"Please?" The man asked, whispering softly in the girl's ear.

"No." The platinum blonde replied, turning away from him.

"Nata-" Alfred began, placing his hand over hers.

Natasha snapped her hand away. "I'll let nothing interfere with me marrying Ivan." She said coldly.

Alfred's heart sank. This again. "Ivan, Ivan, Ivan! It's always about him! He doesn't love you, you know-"

Natasha turned around again, opening her mouth. Alfred placed a finger on her lips.

"-not like I do."

She smacked her hand away. "Don't touch me." She snapped venom in her voice. Despite that, he could see a faint blush in her cheeks. Very faint, but still there.

"Natasha…" Alfred began again, tucking a stray blonde hair behind his ear. He reached for her hand and grasped in his. "…I just want to hold your hand."

"Don't you touch me!" She snapped again.

When she withdrew her hand again, Alfred thought it best not to grab it again (as much as he wanted to).

He remembered vividly a scared Ivan relaying the tale of Natasha breaking poor Toris' fingers when he tried to hold her hand.

Then again.

Didn't the fact that she didn't break Alfred's fingers mean something?