Ch29. Natasha's first portal

Two weeks passed since Natasha first stepped in Kamar Taj and was introduced to The Ancient One and she had to say, the woman was nice.

Natasha was astonished after seeing the ancient temple and the 'cult', as Tony called them, of Sorcerers. But she almost had a heart attack when after shaking her hand, the bald woman casually divulged she looked into her past. There were many things in her past she would rather no one ever saw so this shook her to the core.

On the bright side, apparently, her self-sacrifice for the world mildly impressed Tao who allowed her the same leeway as she did Tony.

As such, Natasha's path in the Mystic Arts began.

...

'Damn, this is frustrating!' Natasha inwardly screamed while keeping the picture-perfect expression of calmness on her face as she for the n-th time circled her hand, trying to open a portal with her Sling Ring but getting only a few orange sparks in response.

For two weeks!

It was maddening.

With every failure, however, Natasha's determination increased. She would not have survived the Red Room if she gave up easily.

At least Tony was too busy getting things ready for his Stark Tower in the heart of New York so he couldn't keep shooting her his disbelieving looks when she didn't learn how to open a portal in a few days.

Tao told Natasha that Tony possessed a never-before-seen talent in the Mystic Arts but he thought himself to be untalented and Tao was not about to correct that misconception. Natasha wholeheartedly agreed. Tony had enough ego as it was and making him aware of his talent would just make him insufferable.

Even though... Tao did not care about his ego. Her reasoning was more along the lines that he would stop giving it his all to learn if he knew how fast he was progressing compared to others.

Unfortunately for Natasha, this also meant Tony compared her to himself and found it weird she could not do what he, the 'untalented' one, managed.

Natasha expected to be mocked and prepared herself it, but other than a few looks, Tony was actually very nice about it. He even offered advice many times which almost made Natasha break her calm facade and gawk at him in incredulity.

Natasha was in the middle of her 231st try for the day when Tony walked in, looking a bit tired whereas his shoulders were slumped as he stiffly walked towards the couch in front of which Natasha was practicing.

"You still at it, Red?" Tony asked, no trace of his usual cockiness present in his tone which told Natasha he felt worse than he looked.

"Yeah. What about you? What made you so spent?" Natasha smirked, using this opportunity to improve her bad mood at Tony's expense, "I hope there won't be a woman knocking at our door in the middle of the night about a possible pregnancy."

"Haha, I'll let you know, my sexual prowess is at such a level, one woman can't wear me out like this." Tony tried to be his usual smart-ass but his heart was obviously not in it.

Natasha wanted to continue but... instead, she just said in a feigned sincerity, "I believe you."

It wasn't often Tony was so... off. For some reason, she didn't have it in herself to kick him while he was down no matter how her inner devil was shouting at her to make use of such a golden opportunity.

Natasha just bit into her tongue and kept silently trying to make a portal.

"I was making wards around the house." After a while of silence, Tony idly stated from the couch where he was lying and Natasha almost slipped from the absurdity of that claim.

Tao told her what Tony studied if only to make sure he wouldn't do something outrageous when she wasn't looking, and Natasha knew warding should take years of study. Yet, Tony was already on the level to ward his house after less than a month?

'I should have continued teasing him...' Natasha crossly thought before recollecting herself and quietly continued doing the motions.

Tony looked at his silent assistant, wondering what was up with her. He expected at least a small snide remark but... nothing? Was this really Natasha or did Hydra swap her for a doppelganger?

He gave her a searching once-over, noticing her in her usual work attire of white office shirt with her flowing crimson, slightly curly hair freely falling onto her shoulders and upper back, but she was currently wearing tight black pants instead of her usual pencil skirt. Most likely because of the practice.

Tony's eyes involuntarily glanced over her curves... and, 'Yup, no doppelganger. That's Natasha.' He thought in bafflement. 'Weird...'

Sighing wearily, Tony stood up from the couch and walked behind Natasha. When he put his arms around her waist and placed them on her stomach, she suddenly stopped moving and her body tensed.

Tony didn't pay it any mind and dragged his right hand along the side of her body, making a small shiver go through it, and then he continued along her right arm until he reached her hand.

Only now did she realize how small she was. He wasn't particularly tall but if he wanted, he could put his chin on the top of her head without needing to stand on the tips of his toes. Glancing downward, Tony noticed she didn't wear her heels.

Tony's left hand stayed on Natasha's abdomen while his chin found itself a comfortable place on her right shoulder, "Calm down-" He whispered.

'Fuck you, Stark.' Natasha inwardly groaned, extremely aware of his hands and his chest pressing into her back. She bit into her cheek to stop the frustrated whine that wanted to tear itself onto the world from her throat and narrowed her eyes, trying to concentrate.

Yes, Tony just tried to help but... wasn't it hard enough without him coming and shooting her focus down the drain?

"- and focus. -" Tony continued and hearing his words, a part of Natasha felt like turning around and kissing him, while the other part wanted nothing more than to punch his teeth out.

"- Don't try to control. Submit." Tony finished, intently looking at the spot in front of her where a portal was supposed to open while his fingers slowly intertwined with hers.

Natasha's head became fuzzy as she found herself involuntarily leaning back and melting in Tony's chest, enjoying how he held her in his arms. Her body delighted at his warmth that engulfed her and her ears eagerly awaited his words.

Clueless to how much control he currently had over the petite gorgeous wonder in his arms, Tony calmly whispered, not wanting to disrupt her focus. "That's right. Submit yourself." And started to lead her hand in slow circular motions.

Natasha didn't care about the small orange circle that appeared in front of her. She didn't even realize she was the reason. Her attention was on something other than the part of her mind that still subconsciously channeled the power of the Sling Ring. No longer trying to control it.

She was comfortable and at ease. Her mind was focused on Tony's fingers gently clasping her hand, on his head snugly leaning on hers, on his left hand distractedly following his right, and also making very delightful small circular motions on her stomach that made her pleasantly shiver.

The circle in front of them slowly expanded while Tony's hold of Natasha subconsciously tightened, making them snuggle into each other even more as he got excited for her when she created her first portal.

Natasha had a hard time keeping her breathing slow and her head spinning as her emotions were one huge mess of warmth, comfort, and confusion.

She never felt like this before and wondered what was going on. Whatever Tony was doing to her, she loved every second of it but...

Her breath suddenly hitched and her eyes widened in shock as she finally noticed the portal opened in front of her. Her cheeks flushed deep red when her mind supplied one word.

'Submit.'

And Natasha's mind was once again a muddled mess, becoming blurred because of all the feelings that flickered through it. She only fleetingly registered as she leaned her head on Tony's, her fingers squeezing his just a tad bit tighter, her...

Tony abruptly pulled away from her, making her feel as if someone poured a bucket of ice-cold water on her as she regained control of herself.

"You did it!" Tony cheerfully exclaimed, raising his hand for a high-five gesture while smugly grinning at her.

Natasha blankly stared at his face for a moment, her expression devoid of any emotion due to her silent shock, before she quickly turned around, putting her face in her hands as it went crimson red while she hurriedly walked away and the portal in the room closed.

Tony was left standing in the middle of the living room, his lonely high five hanging in the air, while he confusedly tilted his head.

"What's the hell wrong with her?"

---

Author Note:

Yeah, this was a bit cringe...

You might have read it but I was WRITING it. You think I don't know? :D.