13023/The Ultimate Enemy

The Ultimate Enemy
Date of Scene:	13 April 2021
Location:	A Safehouse in the Bronx
Synopsis:	Natasha calls in sick and Alex discovers she's human after all. (Occurs simultaneous with scene #12992 on 4/8/2021)
Cast of Characters:	Black Widow (Romanoff), Phobos

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Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
Things had been going well. There had been no huge world threats in the last few months so the Avengers had been dealing with mostly smaller things. Their last SHIELD op had ended with the capture of a major wanted criminal: Taskmaster. She had gone to space via Bifrost and not ended up with her molcules scrambled and even that had gone pretty smoothly, all things considered. Her social life? She had one and she was happy.

Of course something would go wrong.

She was curled up on the couch wearing one of those oversized t-shirts out of the box of supplies they had been raiding. Actually it was one she'd worn before with the pirate kitty and Mewtiny declared below the image. She had at least three blankets over her and a pillow from the bedroom under her head.

An arm snaked out from under the covers to grab a Kleenex out of the cardboard box sitting on the floor, easily within reach. "AACHOO!" She wiped her nose and added the used tissue to the growing pile in a small trash can she had brought out of the bathroom. Otherwise, she'd be surrounded with dozens of them wadded up on the floor.

Phobos has posed:
    Something was amiss. Oh the fact that the Black Widow wasn't at a daily briefing, and hadn't poked her head in to check on the status of a few operations wasn't really a big deal. She was high enough rank and free lanced often enough with other agencies and efforts that no one, except perhaps Nick Fury, kept track of her comings and goings.
    Well Nick Fury... and Agent Aaron.
    For he felt relatively certain he knew her plans at least for the next day or so. They had shared a day off together and that time of overlap was wonderful. They had even spent it in the house, not leaving for the most part save for him running to the nearby package store to pick up what he could. Some small groceries for a meal, a bottle of wine. And they expected to do more later tonight. Except he thought as much, and she had made noise about wanting to be at a particular meeting.
    So when she didn't show... he held off on his lunch and got a friend to cover part of his shift and then he headed back to the safehouse that served as home.
    Which is why he was home a good hour earlier than she might have expected. Though he made no efforts at stealth for she'd hear the door open and close, the familiar 'fwump' of his backpack dropped at the door. An old habit he has a hard time breaking.
    And then there's that voice, deep, yet curious and a hint of playfulness as he called out. "Space Pirates. Here to pay you back for messing with us in space!"
    He didn't bother waiting for a hollar back since he was already heading up the stairs, boots thumping a bit as his hand slid over the banister.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
Normally there was a smart remark back. A quip at the very least or her appearing at the top of the stairs to smirk at him. Yet nothing this time.

Until he was almost at the top of the stairs when he heard "ACHOO!"

It was almost cute. It wasn't one of the blow-things-off the table sneezes. More a tiny little one that was more like one expected on tv shows. Yet, that was the thing for her. It was one or the other. This time the furniture happened to be safe is all.

WHen he managed to get to the living area on the second floor, he would see the mound of blankets and a bit of red hair on a pillow though she seemed to be completely buried within the covers.

"I blame Thor. It's probably a space bug. You should save yourself. Run away." All half muffled due to the blankets but understandable.

Phobos has posed:
    As he rose into view and then he stepped around out of the stairwell, she might be able to first see his reflection on the glass of the window near the couch, but then he's walking around to the front of it, footsteps quick and with faint thumps from his sneakers as he comes around. Jeans, t-shirt, civvies, at least /he/ seems to be doing ok even as he gets around to see this little nest she's created.
    And then when she looks at those eyes she'll see his eyebrows raise and his smile looks a little pained as he murmurs, "Oh you poor thing. I..." He pauses and then his eyes widen, "I had no idea you could get sick. I mean... of course you can, I should've imagined. I just didn't."
    And yet as he says that she can see that horrible look, that look that people she lets close to her sometimes get when she just looks... so damn cute.
    But he's smart enough to clear his throat, to banish that look to the recesses of his features and smiles a little gently. "Oh man, can I get you anything?"
    He steps close and doesn't sit down beside her, instead he sits down right on the floor near her...
    Right next to the booger can. "Oh man is that..." He laughs and there's a mix there of 'ewww' followed by that 'awww' look and. Oh man it's insufferable.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
She had peeked out from under the covers, just from the eyes up visible. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail but was riding low so she could lay her head down comfortably. There was a little bit of sweat around the edges, apparently going back and forth with a fever then sweating it out and back probably. As she saw those looks, her eyes narrowed dangerously.

