Chapter 6

What was she thinking to let Steve get so close to her? If Rumlow didn't walk in on them she knew she would have kissed him and that would have been bad. What could she offer Steve? Nothing. She was weak in that moment, startled by the fact that Katzumi's guy had a jump on her and she didn't move fast enough to dodge the bullet. That was it, the circumstances made her let her walls down and Steve walked right in. She hated how much she enjoyed it when he took care of her wound, how good his warm hand felt on her thigh, how her heart raced when he brushed his lips against hers. And she could tell that Steve didn't plan on ignoring the whole thing like she wanted to. She sat as far away from him as possible during their flight back to DC but everytime she looked at Steve he was already looking at her with a little smile on his face. She tried her best to ignore the flutter in her chest. She couldn't give into her infatuation with Steve. It would be cruel of her to give him hope when she would only eventually break his heart.

As soon as they landed at the Triskelion and were done with their debriefing she fled the scene. Steve tried to talk to her after the meeting but Sitwell needed his signatures for something and she used that chance to leave. She knew she was a coward but she didn't want to see his face when she told him that little moment between them meant nothing because Steve clearly thought something had changed between them. She drove straight to her apartment and was glad that no one knew where she lived which meant that Steve couldn't show up at her place which he undoubtfully would do if he had her address.

The universe was being generous to her when she got to SHIELD the next day. Steve was with Fury at the Pentagon and she wouldn't run into him. The universe was even more generous to her when Hill informed her that she was needed in Hell's Kitchen. Daredevil apparently got caught up in a running SHIELD operation and Natasha was ordered to make him look the other way. Of course they would sent her to deal with Murdock. They knew they had a thing when she was sent to uncover the secret identity of Daredevil and he was more than pissed when he realized that she played him. But the truth was she geniunely liked him and the time they spend together. So she took a regular flight to New York and let herself into his apartment. Matt wasn't really thrilled to see her but he also didn't kick her out. He didn't want to stay away from the SHIELD mission at first but when she told him that he was putting agents in danger with his involvement and the promise that the arms dealer would go to prison he told her that he would back out.

Natasha wanted to sleep with him to get Steve out of her system but when he started to kiss her neck and unbutton her shirt she stopped him. She couldn't sleep with him, she wasn't attracted to him anymore. She wished Steve's lips were kissing her not Matt's. He wasn't mad and took her to his favourite bar for a few drinks. She spent the weekend in Manhattan and went shopping with Pepper, met Bruce for tea and went to the MoMa. She couldn't help but think about Steve the whole time while she was at the museum. She knew that he was a talented artist and he would have definitely enjoyed the exhibit.

She got back Monday morning and didn't need to be at the Triskelion until the next day so she wanted to go to her favourite little cafe that was close to her apartment for a latte and a croissant. She just got through the front door when someone called her name.

Steve. Fuck!

When he was finally done with Sitwell and his thousands papers that needed to be signed Natasha was already gone. He thought about calling her but he wanted to ask Natasha out personally because that seemed like the right way to do it. He didn't like how everything was now handled through the phone. Too bad Natasha never told him where she lived, he would have gone to her place with flowers and ask her on a date. But maybe that would have been too forward. He hoped he would get a chance to talk to her the next day but Fury already waited for him when he drove into the garage of the Triskelion. They were needed for meetings at the Pentagon the whole day, he cursed Fury and the military but joined his boss nevertheless on the trip. The next day he was informed that Natasha was sent to New York to deal with something SHIELD related.

Sam asked him to meet him for breakfast on Monday morning and he gladly agreed. He liked Sam, he met him during his morning runs and he turned out to be a fun and nice guy. It was good for him to know someone outside SHIELD, especially when he planned to have Natasha as more as just his friend. He spent the weekend googling romantic restaurants and date ideas in DC and he found a rooftop restaurant that looked really romantic, he hoped Natasha would like it there.

He met Sam for their run where he couldn't resist to outrun Sam and yelling "on your left" everytime he lapsed him. He knew he was a dick but there were times when he couldn't even run one round without nearly dying, so let an old man have some fun. Sam was panting and sweating when they were done while he could go for another few miles. They got into Sam's car and Sam changed his shirt and drove them to a café that Sam's sister wouldn't stop raging about and he wanted to try it out.

The place looked like it didn't belong to any franchises but was owned by a private person. Sam chose the breakfast for one person while Steve went for the family version. He needed a lot of calories for his metabolism, he was glad he could now afford to buy that much food. He ate more in one week than some people ate in a month.

"Do you even need to work out?" Sam asked him, watching him devour his breakfast. Those english muffins were really good!

"I need to spend my energy. If I don't do it, I get jittery."

"Man, that's not fair. You eat like a bazillion calories per day and can't get fat." Sam accused.

Steve just grinned and chewed his muffin. Maybe he should order some more. They were really good.

He drank from his coffee when he noticed a redhaired woman enter the café. First he thought it was Natasha but he was probably just projecting because he couldn't stop thinking about her. Now he could see the profile of the woman's face. Wait that was Natasha!

"Natasha" He yelled and waved like an idiot when she looked into his direction. Surprise flickered over her face but it was gone as soon as he spotted it.

She walked over to their table and he pulled another chair to them so she could sit. "Steve, hi." She smiled shortly and then turned to Sam. "You must be Cap's new bff."

Sam grinned at that statement and looked overall very impressed by Natasha's appearence. How could he not? She was so beautiful and she looked so soft and innocent in her wool sweater and with that bun on her head.

Sam got up and shook her hand. "Cap didn't tell me he was hanging out with Black Widow. It's very nice to meet you."

"Well, it's classified. And please call me Natasha."

"Nice to meet you, Natasha. I'm Sam."

Steve got up as well to pull out the chair of her. "Please join us." He hoped he could somehow signal to Sam to go so he could ask Natasha out. This was the perfect moment, they weren't at SHIELD where someone could eavesdrop.

"I can't. I have plans. I just wanted to get a latte to go." She said and Steve couldn't help but be disappointed.

"Why don't I order your latte and you can wait here with Steve for it?" Sam suggest. How did Sam know?

"That's nice." Natasha said and Steve was hopeful again. She looked at her watch. "Oh, I'm already late. Guess no coffee for me. It was nice meeting you, Sam. Steve, I'll see you at work." She nodded at them and left the café.

He watched Natasha through the window until she disappeared around a corner. She didn't turn around once. He looked back at Sam who grinned at him.

"So you're into redheads, huh?"

"What?"

"Dude, your whole face lit up when she walked into here. At first I thougt someone brought in more english muffins until you yelled her name. Can't blame you. She's one good looking chick."

Should he tell Sam about Natasha and their -well could he call it a thing? Probably not. Natasha was a private person and clearly didn't want anyone to know about their almost kiss.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Sam's grin got even wider. "Sure, you don't"

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