Moving with the crowds of people, trying to keep her head down, struggling off her jacket and shoving it into the shopping bags. Natasha placing her large black sunglasses on her face. Steve following right behind her, pulling the brim of his hat down, casting a shadow over his face.
Walking down the raining streets to a busy pub Natasha leading them inside. Stopping in her tracks, turning around and wrapping her arms around Steve's neck.
Steve in mid step, trying to avoid knocking her over by the sudden hug she capture him in.
"Making sure we aren't being followed." whispering while looking over his shoulder out to the entryway of the pub. Seeing no one that was following them, she pulling away from him and slowly making their way to the back of the pub. Opening the door in the back of the building leading into the lobby where her safe house is.
Taking the steps two at a time, she moving without making noise as she open the door to the loft, with Steve close behind her. Steve shutting and locking the door.
Natasha placing the bags on the bed. Confuse and piss-off she has no idea what the hell was going on. Before walking over to the window, pulling the curtain away from the edge, just enough to see the full view of the road in front of the loft. Surveilling and seeing nothing out of the normal or alarming. Though Her thoughts adding to her confusion.
Both hands at the top of the armchair, his head hung in the space between his arms and not sure what to say. Sharon and him shared one kiss together. Yes, he had a list of things to be thankful for that Sharon help him with, but there was nothing more to their relationship. There could have been a romantic relationship, it just never blossom for them.
Raising his head up seeing his girlfriend by the window. Feeling guilty for not telling her about the kiss with Sharon and putting them in this position. They were safe and were able to move without detection, now he was unsure if they would be able to leave England and anger starting to pool in his chest.
"Talk Steve." Natasha keeping her eyes on the street. Feeling his eyes on her, mentally preparing for whatever comes out of his mouth.
"Sharon gave me intel in Bucky's whereabouts in Germany. Then she helped us escape and returned out gear to us. When we were departing..." Steve pausing, standing up straight and a hand cupping the back of his neck. Rubbing his neck like this was his nervous habit. Natasha didn't have to look at him to know what he was doing. "I kissed Sharon." Steve finally putting it out there.
He watching his girlfriend, waiting for some type of reaction, though she remaining completely still. Never being in a position like this, he didn't know what to say or do. He worry that he was causing her pain by telling this.
"Just the one kiss?" She ask, her tone giving anything away.
"Yes"
Natasha turning away from the window and facing him. "This is how I see it, in D.C. it was her mission to watch you and be friendly. She did. You learning she is Peggy's great-niece, you feel that maybe you could recreate something you had once with Peggy with Sharon. Then she is the only one other than Sam that believes Bucky is innocent. Helps you get away. You thank her with a kiss. She probably hoped for something more after things settled down. That didn't happen. Count it as a burned bridge and move on." She said in her business tone and her hands resting on top of her hips.
She really didn't care that he had kissed Sharon. She was worried about their safety. Unsure what Sharon was capable. Natasha could not risk getting arrest, she has too many enemies waiting to take a piece of her. Her instincts taking over, she began forming a plan of where they were going next. Internally kicking herself for letting her guard down.
"We can't stay here" She told him. Pulling the phone out of her pocket calling the only person who won't ask questions and get them out of the country.
Steve not able to get a read on her emotions as he took a seat in the armchair.
"It's Natasha.." She said, Steve not able to hear the person on the other end. "We need to get out of London, tonight." Turning back to the window she continue to monitor the street below. "I know place. See you tonight." She hung up the phone.
The silence intensify the mood in the room.
"I am sorry." Steve wondering how long this silence stay between them. Fearing the worst after some of the stories Clint had told him, she could go days without talking to him.
"I don't care you kissed Sharon. I am upset at myself for getting so careless. We are suppose to be laying low, not shopping or traveling around. Thinking we could have a normal vacation or whatever this is while we wait for this mess to clear up, is foolish." Pausing in her thought, she removing herself from the window and taking a seat on the edge of the bed. "This is a first for me, if I don't want to be found, than I'm not and today. Just made me realize that we can't act like the outside world doesn't exist. I didn't risk everything to end up in the Raft or a dark hole." Natasha stopping before she saying something she would regret. Though her walls built back around her again. Feeling stupid her letting herself get into a position like this one.
Standing up he slowly approaching her. Kneeling down in front of her, placing one hand on top of her thigh and the other cupping around her shin.
"Clint and Tony are heading to Wakanda. They are going to make a detour and get us." She told him finally looking into blue eyes. Her hard exterior breaking as she staring into his face, knowing she would not have done anything different to end up right here with him. Though something would have to change to keep them both safe.
Combing her fingers through his golden hair, before lowering her head and kissing his lips.
"Let's just more past this, we have other things to worry about." Natasha finally putting an end to their conversation.
Standing on the soaked pavement as the quinjet landing in the empty field. Steve and Natasha walking up the aircraft, the back hatch lowering and Tony Stark standing at the top of the ramp.
"Mr. & Mrs. Rogers? Or Romanoff? Did you guys hyphenate?" Tony started in joking with them.
