DISCLAIMER: ALL CHARACTERS BELONG TO MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE.
The rating of this story has CHANGED from T to M now, due to sexual content. Please bare this warning in mind if you decide to continue reading.
~0~0~0~0~0~
Natasha's laugh vibrated through the entire jungle, enough to almost shake the birds from the trees. Steve had never heard a more beautiful sound than her laughter, the true laughter that came from her heart and made her stomach hurt. He loved it, even though right now, it came at his own expense.
Folding his arms over his chest, he purposefully stopped walking and said, "It wasn't that funny, Natasha."
Whether it was at his tone, or the fact he had used her full first name, Natasha spun round to face him and copied his stance, raising an eyebrow at his challenge. "Oh, please, you know it was. I did warn you that there were tree roots everywhere, but in true Captain Rogers fashion, you refused to listen to advice."
"You told me about the tree roots, after I'd fallen over one." He reminded her, but the corners of his lips twitched, threatening to ruin his act of being annoyed. Deep down, he knew that the situation was hilarious, and he loved seeing her get all fired up when she wanted to prove a point.
Her teeth sank into her lower lip, and the tether of self control he had inside him threatened to snap at the sight. "You did look rather adorable, in all that mud." Mud that was still splattered across his cheek. He could feel it, but he had too much pride to wipe it off. His clothes were slightly muddy, but his quick reflexes had meant that he had landed on outstretched arms, saving himself from taking an unplanned, very unwanted, mud-bath in the middle of the Wakandan jungle.
A playful growl escaped him as he prowled towards her. Never once did she lower her chin, never once did that defiant spark leave her emerald eyes, and he loved her for it. "I'm sorry, but I think I misheard you. Surely, you did not just refer to be as 'adorable'?"
Forever a huntress, Natasha smiled coyly as he drew nearer. The hot sun fought its way through the coverage of the trees above them, causing her hair to glow amber. "I think you'll find, Captain, that I did."
His lips were against hers as soon as the last word fell from her mouth. He devoured her with that kiss, his hand cupping the back of her head and locking through the strands of her hair. His other hand wrapped around her waist, about to draw her body against his, when suddenly, her smaller hands shoved against his waist. Caught off guard, he stepped back, and she also retreated a few steps. The smug smile on her face drove him crazy.
"You may enjoy wallowing in the mud, but I sure as hell do not want it on my clothes." She stated, gesturing down to his attire. Honestly, he barely had any mud on him, apart from his cheek. The temptation to grab her and rub his face against hers so she too was splattered in mud was almost unbearably hard to ignore.
Before he could speak, she shook her head at him, chuckling in amusement. "We have a jungle to explore, do you think you can keep it in your pants for just a little bit, so we can sight see?"
"Sight see?" Steve echoed in disbelief. They had already spent the last two hours wondering around, with both of them having no clue where exactly they were going, but being far too stubborn to admit they may be slightly lost. Apart from scaling down an interesting ravine, their surroundings hadn't really changed much; jungle, jungle, more jungle. Although Steve appreciated the beauty of Wakanda, and the artist inside him admired the different shades and colours around him, his wife was clearly in a very playful mood and seemed intent on playing with him, only to then demand that he waited.
"Yes, sight see." Natasha said, folding her arms back over her chest and shifting her weight onto one leg. Her posture was enough to show that she wasn't going to have her mind changed on this matter, so he should save himself the bother of pouting and sulking about not having her undivided attention. "I want to see all of this jungle, before we leave tomorrow."
"Ah huh," He said, raising an eyebrow. "You do realise that will practically be impossible." That wasn't a lie, or him over-exaggerating. The jungle surrounding the city was huge, and if Natasha fully intended on seeing all of it with her own eyes, then she would have to commit herself to spending all of day, all of tonight, and the next morning making her way through the greenery. Steve had suggested they take one of T'Challa's rhinos, but that idea had been shot down as soon as it had been voiced.
