A/N: So this chapter marks the end of Power of Persuasion. Thank you to everyone who has followed, favorited, and reviewed this fic! It was a pleasure getting feedback from you all. Have a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season! (◠‿◠✿)
The elevators opened on the armory floor to reveal Steve and Natasha, both dressed in tactical gear.
Nat wears an exasperated expression as she stalks off ahead of him, "You could've let me!"
Stopping by the door, Steve exhales deeply through his nostrils while he secures his shield on his back.
"For the last time, no I couldn't have. It was way too risky!"
"Risky?! It was a virtual training exercise. Everything was holographic and I was in no real danger."
She waits for him to key in the passcode for the weaponry vault, then walks over to the glass cases and begins to unload her various knives and guns.
Steve joins her and adds a few weapons to the collection before responding, "That's just it. Every scenario we confront during training is a prep for actual ops. A stunt like that could've gotten you killed out on the field."
"When am I not inches away from death? I was an assassin, I was a SHIELD Agent, and now …" She taps the team logo on the shoulder of his uniform, "I'm an Avenger. It all comes with the territory."
This time Steve looked exasperated. "Of course it does, but that doesn't mean I - as the team's leader-would place you in needless danger when another play could've been made."
"I have no problems taking risks when need be, Captain."
She hisses his rank in a way that's more chiding than reverent; her mockery, nonetheless, does not escape the soldier.
"It was my call, Romanoff," He commands, his inflection low and authoritative. "I say you won't and that's final."
Straightaway, Natasha's face hardens, shedding all emotion. Her voice turns like ice when she taunts, "I could always make you see my side of things."
Steve juts out his chin in defiance, "Try me."
The assassin takes a menacing step into his personal space, forcing the two of them to stand together in a tense face off. They remain there, staring, a hair's breadth away from each other…
…that is, until the both of them burst out into uncontrollable laughter.
It takes a full minute for them to contain themselves, the remnants of their giggles dying away finally.
Natasha cracks him a mischievous smile, "Ya scared yet, Cap?"
"I'm quaking in my spangled boots." Steve crows, pretending to tremble.
"Yea-yea, poke your fun. That line could've scared the living hell out of anyone else, and you know it."
"Oh I'm well familiarized with your methods, Widow."
"I noticed. Are you by chance spreading rumors again about me taking out Fury's eye?"
Steve sniggers, "That one never gets old!"
"There's several dozen SHIELD recruits who'd beg to differ. Though I'll admit- and not to say I don't hold my own- but I kinda like having Captain America give me street cred."
A lopsided grin accompanies Steve's two-finger salute. "Cap't Rogers at your service, mam."
Nat hardly restrains rolling her eyes.
"C'mon Soldier Boy," She chuckles, "Let's grab coffee and lunch."
Steve locks up the last of his weapons and shuts the vault door. "Alright, but I'm buyin'."
"Fine with me. But hey," She tacks on, lingering by the door, "That conversation about risk taking isn't over yet."
"Nah, I'm pretty sure it is." Says Steve mildly.
"Believe me, it isn't." Nat persists. She tempers her words with a playful nudge—her shoulder brushing against his.
Cap's all smiles when he reciprocates the action, but Natasha doesn't miss him mumbling under his breath that it was still over, according to him.
"Don't make me gouge your eye out, Rogers!"
She wasn't the least bit serious, of course; and judging from the boisterous laugh Steve echoes down the corridor, he didn't suspect that she was for a second.