Here's the next chapter! If you don't understand the pepperoni reference from the previous chapter, it's the Pepper/Tony ship name :)
Steve had managed to extract a recipe for pizza from the laptop computer, after he spent a few minutes trying to figure out how to get to the thing Tony called 'Google.' He then discovered the marvel of the technology called the printer. With his recipe held triumphantly in his hand, he emerged from the elevator with a bag of pepperoni.
"Finally, Steve." Natasha said. She was sitting on a swivel stool and was using the counter's touchable screen to look through her cabinets. "What took you so long? Were you doing your hair or something?"
"No, I was printing us a recipe." Steve replied, brandishing the piece of paper. Natasha looked up from what she was doing. "I had to figure out how to do some stuff before I printed it out. Like using Google."
"Someday, Steve, I'm going to teach you how to use technology. When my cast comes off, I'll give you a lesson." Natasha said, motioning to her left arm, which was in a cast. "You'll learn a lot of useful stuff. Including how to use the wonder that is called Google."
"Great. I feel the love." Steve said sarcastically. "I brought the pepperoni." Natasha nodded and began to hop off the stool, but Steve stopped her. She shot him an exasperated glance and whacked him gently with her free arm.
"I can do this myself." she said gently. "I've had enough of being babied. I don't want your help, but if I look like I'm going to pass out, you can help me." Steve nodded, and she grabbed her crutches and began to pull ingredients out of the cabinets. "You know, Steve, you didn't have to print the recipe out. There's a computer inside the counter that we could have used." Steve winced.
"I wanted the practice, alright, Tasha?" he said defensively. "I'd rather embarrass myself in front of you than Stark. He doesn't understand the concept of being frozen in time and then having to adjust to touch screens."
"Start mixing, Rogers." she said, tossing the bags of flour and cornstarch at him with surprising strength for a one-handed throw. "I will prepare the decorations."
"Decorations?" Steve repeated. "Tasha, what are you planning?" Natasha smirked and picked an iPad off the coffee table. She unlocked the screen and pulled up some sort of app and began to splash color on a white background.
"It's their anniversary, and we're going to throw them a party." she said.
Soon, the batter was ready to be put in the oven. Natasha had stopped by Thor's floor and picked up a can of sauce and cheese for the topping. Steve hadn't known that Thor had a grocery store in his apartment. According to Natasha, it was the size of a small convenience store that was restocked every week with anything Thor wanted. Steve turned the burner on the stove. He began to rummage through the cabinets for a pot.
"Steve." Natasha said, her voice tight and nervous sounding. She was staring at the burner's flames, and her knuckles were white on the iPad's surface. Steve took a moment to register what was going on. He comprehended what she was afraid of then. He flicked the burner off and turned back to face her.
"Hey, it's okay, Tasha." he said. She blinked at him. "It's not going to hurt you. It's controlled. It's just a stove top burner. It's nothing like the orphanage fire, alright?" She nodded, but he could see that she was still on edge from the experience. He, also, was a little stunned. It was the first time he set off a trigger, and it was not a fun feeling. He hated how scared his friend was, even though she was a strong woman, she was still afraid of fire. And water, now, too.
"It's so hard. It just hits me, and I never know when it's going to." Natasha whispered. "I could look at your glass of water this afternoon, and not freak out, but a blue flame on the top of a stove set me off. I thought I was doing so well."
"You're doing great, Tasha. It takes time, and especially now. I'll heat the sauce in the microwave." he replied softly. He poured the sauce back into the can and set it in the microwave. Steve then put the can into the microwave and turned it on. Natasha was returning to the anniversary decorations, when loud popping noises began to emit from the microwave.
"You seriously didn't put the sauce back in the can." Natasha said, laughing. "Take it out before it explodes."
There was a loud banging noise and suddenly, the glass door of the microwave was splattered in red sauce. Steve flushed. He hadn't known- how was he supposed to know that cans don't like microwaves?
"Why did it do that?" he asked pitifully. Natasha got a rag from the sink and opened the microwave. She started to wipe the insides with one hand, but Steve could tell that the motion was difficult for her. He still let her. He remembered Agent Hill's advice. Babying her wouldn't make her other arm heal quicker. Plus, Natasha needed the exercise.
"I didn't think about the fact that most people didn't have microwaves in your earlier life." she called back at him, and pulled out her hand. Her sleeve looked like someone with a bloody nose had used it as a tissue. "Microwaves don't like metal. Or plastic, really. You need to be careful what you put in there."
"Sorry." Steve said apologetically. "See, you should be like my modern world tutor. I can help you with physical therapy." Natasha rinsed the cloth out and hung it on the towel rack. She turned back to him, her face serious.
"I think we've both got our work cut out for ourselves." she replied solemnly.
I hope you liked it! Review please!