Tumblr: slow dancing, and bare feet
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(400 Words)
You Lift Me Up
"Nat?"
The living area of the Avengers Tower was dark; only the few lights from the buildings surrounding it let a little bit of light filter in, enough for Steve to be able to spot her silhouette sitting by the window. She didn't even flinch as he addressed her, and she'd probably heard him coming long before he'd informed her about her presence. Staring out of the window into the urban canyons of New York, she didn't acknowledge him in any form, and Steve walked over, sitting down next to her.
Like him, Natasha was in her pyjamas; she had her legs pulled towards her body and her arms were slung around her knees, her face full of sorrow and guilt. Steve looked down at her bare feet and arms, and upon noticing that she was shivering, he placed one arm around her shoulder, gently pulling her towards his body.
"It's not your fault, Nat. Clint was ten meters away from you, there's no way you could have protected him from that bullet."
"I know," she whispered, her voice barely audible against the faint sound of sirens and car horns. She turned her head and their gazes met; her eyes were gleaming with tears, and it hurt him to see her like that.
For a moment, they both were silent, then Natasha sighed and continued: "It's just... I still feel guilty. I was his partner for this mission, we swore each other that we would have each other's back, like always. So it feels like I didn't keep my word."
"He'll live, Nat. Because you kept a cool head and brought him out of there," Steve answered, pressing a soft kiss onto her red curls. He wanted to see her smile again, and right now, he could only think of one way to achieve that.
"Come on, stand up," he smirked suddenly, pushing himself to his feet and pulling her up, too. Natasha was looking confused but obeyed, taking his hands and rising from the cool floor. Steve gently slung his arms around her and started humming while guiding her into a soft sway. A small smile lifted the corners of her mouth and she wrapped her arms around his neck, her head resting on his shoulder as they slowly danced by the window.