Natasha snorted, as if he'd said something entertaining. "No, it's not."
He was about to point out that even with his super-serum, he'd probably struggle to see every single nook and cranny that the jungle had to over, but Natasha had already turned around and was stalking away from him. He had no doubt in his head that the sway of her hips was purposeful, but he had no intention on looking away from them as he muttered something under his breath and followed her.
As he walked, he could understand why she was so eager to see everything for herself. The jungle, like everything in Wakanda, was certainly impressive. From the wildlife that lived on the ground and in the sky, to the ravines and rivers that cut through it, bringing life and even more splashes of colour. There were hidden spots everywhere, and Steve had to admit, part of him longed to be able to know every single one of them.
Eventually, he caught up with his wife, as her determined strides never once faltered no matter what terrain was under her feet. Keen to see how Natasha intended on seeing everything for herself before the end of the day, Steve knew better than to bring it up again. Instead, he settled for, "I sent a message to Sam this morning."
"Good," She said, her tone light and casual, no longer teasing as she focused on the path ahead. Steve smiled as he felt her fingers seek out his, entwining their hands together as they walked side by side. "I really hope he and Wanda are okay after...after everything." As soon as she had left Tony, after that awful conversation they had shared, Natasha had gone to the compound and freed Steve's team - an amused looking Sam, a thankful Wanda, and a Scott Lang who looked like he was about to faint at the sight of her. She'd told Steve what she had done on the night when he had proposed to her, because she knew that he would be worried about them facing the consequences of his actions. All of them were safe, for the time being. She just prayed that they would have the sense to keep their noses out of trouble.
"I feel bad for Wanda," Steve admitted, and when Natasha looked over to him, he explained with a grin, "She's had to put up with Sam's jokes all this time. No one deserves that." Natasha smiled at that, at the reminder of the man who had sacrificed his normal life for them all those years ago. She also smiled at the fact that Wanda wouldn't be completely alone. Sam would make sure the young girl was okay.
They continued exploring in a comfort silence, and Steve made a conscious effort to look out for any pesky tree roots. He managed to stay on his feet, and eventually, Natasha pulled him to a stop. When he looked at her in confusion, she glanced up. "So, this is my plan." She patted the large tree beside her.
Of course, Steve continued to stare at her with clear confusion sparking in his blue eyes. "Your plan?"
"To see the whole jungle, today." Natasha reminded him. "You didn't think I actually intended on doing in on foot, did you?"
He scratched the back of his head with his spare hand. "Well, in all honesty, yes."
She grinned. "Fancy a bit of tree climbing, Rogers?" The tree beside her was not picked by random. Shuri had told her last night, between dancing in the streets with the locals, of a mighty tree in the heart of the jungle. Once the princess had told Natasha exactly how to find it, she had set off this morning with every intention on finding it. Past the ravine, keeping northward in the opposite direction of Ghost Falls.
Steve swallowed, surveying the tree. It was certainly the biggest in the surrounding area, so tall that he couldn't even see the topmost branches from where he stood. "Nat, do you really think this is a good idea?"
The set of her jaw and the gleam in her eyes was enough of a sign that yes, she did think this was a good idea. She let go of his hand and stood by the base of the tree, next to an over-arching root that protruded from the ground. "Well, I'm climbing this tree, with you without you. You're more than welcome to stay down here, but I assure you, the view up there will be much better."
Without giving him the chance to give her an answer, Natasha pointed her arm up to the tree. Curtesy of Shuri, a small wire with a hook at the end burst from the bracelet attached to her wrist, successfully wrapping round a higher up branch. With the line secure, Natasha turned to the trunk and started climbing, walking up it as if it was the easiest thing in the world. In reality, her arms ached a little by the time she was half way, but she couldn't resist glancing over her shoulder at her husband, who was looking right back at her.
