Nat knew from the moment the coffee machine broke that morning that something was off about today. Tony had bots clanging in the kitchen all day and every member of the tower was on the verge of strangling him. She didn't feel up to going out though so she was forced to stay in her room all day. However, she didn't expect her evening to go from 10 to 100 in a matter of minutes. And it all started with a text from you at 11 pm.
Not unusual for you but the message lacked your usual humor
Y/n🍦:
Nat.
No attempt at guessing her name, no witty quip to go along with it, no extra letters or emojis.
Something was going on and she didn't like the pit forming in her stomach. This was a situation she'd never found herself in. Did she act calm? Did she... call you?
She shook her head, she could be freaking out over nothing, maybe you just had a long day and you were tired. The voice in the back of her head scoffed, Nat knew she was only trying to convince herself that these next few moments weren't about to happen.
Nat🔪:
Y/n.
What's going on?
Y/n🍦:
Help i-
I think I'm being followed.
Nat🔪:
Think or your sure
Y/n🍦:
You're*
Nat rolled her eyes. Of course, you were trying to be funny right now, humor was your biggest coping mechanism. She knew your humor was a defense against coming across as weak and vulnerable- it was an attempt to make the other person less aware of just how scared you were, but she knew. She knew you were probably shaking as you texted her and there was nothing she could do about it.
Y/n🍦:
Fuck.
I'm sure.
Nat's heart sank.
She could get your location from your phone but could she arrive in time? You lived in Brooklyn and she was in Manhattan- 12 miles away, at her fastest, she could probably get there in 30 minutes. Not enough time. Stalkers will only follow for so long before attacking. You didn't know this man's intentions.
For you, this could be a life-or-death situation.
Still- she called Peter, he was on patrol tonight, hopefully, he was in your area. He picked up immediately, his boyish voice ringing awkwardly through her silent room. She didn't give him the time to speak more.
"Peter there's a girl in Brooklyn being followed" Her tone was solid, she couldn't let the vulnerability she felt slip through either. It's been many years since she's felt this helpless about someone she cared about. And that was not a wound she was ready to reopen. God you were bringing out every part of her.
Peter didn't ask a single question, all Nat could hear was the thwip of his webs and the rush of wind against his phone.
"I sent you the address, how close are you?" She heard the faint sound of him mumbling before Karen's robotic voice repeated your phone's location
"I'm 20 minutes away" It wasn't fast enough but it was as good as she was going to get.
Nat🔪:
It's okay Y/n
Have you called the cops?
Y/n🍦:
No, I tried calling Leon
He lives nearby i thought maybe-
fuck I'm so stupid
Nat🔪:
No, y/n, you're not stupid
You're scared.
You're not going to be perfect at handling
This kind of situation. No one is
Nat🔪:
Do you have any weapons in your bag?
Y/n🍦:
Nat listen-
If I don't...
Nat🔪:
Don't.
Y/n🍦:
Please.
Nat🔪:
No, i'm not listening to any requests you have
You're going to be okay
Is he still there?
Y/n🍦:
Yeah
I've walked around the block a few times
I don't know where to go
Nat's fingers itched over the call button, she would be a lot better at reassuring you over the phone. But her voice was raspy and recognizable, would you realize it was her as soon as she said hello? Would that be a bad thing? Could she risk telling you her identity? Could she trust you? After so many years and so many people were you finally going to be the one to break down her carefully constructed walls? She sighed frustratingly, now was not the time. You needed her.
Y/n🍦:
Fuck
I think he's getting closer
Nat🔪:
Y/n go to a house with the light on
And knock on their door.
Or look for a large group of people.
Find a public space.
She was growing more desperate by the minute. God if she ever got her hands on the bastard that's making you this petrified she was going to do more than just kill him.
"Peter, how far away are you?"
"Five minutes Miss Romanoff" She could hear his breathlessness, she didn't imagine it was easy to swing across buildings at that speed.
Nat🔪:
Y/n, keep talking to me okay?
Y/n🍦:
I don't know why I decided to go out.
I just wanted some ice cream
I'm so stupid
Nat🔪:
No.
You are not stupid
This bastard is. Trust me.
Do you have high heels on?
Or your keys?
Y/n🍦:
No-
I walked to the store
Nat🔪:
Look for anything on the ground
A glass bottle or rocks
Y/n🍦:
Nat
I'm scared
Natasha waited for you to keep texting. Waited desperately for something witty to come across the screen, anything to let her know you were still safe. Peter was close now, close enough to hopefully make it before any irreparable damage is done but- if this guy has a weapon. She sucked in a sharp breath.
Nat🔪:
Y/n?
Y/n answer me.
y/n c'mon
Y/n. please.
The dam broke. She hit the call button. She couldn't pretend she didn't care about you even a little bit. It rang and rang, stone cold silence filled her room between each shrill toll of her phone. Don't panic.
She stood and began pacing back and forth, running a shaky hand through her hair.
Each ring was torture- and she knew torture. Come on Y/n. Another blare of useless noise before the line connected.
All she heard was a brief 'umph' before the line went dead.
Fuck.
-A/n: Giving Y/n more trauma 'for the plot' ~ Starry