Nats POV
I'm walking on sunshine. Those dumbasses finally slipped up and brought some of their 'product' back to their warehouse. I was able to get more than enough evidence on them so I called in the troops to round them up.
It felt really good to bring them in. More scum bags off the street, another successful mission, and maybe it's a bit more money for me. It's an all around win.
Even with all of that, it feels even better to know that this means I get to see Spencer soon.
Flying back home feels better than ever. I skip my way over to where the guys are being held, watching for a moment as they're being interrogated. Normally I love that part of the job, but I have better things to be doing.
So I'll let the newbies take it over. It's a pretty easy case, they really shouldn't mess it up. I got enough evidence they don't even really need a confession, but there's always bigger fish to fry and it's good to get as much information as possible.
I just have a little bit of paperwork to write up and hand over to Fury. Then I can call Spencer and let her know I'm home.
I jump in the shower quick because I mean it when I say it was a long ass two weeks. I need to wash away the horrible abandoned warehouse I was holed up in and all the layers of dust I collected from being stuck there for so damn long.
Once I'm out, I waste no time getting changed and getting the paperwork written up. Wasn't so bad since I didn't do the interrogations. More tedious than anything else.
I sat and waited. I ate. I watched. I waited. Blah blah blah.
I once again have a hop in my step as I find my way to Fury's office, knocking when I get there.
I hear his okay to walk in so I do.
"I just wanted to give you the paperwork from this past weeks mission," I say as I hand over the papers.
He takes it slowly, eyeing me questioningly. "You finished the paper work? Already?"
"Uh, yeah. Wanted to get it out of the way. Was pretty simple, just took forever. Pretty boring but it's done."
"Hm. So the black widow, the one that took almost half a month to turn in reports before, wrote up a report the day she got back? You hate paperwork."
"Yeah, so I'm trying something new. Figured if I get it right out of the way and give it to you, then I don't have to worry about it. Besides I got them done before I just took my time turning them in," I try to reason, not wanting to make it look bad that I had turned them in so quickly this time.
"But you.. nevermind. I'll take the win and the papers. You're free to go to whatever you were rushing to get to," he tells me waving his hand in dismissal.
"Oh, I wasn't.."
"You were. It's fine. Just go. I can tell how eager you are," he smirks this time and I'm walking out the door.
Finally all that bullshit is over and I can call my girl.
I get comfy on my bed, ready for a long talk with Spencer. I've gotten on some pjs in case we fall asleep talking like we have before. Or maybe I'll be lucky enough and she'll come see me tonight.
That idea alone has me eager to hear her voice, even through the phone.
But I don't. I go to voicemail. It's fine, I leave a message and put my phone down. She could be in the store or the tattoo shop or any number of places.
Hell, she could be in the shower. Mm now that's an idea I like..
I quickly get myself refocused on something else. I'll watch a movie? Yeah that sounds relaxing. I have some time before lunch so I'll just chill until Spencer calls me back.
Last second I send a quick text so she knows I'm home safe and that I'm free anytime, just awaiting her call.
With that done, I focus my attention to the tv, picking out some comedy I've never heard of. I can't help but think Spencer would be a bit proud I'm expanding my movie horizons, although she may be a bit hurt I'm doing it without her.
I shake my head of the thoughts and get lost in the movie. Not once did my phone go off, but that didn't stop me from checking.
I might be about halfway through the movie when my eyes start getting heavy and I let myself get claimed by dreamland.
———————
I'm not sure how long I actually slept for but as I open my eyes to a knocking sound, I realize the movie has probably been over for awhile.
"Hey, Nat. Are you coming down for lunch with us?" Wanda asks me from the other side of the door.
"Uh, yeah." I try to wake myself up more with a stretch. "I'll be down in a couple minutes."
"Okay, see you down there." I can hear her footsteps recede so I get up and quickly prep myself for lunch.
It doesn't take much, I just fix my hair a bit. I'm staying in my sweats, not really caring that it's the middle of the day.
Then my foggy brain finally catches up with me and I realize I might have slept through a call from Spencer. With a new found energy, I pounce on my bed so I can grab my phone.
Still no new notification. And I see that it's now been three hours. Still not too weird, she could be tattooing someone, those can take awhile.
I'm just going to have lunch with friends and hope she gets back to me soon.
——————
Lunch is pretty good, Wanda made it thankfully. I talked to Thor and Peter a little bit but wasn't fully in the conversation.
I shouldn't be worried about Spencer. I know that I sometimes go a while without being able to answer her. Usually we say something so we know the other won't be around.
Right, maybe I actually missed a message from her? Before I get the chance to check, Wanda confronts me.
"You okay, Nat?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm good," I only say half believably.
"Mhm. Right. Well I won't make you talk about it, but I'm here if you want to," Wanda let's me know. I should confide in her. We did get pretty close and I kind of miss that.
"Well, just promise to not get too mad that I haven't mentioned this before," I start. This grabs her attention away from the dishes and towards me.
"Okay, you have me intrigued, do continue." She leaves the dishes and takes a seat across from me.
"So.. I've been seeing someone."
Wanda squeals a bit in response. "Yes, Nat! Tell me more."
"Well, I met her when I went to my parents, and yes, that's why I stayed there longer. She is actually friends with my sister and she came to dinner at my parents. As cheesy as it sounds, she had me from the first moment I saw her."
The smile on Wandas face let's me know I should have tried to talk to her about this sooner. She really is a good friend.
