45 : MARRY ME
Bruce put Natasha on leave for at least one month. Much to her protest, the doctor said that it's for her own safety and to put Steve's concern at ease. When Natasha saw how worry her boyfriend was, she agreed to take a month off.
Her friends made her regret this decision from day 1 of her time off. They treated her like she is a baby who cannot do anything. Clint watched her every move closely. Tony let JARVIS scans her every ten minutes. Bruce wanted to check her every time he saw her winced in pain. Thor always asked that she was okay or not.
Above of all, her boyfriend who sticks close to her since the moment she left SHIELD medical facility in Switzerland. He stuck close to her and not let her out of his sight for a moment. Until she began yelling at them to stop following her around, the four men let her alone except Steve.
She had a month off from SHIELD but not a month off from being Pepper's favorite couple as the CEO demanded a double date with Steve and Natasha twice a week.
On the morning of the said date, Natasha was too lazy to get up and want to cancel everything just to lay in bed with her man.
"We should take a shower. We have to meet them in 30 minutes" Steve said
"Carry me and I will shower with you, baby"
"You know what will happen when we take a shower together, Nat"
"I'm kinda looking forward to it" She smiled playfully
"Seriously, Romanoff. Get up now"
"You go ahead and take a shower, I will cozy here for a while"
Steve got up and went to shower but he failed to completely close the door. Natasha couldn't resist and got out of bed. She sneaked into their bathroom, stripping his white shirt of her body, and stepped in, naked.
Steve didn't seem to surprise at her appearance and hoisted her up. Her legs and arms wrapped around him and her back against the wall. His hand gently traced her wound that was healing. Natasha kissed him to distract Steve from thinking too much.
"I don't want to hurt you"
"You won't hurt me. I trust you" She whispered.
His composure went out the window and they were late for half an hour. Tony was about to rant but he saw purple marks on both of their necks so he drops it.
The next day, Steve woke up and found that Natasha was gone. He must be completely sleep in when he saw the clock, 10.13. JARVIS informed him immediately that she was in the living room with Tony and Bruce.
Steve went down to find her and made some breakfast. The three of them including Darcy were so focused on something.
"What are you guys doing?" Steve asked from the kitchen as he prepared his breakfast.
"Chess" They replied in unison
The Captain smiled. His spy must be the one who challenge the two genius. Steve had learned first handed not to challenge Stark or Banner to a chess game because they are really good at this but someone felt like she needs to challenge them.
Natasha began to use her recuperate time playing chess with Bruce and Tony to get her out of this boredom. She was dying to get back in the field but Bruce didn't clear her out yet.
Steve finish making his breakfast and joined them. Natasha motioned him to sit next to her before she moved herself to sit on his laps.
"How am I supposed to eat my breakfast when you sit on my laps like this?" He asked
"You will figure out" She replied and stole one of his sausages.
"You and Darcy were about to lose" He said, meaning the chess game in front of them.
"We now have a master strategist with us. Steve helped us beat them, please"
"Stay out of this, Spangles" Tony warned
It ended up with Steve helping Natasha and Darcy but they lose to Tony and Bruce anyway.
Later that day, Bruce called Steve and Natasha to his lab. The doctor said he has a very important thing to discuss with them. He warned them that they are each other consciousness and sanity. If one die or anything happens, the consequence will be that the other will become reckless, self-destructive and insanity.
The couple now realized that what Bruce said was true and how much their lives depended on one another. Steve realized that if Natasha left him, he will be on the self-destruction road right away. For Natasha, she will become reckless and blood lust in seeking for revenge to those who do anything to her soldier.
After she wasn't able to beat Tony and Bruce in the game of chess. Natasha changed her hobby to knitting. She began to knit a new set of winter clothes for her soldier. She started with something simple like hat and scarf.
They were lounging around in the living room. Steve was sitting on the floor, watching Jurassic Park for the countless time while Natasha was knitting. The others were out doing their thing. Natasha finished with the hat and placed on his head.
He laughed at the color of his hat.
"Very fun, baby. Can I take a break from my uniform?"
"But it's your signature!" She said and turned his head "It's perfect for you"
Then, the elevator sounded and the couple knew that their peaceful moment was gone. Tony and Clint were bickering with Bruce and Thor followed behind
"Let's get out of here" She said and grabbed his hand.
They both headed to the elevators when Tony spoke up
"It's not that cold to wear that hat, Capsicle. And it's hurt that you guys leave because we are here"
Natasha gave Tony a deadly glare before dragging Steve away. Natasha said she wanted to go for a window shopping and she couldn't stand staying at the Tower anymore. They walked arm in arm and didn't care if people might recognize them. Their constant appearance became normal to the New Yorkers to see the lovely couples walked around town.