"You know," Steve said, a dangerous smile on his face that did all sorts of things to Natasha's balance. "My view right here really isn't that bad." He was totally commenting on her ass and the muscles of the backs of her thighs, and neither of them blushed at the intention behind his words.
Rolling her eyes, she shot back, "Suit yourself," before she continued her climb. Once she reached the branch where her hook was embedded, she easily darted from one branch to the other, using her arms to pull herself up. They ached a little by the time she reached the top, but the sight that was waiting for her made all of it worth it. She hadn't made it close to the top, but the jungle sprawled out below her, mesmerisingly beautiful. "Steve, please come up here, you'll-"
But, when she turned, her husband was already beside her, sitting at the other end of the branch with his back against the trunk. "You really thought I'd miss this opportunity?" He asked, winking at her.
Smiling, Natasha wiggled down the branch so she could straddle it and lean back against him. Instantly, his arms wrapped around her, and the two of them sat looking out across the jungle just as the sun burned in the centre of the sky. Steve kissed her temple lovingly, and she beamed.
"Do you admit that my idea was a good one, now?" She asked, wiggling further into him.
His hands squeezed her waist. "Yes, I admit it, this idea was particularly good." He nuzzled into her neck, and she knew full well that he was spending more time watching her than he was the jungle before them. "I love you, Nat."
Tilting her head, she kissed him, and it was a kiss powerful enough to make up for hours spent teasing. When they broke apart, she nuzzled her nose against his, an action which made them both laugh softly. "I love you, too." She told him gently. "You're my favourite person."
Feeling as if his heart was about to burst from his chest, Steve brushed his lips against hers one more time. "As you are mine." He confirmed, and the two of them remained up in that tree for longer than perhaps they intended to, but neither of them minded at all. Seeing the jungle and the kingdom in the distance, along with the memories of days spent in the market and nights dancing, there was no better way to spend their last full day in this magnificent place. Both of them found themselves wondering when the next time they would visit would be.
~0~0~0~0~0~
Leaning against Steve's broad chest, Natasha took a deep breath as the hot water of their bath lapped against her skin, relaxing her body and letting her muscles turn to mush. After an entire day of exploring through the jungle, climbing the threes and climbing down ravines, she had been looking forward to this bath for hours. It had turned out much better once Steve had entered the bathroom and joined her.
Steve lips brushed down the column of her neck. "What's going on in that pretty head of yours?" No matter how many times throughout the years he'd said those words, they always sent a shiver of pleasure down Natasha's spine. If she hadn't lost herself to the bliss of the hot water, she would have quite easily turned around and rewarded him for being able to set her off so easily.
"I'm thinking," Her fingers danced over his knee, which was bent up beside her body as she sat between his legs. "That I must have done something right in my life, to be able to deserve you." It was not a lie. Not at all. Every day since she'd returned back from Russia and he hadn't pushed her away, she'd questioned what she had done to be worthy of having Steve Rogers in her life. Now that he was her husband, it seemed even more unbelievable to her. "I'm not intending on letting you go, regardless."
He chuckled against her shoulder, his tongue trailing a gentle line along the top of it, right up to the bottom of her neck. "Well, that's certainly mutual, sweetheart." His hand lightly stroked her stomach. "Is it selfish of me to not want to leave this place tomorrow?" They were planning on heading to Natasha and Clint's safe house, where the former spy had ensured that Wanda and Sam fled to once she had broken them out of that horrible compound that Ross had sent them to.
The thought had been toying in her mind all day, too, so she replied, "It's not selfish, Steve, but it's also not an option."
Knowing that she would do exactly what he needed - keep him grounded, and not allow him to get his hopes up for no reason - Steve gently kissed underneath her ear to show he appreciated what she had said.
Sensing that he was still saddened by the idea of leaving, Natasha continued speaking, her voice was smooth as the water around them. "One day, the world will be a place where Bucky Barnes will be able to walk as a free man, a man who does not need to look over his shoulder, or spend his life lurking in the shadows. One day, he will be recognised as what he is; a hero. A good man."
