Chapter 4
Hi, please.. just bear with me. Thanks for reading :)
"You know what's great about hitting rock bottom? There's only one way left to go and that's up." - Matthew McConaughey, Sing!
(I know this is TOTALLY irrelevant, but I saw the new trailer for Sing! yesterday and I already know that I'll fall in love with Scarlett's character. 3 ) okay, i'll stop talking.
Enjoy :)
"We're on our own, fellas. The Captain abandoned us." Tony said as he watched the soldier and the spy running away. "Where is Thor anyway? Haven't seen him since dinner."
Steve immediately climbed at the nearest motorcycle, Natasha behind him. He started the engine and seconds later, they were out of that place, no fans, no reporters, no flashing cameras, just the two of them.
It was only then that Natasha realized that her arms are tightly wrapped around Steve's waist. Unbeknownst to her, Steve loved it.
What the hell are you doing, Romanoff? Natasha scolded herself.
She reluctantly loosened her arms around Steve.
Steve felt it; he immediately missed her arms tightly wrapped around his waist, as if claiming him as hers possessively. He loved the smell of her perfume, it was intoxicating.
"Where are we going, Rogers?" Natasha asked when she noticed Steve was not taking the road back to the tower.
Rogers, she addressed me as Rogers. Steve creased his brows trying really hard to think of what he may have done to piss her off, for her to avoid him. But he can't find any answer to his question, only Natasha could answer him, but he can't rely on that either, since Natasha wouldn't open up unless she wants to and she rarely does that.
"Just around the city to take your mind off things. You seem a little distracted these past few months."
"I can't take my mind off THINGS!" Natasha retorted.
They were silent after that. Steve pulled the motorcycle to a stop and said "We should take a walk."
Natasha looked around and realized where they were.
"Central Park? Really, Rogers?"
Steve just smiled.
They walked for a while before Steve broke the silence.
"Nat, why are you avoiding me?"
She looked at him, guilty for doing this to him- he's such a good friend and a reliable partner to her- but she has to.
"I'm not avoiding you." She said, almost a whisper. "I just need some time alone to take my mind off things."
"Tell me, what's going on?" He replied as he put both of his hands on her shoulder, causing her to stop walking. He stared into her eyes, full of sincerity. Natasha found herself getting lost in his intense blue eyes, his touch sent shivers all over her body, making her knees shake that she thought she might not be able to stand on her own.
She was thankful when she spotted a bench nearby. She walked towards it and Steve followed.
"It's... nothing, really." Steve didn't believe her, but decided not to push the subject; he knows she would talk about it when she's ready and when she wants to. Natasha looked up at the stars, smiling at the sight of them, and added "My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellation."
Steve was surprised and astounded at the same time.
"You read John Green's The fault in our Stars?"
"Yes. Why are you so surprised?"
"It's just that... you don't seem to be the type of person to read those kinds of books."
Natasha smiled sadly, and slowly turned her gaze to him "Yeah. I know." People often misunderstand her, she knows that.
Steve never failed to notice the sadness in her eyes. He knew that Natasha is breaking inside, haunted by her own demons.
"You never fail to amaze me, Nat."
They settled for a comfortable silence.
After a couple of minutes, they decided to say something.
"So... you and Bruce."
"So... you and Sharon."
They both said at the same time and stopped when they realized what the other is saying.
Steve opened his mouth but no words came out, he doesn't know where to start to explain what he and Sharon really have. He knows that he doesn't love Sharon; he liked her as a friend, nothing more than that. But Sharon may have read his gestures differently. He tried to talk to her and tell her what he really feels but things (the Sokovia Accords, the issue that almost tore the whole team apart) got in the way. The things within that span of time went way out of control, especially that kiss. After that kiss, Sharon assumed that they were already dating. Steve talked to her to make things clear. But Sharon insisted that they REALLY are dating, she even started to tell her friend and other female agents in SHIELD that she's dating Captain America.
