52 : POWER CHANGED HAND
A week after the bubbled laundry incident, the couple finally stopped arguing in every little tiny detail. They found the perfect center to finally agree with each other. Nat knew she could get anything she want from him and she will not use it to her advantage.
She never found a guy who willing to give her everything or do anything for her just to make her happy. She knew she would do anything for him too. His happiness and the smile on his face were the thing that most important to her.
The realization made them found the perfect harmony in their relationship.
Nat finally decided it was time for her to tell her parents about the moving in together and the timing was perfect because her mom and Sarah wanted to spend some time with the young couple. They will meet up for the shopping today.
"Mrs. Romanov." Steve greeted when he saw Nat's mom and Sarah approached them. "Mom."
They greeted each other with a hug. Aliana and Sarah had a very good time bonding with one another. They always spend time together talking and watching their kids being in a relationship. Alexandre and Nicholas always traveled back and forth to Europe for work. Aliana was the one who organize their home and family affair. Another important reason was she wanted to be there for her daughter.
Nat couldn't be happier to spend a lot of time with her mother. They bonded faster than expected. Nat had her mother/daughter moment for the first time in her life. They went shopping together. Aliana brought her a lot of clothes even she insisted she didn't need it. (To be honest, Steve and Sarah brought her a lot of things that she told them she didn't need it too.)
Every important people in her life was bonding but there was only two people left, Steve and Nicholas.
"Hey, guys. Sorry I'm late. It was quite busy at the new HQ." Nicholas appeared with two bodyguards in black suits. The man frowned when he saw his mother was alone without any protection. "Mother, we talk about this. You need to bring the bodyguard with you."
"Son, no one knows who we are here. I don't need a bodyguard to follow me around."
"Mother…"
"We will talk about this at home, Nicholas."
Nicholas let his guard followed them but kept their distance because Sarah and Steve were obviously uncomfortable with it. Natasha too wasn't get used to have this kind of thing in her life.
She knew her brother will force her to have her bodyguard soon.
"Steven." Nicholas said when he saw Steve at his sister's side.
"Nicholas."
They stared at each other but Nat eased the tension by pulling them both into the store. Nat was enjoying her shopping with Sarah and Aliana while Steve and Nicholas kept their eyes on her.
"The thing you said earlier about bodyguard. I couldn't agree more." Steve spoke up. "Nat needs one."
"I assume that you are just saying casually and there is nothing going on that may threatening my sister's safety."
"You know I only talk to you when it is really serious and it's about Nat."
"What happened then?"
"I started the war with my football friend. Well, I did broke the agreement and stop being friend with them. They didn't anything yet but I know them. They will do it soon and I don't want them to get to me by hurting her."
"So this is one of your mess."
"Yes, and I'm sorry for dragging her into this."
"She told me you are the most powerful guy in the campus but why do you need my assistance?"
"Because I can't be there for her every time. If they choose the time that I'm not with her, they will not hesitated to hurt her."
"I will send two of my men to keep an eyes on her. They will keep their distance and don't worry about their skills. They are ex-KGB."
"Thank you."
They didn't say anything else. The y just kept their eyes on the three women. Nat looked up from the displayed table and smiled at them. They smiled back, loved to see how happy she was.
Both men shared the common goal, protected her regardless of all cost.
Clint and Bruce were walking down the hall to meet with Tony and Pepper at the parking lot. They were turning around the corner and they saw Phil in the middle of the big football guys. There was three small kids laying on the ground and Phil was standing between the unconscious guys.
"Back away from them!" They heard Phil yelled.
"You nerd has some nerves to tell us what to do." It was Simon Williams who said that.
"Steve wasn't here to protect you." Rumlow too was there as they crept closer to Phil.
Clint and Bruce began to race to the spot that Phil was standing. Phil would never win a fight with the football guys. Clint reached Rumlow first and tackled the wide receiver away from Phil. Bruce tried to pull Jack Rollin away from Phil but he couldn't and got shove away by Frank.
Clint had enough in his own hands and wasn't able to help Phil and Bruce. Rumlow threw punched at him and Clint barely dodges. Bruce tried to dial his phone for some reinforcement but got punch in the stomach by Williams.
The phone fell to the ground but it was dialing someone number.
Steve and Thor were heading out from the stadium. Nat and Jane were waiting for them and threw themselves at their boyfriends in a hug. Nat kissed Steve passionately but the kiss was interrupted by his incoming call.
