(Attendance please…)
….
Natasha wasn't entirely certain. She didn't know Satoru well enough. After the Ultron incident a year earlier, he had vanished from their side, keeping only occasional contact with Tony and Jarvis. That much she knew.
Then he showed up on the day of the meeting, and after the discussion, he agreed with Tony to sign a document that practically stripped away his freedom, something that seemed completely at odds with his arrogant, carefree personality.
Or maybe it fit his carefree personality all too well.
Still, he had agreed to sign the Accords that easily.
Unless he already knew the document would never be signed. Not today. Perhaps not ever.
Gojo blinked down at her, that playful smirk still there. How could one feel or think when one didn't even know what kind of incident he was getting credit for or being accused of planning exactly?
Though he had somewhat come up with a few suggestions in his mind immediately, based on recent events or whatever he had said.
Though he wasn't entirely sure, he figured he would play his part for a few more moments.
"What do you mean, 'planned this'? How the hell would I plan your secret love confession?"
"Stop it," Natasha snapped, her voice carrying an edge, as though she were hoping for a negative answer from him. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. Did you plan that sniper shot?"
Gojo stared at her. He had come up with a few suggestions in his mind earlier, but this one had certainly been near the end of the list, not the beginning.
But still, it was somewhat in line with her personality, her past, and even her present. Even so, he hadn't thought she would come up with something like this as an imaginary scenario in her mind.
What exactly had she been thinking, and what were the chances that it would end with him being the mastermind? Or what other possibilities had she considered before concluding that he was the one?
But still, he wouldn't know unless he asked Natasha and heard her answer.
"What the hell kind of spy-thriller movie are you directing in your head right now?" Gojo asked, sounding far more offended than defensive. "Of course I didn't plan an assassination attempt on a King…!"
Natasha put a hand over his mouth, silencing him before he could say anything else. Then she looked around. "Don't shout. You don't know what could happen if someone hears this coming from your mouth, even if it's just you speaking."
He sighed, running a hand through his white hair. "I just guessed something like this could happen. It's basic statistics, or one of the many possibilities someone could think of or bet on, like in a gamble, Natasha. You put a hundred world leaders in a giant glass box? There's a high probability of an attack. My brain just naturally calculates those possibilities, even if they're unlikely. There was a probability a bomb was already there. There was a probability the King would die if I was too slow. And yes, there was a probability you were dragging me into a dark alley to confess your love. I didn't plan any of it. I was just somewhat… ready for it to happen. That's all."
Natasha's eyes remained narrowed, searching for any signs on his face of any kind. "Then what was all that talk of yours outside? About how this perfectly benefits our standing?"
"Because it's the objective truth?" Gojo said, tilting his head. "I just vocalized the leverage you hadn't had the time to realize yet because you were too busy on security and being a bodyguard and thinking wah too many things and our standing bit being one of them at this current situation. You would have come to the exact same conclusion by tomorrow morning or whenever you had a clear mind and the possible aftermath of this action. Don't misunderstand me, Nat. I came here for Tony, for Jarvis, and for you. If I didn't want to be here, nobody could force me to show up… actually maybe some could."
"What could anyone possibly do to make me sign or show up here? Blackmail? Emotional blackmail? Threat of exposing my hidden stash of figurines? Money? Killing Threats? Or someone mind-controlling me…?"
Natasha stared into his eyes, partially visible as his glasses had slid slightly down the bridge of his nose.
She searched for micro-expressions, subtle shifts in his breathing, anything that hinted at a lie, or, really, anything at all.
She had spent most of her life as a spy and an assassin. Reading people like this had become as natural to her as breathing.
Everything about him screamed normal and calm, slightly insulted honestly.
Slowly, the tension and anxiety bled from her shoulders. She stepped back, lowering her hands, her head bowing slightly in a rare display of exhaustion. She was relieved to hear the answer she had so desperately wanted to be true, and now she finally had it.
"I see," she murmured. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have... I didn't mean to accuse you."
Gojo smiled, his usual playful demeanor returning instantly. He reached out and patted her shoulder. "Haha, don't worry about it. You're a attentive type so maybe you had gotten some signs or reasons; being paranoid is somewhat literally your job no offense. What did you expect me to do, anyway? Throw a dramatic fit? Or laugh like a villain."
He placed the back of his hand against his forehead, mimicking a swooning actor. "Oh, Natasha! How dare you accuse me? Or… so you finally got it? Or did you finally figure it out? Better yet, how did you figure it out? Did you know it all along?"
Natasha couldn't help it. A small smile broke through her exhausted facade knowing Gojo was okay. "Maybe something exactly along those lines, yes."
Rhmmmm. Rhmmmm.
Natasha's phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out, checking the caller ID. And it was none other than Tony's call.
She answered, holding the phone to her ear. She listened for a few moments, giving a short nod. "Yeah. Okay. We're on our way."
She hung up and looked at Gojo, her posture shifting back into mission mode. "That was Tony. He told me to get you and meet him at the compound. The others are coming too."
Gojo pushed himself off the wall, stretching his arms above his head. "Well… can we stop to pick up some sweets on the way? Catching bombs and saving everyone makes me kinda hungry."
Natasha started walking down the corridor toward their outside the building. "We can stop. But maybe eat a little less sugar sometimes."
"Come on, Nat! Don't act like that," Gojo whined, falling into step beside her. "You're supposed to be the cool one. When I say 'I want sweets,' your line is supposed to be, 'How much?'"
"Not happening, Satoru."
….
A/N: :) :)
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