Steve's head fell against her shoulder as his arms pulled her tighter, hugging her so close to him. She didn't mind, though. She knew that he needed strength from her, and she would gladly be there for him, through everything. "How can you be so sure, Nat?" They both knew the monsters that lurked outside Wakanda, that lurked outside the Earth, waiting for a moment of weakness to pounce. And when they struck, they intended nothing but mass destruction and kindness. They came in the form of outer space beings, of Gods whose minds had gone crazy, to men dressed in suits who pretended to have everyones interest as their top priority. Whilst there was still that darkness out there, neither of them could hide away from it.
She tilted her head back, scanning his face, the handsome features that she loved so much. What she wouldn't give to see that dimpled smile of his appear, the one that lit those blue eyes and caused butterflies in her stomach. But, she could see that he was torn; not just because he would be leaving his best friend behind. But, because, after today, they would be entering a world where they would be hunted down, where safety would be little and uncertain. She knew that his worry was not for himself, that it never would be. It was for her, for keeping her safe. She knew this because she felt the exact same way for him.
Her hand stopped drawing patterns on his knee, and came up to cup his cheek, her shoulders rotating so she was at a better ankle when she pulled his lips down to hers. The kiss wasn't a clash of tongues and desire. It was a promise. "Because we will make sure of it." She told him, and she meant every word, because the two of them would give their last breaths to protect the people they cared about, and the world that they had sworn to protect.
~0~0~0~0~0~
Saying goodbye was always hard, especially when Steve had only just started to feel as if he had finally gotten his best friend back. But, Bucky was safe in Wakanda, there was no way they could risk him returning to the outside world with him and Natasha. So, Steve hugged the man who was like a brother to him, and made Bucky promise to look after himself and stay out of trouble.
Bucky chuckled, patting Steve's back before they pulled away from each other. "You look after that lovely wife of yours." He said in return, flashing a smile at Natasha as she approached. "As for you, go easy on him. He's softer than he looks."
"Oh, don't I know it." Natasha said, shooting Steve a wink before she hugged Bucky. "Goodbye, James. Stay safe, and keep in contact."
King T'Challa stepped forward, a warm glint in his dark eyes as he regarded them. "You will always have a home here in Wakanda." He reminded them. The apartment in which they had spent the last two months in would remain theirs, despite both Steve and Natasha insisting that it would not be necessary.
Steve shook hands with their new ally, and their new friend. "Thank you, T'Challa, for everything."
Gracefully, T'Challa dipped his head, and only seemed slightly surprised when Natasha hugged him. The fearsome protector of Wakanda returned the hug with equal warmth, before Shuri and the Queen Mother joined them to say their own goodbyes.
"Wakanda has been lucky to meet such friends." Romanda told them softly. "Where are you headed?"
Sharing a glance, Natasha smiled and replied, "To visit our friends. I'm sure they'll be shocked at our news." She waved her fingers, and the diamond glistened against the sunlight.
Pride swelled inside Steve at the sight of the ring, a physical reminder that Natasha was his wife. A silver band was on his own finger, proof that he belonged to her, for the rest of his life, no matter what the universe threw at them.
Steve hugged Bucky one more time before he and Natasha stepped onto the jet. She punched in their coordinates for the pilot, and Steve stood by her side they looked out the glass sides, watching the land flash underneath them as the jet headed towards the invisible borders of Wakanda. They sailed over the city which they had fallen in love with, over the apartment which had become their home, and straight over the top of the mountain top that Steve had drawn and gifted to the Queen Mother as a thank you.
As Wakanda disappeared behind them, they both wondered when the next time they would return to this beautiful place would be.
~0~0~0~0~0~
"Well," Natasha said as she flopped down into the few pillows on the bed. "That could have gone worse."
Entering the room with slightly wet hair, Steve chuckled with a shake of his head. "I think we almost shocked them to death."
