Over the next few weeks, there was only one 'Code Winter,' which was fine with everyone except Hill, who had apparently put a lot of effort into implementing the protocol. Wanda got the feeling she wasn't really all that disappointed. Wanda was certainly happy about it, though not as happy as Bucky. Nobody liked being hit by Natasha, even when she was pulling her punches during training.
Wanda was walking into the lounge after one such session when she ran smack into Sam's back. He shushed her before she could say anything and pointed toward the couch, where Steve and Bucky were sitting against opposite arms, facing each other. Steve shook his head. "I'm not worried."
"Only because you're not listening."
Sam backed up, pushing Wanda into the hall. Without looking at her, he whispered huskily, "Bucky's telling Steve he's hot for Natasha."
Wanda threw an alarmed glance around. "Where is she?"
"Quinjet, helping Chair Force fly some maneuvers in his suit. Dude needs it. Now shh."
Wanda complied and even found herself leaning back into the room to eavesdrop. She felt guilty about it, but since Sam had started it and she wasn't using her powers… She wanted to know how the conversation went more than she disliked feeling guilty, anyhow. Sam grabbed her arm to steady her as she tried to lean closer.
For their part, Steve and Bucky seemed oblivious to their audience. "Buck, it's okay. You think I don't know she's beautiful? Or that she sometimes uses that in the line of duty? I won't say I like it, but if she can get the job done without casualties…"
"I'm not talking about working. I'm talking about…when I was the damn Winter Soldier I was thinking about her in a…a sexual way. And not a good one. I still have that in my head."
"Still, it's only been a week since you've been able to walk normally. Natasha has proven she can protect herself when you lose control and you've been so much better lately. You're not going to hurt her."
"The picture that's usually in my head doesn't involve hurting her, believe me."
"Yeah, well, back home I was guilty of thinking about more than one of your girlfriends…inappropriately." Steve squirmed uncomfortably. "We don't have to talk about it any further than that."
"No, there's a big difference. I mean, I had a crush on Peggy, sure, but I never thought about trying to take her away from you. It's different with Natasha and I don't like it."
"So you've already decided you're not gonna try."
"'Course. But that doesn't change what I'm thinking."
"Then what's the problem?"
"I…I'm supposed to be your friend…"
"You are."
Bucky frowned but continued, "And half the time all I can think about is stealing your girl. That's not right."
"What are you thinking about the other half of the time?"
"Huh?"
"You said that half the time you're thinking about stealing my girlfriend. Even if I thought you would try it, I've got enough faith in her to know it would never happen. So I want to know what you're thinking about the rest of the time."
"I dunno. Normal stuff, I guess. Training, what's for dinner, can I keep my alter ego in check, is anything good on TV…"
"All normal."
"Yeah, but, like I said, that's only part of it."
"Hey, before Nat and I got together, I was thinking about her constantly." Steve shook his head with a smile. "I still do. She's not the kind of woman you get out of your head all that easily."
"How are you not pissed at me? I'm sitting here telling you I want to nail your girl. I think about her, uh… well, in ways you wouldn't think were appropriate. You should be pounding my face to a pulp."
Based on what she had seen in the Winter Soldier's memories, Wanda had to agree, even if she also agreed with Steve's unshakable faith in Natasha's fidelity to him. It was possible her Sokovian upbringing had something to do with her attitude regarding tenacious defense of one's territory, but she still thought Steve should punch Bucky any time he looked at Natasha with something approaching interest. In her mind's eye, she could still see the angry red explosive energy surrounding Steve when Bucky had kissed Natasha. He seemed to remember his response on that occasion as well, asking, "Are you trying to make me hit you?"
"Honestly, I'd probably feel a little better if you did."
"Sorry I can't help you out with that, buddy." Steve stood from the couch and immediately directed his gaze toward the door. "Maybe you can find someone else willing to beat on you."
Bucky didn't seem to notice the sudden scuffle by the door as Wanda and Sam tried to get out of sight. "Not her, though."
"No. She's doing her best not to kill you without any added temptation." Steve ran his hand through his hair. "If you think it would help, I could ask her to be less nice to you."
"Nah. I don't want her to think she has your blessing to put me in the ice diaper every few weeks, no matter what I deserve. Maybe tell her to just stab me somewhere non-fatal instead? Or I heard dislocated thumbs are pretty painful."
Both men laughed. Wanda had no idea if this was how normal male bonding was supposed to go, but she suspected it was not. Sam was shaking his head in disbelief beside her, muttering, "Cap's way too nice for his own good."
