Update: Chapter 9 and 10 are getting posted back to back and early because I'm going on vacation for a week! So this Saturday and next there will be no updates to this story since I'm doing it now.

"I don't see why not." He grinned.

I pulled him back down snuggling into his chest. His arms wrapped around me.

"I'm glad you're getting used to being touched." He commented off-handedly.

"Oh," I mumbled cheeks lighting up.

"I like touching you." He stated.

"I like being touched by you," I replied.

"Do you now?" He teased.

"I will throw you off of this bed." I threatened light-heartedly.

We fell into a comfortable silence after that. Hours were spent that day with two warriors intertwined in each other innocently. Both of us were enjoying the pleasure that one could only feel in the close company of someone you truly needed. Both of us were also afraid to move and upset the utopian reprieve that they had discovered in each other's arms. Both of us felt all was right with the world for once.

"Jay, what do you want to do with your life?" Steve asked.

"I don't know, I'm just kind of taking it one step at a time," I told him. " What did you want to do before you became Captain America?"

"A lot but I was too sick and too weak. I really want to be an artist. Well known. I wanted to make something of myself so my mom would never have to worry about money again." He said quietly.

"Tell me about her," I said interested.

"She was beautiful. I got my blond hair and blue eyes from her. She was always smiling even after my father left. She always had hope and made me feel better even at my worst. I wish I had been able to properly tell her goodbye." He said trying not to choke up.

"Why did your father leave?" I asked.

"He was a drunk and never wanted kids." He replied.

"That sucks." I said feeling bad for asking.

"It's fine now. I stopped caring about it when I was a teenager. Mom and I got by without him." He smiled. " What about you?"

"What do you mean?" I questioned.

"What were your parents like?" He clarified.

"My father was a very reserved man, only ever smiling around us. If I ever did something wrong he'd explain why it was wrong and then let me choose my punishment. Having me choose seemed so much worse than him just telling me. But being so young it was only small things like timeouts or loss of some privilege. My mother was loud and playful. When she was around she'd always get us into trouble or we'd make a mess. She was like a child sometimes but she was innocent and understanding." I told him.

"I think you have a mix of their personalities." Steve deduced.

"Yeah, maybe. Mom always thought I only had my father's personality but the older I get the more I see her as well." I agreed.

"Excuse me, sir, Ms. Romanov wanted me to inform both of you that the forecast is calling for thunderstorms this evening," Jarvis said.

"Oh, thank you." Steve said disheartened."If you need me too I can crash on the couch tonight."

"No, it's okay." I told him.

"Will you explain to me what you don't like about thunderstorms?" He questioned lightly.

I sighed. " When I was a child I was put off by the sound of thunder. It never really scared me though, until Hagstrom thought it would be a good idea to use it against me. He'd chain me to this tree outside of the base like a dog until it started to storm. Then all of the agents there would beat me until Hagstrom decided my punishment was over."

"Are you serious?" He asked head jerking to look at me.

"Yeah, it was a form of training," I confirmed.

"No child should be treated like that." He bit out.

I just snuggled in closer not really wanting him to become anymore irked than he already was. It seemed to work because his breathing and heart rate evened out. It was a few hours later when I was awoken by the sound of rumbling from a distance. My heart began to race when the room was lit up. Steve jolted awake next to me when loud thunder shook the windows.

"Jay, are you good?" he asked looking at my wide eyes.

I shook my head barely able to hear him. I was quickly shutting down. I felt myself being lifted until I was seated between his legs and my back was pressed against his chest with his arms wrapped tightly around me. He was cooing softly in my ear. Soon I was slowly coming back.

"Good boy." He mumbled.

I slowly started to relax into him blocking out the storm.

"Are you good?" He asked after a while.

"I'm getting there," I answered truthfully.

"Good boy, I've got you."

I nodded pressing myself closer.

"Just keep focusing on me." He encouraged.

And that's what I did for several hours until the sun came up and the storm ceased. For several hours Steve had sat with me keeping me attached to reality. His arms relaxed around me and I swung both legs over the bed.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

"You're welcome." He smiled.

I stood carefully putting weight on the now just tender leg. I winced a bit but started walking. It hurt a bit but the bones were healed finally.

"Where are you going?" He questioned teasingly.

"Shower, I need one," I said grabbing clean clothes.

Once under the hot spray of the water, I let whatever tension that was left be released from my muscles. My foot was feeling much better with only a dual throb reminding me that just a few days ago I wasn't able to walk on it. I took a deep breath for once feeling like AI was at peace with my life.

A month passed by slowly. I was able to move back into my own room after Clint was healed. Steve and I hadn't done more than hold hands. We'd been doing what we had been, going for walks, watching movies, sparring. Now our conversations were deeper, almost but never quite touching out past. Both of us weren't ready to delve that deep into the horrors of the past.

"Hey, Jay! your birthday is in a month right?" Nat said plopping down beside me.

