Hello readers. I am deeply sorry for the long period between updates. I hadn't planned for time to go by so much without an update. I promise it won't happen again. I am deeply appreciative of the favorites and follows that keep coming.
That being said, we're reaching the end of our story. I calculate two more chapters (guaranteed much longer than this one) and I'm contemplating an epilogue. We'll make it reader's choice - let me know if you'd like one.
The following day was anything but tense - if Natasha had a say in it - as Tony avoided their eyes more than once and very much on purpose.
"Stark," she said, after their dinner and once Steve had gone upstairs with Bruce to help him bring his luggage and research cases down.
"Oh god…." Tony whispered in mock horror as he turned slowly to her, "What is it, Lil' Red?"
"You and Pepper caught Steve and me having sex right here yesterday," she said in her matter-of-fact tone as she slid her palms over the kitchen island. Tony visibly shuddered.
"For the record, you don't have to remind me. The fifteen hours I spent cleaning is reminder enough."
"A bit of an exaggeration, don't you think?"
"What's your point, Romanoff? Or are you doing this to get me interested in your sex life? Pepper will get jealous…" Tony said, attempting to tease right back, but the tone of his voice betrayed him.
"Quite the contrary, Stark. Just a reminder. You see, Steve and I are in a very healthy...very, very active relationship," Natasha said, smiling at Tony's disgusted groan, "And if you keep teasing us about it….we'll take it upon ourselves to have sex on every surface of this tower - starting with the places you love like your labs or where you least expect. And we'll make sure J.A.R.V.I.S. isn't recording...that way you won't know where or when it happened."
"Lies! Captain Purity would never go for that," Tony said, a chuckle escaped his lips, "Impossible."
"Oh, is that what you think? You know, he's the one that started it here. Didn't even give it a second thought, " she said, smiling wickedly, sighing theatrically, "And, hmmm, who knew Captain America could be so rough…"
Tony shuddered and covered his ears with his hands as Natasha laughed, triumphant and playful. He looked at her then at the kitchen island, and finally back to her before shuddering again.
"Those are not the types of thoughts I want to have about Capsicle."
"Right. Just don't try to steal my boyfriend," Nat teased, "Joking aside, you've been warned Stark. You keep teasing and, well, we'll have to keep fuc-"
"I get it, I get it….just stop putting images in my head," Tony said, muttering, "And they're not even about you…"
Natasha laughed again and walked over to throw herself on the couch, not having slept much the night prior - not that she was complaining. A minute later, Tony followed and sat in the sofa in front of her.
"I'll try not to tease."
"We'll try not to have sex in the lab."
"You wouldn't."
"Steve most definitely would if I tell him you were bothering me."
The elevator doors opened, Bruce and Steve walking in with a few luggage bags. The doctor was looking forward to a long stay in one of Tony's many private beaches to meditate and continue their research on the science behind the stone now situated in Vision's forehead.
"Oh thank god, you're back," Tony said, bolting from the sofa and walking towards the two men, "Take your girlfriend and keep her away from me."
"What?" Steve said, looking over to Natasha; the spy was sitting carefree and innocent. Instantly he knew - of course she was teasing Stark. Without hesitation, he teased Tony as well, "I'm sure you're the one bothering her. Are you still asking her questions that are none of your business?"
"Capsicle, I don't need a reminder of what you two did on my imported - and one-of-a-kind, I'll add - marble last night. And I also don't need threats about you doing that again," Tony said, hands crossing over his chest like a stubborn child.
"Can I just go to the private beach already," Bruce muttered, visibly embarrassed yet slightly amused.
"Well, Stark," Steve said, sitting on the armrest of the couch Nat was lounging on, "this might be the only way to shut you up and I guess we have to do something about it…"
"You wouldn't?" Tony repeated.
"I think both of us definitely would."
"You devious little shit," Tony muttered and Steve smirked. Bruce and Natasha giggled.
"That's another $5 in the swear jar," Natasha said, jumping from her seat to get closer to Steve. Tony groaned and turned to Bruce.
