In the Garden of Spite: A Novel of the Black Widow of La Porte

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She continued to try to get him to help on her missions, but it was Hawkeye who ended up influencing Natasha. Though misguided at the time due to her manipulation and his love for her, Hawkeye was still a hero at heart, and his idealism and strong moral compass helped Natasha find her own. Despite a lifetime of conditioning, Natasha chose to pursue her own destiny and defected. Romanoff then approached Stark and Hogan before requesting Potts to sign the papers. As Potts did so, Stark inquired Romanoff about her name, and she proceeded with her cover name, Natalie Rushman. Stark, unaware of Romanoff's true identity, asked her to come into the boxing ring so that the two could talk. Potts insisted that Stark was in an eccentric mood, to which Romanoff assured her that it was fine. When I first joined S.H.I.E.L.D. I thought I was going straight. But I guess I just traded in the KGB for HYDRA. I thought I knew whose lies I was telling, but I guess I can't tell the difference anymore." Solenski Plaza: Romanoff was on a mission to gather intel from Georgi Luchkov when Phil Coulson called her saying that Clint Barton had been compromised.

Quinjet: Romanoff has used a Quinjet for transportation to travel around the world and take out threats during active missions as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and as a member of the Avengers. She usually co-pilots the Quinjet, controlling the weapons that are built into its systems. On May 2, 2018, it was reported that Marvel Studios were still searching for a director for the film and had met with more than 65 directors. [19] On July 20, 2019, at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, the cast was revealed and Kevin Feige announced that the film was scheduled to hit theaters on May 1, 2020. [35]You are mind-blowingly duplicitous. How do you do it? You just tear things out? You're a triple imposter. I've never seen anything like it. Is there anything real about you?" ― Tony Stark to Natasha Romanoff [src]

They then departed Morag and headed to Vormir, to retrieve the Soul Stone, using the coordinates Nebula provided them on the ship. As they traveled to Vormir, the two best friends enjoyed the sight of space travel, laughing with each other, as Hawkeye mentioned that they had gone through so much since being S.H.I.E.L.D. agents years ago, mentioning their mission in Budapest, to which she agreed with. [26] While the ship was on autopilot, the two had a deep conversation about their relationship. [44] Natasha returned to S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers, assisting both as she could. One such mission included helping the Avengers battle Korvac—a cosmically-powered being seeking to overthrow the universe and become its benevolent ruler. During this fight, Natasha realized how insignificant mortal relationships must seem to beings who live eternally, including Hercules, effectively ending their romantic relationship. Natasha then helped the Avengers rescue Daredevil when he was mind-controlled by the criminal Death-Stalker (Philip Sterling). I've lived a lot of lives before I met you, Ross. You shouldn't have gone to all this trouble." ― Thaddeus Ross and Natasha Romanoff [src]Fury went on to inspire the Avengers after their defeat by Ultron and called the A.I. "a platinum bastard," causing Romanoff to continue a running joke between the Avengers about Steve Rogers telling Stark to watch his language. While trying to think what Ultron's next move would be, Banner figured out he wanted to evolve by using the Regeneration Cradle. Romanoff, Barton, and Rogers prepared to leave for Seoul, where they believed Ultron would be with Helen Cho as he needed to use the Cradle. [17] Battle of Seoul [ ] Natalia Alianovna "Natasha" Romanoff (Russian: Наталья Альяновна "Наташа" Романов) [11] was one of the most talented spies and assassins in the entire world and a founding member of the Avengers. As a child, she was indoctrinated into the Red Room by General Dreykov, and briefly lived as the surrogate daughter of Alexei Shostakov and Melina Vostokoff while they were undercover in the United States of America. After the Destruction of the North Institute, she underwent extensive psychological conditioning, before graduating from the Red Room as a Widow. Working as an operative for the KGB, she was targeted by S.H.I.E.L.D., before given the chance to ultimately defect to the organization by Clint Barton by assassinating Dreykov. Romanoff succeeded, although having to use his daughter Antonia Dreykov's life as collateral damage would haunt her for the rest of her life. Twenty-three days after the Snap, Captain Marvel returned from her mission to find Tony Stark, carrying Benatar towards the Avengers Compound. The Avengers, along with Pepper Potts stood outside and witnessed Stark exit the ship, along with Nebula. After being sent a Skype video of the newly-born Nathaniel Pietro Barton, Romanoff joined Captain America in co-leading the second incarnation of the Avengers, featuring Wanda Maximoff, War Machine, Vision and Falcon. [17] They started training the new Avengers night and day, preparing them for whatever threats they might face. [19] When we arrive, I need you to watch the perimeter. I'm gonna enter the facility and take down the target. Watch the road." ―Natasha Romanoff to Happy Hogan [src]

The KGB was not eager to let their operative go and first extorted and then brainwashed her into submission, forcing her to fight the Avengers (which Hawkeye had joined in the meantime). Still, iron-willed as ever, Natasha fought past these violations and truly severed ties with her past. When Iron Man told Captain America that his only solution to save the world from Novi Grad being smashed into it was to destroy Novi Grad itself, Captain America refused to entertain the idea.On March 17, 2020, it was announced that the film would no longer be released on May 1, 2020, with its release date being indefinitely postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. [39] Avengers Compound: After the Ultron Offensive, the Avengers relocated their base of operations to a facility upstate. There, Romanoff and Steve Rogers would train the new lineup of Avengers, as well as use it as their place of residence. Romanoff led the Avengers out of the Compound for five years following Thanos' victory.