"You seem sore?"
"And you seem very comfortable."
"I am, I haven't slept this good in awhile."
"You know there was this one time I had a pretty good nap and when I woke up it was like everything changed." Said Steve dramatically with a faraway gaze.
"Alright sleeping beauty no need to get all dramatic." Said Natasha rolling her eyes but still unable to stop herself from smiling at Steve's lame joke.
"Hey! I know that one!" Said Steve excited
"I wouldn't be surprised if you helped the Grimm Brothers wrote it." Said Natasha as she got up and headed towards the bathroom without bothering to look back at Steve's disgruntled expression.
"Every time." Muttered Steve.
The two got cleaned up and decided to head towards a nearby café that was close to the hotel.
"You know I think we should head back to New York soon." Said Natasha as she looked out towards the empty morning street with a few pedestrians commuting here and there.
"I do miss home." Said Steve absentmindedly as he sketched on the pad occasionally sneaking glances at Natasha.
"New York always did have a certain charm to it." Said Natasha fondly as she caught Steve glancing and sketching.
"What are you drawing?
"You'll see."
"You always say that."
"You're always impatient."
"Am Not?"
"Alright I'll show you tomorrow or something." Said Steve as he finished up and pocketed the small sketchpad.
"I can wait." Said Natasha flatly refusing to give Steve the satisfaction that inside she was anxious to see what he drew.
"Well, should we head on back to the hotel and pack?" Said Steve as he got up and offered Natasha his hand.
"How about you pack and I supervise?" Said Natasha who looked at him with a doe like expression coupled with a flashing smile.
"Nice try but we'll do it together." Said Steve as Natasha pouted and let Steve drag her out the café.
In the end it was still Steve who did 85% of the packing while Natasha lounged on the couch eating a bowl of strawberries. After they finished packing the two headed towards the airport and embarked on their journey back to New York.
"Well look who's back from their honeymoon!"
"It wasn't a honeymoon, we went to help Thor with a problem in Asgard." Said Steve diplomatically.
"Ah, but Thor came back about a week ago to check in and it has been two weeks if Jarvis is watching the time and date correctly."
"And what's it to you Stark?" Snapped Natasha with annoyance
"Nothing just concerned about my two good friends and was wondering if we needed to stage an Avenger's rescue mission." Said Tony dramatically.
"Well as you can see that won't be needed, now stop teasing them Tony I'm sure they're tired from their trip." Said a harping voice that quickly reeled Tony in.
"Just having fun with my two pals Pepper said Tony with a grin as he put both arms around Steve and Natasha who rolled their eyes.
"Anyways, while I would love to stay and chat I have some highly explosive material in the lab if left unsupervised got destroy most of this tower so Pepper can give you the grand tour, all you'll be missing is my devilish charm and enthusiastic commentating." Said Tony in his usual singsong voice as he made dramatic movements towards the lab that was probably down the hall somewhere.
"You know I kind of missed him." Said Steve with a small smile.
"Hardly." Said Natasha rolling her eyes and looking towards Pepper "Nice to see you again Pepper." Said Natasha with a small smile she had enjoyed her time with Pepper who was a kind boss and surprisingly understanding after finding out who Natasha really was.
"Nice to see you too Natasha, I hope the clothes I picked for you're hearing was alright? I figured it fit you once and you looked so good in it so I ordered another one for you're hearing." Said Pepper with a slightly hesitant expression.
"It was perfect thank you." Said Natasha who seemed genuinely touched by Pepper's thoughtfulness.
"And it's good to see you nice and healthy Steve." Said Pepper turning her attention to the super soldier.
"Always a pleasure Ms. Potts." Said Steve with a respectful nod.
"Always a gentleman." Quipped Pepper "well like I said you to must be tired so let me show you to you're floors and we can all catch up tomorrow morning.
With a beckoning expression Pepper turned around and headed down the hall and to the left with Steve and Natasha in tow. They passed the massive living room where the expansive New York Skyline could be seen before them and took a left where a glass elevator stood.
"Now Natasha you're room is above Steve's so we'll be going to Steve's first and then I'll show you to yours." Said Pepper as she pressed the elevator button once both Natasha and Steve stepped in.
Once the door opened they were greeted by an open space with three open doorways and on the floor of the main room was Captain America's crest.
"Well that's a nice touch." Mused Steve.
"Coulson helped Tony design some of it." Said Pepper, which seemed to explain everything.
