AN I don't own Marvel or any of the characters! Highschool!AU with WinterWidow, Romanogers, Stucky, and eventual Steve/Bucky/Nat. Enjoy!


Steve Rogers was popular. He was captain of the basketball team and captain of the lacrosse team, but he also had a reputation for being angelic. He didn't party, didn't drink, and got straight As. The teachers loved him, the principal called him son, and when you combined it with the tragic loss of his dad and his mom's illness, he became sickenly pure. In spite of all his own turmoil, Steve still participated in or ran three separate clubs-one for green energy, one for homeless shelter support, and one for helping shelter animals get adopted-and there wasn't a person in the school who didn't know his reputation. Perfect.

James 'Bucky' Barnes was popular, but in a different way. He was far from perfect and made it a point to stay that way because the pretty people and populars annoyed him. He didn't do house parties or sports because they weren't his crowd. He also never hosted or dealt, which kept him off the radar too. Just because he didn't peddle drugs or provide them, did not mean he didn't use them, though. He did smoke and drink a fair amount-both because it was fun and because he didn't have any scholarships to worry about losing or practices to get up for-but he never got caught. In school, he was hardly perfect either. He skipped or ditched class as often as he could without getting suspended but he was smart so he kept his grades up. Not straight As, but enough. The principal didn't like him because he had countless tattoos and piercings, including a lip ring, and his typical leather jacket had earned him the title of resident delinquent/bad boy. But his teachers loved him. When he did show up to class or do the work, he was incredibly intelligent and witty to the point that he'd earned their amused respect.

Natasha wasn't popular or unpopular, per se, she was just a loner. She had a few friends but they were from a variety of cliques and she tended to think of them more as access points than actual friends. No one really knew her and she did her best to stay under the radar. She'd transferred in mid-junior year with a shit ton of credits so, though no one really knew it, her requirements had all been fulfilled and the only classes she was taking were art, foreign languages and AP English.

Natasha and Bucky were friends, though it surprised a lot of people to learn that because they seemed so different. She'd never made it a habit to actually get to know people in schools because she never stayed at them for very long but, now that her mother was stationed long-term, it seemed more permanent. Bucky had run into her in the principal's office. She was just sitting, waiting, because she'd been called down and she could assume it was for something with her transfer credits but she couldn't stop her gut from churning at the maybes. She dreaded getting that call, to hear that her mom wasn't coming back. But, thankfully, no one looked pained or unusually sympathetic.

She'd had to wait for almost an hour. The principal was dealing with some emergency so she just put in her earbuds and waited. If there was such an emergency just call me down later, she thought, but kept it to herself. But, of course, her music had to be interrupted as well by a guy sitting beside her and flashing her a cocky grin.

"What'd ya do?" She glared at him but, surprisingly, his grin didn't fall. He wasn't discouraged which, normally she would have found annoying but, for some reason, it amused her. He gave her another grin.

"Don't feel like sharing? No worries. I'm here because Alfred doesn't like that I'm a delinquent." She raised her eyebrow. His tone alone suggested that Alfred was, indeed, the principal but she had a hard time believing this man was a delinquent. He was too.. Happy?

"You don't seem worried." The man shrugged. Natasha took the opportunity to scan his body and she noted the tattoos and piercings with interest, though she was careful not to stare. He noticed her looking, though, and flashed her another grin.

"I'm not, really. My grades are fine, my teachers love me, and I've never been caught with anything he's ever accused me of so it just comes down to a grudge. Worst comes to worst he could suspend me for skipping but hey! What's a little more freetime if not a blessing in disguise?" He was far too happy, both for the situation and for her own taste.

"James!" The principal emerged, beckoning to her companion, and the man stood with a dramatic sigh.

"I've told you a hundred times, Alfie, to call me Bucky." The principal ignored his comment and gestured them into his office but, before the door closed, Natasha caught Bucky glancing over his shoulder at her. He winked. Annoyed that she'd been passed over again and had to wait even longer, she pouted and tried to do some of her assigned reading but she was distracted. The walls were thin and she was sitting just outside the office. It wasn't hard to hear the conversation inside.