It had felt slightly strange to her, when Natasha had stepped into the safehouse that she had purchased with Clint all those years ago. It was poorly decorated, with very minimal furniture, but that was because it had never been considered a home to either of them. Clint Barton belonged at the farmhouse with his wife and children, and Natasha's home would forever be at Steve's side, no matter where in the world they were.
Still, as she had walked inside, she had been greeted by a flush of memories of her life all those years ago, when her world revolved around the job she had been granted. The time in her life when she had been desperate to prove herself and shake off her demons, and yet had failed to do so. Now, she entered the house as a married woman, who wasn't afraid to lean on Steve for comfort and support, who faced had faced the darkness of her past because his love had turned her strength from a raging flame to a roaring fire. As if sensing where her thoughts were taking her, Steve had reached for her hand and given her a gentle squeeze.
Sam had greeted them at the front door. His smile had been genuine as he shook hands with both of them, knowing full well that any attempt made to hug Natasha would end up with her knee colliding with his stomach, or other more important parts of his body. He had seemed his usual happy-go-lucky self, despite what had happened to his life in the recent years. Steve had instantly started trying to apologise for everything, but Sam had silenced him with shake of his head, assuring his friend that if he was given the choice, he would do it all over again.
Seeing Wanda again hadn't come to a surprise to either of them, but what had left Steve and Natasha speechless as they entered the house and saw the young girl was the fact that Vision stood at her side. Vision, who was standing as a human man. He was almost unrecognisable to them, if it hadn't been for the familiar rumble of his voice when he welcomed them.
The five of them had sat down at the table and ate in awkward silence for a little while, the only noise in the room being the sound of their chewing. But, then Steve had spoke, hating the silence that weighed down on them all. He apologised once again, this time to Wanda, for everything that had happened, that he had not been the one to come and free them from those prison cells. Wanda had dismissed him as Sam had done, assuring him that she did not regret standing beside him.
When Steve had told them everything, right from what had happened after he and Bucky had left on that airport with the help of Natasha, no one interupted his story. They all listened as Steve recounted how Shuri had healed his and Bucky's physical wounds, and then had washed all of Hydra's influence on Bucky's mind out once and for all. They all seemed genuinely relieved about that, and not because of anything the Winter Soldier had done, but because they knew how much Bucky meant to Steve. After all, Sam and Wanda had followed Steve without question, believing in him even when it seemed Natasha didn't.
Natasha couldn't help but feel slightly sick as she remembered those long, horrible weeks between her and Steve, where they hadn't understood where they stood with one another. As if sensing her unease, Steve's hand squeezed her thigh under the table, and she took a deep breath, allowing her body to relax under the contact. They were fine now. Better than fine. Married.
Then, when Steve informed them of the fact that he and Natasha had gone to Wakanda together and gotten married, there had been a mix response. Clearly, they hadn't done as well as they had first thought at concealing their relationship, because no one seemed surprised that they loved each other. But, at the mention of marriage, Sam's jaw had dropped so quickly that it was a surprise that it didn't bounce on the table, Vision's eyebrows had risen practically into his hairline, and Wanda's already bambi-like eyes had widened in saucers.
Still, they had all listened, and then congratulated them. The warmth in their voices assured that they were truly happy for them, and Natasha relaxed instantly. Steve's hand moved from her thigh so his arm could rest across the back of her chair. He was so comfortable already with showing his love for her in the open, something they hadn't been able to do for years, and she found that she didn't feel nervous about showing her feelings so openly either. How could she? She loved Steve so much, that finally being able to admit such a thing was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
Once Steve had finished, Sam told the two of them how Scott had returned to his home, where he was determined to spend more time with his daughter. He said that Tony had been off the radar for weeks, and that Rhodey was making a steady recovery, thankfully. The injuries that Rhodey had sustained in the fight had been life-altering, but with Tony's help and technology, he would be able to walk again, after months of rehab that was.