"Now the middle room will lead you to your living room and bedroom." Said Pepper leading them through the doorway into a loft space the same size as the giant living room they saw. The floor was seemed to be just concrete and the New York Skyline could be seen before them with the massive window. A giant bed could be seen hidden by stacks of bookshelves on the left side of the room creating a sort of separation of space. The kitchen and bar was in the middle with a dining table off to the side. A giant television set and various chairs occupied the rest of the space. There was another room at the other end of the area that Steve assumed would be the Hallway and two more doorways which presumably leads to the two other rooms.
"I know it seems very modern but Tony wouldn't have it when Coulson wanted to make it exactly like it was in you're time." Said Pepper glancing towards Steve to see his reaction.
Steve was a little awestruck with the design of the loft but in a way it didn't feel to foreign. "I like it, it's simple and not overly complex." Said Steve with a smile
"Tony will be glad to hear that," said Pepper with a knowing smile. "Now in the other two rooms, the one on the left is a fully equipped art studio, which opens up to a patio if you want to draw outside, need a breather, or anything else. The room on the right side is a boxing gym with weights and all the good stuff as Tony refuses to believe you just look like that without working out," mused Pepper at the end.
"This. Is amazing, thank you so much," said Steve who was still a little awestruck.
"Well you know Tony." Said Pepper with an understanding smile. "Well we'll let you get comfortable and I'll show Natasha to her room.
Pepper couldn't helped but notice the slightly anxious expression the two gave off as to them it would mark the first time that they would be separated from each other since leaving for Asgard. But the two hid it quickly and with a polite nod Steve bid Natasha and Pepper goodnight.
As the two headed back in the elevator and towards the next level Pepper couldn't help but be curious.
"So what was that back there?"
"What was what?" Said Natasha feigning ignorance.
"That look you two gave each other it was like I was about to take your puppy from you." Said Pepper with a teasing smile.
"It was nothing," Said Natasha quickly trying to brush it off.
"Something happened between you two these last few weeks." Said Pepper with a knowing tone "It's okay, I won't tell anyone," She said with a wink.
"Nothing happened!" Exclaimed Natasha
"Sure." Said Pepper with a laugh as she gently grabbed Natasha's hand and led her to her floor. The main room was similar to Steve's as the black widow symbol was on the floor and the layout of the main room was basically the same. The room to the left was a library full of book and also various computers for her "research" needs. The room to the right was what Natasha already knew would soon be her favorite and many nights would be spent falling asleep in it as it was giant theatre room that was equipped with pretty much every movie and update daily.
"Like it?" Quipped Pepper
"Love it." Said Natasha with a slight childlike wonderment.
"Thought you would," Said Peppers with a knowing smile, "well, it's late and I'm sure you're exhausted so I'll let you rest." With a quick hug Peppers waved goodbye to Natasha as she headed back towards the elevator and disappeared.
Natasha walked around the big empty loft with her bare feet on the cold wooden floor and a towel covering her body. She had just finished her shower and decided to lounge on one of the sofas with a glass of wine. Tony had spared no expense in designing the tower to fit the needs of his super hero friends and for that Natasha couldn't help but be grateful for his generosity. She loved her new home, especially due to the fact that she hadn't had home in a very long time, just an empty apartment to come home too when missions were over. She looked around the loft and couldn't help but be reminded of that similar feeling.
After an hour or two of just lounging around watching television and reading some magazines Natasha decided to call it a night and changed into her sweats and favorite t-shirt. She got into her bed hugging herself feeling the fabric as she had done many times before. She wouldn't tell Steve but this shirt was something she wore every night, as it seemed to provide her comfort. When she first got the shirt from Coulson she thought it was ridiculous and had tossed it off to the side of a chair in her old apartment. But after the battle of New York, after diving behind his shield she found herself musing one night and decided to put on the shirt for fun. Soon she forgot about it and ended up falling asleep in it and it was the warmest she had felt in a long time. At the time she didn't know or refused to acknowledge the reason but now she did but Steve would never know this.
"I wonder if Steve's awake?" Thought Natasha as she roller around her bead looking up towards the ceiling. She rolled and rolled and finally she couldn't help it as she got up from her bed, took the elevator down, and sneaked into his. Being a master assassin and all it was quite simple but she was shocked for a moment when an arm enveloped around her and pulled her in.
"What? Steve?" Whispered Natasha in shock
There was no reply other than a small groan as Steve's quiet breathing resumed meaning that he was still asleep and that Natasha was now stuck. Not that she minded of course as this was right where she wanted to be. With a small smile she lace her hand around his and closed her eyes falling into a blissful slumber.
Authors Note: And so ends another chapter, I already started on the next one but probably won't be able to finish it this weekend but I'll try and get it up as soon as I can. Of course as always, let me know what you guys think!