"Nice to see you Tony. How is Pepper?" Steve said, not answering his questions.
"Stark" Natasha said in passing him, going into the cockpit where Clint would be.
"She is getting looking more pregnant. I thought we were closer than this, I had to hear from Robin Hood that you two tied the knot and ran off to Europe." Tony still not dropping the topic.
"We didn't get married, our aliases are married and we have been laying low." Steve told him.
"So how long have you two been playing hide the popsicle? Don't get me wrong I think it's great, but just wondering how deep is Miss. Widow's deception goes." Tony still picking.
"Tony, there wasn't any deception. We didn't get together until right before finding you and Pepper. We are all on the same team." Steve trying to drop the topic as he following Natasha path.
Natasha and Clint near the cockpit. Both stopping whatever they were talking about.
"Cap" Clint greeting him.
"Clint. How are Laura and the kids?" Steve asking him.
"Good." Clint replied.
Natasha taking the co-pilot seat, not waiting she was ready to get in the air and away from any potential threats. Also to shut up Tony from poking fun.
Clint sitting next to her, as they started pulling away from the ground and ascending to the sky.
"Tell me about this wedding you had that no one was invited too." Tony diving in on Natasha.
"The wedding was 10 years ago for Ann and Steven Thomas. And you would not have been invited anyways." She snapped back.
"Stark, buckle up before she does a barrel roll." Clint suggesting.
"Just thought the team would be invited to the wedding of the year. Captain America and Black Widows wedding." Tony clearly not getting the hint, that Natasha wasn't in the mood to be teased. As the aircraft filled with silence.
Steve sitting in the seat closest to his girlfriend. Something had been bothering Natasha since they left the loft. Even though he thought they were past the whole Sharon thing. Maybe she was still upset that their cover has been blown? Or was it Tony picking at them about the whole marriage thing? Could she be upset about acting like they were married to be reminded that they aren't married? Maybe she is just needing space? Steve thought to himself staring off into space. His chin resting against the heel of his hand, his pointer finger pressed over his lips and the other curled sitting on the opposite side of his jaw.
"Captain Rogers?" Clint almost shouted at him pulling him from his deep thoughts. "You have been requested to attend a meeting, once we have land." Clint finished telling him. Steve not liking the sound of that, especially the fact it was JUST HIM being request.
Natasha looking out for at the dark sky. Trying to drop her darken mood, just hoping once they land she could talk with her best friend and maybe get some sense of these feelings she is having. He gave her the best advice, and help her through any trial she was battle internally.
She wanted Steve to be that for her, she didn't know how to bring him into her house of horrors. One thing was for sure they needed to tighten their shot group, to stay safe and together.
Landing in the familiar Wakanda hanger as the sun rose above the trees in the lush green tree tops. Tony being the first one off the plane, Jane Foster waiting for him, both stepping off heading to the labs.
Natasha getting up from her co-pilot seat, following Steve out of the cockpit and she grabbing ahold of his forearm. Taking a second to be alone before he gets pulled into whatever the King needed from him. She colliding into his chest and wrapping her arms around him. Steve wrapping his arms around the tops of her shoulders and pressing his lips to the top of head.
"I will see you in a bit." Steve told her, titling her chin up before kissing her mouth, then walking out of the loading area and down the back ramp. Steve shaking the hand with T'Challa, the king of Wakanda.
Clint walking up behind Natasha tapping on the wall paneling as he approach her. "Trouble in paradise?" He asked her.
She rolling her eyes in response. She walking back to the front of the aircraft, taking the seat that Steve was sitting. Elbows jabbing into the tops of her knees, and her head resting heavily in her hands. Clint taking the seat next to her, patiently waiting for her to start talking.
"How can you do it? How can you have the Laura and the kids and do this and not make stupid mistakes?" She said angrily towards the floor.
"I try my hardest everyday to come home to them."
"I know. Its I got lost in time with Steve. Finally getting to experience a life outside of work. Then Sharon came out of nowhere in London. She is pissed that Steve didn't call after she help them get away. Just don't know how to balance this relationship and what my life has become." Explaining to him while her head was still buried in her hands.
"First of all, Nat none of this balancing act is easy. It is stressful, exhausting, painful and scary as hell. It's not suppose to be easy. But it so worth it." He explained.
"How am I suppose to be his girlfriend and stay the Black Widow?"
Your going to have to find a way that works for you and him. Both of you are going to have to balance the relationship and your work persona. Just working towards the common goal." Clint placing a hand on her back.
"What happens if one of is captured or injured during a conflict, then what?" She finally looking up at him. Making the eye contact with his gray eyes.
"None of that changes, you keep doing what you have always done. Stay safe and alive and then fight like hell to get them back." He told her, his hand cupping the back of her head and forcing her to look at him. "It's hard, but worth it."
Finally having peace with her internal struggle. Both standing as they exited the quinjet. One of the T'Challa assistants waiting for them at the bottom of the cargo ramp.
Natasha was stepping off the ramp on to the concrete floor. Last thing she saw was the side of Clint's face, as he was the first one off the aircraft and then her sight were blurry and black.