"James, I got a call from your brother today."

"It's Bucky. I'm glad you two are catching up on old times, Al." A very distinct, tired sigh filtered through the door and she had to admire the guy-Bucky-for managing to be so exhausting. She had to wonder how long it'd taken him. Having met him, now, she was guessing maybe a few weeks? A month if he wasn't trying?

"My name isn't even Alfred, James, and you know that. Now, please. This is serious. Your brother said that you haven't lived with him since last spring." Bucky gave another dramatic sigh.

"I told you this, Al. The guy's a jerk so I moved out to live with my aunt."

"Georgia, right?" A hum of agreement. "That's funny because your brother said your aunt Georgia died when you were seven." The silence in the room could have cut through steel and Natasha felt herself stiffen, even though she wasn't supposed to be listening. It was obvious he'd caught Bucky in some kind of lie. She wasn't sure how significant it was, but the unshakable humor of the man she'd just met seemed to have disappeared.

"Like I said, he's a jerk. Can't even remember which of our aunts is dead." Another sigh, this one from the principal.

"Look, James, I know things have been hard lately and I know that you're-somehow-still doing well in school so I can't suspend you. But something like this is serious. We've talked about this before and you know I'm going to have to call CPS if you can't prove you live with a guardian or, if you insist on living alone, that you at least have a guardian. Can you do that?"

"Of course, Alfred." The reply was instantaneous and sharp-nothing like the smiles she'd been getting before-and she couldn't help herself. She had to do something. If not because he'd been nice to her, then because he obviously needed someone to fall back on and clearly didn't have anyone.

"Can I go to the bathroom?" The secretary nodded and waved her out the door. She ran, ducking into the deserted bathrooms behind the gym that were always broken and always empty. Quickly, she pulled out her phone. Without letting herself stop to think about how horrible this was, she dialled. The voice of the secretary she'd just left came clearly through the speaker.

"Grantville High, you've reached the main office how can I help you?" She grimaced and dropped her voice a few notes lower.

"Hello, dearie." What the fuck was she ninety!? "I need to speak to Principal Meadows regarding my nephew?" She heard keys being tapped and then a pause.

"And your nephew's name, ma'am?"

"James.." Her stomach dropped when she realized she didn't know his last name. "But he goes by Bucky." She fully expected this to fail and she braced herself for the fallout but the secretary just hummed and continued to type.

"Yes, he's well-known here. I'll transfer you, he's in with Principal Meadows right now." Natasha could not fucking believe this was working. Why the hell was she even doing this!? She didn't know the guy! She had no reason not to let him face CPS or whatever the hell was happening with his brother. Except she just couldn't.

"Hello, this is Principal Meadows." Fuck, action time. She lowered her voice again and nearly cringed when it started to squeak. Focus!

"Hello, my name is Georgia…" Again the damn last name! "I'm James' aunt and I heard there was some kind of problem with his schoolwork or something?" She could practically hear the principal glaring at Bucky, wondering how the hell he'd pulled this off, but she prayed he wouldn't ever know. She was putting her entire reputation the line for this. Bucky better be fucking grateful.

"Not his schoolwork, exactly, Ms…?" Natasha started to panic but then another voice cut in that she knew very well-Bucky.

"Oh come on, Al, you've read my file a thousand times and you know my aunt's last name is Sampson." Thank god! He was playing along even though he had no idea she was doing this. Thank god he wasn't some stupid dropout!

"Mrs. Sampson, actually, but you can call me Georgia. Is everything alright with James?" Natasha began to sweat. She could feel the principal hesitating, scrutinizing, trying to find some kind of flaw in this but she knew that Bucky wouldn't give her away. He didn't know. Breathe, in and out, she coaxed herself to stay on the line through the silence until the principal spoke again.