Sometimes, some little kids will run up to them and hugged them tightly. Natasha got used to them saying Steve was their hero but some little girls really surprised her.
"I want to be like you, Black Widow!" She said eagerly and bounced up and down in front of Natasha "I want to be strong and brave like you"
"You can, sweetheart" Natasha replied gently with a smile on her face.
"I want to learn to fight like you too so I can protect people like you do!"
Steve saw that tears forming in her beautiful green eyes and he knew how much those cute words important to Natasha. She always thought of herself as a killer not even consider herself a role model.
Now she knew that she can be a good example for someone to look up to.
"What?" She asked when she saw him starring at her.
"Nothing" He lied "But you're great with kids"
She punched him lightly for his teasing before they proceeded with their window shopping. Natasha pulled Steve's arms when she saw something that take her eyes. It's a jewelry collection displayed beautifully.
"Is that one beautiful?" She asked, pointing to the diamond necklace.
"Yeah, it's beautiful. Just like you" He replied and kissed her neck gently. Natasha giggled. "If you want I can buy it for you"
"Nahh, never had a chance to wear it anyway" She said "We are busying saving the world on daily basis"
But she kept staring at it before she decided to drag him away to another store.
Steve and Natasha went to Central Park for a little walk, had a dinner at a French restaurant before taking a subway back to the tower because Natasha was too tired to walk anymore. Steve carried her on his back down the subway which everyone was looking at them curiously.
It's a rush hour so the couple has to squeeze themselves onto the train. Steve held Natasha tight in his arms and she hugged him tightly too. He could feel that her head was resting on his chest and slowly nodded off.
They headed back to the tower immediately and found Tony, Clint and Thor were demolishing the living room with Bruce watching them from the kitchen island. Clint climbed to his nest before firing his toy arrows to Thor and Tony. The couple watching the chaos in front them before the archer fired another one at them. Steve quickly raised his holographic shield to deflect it for him and Natasha before he threw it at Hawkeye's nest, making him fall from it in process.
"Care to explain what the hell happened here?" The Captain asked with his commanding voice.
"We just have a little dispute" Tony told
"The archer had challenged me, Lord Steven" Thor answered "And the son of Odin will not back down from any challenge"
The spy rolled her eyes at how immature they were. Steve frowned as Clint dodged away when Mjolnir stuck down. Tony summoned his armor and joined him.
"Shall we get back to our room?" Natasha asked
"We shall" Steve said and took her hand
"Goodnight, Dr. Banner" They said at the same time.
Before the couple could make their way to the elevator when Pepper, Jane, Betty, and Darcy marched in. Pepper was obviously furious. The rest just looked shocked by the sight they saw.
"TONY!" Pepper yelled and made the three men stopped immediately. She stomped to her husband "What the hell are you doing to our living room? Not to mention that you should take care of our baby!"
"Darcy got him covered!" Tony gave his excused "And it's not just me. Point Break and Birdbrain too!"
Jane and Bobbi had the same reaction as Pepper as they approached their boyfriend.
"You three are free to go" Pepper told the three actual grow up adults.
Bruce and Betty bit them a good night while Steve and Natasha just wanted to enjoy the show. Natasha sat down on the countertop while Steve stood beside her.
"This is the best thing." Natasha noted "Watching these three suffered"
"Agree" Steve replied with a gentle smile.
Steve had to attend a meeting with SHIELD in the morning with Fury and Hill. He had to lead his assault team to stop the insurgency troop in Africa. It was an exhausted meeting that he needed immediate rest when he reach the tower.
"Captain Rogers?"
"Yes, JARVIS"
"I can detect something in the training room, sir. Possibly a hostile. I cannot detect the intruder directly as he or she perfectly avoid my detection"
"I will deal with that"
Steve reached the training room and found someone standing in the room , wearing black ninja suit with a katana in hands.
"I don't know who you are or what you are doing here but leave before I hurt you"
The intruder quickly turned and attacked him with everything he or she had. Steve blocked every incoming attack and used his defensive stance to counter the attack but the intruder was faster than him and jumped up his shield before perfectly landed behind Steve.
Steve was about to charge in but the intruder took off the mask. The Captain frowned when he saw who that was
"Wow! That was the first time anybody being a little rough with me" Natasha sighed and threw the mask away before sheathed her katana.
