When the weather is clear, the shadows of tall trees become denser, falling on the stone path steps like hands wearing black silk gloves playing ancient keys. When the sky turns the deepest blue, the shadows of the leaves always take on a rich blue-purple hue. Even a casual glance makes one marvel that such vivid colors can truly appear in real life.
The architecture of Clarkia is fond of using wooden structures combined with crystal glass windows and domes. On good weather days, the indoor natural light is abundant. The light filtered through the crystal window casts a misty soft glow over everything.
Under such light, Natasha's red hair fades from its original cold tone and turns into a vibrant orange-red, while Bucky's black hair is illuminated to a brown hue. The gently swaying hair gleams, making him appear as if he just walked out of a Middle Ages religious mural.
Steve stepped forward and gave Bucky a hug.
"You finally made it. And, lady, is your recent work going well?"
"Let me go first," Bucky said, "Here's some good news, even stingy Nick is finally planning to give me Level 8 Agent treatment. From now on, I'll be on the same level as Coulson, my colleague. Oh, right, did you know he ate a Golden Apple a couple of days ago?"
"I just heard about it," Steve said, "Don't forget, he's my avid fan. Whenever something happens, he thinks of informing me first. Even about eating the Golden Apple, he consulted me."
"I forgot about that," Bucky laughed and said, "You know, sometimes I tend to forget that you are Captain America, or can't quite connect the you from before with the you now."
"That's quite normal, when the two of us met, I was still a frail nerd. If it weren't for you dragging me out, I might not have left the house for a whole year. We've both changed a lot."
Steve paused for a bit and then said, "S.H.I.E.L.D.'s work is so busy that Coulson aged too quickly. In just a decade or so, he's grown wrinkles. Thank goodness for the Golden Apple."
"I feel like Nick just can't bear losing his capable assistant and wants him to keep working for several more years. After all, where can you find such a cheap and efficient Level 8 Agent?"
"You'll be next soon," Steve smiled and said, "He who desires the crown must bear its weight. Agent Carter hasn't even reached Level 8 yet, you came much later than her and got promoted ahead."
"That reminds me..." Bucky stopped short and glanced at Natasha nearby. Obviously, there are complaints between good buddies that aren't meant for outsiders to hear.
Natasha waved her hand and said, "A good agent should know when to play dead. If you learned this earlier, you'd have been promoted long ago."
"You don't seem right," Steve observed Natasha carefully and said, "You look out of sorts, you aren't catching a cold, are you?"
"I'm not sick," Natasha said, "And who caught a cold?"
"Of course Tony. You guys arrived late and don't know, a sick Tony Stark is ten thousand times harder to deal with than his usual self..." Steve paused here, apparently realizing that it's not quite right to speak behind someone's back. But he'd been holding back for so long, so he also gave Bucky a knowing look.
"You don't need to exchange glances here, I'm leaving soon." Natasha sighed lightly and said, "When does the spa banquet start? I need a nap first."
"It starts in the evening," Steve said, "If you're tired, go rest for a while. We'll call you up when it's lunchtime."
Natasha walked away without a word. Steve watched her back, somewhat puzzled, and said, "What's wrong with her? She looks like..."
Bucky shook his head and said, "I don't know either, maybe she's just feeling unwell. Let's stroll around the island, I must tell you about how many outrageous tasks Nick has assigned to me..."
"Great, I have plenty to say too, let's chat as we walk."
When Natasha arrived at her lodgings, the people from Central Universe weren't there. Tony and Shiller went to help wrap up at the spa, Matt and Steven went to seek the Mutant leader to study legal issues on sanctions. She barely made it to the room and encountered Captain America from another universe.
"Good morning, lady... Oh, wait, you're not the Natasha from our universe?"
Natasha nodded but said nothing. Captain America looked a bit puzzled and said, "You don't look well, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Natasha waved her hand and said, "I just need some rest."
With that, she walked into the room and went to her bedroom, collapsing into bed and sleeping. The Main Universe Captain America stood puzzled at the door for a moment but soon left. When he returned to his own lodgings, Black Widow was eating snacks.
"I ran into the Central Universe version of you," he said, "It's my first time seeing that universe's Natasha..."
"Impossible," Main Universe Black Widow said, "During the Multiverse War, you must've seen her, just not spoken."
"That's not right," Captain America said, "Although I might've seen any hero during the Multiverse War, people from the Central Universe are quite special, distinctly different from other counterparts. If I'd seen her, I would surely recognize her."
"That might be true for other heroes, but I'm different." Black Widow shook her head and said, "I know her."
"You mean the Black Widow of the Central Universe is no different from other counterparts?" Captain America gestured slightly, "No special abilities?"
