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Natasha knew the multiverse was a funny thing. She'd been around, able to say more often than not that each trip was not her first rodeo or would it be her last. That was her thinking until she went home the last time and lived for what would be the last five years of her life.

It didn't bother her as it might for someone else. Sure, there were thoughts about it, a slight ache in her heart for leaving Clint, Laura and the kids. There was more sadness than she thought there would be in not watching Cooper become a man or teaching Lila as much as she could until her father got involved. And little Nate who she barely got to know. Then there was Steve.

She would never admit it but the two men singlehandedly helped make her into who she was. Then Arthur happened and she found herself holding on to the prospect of happiness.

On the morning of what would unknowingly be their last day in the City, Natasha awoke still nestled in Arthur's arms in the quaint little beach house he'd built. The redhead loved it there, loved waking up and being greeted by the view from the front window. Her favourite though was when it was grey and rainy, giving them both reason to stay where they were like nothing else existed beyond the walls that were around them. That was how that morning started.

Something felt different. She felt different.

At first, it was the vague feeling of things shifting around her, causing her stomach to roll uneasily. Then it only continues to worsen as the minutes go on. Natasha reaches for the strong arm that had been draped over her hip, careful not to make it abrupt because maybe she was still groggy from sleep. But it didn't get any better. That's when it occurs to her that she is in the midst of being pulled away from the City.

And him.

Closing her eyes, she wishes to be able to see him again. Somewhere else. In some other world. Whenever the multiverse deems it fit. When things go black, she knows there is no fighting it.

When she opens her eyes again, Natasha is treading, blinking back the water in her eyes after emerging from beneath the surface and trying to focus on a flashing light in the distance. Once she can see it clearly, the redhead realizes what it is.

A lighthouse.

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Natasha doesn't mind. Laura treated her in much the same way when Clint brought her to the farm the first time, which was what made it such an easy and comfortable place to be. But, there's still a soft sound of surprise that moves into a laugh. Yes, the both of them will get along just fine.

She moves around the coffee table and sits, eager to finally get to her tea Tom before her eyes look back to Arthur, nodding before he can even get the question out about whether or not she'd be okay.

"I'll be fine. I have tea and good company. Go do what you need to do."

Being in his world meant he needs to continue living his life like he was before the City and that was something Natasha absolutely understands.

"See you when you get back."

Arthur nodded but held a second and just took in the view of them sitting there together before nodding again and turning to walk out. He knew she'd be safe here - no one else would know she was in their world, which protected her from the deep and if somehow, trouble came to the Lighthouse, he had to trust that she was strong enough to kick some ass next to Tom.

If he was quick enough, he could catch a patrol and mug them of their respirator. Atlantean technology wasn't exactly geared towards air breathers, but the helmets of the more elite could go both ways to protect those that could breathe air topside if something happened. It would be perfect for her.

He hadn't even asked if she wanted to join the fight. Arthur would swear at himself if they hadn't both been dropped back into the world like he'd never left for not thinking and planning more clearly, but there was room for it in the situation they were in. The good news is that, unbeknownst to Arthur, they'd been dropped back several hours before he and Mera got into the Trench.

It took him a good forty minutes to find a suitable patrol and less than ten to beat them up, steal one of their suits, and race back to his father's house. He was really going to have to do some training with these men in years to come - it was far too easy.

Striding back into his father's house, still wet but not dripping like a wave, Arthur announced himself with a call. "Natasha?" The suit was wrapped up under his arm, helmet hanging from his fingers as he walked back into the living room. No matter what, Arthur was sure he didn't have much time before the start of the biggest war the land bearing world will never know about.

In the hours that Arthur was gone, Natasha and Tom spent most of it talking. She, of course, was genuinely herself and they discussed the City and the 5 years in her world that led up to her relocation. Thankfully, he believed her, knowing well enough that nothing was impossible and that extended to multiversal travel, too. Still, Natasha found herself hoping to make a good impression and give Tom every reason to believe she was good for Arthur.

Just as he was good for her.

After a few hours, Tom excused himself to start on some food for dinner and the redhead took to sit outside on a large Adirondack chair that was more comfortable than it had looked and before long, the brief closing of her eyes had turned into a pleasant nap.

Tom appears at the entrance to the kitchen. "She's out in the back," he answers, turning back to give the contents of his pot a stir. Arthur would barely pass him when he adds. "You know, I can see why you like her so much. She's got that same fire inside as you do."

And that was all Thomas Curry would say on the matter.

Arthur walked towards the kitchen after Tom, glancing at the pot of stew before stepping around him to peek out the back door at Natasha on her chair. She looked comfortable - that was something. He glanced back at his father, cocking a crooked smile as he headed the rest of the way out the door. Clearly things had gone well with them.

Setting the helmet down on the deck, Arthur squatted down, tucking the rolled suit on his legs and smiled at Natasha, brushing the backs of his fingers up and down her arm.

"Hey. Need to ask you something." He didn't know how she'd come up, being in a strange place or how much she really wanted to get into his shit. The only way to find out was asking.

