Kyle Virex
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The Burden of Eternity #16
🕑 Added 2025-10-07 15:30:02 +0000 UTCDisclaimer: All characters involved in this work of fiction are consenting adults. No underage characters have been depicted in any mature setting.
The stone skipped across the dark water—one, two, three, four times before it sank beneath the surface. Harry picked up another one, weighing it in his palm as he stared out at the moonlit lake.
"You know, for someone with your abilities, I expected better technique."
Harry rolled his eyes without turning around. "Don't you have actual spy work to do?"
"This is spy work." Natasha's voice grew closer, her footsteps barely audible on the rocky shore. "I'm gathering intelligence on a person of interest."
"Is that what we're calling it now?"
She came into view, wearing dark jeans and a fitted jacket that somehow managed to look both casual and enticing. Her red hair was loose around her shoulders, catching the moonlight as she approached. "Among other things."
Harry tossed his stone, watching it skip five times.
"Show off," Natasha murmured.
He glanced at her smirking visage, and made his way over to where she was sitting on a large flat rock overlooking the water. As he sat down beside her, leaving a respectful distance between them, his mind drifted back to how they'd ended up here.
xXx
Three weeks earlier
"Mr. Potter, we have a situation that requires your particular expertise."
Harry took another sip of his coffee and turned to Phil Coulson sitting in front of him. The man had asked for a meeting, and he’d seen no reason to decline. Being polite never hurt anyone, after all.
"We've located a HYDRA facility. A significant one." Coulson pulled out a tablet, swiping through images of a concrete compound built into the side of a mountain. "Agent Sitwell provided the intelligence before his... reassignment."
Harry resisted the urge to snort. Reassignment indeed. He leaned forward and studied the images. The facility was extensive, multiple levels deep into the mountain itself. "And you need me because?"
"Because it's heavily fortified, potentially contains weaponized technology we can't fully identify, and frankly, our best analysts give a standard team a thirty percent survival rate." Coulson met his eyes. "You change those odds significantly."
"Who else is going?"
"Agents Romanoff and Barton will lead the operation. Three additional field agents for support. It’s a stealth mission, so having too many agents poses significant risk."
Harry paused at that, recalling his previous interaction with Romanoff. Flirting and seduction coupled with covert operations. She was a capable agent. Barton was no slouch either. Harry doubted even he had a surer aim than the Hawk. He was back from his mission, then. And working with Romanoff.
"When?"
"Seventy-two hours."
xXx
The base had been worse than the briefing suggested.
Harry had taken point on the east wing while Barton and Romanoff directed the other agents through the western section. The plan was simple—disable their communications, secure any prisoners, and plant charges to destroy the facility's weapons cache.
Reality, as usual, had other ideas.
Harry had been at perfect ease, using camouflage and invisibility to his full advantage as he stealthily neutralized the enemies. He had just finished neutralizing another group of HYDRA soldiers when he heard their panic on the comms. The west wing. Something was wrong.
He moved fast, his enhanced speed carrying him through corridors that blurred past. The sound of gunfire grew louder, then stopped abruptly. That silence was worse than the noise.
When he reached them, his eyes went cold.
Natasha and Clint were pinned down in what looked like a research lab, surrounded by at least fifteen HYDRA operatives. But that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was the device in the center of the room—some kind of experimental weapon that was powering up with an ominous hum.
One of the HYDRA scientists stood at its controls, a manic grin on his face. "Director Schmidt sends his regards!"
The weapon fired.
Harry didn't think. He thrust his hand forward, and a shimmering barrier of pure magical energy erupted between the beam and his teammates. The impact was tremendous, like trying to hold back a tidal wave. Harry felt his power of the energy beam and he poured more power into the shield.
"Get down!" he hissed into the comms.
Natasha grabbed Clint, who'd taken a bullet to the shoulder, and pulled him behind an overturned table. The beam continued to hammer against Harry's barrier, and he could feel it getting even stronger. Whatever that weapon was, it wasn't normal technology.
With his free hand, Harry gestured sharply at the HYDRA soldiers who had turned toward him. Five of them suddenly flew backwards, slamming into the walls hard enough to leave dents. The others opened fire on him, but he was already moving, his barrier shifting to deflect the bullets while he closed the distance.
A flick of his fingers, and three more soldiers found their weapons suddenly white-hot, forcing them to drop the guns with screams. Another gesture, and the floor beneath two others became ice, sending them sprawling.
