Disclaimer: The Avengers belong to Marvel.

The First Time

Steve awkwardly shifted in his seat as he could clearly hear the heated conversation taking place just a few feet from him in the Director's office.

"I already have a partner, Sir," the title coming out as more of an insult than as a sign of respect.

"Not right now you don't."

"Well then I'll wait and I can take on solo missions, in fact I can handle this one by myself."

"I know that, this is more to get Captain Rogers back in the game, show him the ropes. He's a soldier but it's now a spy's game and he needs to work on his espionage, and who better than the best agent we have."

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Nick. I don't need some boy scout following me around."

"Need I remind you that I am your boss and you will do as ordered, Agent."

Steve winced as the door slammed open and a storm of red huffed passed him. Puzzled he turned and looked at Director Fury. The man just gave him a nod in return so the Captain quickly jumped to his feet and sprinted to catch up with his new partner.

Several hours later in Serbia

Agent Romanoff swerved to avoid the hail of bullets raining down on them from one of the two SUVs chasing them. She also let loose a string of Russian curses.

"I had it," she barked at her new partner, clearly blaming him for the situation they currently found themselves in.

"Well maybe if you had said more than two words to me the entire time we've been in Serbia," Captain America had finally reached his breaking point. She had been cold, standoffish, and quite rude ever since he joined her on the plane for this mission. "I thought you were supposed to be showing me the ropes."

She spared time to shoot him a death glare and made a sharp left causing him to slam his head against the door, "that was a private conversation."

"Super hearing, I can't help it. Sorry I'm not Barton," he spat. She was nice enough in New York but maybe she had been too busy worrying about her MIA partner, and the incoming alien horde.

They were both jolted forward as they were slammed into from behind.

He looked outside at the snowy cliff face. "Do you even know where we are?"

She rolled her eyes, "We'll figure that out as soon as we lose our two tails."

More Russian curses as one of their tires was shot out and they began to fishtail on the icy road.

"Hang on!" and they were air borne. They slammed hard into the water. "Well, we lost them," she smirked as she looked at the two SUVs driving away, figuring them a lost cause now.

The cold water started seeping into the car as they began to sink.

"Make for the shore," Natasha began to unbuckle herself and had her hand on her door about to exit the vehicle when she paused. Her partner hadn't moved a muscle.

As the icy water rushed in he was brought back to a time apparently seventy years ago but which only felt like days ago to him, "I've gotta put her in the water."

He couldn't breathe, the water was filling his lungs and God it was so cold it burned!

"Steve! Steve!" He felt hands on his face and he blinked as concerned green orbs framed in red stared back at him. "Steve, breathe!"

And only then did he realize he was gasping for air, "Hey, look at me!" he had started to panic again, looking at the water that was now level with is chest.

"It's going to be ok," she reached over and undid his seatbelt. She climbed over into his seat with him. "Alright, alright I need you to swim to shore with me ok? Can you do that for me?"

He blinked trying to focus and then nodded.

"Deep breath," and as soon as he did that she grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the car.

Breaking the surface of the water he gulped in some much needed air and was soon yanked in the direction of shore.

He was sprawled on the ground trying to regain himself as the cold air brutally whipped at his face.

"Come on Rogers, up," and strong arms were pulling him to a standing position. She took his hand in her own again and just pulled him along and he stumbled in a stupor.

"Sit," she commanded as they entered a SHIELD safe house. She put in for an extraction but with the storm coming in they wouldn't get to them until morning so they would just have to hunker down here for the night.

Glancing at the couch she saw her partner hadn't moved an inch, he just sat there staring at the roaring fire she had started. It was easy to forget that underneath the suit Captain America was just Steve Rogers, a kid from Brooklyn.

She kneeled in front of him and could feel the tremors wracking his body and she noted that his lips were a light shade of blue.

"Steve, we're safe here now. Let's get you warmed up, ok?" no response.

"I'm just going to get you out of this wet suit," she reached for the zipper and started to take off his uniform. She was a little worried that this still elicited no response from the old fashioned man.

Once she had stripped him of his uniform she wrapped him up in several blankets. After removing her uniform as well she ducked underneath the blankets with him and snuggled close to share her body heat.

Not quite what she had imagined when she thought of getting naked with Captain America, and admittedly she had noticed how nicely he filled out his uniform back in New York.

Steve blearily blinked his eyes as the bright sun woke him up. He looked around and didn't recognize where he was. However, as soon as he opened his mouth a steaming mug was shoved in his face.

"Drink this," and then Natasha was rushing about the room and collecting their things.

Suddenly he was hit in the face with, he frowned, was that his uniform? He pulled the blankets away and saw that he was clad in only his boxers. Then his ears tinged pink and he blushed as memories from the other night began to filter in.

"Evac will be here in 10."

They boarded the quinjet as soon as it arrived.

"Everyone alright?" the pilot pointedly looked at Steve who was awfully quiet and sullen.

"Yes," and that was that as they received the Black Widow death glare.

Once medical had checked him out, he had his debrief with Director Fury.

"I'm sorry sir," Steve began and rubbed a hand nervously over his face, unsure how to explain exactly what had happened on the mission and his panic attack.

"Agent Romanoff said there was some missing intel and you had to abort the mission."

"Anything else?" Steve gulped as Fury raised a knowing eyebrow.

"Should there be?"

"No, no," he quickly shook his head.

"Good." Subject closed, "She did request some downtime before your next mission so that you too can get used to having each other as partners."

Steve's head snapped up at that, she still wanted to be partners after all that had happened?

"That'll be all, Captain."

"Right, yeah. Goodbye, sir." He swiftly got to his feet and left headquarters.

Entering his apartment he set his keys down and paused as something felt off. Walking further into the apartment he spied Natasha Romanoff sitting on his couch, drinking from a mug, with her feet on his coffee table as if she owned the place.

He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe, "What are you doing here?"

He wasn't surprised she had figured out where he lived, he was just surprised that she still wanted anything to do with him.

"Hey partner," she smirked and patted the couch next to her. He raised a brow at being invited to sit on his own couch.

So he took a seat and leaned forward, gently pushing her feet off the coffee table, "Feet off the coffee table."

He blew about a breath, "Look about the other night-"

She cut him off before he could continue, "It happens to the best of us." And it had actually made Captain America more relatable to her. Maybe they weren't as different as she first thought.

Picking up the remote she pressed play, "So I heard this was on your list, and I thought we would cross it off together."

He leaned back into the couch cushions as the opening credits of Star Wars rolled across the screen. And he couldn't help the smile that crossed his face. Maybe this new world he had awoken in wouldn't be so bad after all.