Out from under the covers came that hand. She grabbed her trashcan and shoved it about a foot away from him--but keeping it within reach because she /needed/ it! "WOuld you rather I blow my nose on the covers? Or the couch? Or I can just toss the tissues on the floor and let you sweep them up."

Cranky is the term that comes to mind with that tone. She brings the covers a little further down and he gets to see her pink nose, abused from all the sneezing and wiping. And if he makes one of those so-cute faces, she's going to kill him. It's a promise shining in her emerald eyes.

"Ginger ale in the fridge. Some of that would be good. And of course I can get sick. Why wouldn't I be able to get sick? It doesn't happen often. Pretty strong constitution but I am still human."

Phobos has posed:
    "I just..." He says even as he's pushing himself to his feet, following her directions without even thinking about it. It's that autopilot manner one gets when they're trying to figure something else out while still getting things done. So it's off into the kitchen he goes. "You just... seem so..."
    He grins and walks backwards a little, "Like you wouldn't get sick is all."
    Such a non-explanation. But then she'll hear the whoosh of the refrigerator door opening and the slight click and whir as the engine kicks on as it keys on because of the opening. There's the sound of him messing around in the fridge, then the hollow sound of plastic cups being pulled apart from one another.
    Eventually he emerges into the room again carrying a red solo cup of ginger ale and some ice which he sets on the end table nearest her then sits down on the seat next to her on that sofa.
    "Have you been eating? I figure you've been hydrating. I could go get some soup from that middle-eastern place down the way?"

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
By the time he comes back, Natasha has managed to push herself up to a sitting position with that pillow at the small of her back against the arm of the couch. She still is keeping her blankets all around her but her arms are free and he'll be able to see the t-shirt she has on. It's hanging off one shoulder due to the oversized nature of it, leaving that shoulder bare.

As he arrives with the cup, she just looks at it without bothering to reach for it yet. "I haven't eaten. Don't seem to have an appetite. But trying to keep liquids in me. I got the ginger ale on the way home, figuring I would end up needing it."

She fusses with the covers, straightening them a little and tucking them around her midsection. "I suppose I could try soup. Do they deliver?"

Phobos has posed:
    At the sight of the t-shirt his lips twist, but he clears his throat, lowers his eyes and casually covers his mouth with one hand and slides it down as he scritches at his chin in that oh so subtle way of hiding and wiping away the smile. He clears his throat, eyes widening as he affixes her with his gaze again, now back under better control as he says. "They do, but I can also go get it, and pick up various things we might be needing?"
    She can see his gaze distance as he considers, blinking as if a little lost since really... neither he nor his father have ever gotten sick. Yet he bites his lower lip and says, "I can go to the drug store and pick up a humidifier, and an electric blanket maybe. Nyquil probably doesn't work very good on you."
    His head tilts to the side as he organizes a mental list, then leans in to give her a one-armed hug from the side, "S'ok, we'll get all the things."
    Though if she looks at just the right time she might catch that side-eyed glance and him hiding his smile of such affection.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"Most medications work. Sadly only very briefly before my system processes them. I'd say something for flu. Sniffles, sneezing, coughing, aching...Damn, I sound like a commercial." Natasha sighs, running a hand over her head as though to smooth it then sighs, shoving her hands forcefully back under the covers.

"Humidifier might help. Electric blanket would be heavenly. Your father didn't have any electric blankets in any of these boxes. Just these." Gray non descript and kind of itchy if she was honest.

