Disclaimer: Marvel owns these awesome characters.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for the kind reviews and favorites - I greatly appreciate that! :)
"This is not going to end well."
"Stop being so negative."
Tony scoffed. "The last time Steve went on a date was never. This is certain to be a disaster."
Natasha looked at his reflection in the mirror she stood in front of, putting on the last of her makeup. "Which is why we're going to be there. To help, not mock." She applied her red lipstick and he found himself gazing at her lips.
Tony sighed and stood up, moving behind her and running his hands over the black silk of her sheath dress, one hand moving to touch her thigh, slightly exposed by the slit in the dress. "Come on, Tash…"
Natasha lightly swatted his hand. "No. Behave." Then his lips were on her neck and her lashes fluttered, as she seriously considered staying in tonight. After a long moment she recovered herself and elbowed him in the stomach. "No. Later, Tony."
"Oof. Violent woman."
She turned around to face him. "If I didn't love you, you'd be limping downstairs to the car," she pointed out sweetly.
He paused. "Point taken. Come on, Tasha, you're going to make us late."
She gave him a dirty look and he smiled at her, innocent as a lamb.
"What?" he asked.
"Sometimes I can't decide whether I want to kiss you or kill you," she said, taking his arm and going down to the garage with him.
"What can I say? I like living dangerously," he said, and to prove it squeezed her ass before she got into the car.
"What is the matter with you?" Tony asked, once they were seated at the restaurant. "You look like you're about to pass out. And she's not even here yet. Did she decide to bail already?"
"No… wait, at least I don't think so." Steve suddenly looked worried.
"Tony!" Natasha hissed. "Not helpful. She's flying in from a last minute assignment."
"Well, unless Thor decided to dance around in the clouds, she should be here by now," Tony said, looking through the menu.
"What if she did change her mind?" Steve asked Natasha.
"Ow!" Tony blurted out suddenly, leaning down to rub his shin.
"That's what you get," Natasha says, glaring at him, and then turning to her friend. "She didn't. Traffic here sucks. I'm sure she'll be here in the next few minutes," she said confidently.
Sure enough, there was the sound of stilettos clacking on marble and a breathless blonde in a white dress approached the table.
"I'm so sorry I'm late!" she said, in between pants. "I was late getting off the ground and my phone died – it was just a mess."
"It's all right," Steve said, smiling at her and standing to pull her chair back for her. "I'm just… happy you made it."
She smiled at him. "I looked forward to this since you asked me."
"Good to see you, Agent Carter," Tony said, snapping his menu shut.
She smiled. "Please, call me Sarah."
Steve went back to his seat, feeling much better. He glanced briefly at Natasha, grateful for her calming presence. The double date had been her idea and he was glad he had agreed to it.
"Sarah." Natasha greeted her with a smile. "How did you get involved with S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
"I was recruited in college and when I graduated, I took an entry level position immediately. I was a chemistry major at Vanderbilt, and I figured I could put my knowledge to good use."
Tony glanced up curiously. "Wow. I knew you could shoot things but you're really not just…" He actually caught himself.
"A dumb blonde?" Sarah finished for him. "God, I hope not." She laughed.
Steve frowned at him. "Did you really just insult her to her face?"
"No, I said she wasn't a dumb blonde. Try and keep up."
"I'm going to—"
"Anyway," Natasha cut in. "How about we order dinner, now that Sarah has arrived?"
Natasha was thankful that she did not have to kick Tony again under the table. She, who was an expert on reading people, could clearly see that Steve was interested in Sarah, though not exactly sure of how to act.
Sarah was socially skilled and deftly carried on the conversation, with occasional help from Natasha. Toward the end of dinner, Steve finally began to relax and even Tony was behaving himself.
"How long have you two been together?" Sarah asked, looking at Natasha and Tony.
"Oh, um…." Natasha looked at Tony.
He gazed back at her, his expression affectionate, but he shrugged. "Sorry, baby, you know how bad I am with dates."
"And I'm not sentimental so…" Natasha paused, trying to think back.
