In a moment of peaceful silence, James takes something from his pockets and quietly places it in her hand. Something about the way James does it reminds Natalia of the Winter Soldier, but she reminds herself that this is James who she is talking to, and no one else.
"What is it?"
"I don't think we were ever allowed to have permanent gifts in Russia," he explains, speaking from the Winter Soldier's memories. "I don't know why, but I thought it was something we needed to have now that we're both here."
It is a simple gift, a braided bracelet small enough to fit her wrist. The Winter Soldier would have done the same, Natalia remembers. She almost cries at this; she and James had managed to come this far past every impediment thrown their way, and he seems to be recovering the pieces of his lost memories.
James doesn't understand why she seems so upset. He stammers, "I happen to have two of those. If you don't want it, I'll wear them both myself." He assumes that she doesn't like his gift, and, embarrassed, he quickly makes a move to retrieve the bracelet.
Natalia laughs as her fingers lightly tap the back of his hand, assuring him that she enjoys the gift. To him, her laughter is the sound of heaven, and he knows from the Winter Soldier's memories that this is not something that happens often. She closes her fingers on his, and her soothing words encourage James to proclaim, "I know that we used to be very close." He recalls the memory of a young Bucky Barnes asking a girl out for the first time, and feels the nervousness behind his declaration, the simultaneous eagerness and fear of rejection.
"I would like to get to know you again. If you'll let me."
James can hear his own breathing as he waits in suspense for her reply, and watches as her cherry red lips curve upward in a smile. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Bucky is silently cheering and the Winter Soldier is leaning back, confident of the outcome.
"Of course I want to get to know you again, idiot."
She gives him a squeeze on the arm as they continue to chat, resuming their subconscious gestures and planning ahead for their future. As they talk, they forget for a moment that they are S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on the run from Soviet Russia, and are simply just a boy and a girl enjoying each other's company.
They both knew that with enough time, Natalia and James would know each other just as intimately as the Black Widow and the Winter Soldier had.