Author´s notes: Hi guys! So I got a little carried away on this last chapter and it turned out to be longer than I expected, but I just love exploring the dynamics between Steve and Natasha! Enjoy!
Steve and Natasha exited the restaurant with their jackets back on.
Natasha made her way to her bike saying: "Thanks Steve, for this day. The food was great and I really had a good time." She smiled at Steve who was walking beside her.
Steve replied with enthusiasm: "Oh, the day isn´t over yet! Did you think you´re going to get rid of me that easily?" A playful smile was on Steve´s face as he looked at her.
Natasha raised an eyebrow as she looked at him in expectation.
Steve continued: "Come on! Since we´re here, let´s enjoy the view a while longer!" Steve grabbed Natasha´s hand and tugged her along, making his way to a hill nearby, where they could see the landscape from a higher spot.
When they were at the edge of the hill, Steve stopped and stood there, his hand still holding Natasha´s, but his eyes were on the beautiful landscape ahead.
From up there, they saw the entire lake shining, as the rays of the sun hit its surface. Big tall trees covered the lakeside, theirs leaves moving with the calm wind that was blowing and, behind it all, were high grey mountains. They could hear the birds singing all around them.
Natasha was so mesmerized with the view that didn´t even noticed that they were still holding hands when she said in awe: "Wow Steve, this view is beautiful!"
"Sure is." Steve replied softly giving a gently squeeze on her hand.
Natasha felt Steve squeeze her hand and, as much as her head told her to let go, she couldn´t do it because his warm and strong hand fitted so well on hers. She subtly looked at him. He had a small smile on his lips as he admired the view. The sun was catching his face, making his blue eyes and blonde hair shine ever more which made him more handsome than ever. Natasha lost her breath for a second as she watched him.
Steve noticed that Natasha was staring at him from the corner of his eyes, so he turned his head to look at her and smiled.
When their eyes met tough, Natasha looked away quickly, fixing her eyes at the lake ahead. She gulped nervously because she could feel that she was beginning to lose her control over her emotions.
Steve sensed her discomfort and tried to lighten the mood by saying: "We couldn´t go yet because, where else am I gonna get a view like this, right?"
Natasha chuckled, remembering that she said that to him once, when they were also standing side by side, when they thought it was the end of them on Sokovia. She looked at him amazed, wondering why Steve remembered every word she ever said to him. Was it just his Super-Soldier memory or was it something more?
They just stared at each other´s eyes for a moment until Steve looked pass her and let go of her hand. Natasha followed him with her eyes as he passed by her and went to pick a yellow wild flower that had grown on the grass. He then turned back and when he was in front of Natasha again, he extended the flower to her with a shy smile on his face.
Natasha hesitated for a moment, looking from Steve´s face to the flower in his hand, and then took the flower saying in a soft voice: "Thanks."
Steve observed Natasha with curiosity because she was looking at the flower like it was something from another planet. He asked: "Don´t tell me that no one has ever given you a flower before?"
Natasha was still looking at the wild flower, thinking that it didn´t suit her hand to hold something so delicate and frail. After a moment of silence, she finally looked up to meet Steve´s curious eyes. She didn´t answer his question, but she said: "Is it weird that I feel more comfortable holding a gun than..." She looked down at the flower again and with a low voice continued: "...a flower?"
Steve chuckled lightly, shaking his head, he said: "Well, coming from you...no it isn´t."
Natasha looked at him again with a half-smile on her face.
Steve turned to look at the view again, putting his hands on his jeans' pockets, he spoke: "You know, whenever I go out without my shield, I can´t shake off the feeling that I left something behind, like when you forget your wallet or a light on. I guess that we´re just so used to be on the battlefield, that when we have time to relax or do normal things, it´s just weird."
Natasha took a step to stand closer to him, she tangled her arm around his right one and then leaned her head against his shoulder, looking ahead. She noticed that her move surprised him because he twitched slightly with her touch. But after a few seconds he relaxed again and she just said: "You´re right. And that is what make these peaceful moments even more special."
Steve felt that maybe now he was finally getting to her. Natasha was leaning against him and being more open. But now he was afraid to ruin the moment so he just kept still and in silence thought, trying to figure out how to approach Natasha without scaring her away.
Natasha´s mind was thinking that this was all she ever wanted, to have a peaceful life with a good man by her side. She never chose to be a cold hearted assassin like she was trained to be. If things were different, than maybe she could have a chance to have that and to be a good woman for Steve. The woman he deserves to have in his life, but she knew that these thoughts were just a dream. She could feel the tears threatening to fall from her eyes, but she hold them back. After a quiet moment Natasha said softly: "Steve? Do you think we are going to be able to have normal lives, ever?"