But the scientist was still at the controls, and the weapon was building to another discharge. Harry could see the energy readings climbing on the display panel.
"Shut it down!" Natasha shouted, leaning around cover to fire at the scientist. Her shot went wide as another HYDRA soldier returned fire, forcing her back.
Harry knew he couldn’t attack the weapon head-on. He didn’t know how massive an impact it would have. He quickly made a decision. With a sweep of his arm, he banished all the HYDRA operatives and apparated right in front of the weapon. His hand touched the device, and he let his magic flow into it, seeking the core of its power source.
There.
He found the energy matrix—crude compared to what Tony Stark could build, but dangerous nonetheless—and simply unmade it. It was basically the magical equivalent of cutting every wire simultaneously.
The weapon died with an electrical whine, sparks flying from its casing. The scientist stared in disbelief before he reached for his sidearm.
He never made it. Harry's hand swept up, and the man simply froze in place, every muscle locked.
The groaning HYDRA soldiers slowly got to their feet. Harry waved his hand again and all their weapons floated in the air before exploding into pieces. The sight was enough for them to make the smart choice and surrender.
Harry turned to find Natasha helping Clint to his feet. The archer's face was pale, blood seeping through his tactical vest.
"You good?" Harry asked, moving to Clint's other side.
"Been better." Clint managed a weak grin. "But yeah. Thanks to you."
"We need to move," Natasha said, her voice tight. "There could be more."
Harry nodded, but he could see her hands shaking slightly as she checked Clint's wound. He leaned close and waved his hand, doing the best he could to heal him up.
“The medics will do the rest,” he told her. She nodded, still shaking.
Harry stared at her. He knew how these agents were like, trained killers who could face death without blinking. And these two had a lot of experience under their belts. Still, there was something different about staring down a weapon designed to disintegrate you on a molecular level.
They'd been seconds from death. All of them knew it.
The extraction had been tense but uneventful. The other three agents had secured the prisoners and set the charges. Twenty minutes later, they were airborne in a SHIELD quinjet, watching the facility explode in the distance.
Clint had fallen asleep, sedated by the medical officer. Natasha sat across from Harry, her green eyes fixed on him with an unreadable expression.
"That weapon," she finally said. "What was it?"
"Something that would’ve evaporated you two if it’d hit," Harry replied with a sigh. He’d felt the properties of the energy beam when it had hit his shield.
"But you stopped it."
"I stopped this one. But that doesn’t mean there aren't others."
Natasha was quiet for a long moment, staring at Clint. Try as she might, she couldn't fully mask her concern for him. "Thank you. For what you did back there."
Harry met her gaze calmly. "It's what anyone would do."
"No," she said softly. "It's not."
xXx
Present
Five days after they'd returned from the mission, Harry's phone had rung. He'd expected Coulson. He'd gotten Natasha instead.
"Are you busy tomorrow afternoon?"
Harry had blinked at his phone. "Depends. Why?"
"I thought we could meet. Talk."
"Talk."
"Yes, Harry. It's what people do sometimes. With their mouths. Using words."
Despite himself, he'd smiled. "Where?"
"There's a library on Fifth Avenue. The big one with the stone lions. Two o'clock?"
A library had been the last place he'd expected to meet someone like her. When he'd mentioned as much, Natasha had laughed. "What, you thought I'd suggest a bar? Or maybe a dark alley again?"
"Honestly, yes."
"You don’t know me that well, Potter. See you at two."
That had been the first of many meetings. Every few days, like clockwork, Natasha would call or text with a new location. A coffee shop in Brooklyn. A quiet restaurant in Queens. Once, memorably, a shooting range where she'd proceeded to demonstrate why she was considered one of SHIELD's best marksmen.
Harry had blown her off a couple of times when other matters demanded his attention, but more often than not, he found himself agreeing. He told himself it was curiosity, wanting to understand what SHIELD's agenda was. But if he was honest, it was more than that.
Natasha was interesting. She was sharp, funny in an understated way, and she seemed genuinely interested in hearing his thoughts on various topics. They'd discussed everything from philosophy to the best pizza places in Manhattan. She never pushed for information about his abilities or his past, though he could tell she was filing away every detail he did reveal.
There were downsides, of course. She had a tendency to show up unannounced, which meant Harry had learned to keep his apartment in somewhat presentable condition. And she drank his coffee without asking, claiming that his taste in beans was better than SHIELD's commissary offerings.
