Chapter Text
London was cold, not as cold as Russia by any standards but cold just the same. The rain stuck like a second skin, pavements littered with indents of watery graves where summer dreams seemingly went to die. The light of flickering street lights illuminating the Russians path home, or at least what had become one in the past two months.
Two months since she'd left New York, left the compound to do recon for fury. Two months of rain and obscure accents, tea and an extreme lack of near death experiences - unless you counted rush hour on the tube as a deadly encounter. That meaning, it had been two months since Natasha had seen Wanda; after that night with Yelena at Clint's ranch Natasha knew it was time for her to be proactive in her emotions, which meant stepping away from the situation all together - to discover what it was she truly wants. She'd informed the other of her departure that following morning, albeit evading the true nature of her hasty decision to take on a temporary role at the shield headquarters in London - Narrowly avoiding Wanda amidst the rest of the teams complaints.
She'd taken the next flight out to Heathrow, the little witch peacefully unaware of her lovers egress. Not that she cared or so it seemed, she hadn't reached out nor questioned the redheads disappearance, seeming at peace with how they had left things - at peace with having Natasha gone. For two months the witch had been absent from Natasha's life, not a single call, or text, no lingering touch or longing gaze.
She'd left on the 10th, two months away meant that it was November. Natasha glanced down at her watched and swore gently at the time 23:53... she had seven minutes. Seven minutes till her little witch's birthday, having taken another trip around the sun to spend it without her brother—- and now without Natasha. She had seven minutes till her little witch turned 21.
Reaching into her pocket Natasha grasped her phone, pulling it out gently the bright image of Nathanial and Yelena playing in the leaves at Clint's farm last thanksgiving. Her thumbs moved without warning, the learned path of habit driving them home towards a thought Natasha has pushed back secondary to other for weeks now - refusing to give into the temptation.
It was almost as if she were doomed to fail. How else could it have been so easy to press that button, easy listen to that dial tone, even easier to listen to that familiar voice mail—- Vision has probably wished her off somewhere early to celebrate, he always did find a way to pull his finger out when a social media opportunity was presented.
‘You’ve reached Wanda Maximoff—- I’m still getting used to this whole phone business, so leave me a message and I’ll try and figure out how to listen to it later… bye!’’
The Russian’s eyes squeezed shut at the sound of her voice, that message was at least five years old now… Natasha had been there for its creation, preach on the bed beside the brunette, her laughter ringing out in the background as the younger woman had fumbled her words into a phone Tony had gotten her. Vision had pushed her to change it, however it was one of—maybe the only thing Wanda had stuck to her guns on. She claimed it grounded her, reminded her of how far she’d come…
The sound of an obnoxious beep cut off Natasha’s train of thought, the vibration of her breath echoing down into the voicemail then back at her.
“Um Hey—-It’s me… Natasha. Though of course you knew that because you have caller ID” The redhead cursed herself, great job Romanoff.
“Look I know it’s been awhile… and I know I just left, and I’m not sorry because that what I needed to do, it’s good for both of us. Well I—- what I’m trying to say is… I miss you Max. I miss everything about you.” The Russian bit her lip, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“And I shouldn’t—- you’re bad for me, we’re bad for each other. Yet I’m a whole time zone, a fucking ocean away, and you’re still—- it’s like you’re in me Max, the very essence of you seeped into my skin left to just follow me round. It doesn’t matter where I am, what I’m doing or who I’m with… you’re there in the back of my mind—- well not you… this you I mean. The old you maybe, the memory of you. All those untainted moments I—-.”
The redhead sighed scratching her head, her own frustration was growing let alone Wanda’s what she heard this crap.
“I—- just wanted to let you know it wasn’t an easy decision for me to leave, it’s not been easy to stay away. Hell I think it may kill me, but if that’s what it takes for you to be happy… then I’ll do it. Okay I’m rambling but I hope Sam baked you a cake, and Steve sang you some ancient variation of happy birthday… Tony better have gotten you a good gift, though I suppose pepper will have forced him too.”
“I’m sure Maria and the girls will be dragging you out for drinks— your first legal ones!” The Russian laughed at herself, her gaze flickering down to her feet as the scrapped along the sidewalk. “And I’m sorry Piet can’t be there to celebrate with you… I just know he’s partying still, running circles round Freddie mercury and John Lennon because you just know they’d be friends up there…”
Natasha sighed squatting down as she spoke her next few words… “I’m sorry I can’t be there too. I know it may not seem like it right now little witch but I’m trying to do what’s best for you… even if it hurts me in the process. I have never— never felt about someone the way I feel about you, not Bruce, or Hannah… it’s always been you Max, probably always will be.” The Russian sniffed lightly, previously undetected and probably unavoidable tears flooded her eyes. “Happy birthday Witchy.”
Then she ended the call…