Ok well this is my first attempt at a marvel fanfic. And I have always been a fan of non cannon. So here is my take on a bit of Romanogers sorry if they are a bit occ but I will do my best to keep them as in character as possible.
This story is set just before Civil war please enjoy.
Touch me like you mean it
Natasha Romanoff was a nomad by nature, not only did her job require her to maintain a certain distance from people, but her own bad experiences had taught her to be cautious of getting close to people. Moving from place to place, never staying somewhere too long seemed to help with not building relationships with others, and yet she was back in New York again. Standing looking up at Stark Tower and wondering what the people inside were doing. Were they eating, watching a movie, on a date? She placed her hands in her pockets and pulled her jacket closed around her. The wind was whipping her hair into her face, and the first tendrils of winter chilled her skin where it was exposed. Yet somehow being here, looking up at the familiar land mark made her feel warm inside.
She took a step forward, wondering if she should ring the bell, or just walk in, its not like she wasn't welcome here. Hell she had her own room, and yet she had been away so long, she felt once again like an outsider. She had saved the world with these guys on more than one occasion, but now she hesitates. Holding her hand up like she was trying to hail a cab. For a brief moment she thinks of him. A small ache in her stomach causes her to press a hand to her midriff, and in that moment she realises why she had come back. She had missed him, she had missed his smile, his innocent face, his slightly off pitch humour, and most of all his company. For a brief self indulgent moment, she wonders if he has missed her too. Shaking herself Natasha quickly swung her hand forward and pulled open the door, marching across the foyer identifying herself for JARVIS she acknowledged his greeting and asked where everyone was. JARVIS informed her that everyone was on the twelfth floor and she hopped into the elevator.
"Twelve please." She called fighting the urge to go straight to her room and maybe take a couple of shots of Vodka first. She shook her head, her back falling against the hard cold metal of the small box now carrying her towards her friends. She was the black widow, she did not develop crushes on colleagues, especially 90 year olds with limited romantic experience.
Steve had been sitting quietly in the corner, simply watching as Bruce and Stark held centre stage with talk of artificial intelligence, and robots, and others forms of technology Steve had no idea about. Clint had been sitting with him for a while, but he had to go home, his wife was waiting for him as the baby was still not sleeping through the night, and he was apparently on night feeding duty. Sam had been in conversation with Maria Hill for a while, but she now seemed engrossed with something Pepper was talking about. Making his mind up to go help prop up the bar with Sam Steve drew in a long breath, knowing his melancholy was not just because he felt out of his depth as far as the conversation went, but because he was missing her. There was something about her that made him feel at ease, more normal somehow. Less like a man out of time, and more like one with a purpose. At first he put it down to having gotten used to her being around, to her being his partner, someone he implicitly trusted. As the months drew passed and he heard nothing from her, he found himself thinking about her more often. The way she looked when she was making fun of him. The way her hair glinted so bright red in the sun, and her smile, her full lips curving upwards in a way that made him want to kiss her. He knew at that moment when his thoughts turned unbidden into his mind that he was more than simply missing his friend.
Now as he moved across the room, the sound of the elevator caused him to pause, they were not expecting anyone, and the hour was late. The conversation ended abruptly, as all eyes turned and the elevator door slid back.
His heart caught in his throat for a second , she was leaning against the door, arms folded a small smile played across her lips. Her hair was longer now, and Steve couldn't help but follow its length down to the swell of her breast. He quickly flicked his eyes back to her face, but he knew the moment he saw her eyes he knew he had been caught staring. A blush rose on his cheeks as she stepped forward allowing the doors to close behind her.
"Not disturbing anything am I?" she said walking over to the bar and pouring herself a Vodka like she had just popped out for a walk, not been gone for almost three months.
"You don't call, you don't write, then you come in a steal my booze." Stark said walking over to Natasha and giving her a small smile and a quick embrace.
"I find it's the most effective way of getting a drink around here. I mean if I wait for you to offer, a girl could die of thirst." Natasha quipped back, as her eyes drew quickly over Steve's form and landed on Sam.
"Hey don't look at me, you super hero types have your own code, I'm just the apprentice." Sam said as he offered Natasha a quick nod of his head as Pepper came up and hugged Natasha with out a word. The assassin accepted the hug without protest, but inside she was wondering when it would end.
"We have been worried about you." Pepper said now standing back and folding her arms as Natasha slugged back her Vodka and poured herself another.
"I know I should have called, but I was enjoying the piece and quiet, you know saving the world makes you appreciate it that little bit more." Natasha replied not a hint of irony in her voice as she once again looked in Steve's direction. He felt routed to the floor, and however much he wanted to go over and wrap his arms around her, he knew he couldn't. It was easy for Stark, he defused everything with humour. Pepper was a woman and it was kind of an unsaid thing, you hugged your friends when you haven't seen them in a while. Steve however had no funny quips, or gender rights. So he just stood there staring at her like she was some kind of art work, hanging on the wall of a museum.
"Hey old man, are you too tired to come say hello or are you actually starting to decompose." Natasha said, her smile hidden behind her glass as she took another shot of Vodka. Steve couldn't help but smile, he had missed this, hell he had missed her, and she had just opened to door for him.
"No I was just conserving my energy, you know considering my age." Steve retorted, momentarily proud of himself before taking three long strides and wrapping his arms around her small frame. Her returning hug was fierce, and he was caught off guard for a second, thinking the hug would last only a moment he felt himself clinging on to her like she was the only thing keeping him falling to his death. Natasha was holding on to him just as tightly, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she felt him start to pull away. His resistance was only brief as he fell back into the hug. His chin resting on her shoulder. Only a loud cough from Tony Stark made them pull apart, both of their faces slightly flushed. Natasha regained herself more quickly turning to Stark and frowning slightly.
