF]

Things were going from bad to worst. After learning of what Tony said to Feral, Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, decided that it was time she and Steve Rogers had a little talk about what they were going to do concerning the problem at hand, which was the possibility that their own friends and comrades – the Avengers – would hunt them down. Them being on the run have been going on since the events at the Triskellion almost three years prior but not once Natasha thought that she would have to go against her friends. However, it seemed that that was where all this was heading. Already she spoke to T'Challa and he was out of the Secret Avengers. So was Hill and apparently Feral and Kitty as well. Steve and Nat were once again on their own. @spiderman most probably stay with them and @jackdolci as well, but that was of little solace for the redhead ex-SHIELD agent. In a way she wished they didn't, because she believed that they will slow her and Steve down. Still, it was nice that the two youngest members were sticking around... she supposed.

She had to give it to HYDRA, they really had done a superb job of dividing the Alliance, not to mention taking control of the U.N. and the WSC. Pushing the Registration Act, getting what was basically their own SHIELD in that new agency called A.R.M.O.R., and manipulating events in a way that had led them to this... a war between allies. How much of all that was happening was Strucker's and Kasandra's doing and how much was just cheer luck... Nat wasn't sure. But one thing was clear... this was going to get messy in a heartbeat. The most sensible thing to do was for her and Steve to disappear and lay low, but neither her nor the famous Captain America were of the type to run away, so that was that. They will fight... or as Steve always said... they could do this all day. It was going to get bloody, that was plain as day.

She arrived at one of their safehouses and parked her cool new motorcycle. This chat with Steve was long overdue and she was looking forward to it. So many things have been going on and she haven't had a talk with Rogers for a long time. She was aware that him and Sif were... well, she wasn't sure what the hell those two had, but they were close. Perhaps he could convince Sif to be on their side? That would be helpful, considering that they might have to go against Thor and neither Steve or Nat stood a chance against the big blonde dummy. But Sif could. Tony and the others... sure... Steve, Nat, Spiderman and even Jack could handle them, but a big blonde with a hammer was a bit out of their league. If only she could convince Banner to join them... but that jerk was nowhere to be found!

Entering the safehouse, she sighed and prepared herself. This was not going to be fun, them discussing how they will have to fight their old comrades, but whatever. If Tony and the Avengers wanted a fight... they shall have a fight. “Steve? Are you presentable or are you naked? Because if you are, put some clothes on you perv!” She joked, waiting for her comrade. She and Steve had history together, especially ever since the Battle of the Triskellion. Beside Barton, she was very close to Steve... sort of like a brother-sister relationship. “I don't want LADY SIF jealous, thinking I am stealing her man from her... again.” She added, still joking.

STEVE ROGERS

[STEVE ROGERS]

Steve was shirtless wearing only a pair of gray shorts and punched away at a bag. Finding Bucky again only to let him go had brought a whole bag of emotions. As much as he wanted to save his friend and keep him out of HYDRA's control he knew locking him away would be no better than what HYDRA did. His friend deserved to live even if he never remembered. Even if he never saw Bucky again. He had gone through too much and Bucky didn't play on his guilt either. He knew he could have but he respected him enough to have a conversation with him. And being in the middle of an argument with Bucky and Sif had been awkward as well.

And then there was the knowledge that Sif was siding with Thor which meant their relationship was likely doomed before it started. He couldn't ask Sif to choose between her duty and her heart. He knew if he asked she'd join him but then she'd be likely branded a traitor to Asgard for betraying Thor and hunted like the rest of them. At least if she stayed with Thor if things got heated she could always return to Asgard and be safe there. He wanted her safe and happy and clearly it wasn't with him. Perhaps he would just keep missing his chances or they'd be taken away from him. He slammed his fist into the punching bag again as the rope broke as it fell to the ground. Steve sighed grabbing a towel and drying himself off. He heard a familiar as he slipped on a white T-shirt and grabbed a water bottle heading towards his old friend. It wasn't long before he found her and gave her a hug.

