Thanos is defeated and everyone thinks Steve and Natasha are a couple since they spent the last two years in hiding together.
They won. Steve still couldn't believe it. Together, united as one, they stopped Thanos and his army and saved the entire universe. Vision gave his life and Steve was sure that it would take time for Wanda to move on but they were lucky that no one else besides Vision was lost. Some parts of Wakanda got destroyed but that could be rebuild.
"Hey punk!" Buck walked into the suite T'challa generously let him stay in at the palace and stopped next to him to look out of the window. "This country is truly something, isn't it?"
"Yeah." Wakanda was beautiful. Steve was sure that the damage Thanos bought on Wakanda would be fixed in no time. He turned to look at Bucky who now reminded him so much of the Bucky he knew when he was a little kid from Brooklyn. "I can't tell you how good it is to see you again. To know that you're free."
Bucky gave him a smile. "Yeah. Shuri is really a genius. I can never repay what she and T'challa did for me."
Steve clapped him on the shoulder and they looked out the window in silence. It just felt good to have Bucky by his side again. He missed him so much after just getting him back and then losing him again. But now there was the hope that they could stay together and fight side by side again.
"You're going to that victory party tonight?"
Right, he completely forgot. T'challa invited everyone to celebrate Thanos' defeat and to say goodbye to Peter Quill and his team. Tony would probably be there as well... He had been in Wakanda during the battle but he had a different mission than Steve and didn't fight on the battle field so they hadn't really seen each other. God, that would be one awkward encounter but he also didn't want not to go the party to see everyone again. He knew that Thor was here and he hadn't seen him in years.
"Yeah, I'm going."
"Great. Me too." Bucky looked around the room. "Where's your girl?"
"My what?"
"Your girlfriend?!" Bucky looked him with a duh! look. "Beautiful woman." Bucky held his hand in front of his chest. "About yea height. I think she used to be a redhead. Now blonde."
Was he talking about Natasha? "She's not my girlfriend!"
"Look, I get it if you want to keep it a secret and I won't tell anyone but it's pretty obvious you two are together."
"We're not together."
Did Steve want to be with her? Yes,if he was being honest but they were not together and probably never would be. They had been friends for six years and he had been in love with her for at least four years but shouldn't something happened between them by now? Natasha always stroke him as a woman who would go after what she wanted and she clearly didn't want him. They had spent the last two years with each other, hiding together, fighting together and nothing had happened. They even slept under the sky watching the stars and nothing happened and that had been a very romantic night. Natasha was clearly not interested in him like that. She probably had been waiting for Banner and now that he was back...
"Fine, if you don't wanna tell me, then don't." Bucky sighed. "But I do remember you pulling be to the side before we flew out to the battlefield to make sure to not let Romanoff out of my side."
That was true. He had asked Bucky to do that because Natasha loved to run into danger and he couldn't bear the thought of losing her. It wasn't like he didn't think she could hold her own, oh no she saved his ass more than once but he knew that Natasha didn't value her life a lot and would have sacrificed herself if she thought it was necessary. Thank God it didn't come to a situation like that. He didn't think Bucky would have been able to stop her. There was no force on earth that could stop Natasha Romanoff when she was set on something.
"She's my friend. I didn't want her to get hurt."
"Mhm." Buck didn't sound convinced. "You know what's funny? She actually pulled me to the side too and told me that she would rip my human arm off if I would let anything happen to you. Not that I needed the threat cause I'll always look out for you but I like it when a woman gets protective over her guy. She seems like a swell gal. Bossy and kicks ass, exactly your type." Bucky grinned.
"I'm not her guy! I swear to you there is nothing going on!"
"Maybe, but you didn't deny that she wasn't your type!" Bucky smirked.
Fuck!
Natasha sat down on the bed Wanda was laying on and starring at the ceiling. "Hey, kid. How are you?"
"I don't know." Wanda looked at her with sad eyes and Natasha's heart broke for her. "I know he didn't die in vain and saved us all but it still hurts so much."
She brushed her fingers through Wanda's long hair hoping it would give her some kind of comfort. She knew how much Vision had meant to Wanda and while they all mourned his death, she knew that it was especially hard for the young woman. "I'm here for you. We are all here for you."
Wanda nodded and closed her eyes. Natasha was aware of the fact that she wasn't really good at comforting people but she would try her best for her friend. Wanda opened her eyes and gave her a small smile. "At least not every couple got separated."
She couldn't quite follow. Who else was an item? Maybe that Quill guy and Gomora and she was pretty sure that Thor was crushing on Valkyrie.
