Chapter 11
James Barnes broke into the underground bunker by ripping the iron door off the hinges with his left cybernetic arm. In his right arm he held the latest version of the AK-47. Once the door was cleared he opened fire on the Hydra agents. Within two minutes they were dead and Barnes was thumb drive into one of the many computer and started downloading intel.
Sam Wilson entered the bunker. He looked at the dead bodies and shook his head. Part of him wanted to judge Barnes, but he wasn't there so he'd settle for sarcasm.
"Don't believe in prisoners?" he remarked.
"Not often," said Barnes.
"Downloading intel?" asked Sam.
Barnes nodded yes then reached into his pocket and took out another thumb drive and tossed it to Sam. Sam caught it. He stared at the SHIELD issued drive for a moment.
"Pick a computer and download intel," said Barnes almost sounding like order. "We need to find something, anything, that can help Steve clear his name and show the world he is a hero and not a menace.
"Sure," said Sam, who then headed over to a computer and plugged in the thumb drive and started to download intel. "Innocent civilians were cleared without a problem. Well done on that."
Barnes shook his head.
"Your plan went smoother than I thought it would," noted Sam.
"I thought like Steve. That's all it took. He did train me back in the SSR," replied Barnes.
"Uh huh," said Sam. "Not much of a conversationalist, are you?"
"Too much time on ice can limit your conversational skills," Barnes stated without humor.
"Okay," sighed Sam. "I hope we hit a goldmine here. The Avengers need their leader."
"And I need my friend," added Barnes.
Avengers
Steve was cooking dinner since he volunteered. After a healthy lunch he had a taste for something less healthy. Although his mother was Irish through and through one of the best things she cooked was a spaghetti sauce with meatballs. Of course one of his Howling Commandos, Dino Manelli, gave him his mother's recipe, so between the two recipes Steve made an excellent spaghetti and meatballs. Or so he thought and he hoped Natasha thought.
"Smells good," said Natasha, as she came into the kitchen.
"It has to simmer for two hours with the meatballs in it to get the favors perfect," Steve said.
"Really," she smirked.
Steve took a wooden spoon then sampled the sauce. He took the Parmesan cheese and grated some into the sauce then stirred the sauce and meatballs. Steve cleaned off the spoon under the faucet and then he dipped it in the sauce again. Instead of tasting it, he offered it to Natasha as to sample. Looking at her for the first time he realized she was in full spy mode. Natasha was tight black jeans that were tucked into her knee high black leather boots and a skin tight white tank top. She sampled the said and then smiled.
"Wow, that's good," she said.
"So, two and two half hours to simmer then dinner will be ready," Steve told her.
He started to clean up after himself. As he placed a few item in the sink, Natasha's hands came around him and placed a spoon and can opener in the sink. As she reached around Steve's body she purposefully rubbed up against his back in order to make him uncomfortable and put him off his game. He close his eyes and took a deep breath knowing that she was up to something.
Backing away she moved to the large wooden island in the middle of the kitchen and hopped up on it to sit. Steve turned and looked at her. He looked at her closely. Her green eyes were back, as the brown contact lenses were gone and she had on red lipstick that reminded him of Peggy. He felt his heart starting to beat quicker.
"What are you up to, Nat?" he asked.
"What's her name, Steve?" she asked.
"Steven Grant, Captain, 0- 462362 T42 43," he stated.
"Cute, Captain Rogers," she said. "I'm going to break you."
Steve went to walk away and she extended one of her legs.
"Make a spy curious and they become determined to get the intel, Captain," she said.
"Yes, ma'am," he smiled.
Natasha was off the island in split second. She pushed Steve back against the cabinets and then placed her hands on either side of Steve on the counter top getting as close as she could knowing it was making him uncomfortable.
"Is she part of the new SHIELD?" she asked.
"Nat, I'm not going to tell you," he stated.
"Why not, Steve? It's just a name. Why are you afraid to tell me a name?" she asked.
"I'm not afraid," he replied.
"Are you the same Captain Rogers who destroyed Hydra in World War II then brought down SHIELD in order to go after Hydra again?" she asked.