Silly complaints, really. If he was being honest with himself, he enjoyed her company. That was the only reason he’d tolerated her frequent meet-ups.
xXx
"You're thinking too loud."
Harry blinked, realizing Natasha had been watching him. "Just reminiscing."
"About?"
"How we got here." He gestured at the lake, the mountain rising behind them. They'd driven up to Bear Mountain earlier that evening, hiking to this secluded spot as the sun set. "This isn't exactly your usual choice of venue."
Natasha stretched, her jacket pulling tight across her shoulders. The shirt stretched rather deliciously against her considerable bust, though Harry tried not to let his eyes wander.
"I thought you might appreciate something different. Besides, the view is better than a coffee shop."
"Can't argue with that." Harry muttered as he levitated another stone before banishing it across the lake. Natasha rolled her eyes at the display, making him smirk.
"So,” he began. “You want to tell me why you've been bothering me for the past three weeks?"
She laughed. "Bothering you? That's what you're calling it?"
"What would you call it?"
"Building rapport." She turned to face him more fully. "We're going to work together in the future. On big threats. Seemed like a good idea to get to know each other."
"Uh-huh." Harry banished another stone. It skipped all the way across the lake surface until it vanished from sight. "I didn't buy that the first time you said it, and I don't buy it now either."
"No?" Her lips curved. "Then what do you think my game is?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out."
"Maybe I don't have a game."
"You're a SHIELD agent," Harry said flatly. "You people have secrets that have secrets."
Natasha's expression shifted, the playful mask falling away to reveal something more genuine underneath. She was quiet for a moment, seeming to consider her words carefully.
"You want the truth?" she finally said.
"That would be refreshing."
"I find you interesting."
Harry frowned. "Interesting."
"Yes."
"I'm not some exotic object or a rare species to study, Natasha."
"Aren't you?" She shifted closer, her voice taking on a more thoughtful tone. "You've got these abilities that nobody can fully explain. You exposed HYDRA agents operating in SHIELD’s highest levels. You can do things that shouldn't be possible." She paused, chewing on her bottom lip for a moment before saying softly, "And you saved my life. And Clint's."
"I’ve told you before. That's not—"
"A big deal?" She cut him off. "It is to me. To us." Her expression softened slightly as she shifted closer. "I'm grateful you saved my life, Harry. But honestly? You saving Clint matters more."
That surprised him slightly. Harry studied her face, seeing something genuine and vulnerable there that she rarely let show in her capacity as an agent.
He'd observed them together over the past few weeks. Natasha and Clint. They had history, that much was obvious. The way they interacted, moved around each other, even anticipated each other's actions. There was a bond there, something deeper than just professional partnership.
He hadn't probed their minds—the idea of diving that deep into their private thoughts felt like a violation. But from what he'd seen, it seemed almost like a sibling relationship. The kind of connection forged through shared trauma and survival.
He could understand that.
"Clint's important to you," Harry said quietly.
"He's the only family I've got." Natasha's voice was steady, but Harry could feel the raw emotions behind the words. "So yeah, when someone saves his life, that means something to me."
Harry nodded slowly. "I'm glad I got there in time."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, and the only sound they could hear was the water lapping against the shore. After a while, Natasha shifted again, and Harry instantly noticed the change in her demeanor. The contemplative, emotional look on her face faded, replaced by a small smirk.
"You know," she said, her voice dropping slightly. "We never properly celebrated the successful mission."
"Pretty sure Coulson filed all the necessary paperwork."
"That's not what I meant, and you know it." She moved closer, closing the little distance between them on the rock. "I'm talking about something more… personal. Private."
Harry felt the atmosphere shift, the air between them heating up again. This wasn’t the first time she’d tried this. This was routine for her. When he’d asked her why him, she’d simply given him a look that said ‘Do you really not know?’
He did, and he could say that she’d definitely chipped away at his resolve bit by bit over the past weeks.
"Natasha—"
"What?" She tilted her head, her hair falling across her shoulder. "You're not going to tell me you haven't noticed."
"Noticed what?"
"The way we look at each other sometimes." Her hand came to rest on the stone between them, close enough that her fingers nearly touched his. "The tension."
Harry found his gaze drawn to her, really looking at her in the moonlight. The way her jacket hugged her frame, the curve of her neck, the slight part of her lips. And that was without thinking about the rest of her.
She was beautiful. He'd have to be blind not to see it. And she was right about the tension. It had been building for weeks, slowly but surely.
"Do you know what you're doing?" he asked, his voice rougher than intended.