"I just got off the phone with James' brother, Mrs. Sampson, and it's a very curious thing but he told me you'd died." Fuck, think Natasha! Think think think! They were seniors and it was towards the beginning of the year. Bucky was probably seventeen, thus his need for a legal guardian, and she'd overheard him say the aunt had died when Bucky was seven.

"Oh I sincerely hope not! If so, I would have a lot of explaining to do to my doctors. It's true, the boys did lose their aunt about ten years ago but that was on the other side of the family. Poor woman. Silvia, if I remember correctly, and so sudden! Car accidents are never something to joke about, you know." What the hell was she doing!? She was so going to get expelled for this-

"And tell me, Georgia, which side James' family are you from?" Shit. She was so screwed and there was no way Bucky could help her with this one without making it obvious. Well, it was a fifty-fifty chance, right? Her stomach lurched but she went for it, putting as much confidence as physically possible into her voice as she held the phone with a death grip. Fifty-five shot.

"His mother's, of course." Silence. Natasha physically felt herself holding her breath as she waited and she just knew this was going to come crashing down but there was quiet.

"My apologies, Mrs. Sampson. It seems I was misinformed. Do I have your permission to call this number if I need further information regarding James' residence?" It actually worked.

"Of course, Mr. Meadows. Now, if you'll excuse me my lunch break is ending and I really should get back to work. You have a good day and tell James hi for me, okay?"

"I will, thank you. Goodbye, Mrs. Sampson." She hung up before he could and pocketed the phone as fast as possible. She ran for the office, stopping only just before the windows began so the secretary wouldn't see her sprinting like a madman. The woman didn't even look up from her desk when Natasha walked back in and took her seat-she wasn't in trouble, she doubted the secretary cared if she left-and Natasha took deep breaths.

"This isn't over, James."

"It's Bucky, Al, see ya tomorrow." With that, the door opened and the happy-go-lucky man from before waltzed out. He flashed her a look over his shoulder, disguising it as a flirtatious little smirk, but she saw the relief and the gratitude there. Somehow, he knew it'd been her.

"Miss… Romanoff?" She stood and followed the angry little potato man into his office for her turn, but her mind was still on Bucky.

He found her later that day in the parking lot after school got out. She had her books and her backpack, like usual, and was prepared to walk home the way she always did but was stopped by a smooth, low voice.

"Hey, those look heavy. Want a ride?" She turned only to come face to face with the hottest scene she'd ever laid eyes on. Bucky had been attractive before-she had a thing for tattoos and piercings, but she had even more of a thing for confidence-but this was just unfair. He was standing there, in the parking lot, beside the most beautiful motorcycle she'd ever seen. When he noticed her expression, he smirked.

"Come on, let me give you a ride. As a thank you." She didn't ask what for. They were surrounded by people and she did not need that conversation, of all things, to be overheard, but she hesitated. Getting on bikes with strangers was about on par with getting into cars with strangers, which she knew very well not to do. Bucky seemed to see the thought on her face.

"No, see, it's safer than getting into a stranger's car. With a car, they can lock the doors and kidnap you but with a bike you can just jump off. Granted, I promise to never put you in a situation where you'll want to jump off, but still you have the option if you become suddenly repulsed by me." It was a fair point. That, and she really wanted to ride the bike because it just looked so beautiful. She grudgingly handed him the two books and joined him. He slipped them seamlessly into his bag-which looked empty, the longer she looked at it-before swinging himself onto the bike and guiding her into place behind him. He tucked the small bag in front of him somehow and smirked at her.

"Ready, sweetheart?" Natasha tried to ignore all the looks they were getting and focus on the bike. She nodded, grinning back, and gripped his waist. God he was muscular. This was just unfair on so many levels because she knew she couldn't get involved and yet here he was just taunting her. He just laughed and they sped off.

Riding the bike with Bucky was strangely exhilarating. Normally, it bothered Natasha immensely to let other people take control, even when just driving a car or pushing a cart through a grocery store, but she hugged him from behind and held on tight and it didn't seem so scary. He was warm through his clothes. The leather jacket blocked a lot of the heat but his jeans let it seep into her thighs and jesus this was just getting worse and worse.

