Chapter 10-The talk
By: MysticFantasy
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Natasha sat alone at a table with an untouched tray of food before her. She was trying to get her thoughts straight so she could give Steve a solid conversation when she went back to see him.
He wanted more than just a simple 'I heard it worked in a fairytale and I thought it would work here'.
No. He wouldn't want that. He deserved the truth.
She just wasn't sure if she could give him a solid answer. But she had to do something. She figured that she could just flat out talk to him and see where it would go.
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Natasha soon found herself back at Steve's medical room. She knew the others were still with Steve and she hoped that he wouldn't want to talk to her with them still around.
Just as she was reaching for the doorknob, the door opened and she nearly collided with Clint.
"Hey." he greeted.
"How's Steve?" Natasha asked.
"He's alright." Clint answered looking relieved. "Doc said that he's on the mend. Just going to be a while before he can be up on his own."
"Of course." Natasha said. "The others still with him?"
"No. They left a while ago since the doctor said that Cap should rest a little more." Clint answered.
"So he's asleep again?"
"No. He's still awake but he won't be for much longer." Clint said. "He's starting to doze off. If you want to tuck him in, he's all yours."
The archer then walked off with a little smirk on his face.
Natasha just ignored him and went into the room where she spotted Steve lying in his bed that was slightly elevated. His gaze was right away focused on her when he heard someone come into the room.
The spy closed the door and sat down on the chair next to his bed and directly in line of his sight.
"You alright?" she asked softly.
"Getting there." Steve answered.
"Good. I'm glad that you're getting better." she said.
They were silent for a moment and when Steve tried to break the silence, Natasha beat him to it.
"Steve, I want to thank you for saving me that day." she said. "You didn't have to rush over and get me out of the way like that but I am grateful."
"You're welcome." Steve replied. "I'm glad that I was able to get to you in time. I would have blamed myself if you had gotten hurt."
"Why?"
Steve's cheeks turned a light shade of pink.
"Because I care about you." he answered. "I would have been really upset if you had been hurt."
Natasha lowered her eyes slightly. A little surprised by the new imformation although she was still trying to decide if he meant that he cared about her the same way that he cared about the team or if he meant something else entirely.
"Well, I am upset that you got hurt because of me." Natasha said. "But I'm glad that you're getting better."
Steve lightly smiled and they fell into silence once more.
"So..." he started, sounding a little nervous.
"You want a straight answer. I know." Natasha said as if to read his mind. She knew that he'd been waiting for this moment. The moment when he could finally get an answer as to why she kissed him.
"I would like one." he said looking at her with his impossibly too blue eyes.
"I guess...I guess I wanted to show you how grateful I was that you actually put your life on the line like that for me." Natasha said. "I don't deserve that kind of attention. Especially from someone like you."
"What do you mean?" Steve asked. "You've never gotten that kind of attention from anyone?"
"Very few people actually. But, for some reason, yours is sticking out more. I don't know what it is about you but..."
"But?" Steve urged.
"I had always thought that love was for children and that someone like me was incapable of feeling that emotion. But you're really changing my outlook on a lot of things, Steve. I guess I kissed you because...I really like you."
She looked at Steve and saw his eyes looking into hers. She could see a swirl of emotions in his eyes but she wasn't able to pin exactly which ones.
"Natasha." he finally spoke and she then noticed how exhausted he looked. His eyes were starting to droop and unconsciousness was trying to re-claim his mind. "I...I like you too."
Natasha felt herself sit up a little straighter at hearing his words.
"You really mean that?" she asked, hoping that his answer wouldn't be negative.
"Yes." he answered softly. "I do mean it."
Natasha felt a smile slowly spread across her face and she reached over to hold his hand. She noticed how warm his hand was as his fingers curled around her hand.
The soldier tried to speak again but Natasha stopped him.
"Shhh. Rest. You're still tired. Sleep and when you wake up, I'll be right here."
Steve gave her a tired smile before he closed his eyes and allowed himself to be drifted back into the world of sleep.
True to her word, Natasha stayed right at his side with his hand in hers the entire time.