Steve was really mad at Sharon for spreading rumours that weren't true. He remembered the time when Sharon met up with him, Sam and Bucky to return their armours back, he was really thankful that she helped them. He was about to give Sharon a friendly hug, a Thank You hug, but Sharon already put her arm around his neck and pulled him for a kiss, caressing his golden hair. He was too shocked to react. He didn't feel anything when the kiss happened, unlike the kiss he shared with Natasha back in DC, it felt like the loud noises in the mall were shut out and they were in a different world, lost in their kiss, but the kiss with Sharon felt nothing he could even feel Sam and Bucky watching them. It felt wrong. The kiss felt wrong.
"Or maybe it's not the kiss, maybe it's the person." He thought as he stared at Natasha who is waiting for him to say something.
When he didn't, Natasha said "I'm happy for you, Steve. You finally took my advice." She smiled, hiding the hurt she's feeling.
Steve kept quiet, unsure of what to say. He wanted to tell Natasha that it's not what she thinks, that he's not really dating Sharon. He wanted to tell her that he's in love with her but stopped himself because of Bruce and Nat's relationship. Instead, he said "She's not a nurse, though."
"I know. She's a SHIELD agent."
When she saw Steve's reaction, she explained.
"I'm the one in-charge of training lower level agents."
Steve nodded.
"How about you and Bruce?"
"What about me and Bruce?"
"How's your relationship with him? You're dating him, right?"
Natasha laughed.
"We're just friends, Steve. Nothing more than that."
Steve was surprised.
"What... What about what happened between the two of you when Ultron happened?"
"It was an assignment given to me by Fury, to find ways to calm the Hulk down. He asked me to get close... to get to know Dr. Banner for him to loosen up, won't get stressed easily and Hulk out."
Steve continued to listen to Natasha, the revelation made him happy because finally, he's got a chance with Natasha. Then the reality dawned on him when he realized that Sharon is still assuming that they have a relationship, a romantic one.
"You're so close, yet so far, Nat." He thought. He fought the urge to grab Natasha and kiss her right there. He's sure that Natasha doesn't feel the same way about him.
"I even went further into kissing Bruce, to show him how to control his temper." Natasha's statement caught his attention.
Just the thought of Natasha kissing Bruce made him furious, no, not furious, jealous.
"But you were so affected when he left without saying goodbye." Steve said, trying to hide the jealousy in his voice.
"Because I really was. I really care for Bruce, Steve. You may not see it, but Bruce and I have a lot in common."
Steve had a lot to say but he can't find the right words to respond to Natasha.
"Natasha!" A female voice called.
"Jane!" Natasha answered back, walking towards the woman, giving her a hug.
Thor walked beside Jane. Steve knew Jane from Thor's stories, but they've never really met in person, so he stood and extended his hand.
"I'm Steve, Ma'am."
Jane shook his hand and smiled.
"Pleasure to finally meet you, Captain."
"So... this explains why Thor suddenly disappeared earlier today." Natasha teased.
After a few minutes, they agreed to go back to the tower.
"Do you need a ride?" Jane asked.
"Yes. Thanks, Jane." Natasha answered.
"Then let's go... my car's this way."
While they were walking, Steve remembered something.
"Shit!" He said.
"Language!" Natasha said, smiling.
"Nat, you should just go with them, I still need to return the motorcycle we borrowed."
Natasha looked at him.
Of course, Steve and his manners. She thought. He's always a good man, even in such little things.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Be careful, then."
"Geez, why so worried, Romanoff?" Steve said, smiling.
Natasha rolled her eyes and got inside the car.
Steve walked away, smiling to himself. Glad that this night happened. Glad that reporters and fans appeared at the bar.
A/N: There. I fixed that stupid kiss. The next chapter might be uploaded on Sunday.
PS: Sorry for my grammatical errors (English is not my first language) and typo errors (I'm really sleepy right now).