"I'm glad that you and Steve finally found your way to each other!"
WHAT? She and Steve were most definitely not a couple. "Wanda, we're not together!"
Wanda scrunched her nose. "You're not? You're telling me you spent two years on the run and nothing happened between the two of you?"
"Nothing happened." She would be lying if she didn't wish something would have happened and she had been tempted more than once to just grab Steve and kiss him but that would have been wrong. He deserved so much better than her.
"Do you want something to happen?" Wanda asked with a small voice.
Natasha wanted to lie but she just couldn't. It was wrong to lie to someone who just lost someone she loved. "Sometimes, but it does't matter. We're better off as friends."
The young woman sat up and eyed Natasha carefully. "Why? You both obviously want more. Why don't you just give into your feelings?"
"It's complicated. I could never be enough for him."
Wanda reached her hand out to hold her own. "That's not true. You're all he wants and needs."
Was that true? Would she make Steve happy if she told him how she really felt about him? No, she shouldn't. It would be only a matter of time until her past and issues caught up on them and would destroy everything. "It's better this way, believe me."
Wanda shook her head softly but changed the topic to T'challa's victory party and asked what she would wear. Queen Ramonda allowed them to borrow something from her closets since none of them had any clothes remotely appropriate with them and Natasha was really looking forward to see the queen's private collection.
Natasha found a beautiful dark green dress made out of sequins that clung nicely to her body and showed of her cleavage. Queen Ramonda was so kind and gifted it to her. She couldn't even remember the last time she wore such a beautiful gown. The last two years she had only worn ordinary and bland clothes and her catsuit when the situation called for it. And as it turned out the palace truly had everything and red hair dye was delivered to her room. They saved the world, hell they saved the whole fucking universe, the time of hiding was over.
T'challa gave a beautiful speech and everyone cheered loudly when he was done. They truly won. The universe was safe. Steve still couldn't believe it, there were moments in the last weeks were he was sure that they would lose.
Thor came towards him with a small smile on his face but his eyes were haunted. Vision was not the only one who gave his life, Loki was dead as well. He died to save Thor's life and Thor was sure that Loki was truly dead this time. Steve's heart ached for him, he lost his father, his planet and now his brother.
"Steve!" He shoved a shot glass into his hand. "Have a drink with me! Believe it or not but this Wakandian liquor tastes almost like Asgardian mead!"
"To Loki." Steve surprised himself because he didn't forget that Loki once almost destroyed New York but he was Thor's brother.
Thor raised his glass. "To Loki!"
They watched in silence the party. Bucky was talking to Shuri and Okoye and Tony and Bruce were talking to Parker and Quill and his team. Natasha and Wanda weren't here yet. He wondered if Wanda would even come. Everyone would understand if she wasn't in the mood for a celebration party after losing Vision.
"It's nice." Thor suddenly broke the silence.
"Hm?" He didn't know what Thor meant.
"It's nice that you and Natasha are together now." Thor smiled at him softly. What? "To be honest I never understood that thing between her and Bruce. Don't get me wrong I like Bruce but he's not right for her. I always thought you and her would be perfect together."
You spend two years in hiding with a woman and now everyone thinks you're together? "We are just friends, Thor."
The Asgardian seemed amused. "Really? So you two haven't been on the run together for the last two years? And didn't I see you stop Thanos with your bare hands when he was about to strike down Natasha?"
He thought no one had seen that. He knew it was suicidal but rather him than her who got killed by Thanos. He was still surprised that he actually managed to hold him off.
"I saw Thanos coming for Natasha, too." Thor explained. "I was on my way to protect her but then you swooped in and I thought I had to save your ass too but you actually stopped him. I had problems to fight him off and I'm stronger than you."
"I guess it was just adrenaline."
"Your friend Wilson had another explanation for that." Thor was grinning and he already knew he wouldn't like Sam's explanation. "He compared it to a mother lifting a car to save her child. Love is quite powerful, my friend."
See, he already knew he wouldn't like Sam's explanation. "It was just the adrenaline."
"Sure." Thor grinned and refilled his glass. "To adrenaline, then."
He really liked Thor better when he was floating around in space. Thor excused himself when he saw Valkyrie walking into the room and made his way over to her. Steve wanted to find Sam to have a word with him about his explanation. How did he even know about that? He saw Sam talking to Bucky and both looked pissed and amused at the same time. God, were they still bickering with each other? Maybe these two were in love and they were just flirting? Maybe Steve should walk over and offer Sam this explanation.