"Don't hu..." Too late. He was already hugging her halfway with one arm. She managed to sort of hug back even as she was muttering. "If you catch it, don't come whining to me." Like he would catch it. Gods had all the luck!

Then she sees that smile and he will feel her /shove/ him. "Go. Get stuff."

Phobos has posed:
    "Wow," Alexander says as he dares to /smooch/ the top of her head even as he puuuushes himself to his feet. "You get even bossier when you're sick. That's like... a quantum level of bossiness." Considering the epic levels of bossy she holds sway over in her normalcy. But his smile is wry, at least he's teasing her and not looking at her as if she were so so cute.
    "I'll get everything that strikes my fancy, I got all these paychecks from SHIELD direct deposited and haven't bought like, anything." As he looks around at the room, she likely can see those pale eyes of his distancing as he ponders and continues with that list. He looks back at her and says, "So, is it common for mortals that have a cold to be so..." He looks down at the pile of tissues in the trash bin, then back at her as he nibbles at the inside of his cheek and then murmurs. "Ooztastic?"
    Though as he says that he starts to stride away at a quickened pace, half-hopping near the end of the couch in case she tries to kick him as he slips past.
    "I'll be back soon. Maybe I'll get one of those bells so you can jangle it at me when you need something." And then he's descending the steps with that speedy 'thubba-thubba-thubba-thump' as he takes them fast.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"I Have a gun!" she yells after him as he is departing. For even though she is sick, she does have it the with her under those covers. It's just her. He wouldn't be surprised. "Get more Kleenex!"

As she hears him reach the bottom of the stairs, she shuffles herself back down under those covers with her head on the pillow once more. That request probably lets him know that ooztastic is the name of the game with some colds. Hopefully she'd be over it soon.

"I hate being sick," she muttered to herself as she reached for the glass of ginger ale, lifting the cup carefully and leaning to the side so she wouldn't spill it all over herself while sipping.

Phobos has posed:
    Which gave her approximately twenty two minutes of alone time to remain slouched on the couch and to indulge in her sniffles. The television could serve as a distraction though they really only had some streaming stuff that went through a VPN, but it had the benefit of letting them view fun things like what Netflix was like in Cuba. Very limited selection.
    Though after those twenty some minutes she'd hear the door open and close again, then his voice lifted not announcing his arrival, but continuing their conversation as if it never ended. For he just raises his voice and shouts.
    "I placed the order for the soup then ran into the drug store. I got all the things. Sudafed, Nyquil, Tylenol PM, a humidifier, a six pack of tissues, cough drops, vitamin C, some chips, and some chocolate." Since that's something for a cold right?
    After a few moments of him climbing back up the steps he'll reemerge with a few bags in hand, though he only glances in on her before heading to the kitchen to unload his booty.
    "They didn't have any big electric blankets, they had this..." And he tosses it onto the couch beside her in its box entire which is... an electric Snuggy. A full body cover. Brilliant American Engineering. "Also if you get bored." He tosses another box onto the couch beside her and...
    It's a Chia Pet.
    "They were on sale, neat huh?" But then he's putting a fresh box of tissues on the end table and brings in a large plastic container of soup into the room with a straw and a spoon, depending on how ambitious she feels.
    "Think... that's it."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
Hearing the run down, she actually perked up when he mentioned chocolate. But she didn't ask for it. She did have ginger ale for now but it was good to know. Chocolate fixed everything. Even for trained assassins.

When he mentioned no blankets, she folded a little but then was rewarded with an electrid Snuggy. "What the..." She examined the box. "Is that a blanket with arms?" Already she was digging into it because she had to see if she was imagining this. Apparently Snuggies were out of her life experience.

Then the other box was added and she stared at it. "A Chia Pet? Seriously? I can see why they were on sale." She picked up the box and sets it on the coffee table right next to her red solo cup. It appeared to be some sort of animal. Maybe a sheep.