"You know who I am, Nat," he said.
"I thought you were the great and courageous Captain America, but I could be wrong," she purred knowing from the red that was starting to color his cheeks that she was getting under his skin.
"Please don't do this, Nat," he almost pleaded.
"A name. Come on, Cap, make a name up if you have to. Just give me a name and I'll stop, even if I know that name is a lie," she said softly then nuzzled his neck. Her lips left a slight trace of wetness on his neck.
"Stop," he said a little stronger.
"Afraid of cheating on your girlfriend with that bad female spy?" he teased him.
"That would be impossible," he growled then took her by the shoulders and moved her back slightly. "I couldn't cheat on her with you, Natasha."
"Why is that, Steve? She's too pure and I'm too broken, is that it?" she asked in a voice that no longer teased, but carried a dollop of pain.
"No, Nat, I can't cheat on her with you because you are her," he told her then he moved her closer and bent his head and devoured her mouth with a kiss.
At first Natasha was surprised by the kiss. For half a second her mind went blank then she parted her lips slightly and allowed Steve's tongue access to her mouth and tongue. Soon they were both deeply kissing each other and it continued until they were both in need of air.
Natasha pulled away and took two steps back. She had to admit that her head was spinning and her knees were rubbery.
"I'm the woman you have fallen for, Steve?" she asked.
He nodded yes.
"Me?"
"You. I've fallen in love with you," he said.
"For how long?" she asked.
"Oh, it's been a while," he said.
"You told Bruce that he should give a relationship wit me a try. Why?" she demanded starting to sound angry.
"I wanted you happy," he answered.
"So, you were willing to sacrifice your happiness for my happiness, huh?" she said.
"Yes, I was," he said.
"You idiot. How dare you do that? Who is to say that you would make me happier than Bruce ever made me?" she asked him.
"You looked happy with him, Nat," Steve said.
She was happy, or, at least, she thought he was happy. Yet, she never felt like this with Bruce. Her heart was racing and a warmth from her stomach grew to an inferno in her loins. She wanted him. No, she needed him.
"Shut up, Rogers, and kiss me," she demanded.
Steve took her in his arms and kissed her again. As they kissed Natasha brought her legs up and wrapped them around his waist. Steve's right hand started to wonder until it slipped under her tank top and then slipped under her bra taking her left breast in his large hand. He started to gently pinch her nipple.
Natasha ripped her mouth away from his, which then allowed his mouth to move to her neck. She sought his ear.
"I'm not fragile or made of glass. You don't have to play with me so softly," she said in his ear.
His fingers pinched and twisted a little harder.
"Take me to my bedroom now," she growled in his ear then she started to suck on his earlobe.
Steve obeyed her.
Avengers
Natasha wiped the sweat from her brow, as Steve rolled off her. Her body no longer felt like her own. It was both exhausted and overly sensitive to his touch. Tremors of pleasure still cascaded through her body. She was breathing heavily, as was Steve, who had turned onto his side and grabbed her with his arms and brought her closer to his body.
The warmth of his body felt good as the sweat was starting to dry and cool her off. She may have had more experienced lovers, but she never had one more suited for her, or one that made her feel so much. Making love to Steve, and she had to admit that it was love not just sex, was ineffable.
"Wow," he said as he nuzzled her hair.
"Good description," she said.
"I love you, Nat," he said.
"Yeah, I got that impression," she replied not wanting to get overly maudlin. She was Russian, so he was lucky that she cuddled after making love. Her eyes traveled to alarm clock. It was six fifteen. No wonder the sun had lost so much energy, she thought. They had been going at it for over two hours. "Steve, it's six fifteen."
His body tenses up and he got out of bed quickly. She turned to see him standing there completely naked. He turned and looked at her.
"I have to turn off the sauce before it burns," he told her.
"I thought as much," she said. "Go, do I'll bring your clothes down, so we can eat. I don't know about you, Lubovnik."
A big smile appeared on his face. She had forgotten that he spoke Russian.
