A/N: I don't own Cap or any of the characters, but I do like to take them for a spin every now and again…
I'm loving all the reviews, so thanks for sending them! Yes, Steve's not about to shy away from this thing with Natasha. He's never been one to run away from something worth fighting for.
~Steve~
Dinner was awkward, there were no two ways about it. Natasha had retreated within herself following the kiss, and he wasn't sure what to do about it. She was so hard to get a read on, he couldn't tell if he was getting to her or not. Scratch that – he was definitely getting to her – he just didn't know if it was in a good or a bad way. For the time being, he gave her some space, staying out of her way while she did whatever it was she was doing on her laptop, and he devoured most of a book on the Cold War.
When it was time to turn in for the night, he grabbed a pillow and a blanket and headed for the couch, only to be stopped before he got three feet away from the bed.
"What are you doing?" she demanded, hands on her hips.
"I figured you might want some space."
"Well, you figured wrong. Get in the bed."
His brow furrowed with confusion. "I thought you wanted to take things slow."
"I didn't say strip down and let me ride you like a bronco, I said get in the bed," she smirked. "Or do I have to remind you…"
"I have to do what you want today, I remember," he waved her off. So far he seemed to be the one benefitting from that the most, but he wasn't about to complain if she wanted to give him another massage. As long as it didn't end in another cold shower for him. "Any other commands while we're at it?" His brows raised hopefully, but she didn't ask for a anything right off the bat.
"I think maybe we should extend it for a week," she considered aloud. "I was gone for too much of today."
"No deal, you're the one who changed it to a single day in the first place. It's not my fault you wasted it."
"I didn't…" Whatever she'd been about to say, Natasha changed her mind, hooking a thumb toward the bed. "Get in bed," she ordered in a disgruntled growl which only made him smile, a new idea taking form.
"Now if you wanted a rematch tomorrow, that could definitely be arranged." The thought of having an excuse to grapple with her on the mat was enough to make him strategically place a pillow over his lap as he sat to kick off his shoes.
"Why, are you in the mood to get your ass kicked again?"
"You'd be surprised what a good night's sleep will do for a guy like me," he pointed out with a tiny smile of confidence. He was already recovered from their earlier sparring match and the injuries that had him walking stooped over just the day before were already fading fast.
"Maybe we should settle this tonight then." A light of interest came into her eyes that made him groan with frustrated desire.
"I'm not so sure that's a good idea."
"Why not?" she challenged.
He knew what he was supposed to say. He was supposed to shrug it off and give her the space he'd promised, but that part of him that liked surprising her replied, "Because if I get that close to you right now, I might not want to let you go again."
Natasha stared back at him, her thoughts hidden behind those mysterious green eyes. "Tomorrow then," she said, looking away hastily, and he could see he'd rattled her.
Steve peeled off his shirt, folding it neatly and stowing it away in the bottom of his duffel bag. "Tomorrow I'm going to have to pick up some more clothes from my apartment. I'm about out of the stuff someone brought to me at the hospital."
"I didn't think I'd be inviting you to stay with me at the time."
"Why did you invite me?" He was under the impression it was a spur of the moment thing, but she didn't seem the type to give in to those impulses.
She was silent for long moments, and when she spoke, her voice was teasing. "Somebody had to keep an eye on you, and I couldn't trust Sam to do it."
"Why not? He's a big boy?"
"Boy being the operative word there. He's essentially a big child. The first time you tried to push yourself too far, he'd never stand up to you, and you'd end up getting hurt all over again."
"But you do. You've definitely never shied away from doing whatever you wanted, no matter who's in charge."
"You'd better believe it," she smiled, grabbing a few things from the closet and disappearing into the bathroom.
Steve quickly stripped down to his boxers and climbed into bed, lying flat on his back so as not to stare when she came back into the room. Not that it helped him. The instant the door opened, his head swiveled of its own volition, and he watched her pad barefoot across the room to hit the light, dressed in another soft tank top and tiny sleep shorts.
Grateful for the shrouding darkness, he felt the mattress dip as she slid into the bed beside him, her breath blowing across his cheek as she turned to face him, closer than he'd thought. Considering whether he should turn away to give her a modicum of privacy, or sneak a peek as his eyes adjusted to the gloom, he was startled by the press of icy feet against his leg.
"Sorry, my toes are freezing," she apologized, withdrawing them immediately.
"I don't mind," Steve replied, missing the contact, despite the shock of cold. "I tend to run a bit hotter than most."
"So I've noticed." A few seconds later the toes returned, rubbing softly up and down the back of his calf. Maddening. "I'm sorry I was such a bitch before. You know before I left."
"Is it that time of the month?"
"Funny, Rogers." She punched him on the shoulder, and he couldn't help but laugh over her disgruntled tone.
"It's okay. I don't think either one of us quite expected today to go like it did." At least he sure as hell hadn't. Though he'd spent a glum, solitary afternoon, he'd gladly suffer that and more for the chance to kiss her again. "We'll figure it out."
"Will we?" There was no mockery in her voice now, the darkness allowing her a shade of vulnerability, and he reached for her hand to touch, not trap.
"Yeah, of course we will." It might not come easily, but most things that were worth it didn't.
"How can you always be so goddamned upbeat all the time? How do you know I'll figure it out?"
It didn't slip past him that she questioned whether she'd figure it out, as if she expected self sabotage, but he deflected that question to address her other point. "I'm not up all the time. In fact, I've been accused of brooding way too much. By you, as a matter of fact." He tapped the back of her hand. "As for how I know we'll figure it out, like I said, I'm not going anywhere. We have plenty of time, and you're a smart lady. Most of the time," he added with a teasing smile.
If she saw the smile, Natasha gave no sign of it. "Smart has nothing to do with it. Sometimes things just crash and burn."
"And sometimes they don't," he insisted with a stubborn squeeze of the hand. "Take it from someone who's crashed and lived to tell the tale, life goes on. The arguments, the fighting, those memories don't last. What counts are the good times."
"And you think we'll have good times?" She didn't sound too sure of that, and Steve wrapped an arm around her, holding her close.
"I think we're having one now."
After a few moments of silence, she relaxed in his arms. "Me too."
Steve smiled in the darkness, holding her demons at bay until she fell fast asleep.
A/N: So, what do you think? Do they have a shot at happiness, or are they too different? Next up, they try an actual date.
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