Steve, Falcon and Vision could hear them rambling on in the background as all three discussed their upcoming mission - a simple task - but they were distracted at times. Of course, with just a request, Vision would be able to translate what Wanda and Natasha were so animately talking about in some obscure dialect they both shared, but it would invade their privacy. They wisely decided against it.

As of late, Natasha had gotten over her animosity over Wanda and had reached out to her when she mourned her brother. Now, it seemed they had found a friend in each other.

Steve thought it was because they were great sparring partners; Wanda learning how to fight and Natasha learning how to approach someone as magically powerful as her opponent. It also helped that Wanda was now known as South Paw Maximoff for knocking Rhodes out.

"The Hydra base shouldn't be much trouble, in and out," Steve said, as they looked over the map of the building they were supposed to infiltrate the next day.

"Sounds good," Falcon said, "Now, who wants to break up the chat and let them know we briefed without them?"

"I am a machine and yet I know not to approach two dangerous women that way - we may walk away with more than a glare."

"Want to go over a back up plan, then?" Steve asked, noticing Natasha look over to him quickly before straightening up and responding to Wanda's mystery question.


"I'll tell you one more time, Wanda, there is nothing going on between us. We're friends - something that I still have trouble with sometimes."

"Because you harbor romantic feelings for him?"

"No," Nat said, catching Steve glancing over to her. She looked back quickly, "I'm not good with feelings. Steve was one of the few to show me just how much he trusts me. That is how we are close. Trust and respect don't come by often in this line of work."

"Then I suppose you won't mind the agent always flocking around him when you are not around. It seems when the cat is not around the mice come out to play," Wanda said, smiling as she played with her hands.

"What agent?"

"I thought you didn't care?" Wanda teased, and although Natasha knew she shouldn't fall for it, Steve was still her partner.

"I do because I've been trying to set him up for a while with someone but he never follows through. Maybe this one will be the lucky one."

"Why would you want to do that?" Wanda asked, "Why take the trouble to set him up?"

"Because he'll always be available otherwise."

"And that is a problem?"

Natasha opened her mouth to respond but shut it quickly, rethinking her answer in order to provide sufficiently uncompromising reasons.

"I think," Wanda continued, "You are in denial. I am not completely sure what happened with you and the man who you try so hard not to think about...but I have spent time with you this past year. We have been a team. Captain Rogers has been there for you, I believe. Hasn't he?"

"Yes, as my partner in missions."

"I have seen it - what is between you two…" she smiled, as if teasing Nat, "But if you would not like to admit it, then I suppose the agent who is following him around would be a nice match."

"Give me a name, I'll get the rest of the information."


It turned out to be easier for Natasha to figure out who the Captain Rogers admirer was - while walking out of the briefing room, having come back from their mission, a woman approached Steve enthusiastically.

Natasha observed from the shadows. Sure, the girl was pretty, tall, medium length brown hair, green eyes. Yes, a nice match. The agent smiled, Steve smiled. She said something, Steve blushed. She touched his arm, Natasha tensed. She looked up and down at him when he turned, Natasha ground her teeth suddenly enraged.

No, she wasn't a good match.

"Looking for someone?" Wanda asked from behind Natasha. She hid her surprise as best she could.

"Is that her? The agent you were talking about?"

"Oh, yes, Agent Hart. Why don't you go and set them up?"

"They don't match well."

"Yes, they do. Look, she's making him laugh. That is always a good sign."

"It isn't a difficult thing to do. Steve's a good listener, he's smart, has a sense of humor. He catches on to jokes. I've made him laugh. It isn't a big deal."

"I still think they are very nice together," Wanda replied, earning an almost non-existent scowl from Natasha.


"Heard you have a follower?" Natasha said, as they dodged bullets coming from the supposedly abandoned warehouse, "Is she pretty?"

"Seriously, Romanoff…" Steve answered, shielding both of them from a series of shots, "Focus on the mission."

"I've already told you Rogers, I multitask."

"Natasha, focus..."

"Are you just avoiding the question? I already know who she is, anyways. Want her previous dating history, credit score...favorite ice cream flavor?"