Natasha's eyes flashed as she noticed the change in his tone. "I never do something I don't want to, Harry." She moved even closer, until he could feel the warmth of her body against his side. "The question is whether you want to have some fun too, or not."
His eyes dipped lower, taking in the way her jeans hugged her legs, how her jacket was zipped open to reveal the black shirt underneath. The fabric clung to her curves in a way that was impossible to ignore. His gaze traveled back up, lingering perhaps a moment too long on her tits.
Natasha noticed. Of course she did. A knowing smirk curved her lips as she shifted even closer, her knee now touching his and her hand on his arm. "See something you like, Harry?"
"If this is just because I saved you and Clint—"
She pressed a finger to his lips, cutting him off. The touch was light but it sent a shiver through him.
"Stop overthinking," she murmured, her face now inches from his. "You should use your mouth for something else instead."
Harry felt his pulse quicken. Her perfume filled his senses, subtle and enchanting that made him want to lean closer. He’d been holding himself back until now, even though he knew she truly didn’t have any ulterior motives with him. Now though, he didn’t really want to hold back.
"Yeah?" He asked gruffly.
"Yeah."
The space between them disappeared. Natasha's soft lips crashed into his demandingly, her tongue slipping past his teeth to tangle with his. Harry kissed her back hard, one hand sliding up to grip the back of her neck, holding her in place as his other hand fisted in her jacket. She let out a low hum against his mouth, her fingers digging into his shirt, bunching the fabric tightly in a fist.
The kiss turned sloppy and wet, their breaths coming fast. Natasha swung her leg over his lap without breaking contact, straddling him on the flat rock. Her weight settled heavy on his thighs, and Harry groaned into her mouth as her hips ground down once, pressing against the growing bulge in his jeans.
"Fuck," he muttered, hands dropping to her waist, his thumbs hooking under the hem of her shirt to brush the bare skin there.
She pulled back just enough to nip at his jaw, her breath hot on his skin.
"Been thinking about this all day," she said, her voice rough, before diving back in, sucking on his lower lip. Harry's hands slid up under her shirt, his palms flat against her stomach, feeling the heat radiating off her. She arched into his touch, a small whine escaping her throat as his fingers skimmed higher, brushing the underside of her bra.
"Here?" he asked, his voice low and strained, glancing past her shoulder at the dark lake and the shadows of the trees. There was no one around. “You sure?”
Natasha smirked against his lips, her hands already working the zipper of his jacket. "Right fucking here. Unless your dick's not up for it." She yanked the jacket down his arms, tossing it behind him without looking.
Harry grabbed her wrists, stopping her for a second, his eyes locking on hers in the dim moonlight. "You sure? This isn't some spur-of-the-moment shit for you?"
She twisted free, her nails scraping lightly down his forearms. "Shut up and fuck me, Harry. I've wanted your cock since we left the trailhead." She shrugged off her own jacket, letting it crumple on the rock, then tugged her shirt up and over her head. Her sports bra hugged her tightly, the black fabric stretching over the large swell of her tits, her nipples already poking through.
Harry's breath hitched, his hands going back to her waist, his thumbs tracing the edge of the bra.
"Fucking hell, Natasha." He leaned in, his mouth latching onto the side of her neck, sucking hard enough to leave a mark. She gasped, her head tipping back, and threaded her fingers into his hair.
"More," she demanded, grinding down again, harder this time. The friction made his cock throb, straining against his zipper. He bit down on her collarbone, before gently licking the spot.
She guided his hands to her sports bra and he fisted it, shoving it up roughly. Her tits spilled free, heavy and full, her nipples dark and hard. He cupped one in each hand, squeezing, his thumbs flicking over the peaks.
Natasha moaned loud, the sound echoing off around them as she rolled her hips against him in a slow circle.
"Fuck, yes," she breathed, reaching down to palm him through his jeans. He bucked up into her touch, a grunt escaping his throat. Her fingers worked his belt open fast, the clink of the buckle loud in the quiet night. She popped the button on his jeans, yanked the zipper down, and shoved her hand inside, wrapping around his cock through his boxers.
Harry hissed, his head dropping back against the rock. "Shit, your hand's freezing." But he didn't stop her. He couldn't, not when she stroked him rough and hard, her thumb swiping over the head where pre-cum was already soaking through.