"Where to, princess?" She groaned and cringed but he was driving so she didn't do anything in retaliation for that nickname.

"Birch Street." He complied easily and quickly, like he'd already expected they were heading that direction. They stayed quiet, for the most part, but Natasha didn't mind. It was oddly comfortable, especially given the wind whipping through her hair and the anchor of his body against hers. She was so in over her head…

"You live near the base?" She nodded against his back so he could feel it and he chuckled, though she wasn't sure why. It was like her and her mom lived on the base, at least. They kept going until Natasha saw the familiar blue panelling.

"Up here on the right." Bucky stopped the bike, but Natasha didn't move. She fully debating telling him she lived somewhere else just so they could keep riding, but he laughed before she could say anything.

"I take it from now on I'm driving?" Maybe it was the way he chuckled it out between smiles or maybe it was the way he just assumed there would be a next time but, either way, she couldn't resist smiling.

"You offering?" She slid off regretfully and held out her hands for her books, which he retrieved. As he handed them back, he glanced at the covers.

"Well, well, well what do we have here? Mein Kampf, in the original German? A Spanish novel and… hello what's this." He stopped on the last book and smiled at the cover. "Krasnaya Shapochka? What are you doing reading Little Red Riding Hood in Russian? And such a lengthy version, at that?" He wiggled the book as if to emphasize how many pages there were but she just snatched it back and laughed.

"And since when does the delinquent know how to read Cyrillic Russian?" Another smirk, just as devious and unrevealing as before.

"We all have our secrets, don't we?" The conversation stalled, and Natasha knew that was her cue to go inside and maybe eat a snack or do some homework but she couldn't make herself do it. She hesitated on the curb, watching his eyes study her with that amused little sparkle.

"You want to come in? I have a few questions about what happened earlier." His face fell, minisculely, but he realized she was joking-that she just wanted an excuse to invite him in, not to interrogate him-and the smile returned.

"I'd love to. I'm Bucky, by the way." He killed the engine and followed her up the front steps and into the kitchen. Her mom wouldn't be back until late that night, she knew, so she didn't bother trying to rush him up to her room or organize her stuff. His eyes took in the house with something like bitterness.

"Nice place, you live with your parents?" She unpacked her backpack onto the kitchen table like usual and sorted out the fruit she'd forgotten on the counter in her rush that morning. He didn't seem angry or upset, really, but there was a pinch in his eyes that she didn't understand. They weren't close enough for her to ask, though, so she just ignored it.

"With my mom, yeah. She works long hours on base so it's usually just me." If it had been anyone else and Natasha had been thinking clearly, she would not have said that. That was basically an invitation to be murdered, and she knew that. But she wasn't worried. And she honestly wasn't planning to ask or talk about what she'd overheard with the principal because it wasn't any of her business but he beat her to it.

"Thank you. For earlier, I mean. I'm not really sure why you did it, or how you pulled it off, but thank you. I owe you one." She smiled and finally turned to face him.

"Take me out on that bike every now and then and we'll call it even." His smile returned, which she noted with pleasant surprise, and she reasoned that he must have realized she wasn't going to pry. At that, he relaxed a bit. She liked him better that way, she decided, because that confidence came back and he studied her with something less like anxiety and more like interest.

"You invite me in to study for your chem test?" He glanced at the table, but she knew better than anyone there was no chem textbook there. There wasn't any science or math.

"I'm not in chem." She pushed herself up onto the counter and motioned to the fridge. "You're welcome to whatever you want." That made his eyes flare and she knew instantly she'd said something wrong but it wasn't in anger. His smirk turned a bit more devious. Slowly, he looked the fridge up and down and then flicked his eyes to each of the cupboards before letting them stop on her.

"Whatever I want?" Fuck. His voice was lower, now, and more authoritative but not bossy. That familiar chuckle had become a purr and his eyes bore into her with something like want dancing across them. She couldn't help the little shiver that ran up her spine at that. Recovering, she smiled back at him.