"I'm not even going to ask…" he said, ducking behind crates along with her, "I've got seven on this side, how about you?"

"Three...and one mediocre sniper on the roof. I'll shoot him first."

"On my count. Let's get this over with."

"Want to hurry to Agent Hart?"

"Well, she is pretty," Steve said, making her tense and anger and what was going on with her, Natasha get it together.

"Finally, you admit something," she teased, shooting at the sniper to no avail.

"I just said she was pretty. That doesn't mean anything," he said, throwing his shield and knocking down four shooters.

"Is she your type?" Nat asked. Why are you putting yourself through this?

"I think so. She's very pretty. Come on, I'll cover you. Go," he said, but she was upset? Confused? Hart wasn't even his type, Nat thought, shooting the enemies.

Her, Natasha Romanoff, was his type, it most definitely wasn't Agent Hart.


"I would ask you how the mission went but judging by the scrape in your arm, I'd say not as easy," Wanda said.

"Mediocre sniper wasn't as mediocre; he managed to scrape me with a shot. But I got him after. I was distracted..."

"Hmm…."

"What?"

"Oh, nothing…" she said, "I was just wondering where Agent Hart would ask Captain Rogers out to. I overheard her asking just as I came in to see you."

"She did?" Nat asked, pursing her lips together, "What did he say?"

"I didn't hear his answer. But it is a good thing, right? Now he won't be available and he will be with a good match you set for him."

"Hmph"

The door opened, Steve walking in - hair still mussed from battle. He smiled, Natasha cursed inwardly.

"Hey Maximoff, helping the wounded?"

"Not as much as she would let me," Wanda said winking at Natasha, "But I am glad you are here. She will not let me help with the wound and I have to meet with Vision in a few minutes."

"If she needs the help," Steve said, walking over to look at the wound, "I'll stitch it up, Nat...if that's alright?"

"Yeah, I can't reach that far back my arm."

Wanda smiled and left the room without either noticing - just as she had expected.

"So I heard Agent Hart asked you out?" Natasha began, indifference out the window, apparently.

"Why do you always ambush me like this," Steve said, concentrated on Natasha's arm. His furrowed eyebrows and tense jaw line were unfair, she thought, as all of her decisions against feelings for him were reevaluated. Damn, she was never going to tell Wanda she was right.

"You like her?" she asked and received the Captain's all-too-blue-eyed sincere gaze with the half-smile. Really? No answer?

"Stay still, Romanoff."

"When's the date?" she asked, again, "Come on, Rogers, distract me from the pain."

"What makes you think I have a date with Agent Hart?" he responded with an infuriatingly handsome smirk as he finished off the stitching, "I really have no idea what you're talking about, Romanoff."

"You don't have a date with Agent Hart?"

"No," he said, a slight blush creeping up on him. Natasha's insides melted - she didn't know they could do that.

You win this round, Maximoff.

Once again the door opened, and before Steve could turn and see who it was, Natasha reacted, having already seen a head of brown curled hair peek from the door frame. She pulled him forward, lips crushing together and arms snaking around his neck to bring him closer - wound be damned. Her scarred heart cheered when he returned the kiss and embraced her waist.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Agent Hart said, timidly, "I didn't mean...I'll just step out…"

The two separated; Steve surprised, Natasha feigning it.

"Oh, Agent Hart...we didn't see you there. Can you give us a few minutes?"

"No, no, I mean yes...I...I'm sorry I interrupted," she said, before quickly shutting the door again.

"Nat…" he said, "What…what was that?"

"That was me telling you what you've been doing to me these past days," she said, looking at him, "Now, I'm going to kiss you again. This kiss is going to tell you just how much you drive me crazy and how friends is not enough anymore. If you respond, I'll know you feel the same way."

But before she moved, Steve kissed her, cradling her head in his hands as he pressed their lips together, mouths giving way to feelings that seemed unattainable moments ago.


"Did it work?"

"I believe so Ms. Maximoff," Agent Hart said, looking back at the door she had just closed, "She was very much engaged to his lips when I entered. And I was kind of kicked out."

"Perfect," Wanda said, giving the agent a well deserved high-five, "Thank you, Agent Hart, for your cooperation."