"Payback for the hickeys," she teased, but her voice cracked on a gasp as he pinched one nipple, rolling it between his fingers. She pumped him a few times before pulling back to shove his jeans and boxers down his thighs, just enough to free his cock. It slapped up against his stomach, thick and hard, veins standing out in the cool air.
Natasha licked her lips, her eyes on it for a moment before she shimmied out of her own jeans, kicking them off with her boots. Her panties followed suit, revealing her bare pussy, her lips swollen and glistening in the moonlight.
"Get over here," he growled, hands grabbing her hips and hauling her forward.
She laughed filthily but straddled him again, her knees digging into the rock on either side of his hips. Her wet heat dragged along his length as she positioned herself, coating him in her slick juices.
"Bossy now?" She gripped the base of his cock, lining him up, and without wasting a moment, she sank down slow, inch by inch, her tight walls stretching around him.
"Fuuuck," Harry groaned, his eyes squeezing shut as she bottomed out, her ass flush against his thighs. She was so goddamn tight, hot and wet, clenching around him like she was made for it. Natasha let out a shaky moan, her hands braced on his chest and her nails digging in through his shirt.
"Big," she panted, rocking her hips once, testing. "Feels good." Then she lifted up, almost off him, before slamming back down. The slap of skin on skin rang out, and Harry swore again, his hands clamping on her ass, spreading her cheeks as she started riding him in earnest.
Up and down, fast and rough. Her tits bouncing with every drop, her hard nipples grazing his shirt. He yanked himself up, latching his mouth on one, sucking hard while she fucked herself on his cock.
"Harry—oh god, yeah, like that." Her voice broke into a whine, her head thrown back and her hair sticking to her sweat-damp neck.
He thrust up to meet her, their hips snapping. The rock scraped his back but he didn't care enough to even put a cushioning charm. It added to the pleasure. The angle hit deep, his cockhead nudging that spot inside her that made her walls flutter.
"You like that? Taking my dick like this out in the open?" He bit her nipple lightly, then soothed it with his tongue.
"Shut… fuck… up," she gasped, but she ground down harder, circling her hips to rub her clit against his pubic bone. Sweat slicked their skin, the night air doing nothing to cool the heat building between them. Her breaths came in sharp pants, mixing with his grunts every time he bottomed out.
Harry's hands roamed, one sliding up her back to tangle in her hair, pulling her head back so he could kiss her neck, the other dropping to where they joined. His thumb found her clit, swollen and slick, and he rubbed circles over it, firm and fast. Natasha cried out, a high, broken sound that made his balls tighten.
"Right there! Don't stop, fuck, Harry!"
She rode him harder, her thighs quivering and her pussy clenching rhythmically around his cock. He could feel her getting close, the way she trembled, the desperate edge to her moans, and it aroused him even more.
"Come on, Natasha, come on my dick," he urged, thrusting up roughly, his thumb pressing harder on her clit.
Her nails raked down his chest as she twisted the shirt buttons in her grip. "I'm—shit, I'm coming!" She slammed down one last time, her body locking up, and her walls spasming hard around him. A loud, keening moan tore from her throat as she shook, her juices soaking his cock and thighs as she came.
Her head fell forward, her forehead against his, and her breaths ragged and hot.
The sight of her, with her eyes squeezed shut, her mouth open, and her tits heaving, pushed Harry right to the edge. He gripped her hips bruisingly tight, pounding up into her through the aftershocks of her orgasm, chasing his own release.
"Gonna fill you up," he growled, his voice wrecked.
"Do it," she panted, still twitching around him, leaning down to bite his shoulder.
That did it. His cock swelled, his balls drawing up, and he came with a guttural groan, spilling deep inside her in hot pulses. Fuck, it felt endless, her pussy milking every drop as he thrust shallowly, riding it out.
They stayed like that for a minute, locked together, their breaths syncing up. Natasha finally lifted her head, smirking down at him with flushed cheeks and wild hair. "Not bad for a lakeside quickie."
Harry chuckled, breathless, his hands stroking lazy circles on her back. "Quickie? Give me ten minutes and we'll go again." He kissed her slow this time, tasting salt on her lips.
She hummed into it, then rolled off him carefully, wincing a bit as she disengaged. A trickle of his cum slid down her thigh, and she swiped it with two fingers, popping them into her mouth with a wink. "Tastes like victory."
Grabbing a water bottle from her discarded pack, she took a swig, then offered it to him.
"You're insane, you know that?"
Natasha pulled her bra over her head and threw it away before she yanked his shirt off, leaving them both entirely naked. She stretched out beside him on the jackets they'd layered as a makeshift blanket, propping on one elbow.