"That's what I said, isn't it?" Deliberately, she swung her legs and bit and cocked her head as if merely curious. But he didn't give her time to act coy. Instead, he quickly closed the distance between them and she felt his hand on her cheek, the other on her waist, pulling her to the edge of the counter where he could reach her, but he didn't kiss her. He stopped, actually, and let their foreheads touch but didn't connect their lips.

"You never told me your name." She laughed in surprise but quickly stifled it. Her eyes opened, amused now, and met his but that steely grey was anything but angry. He looked interested, actually, and not in just a physical way. Like he actually wanted to know.

"Natasha." That smile came back in full force and she almost melted. He knew it, too, if his smirk was anything to go by. On her waist, she felt his fingers stretch and tighten as if trying to grip her just a little closer to him, but he didn't kiss her.

"Nice to meet you, Natasha." She was frustrated, now, because he knew exactly what he was doing to her and he was drawing it out on purpose. He chuckled, but she wasn't having it. In a flash, she was the one who leaned forward and connected their lips. Instantly, she was gone. She lost herself in the kiss, completely content to tangle her hands in his hair and focus on the feeling of his skin against hers, and she almost swore when he pulled away. Fuck he was such an asshole if he stopped this now.

"Upstairs?" Oh thank god. She nodded quickly and moved to jump down but he held her, his grip on her waist tightening just for a moment. Those beautiful eyes stared at her but she didn't squirm. It wasn't objectifying, really, or even admiring it was needy. He was good at hiding it, even as he practically carried her upstairs and threw her back onto her own bed, but she felt the urgency in his touch. She was quick to strip them both, and he offered no complaint. Neither of them were virgins-far from it-and it showed in the way she took his length down her throat and in the way his fingers and mouth drove her wild. With a quick pause for a condom, they fell back onto the bed in a fit of movement and moans that put porn to shame. He knew what he was doing, she could tell, and after what felt like seconds they were both groaning in release. He collapsed beside her and pulled her into his arms.

"We are definitely doing that again." She laughed in agreement, but couldn't help herself from reeling at the fact that he was still holding her. She'd had hookups before and one night stands but usually, after the sex, there was no touching. No affection, no warmth, and very little conversation. Bucky ran his hand through her hair, though, and kissed her temple and she quickly forgot whatever she was worrying about.

"Natasha?" She hummed to show she was listening but was too busy hiding her face in his chest to really pay attention. "Do you want to shower?"

"We probably should, huh." He stared at her. Only then, when she looked up into those eyes, did she realize he'd asked the question in Russian. Interesting…

"You speak Russian?" He nodded, not offering an explanation, and she didn't ask. "I believe I was offered a shower." That smile again, covering up the confusion and intrigue from before, but then she was being carried into her bathroom and she was too busy laughing to study him. The feeling of his lips on hers was addictive. His touch was like the kind of drugs she'd never dared to take and his laugh felt like melted chocolate in her veins. Yes, she was definitely in way over her head.

They had sex three more times before she finally bid him goodnight. He wished her luck on her chem test, she told him to send her love to aunt Georgia, and they both laughed. Just when she was sure she was about to close the door on the greatest hookup of her entire life, he stopped her. Still standing in the doorway, he lifted her chin to meet his eyes.

"Do you have a phone?" She nodded, handing it over without even thinking. He added his number and handed it back with a smile. When he kissed her, she still somehow managed to be unprepared for the warmth that rushed over her entire body and she shivered, sinking into him even as they broke away. He laughed, but it wasn't at her as much as with her, and she just shook her head at him.

"These study dates becoming a regular thing now?" Again that damn smile but it was starting to grow on her and he pressed one last kiss to her forehead before starting down the path to his motorcycle.

"I hope so. God knows my grades could use the boost."