She went back to getting out her snuggie then looked around, noticing she had no where to plug it in within reach.

Phobos has posed:
    The young man rolled back into view carrying a bag and setting it down within arm's reach of her near that end table even as he continued to walk around the living area that hadn't really been made up to be a living room but sort of became one with the evolution of things considering it's where the television was and the sofa was. Such is all one needs apparently.
    "Oh hey, extension cord?" He says as he ponders, looking up and around with an expression of curiousity. Hands on his hips as he pondered what to do with the cord for the snuggy then scritched his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe there's one in the other room with the computers." And as he says that he starts to walk off.
    Which leaves her alone for a few moments, though she can hear the sound of his footsteps growing fainter as he walks into the other room...
    Only for those footsteps to stop abruptly. No sound from him, as if he stopped and froze in the middle of the hallway. Yet a turn of her head was all she needed to see he wasn't there. No more footsteps, no sound in the other room. Just an absence of Alexander.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
A thousand pocket knives. Hundreds of t-shirts. Several dozen blankets that likely came from an old Army/Navy store. There had to be extension cords somewhere.

Even as he wandered off to look, she was throwing off her blankets and swinging her feet to the floor. There was one of those little achoos and another tissue was added to the bucket before she rose. She was going to start helping in the search by digging through boxes. Then something went wrong.

"Alex?" No response. He had been walking then he wasn't. Which had her immediately going into full alert. A reach under the blankets and she pulled out a Glock. With her free hand she pulled out a wristband and snapped it on the left arm. Then she switched the Glock to the right.

Silently, she moved the direction he had. Checking doorways, ceiling, clearing rooms as she went. But there was no sign of someone who might have invaded the safehouse and taken him out. There was no sign of anything. More silent steps to the stairs then "ACHOO!" Followed by a muttered "Dammit."

So much for the element of surprise. She headed down toward the first floor to continue looking.

Phobos has posed:
    It was a fruitless search, not just for Alexander but for anyone else as well. What's more his backpack is still there, his keys still in the bowl, and no sign of a struggle anywhere at all. It left her a few minutes of puzzlement and that feeling of things being on edge, unknowable. He was in none of the rooms of the house until she returned to the second floor...
    It was perhaps when she might have been considering contacting someone that there was a sudden /thud/ and the sound of a stumble from that hallway. Which once she is able to get there and get eyes on she'll finally see him. Much as he was but moments ago, only now on his hands and knees, swaying slightly as if having appeared out of nowhere, or as if the world suddenly caught back up with itself as it compensated for that small mystery.
    Then his voice, quiet, and tinged with tension, "That was not fun."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
She was back on the second floor, weapon still in hand. There she stood, swaying a little on her feet more out of indecision than weakness. She wasn't sure what to do. There was no sign he was taken. She didn't have a reason to call in backup yet everything in her was screaming for her to do just that.

Someone had to have taken him. People didn't just disappear. Normally.

It wasn't long and she heard that thud. She was there in an instant, gun raised and aimed. At Alexander. She lowered the weapon immediately and frowned, glancing around then back to him in concern.

"Are you alright? You disappeared. Like completely. What happened?"

Phobos has posed:
    "It was umm," Alexander pushed himself to his feet, one hand braced against the wall. Then slooowly he lifted up with his knees and got fully upright. A slow blink was taken as he considered his surroundings, then her. His brow knit together, "You should be in bed."
    Because of course that's what's important right now. But he knows she'll ask more so he starts to walk toward her. "It was that sorcerer friend, she was testing the spell out and summoned me with her friend."
    Which has his eyebrows lifting as he murmurs, "Which, by the way, she had a Russian accent, and weirdly enough it did nothing for me."
    As if /that/ was the most important thing to be relaying in this moment. "But yeah, I think I don't like being summoned. No wonder it seemed to irritate my dad to talk about it."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"I thought someone was in the house," Natasha offers as an argument for why she was up and about and fully armed. Well partially. Only one wristband and one Glock. And her Mewtiny t-shirt. Very intimidating.