He wanted to walk over to his two friends but then he glanced at the double door and his jaw almost dropped to the floor. Natasha was walking in and looked breathtaking. She was so beautiful in her green dress and her hair was red again. God, he missed her original hair color. She looked good with the blonde but red was just her color. Wanda was by her side and she looked really pretty as well but he had only eyes for Natasha. He thought about going to talk to her but Tony beat him to it and made a beeline straight for Natasha. Wanda saw him and quickly left to join Bucky and Sam. He saw Natasha sigh and then she walked towards Tony.
Oh great talking to Tony was just what she needed right now. It already took her some time to get Wanda out of her room after she had a set back and was crying for Vision. Natasha held her and let her cry and then she could convince her to go to the party for an hour. The girl needed to see that not everything was lost and that because of Vision all these people and everyone in the universe were now alive because of his sacrifice.
"I see I don't have to call you Blondie anymore."
"Tony." She hoped a waiter with vodka would come her way but it didn't look like it was her lucky day.
"How were the last two years?"
"Not good." Everyone had to hide, they couldn't see the others and she had spent the last two years trying to talk Steve out of his guilt and had to make sure that he wouldn't do something reckless and stupid like trying to take on the UN.
"Yeah about that. I'm sorry." Tony narrowed his eyes. "I didn't see the full picture back then. Didn't realize what damage the Accords could cause."
Okay, she definitely hadn't seen that coming.
"And I shouldn't have been so harsh to you at the hospital." He looked at her. "But tell me the truth. Had you been playing me the whole time? Were you on his side the whole time? Why did neither of you tell me you were a couple? Is that why you let him and Barnes go? Because you didn't want your boyfriend get arrested?"
"Steve's not my boyfriend!"
"You got married?!" Tony looked shocked. "Well, I guess you didn't have much to do in the last 24 months."
For a self-proclaimed genius Tony was sometimes really dumb. "No, Steve and I are not a couple! And we did had a lot to do in the last two years. We traveled around the globe helping people even though the government wanted to lock us up."
"I know." He sighed. "FRIDAY was quite busy with deleting your faces from traffic and security cams."
That was...that was typical Tony. "Thank you."
He waved his hand at her. "Don't sweat it. But why are you two not together? Traveling around the world sounds romantic. And we both know that the Bruce thing was just a distraction. For both of you. He was trying to take his mind of Betty and you... Well, we both know who you were trying to distract yourself from." He pointed his head to the windows and there was Steve standing in a blue tuxedo and trying to stare at them inconspicuously. He was failing at that. God, he looked delicious in that tuxedo and his beard and longer hair. It had been her idea for him to let his hair grow and that had to be the best idea she ever had.
"You're drooling, Romanoff!" Tony chuckled and she glared at him which made him only chuckle more. She must have lost her touch in the last years or after facing a giant purple all powerful alien nothing else seemed scary anymore.
"Have you talked to Steve yet, Tony?"
"No. But I will. I see things clearer now. But not tonight. Tonight we'll celebrate our victory." He smiled at her and then left to talk to Bruce.
God, she had to talk to Bruce at one point, didn't she. The truth was Tony was right. She never cared for Bruce, at least not in the way she pretended to be. She wasn't proud of it and it just proved that she was a bad person. She only used Bruce to distract herself from Steve and her feelings from him. And she let Steve believe that she was still hung up on Bruce so he wouldn't try to make a move on her. Well, she highly doubted that Steve was smooth enough to make a move but she knew that he harbored some kind of romantic feelings for her. She could see it in his eyes, he always wore his heart on his sleeve.
She wanted at least to say hi to Steve and thank him for saving her when Thanos was about to attack her but he was now talking to T'challa. She could wait.
T'challa told Steve that they would start to rebuild the destroyed parts tomorrow and the damage in New York and Edinburgh was already half gone. In a few weeks nothing would remind the world that it had been very close to its extinction. The Accords were forgotten and they were no longer fugitives. They could go home. God, he didn't even know where that was anymore. Should he go back to the States? Should he be Captain America again? Did he even want that? Bucky already told him that he wanted to stay in Wakanda for some time, he loved the people and the country. Should he stay here as well? And what were Natasha's plans? Would she go back? Was their time together now over? Where was Natasha even? Had she already talked to Bruce? Would they get back together?
"Are you still here, my friend?" T'challa asked amused and stopped his train of thoughts.
"Yes, of course. I'm sorry, Your Majesty."