"Thank you, Lubovnitsa," he replied then headed out of the bedroom and down the stairs.
Once he was gone, a smile lit up her face. She got out of bed and went into the bathroom attached to her bedroom and cleaned up then she changed into yoga pants and a white tee shirt. She grabbed Steve's clothes off her bedroom floor and brought them downstairs with her.
Heading into the kitchen she found Steve in there naked putting spaghetti into a pot of boiling hot water. He turned around to face her and she saw he had a semi-erection. Fully erect or semi-erect she had to admit that his penis was impressive. She tossed him his clothes.
"Remind to tell Stark that his father and Dr. Erskine did really good work," she said.
Steve blushed as he put on his jeans. Next, he put on his black tee shirt.
"Dinner will be ready soon," he said.
Natasha walked up to him, got on her tiptoes, and gently kissed his lips.
"Thank you," she said.
"For what?" he asked wondering what he had done.
"For everything," she said then she went to the cabinet and grabbed plates, glassed, and cutlery. "Grab a red wine from the wine rack. I'll pet these on the dining room table."
"Yes, ma..." he started to say ma'am, but stopped. "Yes, Nat."
She smiled and exited the kitchen. Steve found himself smiling and happy, as Natasha left the kitchen. He knew that she was not an easy person to deal with, but neither was Peggy and he fell in love with her. Quickly, he grabbed a colander, out it in the sink, then he poured the pot of cooked pasta into colander. Next, he grabbed a large bowl and then put the pasta in the bowl. Finally, he ladled plenty of sauce and meatballs over the pasta, grabbed a bottle of red wine, and joined Nat in the dining room.
She had set the plates up so that they sat across from each in the middle of the table and not the ends. He put the wine and food in the middle of the table and then sat down.
"Smells delicious," she remarked.
"Dino, who was one of my Howling Commandos, used to tell me that Americans liked too much gravy on their pasta," said Steve. "He called spaghetti sauce gravy. Dig in."
Natasha loaded up her plate then Steve did. They both started eating.
"Benedik has been taken down by SHIELD," Natasha told him.
"Good. The man was a butcher," hissed Steve.
"He caused you a great deal of pain," she stated.
"I can take it. But he enjoyed it," said Steve.
"Sovokvia being under the influence of Hydra has people taking about maybe Captain America being given a raw deal," she told him.
Steve nodded as he ate.
"The conversation is changing, Steve. That's good for you," she said. "I'm sorry this had to happen to you."
"I'm not," he smiled.
Natasha furrowed her brow and asked, "Why?"
"Because of you," he replied.
"When did you become a charmer, Rogers?" she asked him.
"When I fell in love with you, Romanov," he answered.
"We are going to take this relationship slow, Steve," she told him.
"How slow?" he asked.
"I don't want us to rush and screw this up. I want this to last," she said.
"So, no more sex?" he asked.
Natasha raised and eyebrow and glared at him then said, "No more sex... until after dinner."
Steve smiled then said, "I'm glad I didn't make dessert."
Avengers
Bruce and Tony were in the research lab pouring through everything they had on Ultron. Even though Ultron could be ruled and extinction level event, he was still a remarkable creation, a sentient AI. Vision was no longer considered an AI but a synthetic human, which meant he was a court case waiting to happen.
"We can't let all of this research and information to get out there, Tony, or someone will try and recreate Ultron," Bruce stated.
"I'm not going to disagree with you, Science Bro," said Tony.
Tony was reviewing the first appearance of Ultron at Avengers Tower. Right from the beginning, he had decided that humanity was a problem. Of course, he thought the Avengers were a huge problem. Too many in congress and the world agreed with that.
"We need to be careful no to over edit what we give the world to see," said Tony. "I don't want to be accused of trying to hide anything."
"So many we should destroy what we don't want to get out of this lab," proposed Bruce. "One Ultron is enough."
Tony took a deep breath and sighed. He looked at Bruce. His guilt had already led him to retire Iron Man and slip behind the scenes. Now he was going to play with scientific evidence in order to protect humanity from another one of his failures.
