A sequel chapter because bleh. And I wanna try writing Steve POV.
Steve POV:
Barton seemed on edge when I saw him by the med-bay. I don't blame him, considering the past couple of days. We've all had it rough, especially him and Stark. After Thor left things quieted down a bit. Falcon and the rest of the new squad are taking all the time in the world to get to know each other. It's good to have him on the team, now that I think about it. We'll have more chances to gather intel regarding Bucky's whereabouts.
This new Avengers' facility that Stark's constructed is proving to be quite convenient. We're all starting to become more of a team than before, when we were - to quote Dr. Banner, 'a time bomb' - just waiting to explode in everyone's faces.
Stark and I had seen Thor before he space warped back to Asgard. I don't think he's going to be coming back for a while. I'm still pretty miffed about not being able to lift that hammer. Natasha was the only one, other than Agent Hill, who didn't give it a try that night of their victory party.
Ha, some victory. That party seemed like it happened a whole life time ago.
Speaking of Natasha, I haven't seen her since we met with the new Avengers. We're supposed to be giving them their briefing soon. I'll probably just check in on her.
Natasha POV:
When I finally reach Steve's room - I say finally because Stark saw it fit to give the leader of The Avengers an entire ward to himself which is situated at the opposite end of the compound - he isn't there. I heave a sigh and flop down on his bed, which is so tiny it seems a miracle he can even fit on it. I roll over and stare at the ceiling for minutes that seem like hours.
At the moment, Steve would probably be with Stark doing god only knows what. Probably seeing Thor off. The Asgardian had finally decided to return home, which made the entire compound seem to quiet down a whole lot. He was pretty rambunctious compared to the rest of us, and was always getting excited over little earth things that they didn't have on Asgard - like cable TV and hair gel.
Damn, when will he be back. Now I'm feeling stupid...
I sit up, cross my legs, and place my hands in my lap. My back is hunched partly with weariness and partly with laziness. After a while I pull my arms around me and hug myself. It's a kiddish thing to do, but it's cold and I'm a wreck. Might as well.
Steve POV:
When I find Natasha's room empty, I decide to head back to mine. Sam said he'd left a few files regarding Bucky's time in cryo-freeze that were worth looking over. I didn't have high hopes, but it was something, which as they say is always better than nothing.
I reach my door, but almost immediately something feels amiss. The door is cracked open, and I distinctly remember closing it before I left this morning. My back to the door, I cautiously open it, expecting some sort of mayhem to ensue - explosions, gunfire, a knife, something.
"Relax Rogers, I don't bite" Natasha's muffled voice sounds dry and rueful, more so than usual.
"Damn" I mumble, opening the door completely so you can see where she is. "You scared the shit out of-" I see her sitting on my bed, hugging her knees like a lost child.
"...me"
"Language" She says listlessly. The air around us thickens.
"Do you want me to call Barton?" I raise an eyebrow at her quizzically, approaching slowly - despite her assurance that she wouldn't bite.
She glares daggers at me and I stop in my tracks, putting my hands up defensively. She pats a spot on the bed beside her and scoots over to give me place. I sit beside her but avoid any physical contact, not sure if she is here to vent or yell or something entirely different.
"So...uh... How is the twin doing? I passed the med-bay but didn't check in"
"He's fine. Well as fine as completely perforated with bullets can be"
"Yeah... well. Fury's survived worse"
"True"
Silence hangs between us. I feel like I should say something but then Natasha leans her head against my shoulder. She's staring at the wall in front of us, which has a corkboard filled with all the intel Sam and I'd managed to gather - pictures, reports, sightings, news articles. Anything and everything.
"He's close. In New York"
"What? How do you know?" Suddenly I'm acutely aware of her.
Her weight on my shoulder, locks of hair that fall against my arm, her drier than usual voice, it is softer too. Usually I'm always weary of Natasha, but this time she seems different, almost open.
"I know him well enough to know he's here; looking for you"
Her words fill my mind. I'm about to jump up and run straight to Sam but she grabs my wrist. Not grabs, more like, gently holds? I'm not sure what Natasha even classifies as gentle, but that was definitely it. A feather touch.
I'm not sure what she's trying to do. How am I supposed to explain politely that she isn't my type without getting her sad? Damn.
I open my mouth to say something but before I get the words out she lifts my arm by my wrist and puts it around her. Her head settles against my chest and my hand automatically falls to her waist. I'm too stunned to move so I just stay as still as possible.
"Relax Rogers, I'm not trying to seduce you. I just need a friend"
I'm quite sure my face is a faint shade of pink right now at her statement about seducing me. Nevertheless I'm surprised. I never thought of a scenario where Natasha took my statement about us being friends seriously. Apparently it was possible after all.
"Is that what we are now?" I smirk, and the strangeness of the situation seems to pass.
"Isn't that what you wanted me to be?" She turns her face inward so her cheek is against me, so her voice is slightly muffled by the end of her sentence.
"Well I never thought you'd actually cash in the friend card" I chuckle, and I feel her smile against me.
"Sorry if it's at an inconvenient time"
"Not at all. I'm pretty happy, actually. Are you going to elucidate or are we just going to sit like this till you feel better?"
She laughs, "Whatever you prefer, Captain"
"Elucidate"
Steve POV continued:
And so she did.
She tells me everything - start to finish - about her relationship with Agent Barton. How they'd broken it off when she found out about his girlfriend, now wife, Laura; everything since; during The Avengers initiative; and finally, the battle against Ultron. It takes some time to get through everything because once in a while she tears up, or has to steel herself before continuing.
After she's done she sighs heavily and grumbles.
"I need to let go, Steve"
I notice it's the first time she's called me by my name during this entire encounter.
"Think about what you want to let go of, Natasha" Gradually I lean back till we're both lying on the bed.
"Do you want to let go of Barton? Or your old relationship with him?"
"I don't know" Her voice is less dry than before, and I heave a sigh of relief. Her head rises and falls with my chest.
"It's your choice, but from what you've told me, you shouldn't let go of him. In fact, hold on to him as tightly as possible Nat"
I think we both noticed that I'd used 'Nat' for the first time. I'm surprised how comfortable she is with this, then again, she's Natasha Romanoff, Queen of Improv. Come to think of it, I'm surprised how comfortable I am with this. I'd always assumed the only time I'd be like this was with Peggy. Funny how things work out - a 90 year old soldier who's never been on a date in his life giving relationship advice to a 20-something assassin-turned-agent-turned-Avenger.
Suddenly Natasha gets up, startling me. She hops of the bed and runs a hand through her hair. I sit up and she turns around.
"Well thanks for the chat. I'm going to break in the kids" She's back to her usual aloof, I-don't-give-a-care attitude. Her voice is guarded, as is her stance.
"Wait, Natasha" I grab her wrist before she has the chance to scurry away.
"You said he's in New York? Any idea where?"
"Sorry Cap, can't help you with that" I release her hand and she's out the door faster than I can say 'Well that isn't very helpful'
A bit too Romanoger-y? Yeah I think so too.
