XXVIII
Eyes
Natasha's eyes weren't exactly green, now that James was actually paying attention.
They were dominantly green, but had flecks of hazel, barely noticeable at any distance except up close. Which usually meant that you were about to die, especially since Natasha rarely ever permitted someone to get that close to her while she was able to do or say something about it.
James prided himself on his ability to read people through their eyes, but felt that he might have trained Natasha a little too well; her entire face was masked and her eyes unreadable. Usually he could see what mood she was in based on the intensity of her eyes, but she'd cloaked her expression completely. Her eyes were not clouded, they were quite clear; it was that they were too guarded. Hiding her thoughts, her suspicions, her feelings from him completely.
"Why?" she asked finally in a very quiet tone.
"Because I want to make sure you're taken care of after I'm gone," he replied calmly; he'd planned out every scenario, every question, and was ready for anything. Even a rejection.
"Don't we already have that taken care of?" she asked.
"Yes, but I want the law to recognize that as well," James replied patiently.
"What's wrong with what we have now?"
"As I mentioned before, the security of the law. It would give me a peace of mind that you won't be completely abandoned again once I die for real." Neither of them knew exactly what it was that the Red Room did to him biologically, but he wanted to be prepared for every outcome. Even for his eventual final death. He'd never quite forgiven himself for leaving her the first time the way he did.
Natasha didn't say anything, just continued studying him in silence. Time seemed to stretch.
Finally, he sighed and then said, "I understand if you don't want to, or need time to think about it." He started to stand up.
"Why now and not sooner?" Natasha suddenly asked, catching him off guard. She frowned, and then said, "Is there an upcoming mission I don't know about?"
"No. It just was something that occurred to me the other day, after Dr. Pym died and left Jan behind. Thought about it for a while. That's all," he replied diplomatically before straightening up completely and sitting back down in his chair. Picking up his fork as though nothing had happened, he started to ask, "Did Fury-"
"You do remember what happened with Alexei, correct? The Red Guardian?" Natasha asked suddenly, her emotions covered as her eyes looked away from him.
He'd heard every word of the tale, from start to finish. "What of it?" he asked.
"How will I know if you're actually dead or faking it?" she asked. "What about repercussions from you? You get more riled up than he did."
James shrugged. "I won't do you a disservice and promise I won't, but you can do whatever you wish, or whatever it takes, to stop me if that happens," he said warily. "Does that mean-"
"Well, it wasn't the most romantic of proposals, but it was enough. Yes James, I'll marry you," Natasha said, looking up at him, her eyes alive again.
He was pleased to see genuine happiness there, something he hadn't seen in a long time.
A/N: Prompt: Gazing into each other's eyes