"Perfect timing." Steve muttered as he broke away from her. He frowned when he saw who was calling him. "It's Bruce." He answered the phone. "Hey, man. What's up...Bruce, are you there buddy?"
Bruce didn't replied and Steve listened carefully to the sound in the background. He frowned when he heard William's voice and a loud punch followed by Bruce groaning.
"Hang in there, Bruce. We're coming!" Steve yelled.
"What's wrong?" Nat asked but her boyfriend opened some apps in his phone.
"Come on, Thor. They are not far from here." Steve handed Nat his phone before sprinted off with Thor. "Get us some back up!" He yelled.
The two superstar ran to the location and they saw people gather around the area but no one do anything because it was the football team against a group of nerd kids. Steve and Thor pushed people out of their way and threw Rumlow and Williams away from Clint and Bruce.
"Stay the fuck away from them." Steve growled, obviously angry and ready to fight.
"Rogers, don't interfere on this!" Rumlow replied
"The hell I can't! They are my friends. They have my protection and if you put one more finger on them. You will have to get through me and Thor." Steve declared.
Rumlow and his goon stared at the Captain in disbelief. Steve Rogers actually called those 'losers' his friends. Steve stared at his former friends and didn't break eyes contact until Rumlow looked away first.
"Not only you broke the damn deal between us about that girl, you're now turning your back on us?"
"Yes, it's something I should do a long time ago." Steve replied "They are my friends now. I choose them. I choose her."
"Prepare for the consequence, Rogers because we are after you and Odinson now." Williams declared
Thor and Steve both knew they put everything on the line right now. Jane and Nat and the whole group will not be safe again. But this is all or nothing moment. They had to put them in their place.
"Those people, all of you here who have been bullied by Rumlow and his friends and by myself in the past. I will say this once. Everyone is under my and Thor's protection. Anyone got bullied or harassed or anything by anyone, we will deal with that people by ourselves! This is something that we should do before. No one else in this university should live in fear of getting bullied. I now declare this university to be bully-free and if anyone break my rule, prepare to receive my punches."
It was like the declaration of independence for everyone in this university. Steve Rogers finally freed them from their fear of getting bullied. Steve will fight for them, to protect the weak.
Rumlow and his friends could sense the sudden shift of power in that moment. People gathered around them began to talk and slowly shifted themselves to stand behind Steve to show their supports. Some even helped Clint, Bruce and Phil up on their feet. Steve felt someone touching his hand, it was Nat and she gave him an encouraged smile.
The angel was on his side.
Rumlow could see how much hatred people felt toward the group when they finally got the chance to live without fear.
Steve and Thor now held the absolute power in this university.
They retreated because they knew they couldn't win today but Rumlow and his friends knew their time will come when Steve slipped and it was their turned to stomp on him and bring Steve Rogers to the ground.
Their time will come soon.
People around them cheered loudly when the bullies disappeared. Some even had enough courage to come up to Steve and hugged him and Thor which they uncharacteristically hugged back.
The Captain returned to his usual self when he saw some guys took this opportunity to hug his girlfriend. He walked to her side instantly and wrapped his arms around her. Nat chuckled because of his over protectiveness. The couple hugged and kissed each other.
At that moment, they felt right with everything in this world.
They took Clint, Phil, and Bruce to the hospital to check out on their bruises and cut. Luckily there was nothing to be concern of. Jane already told Tony that they might ran a little late. Tony already knew about this via social media. Some people even posted 'The Declaration of Independent' online.
Loud cheer erupted when Steve and Thor entered both helping Bruce and Phil in while Nat and Jane helping Clint. They sat down at their table with their friends.
This was another day that Tony Stark announced he will pay for everyone tonight.
Food and drinks kept coming to their table. People asked them to drink with them and cheered them, thanked them for standing up for them.
Nat sat down on his laps, arms woven around his neck, looking at him with pure love and admiration and kissed him. She couldn't be more proud of her boyfriend. He changed so much. He came so far from where they started. He wasn't the lost man she knew anymore. He found his way and chose the right one to walk. She was glad to be a path of his journey.
"I'm so proud of you, Stevie." She whispered between the kissed.
He broke away and smiled at her, hand tugging her red curl away from her face, "You save me, Nat. All this time, maybe I'm waiting for you to save me."
His blue eyes showing pure love too. His eyes always told her everything. No one looked at her the way Steve looked at her. Alexie or Matt never looked at her like this. Full of love, undeniably devotion, and pure admiration shown in his eyes it almost tangible.
