"Do remind me, why is it you came along with me?" Thanos asked Natasha in the throne room.
When Natasha was asked to stay behind after a regular Red Order meeting, she expected something a little more… raunchy would be happening. Especially since Carol had just brought in her old ally turned enemy Minn-Erva, the Thanos needed a bit more to feel satisfied.
"Uh… Well…" Natasha said hesitantly. Completely blind-sided, Natasha zipped up her black suit in disappointment. She hadn't thought about this in a long time. In fact, she hadn't thought about it at all since she first stepped through that portal two months ago.
"Of all the Red Order members, you are the only one who has not asked me to grant what you desire with the stone," Thanos said.
"Is that so?" Natasha inquired. Though she knew this to be true already.
"Yes. Nebula asked for her old body, whereas Proxima requested a new one so to speak. Wanda wished to be relieved of her grief. Carol and Minn-Erva both asked for protection from Kree Empire for themselves and the Skrull." Thanos lectured. "And yet, you are the only one without any desires, why is that?"
After taking in the listing of everyone's wishes, Natasha felt as though she was being accused of something, suddenly feeling the need to go on the defensive.
"Well, did it occur to you that I don't have anything I want to change for myself, and maybe I just desired sex?" Natasha immediately regretted snapping like that, remembering how powerful the person she was talking to was.
"So this is some sort of lustful retirement for you?" Thanos said sternly as he rose from his throne. Though he approached Natasha with little hostility, she still felt intimidated. But she was not going to let that show.
"No that's not it at all," Natasha said, staring Thanos straight in the eye. "Just curious what you thought of me."
Thanos glared at Natasha in silence for several moments, where she stared right back up at him. Then suddenly they both grinned at each other and lightly snickered. Whatever potential rough tension that was present was quickly alleviated; crisis averted.
"Always the schemer," Thanos said. "But alas, I still am truly curious why you are here and have yet to as anything of me."
Natasha did pause to genuinely think of why she did come with Thanos. What reason did I have of leaving Earth and the Avengers? Then just like that it all came back to her.
"Truth be told there wasn't much left for me back on Earth," Natasha said softly. "I lived for the mission: save lives one threat at a time. But you've seen them now, they can defeat the likes of you…"
Natasha paused to see if Thanos would take offense at the reminder of his future failure, to which he did not. "…The team had outgrown me, and the threats we faced even more so. And so I considered retiring, or taking a less direct role on the team. But then you came to me and said that you needed my help to save the universe? How could I say no?"
"So your wish is to save the universe?"
"I suppose it is."
During Natasha whole retelling, Thanos' expression remained indifferent throughout. But as soon as Natasha gave her answer, his face lit up as a grin crept across his face.
"Just as I suspected. Of all the women I've gathered, you are the only one who has a selfless wish," Thanos said. "Even the Captain Marvel only asked for the Skrulls' protection just so she could venture of and pursue sexual desires." Natasha was shocked, as this was the first time she'd seen Thanos this jovial before.
The more she thought about his words, the more she realized Thanos was wrong. Yes, all the women asked for changes to themselves, Natasha was no better. What she said about saving the world was true, that sometimes felt like a job to her and going with Thanos was just the next promotion.
In truth, what she wanted most was to seek out physical companionship. A girlfriend. A boyfriend. A friend with benefits. Hell, even a mistress would've sufficed. Because she'd burned all those bridges she had on Earth.
She wanted Clint Barton, but he was conflicted between her and another woman who would eventually be his wife, but before Clint could even make the decision Natasha cut him off romantically. She wanted Tony Stark but saw how he was with Pepper Potts, and she became jealous, and eventually cut off any potential romantic feelings she could have had. She wanted Steve Rodgers, but he had a weird thing for Peggy's niece so she cut him off too.
This pattern of jealousy repeated itself until she was left with no potential partners on Earth.
"And this selflessness is why I feel you truly understand my mission," Thanos said, snapping Natasha back to reality. "And is the reason why I'm making you head of the Red Order."
"What? Me?" Natasha's eyes widen from the surprising news. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. Not only do you have leadership experience, I am confident that you will make the right decisions whenever I am absent and not readily available."