Steve leaned his head against the top of hers, brushing his face against her hair. He knew that all this fighting was part of them, it made them who they are today, but sometimes he got tired of this too. He took a deep breath and replied: "Maybe, when we are too old for this."
Natasha was deep in thought and, after a short pause, she added: "If we ever get there, I just wish…" she continued in a whisper: "…you could be there by my side."
Steve heard Natasha´s whisper and felt a sting to his heart because she said that like it would never happen. He lifted his head and turned to face her, releasing his arm from her grip. He grabbed both of her arms making her turn her attention to him and when she looked at him, he noticed that her green eyes had unshed tears in them. He felt the need to comfort her so his fingers went to her cheek, gently caressing her face. He said tenderly, looking into her eyes: "You know I will Nat."
Natasha knew that Steve said that with good intention in his heart, but after Bruce left her, she was convinced that no one could endure the burden that it was to be by the Black Widow´s side, and Steve especially didn´t deserve to, so she said bitterly: "Don´t make promises that you can´t keep." She stepped away from his touch and looked down.
"Natasha…" Steve spoke her name in agony, feeling that she was slipping away through his fingers again.
She turned away from him and made her way back to parking lot, letting the yellow flower fall from her hand on her way there.
Steve felt a tightening in his gut as he watched Natasha walk away. He then looked up at the blue sky, thinking: "God, why this has to be so hard!" He looked down to the floor, letting out an exasperation breath and resting his hands on his hips. He was starting to think that this was an impossible task, to get to Natasha´s heart. She was just too broken and he couldn´t see how he could fix her if she kept blocking all his attempts to get to her. This was a battle that he couldn´t win. So he made his way back to parking lot disappointed, feeling like his heart was just ripped out of his chest because he was giving up.
Natasha was sitting on her bike when she saw Steve appear with a hurt expression on his face. He was looking down at the floor as he walked to his bike. That scene broke her heart. She started to regret what she said to him because she said that on an impulse, but she couldn´t take it back now. She clenched her jaws feeling frustrated because she just didn´t know how to handle this situation.
Steve silently passed by Natasha, not even glancing at her.
Natasha followed Steve with her eyes and seeing him like this was making her feel sick to her stomach. She just couldn´t bear the fact that she was the reason that he was down like that. So she said softly: "Steve…I´m sorry. I didn´t mean to…what I said…I just…" Natasha stopped talking and cursed herself in her head because she was still afraid of letting him get to her and couldn´t say what he wanted to hear.
Steve got on his bike with a big sigh of disappointment. He said in defeat: "Natasha, stop…Let´s just go home, back to whatever it is we were before."
Natasha let out a shaky breath and tried to make amends: "Look, Wanda told me last night that the team was going out to celebrate, so we have the place just for us. Why don´t we go back and have a few drinks on the common room and enjoy the peace and quiet a while longer?"
Steve now got the courage to look at her again, but with caution. He studied her green eyes for a moment and he could see the regret in them. He said with a straight face: "Okay. But no racing this time."
Natasha smiled a little as she spoke: "Fine. But don´t expect me to ride like you, old man! I like to go fast!"
Steve couldn´t smile back at her remark yet because he was still trying to recover from the sense of losing her. He just turned on his bike and made his way to the road with Natasha following him close behind. He was glad that he had a little time to think before they got back to the Avengers facility so he could decide what he should do now. He still had a backup plan for this date, but he wasn´t sure if he should go for it, afraid he might lose Natasha for good.
After a calm ride back to the Avengers facility, Steve and Natasha went to the common room. They took their jackets off, leaving them on the big gray couch in the middle of the room.
Steve made his way to the fully stocked bar in the corner and, as he got behind the counter, he asked quickly glancing back at Natasha: "What will you have?"
Natasha sat on a stool by the bar and said: "Vodka, please."
Steve went to grab the vodka bottle: "Straight vodka?" He asked.
Natasha smile slightly: "Of course. Why ruin good vodka by putting juice or energy drinks on it? That´s just crazy!"
Steve put a short glass in front of her and poured vodka in it, saying playfully: "Of course it is, what was I thinking?" He then smiled at her and went back to grab a bottle of beer for him.
He unscrewed the beer bottle and took a sip. He then made his way to turn on the stereo, saying: "How about some music?" He tuned in a local radio that was playing a trendy pop song.