"Nat! That is so adorable. Nothing is cheesy if it's real. Sounds like she's really got you though. Tell me how it all happened!"
And so I did. Not really leaving many details out. I let myself fully gush about my girlfriend, only leaving out her name, an actual picture, and the fact that she was the Ghost.
It has felt so good to talk to another girl about my girlfriend. Wanda gets it. I'm trying not to think about the fact that I'm dating someone who she use to be really close to and then just fell off the face of the world without a goodbye. I just have to trust that the truth will come out and it'll be enough when it does.
So for now, I have just told her how Spencer planned our first date, wanting to ask me out but I asked her instead.
"Okay, she sounds like the absolute best. She clearly likes you and you're obviously so happy. I'm so happy that you found someone to bring out this smile in you, Nat. And she also sounds hot."
I give her a small smack on the arm at her comment. "Don't even think about it."
She laughs it off though, "don't worry, if you ever let us meet her, I'll be sure not to make a move." She winks at me, knowing she's getting me jealous.
"You will all be able to meet her. Soon. We're just trying to test the waters. It's not easy being thousands of miles away. We just don't want to add any other outside factors until we know where we are and are farther along in the relationship."
"I totally get that. It's actually a really smart move, Nat. It's good you're focusing on your relationship with each other before adding anyone else to it. Just let me meet her first, yeah?"
"Thanks Wanda, it's good to hear that from someone else. Sometimes it's really hard being so far away. Makes it difficult to believe it's the right thing, you know?"
"To an extent, yes. But keep doing what works for you both. If she's as great as she sounds, which I believe her to be, then it'll work out. This won't stop you from growing together."
I let out a breath. I didn't know how much I needed to hear this. "Thank you, Wanda. Really." I reach over and squeeze her hand as I say this.
"Anytime Nat. You know I'm here. I've missed talking to you like this."
"Yeah, me too. Let's not wait so long to do it again?"
"Definitely."
I give her a smile, ready to ask her a question but she beats me to it.
"Wait. She sounds amazing and you sound incredibly happy?"
"Yeah?" Where is she going with this?
"Then why were you all spaced out? Unless you were thinking of her.."
I know where she's going with this. "Nope. That's not it."
"Okay," she laughs. "Do you want to talk about what it is, then?"
"We were supposed to see each other after I got back from this mission. I was to call her when I got back so she could come here for a day or so. I called her as soon as my work was done and I haven't heard from her since. I know it's probably nothing. It's only been.. 5 hours now. But I just have a feeling.."
"Hey, I'm sure she's okay. Probably working, right? At least you know she isn't out fighting some aliens or something," Wanda laughs at her joke because its obviously a joke, right?
Right. It's not, though. She could be. But I can't share that part, so I laugh a little with her.
"I know I'm over thinking it. I just can't shake this feeling." I bite my lower lip, trying to contain my emotions. Not that I have to around Wanda, but I don't want to spiral so quickly from not hearing from her.
"Hey, it's okay to be worried. It's not a bad thing. Maybe try calling her again? Maybe she didn't see your call? Or check your messages again. Maybe she left you a message and you missed it in the excitement."
Wanda is so good at this comforting thing. Wait, she isn't reading my mind right? Nah, there's no way.
"Yeah, I was actually going to check the messages before we started talking but got a little distracted."
As I talk, I pull out my phone to look back. I do see that I missed two messages from her. One was a video which I would be sure to watch later alone, just in case. I then go to read the message after and my heart sinks a little but I can't show that to Wanda.
"Uh, she did message me. Said she'd be with a client for a while so she might not be able to answer."
"See! There you go. She'll message you soon, I'm sure."
"Yeah, I'm sure," I try to be positive but I'm not.
"Want to watch a movie to help pass the time?"
"Yeah, you pick it out. I'm just going to try her one more time."
"Okay." She walks to the living room and I try to gather myself.
I may not be able to tell Wanda what the message really said, but I sure as hell can tell you.
She said she was going on a last minute mission with Yelena. Said it should be a quick in and out. Just gathering information. Shouldn't take long but she'd let me know when she was back.
Except that was yesterday. And she hasn't said anything since. She may forget to message for an hour or two, but not this long. And every one of my information missions never went for more than a few hours.
But I'm sure they're fine. I don't know the details of the mission, so I shouldn't panic. Right?
Then, it is as if the universe wants to answer that question for me.
My phone is ringing.
Except, it's not Spencer.
It's Yelena.
I hesitantly answer, "hello? Yelena? Are you okay?" I almost don't want her to answer. I want this to be a butt dial or something.
"Um.. I don't know.. I don't know what happened. I'm so sorry, Nat." Her tone unsettles me.
"Sorry for what Lena? What happened?" I know I'm a little frantic but I don't care. I am starting to freak out.
"I was suppose to protect her. You asked me to protect her and I.. I, I didn't. I couldn't. It all happened so fast.."
My heart leaps out of my chest and sinks to my feet at the same time. Don't let this be real. Please let me still be dreaming.
But I need to clarify. As much as I don't want to know, I have to know.
"Lena, what happened?" I try to ask calmly.
She is full on crying when she answers me, immediately bringing my own tears to the surface.
"It's uh, Spencer. I.. she's not good, Nat. There was an accident.."
And that's when my tears pour over the edge, crashing down to the ground and bringing my world with it. Nothing is real. This can't be real. I can't listen to anything else she says.
I am utterly lost.
My world has come crashing down.
And there's no one here to catch me now that I've fallen.