It was the perfect way to wake up, though her sleep was light enough that she'd stirred the moment she heard his father speak to him in the kitchen. She smiles back at him, eyes still closed even as a note of contentment hums past pressed lips. It's been a day but Natasha looks far better than she did when he found her in the water.

"If this is about taking me out to dinner, I think your Dad is already making some. Maybe tomorrow?" she guesses, though it's pretty clear she knows he means he wants to talk about the piece of equipment that was sitting just within her periphery.

Natasha lifts her head up more and looks at him. "How did things go?"

She looked far more relaxed and rested, and a lot less like the most gorgeous half drowned woman he'd ever seen. Tucked up under a blanket that had been kicking around for years, well used and well loved, she looked like she belonged here, though he'd much rather see her on a sunny tropical beach instead of a Maine rocky coastline where the sea was almost never smooth and totally calm.

But she was still here. She hadn't left. That was something.

Arthur cracked a broad grin. "Our oyster bar is the best on the east coast." Doubtful but - His features sobered a little and he shifted with a pat on her hip so she would scoot over enough to let him perch on the edge of her lounger, elbows resting on his knees.

"Natasha, there's a war about to start in the water. Far from here, but.. I have to go save them. Stop Orm before he wins and turns his attention to up here." He looked at her, face drawn in his seriousness. "I've only got a few minutes." Glancing down, he pulled the suit from his lap and into his hands. "You'd be safer here.." But the choice was hers, in not so many words. "It'll mean missing Dad's dinner. And requiring another one if it goes the way we want it to."

He wasn't going to talk about him becoming King. He didn't know if he was going to win yet. He didn't know if it would happen. They could talk about it if it did. One battle at a time.

As much as she wants to live in the idea of some permanent vacation, Natasha was aware before even arriving that there was an impending war in Arthur's world and the multiverse made good on its promise of bringing someone back to the exact moment they left. The only difference here was that the multiverse wasn't supposed to deliver her as a bonus. So, she needs to think everything out because eventually, there might be a chance she goes back to her world. And how does that happen if, god forbid, she dies here?

She moves over, straightening a little more to sit upright and listens in silence as glances across the Atlantic as far as she can see, before pulling her eyes back down to look at the suit.

"You said Orm was planning to bring all the Atlantean's up to the shores so I don't know how safe I'd be if things go wrong down there. I'm also not the type to sit and wait when I know catastrophe is close by. I want to help. However I can." she nods with certainty, looking up at him.

If he could spirit her off to that world, that beach where peace and a good cocktail with an umbrella in would be the best part of her afternoon, he would. They hadn't been together long but there was no avoiding the fact that Arthur cared about her. He wanted to make her happy.

Maybe it would be something he could focus on after this war.

"I can't ask anyone to keep an eye on you and.. I will try but.. I'm not going to like to you. It's going to be dangerous. I.. I know what you can do. I respect it. But I don't want you to think you have to go down there. This isn't your fight. And I know you'd be safe here.."

He didn't want to take anything away from her or make her feel condescended too, and even with him having gone to get the suit, having it in his lap didn't make him feel any better. The idea of her going down there with him into an unfamiliar environment for a life and death battle.. he didn't like it. On land was a different story but on the deep sea floor?

"I lost to him, the first time I fought him down there. Not my turf. I don't want to see the same thing happen to you," he said earnestly, turning his golden eyes towards her, not afraid of what she might see there.

She knew when she was out of her league on something and there would be no argument on whether or not she can keep up. Sure, the circumstances of her arrival did put her at a disadvantage, but even she couldn't lie to herself by saying that she could be of any use. Natasha fought in wars, but they were all on firm ground.

Not being able to help him bothered her. And more than just a little.

Her eyes drift over his face, seeing that worry and concern in his. It would be the hardest thing for her to have to admit to, but Natasha wasn't immortal. Nor had she the kind of enhancements and regeneration that Steve had, which made the decision a pretty straight-forward one.

"I'll stay here," she nods, looking down to put her hand in his. "I don't know if anyone would be bold enough to come up here, but I got this covered."

Green eyes shift to meet his again.

"Make sure you come back. I didn't come all this way for a single afternoon with you."

Arthur let a breath of soft relief out of his nose as her hand slipped into his where he tangled their fingers without hesitation. Honestly, he was relieved. Things happened in battle and he wasn't ready to lose her so quickly after getting her back. There would no doubt be other fights, other battles that they would fight together, but this was a war that was already in the middle of progress.

Debriefing alone, much less making sure Natasha could handle the experience of the suit and being that far underwater, would take longer than they had right now. It would also put her in more of danger's way if she didn't have that in her practiced skills list.

"I'm counting on you to keep the old man safe. I ain't done with him yet." He squeezed her hand as he looked back up. He knew this was hard for her. "Or you. I'm comin' back."

He just might be coming back King. Pressing his lips to her knuckles, Arthur shifted the suit onto the ground and stood up.

"I'm not lettin' Orm take you away too."

Edited 2021-09-12 20:40 (UTC)

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