And that had been the start of… whatever they were. They definitely weren't dating but they were something and Natasha liked it so she didn't push for anything more. They were best friends, if she was being honest. She'd gotten rather close to Bucky over the last few months and he was the closest thing to a best friend she'd ever had. He was the one she texted when she'd watched a horror movie by herself and was too freaked out to sleep. She was the one he called when he was freaking out and no amount of alcohol or weed would help him calm down. He was the one who'd met her mom, who joined them for dinner. And he was also the one she was sleeping with.

Natasha didn't pretend to think that any of it made sense, especially not when they weren't dating, but she liked the way they were. It was… them. Mysterious, interesting, and complicated the way both of them tended to be. It fit, if nothing else, and she liked it. She'd never had a best friend and it was nice, albeit scary, to let someone in and lean on them-plus the sex was amazing. She could have slept with other people. They weren't dating. But she never wanted to, honestly, because no one had taken the time to memorize her body and her mind the way Bucky had and nothing could ever compare.

At school, they ran in different social circles. Bucky tended to gravitate towards the stoners and the delinquents, as he called them, while Natasha usually kept to herself. If she felt like interacting with people, she would float between groups and reconnect. Usually, though she didn't want to put in the effort. They were definitely not a couple, especially not at school, and they didn't kiss or do PDA where anyone else could see. Bucky flirted with her shamelessly. She didn't mind, though, and it was more banter than anything anyone actually thought was happening so she didn't say anything. They still got looks whenever she slid into place on the back of his bike, but less so now. At the very least, they'd become less interesting as other drama came up and stole the headlines so attention was generally off of them.

It was nice. She liked the way he gave her little glances across the hall or in the cafeteria. She liked the feeling of falling back into place whenever he drove her home-which was often-and she liked the reassurance of her phone in her pocket. Nearly every time she checked it, she had a message waiting. He was extremely good at texting during class without anyone noticing, she'd learned, and he used that to constantly surprise her with little messages. Sometimes they were sweet. Things like don't forget your French quiz in fifth period or I left a brownie in your locker and I promise there's no pot in it. Other times, the messages were more devious. He liked to tease her, to detail out sexy situations and distract her during class in whatever ways he could. It made Spanish more interesting, that's for sure.

But, occasionally, the messages weren't sweet or sexual. Sometimes, she would start the morning with a text from him that just read not today and she would know he'd had a shitty night and was skipping school. Other times it was gruff little explanations like my brother, not you. Just little reassurances that his anger had nothing to do with her or anything she'd done, that he wasn't expecting her to fix his mood. Only once did she receive the words need you but it was seared into her memory for eternity.

She'd never gotten a text like that from him before. Distinctly, she remembered dropping her phone in the middle of German and rapidly arguing with the teacher to just let her take the hall pass. Those words scared her, though, and she eventually just took it and ran. He hadn't said where to meet him, or even if he was at school that day, but she ran to the first place she could think of and found him under the stands in the gym. He was on the ground, shaking, and she'd almost passed out.

For a split second, some part of her screamed that he was dead-that she'd lost him-and her stomach fell straight through the floor and she couldn't breathe. She was losing him. But then he groaned and she was on the ground beside him, ignoring the dirt and trash that'd fallen through and never been cleaned up. Quickly, she checked for injuries but there were none that she could see. His breath came in little gasps and he was trembling, crying, so she did the only thing she could think of and pulled him into her lap. Firmly, she cemented her arms around his waist from behind and held him against her chest.

"Hey, hey it's okay I've got you it's okay." He shuddered, but grabbed at her arms so desperately that she let him force her grip tighter. "It's okay, just focus on my breathing. Breathe with me. You're okay, I promise I've got you." Slowly, his chest began to rise and fall in a semi-normal rhythm and his heart stopped racing. He was sweaty, she realized, and trembling and she had to wonder how long he'd been down there before he'd managed to text her. It made her chest hurt.

"You're okay, everything's gonna be okay. Just breathe, sweetheart." He did, and she kissed his temple in reward and ran a hand through his hair. Gradually, he steadied himself and let her grip relax.

"I'm sorry." She shook her head just as quickly, though, and pressed another kiss to his skin as she traced what she hoped were soothing patterns on his arm.

