She could not stop asking herself questions.
Is this real?
Who is Thanos?
What is the gem they were talking about?
Had someone died in the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division?
Looking at Eric, who seemed completely unable to break free from her grip no matter how hard he tried, she truly wanted to interrogate him right now.
["Do you think I want to do this? I'm trying to save you, idiot"] – Natasha
["Well, I don't want you to, end of story"] – Barton
["I did terrible things. You know what I became"] – Barton
["I don't judge people by their worst mistakes"] – Natasha
["Then you should"] – Barton
["You didn't"] – Natasha shot back.
Natasha lost her breath as she watched the scene.
She knew exactly what the Natasha in the hologram meant.
Unconsciously, her own eyes began to sting with tears.
Seeing this exchange between her and Barton affected her deeply.
Even without knowing exactly what she was watching, the depth of the conversation, their expressions, the raw emotion…
It was impossible for this to be fake. Or at the very least, for that moment to be fake.
An idea began to form in her mind, and even though it sounded ridiculous, there was no other explanation that made more sense.
["You're unbearable, Natasha"] – Barton
Watching this in the hologram, Natasha smiled for reasons she couldn't explain.
[They rested their foreheads together for a moment before finally making a decision]
["Okay. You win"] – Barton
[However, Natasha was taken by surprise by Barton]
["Tell my family I love them"]
[Natasha reacted instantly]
["You'll tell them yourself"]
[Barton was struck by an electrical discharge]
[Natasha ran toward the cliff. However, Barton struggled to his feet and fired one of his arrows, causing her to fall]
[Barton gave her one last look before running toward the cliff with determination. Natasha could only see that there was no hesitation in his eyes]
Just as she was about to see what happened next, the hologram froze, reaching its end.
> [The following content is paid. Please purchase the card to unlock it.] <
Natasha snapped back to reality when she saw the notice and immediately glanced to her side.
Seeing that Eric was still uselessly trying to break free from her grip, she exhaled in relief.
She could not allow this man to escape.
Not until he explained everything they had just witnessed.
"What is all of THIS?" Her voice trembled, but not from fear. From restrained fury.
She hated feeling vulnerable, and after seeing this, that was exactly how she felt.
Barton was a close friend to her. Someone who had spared her life and extended a hand to give her a second chance.
Seeing him on the verge of death by jumping off a cliff knocked her completely off balance.
The bar continued as if nothing had happened.
No one saw anything.
The card still floated between them, displaying the purple cliff of Vormir.
Eric felt the air leave his lungs.
"You're still not going to say anything?" Natasha stared at Eric with a murderous look.
"I—I don't know! I swear!" he gasped.
Natasha's grip loosened by a millimeter. Just one.
Her eyes were fixed on the card.
Great. Perfect. The worst day of my life, premium edition. Eric cursed his luck.
Natasha took a deep breath. Very deep. As if she were trying to lock all her emotions inside a box.
The card slowly fell onto the table. Deactivated.
She touched it, but it did not react at all.
Natasha released Eric.
But she did not step back.
"You're coming with me," she said with a calm tone that was far more terrifying than her anger. "And you're not leaving my sight until I find out who the hell you are… and who's behind all of this."
She decided to cancel the mission in a blink. This matter was far more important.
Eric swallowed hard.
I think I'm officially being kidnapped by a woman. Never thought my prayers would be answered in this world, he thought.
The Vormir card had gone dark and disappeared, but the atmosphere remained heavy with fear and tension.
Natasha did not take her eyes off Eric, as if she might pierce him with her gaze at any second.
"Stand up," she ordered.
Eric stood up.
Or rather, he obeyed automatically.
Because his body had already decided that contradicting Black Widow was the same as asking to be beaten and knocked unconscious.
Between those two options, obedience sounded much better… and consciousness was a nice bonus.
Natasha grabbed his forearm firmly, ready to pull him out of the bar without drawing attention.
Her grip was iron.
Eric felt his wrist starting to go numb.
"You can't do this," he said, trying not to sound desperate.
"I can. And I will," she replied coldly. "Until you explain what the hell all of that was."
Eric opened his mouth to attempt an excuse… but at that exact moment, the system spoke inside his mind:
> [Emergency reward granted] <
> [Condition: User at risk of abduction.] <
> [Delivery: Instant.] <
> [Reward: Random Displacement Card – Class D] <
> [Cooldown: 10h] <