Author's Note: Hey ya'll! Thanks again for reading my silly little story! Things definitely heat up here. I hope you enjoy!

It was an extremely hot Saturday morning in New York City and Natasha made sure that every single window in her apartment was open. She despised fans for their white noise and overall useless nature. All they did was blow more hot air into your face, failing to improve the situation at hand. She liked to rely on the city wind, especially being on a higher floor, and enjoyed a good view nonetheless. In an attempt to help her heat problem, she wore a white spaghetti strap shirt and black shorts. Her hair was pushed back in a ponytail and she had her reading glasses on. She was typing away at her laptop when her phone started ringing.

It was Steve.

Puzzled, she stared at her phone and wondered why he would be calling her at this time. It was currently seven in the morning. Saturdays were technically their "off-days" and there had been no new missions or projects on the radar. Since the Loki-catastrophe in New York, the city was laying low and repairing itself bit by bit. This was very unlike him, especially since they mostly texted anyway. So what did he want?

While stuck in her musings, the phone stopped vibrating and Steve's name disappeared. Natasha grabbed her phone and decided to send a text.

N: Sorry, I'm caught up. What's wrong?

S: You really can't talk?

N: No.

S: I wanted to tell you something.

N: So tell me.

S: Texting it won't be as special.

Natasha did not do phone calls. If it was work related, business related, sure. She could do those. But talking to people just to talk to them over a machine that had a speaker? Hard pass.

S: I promise it'll be quick.

N: Fine.

In less than five seconds, her phone lit up with Steve's name.

"Yes?"

"Hey, Nat."

"Hi."

"Happy birthday."

Oh. Right. Today was her birthday. She had honestly gotten so used to dodging all the phone calls and texts from Tony, Pepper, and Fury over the past three years that she didn't expect any this time around. Her birthday was something she didn't celebrate and strongly felt shouldn't be. Did people really still care about those? She mentally cursed herself for making such a big deal over a silly little phone call in the first place. Besides, he was right. Hearing him say it was kinda special.

Extremely unnecessary in her opinion, but special.

"Thanks, Steve."

"You're welcome."

"And don't call me again."

Steve's laugh vibrated through the phone and she pictured him in a very tight t-shirt, shaking his head.

"I don't take orders from you,"

"Oh yeah?" She challenged, suddenly forgetting about the task she was currently completing for Fury. The spy stuff could wait.

"Especially when I'm the one who's supposed to be giving them," he replied, careful with his word choice.

Natasha smirked as she closed her laptop.

"I don't do well with obedience, cap. It's one of my many flaws."

"Any other flaws you'd like to discuss?" he replied, his voice full of flirtatious innuendo. Natasha really enjoyed this.

"How about you come to my apartment and find out."

Steve's heart was racing but he knew better than to act on feelings. Excluding the circumstances of their friendship, he would show up to her front door right this second. He knew better though. He just had to know fucking better.

"Have a great birthday, Nat. I'll see you at the base."

What a saint. Natasha rolled her eyes.

"Unless there's a birthday suit involved, I don't do birthdays" was all the redhead replied before she hung up.

Steve didn't have the strength to fight off the images that were now playing his head.

A/N: Review, review, review.