It was clear to Natasha why Vision was here with them, and she just hoped that he'd finally found the courage to tell Wanda how he felt. Judging by the lack of distance between them as they had sat at the table, and the way they both glanced at each other and blushed every now and then, Natasha took that as confirmation that Vision had done it. It made her feel better knowing that he had someone.
Rolling onto her side, Natasha watched as her husband pulled on a pair of joggers. They were Sam's, so they fit a little snugly, and if Natasha wasn't feeling so exhausted, she'd definitely would have made a comment. But, her body felt drained, so she kept her thoughts to herself. Nonetheless, her eyes drank in the sight of him as Steve walked around the room, picking up her clothes and folding them, and she appreciated the show of muscle in front of her.
"We really didn't do a good job of keeping our relationship a secret." Steve pointed out, although there was not a single hint of regret in his voice. It felt good that they no longer had to hide, and that they had both been able to walk into this room together without thinking of an excuse of why they'd be sharing a bed. No more lying. No more pretending.
"Hmm, I don't know, I bet you Thor is completely oblivious." Natasha joked, and when her husband chuckled, she felt instantly better. "Are you ever going to join me, Captain?"
He paused, half way through the process of folding up her jeans neatly. "One of us has to be the grown up here, Natasha."
Raising an eyebrow, she asked, "And what do you mean by that, exactly?"
"You leave your clothes around as if you're intentionally waiting for me to trip over them in the night." He accused playfully, grabbing her jumper from the floor. As he bent down, Natasha snatched her bra off the floor by the bed and launched it at him. It bounced off his head, and the grin he flashed her was dangerous as he said, "You're literally just proving my point, sweetheart."
She patted the empty space beside her. "Come to bed, Steve." She pouted, knowing that it had just the same effect on him as her biting her lower lip did.
Sure enough, Steve abandoned his attempt to cleaning up. He crawled under the sheets and rolled onto his side so he faced her. "Are you happy now?"
"Almost," She leaned across and kissed him slowly, letting her tongue ghost over his bottom lip before she pulled away. Inside her stomach, desire sparked. Maybe, she wasn't as tired as she had first thought. But, they owed it to their friends to not keep them up tonight. Besides, there was always the morning... "Okay, now I'm happy."
Steve rolled his eyes, but his smile was warm as Natasha turned so her back was towards him. Instantly, he wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her against him, nuzzling into her neck. "You mean everything to be, Natasha." He told her softly. "No matter what happens tomorrow, or the next day, I need you to know that you are my number one priority. Always."
"I know." She whispered, her hand moving to cover his as his thumb stroked the exposed skin of her stomach. "You know I've always got your back, too." The need to hear the words and the need to speak them had been something that she hadn't put too much thought into, not consciously. Their lives were constantly in danger, as they found themselves in more high-risk situations than most people. But, they were also the people who ran head first into trouble, rather than running away from it. Although she didn't want to think about what was around the corner, or treat it as much of a threat, it certainly didn't hurt for them to reassure one another. That's how they worked; drawing strength from each other.
He kissed her temple. "I love you." He whispered as he settled down against his own pillow, keeping his arm around her but loosening his hold ever so slightly as his own body relaxed under the blanket.
Leaning back into his warmth, Natasha closed her eyes and responded back just as quietly, "I love you, forever."
~0~0~0~0~0~
Now, this is by far not my favourite chapter that I've written, but it serves it's purpose as a little sandwich chapter. I added a few cute Steve and Natasha moments to soften it out. The next few chapters will be of the years between Civil War and Infinity War, but like before, there won't be masses of them. I really can't wait to get to Infinity War, but there is a large gap between the films, so I'm just going to add a few chapters of fluff, along with a few surprises here and there, just to space the timeline out a bit.
Hope you liked it, even though I understand it's not really that good. Thank you reading, and thank you to those who have left reviews. It means a lot to read what you think!
- E x