That night, despite how amazing their lovemaking was, Steve had a nightmare of Nat harming Eva. He awoke with a start. His jolting woke her slightly.
"Steve?" she asked, her voice heavy with sleep. "You okay?"
"Yeah," he said. "Go back to sleep, sweetheart."
It didn't take long for her to pass out again. When he was sure Eva was asleep, he went to the kitchen and saw Nat sitting in the dark. Seeing a former assassin like that was unsettling, to say the least.
Steve turned on the light and asked, "Can't sleep?"
"Something like that," Nat said, looking at her empty shot glass and half-full bottle of vodka with a smile. "Are we pretending now?"
"No," he replied, standing on the other side of the island from her, "we are going to finish our conversation, now that we're both calmer."
Nat scoffed. "That conversation is over. I want her safe and I don't believe that is with you."
Steve clenched his fists. "And what makes you think I can't keep her safe?"
"Look at her, Rogers." He gave her a concerned and confused look. "She has been through hell since getting here. And since she began dating you. When will you stop and see that you are the reason-"
Steve groaned at the notion he was the cause of Eva's predicament. "I didn't do anything!"
"Exactly." Steve stared at her, his breathing heavy with anger. "You have always abandoned her. Failed her. You'd rather be a hero than her rock." Steve began tearing up, as Nat pointed out everything. "You did it when you joined the army, then crashed the plane, and not looking for her when you woke up here." Her voice became low. "What's stopping you from doing it again when she needs you the most?"
Steve couldn't hear anymore. He rushed back to his room, grabbing a bottle of Thor's Asgardian liquor along the way. He didn't bother grabbing a glass.
Is that what Eva thought? That he abandoned her? She wouldn't tell him if she did, because she cared more for him than herself. Guilt over everything rushed through him.
Nat watched as her plan began. The first step was getting Steve to doubt himself in the relationship, to let his insecurities from before the serum take over. She smiled cruelly.
Meanwhile, Steve almost went back into his bedroom but went to the balcony outside instead. He didn't even sit on the chairs out there, opting for the cold concrete as the warm alcohol filled him. Silent tears fell as Nat's words played in his head.