"No, don't be sorry. You can always text me, no matter what, okay?" He nodded, but stayed quiet. "I'm always here for you. Are you doing okay?" Another nod. He took a deep breathe, which she praised him for, and let it out before he dared to open his mouth.

"Yeah, I'm okay." She didn't ask, knowing he would share if he wanted to, but she couldn't help wondering. "That happens sometimes but it hasn't been that bad since I was kid." And that was more than enough information. It was more than she'd expected, honestly, and she was just so glad that he was okay that she didn't pry. She made it a point to never pry. Instead, she just gently kissed him and smoothed his hair until he sat up and nodded that he was steady again.

"Thank you, Tash." He pulled her into a tight hug, even though they were cramped under the bleachers, and sighed. "Thank you so goddamn much." She just nodded, not sure what to do.

"Of course, always. And I mean that, Bucky. Always." With that, they broke apart and crawled out into the empty gymnasium. They were grimy at best, filthy at worst, and they both made a face before Bucky broke into a laugh.

"Yeah, I'm gonna be skipping the rest of today and taking a shower." She laughed. "Care to join me?" Normally, she didn't skip school solely for that fact that she didn't want them to call her mom but she stank and felt gross and that sounded really appealing.

"Yeah, I'm coming. Let me get a dismissal and I'll meet you in the parking lot?" He rolled his eyes are her insistence on following the rules but nodded. He disappeared out the side door of the gym, and she headed for the office. It didn't take much to convince the secretary that she needed to go home and change but it definitely helped that the smell was getting worse and the entire office seemed eager to get rid of her. She took her note and headed for the parking lot.


Every time her phone buzzed, now, she dreaded reading those two little words. He'd been doing a lot better lately and she knew she shouldn't worry but the impulse was there, even if she ignored it. Instead, the message simply said You know Golden Boy? Of course she knew exactly who he was talking about, but she still squinted at the message in confusion for a moment before putting it away to answer later. Why would Bucky be asking her about Steve?

Natasha first noticed Steve-really noticed him-in art class that day. She knew him, of course, because there was no way to attend Grantville High and not know that head of perfect blond hair, but it was the first time she ever really looked at him. Or at what he was drawing.

It surprised her, honestly, to the point that she almost let her pen bleed through the paper before Ms. Andetti tsked at her to get her attention. She'd expected something sports-related because Rogers was an athlete. He'd never seemed overly bright, just dedicated to his studies, so she hadn't expected any artistic commentary on Dickins or Wilde, but that would have surprised her less. Instead of some happy-go-lucky field of flowers, it was a hospital room. Natasha was shocked by the detail and the sheer quality of the work but what surprised her more was how sad it felt. There was a woman in the hospital bed-his mom, if she had to guess-and it didn't look good. Her heart went out to him before she realized who she was dealing with. He didn't need her pity.

She found Bucky-or, more accurately-Bucky found her at lunch and slid into the chair beside her, offering half his sandwich as tax for taking up her table. She rolled her eyes, but took a bite anyways.

"What was your text about earlier?" Bucky's eyebrows rose in that way that said he was amused but Natasha was used to it now so she just continued to eat her lunch and waited for his explanation. Sure enough, he was too excited to wait long.

"You know Golden Boy?" She nodded. "I want to break him." That made her spit out her food.

"You want to what now?" Bucky laughed and helped clean up the mess, offering her a cheap off-brand pack of fruit snacks he'd probably stolen off some freshman, but she shook her head. He wanted to what?

"I want to break him. He's all purity and goodness, yanno, and I bet you he'd never commit a sin of the flesh. He's so perfect… doesn't that make you want to corrupt him?" Natasha would have been lying if she'd said no. And Bucky, damn him, knew that.

"Okay, I'm listening." And thus began Operation SS.

Seduce Steve Rogers.


Thanks for reading! I hope to have the next chapter up this week too so look out for that! Please please please review and let me know if I should do any more Winterwidow/Stucky/Romanogers/trio fics!