Chapter 8

By: MysticFantasy

.

.

"Anyone notice that this is the longest we've gone without a mission or a cause for alarm?" Clint asked casually.

"I'm glad someone else besides me noticed. I was starting to think that I was imagining things." Bruce said.

"Guess the baddies want to wait until Capsicle is back." Tony lightly joked. "Don't tell me none of you noticed that practically at the same time this happened to Steve all the danger and action seemed to stop."

"I noticed." Natasha said sitting on the chair next to the hospital bed. "I think you're right about the bad guys only coming out when Steve is at his best."

"Then that would mean that he's the only one they see as a threat or challenge." Bruce said with a light smirk.

Tony lightly pouted.

"I'm a challenge." he muttered.

"When you're in a mood or drunk." Clint lightly joked causing Thor to chuckle thunderously.

"Then I guess I should start getting drunk when we have missions or battles." Tony figured. "Got to admit that I'd give the enemy a hard time."

"As well as the rest of us." Bruce added.

"But it would be fun to see you flying around while you're hammered." Clint said.

"Wouldn't be the first time." Tony stated. "Just ask Pepper. She's had to rope me in a few times with promises that have still gone unfulfilled."

"She really is the only one who can get you to settle down. Isn't she?" Natasha asked.

"Mostly. Yes." Tony answered. "Simply because anything she could do to me is way scarier than anything the baddies have thrown at me so far."

"So far and not from us." Natasha said with a warning smirk on her face.

"Because of you I've learned to sleep with one eye open."

"You just learned that?" Clint asked with a chuckle. "I had to learn that a long time ago and I still do it."

"That's good to know." Natasha said.

"I wonder if Cap had to learn the same thing during the war." Clint said and all eyes went to the sleeping soldier.

"I'm sure he had to." Tony said. "My dad would tell me all kinds of stories about him. The things Capsicle did back then sound just as crazy as things we do."

"I'm sure Steve thinks the same." Bruce said. "It's got to be a big shock for him. The advances in technology alone."

"He's getting better with it though." Natasha said. "I've been helping him learn his phone that Stark gave him."

"Has he gotten passed how to unlock it?" Tony asked with a small smirk.

"Yes. Although, he did take it literal the first time." Natasha admitted causing Tony to chuckle.

"I don't blame him." Bruce said. "Although his eidetic memory is helping him greatly."

"Wish I had an eidetic memory." Clint said. "I don't remember half of the stuff that Fury tells us."

"If you paid attention then that wouldn't happen." Natasha replied.

"She's got you there." Bruce said.

A low rumble sound quickly caught everyone's attention and all eyes were on Thor.

"I apologize friends." Thor said. "I seem to have gained a great hunger."

"You're not the only one buddy." Tony said as he stood. "Let's go get something to eat."

"Someone should stay with the captain." Thor said.

"I'll stay with him." Natasha said. "Just bring me back something."

"Will do." Clint vowed as the four men left the room.

With them gone, Natasha turned to Steve's sleeping form. She slowly reached over and took his hand.

"I'm glad that you're healing so well Steve. I just wish that you would wake up. I can understand you wanting some rest and time to yourself. Waking up after seventy years to suddenly realize that everything about your world has changed can't be easy. I can understand that. I went through the same thing a few years back. It's not easy to get use to your new surroundings. I can't imagine how hard it must be to get use to a new life when seventy years have gone by."

Her eyes fixed onto Steve's slumbering face. She wondered if he knew how handsome he is. His facial appearance was really the only thing about him that physically stayed the same from before and after recieving the super soldier serum.

Like the rest of him, his face gained a few muscles but overall it really stayed the same. She still couldn't believe that women in his time had over looked him because he'd been skinner than them.

He hadn't started getting their attention until he became the famous super soldier but the attention was purely on how he looked and the fame he'd built up.

He's still famous and women still look at him for his appearance but now his personality was being sought out because of his sense of honesty and loyalty. But Steve was too confused and surprised at how bold women were nowadays.

"You really are a wonder to behold Steve." Natasha said. "I wish you would realize that about yourself. At the very least it could get Tony and Clint to stop teasing you and it would bring them down a peg or two. Either way, there's still so much that you do that puts them to shame. Clint is still trying to beat your gymnatic record. It's not working so far."

Natasha stood from the chair and carefully sat on the edge of the bed, facing Steve and still holding his hand in hers.

With her free hand, she reached up and gently stroke his cheek. For being a soldier and always fighting, his skin was surprisingly soft. She wondered if he used any kind of special lotion for that.

She quickly found her hand at his mouth. Her fingertips just ghosting over his lips. With a new stream of courage flowing through her, she traced his lips with a finger before cupping his cheek in her hand.

As she gazed at the sleeping soldier, Natasha remembered a fairy tale story Clint had once told her when they were just starting out as partners. He'd told her many children stories to get her familiar with the things she'd missed out on as a child.

The story of a princess who pricked her finger and fell into a deep sleep and would only be awoken by a kiss from a prince.

She wondered if Steve was pulling that same stunt. She would laugh her head off if he was.

With a tiny smirk and checking to make sure the door to the room was closed, Natasha quickly leaned forward and placed her lips onto Steve's.

His lips were soft and warm. Exactly like him and Natasha found herself not wanting to pull away from him. It was too intoxicating.

Sadly, she slowly pulled away from Steve and gasped.