"I agree," sighed Tony.
Bruce smiled sadly and placed his right hand on Tony's shoulder giving him a sign of support.
Avengers
Natasha straddled Steve and slowly rode him. Steve lay underneath her allowing her to be completely in charge of their lovemaking. He stared up at Natasha. She was lost in the throes of pleasure. Her face was almost serene with a hint of joy. He wanted to make her happy; he wanted to make her his.
Natasha picked up her tempo getting faster and faster building up until she reached a climax that she so intense that her whole body shook. Steve sat up grabbing her in his arms as she trembled from her climax. He lay back down taking her with him and then continued to thrust until he came to a climax. His climax brought another scream of pleasure from Natasha and a shuddering body. The shuddering slowed until it was just trembling on her art.
Wrapping his arms around her and holding her close to his body, Steve's face was dominated by a large grin. She did call him her lover, which made him happy.
"I'm not afraid," he said.
"You should be," she retorted.
"Nat...," he started to speak.
"No, listen to me, Steve. I want this and I'm not going to fight it, but there are things you have to know," she stated.
"Okay, I'm listening," he said.
She lay in his arms for a few moments quietly. Part of her wanted to tell him and part of her was afraid to tell him, who she really was. She moved away from his arms and turned on left side so that she could face him. He didn't move, but just waited for her to talk.
"You parts of my story, you've heard of the Red Room," she said.
"Yes."
"I was taken as a child from my family and brought to be a killer, a seductress, and a spy for the KGB. My first kill was at the age of 12 when I killed another Red Room student. It was a test to see which of us went on to the next level. I passed; she didn't. At the next level was injected with a weaker version of the super soldier serum. It increased so many of my abilities. My trainer became a man who also had the serum, a man we only knew as the Winter Soldier," she explained.
"Bucky," Steve said his friend's name.
She could hear the pain in his voice.
"I didn't know him as anything except the Winter Soldier," she said.
"Nat, so far there is nothing you've said that changes how I feel for you," Steve told her.
Hearing those words caused tears to sting at her eyes, but she ignored them. She was thought by the Winter Soldier that emotions were dangerous.
"Off and on for the next five years, he trained us. There were times that he disappeared for assignments and also for recalibration, where he was mind wiped and put back on ice," she explained. "By the time I was seventeen I was an experienced assassin having had made seven kills. On my eighteenth birthday I was given two assignments, one was to kill a doctor working on experiments to make a super soldier in the Czech Republic, and to seduce, marry, and convince to join the Red Guardian program Alexei Shostakov. The first assignment I was able to do but the collateral damage was a fire from a grenade I used that burned hospital killing dozens and dozens of children."
Natasha stopped speaking for a moment, as she fought back tears and emotions. It only took a matter of seconds and she returned to her story in a monotone.
"The second assignment I succeeded at with equal ease. Alexei and I married nine weeks after meeting him. I seduced him and he fell in love with me. He joined the Red Guardian program several weeks after our marriage and I divorced him as he underwent the effects of the Russian super soldier serum. It was easily arranged," she told him. "Because of my successes, I was given the code name the Black Widow. Assignments continued and the red built up on my ledger until Clint was sent to stop me by killing me. Instead of killing me, he offered me a chance to redeem myself. I took that chance."
She stopped speaking and looked at Steve. He had tears in his eyes. Natasha thought the tears were a rejection, so she started to get out of the bed. As she threw her legs over the side of the bed, Steve's strong arms enveloped her and pulled her back into his body.
"I am so sorry who had to go through such pain and torture," he said softly. "It is a testament to your strength that you've become the person you are now, which is a good person, Natasha, a person who tries to d what is right. Don't ever think what you told me lessens my love for you. It doesn't. I love you, Nat."
"Steve," she sobbed as the tears and emotions flowed, "do you mean it?"
"Natasha, you know I don't lie," he whispered in her ear, as she wrapped herself around his body. "I love you."
"Ya tozhe tebya lyublyu," she replied then sought out his mouth.
He obliged her and in moments they were once again shutting out the world and losing themselves in passion.