Natasha wanted to feel excited, but she had no idea what this job would even entail nor why this came out of the blue.
"I am honoured to have been chosen for the position, but why are you talking as if you're going to die soon or something?" Natasha asked.
"Not such a drastic situation at the moment, you see I will be gone for some time…"
****
So much to do, yet so little time. After being told of Thanos' troubling trip, she was given a couple orders to carry out as the new leader. First thing's first: she needed to clear things up with Nebula.
The words of Steve echoed through her mind.
As a leader, respect will only get you so far. To be successful you need your team to genuinely like you.
There was an underlying problem with her and Nebula that she'd been ignoring. Simply because they acted like it didn't exist. They still had sex regularly, but the chemistry was completely absent. So before Natasha could fully act as leader she needed zero tension with everyone.
Natasha marched to the living quarters, confidence boosting her energy with each step. Eventually she found her way to the living hall, where she was greeted by the usual sound of Proxima relentlessly fucking little Wanda. Truly disgusting, Natasha thought, but she had other things on her plate to deal with.
Upon entering her room, Natasha laid witness to a peaceful Nebula lying in bed and reading a book. An odd juxtaposition from the animalistic grunts from outside. Even though Natasha closing the door was clearly audible, Nebula didn't show an inkling of concern. The silent treatment had also become common between the two lately as well.
Natasha plopped on to the bed and sat next to Nebula. "We need to talk," the spy said.
Nebula closed her book and glared at Natasha with an unamused look. "About what?"
"Well… Thanos kind of made me leader of the Red Order…"
Shocked, Nebula sat up on the bed, eyes wide. "Seriously?!"
"Yeah I know hard to believe but it's true. But it's mostly for him to delegate to me at times that he's gone or busy," Natasha said.
"Oh? Is he going somewhere?" nebula asked.
"Yes, but that's not what I want to talk about right now. As leader, I want you to be at my right side…" Natasha said as Nebula's expression lightened up. "But first we need to get rid of this… tension between us."
Nebula looked down in shame, "What do you mean?"
"The other day you asked me 'Am I not good enough?' what was that all about?"
Nebula continued to look away but in silence.
"I need to know if you're mad at me," Natasha said as she held Nebula's hand. "I hate seeing you pissed off at me like this. Though the sex has been a bit more aggressive."
Nebula chuckled at Natasha's teasing and looked up at Natasha with soft, sad eyes. Natasha felt genuinely afraid of what would come next, if this would be the end of them.
"It's like… you're obsessed with her…" Nebula grumbled.
"Obsessed with who?"
Nebula paused before answering, "Wanda! I can tell it's all you can think about! Every time you see or hear her doing anything with Proxima you act like a child! You either want to outdo them, or stop being close with me all together!"
Not once had Natasha seen Nebula exhibit such frustration before. Even when she was being dominate by Proxima she was still calm and relaxed. This must have really been bringing her down for some time.
"I… I'm sorry…" Natasha managed to say. She was doing it again. Cutting people out because of her encompassing jealousy. But she couldn't run away from this, not again like how she did on Earth. She needed to let it all our before it built up more in her heart.
"It's just… hard seeing her with someone else," Natasha said. "I know it's no excuse, but imagine if it was Gamora instead…"
Taking a moment to think, Nebula paused before replying, "Yeah I've met Proxima, I guess if my sister was fucking her of all people I'd pretty pissed."
The two laughed together, allowing all the anger and tension to escape with it. Natasha smiled softly at Nebula as she held both of her hands.
"So as my second in command, you have to promise to kick my ass if I ever get out of line, or start getting jealous again alright?"
"Understood, captain" Nebula teased, before lightly kissing Natasha. The kiss was soft and sweet, filled with the passion that was long missing between the two of them.
"It is pretty strange though," Nebula said as she broke the kiss.
"What is?"
"Well even though we all kind of started out by having sex with whoever we wanted, somehow we ended up being exclusive to couples."
"Hmmm…"
Nebula's astute observation gave Natasha a great idea.