"Wow. You both are awful at this," Steve said, then laughed.
"We really are," Natasha admitted. "I don't know. A while."
"I could consult Jarvis," Tony offered. "He would know for sure." He took his phone from his jacket pocket, and a minute later turned triumphantly back to them. "If you count since the time we had our first real date, it's been 7 months."
"You had to call your computer to verify that?" Steve asked. "Sad. So sad."
"Steve has a point," Natasha said, and smirked. "Well, at least we know now."
"So, why'd you decide to date Steve?" Tony asked, showing that as usual he had no tact and poor boundaries. "I mean… just looking at you, I'm sure you don't lack options."
Natasha sighed and signaled for more wine to be brought to the table.
Sarah blinked at his bluntness. "Thank you… I think." She smiled. "I agreed to the date because I like him a lot. That's the summary of why. The other reasons are… none of your business." She laughed.
Tony mock sniffed. "Junior's growing up. Tash, I'm so proud."
"I am not your junior," Steve grumbled at him, looking up from the shyly affectionate gaze he cast on Sarah.
"Steve's taller and bigger than you, Tony," Sarah observed, and Steve grinned.
"Only because of that serum! Which, incidentally, he should be thanking me for because of my father's contribution not to mention the assistance from Stark Industries."
"Whatever, Tin Man," Steve said dismissively. "Green isn't your color."
"Oh, you did not…" Tony glared at him.
Natasha burst out laughing. Sarah smirked down into her wine glass, trying to hold back her own laughter.
Tony was about to respond but he felt a small foot rub up against his calf. He looked up to see Natasha demurely gazing at him from beneath long thick lashes.
"Excuse me," she purred. "I have to go to the ladies' room." She stood up and walked away, the sway of hips attracting the attention of every man.
Except, of course, Steve. "Sure," he said, looking at Sarah.
Tony waited a moment. "I'll be back," he said, tossing his napkin to the table and also heading for the restrooms.
Sarah watched Tony's hurried stride and smiled to herself. It was obvious what was going to happen next, and equally obvious that Steve had no idea. But that was definitely a good thing, because she suspected he'd be embarrassed if he knew. His innocence was endearing.
They sat in comfortable silence, and she finished off the last of her wine. When after a couple of minutes Tony and Natasha still had not returned, she spoke up.
"I'm glad you asked me out," she said softly, reaching out to touch his hand.
Steve turned his hand over to be able to hold her much smaller one. "It took me a while," he admitted. "I was afraid you'd say no. I know what I look like now… but sometimes when I first wake up, I still think I'm the little runt I once was. Or I'm afraid that I'll turn back into that."
"You won't. And even if you do, your heart is still the same. And that's what matters."
I could fall in love with her, he thought. He was halfway there already and she was warm and solid and real. Not a ghost, not a fantasy.
Sarah.
Her gaze was gentle and she brought up his hand, kissing his palm. He caressed her cheek, pushed back a stray lock of wavy honey colored hair.
"You're… too good, too beautiful to be true."
"I'm not. I shop too much, have a hard time dragging myself out of bed in the mornings, and I'm not a good cook, despite my repeated efforts to improve. I promise you, sugar, I'm only human."
And because she knew that he was too shy and she couldn't wait any longer, she went around to sit beside him, leaning in to softly kiss him.
Steve felt one of her hands rest on his shoulder, the other cupping his cheek and then her gentle lips on his. He returned the kiss, hoping he wasn't too awkward or clumsy for her. But when he pulled back and she smiled brightly at him, his heart soared.
Tony clapped as he approached the table with Natasha. "About time."
Steve turned around and would have been embarrassed, except something was… off. Tony's tie was crooked and his hair was sticking up even more so than usual. There was a smeared streak of red across the back of his hand. Natasha's lipstick was completely gone, her dress looked slightly crumpled around the hips, and there was a small mark between her neck and shoulder.
"You… didn't…" Steven began.
Tony smiled smugly as he sat down.
"Oh, yeah. Did."
