This story is Part 11 of the 'An Avenger...' series and takes place before the events of 'Infinite Sex'.
***
Lurking in the shadows backstage at a special United Nations conference Natasha Romanoff waited impatiently as the emissaries of 117 countries noisily took their seats; every one of them out for her blood.
Of course Natasha had known Cap's interference in the capture of Bucky Barnes would lead to this and, in spite of her misgivings, ultimately she had come to his aid. This left the her in a tricky political situation however, having agreed to the United Nation's terms; Now it was only a matter of time before a task force came for the Black Widow too.
Brushing back long red hair, Natasha nodded to a passing administrator as the time for her speech neared. Of course, under normal circumstances she preferred to hide from the spotlight; both her duties as an Avenger and her more clandestine sub-missions required anonymity but Stark had informed her she alone was left to settle the inevitable blow back of several Avengers breaking the Sokovia Accords. After all the God-like Vision was hardly going to settle the public's nerves and as Tony had said: sex sells.
Standing in her skintight black cat suit, Natasha thumbed the belt slung low around her hip; wishing once again she had her weapons to hand; in her experience conflicts were better resolved with bullets than with words. Fingers grasping the zip between her breasts the sexy redhead infinitesimally raised the zipper before changing her mind, further lowering it and opening the neck of her suit. Stark was right; sex sells. Aware of the Avengers 'A' emblazoned across her shoulder, Natasha once again swept back her hair, knowing she was representing all of her friends now in hiding. At least her trademark stealth outfit was bound to score points with the public: And if things went south a stealthy exit was likely her best outcome.
Seeing the group of publicists around her disperse to their seats, Natasha peeked around the velvet curtain as a UN adjudicator walked to the podium, addressing the crowd of countries in attendance. Soon she would be called to answer for the Avenger's crimes. Swallowing nervously, Natasha barely noticed the wasp buzzing around her ear:
"Hello Talia."
Flinching, Natasha twisted on the spot; surprised to find no opponent standing behind her. And then there was: a woman flickering out of thin air.
Blinking in amazement, Natasha watched, her surprise visitor's insect-like wings folding into her own tight blue costume, shaking her head as Hope Van Dyne finally removed the sleek metal helmet.
"I told you not to do that!" Natasha whispered tensely.
Hope smirked, flicking out her ponytail as Natasha glanced around their surroundings; ensuring the Wasp had not been spotted.
"Well you also told me you were a Russian physical trainer named Talia... but last time I checked you were not in charge of our little sparring sessions."
Natasha blushed, remembering their previous encounters:
"Last time I was undercover..."
"So now we are making an illicit deal at your own public hearing," Hope smiled naughtily, "I'd say not much has changed."
Natasha eyed the proceedings on stage, still waiting for her cue to address the assembly. Watching over her shoulder, the taller woman whispered into the redhead's ear:
"Given your last trip to Capitol Hill I wouldn't think you'd be particularly comfortable in this company?"
Shifting on the spot, Natasha tugged at her belt:
"I'm not. But given I have what you want, maybe you shouldn't try to add to my discomfort."
Eyes hooding over, Hope decided to get serious; Scott really had been a bad influence on her:
"You have the component?"
"Yes."
"On you?"
Wary of her aggressive ex-sparring partner, Natasha shifted awkwardly on the spot; feeling the tight constraint of her costume:
"Not now, not here."
Hope shook her head, stepping closer to the other woman:
"You know there are other interested parties... If you hadn't taken it out of the Avenger's compound it probably would have been stolen already."
"Lucky I have it then," Natasha replied dryly: "What does 'it' do anyway?"
Grabbing the redhead's arm, Hope stood over the shorter woman, dark green eyes narrowing as she cut her off:
"Where, is, it??"
"Well hidden," Natasha replied tersely.
"This can't wait Romanoff."
Shrugging away from the insistent Wasp, Natasha turned back to the stage:
"Oh yeah? Well the last thing I need is the UN confirming I am actively helping a wanted fugitive! Especially since this is the Avengers last chance to set the record straight!"
Hope rolled her eyes: "I don't care about your super secret boyband."
"...Now, in light of the catastrophe in Leipzig, the Black Widow herself has asked to address you directly; to assuage any concerns of the validity of this peacekeeping initiative..."
Hearing the announcer call her out, Natasha began to step up to the stage. Twisting to face Hope as she climbed, she responded in a hushed tone:
"After the speech."
Hearing the applause emanate from the large auditorium, Hope watched the redhead ascend, cursing even as she enjoyed her view of the Black Widow's voluptuous ass. Crossing her arms the Wasp smirked: The intense spotlight only emphasized Natasha's hourglass figure. And If the redhead was nervous about her impending arrest she didn't show it, sauntering to the podium before turning to the audience.