A third voice whispered back, "That's just him."
Wanda felt her face flush as Natasha looked at the pair of them with an irritated smirk before entering the lounge. "Everything okay in here?"
Steve immediately walked over and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as he leaned down to peck her cheek. "Fine. How'd it go with Rhodey?"
"Good." She eyed him for a moment as his embrace lingered, but continued, "The upgrades to the War Machine suit are functioning really well. Are, uh, we doing anything important tomorrow?"
"Nothing springs to mind. Why?"
"I know you're not big on it, but I just got tickets to the Mariinsky Ballet performing The Sleeping Beauty this Saturday, so I thought we could spend the weekend in New York." She glanced at Bucky, who was looking down. "If you think it's a good idea."
"Maritsky? Isn't that the one you were mad you couldn't get tickets for a few months ago?"
"Mariinsky. And yes. So…"
"What's the catch?"
"Catch?" Natasha blinked slowly, projecting an air of innocence Wanda would have totally bought if she didn't actually know her.
Steve's arm moved from her shoulders to her waist, but he seemed equally immune to the look. "You complained for over an hour about how it was so unfair that it was totally impossible to get tickets for this ballet, and you just expect me to believe you fell into a pair?"
"Well, I've been keeping an eye on a few websites and…I might have mentioned it to a few people, who may have…look, I told Hill and she mentioned it to Fury and he thought, since everyone already knows about us, maybe we could go on a public date where there might be paparazzi or something and I said that I'd only do it for center orchestra, before the break and Fury…long story short, he got the tickets confirmed today and we're staying at the Ritz-Carlton. All expenses included."
"Uh-huh. Why did you wait to ask me until it was impossible to say no?"
Natasha batted her eyelashes. "You can still say no."
"With you looking at me like that? Hardly." In spite of his hesitation, he was smiling as he dipped his head to kiss her. "Just one condition."
"Name it."
"Tell me Stark won't be there."
"He's actually going to be here, covering for us in case there's a call out."
Wanda felt her eyes drawn to Bucky, who waved to her before saying, "I can just stay in my room for the weekend, if that makes life easier for everyone."
Steve immediately separated from Natasha, moving back toward the couch. "Buck, no one's asking that."
"Yeah, I'm totally up for Bucky-sitting," Sam murmured from beside Wanda. She grinned.
Natasha shot them both another smirk. "You're off that particular hook, Sam. Of course, I don't know how you feel about ballet, so…"
Sam seemed at a loss for words, prompting Wanda to giggle at the unprecedented circumstance.
Natasha continued, "Yeah, turns out Hill is also a ballet fan, so we're double-dating. And the look on your face right now is totally worth ruining the surprise."
"I'm sorry, but do I not look like I'm surprised right now?"
"At least you can practice your happily surprised face for when she tells you. I'm not sure the shocked gaping is going to earn you any points."
He followed Steve and Natasha down to Ops to find Hill a few moments later, leaving Wanda in the lounge with Bucky. He looked to where she was still standing near the door. "I can go if you wanna sit."
"What? No! I mean, that's not necessary." She almost ran to one of the chairs and plopped into it to reinforce her point. She wasn't sure why she felt like she had to reassure him, especially after the conversation he had been having earlier. Although he had said he felt bad about his attraction to Natasha and had no intention of coming between her and Steve… They sat in awkward silence for a minute before Wanda said, "Sam and I…we should not have been listening in. When you and Steve were speaking. Before."
Bucky's eyebrows shot up. "You heard that?"
"No! I mean, I'm sorry. Damn it."
"Forget it. You've seen me act like a jerk with Natasha a couple times. Not like you don't know what I'm thinking, anyway."
"I do not listen to people's thoughts without their permission." She hoped her righteous anger was adequately covering her urge to add, 'Anymore.'
"Oh. Sorry. I just…Steve was tellin' me how your power is sorta like hearing through thin walls and if people are thinking stuff loud enough, you can't help but hear it." He wiggled his metal fingers on the arm of the sofa. "I wasn't trying to accuse you of anything. I just figured I think certain things pretty loud."
"Right. I mean, sometimes I do pick up on things unintentionally. I did not mean to yell at you."
"No big deal. You probably get sick of people assuming you're reading their minds."
She looked at him sympathetically. "Just as you get sick of them assuming you are about to snap."
"True." The quiet that settled was more comfortable this time. He eventually picked up a remote from the table in front of him. "So, I'm still waiting for someone to show me how this Netflix thing works…"