"Nat! You are not supposed to do anything like this! Your body are not yet fully heal. The wound might open again!" Steve panicky said
"Steve, calm down. It's completely harmless"
"JARVIS, get Dr. Banner here" Steve told the AI
"Steve, I say I'm okay"
"Don't you notice that you are bleeding?"
Natasha looked down at her torso and saw blood began to bleed. Steve rushed in to take her in his arms and placed her down on the bleacher. Bruce rushed in with a first aid kit and tended to her wound immediately.
"I just a minor bleeding" She defended herself
"No, your wounds aren't sealed yet" Steve said
"Your body still healing, Natasha. Please calm down" Bruce told "It will heal up soon but I have to order one more month off for you"
"WHAT?!"
Actually, Natasha didn't mind taking one more month off because she got to spend her time with Steve who take less mission just to keep her company.
Steve did a lot of thinking after Natasha woke up from her coma, after he was about to lose her. He began to realize that anything could happen with them. He knew he had eternity with her but the uncertainty was high in they line of work.
He spent a lot of time with her just to make sure that she's fine and healing nicely, mostly, he wanted to be there to stop her when she wants to something that she's not supposed too.
That morning, he was alone in the kitchen, randomly surfing Youtube and came across with a very interesting song. He really enjoyed the song to notice that his spy was creeping behind him.
"What are you listening to?" She asked loudly and Steve startled.
"Geez, Nat." He muttered and she laughed
"Let me listen to the song" She said and took a headphone off him.
She listened to the song and smiled as the song goes on and began to hum the song. She turned to him with a bright smile after the song ended and said,
"Marry me?"
Steve was stunned "What?!"
She giggled "I mean the song named is Marry me"
"Oh…What do you think about the song?"
"It's cute. A perfect song for proposing to your girlfriend." She noted "But I don't understand why he said 'But one day I won't be able to ask you loud enough'."
"Some guys might have enough courage to ask and accept rejection just for only once"
"But she might not ready yet. You know, she wants to marry him back it's not the right time"
"That's why he didn't ask her"
The debate continued until the billionaire came up from his shop and asked what they are talking about.
"We're debating about getting married—"
"What?! You guys getting married!" Tony exclaimed "Dibs on the best man"
"Stark, shut up! We're just talking about a song" Natasha barked
"Song of your wedding day?"
"Song that we are listening to"
Tony took the headphone and began to listen to the song.
"You opened his musical vision way too far, Red" He teased "It's too clingy but at least I'm brave enough to ask her and yeah, you know the result"
Steve quiet and thought about what Tony said. Natasha noticed that he didn't say anything about this while she and Tony bickering about whether making the biggest mistake in her life or not. Steve absent-mindedly prepared breakfast for this team.
He sliced up cheese, ham, bread and bacon. He was about to prepare some eggs but Natasha kept stealing a slice of french baguette he prepared.
"Stop eating all the bread unless you want a bread-less sandwich!"
"Whatever", Natasha rolled her eyes, picking up another slice of bread. "I know you will cook something else for me, Steven"
"By the time you're finished with eating all the ingredients, I won't be able to make you anything else"
"I will be full by that time too, sweetheart" Natasha shot back with her eyebrows quirked up as a challenge "I'm not some savage munching goblin"
But Natasha stopped stealing his ingredient and Tony gave her a cupof freshly brewed coffee. Steve made them delicious sandwiches
Steve woke up earlier than usual a couple days later. It was just another simple day when he came down to make himself and Natasha some breakfast but he noticed something of his was gone. Steve began to search every corner of the refrigerator then started to ransacking the remaining part of the kitchen.
"Damn it, where is it?" He muttered
"Hey, babe what are you doing?" Natasha voiced came from the stair.
"Someone took my M&M" He replied and continued with his search
"What?" Natasha confused and approached her soldier
"My M&M!"
Natasha was watching her boyfriend doing his thing. Thor entered the kitchen, looking as confused as Natasha.
"What's wrong with the captain, Lady Natasha?"
"Someone took his M&M"
"M&M what?" Tony emerged from behind with a M&M jar in his hand.
"STARK! I'M LABEL IT SO NO ONE WOULD TAKE IT" Steve yelled and took the box from Tony's hand and stormed away
Leaving Natasha, Thor and Tony in shock. The spy let it slide because she was hungry and Thor volunteered to make her some pop tarts. Tony was curious and cornered Steve in his lab to ask what is this about.
"What is all the fuss up there, Rogers?"
"Can you keep a secret?"
Tony eyes went wide when he saw what is in Steve's hand.
"Super-secret mission?" Tony asked
Steve nodded.
AN:
- No proofreading. I'm sorry for any mistake. I just used an online grammar checker.
- Please kindly leave a review!