"I'm glad we found each other." She said.
Steve smiled and resumed the lip locking session again.
The couple decided to stay at the dorm. Steve said after he had threatened his former friends, he needed to rule his kingdom properly. Nat was okay with him. She kind of missed the place and their friends.
But their peaceful sleep was interrupted by Nat's phone blaring loudly at seven AM in the morning.
"I will kill who ever that was." Steve muttered as Nat tried to crawl her way to the end table and laid across Steve's body to reach for it.
"Hello." Nat sleepily answered her phone.
"Little sister! I will have a dinner with you tonight at your penthouse!" Nicholas said loudly and Nat heard Steve groaned when he knew who was on the line.
"Nick, it is 7 AM in the morning."
"Yeah, I'm up early so I decide to tell you guys earlier. See you tonight, Little Spider."
Nicholas hung up and Nat rubbed her eyes before got back to snuggle her boyfriend.
"Steve, Nick will have dinner with us tonight."
"Nothing I say can stop him from this, right?"
"Unfortunately yes. He insisted."
"I will be at my best behave for you, darling."
Steve kissed the top of her head and got back to his deep sleep. She wanted to follow him into their dreamland but Tony Stark and Clint Barton barged in fifteen minutes later.
"Love bird, wake up! This is our group breakfast in year!" Tony announced loudly.
Steve groaned and pulled the blanket over their heads but it didn't stop Tony and Clint. The duo dragged the sleepy couple off their bed into the living room where everyone was there. Steve wanted to curse something at all of them but he behaved himself because Pepper took bacon and pancake hostage.
The peaceful breakfast turned into a big argument when Tony pointed out that Nat wearing Steve's t-shirt and the rich boy made a comment about weird fetish. Nat threw a half bitten strawberry at him. Steve donned his over protective mode and defended his girlfriend's honor.
They were all actually six years old kids when it came to arguing. Phil and Bruce were a referee and tried to separate them from each other. Thor and Jane sat on the counter top and ate their breakfast. Hill and Darcy cheered loudly.
"All of you, stop it!" Pepper shouted over all the noise. "It's breakfast! Sit down or you will not have any more bacon!"
After the breakfast chaos, Steve walked with her to the building of her classroom before heading to his class. When Steve was out of her sight, Nat turned and she saw two men starring at her but immediately looked away when she stared back at them.
Nat tried to put aside the weird feeling but the two men followed her. To be honest, their faces were quite familiar like she saw them before. She told Steve of this over the phone but he said she was paranoid.
"Why would they follow you, babe?"
"Maybe they are one of archenemy."
"Nonsense. Everyone in this university knows better not to touch you."
"Steve…"
"Just relax, little red. I will send Luke and Sam to be with you if it make you feel better."
"NO! I don't need a bodyguard!"
Steve chuckled and trying to calm his girlfriend down. As hard as it was, Nat calmed down and got back to her class. He picked her up again for lunch. Nat looked around and didn't found those two men again.
Steve's presence relaxed her and made her put her worried mind somewhere else.
"Do you see them again?" He asked. Nat shook her head. "See! No one stalking you."
He kissed her forehead before they headed off for their lunch. Nat had her free time during afternoon and watched Steve practiced his football with Clint, Tony and Pepper. Clint had too much free time now that he was single.
"Barton, I heard you juggling three girls right now." Tony spoke up.
"Yeah, but I will end it soon. I felt that I have no connection with them."
"That's the right thing to do, Clint." Pepper agreed. "Don't turn into new Steve Rogers or Tony Stark."
"Hey!" Nat and Tony said at the same time.
"On my boyfriend's defense, that was the old him." Nat told.
"I'm a changed man too!"
Pepper laughed at them both as they continued to discuss Clint's love life. The archer told them he want to find someone that share the same life experience as him.
"Look at me and Steve, Clint. We do find each other."
"You guys are soul mate. Nothing you do will separate you from him. You guys are make for each other."
"You will find her one day, Clint. Keep your eyes open."
Not long after, the practice was over and Steve came out of the locker room and told Nat the limo will be here in five minutes. Tony whined that they bailed on them again but Nat told them her brother wanted a dinner with them
The couple arrived at their penthouse and began preparing tonight meal. The couple were having a good time until Nicholas decided that he should clash their private moment by showing up earlier than he told them.
"Hey, sis! Hey, Rogers! I decide I should be here early to so see that you didn't poison my food."