"Uh, yeah, why?" I questioned.

"No reason. I just wanted to be sure," she said grinning.

"Why don't I trust you?" I laughed.

"Because you're smart. But don't worry Steve won't let me do anything you're not comfortable with." She grinned.

"That doesn't make me feel any better," I said crossing my arms.

"All of that aside, come spar with me." She demanded.

"No thanks, my back still hurts from the other day." I declined.

"Come on, I'll take it easy o you." She pleaded.

"Go ask Steve, I'm sure he'd be more than happy to spar with you," I told her.

"No, he always goes too easy on me. He thinks he's going to break me." She complained.

"He is a super soldier." I reasoned.

"So, you're just a strong as he is if not stronger and you don't take it easy on me." She argued.

"No, because you're trained. I know if I did you'd kick my ass worse than you already do." I laughed.

"Language." I heard from the kitchen.

Nat and I paused for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"It's not funny," Steve said walking in.

"It's pretty funny." I grinned.

Nat just continued to laugh.

"Children," Steve said rolling his eyes.

"Kids now'a'days," I said with an eye roll of my own.

"They just don't breed them like they use to," Nat said crossing her arms and shaking her head.

"Very funny you two," Steve said with a sigh of frustration.

"I thought it was." I grinned again.

Nat and I laughed again as Steve exited the room. Afterward, we sat there in silence with the TV playing in the background. Nat was texting someone with a smile. I couldn't help but feel a bit envious of her relationship with Maria. They didn't seem to be nearly as awkward with each other like Steve and I was. Maybe the beginning of their relationship was just as awkward but I couldn't be sure. We were slowly relaxing around each other but it was still tense. Neither of us what was okay and what wasn't, nor did we know how to ask. We kind of just stiffly moved around each other waiting until the other said something.

"What are you thinking about?" Nat's voice broke through my thoughts.

"Oh, nothing," I said giving her a smile.

"Are you sure? If you need help with something I'm here." She told me.

"Everything's fine. Thank you though." I reassured her.

"Alright if you insist. Oh, Maria wanted to know if you'd like to come to our house tonight, get you away from this house before you go stir crazy. And away from Steve since you two have been living together for a while." She offered.

"Yeah sure, that sounds good." I agreed.

Maybe some time apart would do the Captain and I some good.

"Awesome we're leaving at four and I'll have you back by midnight at the latest. So go let your man know what's going on so he doesn't worry." She beamed at me.

I went off to find Steve and actually found him in the library, on the computer. He was looking into articles on the winter soldier and hydra.

"Hey, Nat wants me to go with her to have dinner at her and Maria's place tonight," I said sitting on the desk beside him.

"Alright, it'll do you some good to get out of here." He said leaning back in his chair to look at me.

"That's what she said too. We're leaving at four. Are you going to be able to eat without me cooking for you?" I joked.

"It'll be hard but I think I can manage." He laughed.

"What are you going to do tonight?" I asked hesitantly.

"Probably this." He waved at the computer screen. " I'm a boring old man, remember that."

I laughed," Yeah, okay."

With that, I left him to his work and I went to take a shower. I could almost feel myself bouncing with excitement. I didn't really care what that night would bring. I was just too happy about getting out of the stifling house. I dried myself and dressed when I was done I went downstairs to see Steve talking to Nat.

"Just be on guard. Hydra found us at the park and didn't hesitate to open fire. They'll have no problem doing much worse if they catch you in a private area." Steve said.

"I know, but you know that I'm always packing. And Maria has random weapons hid around the house." Nat told him.

"Way to make an ex-hydra agent feel safe." I joked.

"Don't worry the only weapons we might use on you is a whip." She winked.

"Natasha!" Steve sputtered while we both laughed.

"Don't worry we'll take care of him," Nat said waving him off and leading me out the front door.

We hopped into her black car and took off down the road. I watched the scenery around us pass with amazement. New York was beautiful as long as you stayed away from the cities.

"Are you allergic to anything?" Natasha asked suddenly.

"Not that I'm aware of," I said.

"Anything that you absolutely will not touch?" She questioned.

"Nope, I'll eat anything," I told her.

"Good." She nodded.

"Can you tell me more about that article you had me read?" I asked shyly.

She agreed and began to explain. She warned me that there were bad doms and subs alike even though you'd hear more horror stories about doms ignoring the safe word or breaking the contract by pushing a hard limit. She then went on to explain what those three things were and the purpose of them. She also explained what part both dom and sub played, how you could be in a contract without being in a relationship. Sex wasn't a normal thing for just a dom/sub role. She also told me that Steve and I probably wouldn't be into anything hardcore because we were both virgins and in a relationship.

She explained that any bondage should be a prop, loose, easy to escape and previously agreed upon. New things should be introduced slowly and as a sub, my main job would be to trust Steve. Everything in the beforehand should be discussed to avoid any confusion.