For Chocolatelover2001
Romanogers' first kiss: He never meant to actually kiss her. Just banter with her a bit; up close and personal. But, he guessed that some things were just too hard to resist. Especially things involving her…
Steve
"You know, I hate when you do that." Nat says from behind me. I didn't hear her come in. (When have I ever? Super senses unfortunately don't beat spy walk…) I stop arranging the DVDs on the coffee table and turn to face her. She's standing over me, arms crossed.
"What are you talking about?" I ask her. I'm pretty sure I already know, but she likes to hear herself talk (despite her insistence to the contrary) so I let her.
"That thing you do with Bucky." She answers.
"Well. That was specific." I mutter. Now I'm not so sure I know what she's talking about. I do a lot with Bucky, now that he's back. "Which thing?"
"The thing where you push him with Tony; push him with Sam, push him with Thor…anyone on the team, really, and refuse to spend time with them yourself." She frowns. I flick up an eyebrow.
"I've spent time with the team." I shrug. "Buck's still getting to know everyone. He needs the time more."
"What if people want to spend time with you?" Nat says. She steps closer. "What if we love hanging out with Bucky, but we want to see you too?"
"Then you'll have to get over it." I shrug, turning back to the cases scattered on the table. It is silent for a moment as I start to pile them up neatly, until she lets out an abrupt sound of disgust, or maybe anger and my DVDs fall again. I turn to glare at her, but when she speaks, her voice quivers just a touch.
"There you go again!" She huffs.
"What?" I ask peevishly.
"That!" She tosses up her hands. Her vagueness is starting to rub me raw. Luckily, she continues. "You act like Bucky deserves this place, this team more than you do!"
"That's it?" I sigh and stand. "He does, Nat."
"No, he doesn't!" She insists. Her voice is raised. "Don't get me wrong, he deserves it a hell of a lot; but damnit, you do too, Steve!"
She never calls me Steve unless it's an emergency, or she's super serious. It's always 'soldier', or 'Cap'. Never Steve.
"Buck's been through a lot." I explain. "I want him to know we need him. I'm just taking care of him."
"Who's taking care of you?" She asks quietly.
"Nat…" I look away. "It's not about me."
"You don't want him to leave." It isn't a question.
"Am I wrong?" I cross my arms. We stand in silence, staring each other down.
"No." She sighs finally.
"He always took care of me." I look down at her.
"I know." She says quietly.
"I want him to feel appreciated." I say.
"I know." Even quieter. "But who's taking care of you?"
"I don't need to be taken care of." I scratch the back of my neck.
"Everyone needs to be taken care of." She steps closer, so close I can feel her body heat, and she's not even touching me. It takes everything I have not to step away, but I plant my feet and stand firm. A corner of my mouth twitches up in a half-smirk.
"Really?" I say. I'm flirting with her.
"Yeah." She grins. She's flirting back.
"You wanna take care of me?" I say quietly. My voice comes out low and husky.
"What if I do?" She replies.
"I won't stop you." I shrug.
"I doubt you could." She leans into me, standing on her tiptoes. I dip my head down, looking into her eyes.
"I wouldn't want to." I say sincerely.
"I'm glad." She smirks, tipping her chin up. I grin and before I know what's happened, I'm kissing her. She doesn't seem surprised, and she hasn't slapped me so I guess we're good. This feels good. I step forward until she's against the wall. After forever, we break apart and she just stares at me.
"Well." I say.
"Well." She returns. "That was good second kiss, soldier."
See what I mean? Nat grins, and I grin back, then she leaves. For a while after that, I stand there, staring into space with a stupid smile on my face.
"She kissed you, didn't she?" Jaq says from next to me. I'm really losing my touch here.
"Uh, yeah." I shift my weight, glance at Jaq, and smile a little. "Yes, she did."
We stand there a moment. My smile is small as I think of Nat. Jaq's smirk slowly widens until it's a full blown shit-eating grin. What happens next jars me from my reverie.
"Romanogers has come!" Jaq shouts with a triumphant laugh. She jumps up and down a little, then stops. "James! You better pay up!"
She bolts out of the room and into the stairwell. I will never understand that girl. Her and Buck are two oddballs together.
There is one thing I do know, though. Wherever me and Nat are going, I'm gonna enjoy it.
Behold! The first chapter of Days in Shadow! Please request.