"I'm going to miss you….so much."
"I'll be a plane ride away, Tony. Just try to stay out of trouble, no homicidal robots or teasing Nat and Steve. Do it for the lab…."
"So that we won't do it in the lab," Steve added, earning a growl from Tony and a high five from Natasha.
"I thought the same thing, Captain," Nat said, resting her head on his thigh, "I'm starting to miss Stark's teasing…"
"That's it," Tony said, shaking his head and rolling his eyes, "Bruce, I'll help you with the bags, anything to get away from these two…"
"You'll be leaving them alone," Bruce said, smirk in place. Tony stopped dead in his tracks and turned to the couple, eyes scrutinizing them.
"Not the couch, please...Pepper and I like to sit there and talk about all of our inappropriate house-guests."
"Says Tony Stark like inappropriate isn't his middle name," Natasha said, arching a brow, "We'll behave."
"I don't believe you, but I have to get some fresh air," Tony said, "Capsicle, please, not the couch."
Without another word from Stark and after quiet goodbyes from Bruce, the science duo left leaving Natasha and Steve to look at each other in amusement. After a moment, they laughed quietly. She patted the cushion next to her, which Steve immediately moved to. Nat climbed onto his lap and tucked her arms around his torso. Leaning her head on his shoulder, she felt Steve wrap his arm around her and place a soft kiss on her hair.
"So, you going to tell me how long it took to rattle Tony up like that?"
"A total of 4 seconds," Natasha said, proud of herself, "This just might work, Rogers. And I see no downside to it."
"Neither do I."
"There might be some collateral damage with Pepper but I'm sure once I invite her over for brunch to talk about our ridiculous superhero boyfriends, she'll be cool with it."
"Ridiculous?"
"Obviously."
"And what would you talk about?" Steve said, genuinely curious.
"What women usually talk about with their friends…" Nat said, rolling her eyes playfully, "Troubles, exciting news, ridiculous boyfriends, and sex lives."
"Oh," Steve whispered, and Natasha really couldn't read him. Was he surprised or shocked? Looking at him, she smiled.
"What? Don't want me sharing all the juicy details with Pepper?"
"It's not that," he said, chuckling, "It's just...you talk about that stuff? Like what?"
"Well...it's usually girl code not to share what we talk about but if you promise to start making out with me when Tony gets back, I'll be inclined to share."
"Hmm," Steve muttered, pretending to think it over, before he felt a nudge in his side from Natasha, "Deal."
"Okay, so with Pepper for example, I'm not that close - good friends, yes. But not great friends - like with Wanda or Maria...so I'll probably bring up last night. Gauging her reaction, I'll see how to start the conversation because obviously she wants to know. They all do."
"They want to know?"
"You're America's golden boy super soldier plus you're incredibly hot," Natasha said, teasingly and watched as Steve grew red and uncomfortable, "I'm the one that gets to sleep with you."
"You enjoy seeing me blush, don't you?"
"Oh, yes, I do. Very much. Don't interrupt," Nat said, chuckling, "With Pepper, I'll talk about light stuff - skim through details about how good it is and how we are to each other when we're together. It'll be more about our relationship in general."
"That's not that bad," Steve said, looking slightly relieved until his eyebrows furrowed, "And what about Wanda and Maria?"
"Wanda likes the romance, the intimacy. She gets the touchy-feely stuff. Maria gets more explicit stories; we usually share tips and keep a point system."
"Oh, god," Steve said, very red now, "A point system? For what?"
"Orgasms, of course."
"I didn't know it was a competition, Romanoff," Steve said, somewhat mortified and maybe a little competitive, "I'll never be able to look at Maria without blushing again."
"Rogers, c'mon, you are talking about two top S.H.I.E.L.D. agents - of course we keep a point system," Natasha said, turning to the elevator, "Lips, Rogers. Stark is coming back."