"Natasha! It's good to see you again." asked Steve.

He let go of her and smiled glad to see her. He hadn't seen her since he'd let Bucky go and he doubted she was happy about that. But he knew they'd never completely agree on everything and he was ok with that.

"So what brings you here? The accords? Hydra?" asked Steve.

NATASHA ROMANOFF

[NATASHA ROMANOFF]

"Natasha! It's good to see you again."

The Black Widow smiled as she walked to the big man and returned his hug. Many things had changed since the days of the forming of the Avengers, but there was one thing that never changed and that was that Steve Rogers was always a boy scout. But she was fine with that. Rogers has always been the heart and soul of the team and although his experience and his courage could not be denied, there was also a sort of good and naive quality about him that was always refreshing. Clint and Natasha has always lived in the shadows, Tony was always fighting his own demons, the same as Banner and Thor was still a fish out of water when he was away from Asgard, but Steve never changed his ideals and principle and in a way he was the glue that held the Avengers together. That, however, changed when Insight and the Battle of the Triskellion happened.

She was aware that Rogers let Barnes go, but she was not angry at him for that. After all, Natasha could have killed the brainwashed bastard when she got the chance and didn't, opting instead for bringing the soldier to Steve and let him decide what to do. So he did decide... he let his best friend go. That was that. Would that bring problems for them in the future? Most likely, but Natasha was not going to judge Steve. They were already neck deep in problems as it were, so what was one more to add to the pile? “Indeed. I am afraid to get close to you, your new girlfriend seems like the jealous type.” She joked. She was not sure what was going on between Steve and Sif, but it was plain as day that something was going on. She half expected Sif coming out of Steve's room and start being snarky with Natasha at any time, but apparently Rogers was alone. She also wondered how Thor was taking all of this, although it was not as if Sif and Thor were married or anything. And Thor was a perv... Natasha knew it first hand.

"So what brings you here? The accords? Hydra?"

She scoffed a bit somberly and sat down. “All of the above. I don't know if you have figured it out by now, but we are deep in a pool of shit.” That was an understatement. Not only the U.N. and the WSC had for them, but now there was a very good chance that they would send the Avengers – their friends – against them. If what Feral and T'Challa told her was true – and Natasha had no reason to doubt any of them – the noose was closing around Steve and Natasha and there was only one way to get out of it... and it was going to be bloody. “As I said, we need to talk. If you thought that living as a fugitive for the last three years had been hard, baby you haven't seen nothing yet. It is going to get even worst.” She added and invited him to sit with her. “First thing... you and I... we are alone it seems.”

STEVE ROGERS

[STEVE ROGERS]

Steve grinned hugging her back. She was really the closest thing he had to a sister just like Bucky was the closest he had to a brother. He guessed being an orphan he'd made his own family. He chuckled at her joke and then sighed.

"I don't know how long I'm going to have a girlfriend. She's siding with Thor and the Accords. We're on different sides. We may be over before we really began." said Steve.

He focused on Natasha wanting a good distraction.

"I don't think I'll ever think or say things can get worse. Because I know they can. Brainwashing Bucky. Hydra taking over SHIELD. Then that Ultron mess. And now the Accords. We just can't seem to catch a break." said Steve.

He sighed.

"I figured as much. Thor, Tony, Bruce, Clint, and the others can't side with us or they'll be on the run too. I know if it came down to it some would side with us easily but they'd just be on the run like us. And that's not fair to them either." said Steve.

Steve sighed again.

"Times like this I wish I could get drunk even a little bit. So what's the plan? We going off the radar? Leave New York for a bit?" asked Steve.

He knew she probably had half or most of this planned out. She always seemed to be a few steps ahead and he was always glad to have her in his corner.

"So I guess it's us against the entire world pretty much? Well I guess what they say is true. You die a hero or live long enough to become the villain." said Steve.

NATASHA ROMANOFF