Chapter Text
If six months ago-
Nah, we don’t need to go that far.
If two months ago someone had told Natasha Romanoff that she’d meet and (kind of) befriend a group of weird dudes on a Thursday night and together they would beat the shit out of some assholes who tried to rob them, she’d have laughed at your face.
Or asked if you were under the influence of some very heavy drugs. Drunk, even.
Perhaps she’d be the drunk one, dreaming about something so ridiculous.
But it was all accurate.
Precisely seven weeks ago, on a late Thursday night, Natasha was at the library and what began as just another night dedicated to studying, turned out to be quite eventful.
And that’s where she was. Minding her own business when Tony Stark and a blonde man started arguing. Soon, two other guys joined, and Clint dragged her into it. Obviously, the six of them were kicked out of the library and, Natasha would say thankfully they were, (though she’d never quite admit this part) because they all took the same path to the dorms when two other guys surrounded them and “announced” the robbery.
It was a poorly lit route and even though the group was not walking side by side, except for Natasha and Clint, they were close enough to each other. Two men coming from a darker alley practically jumped in front of them and shouted, demanding their money and cell phones.
The blonde, and quite hot, guy punched one of the guys while Natasha took on immediately kicking the other between his legs. Then, in a blink of an eye, the six of them were kicking, punching and whatever else they could think of doing to the thieves.
It was ridiculous, dangerous and exhilarating.
The group only stopped when the college security guy showed up. So, they ran. It’d certainly be a complicated situation to explain. Natasha, and she knew for sure that Clint too, did not need that kind of mess on their lives.
They ended up at Bruce Banner’s dorm room, it was the closest where they could get cleaned up without anyone else seeing them and raising questions they wouldn’t know how to answer or avoid. Natasha’s knuckles were a bit bloodied just like the men with her. After quiet murmured thanks, each of them went their separate ways.
It’s not that Natasha couldn’t defend herself. She could do it perfectly well. She had been training martial arts ever since she learned how to walk. She had a vast knowledge of various types of weapons, from guns to knives and so on.
Still, somehow, she felt good that night having those random strangers at her side. Again, something she’d never quite admit.
But that was that. A one weird night that no one would ever find out or talk about and move on with their lives.
Until the next morning.
Tony Stark somehow got her number and texted her, asking to meet later that night. Which she refused, saying she had better things to do.
She did have better things to do, for sure. She’d have a pneumology exam on the next week and for some reason, her brain just couldn’t memorize any content related to the subject.
But then Clint insisted they should go. He basically begged her and promised he’d help her study over the weekend. So, she went.
They were all in med school.
Natasha should’ve known that.
She remembered their faces because she knew they attended some of the classes she did, but she’d been too busy trying not to fail the course to care about memorizing their names. Her father would undeniably disapprove her manners.
Anyway… there they were.
Natasha, her best friend Clint Barton, Tony Stark, the blond hot guy (called Steve Rogers), Bruce Banner and Thor.
Tony had a lot of booze available, which Natasha appreciated. And the second reason why she hadn’t left right away.
“Alright, guys, sit your little asses down because I have a proposition to make. An irresistible offer”, Tony began with an arrogant smile on his face half an hour after their arrival.
“What is it, Tony? By the way, can I ask why you’re in med school? Haven’t you graduated at MIT or something?” Clint asked, sipping a beer.
“Well, I have, yes. But I was bored and decided to study something different. Anyway… last night was pretty intense…”
“Yeah, Tony, we beat the heck out of two guys who tried to burgle us”, Bruce Banner commented and pursed his lips. He looked tired.
“We sure did, science bro, we sure did”, Tony agreed, and Natasha couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him. “Now, tell me, wasn’t it amazing? It felt fucking awesome if I may say so”, he added excitedly.
“Stark, do you even hear yourself?” Steve Rogers asked.
“I haven’t told you the best part yet, Captain”, refuted Tony.