The king waved him off. "It's fine. Do you already know what you're going to do now? You don't have to hide anymore. The world loves you again."
Maybe he should get a dog. Retire, get a dog and move to Brooklyn. Yeah, that sounded nice. Or maybe he should get a cat. Natasha liked cats, maybe she would come visit him if he got a cat. "I don't know yet."
"I'm sure you and Miss Romanoff have talked about that, haven't you?"
Well, not really. He knew that Natasha was hurt that the Avengers and her home were taking away from her and he kicked himself everyday for being the reason for that. So they never talked about what could happen because he didn't want to give her false hope. "I don't know what she'll do."
"You haven't talked to your girlfriend about your future, Captain Rogers? Aren't you the man with the plan?"
That song would haunt him for eternity, wouldn't it? And why did everyone think Natasha was his girlfriend? "We're not an item."
"You're not? Oh, I assumed... I'm sorry." T'challa looked actually flustered. "Are you sure? I'm positive I heard my sister call you a power couple."
Yeah, they definitely would make one. "No, we're not together."
T'challa smiled. "Well, now you're not. Things can always change. Have a nice evening." With that he left him to talk to other guests. Steve wanted things to change between them but Natasha didn't seem to share the sentiment.
Natasha spotted Bruce standing alone at a bar table and she decided that she had to talk to him now or she never would. The flight to Wakanda had been more than awkward and she owed him an apology for pushing him off a cliff and turning him into the Hulk for three years.
She walked over to him and he gave her a small smile. "Hey."
"Quite the party, isn't it?"
He looked around. "Yeah. I don't think I'll stay long. It's a bit too much. I don't want the other guy to come out."
"About that-" She began but Bruce stopped her.
"I know what you're going to say and it's okay. The Hulk was needed to stop Ultron and then I ended up helping Thor and his people. It's really okay."
"You really are a great guy."
"Yeah, yeah but not great enough for you."
He really cut right to the chase, didn't he. "Bruce-"
He smiled. "Don't worry. You and I...it would have never worked. We were just fooling ourselves. Betty ended things and you were running away from your feelings. Looks like you still are."
"I'm sorry, Bruce. For everything."
"I know. Me too. And I'm sorry I didn't say it to you back at Barton's farm but you are not a monster, Natasha. You never were. You are a good person and you deserve to be with the man you want. And I think he wants you too judging by the death glare he's giving me right now." Bruce nodded at something behind her and she turned around and saw Steve watching them. He quickly looked away when he realized that he got caught. Cute.
Bruce emptied his drink."I'm going to bed now. It was nice to see and talk to you again." He gave her a warm smile. "Listen to your heart, Natasha. Just this once. You deserve to be happy."
Should she go over to Steve and tell him that he had nothing to worry about? That Bruce was never a threat? That it had always been Steve? Nope, she couldn't do that. She had no problems to piss of Thanos but she couldn't find the guts to tell her best friend that she was in love with him. She helped herself to a vodka bottle and decided to explore the Royal Gardens for a while. She could catch up with the rest of the team later.
Steve watched Bruce leave the party without Natasha. Did they not get back together? Natasha took a bottle of vodka and left through the doors that led to the Royal Gardens. Was she sad? Should he follow her? He should follow her. Maybe she needed him to comfort her. Did Bruce turn her down? Did he honestly think he would find someone better than Natasha? What an asshole! Natasha was perfect in every single way!
He was about to go after her when Peter Quill blocked his way.
"Captain America!" He clapped his shoulder. "I can't believe you're still alive! I'm such a fan of you! Why did they had to defrost you after I left earth?"
Um, he had no idea how to answer that. It wasn't like he had any saying in when they would find him.
Gamora and Mantis appeared besides Quill. Mantis smiled at him kindly. "Don't talk to him now, Peter. He wants to go after his love."
Right, the woman was an empath. Great, just fucking great. He had to make sure he wasn't around Mantis when Natasha was with him or things would get weird.
Gamora sighed. "Mantis, we talked about this. Don't talk about the feelings of others in public."
"Right. Sorry, Captain." She leaned over and grabbed his collar to whisper in his ear. "She feels the same."
What? She...she did? He wanted to ask her more but Gamora sighed again and then dragged both Quill and Mantis away with an excusing look. Natasha loved him too? Could that be possible? He just had to know. He practically ran out of the ballroom to ensure that no one would try to talk to him and searched the garden for Natasha. She was sitting on a bench, sipping on her bottle and looking up the sky.
