Apprehension.
It took the large group of people around ten minutes to split into two teams. Tony and Hunter, given their views, were first to decide that they would go for the artefacts while Steve refused to do anything else but save Lara. Natasha initially wanted to be apart of the team that went to save Lara but given that Skye hadn't been in the scale of fight that was on the horizon Natasha decided to help the attacking team. If the rescue team needed tech assistance Skye was perfect for it being a very skilled hacker.
The rest of the attacking team were Bruce, Thor, Tony, Hunter and Natasha while Steve, Clint, Coulson, Bobbi and Skye were to infiltrate the compound to get to Lara. Before they even got anywhere near the compound Tony needed to find it first. While he, Skye and Bruce worked on finding Lara the rest of the group had to find something to occupy their time.
Steve had chosen to try work out his angry in the training room. First he has started doing push ups, then pull ups pushing himself as far as he could go. No matter what he did he he couldn't shake Lara from his mind. He thought of what could be happening her, he thought of what pain she could be going through. That did not help his anger one bit.
As he was working on a punching bag, sweat sliding down his furrowed brow, he heard the door open and light footsteps enter. Natasha lent against the wall in a light black jacket and jeans. Steve glanced at Natasha to see her giving him the sympathetic look she could. Not wanting to talk at the moment he continued to punch the punching bag using all of his strength.
"She'll be alright Steve." said Natasha, more to herself than Steve.
Steve unleashed several more heavy blows to the bag before resting his head against it.
"I should have gone with her Natasha." he mumbled into the punching bag.
He heard Natasha sigh. "It would have gone the same way Steve. Whether you replaced me or Tony. If you had replaced Tony we would all be dead because we didn't have the controller."
Steve stared at the bag, Natasha's words going in one ear and out the other. He let out a deep breath before throwing more powerful shots at the bag. Natasha was at a loss for words. Even with the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. and rise of Hydra she had not seen Steve this low. He was blaming himself and there was no way for him to have changed it. Natasha simply watched him as she tried to formulate what to say.
She pushed off of the wall and walked closer to the first avenger. "What do you think of Lara?"
Steve stopped his punch mid swing to give Natasha a confused and sheepish look.
"And don't beat around the bush like she did."
"Like she did?" he asked confused.
Natasha put her hand on the punching bag to steady it giving him a small smile. "Answer the question Steve."
Steve started to rub the back of his neck awkwardly, avoiding Natasha's gaze and half smirk. His cheeks started to develop a lovely rosy glow.
"Erm, well she's smart, funny, athletic, brave and honest." He paused trying to find the right words to say and judging if he could say them to Natasha. "We had... a moment."
Natasha couldn't hide the smirk on her face. She was right and she had known it regardless of how much Lara would deny it. "I kind of figured that when we first came to the Tower."
Steve's face crunched up in confusion, racking his brain for something from before the Tower. Croft Manor. Steve and Lara's moment back in Lara's room. He smiled slightly to himself as he sat on the bench, Natasha joining him.
"Natasha. Will you keep this between us? I don't want Tony to know about it. I don't want to have to deal with him pestering me about her."
That sparked intrigue in Natasha. So far all Steve had said was that they had had a moment but that statement indicated at something more.
"I promise Steve but there's something more isn't there?" she asked, her eyebrow raised as she lent into his line of sight.
Steve nodded pushing is awkwardness aside and turning to face his friend.
"We had another moment on the plane to Indonesia. She blames herself for Alistair's death." he finished solemnly.
"At least she got it out of her system. His death wasn't her fault." She posed a question that was on her mind, "What do you mean, exactly, by a moment?" asked Natasha.
The rosy glow on Steve's cheeks returned in full force and was now a deep shade of red.
"We, we nearly kissed. In both moments." he began to fiddle with his fingers, deliberately avoiding Natasha's eyes.
Natasha began to laugh loudly. "So I was right then. You two do have a soft spot for each other."
As soon as she finished Steve's cheek's turned a vibrant crimson and a very proud smile spread across his handsome face. Natasha's eyes widened and her jaw dropped in shock.
"Steve? Did you two..?" she asked slowly.
Steve chuckled awkwardly looking at his feet, his entire face was now red and he was tapping his right foot.
"Erm... we were in a small room with one bed. It sort of just happened." explained Steve, now raising his gaze to meet Natasha's, his face still as red as a beetroot.
She was still in shock. They had... She laughed loudly and playfully pushed Steve.
"Screw Stark. As long as you're happy Steve you shouldn't be embarrassed. You and Lara are adults."
Steve looked down again his proud smile changing to one of concern. Natasha noticed the change.
"We will find her Natasha. I will find her. I won't let them hurt her." Steve spoke quietly and slowly yet with a hint of determination.
Natasha put her hand on Steve's shoulder. "Yeah we will Steve. Just do me a favour." Steve looked up to his red haired friend, "When this is done, take her on a date."
Steve smile at her and nodded in agreement. Since that night in Indonesia Steve had thought of asking Lara out to dinner or something. He just didn't think now was the time to ask.
"Excuse me butTony believes that he has successfully located the beacon somewhere in Greenland." spoke Friday throughout the room.
Steve and Natasha's looked at each other silently asking if they had heard right. The look on the others face told them they did. Without another word they bolted for the living room.