"Insanely good in bed, you mean." Her free hand traced idle patterns on his chest.
Harry lay back, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. The lake lapped steadily at the shore, and the cool breeze raised goosebumps on his damp skin. "Round two? Or you wanna head back before some ranger catches us?"
She snorted, nuzzling into his neck. "Ranger'd get an eyeful. But nah, let's stay. Night's young." Her fingers dipped lower, teasing his slick manhood again. He groaned, already stirring under her touch.
"Tease," he muttered, but flipped her onto her back, settling between her legs. She spread them wide, inviting, and he kissed down on her stomach, slowly drifting lower. "This time, I wanna taste you first."
Natasha's laugh turned to a moan as his mouth found her inner thigh, nipping the skin. "Hurry up then. I want your tongue on my clit."
He didn't make her wait. He dived in, licking a broad stripe up her slit, tasting their mixed release. Salty, musky, perfect. She bucked up, her hands fisting his hair.
"Fuck, yes… Suck it."
His lips closed around her clit, his tongue flicking, and she arched off the rock with a string of curses.
He ate her out slow at first, savoring the way she writhed, her thighs clamping his head. Two fingers slid inside her, curling to hit that spot, pumping in time with his sucks.
"Harry! God, your mouth," she gasped, her hips grinding against his face. He hummed, the vibration making her whine high and needy.
He was faster now, his fingers thrusting deep and his tongue relentless. Her walls clenched around him, slick and hot, and she came again quickly, shuddering. A choked sob escaping as she flooded his mouth, and Harry lapped it up, not stopping until she tugged his hair hard.
Panting, she hauled him up for a messy kiss, tasting herself on his lips. "Your turn to fuck my mouth later, when I’ve recovered," she promised, her voice husky.
Harry chuckled as he lowered himself beside her, pulling her flush against himself. They lay there tangled on their jackets, loving the feel of cold air on their sweaty, naked skin.
"Well," Natasha said eventually, her finger tracing idle patterns on his chest. "That was definitely worth the drive."
Harry laughed. "Glad I could meet expectations."
"Exceeded them, actually." She propped herself up on one elbow to look at him. "Fuck, you’ve no idea how badly I wanted this.”
“I can guess,” he chuckled.
“Still, I'm still figuring out if this was a one-time thing or..."
"Or?"
"Or if we're going to do this again." Her expression was carefully neutral, but he could see the genuine question in her eyes.
Harry reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "What do you want?"
"I asked you first."
"I'm not opposed to seeing where this goes," he admitted. "But I'm not interested in a serious relationship, at least not now. And I definitely don’t want to be involved in some SHIELD operation that involves… this."
"This isn't an operation." She met his eyes steadily. "I don't mix work and personal life like that. If I'm with you here, it's because I want to be, not because Fury told me to. I'm a spy, Harry. I lie for a living. But I don't lie about this."
He studied her face, using every sense he had to gauge her honesty. She was telling the truth, or at least she believed she was telling the truth, which amounted to the same thing.
"Okay," he said finally.
Natasha smiled. "Good." She kissed him again, soft and lingering, before looking at him. "No regrets?"
Harry stared at her for a moment before shaking his head. "No regrets."
"Good," she replied. “Would’ve bashed your head in if you regretted after playing so hard to get until now.”
Harry chuckled as they lay there in comfortable silence.
"So," Natasha said after a while. "Tell me something true."
"Something true?"
"Yeah. Something real. Not the stuff you tell people at meetings or when you're being mysterious and cryptic. Something that matters."
Harry looked thoughtful for a moment. "I miss home sometimes," he said finally. "Not the place. The people. The way things used to be before everything got… complicated."
Natasha nodded slowly. "I get that. Where's home for you?"
"England. Long time ago. You?"
"Russia. Even longer ago." Her expression turned distant. "But I don't think of it as home anymore. Haven't for a long time."
"Where's home now?"
"Wherever Clint is, I guess. And maybe..." she paused, seeming to choose her words carefully. "Maybe wherever I feel like I can be myself instead of whoever the mission needs me to be."
"And right now?"
She met his eyes. "Right now, I feel pretty good."
Harry nodded and turned to stare at the starry night sky. This thing between him and Natasha was unexpected. Complicated, most definitely. But maybe that was okay. Maybe complicated was exactly what he needed right now.
Comments
FallenSage
Great job
