Chapter Eleven: Fake Dates

"He and I are the same. We manipulate, we thirst for power, we control, we punish, but our actions are driven by one singular place deep inside, we're alone and we hate it."

-Katherine Pierce

Steve barely managed to dodge one of Natasha's kicks. The redhead knew how to kick hard and with precision. Steve might be a super soldier, but he had a hard time keeping up with Natasha.

"Nice," Steve said as he blocked a punch.

"Oh, please." Natasha brushed back a sweaty curl. "I barely touched you."

"That's more than what most people have accomplished." Steve pointed out.

Natasha smiled. "Well thanks for the compliment." She handed him a water bottle. "Let's take a break."

The two of them sat at the edge of the ring drinking their water in silence. That was one of the things that Steve liked about Natasha she was contempt with silence. Natasha went to throw her water bottle in the trash, her shirt lifted up a little and Steve saw a small scar on her waist.

"What is that?"

Natasha looked down. "I was a gift from the Winter Soldier, he has a mean aim and doesn't like to lose. So I get to keep this little present, goodbye bikinis."

Steve teased her. "Yeah, I bet you would look terrible in them. Who's the Winter Soldier?"

Natasha shrugged. "No one really knows for sure, he shows up every once in a while. During that time I was protecting a scientist, but he-"she trailed off. "Awful story, let's talk about something more interesting like your date this evening."

Steve rolled his eyes trying not to blush. "It's not a date, it just coffee, Miss-I mean Katrina is just lonely, I thought I would show her around."

"Oh, you're blushing." Natasha stood up. "But don't worry I won't give you a hard time, I know how much as asshole Tony can be. Just be a gentleman Steve and everything will be fine, in other words just be your sweet, Captain America self."

Steve smiled. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."

"And if she hurts you." Natasha raised her fist. "I will be happy to kick her ass."

Steve chuckled. "Hopefully that won't be necessary, but thanks for offering."

It was weird to go out for coffee especially since it was already dark outside, shouldn't it be called dessert or dinner? Should he invite her to dinner, what time was it? Steve nervously looked at the clock in the small café. Nope, she still had five minutes.

Steve was so nervous that he could feel his palms sweating, he had never felt so nervous. He had never gone on a date before, sure he had loved Peggy but it was the time of war, no one had time to date.

Word had spread out quickly around the tower that Steve was going on a date and the other members had given him very unhelpful advice (mainly Tony) so he had no idea how he was supposed to act, let alone say.

"Sorry, I'm late thank you for waiting." Katherine said as she sat down across from him. Her brown/blond hair was curled around her heart shaped face and she was wearing a casual white summer dress will pale blue flowers (that hid the gun strapped to her thigh) "And thank you for meeting me here."

"No, it was my pleasure." He said, hating himself for sounding so nervous. "What do you want to drink?"

"Hot chocolate." Katherine said. "I like sweet things, like you."

"Oh, I'm not that sweet."

"Yes, you are, that's a good thing Steve, there aren't many sweet guys anymore," she patted his hand. "Only jerks."

Steve frowned when he saw the number #850 written in the inside of her wrist. "That's an interesting tattoo, does it mean anything?"

Katherine pushed back down her bracelets to shield it. How could she had been so stupid, she had forgotten that HYDRA had engraved an experiment number on her? Bucky's number was tattooed on his lower back and his number was 146.

"Stupid tattoo." She shook her head. "I was fifteen and a full on rebel."

Steve smiled. "So tell me about yourself, where are you from? Why did you decided to go into teaching?"

"I grew up in a small farm in the Midwest." Katherine said looking at her mug of hot chocolate. She hadn't noticed before but the smell was sugary sweet like cheap perfume, the table cloth was red like blood.

"Really? You don't seem like a farm girl. . ." Steve's voice seemed to drift off.

Katherine's eyes drifted off towards the metal looking clock in the corner of the café. It reminded her of the machines that they had used on her in HYDRA. Cold, calculating, wondering if she would live or die.

Katherine felt her throat tightening, her pulse heightening, and Katherine was starting to feel like the entire room was suffocation, you're ok, she tried to tell herself, you're in a safe place. But that didn't seem to help. She just kept feeling the pain over and over again, half wondering if she was going to lose her mind. Begging to get out.

Steve frowned. "Miss Katrina, are you all right."

Katherine grabbed her purse. "I need to get out of here, I can't be here." She got out of her chair and walked outside, practically pushing people out of the way.

"Katrina! Wait!"

Katherine ignored him, she needed to get away. But she would be lying to herself right now if she said she didn't feel like crying.

-End of Chapter Eleven-

Thanks for your reviews!