Steve didn't know how to prepare for a date.

He searched through his closet and tried to find the nicest clothes possible. He didn't want to tell anybody about this. He wanted it to just be between him and Natasha, and knowing her, she probably wasn't flaunting it either.

It seemed to be a race against the clock on Friday night as he tried to look his best. He spent an hour just combing his hair back and forth, trying to figure out which way looked the best. Making sure all his shirts were buttoned on the right button and straightening his jacket, he took a deep breath when he heard a knock on his door.

Natasha stood there in a simple black dress that came to her knees. Nothing fancy, but certainly not casual. "Wow," Steve gasped as he noticed how her hair curled around the frame of her face. "You look stunning. Not that you usually don't," he added quickly. He felt his face go red. "You're… just… even more… stunning…."

She smiled at him. "I get it, Steve."

"Sorry, talking to women is not my strong spot," he apologized.

"It's fine. I think it's sort of cute."

Their gazes interlocked. Her smile softened. "Well, then, let's go out to dinner," Steve said, looking away after a few seconds.

"Of course."

He closed his apartment door and looked at Natasha. "Er, do I wrap my arm around yours, or…?"

She giggled. "No, it's fine. You can just walk."

"You'll have to teach me everything," Steve said, a bit embarrassed. "I've never actually asked a girl to go on an outing with me."

"Gladly," she said, tilting her head. Her earrings dangled.

He led her to his car, opening the door for her. As he got in the driver's seat, she looked over at him. "I wish men still had chivalry like you these days."

He felt his face go red again. "That's not an old gesture?"

"Not at all. Keep doing it. It makes a girl feel good."

Steve backed up, Natasha watching him closely. She knew how nervous he must feel. It flattered her that he acted like this. Usually the men she went out with were arrogant and tried to impress her; Steve already proved himself opposite. Even when he asked her.

They pulled up to a restaurant. She had seen it before. It wasn't outrageously fancy; it was more of a higher priced restaurant that fit the current occasion perfectly. Steve opened Natasha's door and helped her out, walking with her to the door. As they waited to be seated, Steve attempted to fix his tie. It remained lopsided. He sighed, frustrated.

"Do you need help with your tie?"

Steve looked up at Natasha and back down. "A little."

"I've tied more ties that I can count," Natasha told him as he turned to her. She untied the tie and wrapped it around his neck again, her fingers brushing against his face slowly. He shivered a little as her fingers slid against his skin, and he couldn't help but wonder if it was intentional. They lingered on his face a little too long.

He looked at Natasha, but she showed no change of emotion on her face. He brushed the idea off as she fixed his tie. "There you go," she told him, tightening it.

"Thanks," he told her.

"No problem." She smiled again, the same smile she had been giving him.

"Why do you smile like that?" Steve asked, hoping that it wasn't too rude of a question.

She didn't seem to take offense to it, as the smile remained. "Like what?"

Steve thought over it for a few seconds. "It's like you know a secret that I don't know. Not a bad secret, but a good secret, like you have a present for me or something and when you see me you're reminded of it and you can't help but smile. If that made any sense."

"It did," Natasha told him. She paused. "Sort of."

He gave a bashful grin.