Natasha drank her vodka too and then said: "Yeah, sure. Music is nice."
Steve made his way back to the bar and sat on the stool next to Natasha, resting his left arm on the counter with his body turned to her. He thoughtfully observed Natasha for a moment. He was considering if he should go with his backup plan or just let it go.
Natasha was staring at the selves full of bottles in front of her but she could see him watching her from the corner of her eye, so she turned on her stool to face him, raised an eyebrow and asked: "What?"
Steve cleared his throat and tried to sound casual: "I was just wondering, what kind of music do you like?"
Natasha narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him because she knew that wasn´t what was on his mind exactly, but she ignored that thought and gave him an answer anyway: "It depends on what I´m doing. For instance, when I´m at the gym I like to hear dance music or hard rock. When I go out for a run, I like to hear soft rock or blues. When I´m alone in my room I like to hear classical rock, blues, ballads, jazz, classical music… It just depends on my mood I guess." Natasha took her glass and drank another sip from her vodka.
Steve was a little shocked: "Classical music? I never thought you would like classical music." He had a small smile on his face as he looked at her.
"Well, I do. I just don´t hear it very often…actually, I can´t remember the last time I heard…" Natasha trailed off because she realized why she was avoiding hearing that type of music. She turned her head and kept staring blankly at the bottles behind the bar again as a wave of emotions hit her.
Steve noticed the distress on her face, her eyes seemed desperate: "What´s going on Nat?" He asked concerned.
Natasha looked back at Steve with a frown on her forehead.
Steve said softly, meeting her eyes: "You know you can talk to me, right?"
"Yes, I know..." Natasha looked at him, hesitantly for a moment. She then took a deep breath and started explaining: "When I was in the Red Room, I was trained to become a ballerina. That´s where I acquired the taste for classical music. The ballet lessons were actually the only thing I liked about the training…but now, because of the vision that Wanda gave me that day when we were fighting against Ultron I…it just opened old wounds, I guess." She pressed her lips together because she didn´t have the heart to tell him the whole story, the words where stuck on her throat. She looked down at the floor.
Steve took her hand, squeezing it lightly. He said softly: "Sorry."
Natasha looked back up, meeting his honest blue eyes that made her heart melt. She suddenly let go of his hand and drank the rest of her vodka in one big gulp. She took another deep breath, staring at her empty glass on the top of the counter and then said sadly: "Yeah, me too."
Steve didn´t feel like it was a good time to ask her about it, so, after a quiet moment, he simply said: "So...you dancing ballet...I would like to see that one day." He took another sip of his beer.
Natasha looked at him with a small smile on her face, she said playfully: "Dream on soldier! I don´t do private performances."
Steve replied seriously: "Too bad. I really think it would be quite a sight." He locked his eyes on hers and smiled.
Natasha smile widened and she felt butterflies on her stomach again. Steve always made her feel appreciated, something that she didn´t have with anyone.
Natasha´s genuine smile brought Steve´s confidence back, so he decided at that moment that he should go on with his backup plan. He spoke, a smile playing on his lips: "Since I´m not going to see you dance ballet, how about just a regular dance…with me." He looked expectantly at her.
Natasha blinked nervously a few times. She noticed that the song that was playing was an upbeat rock song, so she simply said: "Well, I don´t think we can dance to this song."
Steve took the last sip from his beer and said putting the empty bottle on the counter: "How about this then? If the next song that plays is…" he said the next part really slowly and clear "…a slow song…" Natasha raised an eyebrow at how strange he sounded. Steve just continued with a smile on his face: "…then we dance together. What do you say?"
Natasha just shrugged and replied with a blank expression, trying not to show how nervous that made her feel: "Sure, why not."
They just silently stared and each other, a knife could cut the tension between them as they waited for the current song to end.
A minute went by, but to Steve it seemed like an eternity because he was so eager to find out if his plan would work. So when the next song started, a really slow song, a big smile appeared on his face. He knew it, he had listened to it a couple of times and had arranged that F.R.I.D.A.Y. played it on his signal. So far his backup plan was working but now, he was hoping that this song would touch Natasha´s heart, like it did with his.
Not knowing that Steve had this moment planned, Natasha just smirked and said: "Looks like you´re getting your dance, soldier."
Steve stood up and extended a hand for her, saying: "Finally." Referring to the dance he never had with Peggy, but at least with Natasha, he would get that chance.
Natasha took his hand but looked puzzled at him with his odd remark, wondering what did he meant.