"You two need a room, or should we just start making the pop corn?"
"Bite me." Natasha replied her smile softened her words but Tony still feigned hurt and he quickly went behind the bar and began making cocktails.
"I think this deserves a celebration." He stated shaking the mixer and lining up the glasses.
"Not for me I am driving." Maria said before Sam quickly joined her saying that he had better be off as well.
"I've got training in the morning, wouldn't want to let my CO down." He said looking pointedly at Steve who just gave him a rye smile.
"Oh I don't think you will have a problem tomorrow, I think the Cap is going to have a very pleasant evening." Tony said flashing a smile at both Natasha and Steve. Steve looked confused for a second, and then registering the look of thunder on Natasha's face he quickly tuned into what was going on.
"Still think its best to quit while I am ahead. Plus she's my ride." Sam continued saving Steve's blushes as Maria and Sam said their good byes and headed out of the door.
"So Bruce what about you, got any plans tonight. Maybe cyber dating, inventing a new alien busting missile. Or turning into a giant green rage monster?" Stark said finishing off the drinks and pouring them out.
"None of the above, I hope." Bruce replied before stepping forward and taking his drink. He stopped and placed his hand on Natasha's shoulder.
"Welcome home." He said his voice soft understanding, she gave him a small nod before accepting her drink from Tony.
The party was winding down, both Bruce and Pepper had left a few minutes ago, retiring to bed, leaving just Natasha, Steve and Tony sat sipping cocktails around the fire place. Natasha was feeling warm a fuzzy, but not drunk, Tony on the other hand was well passed the warm and fuzzes and it was obvious that Steve was uncomfortable with the line of conversation Tony had decided to take.
"You know, you two make a really good looking couple, plus you have so much in common. I have seen the way you guys look at one another. Plus that hug who are you trying to kid." Steve was hiding behind his glass, Natasha could see the solider was getting angry, but he was far to polite to say anything.
"Tony I think you need to shut up now." Natasha said looking at him pointedly and rising her eyebrow.
"Come on Romanoff, I bet you could teach him a thing or two." Tony said with a suggestive eyebrow wiggle. His hand resting on her knee before Steve stood up and took Tony gently but firmly by the upper arms. Now if Tony was wearing his suit things could have gotten out of hand at that moment, but as he was not, and was also pretty drunk, Steve subdued him easily and pulled him upright off the sofa.
"I think you need to go to bed. I think Pepper was calling for you." Steve said in a bold faced lie, but it had the desired effect. Tony was quickly making his exit. Steve breathed a sigh of relief as Tony stepped into the elevator. Before either of them could speak however Tony fell back through the doors and called to them excessively loudly.
"I am off to make my woman happy, oh and F.Y.I you can ask JARVIS to secure this room for you know some privacy, just saying." Tony said with a wink as he stumbled back into the elevators, as the door closed Steve couldn't help but placing his hand over his face as Tony started singing.
"Let's get it on." before the doors mercifully closed on him.
"Well that was awkward." Natasha said after a few moments of silence, and Steve couldn't help but laugh. The tension inside the room halved for a second before he met her gaze once more.
Taking a breath Steve sat down and looked at his friend.
"How have you been Nat?" he asked finally allowing himself a moment to simply talk to her.
"Ok I guess, just you know finding myself." Natasha replied, it was on some level true, but mostly she had been running, for her self, from the Avengers, and from him.
"I see couldn't do that here no?" Steve asked some bitterness clouding his voice and he saw immediately that Natasha put her guard up.
"I guess not, sometimes you have to walk away to find out what you really miss." She replied her voice holding a slight coldness to it that set Steve on edge. Was she referring to him, or her job. Maybe she was even trying to tell him she didn't miss anything and would be off again shortly.
"So why did you come back?" Steve asked knowing the only way to know would be to ask. He wasn't certain she would tell him the truth, but he had to at least try.
Natasha froze at the question, in her heart of hearts she knew why she had come back, but to tell him would be breaking her own code. Don't get involved, don't get too close, and never fall in love.
"I guess this is my home I belong here, plus I missed you guys." She said finally finishing off her drink and setting the empty glass on the table. She sat back crossing her legs and running her fingers through her hair. Absently she thought it needed a cut but as Steve's eyes followed her fingers she could tell he liked it longer. A small smile played at her lips perhaps she would grow it out after all.
"So any plans to leave again, or are you here to stay this time?" Steve asked casually as he tore his eyes from her full lips and slender fingers. His eyes darting downwards again, his shyness taking over once more.
"Why Cap you got plans?" Natasha said falling back on flirting with him, it was easy and she enjoyed the blush it brought to his cheeks.
"No, I mean not specifically, with you I mean." Steve said stumbling over his words and inwardly cursing himself.
"I see did you want to make plans with me. I think I am free." Natasha said enjoying this game a little more than she really should.
"I guess spending time with you would be nice, to catch up, talk you know, not what Tony was suggesting." Steve replied feeling a little bolder now. It wasn't wrong for him to want to spend some time with her after all.
"I guess I am up for that, but you don't know what you'd be missing?" Natasha said getting up and walking towards the elevator.
"Oh I have a pretty good idea." Steve replied before she turned towards him her smile lighting up her face, as the doors slowly closed she said.
"Tony was right you know, I could teach you a thing or two."
TBC... Let me know if you would like part two, will try and update soon if there is interest. All comments welcomed, but no flames please I cry easily. Thank you for reading XxX