Ch30. Trouble in New York

The following few days, there was a small tension ever-present in the air whenever Natasha met with Tony and it was weirding him out somewhat fiercely considering she lived with him and her job meant she had to be around him almost constatnly.

After it didn't stop even after a week, Tony did the smart thing and told Natasha he is going to Kamar Taj and won't return for two weeks so she should take a break.

Before she could even utter a word of protest, Tony was off.

What? Retreat could be manly too!

He did slightly miscalculate though. His plan didn't take into consideration that he taught her how to create portals and she already was in Kamar Taj once.

Imagine his gapin-, ahem, he did not gape...

Imagine his elegant surprise when after a week, Natasha showed up in front of his table, her arms crossed on her chest and an unamused expression on her face while she was throwing him a pointed look, as he sat in the Kamar Taj's library, deep in books.

At that moment, Tony felt as if Thanos came early.

Fortunately for them and Kamar Taj's continued peacefulness, neither of them started to argue or fight. It was a surreal experience for Tony. He didn't know why he still expected her to act like Pepper, but contrary to his expectations, Natasha just calmly sat down opposite him and asked for a book on mental protections and they spent the evening in companionable silence, reading their respective material.

The routine set in and Tony's last week at Kamar Taj went in a similar manner.

He woke up in the morning, had breakfast, and then proceeded to train in hand-to-hand and weapon combat with Natasha being his partner, or rather, his teacher. He got a handful of her, she got a handful of him, and both were satisfied with Tony receiving a bit... okay, much more bruises in the process.

At least he was getting better... somewhat.

Then they went for lunch. Restaurants and fast food all over the world were just a portal away, after all.

And after lunch, Tony would go back to his workshop in his house and invent, check on JARVIS and FRIDAY, or think about his next move. There was no need for staying away from Malibu now that the stifling mood between him and Natasha ceased to be and everything returned to normal.

Natasha even continued her hobby of lounging on his spare table in his workshop and watching him work!

Much to his chagrin...

And the evening hours would be spent with Natasha in the Kamar Taj's library, silently sitting and leaning on each other as they read various books.

It was a really nice routine and Tony was getting used to it.

That's why he became quite pissed when he was informed a lot of electronics heading towards the construction site of the Stark Tower were stolen.

His 'vacation' and routine were officially over.

The fact nothing of sorts happened in his 'past' only made Tony that much more incensed.

...

Tony was in his living room with a notebook on the table in front of him, his lips set in an unhappy frown.

"J, any news?" He asked.

"No, Sir. The NYPD has no new leads. They seem to be at the end of the rope. May I propose sending the information we have gathered?"

Tony chuckled, "No, J. We would need to explain where we got the information. That would be quite an uncomfortable discussion and I'd like to avoid it."

"In that case, I have no other advice, Sir." JARVIS politely bowed out of the conversation and Tony sighed.

That's how Natasha found him, all depressed and pondering about his current problem. It wasn't that big of a problem but it disrupted his plans and more importantly, his learning time.

Natasha walked closer to the table and put a cup of coffee in front of Tony, right next to the notebook, before sitting in a nearby armchair with a cup of tea in her hands. "What got you so down? Trouble in paradise?"

Tony rolled his eyes at her, "No. Stark Industries is fine. Pepper does a great job. Just... someone stole a few things necessary for the Stark Tower in New York."

Hearing that, Natasha's good mood instantly evaporated, "Ah. Do you know who?"

"A gang called..." Tony looked at the screen of his notebook and snorted, "Green Homies. Yes, I know. I am embarrassed for them."

"Any idea where they stashed your stuff?" Natasha asked before sipping her tea.

"Yeah, J was quite fast at finding out." Tony took his coffee, thankful for Natasha's thoughtfulness.

Natasha wanted to ask why won't he just send the police after them but then she remembered JARVIS's preferred method of intelligence gathering and wryly smiled, "Let me guess. He did so illegally."

"Yes, Miss Romanoff. Or sorry, is it Rushman now?" JARVIS answered.

Natasha gave him a good-natured eye roll straight into the nearest camera at the jab.

"Why not call Fury, then?" She tried to offer another solution. Of course, there was still the obvious one but from the looks of it, Tony wanted to avoid having to go to New York.

Tony grimaced. "And owe him a favor?"

He would rather leave the electronics in the hands of Green Homies. Fury's help was never free and giving the spy any sort of leeway over himself after he 'stole' Natasha from his grasp... Tony would not do that. Not for some blasted electronics.

"Fair enough." Natasha uncaringly shrugged.

Yeah, it was a bad idea but still an option. She doubted Fury did not already know about the theft anyway. Maybe he knew before it even happened. One could never be sure with that man.

Then again, many said one could never be sure with her either...

"Looks like I will have to go to New York." Tony glumly complained.

"I see..." Natasha said and her eyes dimmed.

She was not happy with the situation. Not at all. She was enjoying their time together this past week. Maybe a bit too much.

To have it interrupted by some gangsters? Ones that clearly smoked too much weed since they thought stealing from Tony Stark was a good idea?

Natasha didn't like it one bit and the second Tony decided to go to New York, she knew what she was going to do. She knew what was required to wrap this small annoyance as quickly as possible so they could return to their peaceful life.

"I can take care of it if you want." She lightly offered and took another sip from her warm tea while her eyes gleamed coldly.

"You?" Tony looked at her and questioningly lifted his eyebrow. It seemed she did not understand him the first time when he told her he didn't expect her to be his assassin. "I told you that you don't have to do-"

"I want to." Natasha interrupted him with finality and looked him straight in the eyes with clear determination.

Tony stared into those green orbs full of hard resolve, searching for any sign of faltering or falsehood, for any show that she is forcing herself for his sake.

He didn't find anything of the sort.

"Okay." Tony relented. And before Natasha could get satisfied at having her way, he added, "But I am coming with you! This I gotta see!"

And Natasha groaned but her lips were set in a small smile.