He slowed his tempo and walked to her. She didn't turn around but he knew that she knew that it was him. "Hey."
"Hi. Can I sit down?"
He could swear that he heard her sigh. "Of course." She made room for him on the bench.
"Thanks." He sat down and watched her watching the stars. "Nat?"
"Hm?"
"I saw you talking to Bruce."
"Yeah, we had some stuff to talk about." She was still looking at the sky.
"What stuff?"
Natasha chuckled. "Since when are you so nosy?"
Since I'm in love with you and wanna know everything about you. "Just wondering." He shrugged his shoulders.
"We both apologized and agreed that we should be friends, if you must know."
They weren't back together and it looked like they were done for good. Oh, he could hear the angels sing. "Natasha-"
"You look really good in your suit." She was now looking at him. "Did I ever tell you I like your hair like that? And the beard suits you."
He was probably blushing. "Thank you. You look...you look beautiful, Nat. I mean you always do, of course." He stumbled out. God, how did Bucky do it back in the day? "I missed the red."
"Yeah, me too." She smiled and then looked back at the stars.
Bruce and Natasha were done and Mantis told him that Natasha had feelings for him. He had to make sure. He had to know. He took her hand and laced her fingers together when she didn't pull away.
"Steve..." She whispered. "We shouldn't..."
"I'm so fucking tired to do the things I should. I want to live my life the way I want. And I want to be with the woman I love." He heard her gasp. "Nat, I love you for so long now. And I think you love me, too."
Her voice was barely audible. "I do. That's why I can't be with you."
Now that didn't make any sense. "That's bullshit. I know why you think that and let me tell you I don't care about your past. I don't give one single fuck about that. You changed so much and did so many amazing things. I love you for who you are."
"People will judge you."
"I don't care about anyone but you."
"Steve-" He stopped her by pressing his lips against hers. He pulled away after a few seconds thinking she didn't want him to kiss her but then she grabbed his face and slanted her lips over his. He could feel that she poured everything into the kiss. She looped her arms around his neck and landed half in his lap while she explored his mouth with her tongue and sucked on his lips.
She broke the kiss, heavy breathing. "I...I love you." She said it so carefully that he realized she had never said those three words before. She rested her forehead against his. "I've never really dated anyone before."
"Neither have I." He pecked her plump lips. "See, perfect match."
She laughed and kissed him again. "Do you wanna continue this somewhere else?"
He stood up and pulled up her against his chest. "Yes."
Steve woke up with a naked Natasha on his chest. They didn't go back to the party and went to his room. And then...Natasha made a man out of him. He had been embarrassed that he had no idea what he was doing but Natasha guided him and showed him how to make love to her. The night had been truly perfect and he still couldn't believe that they were finally together. Natasha was finally his and he was hers.
He began to play with Natasha's hair and she pressed a kiss on his chest.
"Morning, beautiful."
She raised her head to look up at him. "Good morning, tiger." She grinned and he was sure that he was blushing. "Don't be embarrassed, Steve. Last night was amazing and I'm already looking to many, many repeats of it."
"Yeah?"
"Yup." She rolled on the mattress and he moved to face her. She smiled at him and gave him a soft kiss. "I'm sorry it took me so long."
He brushed a strain of hair out of her face. "We're together now. That's all that matters." He kissed her and rolled her onto her back. Maybe they could repeat last night now.
"God, Steve! Why did you leave your tuxedo jacket on the floor? Don't you know how expensive these suits are? I thought your mother raised you better than this!" Bucky's voice was suddenly coming from the living room of the suite. He stared at Natasha unsure what to do and she only grinned and hid her face against his chest.
"Are you still sleeping, punk? It's almost ten!" He heard how the door got opened. At least the blankets were covering them. "Get out of bed! We have stuff to do! Why is there a dress on your floor? Wait a minute!" Bucky stopped, he was in the room now. "Did you...OH MY GOD! Why didn't you say something! I don't want to see this! Oh dear God!"
Natasha was now fully laughing and he had to join her. It was kind of hilarious, he had to admit.
"This is not funny, guys! Thank God I walked in now and not later when you two were going at it!" There were steps again. "Use protection, kids!" He yelled and then the door was shut.
"Well, I guess now everyone will know." Natasha was still laughing.
"Are you okay with that?"
She smiled up at him. "Yes, I'm very okay with that."
Bucky always announces himself from now on to make sure that his poor eyes don't have to see Steve and Natasha in a compromising position.
I wanted to get this one shot done before Infinity War comes out and crushes my soul.