As Steve led her to the middle of the room, he answered her unspoken question: "It´s long story. Let´s just dance…for now." He stopped and stood in front of her, putting his hands gently on her waist, his blue eyes fixed on her green ones.
Natasha smiled, looking up a bit to meet his eyes, and put her hands on his shoulders. They kept looking at each other as they swayed slowly to the rhythm of the music.
Clear blue water, high tides came
And brought you in
And I could go on and on, on and on
And I will
Steve was looking at Natasha with a hopeful expression on his face, eager to find out if his plan would work.
Skies grew darker, currents swept you out again
And you´re just gone and gone, gone and gone
In silent screams and wildest dreams
I never dreamed of this
Natasha´s smile was slowly fading as she listened to the lyrics of the song. She noticed the intensity of Steve´s eyes on her, making a chill go down her spine.
This love is good, this love is bad
This love is alive back from the dead
These hands had to let it go free
And this love came back to me
Natasha held her breath without realizing she was doing it because the words from this song pierced straight to her heart. She felt the urge to hug Steve and was trying to fight it.
Tossing, turning
Struggled through the night
With someone new
But she couldn´t, so Natasha released her breath and moved her arms around Steve´s neck and rested her head on his shoulder.
And I could go on and on, on and on
Steve immediately tightened his grip around her back and sank his head close to hers, his chin brushing against her hair, eyes closed for a moment, just enjoying the feel of having Natasha in his arms.
Lantern burning
Flickered in my mind for only you
But you're still gone, gone, gone
In losing grip and sinking ships
You showed up just in time
Natasha had to close her eyes for a moment too, to avoid the tears that were forming in her eyes to fall. She was losing her control over her emotions.
This love is good, this love is bad
This love is alive back from the dead
These hands had to let it go free
And this love came back to me
Steve opened his eyes when he noticed that Natasha was slightly trembling in his arms. He tried to hold her even tighter, pressing his hands against her back.
This love left a permanent mark
This love is glowing in the dark
These hands had to let it go free
And this love came back to me
Natasha backed away from Steve, tears still on her eyes, but unwilling to fall. She looked into his eyes, hands resting on his shoulders again and asked: "Steve, do you know this song?"
This love, this love, this love, this love
A small smile appeared on Steve´s lips in response. He knew he was getting to her now.
This love, this love, this love, this love
This love, this love, this love, this love
Realization hit Natasha and she said in surprise: "You set me up!"
This love, this love, this love, this love
Steve replied: "Well, you can´t blame a guy for trying…" They stopped dancing and just kept gazing into each other's eyes.
Your kiss, my cheek
I watched you leave
Steve took a hand to her cheek, caressing from her cheek bone to the corner of her lips.
Your smile, my ghost
I fell to my knees
Natasha grabbed his hand, taking it away from her face, squeezing his fingers tight, not knowing if she should stop this before it was too late or not.
When you're young,
You just run
But you come back
To what you need
Steve managed to free his hand from her tight grip, holding her hand again and bringing her palm to rest on his chest, against his heart, his eyes never leaving hers.
This love is good, this love is bad
This love is alive back from the dead
Natasha could feel Steve´s heart racing against her hand and that made her feel a longing for him even stronger than before.
These hands had to let it go free
And this love came back to me
This love
This love left a permanent mark
This love
This love is glowing in the dark
This love
Steve slowly started to lean his head down to kiss her lips.
These hands had to let it go free
This love
And this love came back to me
Natasha pulled back, away from Steve´s grasp saying in agony: "I can´t do this!" The tears were now streaming down her cheeks.
This love, this love, this love, this love
This love, this love, this love, this love
Steve just looked at her, still stunned by her sudden move, missing her small frame in his arms.
This love, this love, this love, this love
This love, this love came back to me
Natasha continued to slowly back away, further from him, as she spoke: "You mean too much for me! I can´t bear the thought of losing you…not you Steve!" She stopped and lowered her head. She tried to wipe her tears away with her fingers, but more insisted on falling from her eyes.
Steve stride to her and grabbed both of her arms firmly, making her look at him. He said with determination on his eyes, his voice adamant: "Natasha, I know who you are and here I stand! You won´t lose me!"
Natasha´s breaths were shallow, the pain of this unresolved situation between her and Steve was twisting her insides. She said with sad eyes and a weak voice: "How can you be so sure?"
Steve let go of her arms and wiped the remaining tears on her face with his thumbs. Then he met her eyes again and replied softly: "Because once you´re mine, no matter what happens, I´m not letting you go."