Black Widow shook her head and said, "No. If anything, she's weaker than the other counterparts."
"Huh?" Main Universe Captain America was truly a bit surprised, "She's actually weaker? Why is that?"
"Well, it's the good life," Black Widow shrugged lightly, "A strong agent needs a harsh environment to hone themselves. Only a long-term high-pressure environment can keep my body in its best condition. If things are too easy, all sorts of problems emerge."
Captain America seemed a bit puzzled. Black Widow chuckled softly and then said, "Did you know? The Black Widow from the Central Universe actually has menstruation."
Captain America's movement paused slightly, "You don't?"
Black Widow rolled her eyes lightly, "I'm a transformed warrior; the purpose of my transformation is to become the perfect agent. Would a perfect agent bleed while fighting?"
Captain America opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. He was comparing his situation with Natasha's. After all, when he was transformed, it was mostly positive effects: becoming stronger, more determined, focused, and his reproductive functions were not affected. He didn't expect that Black Widow, who, like him, is also transformed, would face such an issue.
"Then... how is this achieved?" Captain America pressed further, adding, "Of course, this is your privacy. I'm not asking out of curiosity, but out of concern. Though so many years have passed, it doesn't mean problems won't arise..."
"It's achieved through chemical means," Black Widow said, "I know everyone suspected that I didn't have a uterus, but the damage from organ removal surgery is too great. They're painstakingly trained to create the perfect agent, not to be thrown on an operating table for surgery; that risk is too high."
Captain America nodded. When selecting astronauts and pilots, even members of some special forces, people who've had surgeries are avoided. Especially those who've had open-chest or open-abdominal surgeries, as the damage is significant and may fundamentally affect physical health. Besides, some wounds might seem healed but are never quite as good as the original. In high-pressure or unique environments, this can be life-threatening.
Although Natasha is a cyborg, with technological components in her, such issues are entirely avoidable, and there's no need for unnecessary risk.
"But you said she might..."
"Actually, after all these years, the chemical means have long since failed," Black Widow shook her head and said, "Now it's more of a psychological factor. If I can't constantly maintain a combat state and become weak, I won't be able to perform my work efficiently. So, I've been in that state ever since."
"Oh, I get it," Captain America nodded, "Her work environment isn't as dangerous, so she can live like an ordinary woman. But, she seems quite uncomfortable; that's not entirely a blessing, is it?"
"Of course, I don't think any counterpart would want to menstruate. I think maybe something went wrong, causing her to end up this way." Black Widow had no intention of gloating; she simply said, "But surely she'll find a way to resolve it. After all, no matter how good their universe is, she still has to work, and this truly impacts efficiency."
Natasha slept all the way until lunchtime. As soon as she woke up, she heard a knock on the door. Steve's voice sounded from outside, "Ma'am, it's lunchtime; get up and have something to eat."
Natasha slowly moved out. Her appearance startled everyone, not that her looks changed, but her movements were somewhat stiff—many hadn't seen such a version of Natasha before.
"What's wrong with you?" Strange asked, frowning deeply, "Are you really not going to get a check-up? I can schedule you at Elders Council Hospital?"
"Don't mention check-ups," Natasha's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, "If it wasn't for that damn Nick dragging me to a check-up, none of this would've happened!"
"So, what's the matter?" Stark pursued, "Are you really having menstrual cramps?"
However, he quickly realized that what he said wasn't quite appropriate, so he added, "I always thought you didn't get your period; even if you do now, it's not necessarily bad, but can't this issue be fixed?"
Natasha replied weakly, "I didn't have it before, but ever since I went through a comprehensive check-up at S.H.I.E.L.D., they told me a certain hormone index in my body had changed, and I started bleeding again..."
"I'm a bit confused," Matt thought for a moment and said, "What hormone index changed?"
"The Red Room used hormonal modifications to prevent female agents from menstruating, allowing them to maintain full combat capability. Generally, it can last a lifetime, but obviously, my lifetime is a bit too long," Natasha said helplessly, "The hormones in the medication completely wore off more than a decade ago; they're ineffective now."
"Then why are you only now noticing the changes?"
"It's of course due to psychological factors. If I didn't know, it would be fine. But once I found out, it started taking effect. Hormones are peculiar like that," Natasha explained.
Stark suddenly understood. He looked at Natasha with some concern and asked, "Can't you take some painkillers then?"
Steve, however, seemed to have already thought of something, "Ordinary painkillers aren't effective for us cyborgs, and if the dosage is too high, it might cause further damage, which probably isn't worth it."
Natasha nodded weakly.