She reached out her free hand to offer him support, to make sure he was steady on his feet as they headed back to the living area. At mention of the Russian accent, she arched a brow and there was a tiny smirk. "Good to know you weren't wanting to attack her on the spot."

But she focused on the important part. "So she was testing to be sure it worked. It wasn't even an emergency?" She sounded grumpy now. Once back by the couch, she tucked her weapons back into her blankets. "Was it unpleasant then? You're not hurt, right?"

Phobos has posed:
    As they walked he became more at ease on his feet, whatever it had done to him seemed to fade with each step. Until they reached the couch and he was drawing the covers up and back so she could get back in, even as he made sure to give her 'tuck-tuck-tucks' and make sure she was comfortably nestled. Though for now thought of getting an extension cord or power strip are forgotten in the passing of what happened.
    He settles on the couch beside her and rests a hand on the back of her neck gently, stroking thoughtfully as his eyes are distanced in thought, then he leans over and touches lips to her brow before he leans over and grabs a tissue for her to blow her nose into.
    "You got a lil... somethin' on your nose." Which is true.
    "It wasn't painful. But it was jarring. I felt sort of... outside of myself in a way. Yet not. And I felt as if I was stripped naked in front of these people and they could see everything. It was... strange. And at points it felt like I didn't want to say something, but I had to."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
To be fair, she had sneezed a couple of times while out and about. She took the tissue with a murmured, "Thank you." Then she just listened to his explanation. Once she wiped her nose, the tissue was disposed of in the trash can and she looked back to his face, reading him.

"I think you need to tell this friend never to do that again. And we need to be sure no one else learns how to." She might be overreacting a tad big. Likely the fever. Which he probably noticed when he touched her brow with his lips.

"You were compelled to say things?"

Phobos has posed:
    "Mmm," That's all she receives as an answer at first, clearly his own thoughts are focused inwards. But he pushes a hand through his hair, then looks back to her. "I don't know if compelled is the right word, more like... it felt natural. Like easier to do it than to just say nothing. It felt like I had a role to play and it would feel better if I did."
    Which has him shaking his head finally as he murmurs, "But yah, I don't think they're going to do it experimentally again. Only if an emergency crops up. But I have a feeling for it... for her. Might not be as easy for them next time. If it comes to it."
    That said he reaches over and pulls her legs across his lap and lets one arm rest across her shoulder. "C'mon, you need to have some soup and ginger ale, then you need to rest. You gotta get better otherwise I'll go off and find some other Russian super spy gal to spend my evenings with." His lips twist, but he doesn't draw back in case she grumpy punches him.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
That gets a thump of her leg on top of his but that's all. No punches. But enough to show her displeasure. "Be careful what you wish. There are more like me, you know? Well, not /like/ me. They didn't get the serum. But the Red Room still cranks out female operatives. There's even one who got named the Black Widow though she still has a lot to learn before she really earns it."

She's got to be delusional. She does nod though and reach for her soup. It was too hot to eat before which means after all this time, it is now perfect. She picks up the bowl and spoon, passing on the straw option, and settles in to try to get something in her stomach.

Phobos has posed:
    "Really?" Alexander does seem a touch surprised, and it's true that that sort of intel isn't available to level one agents. But he nods a few times and hrms, "That would make sense I imagine."
    He nibbles at his lower lip and then tilts his head to the side, "You know I just like to tease you?" His smile is there and a little wry, but something about him does seem a little discombobulated. As if that summoning did cause him to be off balance and not entirely sure of himself as he was in the norm.
    "I don't want anyone else but you." His smile is a little embarrassed as he looks away, perhaps trying hard not to make some joke to deflect from the awkwardness of such an admission. But no, he doesn't. No jokes come, those words have to stand on their own merit.
    "It's not the accent that is so attractive to me." He says as if realizing it, "I think it's the combination of who you are, and what you mean to me. The accent just augments it." His eyes distance as he adds, "And when you use it with me, it makes me feel like you care. Because you are doing it just for me."
    He looks back and says with a smile, "Isn't that silly?"