Natasha´s head was spinning, she was so stunned with Steve´s words that she was frozen at her spot, looking at him but still working on believing that this was actually happening.
Steve decided to make a bold move and just grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her face to his, crashing their lips together, kissing her with a passion so strong that, as a reflex, Natasha threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
When Steve felt Natasha´s lips responding to his, it was like a burden was off his chest. He smiled against her lips for moment, then his hand went from her neck to her hair, his fingers going through her red locks as his other arm snaked around her lower back, pulling her closer, wanting to feel her body against his.
Natasha felt him tighten his embrace around her, his strong body pressed against hers, their lips locked together, all that was sending heat waves through her body. She deepened the kiss, getting to the tip of her toes to get better access to his mouth, letting all her hidden desire for him out on her hot, wet and provocative kiss.
But before they could go any further, they were interrupted by the female voice of F.R.I.D.A.Y. when she said: "Excuse me Captain, I thought you should know that the team is back and they are making their way to the common room."
Steve broke the kiss and replied looking up: "Thanks F.R.I.D.A.Y." He looked back at Natasha and said: "Maybe we should go somewhere more private." And before Natasha could answer, he passed one of his arms behind Natasha´s knees and left the other behind her back, then lifted her up like she weighted nothing.
Natasha hold on to him with her arms around his neck and looked at him in surprise at his sudden move. She smiled a little looking at him: "I can walk, you know."
Steve gave Natasha a charming smile as he headed to the elevator with her in his arms. He said in a playful tone: "I know, but like I said before, I´m not letting you go." Once inside the elevator, he pressed the button to his floor.
Natasha looked at him amazed, not really believing that this was happening. She said: "I still can´t believe that you set me up."
Steve met her eyes and chuckled: "Well, you´re not the easiest person to take out on a date, I had to go with a plan for this to work. F.R.I.D.A.Y. helped me out with the song at the end."
Natasha smirked: "Who would know that you would become friends with an A.I."
The elevator got to Steve´s floor and he made his way to his room, still carrying Natasha in his arms, he replied: "Well, I needed a backup plan in case everything else failed."
Natasha kept looking at his face with admiration. She played this day back on her head and realized that anyone else would have given her up because of the way that she behaved on the date, but this was Steve Rogers, the most determinate man she knew. As Steve stood in front of his door, trying to open it without dropping Natasha, she said softly: "I´m sorry I gave you such a hard time on our date."
Steve managed to open the door and then closed it with a kick, saying to Natasha: "It´s okay. It still was the best date ever." Steve put her down, standing in front of him.
Natasha kept her hands on his chest, she replied with a half-smile: "Says the guy that went to…I don´t know…two and a half dates?"
Steve laughed and then said: "What can I say? I´m a busy man." He put a hand on Natasha´s waist and with his other hand took a lock of her red hair away from her face and continued: "I only got time for my partner."
Natasha couldn´t help but smile because this time she didn´t need to resist his charm and it made her feel like the luckiest woman in the world. She said: "Then your partner is gonna use that time wisely." She leaned in and kissed him softly and Steve responded immediately by pressing her closer to him and deepening the kiss.
Meanwhile, the other Avengers were entering the common room, talking to each other and laughing.
Rhodes looked around and stopped his eyes on the bar. He said with a smirk: "Hey wait… What is this?" He asked as he made his way to the bar and grabbed the empty bottle of beer, showing it to Sam.
The only one that drank beer on the common room where Rhodes, Sam and Steve, so Sam said excited: "Oh! Do you thing Steve was here with his date? No way…" He quickly made his way to the bar too as Rhodes grabbed the empty glass that was on the counter too. He sniffed it and asked puzzled: "What kind of woman drinks straight vodka?"
Sam smirked and replied: "A Russian one!"
Rhodes looked at Sam and gave him a cocky smile.
Vision just looked confused at the two men talking near the bar and Wanda jumped in joy as she realized what they had discovered: "Steve and Natasha went out on a date? That´s great!"
Rhodes grinned and looked at Sam as he said: "Told ya, jackpot!"
Sam just laughed and so did Wanda and Rhodes while Vision was smiling at seeing his friend laughing but was still trying to figure out why was everyone so happy. Wanda would probably explain to him later what a date was.
THE END
Ahhhh... that´s it. I had so much fun writing this one! I just love music and it always is a source of inspiration to me. FYI: the song they danced to is called: This Love by Taylor Swift.
Anyway, thanks for the reviews, favs and follows, it always good to know that someone is reading my stories! Bye, until next time!