"Now that you mention it. I will do that." Steve replied.
The two men stared at each other until Nat spoke up.
"Babe, we just ran out of mustard. Could you be a good boy and go buy it for me?"
"Of course, baby." Steve replied and kissed her before he left.
Nat continued with her cooking with Nicholas sat down on the opposite side of the islands, his eyes locked on his sister.
"Say what you want to say, little spider." Nicholas spoke up. "You don't need to send Rogers out so you can talk to me."
"Did you send someone to follow me?" Nat asked.
"Why would I do that?" Nat's piercing green eyes looked back at him. "Alright, I send two of my men to be your bodyguard and kept watching for your own safety."
"WHAT?! I don't need a bodyguard, Nick. There's no one would harm me there in the university."
"I don't want anything to happen to my sister. That's all I care. Steve even agree to this."
"WHAT?! You got him in this too! I can't believe it!"
"You have to know that he couldn't be there to protect you every time, Nat."
"I can take care of myself."
"Just let them keep their watch on you, little sister. They only followed you when Rogers wasn't around."
Nat knew there was no way she could win this argument. Her father and mother would have agree to this too. And how the hell Nick could bring Steve on his side?!
Why did god decide to send her a bunch of paranoid people?
This is the last game of the playoff and everyone was more than excited. They all knew Steve will lead his team to the division champion and took them to the championship game.
Nat wore the first jersey Steve gave her. The one with 'MRS. ROGERS' on the back. Steve kissed her hard every time he saw her wear it.
"You look so fucking hot in my jersey." He moaned between the kiss and trapped her small frame between him and his car.
But Nat pushed him away, "You need to get ready."
"I'm always ready."
"Don't get too cocky, babe." She warned and gave him one last kiss. "Go…now"
He smiled and walked into the stadium while Nat waiting for the rest of her friends to meet up with her. Sarah and Aliana will attend the game too. For Aliana, she felt the need to support her daughter's boyfriend the way Sarah always adore Nat.
This game they played against Neferia Hammerhead. Marvel knew their opponent was nowhere near their league but they will not get too cocky like the last time.
Steve strictly followed coach's order and did no mistake in this game. He gave Marvel a lead with 3 touchdown and Fury allowed them keep on the offensive play.
When the whistle blew and it's the end of the game, it was the most massive win of the team. Natasha ran into his embrace after the game to give her captain a victory kiss.
"Congratulation, my captain." She said after they broke for some air.
"Thank you. I got my angel with me." He replied "We are going to the Championship!"
Steve got on the stage and received the division champion trophy. The celebration moved on to the locker room but a group of people didn't happy with the victory that much and aimed to bring Steve's mood down with them.
"Rogers!" Brock called the captain loudly.
"Sup?" Steve looked up from his bag and saw Rumlow and his goon circled around him.
"We need to talk."
"Then talk."
"We think you owe us an apology."
"You think so?"
"You humiliated us by side with those nerds and losers!"
"They are my friends and you guys harassing them first."
"We are your friends, Steve." Jack said.
The moment that words left Jack's mouth, Steve's face changed immediately and filled with anger.
"And where are these friends when I'm asking them for help?" Steve shot back "Where were these friend when I'm calling for you guys to bail me out?"
"Because we are busy."
"You consider yourself my friends because of my popularity, my money and my power. When I'm at the lowest point, where are people who claim themselves my friends?"
"You know you will lose everything if you turn your back on us." Simon told "You need us and this is the last time we will let you slide, Rogers."
"We will see" Steve said "And I don't need any of you."
The captain gathered his belonging and started to walk away.
"Don't tell me it because of that girl!" Rumlow shouted
"No" That was all his reply before Steve exited the locker room.
His former fiends looked at one another. If Steve wanted to go against them like this, so be it. They followed Steve out the locker room and the stadium but they were too late. Steve was surrounded by the loser friends of his. They clearly saw that the captain was deeply in love with the girl who once was his bet.
They saw Steve gave her the loving kiss.
"Brock, we cannot use her. She's barely alone. We cannot reach her. We cannot touch her." Simon spoke up. "I heard from Sharon that she's a royalty too. Her family turned out to be very powerful, maybe more than Rogers."
"We cannot touch Stark and Odinson either." Frank said
"Who do you have in mind?"
"He is so busy focusing on that bitch. He wouldn't notice anything." Brock replied. His mind already came up with some plan. "We will destroy him…but after we done with the championship game. We still need him in the team."