𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 || 𝘈 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘳 𝘓𝘪𝘦

THE HONKING OF CARS FLOWED THROUGH THE OPEN BALCONY DOORS OF THE HOTEL ROOM. The source of light belonging to the sun up that blasted from the open blinds and windows. Natasha moved from the kitchen towards the living room with a fresh cup of coffee. Sighing softly as she settled herself onto the couch in front of her laptop, taking a sip of her beverage, then another before placing it down on the glass coffee table.

Hers and Jaxon's small vacation had gone like the other two they'd been on. Of course, this was practically a vacation for Natasha as Jaxon still had business to conduct in Santorini. But from what she knew, they still had a few days until he had to go and do his job. So, while he was gone, she decided to work on other things to pass up the time. Not finding the idea of going shopping for milk and eggs that pleasing.

In reality, it was just Jaxon's chance of being out there in the world and not cooped up in their small apartment back in New York. These were some of the only times she got to see him relax, even though in a few days he would be putting a bullet in someone's head and they'd be leaving for the soonest flight home. It didn't bother her though, she had worked in the Red Room, she was an assassin. Natasha knew that she had never given her a chance to relax on these types of missions that Jaxon went on or even the ones she went on for Fury.

Everything felt like an easy change of pace for her. Even working despite being on this mini-vacation felt a whole lot different since she had someone to experience it with.

But her relaxation slowly came to a stop when she heard the sound of shoes scuffing across the ground. The rattling of metal with a grunt filled the air. Her eyes caught Jaxon who lurched over the railing of their balcony and stumbled forward slightly, grimacing in pain, hand pressed against his stomach where a patch of blood rested. Dirt was splashed across his entire body, tiny cuts along his cheeks and forehead from whatever happened.

"Jaxon?" She quickly approached, panic bubbling in her stomach as he watched her with a clenched jaw. "What happened-" Right as she reached to cup his face between her hands, he grasped her wrists tightly.

The action alone had her freezing up, gasping at the glare burning her soul. Natasha stared at him wide-eyed, never having seen such a dangerous and ruthless look in his eyes. Lips parted as she wanted to express the pain he was inflicting on her by his tight grasp, but she stopped herself.

"How did they know I was here?" He questioned in a hushed tone, stepping towards her, shaking her arms harshly as she frowned, not able to get a word out. Far too frightful of who stood before her. "How did they know I was here, Nat?" His voice roared like a fire coming to life, burning her just by the proximity of it.

Her back met a pillar as she shook her head. "I- I don't know. I didn't do anything." She flinched under the pounding of Jaxon's fist against the concrete pillar. "Don't fucking lie to me!"

"I'm not lying!" She yelled back, tears stinging the back of her eyes as she couldn't place the man in front of her with the man she grew to know and love. This whole other side of him had never been presented to her. Natasha knew that this side existed and was probably only ever shown to his enemies, but now she was placed under that umbrella.

It was a feeling she never expected to experience. Jaxon stared at her, eyes flickering across her face, trying to get a read on her and see if she was telling the truth. But who was he kidding, she had always been truthful to him. Always being the person he went to when he wanted the harsh reality of things, even when it hurt him. But he also knew of her past as a spy, ex-assassin, he knew she was trained to hide a lot of the truth. And for a while, he'd forgotten that until now.

Backing up and allowing the woman to breathe, his gaze flickered to the coffee table where her laptop sat. His lips parting, eyes flickering back to the woman before he marched towards the device. Natasha followed with curiosity and worry about what he might do in the span of the next few moments.

He grabbed the device and Natasha's cup of coffee and poured the liquid onto the keyboard before tossing the glass to the side where it shattered across the ground into small and large pieces. The laptop soon followed with Jaxon closed it before slamming his knees against it, bending it.

"You need to leave." He huffed, tossing the laptop to the side as he marched towards wherever the first aid kit probably was located. "I can help. Just tell me what's-"

"No!" He yelled, stopping the woman in her place as she stared at him shocked. His face scrunched up, almost looking at her as if he was scrutinizing her decisions. "You using your fucking laptop had them tracking us. They knew I was here way before I even stepped out of the damn hotel - the fucking plane!"

Natasha watched hopelessly as Jaxon groaned, pursing his lips together as he pressed his hand against his wound that still had yet to be known of the magnitude of damage it could've caused. But that had been the last thing on Jaxon's mind as he pointed at the woman. "You need to leave. Get the next flight home."

"We can figure this out, together." Natasha tried again, hoping it would work. Except, she was met by Jaxon shaking his head, clenching his jaw. "No. No, there is no us in this situation. There is no cozy bed and there is no light at the end of the tunnel for this job." He explained, meaning every word spewed.

"There could be if you let it!" Natasha's thunderous voice had him pinching his eyes shut. Abrupt and sudden. Causing his head to bow slightly, licking his lips as he let out a shaky sigh.

This entire thing was a whole new monster. This wasn't a walk-in-the-park type of ordeal. Slip in and slip out. People knew where he was and they were coming for him. He was no longer the hunter. Something unfamiliar in his line of work.

Trying to close the space, Natasha was only met by Jaxon taking a small step back. Not out of fear of shame, but not wanting her too close. The anger going through him could practically blow this entire hotel up if he let it. But he was trying to hold it in, doing it just for her.

"Instead of another war, you seem to be chasing. We could go home, we could run from everything and be together, Jax." She quietly pleaded as Jax swallowed the knot wrapped around his throat. Bottom lip quivering in the tiniest, barely noticeable as he shook his head. "I can't." He whispered, voice loud enough for the woman to hear. It came out broken, now shame and disappointment in himself very evident. War was what he'd been trained to prevent or end, it was his nature and he hated that about himself. It seemed that now, he was seeking it out.

His tone had Natasha swallowing the lump in her throat as she stared at him. Shocked, but knowing that in some way, he was right. And as they sat in a steady silence, only the background noise of cars and people enjoying their lives keeping them sane, Jaxon sighed heavily. He knew it wasn't her fault. But for whatever reason, this was the one time he regretted bringing her on a mission with him. A part of him had screamed that they should cut down the days they were there, not a whole week.

But an even bigger part of him said that he was beginning to get sloppy, not doing the full steps that would keep his enemies off his back. And that was because he had Natasha waiting for him back wherever they were staying. Ready to help patch him up, comfort him, or be there for someone to rant to. Everything he did was for her and to get back to her.

So, with that in mind, he walked towards her before delicately placing his hand on the back of her neck and the other on her hips. Pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, acknowledging the soft sigh that escaped Natasha as she wrapped her around him in a hug. "It'll only be less than a week." He whispered against her, using his non-bloody hand to push a few strands of her hair out of her face.

Leaning back slightly, Jaxon looked down at the woman and was greeted by those alluring emerald eyes. The ones he remembered seeing at Jackpot catch him from across the nightclub. They still held the warmth from all those years ago, something he was sure would never just wash away easily.

With a cautious hand, she cupped his cheek and brushed her thumb against his cheek. The dirt stuck to her delicate and soft skin as she went on her tippy toes and placed a soft kiss against his. Lips lingered for a moment before she smiled sadly. "Promise you'll come find me."