Steve chuckled as he was pulled forward from the collar of his t-shirt. Natasha and her cat-like agility had already shifted them closer. Their lips melted into each other easily and no sooner were they kissing - his hand already resting on the curve of her breast - when they heard the unmistakable voice of Tony.
"NO!"
Natasha rubbed her eyes open the next morning. She felt odd - uncomfortably cold. Steve was on the other side of the bed; the covers were up to their cheeks and only their messy hair exposed to the cool air surrounding them. Odd. She always preferred feeling cold when she slept. Why did it seem different now?
When they stayed in Steve's room, it was always a few degrees warmer than the rest of the tower - but she never complained; Steve wasn't very fond of sleeping in the cold. But her room - which they had opted for last night - was the opposite and it never bothered her until today.
Her hand padded around her coming in contact with the cool part of the sheets between her and Steve. Too far - that's what it was…
Natasha's eyes flashed open. The implications of...what it meant...she was changing. She was needing him more now; Steve was slowly creeping into her life, her habits. Nat should stop it, she should make a clean break - no ties meant no liabilities. But, almost as instantly as those thoughts came to her they were overpowered by a resolute and unwavering no.
She wasn't going anywhere. There was something she needed to tell him - sooner rather than later. And something she hoped to hear back - no matter how undeserving she may be of it.
"Steve," she mumbled, eyes closing again. He stirred, waking slowly and stiffening suddenly - he must feel the cold, too.
"Too cold" Steve murmured, pulling the covers closer. Natasha smiled and mimicked his movements, tucking herself into his chest. He pulled her closer, the warmth of his hard body encompassing her completely and instantly she felt better.
Smiling to herself, Natasha mind went alight with amusement.
All you need is Steve. His warmth. His embrace.
You might be going soft, Romanoff.
But Steve doesn't seem to mind, Nat thought, running her hand down his chest, And he definitely isn't going soft.
Maybe you can tell him now...tell him that you love him.
"Maybe," Natasha whispered, wrapping her legs into Steve's. They were positively tangled up in each other and that's just the way she liked it.
"Did you say something?" Steve asked, voice muffled by the pillows. She gave a little noise in response, neither confirming or denying his question, which only made him chuckle, "Right, I forgot you only purr in the mornings."
Natasha let out a soft, quiet laugh and shushed Steve playfully in order to get some more sleep, but she knew it was useless. They were both more awake than asleep now.
"Nat…." Steve whispered, but he received no response, again he tried, "Natasha….Na-ta-sha…"
"What?"
"Hey, I'm hungry."
"You sound like a kid."
"How about we ditch the tower and spend the day together - like we did when I first arrived back...let's go have breakfast and just get lost for a while."
"Hmm, you do know how to get a girl interested. But I'll only accept if we can sleep in for five more minutes."
"Five minutes? What difference does that make?"
"C'mon Rogers, don't you want to stay in bed with me for a few minutes more…" Nat said.
"Of course I do," he answered, his face cradling closer to her neck. Steve really didn't want to think about his feelings...certain kind of feelings - they'd been through a lot since the beginning of their relationship; what with finding Bucky, Ultron, Hydra, not to mention getting bombed within S.H.I.E.L.D. and Tony's incessant teasing, they were finally settling into the calm serenity of a normal life. He wouldn't pressure her; stress her out by saying he loved her. Not yet anyways.
He didn't want her to close up now that she was so open and carefree with him. It was enchanting to see her every day - the way she talked to him and how she moved around him. He always felt her; nothing like before when she'd keep her distance and to herself.
"Where'd you go, there, Steve?" Natasha asked, her hand running through his hair. Their play at domesticity was soothing. She knew these moments were fleeting and had to cherish them for all they were worth. The exhale of warm breath hit her neck when Steve sighed - the only answer he gave her question.
"So five minutes?"
"They're already up, Nat."
"We haven't agreed on the deal yet, so technically...we still have five minutes," she said, pushing until he was on his back and she was conveniently sprawled across it, "So deal?"