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
"It isn't silly," Natasha says softly. She leaves the spoon in her bowl and reaches over a hand to touch his arm lightly. A caressed touch with her thumb sliding across his skin. "It very sweet. And I understand. I do it because I enjoy doing it, because I know you like it. I like making you smile."

She considers and shifts slightly but keeps her eyes on his. "I'm not used to having someone care enough to go get me soup and chocolate and a Snuggie and a Chia Pet. " She grins a little at the last two.

"It shows me you care. These last few weeks have been amazing and I'm looking forward to every day now. So, is that silly?" she asks, turning his question back on him.

Phobos has posed:
    Nodding slowly he says, "Very silly." But his smile is gentle, unable to hold off from that small attempt at humor, then he adds. "It's been about two months now, all told. Though I sort of count it from the day you found me out in that training exercise." His lips curl as he eases in closer to her, one arm around her, and the other resting across her legs and holding them against him. He takes a deep breath.
    "I had a feeling about things even back then, but I thought it was just awe, and attraction." He exhales slightly, gently, shaking his head. "I told myself I was being an idiot so many times."
    A deep breath is taken then he murmurs, finally returning to himself as she can tell when he says with a deadpan smile, "I should have realized I was irresistible." He nods as if having pronounced the utter and complete truth of the matter.
    But it does give him a chance to steal another small kiss to her brow again.

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
She eyes him. She eyes the soup. She opts not to waste good soup because really, it's delicious. Saved by the savory!

"Irresistible?" Natasha echoes, shaking her head a bit. "And modest too. Don't forget that."

She snorts and immediately regrets it, reaching for a Kleenex and coughing a bit. A quick safety wipe of her nose and it is added to the heap.

"See if I ever try to be sweet and tell you my feelings again," she teases.

Phobos has posed:
    "The modestest." Alexander's smile is warm as he looks away, then back at her. Though his arm tightens around her shoulders when she coughs and wipes her nose, as if helping brace her and hold her tight. Then he strokes her shoulder with his thumb as he shoots a sympathetic look to her.
    "I like it when you're sweet to me, though. I just get this feeling like if I look at you while letting how I feel show... that you'll punch me." His lips curl as he says, "I'm not teasing you, you sometimes put off that dangerous vibe you might not even be fully aware of it. But seeing you being like this... being, you know, human. It's endearing."
    He looks away, trying not to crack wise or make light, to actually communicate as he smiles. "It makes me want to dote on you, and not for any reasons of pity. More like..."
    Alexander looks back and smiles, "It makes me feel special that we're allowed to share our lives together."

Black Widow (Romanoff) has posed:
That is what they've been doing. Sharing their lives together. This place is more home anymore than her penthouse. Moreso than her room at the Avengers Mansion. She looked forward to being here with him, spending time away from work.

She always was one to bury herself in that work. To volunteer for extra duty and shifts. There had been times in the past where it had lessened but not to the level of this. Which was something to think about.

"It makes me feel special that, though I may be oozetastic..." To use his term. "You are still here holding me and taking care of me. I am not a good patient. Doctors hate dealing with me. I very well could punch someone, particularly when sick." She sighs a bit, picking up her spoon to start eating again. "I know I have a shell around me. I try to keep people at a distance. I don't like being vulnerable and like this, when sick, I feel it worse than ever. But with you, I don't feel that way. It's...nice."

Phobos has posed:
    "I'm glad," Alexander smiles and looks at her, then past her... before hose pale hazel eyes refocus on her. His lips twist up, "If nothing else I make a halfway decent space heater." Which is fairly true considering that him and his kind tend to run warm, he's like an Olympian water bottle for times like this.
    "I'll stay here while you eat, and in a bit I'll get up and look around for a power strip or something. Promise not to disappear this time." Though not like he had much of a choice before.
    "Think if there's anything else you need though, I don't mind running around and getting stuff." Another kiss, this time to her cheek.