“Oh, boy…” said Bruce, exasperated.
“We should make a team. I mean, we should be a team. Fight the bad guys just like we did yesterday. Stop jerks from hurting other people”, Tony stated, looking around the room.
“You’re fucking insane, Stark. I’m out”. Natasha spoke for the first time that night as she placed her glass on the kitchen counter and began to stride towards the door.
“Tasha! Wait, wait, wait!” Clint said, jumping from his seat beside her and grabbing her wrist before she could move out of his reach and leave.
“You can’t be serious, Barton”, she said, scowling.
“I think we should listen to Tony first, Tasha”.
“Little Red, I think…” Tony began, but was interrupted again.
“She’s right”, Rogers intervened. “Yesterday was pure luck. Those guys weren’t armed and none of us got hurt. Adrenaline high and all, but we are smart people. Something like this will not end up well”.
“Little Red and Capsicle are so in sync, isn’t it funny?” Tony chimed in.
“Don’t fucking call me that again!” Natasha growled, opened the door and left without another word.
Okay, Natasha had to give it to Tony Stark. He was fucking persistent.
He’d called and texted a bunch of times over the weekend until she blocked his number. And, as if he didn’t know how to take a hint, he showed up at her dorm Monday night. He was waiting in the hallway, talking to someone on the phone but the minute he spotted her, he ended the call and half shouted her name.
Sighing, Natasha opened her door and was glad to see her roommate, Maria, wasn’t there yet.
“Is there any way you’ll understand I’m not interested in your little fight club, Stark?” Natasha asked.
“Well, Little R… Natasha”. Tony closed his mouth and corrected himself as he noticed her death glare. “Natasha. That’s your name, right? I’m not that good with names so…”
“Yes. Listen, I’m tired. I wanna sleep because I have a pneumology exam tomorrow and…”
“Oh, is it with Professor Coulson?” Stark chimed in.
“Yes”, Natasha mumbled as she dropped her books on her bed, her back turned to Tony.
“Don’t worry. Super easy, had one last week. You’ll nail it”, Tony said with an indifferent wave of his hand.
“Well, not all of us have the luxury to go to med school just because we’re fucking bored, right? So, you better get out before I start breaking your fingers”, Natasha insisted, turning around to look at him with her arms crossed over her chest.
“Please, don’t break my fingers, I need’em”.
“What is it then, Stark? I’m not interested, I already told you that”.
“Natasha, you gotta admit it was fucking amazing! The six of us, we… we fought side by side in a way that… was great. We worked out pretty fucking good if you ask me and we should take advantage of that”.
“And I said I don’t wanna play vigilante. What if one of us goes to jail or worse, ends up dead?”
“We won’t! Come on! Let’s give it a chance. We can meet a couple of times a week and train and see how that goes…”
“Stark, this is not a superhero movie…” Natasha growled. Seriously, she’d have to start threatening him with more than words now.
“Your archer friend already agreed”, Tony spoke with his usual smug expression written all over his face.
“What?”
“Yeah, Barton said yes. Thor also joined, because honestly, have you paid attention to that guy? He’d join any group just for the fun of it. It’s just you and Rogers holding us back now”.
“ARGH!” Natasha groaned. “Are you fucking joking right now?” She asked no one in particular, but Tony shook his head anyway. “I can’t believe it! Stupid fucking Barton!”, she mumbled. “Fine! I’ll join this stupid group, but I swear, Stark, if anyone gets hurt, and I mean it, if anyone does anything remotely idiot, I’m out”.
“Okay, okay! Fantastic! It’s gonna be absolutely bonkers, Red. I mean, Natasha. Natasha”, he replied with a grin and rubbed his hands together with excitement.
“Get the hell out before I change my mind about breaking your fingers”, she warned Tony before the little that was left of her patience went out the window.
“I’m going, I’m going! See you later”.
“Whatever”.
I’m gonna fucking kill that asshole, Natasha thought as she called her best friend.