"Yes, deal. Five minutes more and then we get out of here," he said.
"And the best part of it," Nat said, her hands flat under her chin, "...is that if Tony starts questioning us we can start making out and he'll run away."
"I'm having too much fun scarring Stark. We're having too much fun."
"He's having just as much trouble believing you have a mischievous side...or a naughty side…"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Steve said, pressing her closer to his chest, and pulling the covers over the messy red hair in front of him. Natasha laughed. Already, his day was made.
"Oh, yes you do, Rogers," Nat said, wiggling closer and making Steve chuckle at her insinuation, "How much time do we still have?"
"About two minutes."
Natasha thought maybe these two minutes were good enough for her to blurt it out - just let him know she loved him. She could tell he didn't expect it and the thought of him not loving her back didn't really deter her - at least not that much.
"Steve…"
"Hmm…" he answered, "Hey, we can go to that French place you mentioned last week; what do you think?"
"Yeah, but before we do…" Nat said, pulling herself up to meet his eye. That was the proper way of doing it, wasn't it?
"Before we do, I need to properly say good morning," Steve said, peppering her neck with kisses. Although she was slightly distracted by his actions, Natasha frowned. He was unintentionally deterring her from probably the most vulnerable moment.
"Behave Rogers, I need to say something," Nat said, but it really didn't stop Steve. Instead, he chuckled and started kissing her face all over. Instead of keeping a serious face, she succumbed to the laughter that spilled from her lips. Although she was a hardened spy, a deadly assassin, Natasha had a weakness for Captain America and glimpses of domesticity.
"Wait Rogers," Nat giggled, successfully pinning his arms down as she struggled to get on top of him. Steve chuckled and paused for a moment; they took the opportunity to look at each other - a quiet exchange of happiness and just being them. Young, not heroes, not Avengers, just two people creating something beautiful.
That's not to say the three words she wanted to tell him fell into the back-burner of her mind. Quite the contrary, with every second that passed Natasha felt that it was truer than before.
"Any excuse to get on top of me, huh, Agent Romanoff?" he said, grabbing her waist.
"Any excuse to touch me, Captain Rogers?"
"I believe we already established that when you said I had a mischievous side," Steve said, smirking, "Which I still don't acknowledge."
"You're such a jerk, Steve. Do you acknowledge that?"
"That? Yes, yes I do," he chuckled. Natasha threw her head back, a light laugh drowning out the silence.
"Then, I fear we're back to where we first started, Captain. I'm holding you captive until you admit your mischievous side or any others you're hiding."
"And I'm sure I can talk my way out of captivity just like last time...with breakfast just like last time…"
"Only if you admit it will I accept your breakfast invitation," Nat said, tilting her head down to him, "You won't trick me with your charm this time, Captain."
"Agent Romanoff, I believe your five minutes are up," Steve said.
"Admit it Steve," Nat said, running her fingers down the sides of his chest, knowing he was a tad ticklish below his ribs. Steve tensed and a series of strained chuckles escaped his lips.
"Nat…" he warned, but she only answered with a wider smile and faster moving fingers.
"Admit it, you're horrible. Worse than Tony. Worse than Clint."
Natasha began her attack, her fingers tickling in strategic places. Steve's surprise made him more sensitive to her. His laughter came out and Natasha swore she'd never heard a more beautiful sound.
"Okay, okay….I give in, Agent Romanoff," he said between laughs, "I admit it. I admit it."
"Ha! Black Widow strikes again and brings down the mighty Captain America," Natasha said raising her arms in triumph and let out a shriek when Steve turned them around.
"How about you accept my breakfast invitation now and we get out of here?"
"Deal. But when we come back, I need to tell you something. I want to be in bed, just like right now...just the two of us, our own bubble. No interruptions, got it?"
"Yes, ma'am," Steve said, giving her a quick kiss.
"Very well then, Captain. Take me to breakfast and you promised a day of getting lost."
And when we come back, Nat thought, you'll find out just how much I love you.
