valuedstrength | missing scenes

Wow. Who could resist an offer like that?

I'll meet you in the usual place

[ it's so easy to joke, but there's a part of her that isn't kidding. she thinks she needs to see him right now, like it might clear up all the confusion somehow just to lay her eyes on steve. ]

Edited 2017-12-03 04:33 (UTC)

[He doesn't argue with her. Seeing Natasha is always a plus in his books so he does what he does best: he waits. The only difference now is he has a phone to play on while he does so.

It keeps him from wondering why she needs to see him before dumping some guy.]

[ she steps out of the shadows fluidly as always, taking down her hood and looking a bit flushed, like she'd been running. unmistakable relief fills her eyes when she takes him in, but suddenly she feels nervous. she's never felt nervous around steve before. ]

Hey stranger. [ she taps her elbow against his and smiles softly. ]

[He looks up from his phone and smiles at the sight of her.] Hey, Nat. [It fades as he takes her in. He doesn't know what to make of her being flushed like that. Can superspies get sick?] Everything okay?

[ she takes a second to mull that over, and as if realizing something important she leans forward to hug him. ] They are now.

[He eagerly returns it, squeezing tight for a second before letting go. Steve pulls back so he can look at her.] I'm sorry I was so hard on you earlier. It's not my place to judge what you do with anyone.

[ nat squeezes her eyes shut for just the second he squeezes her. and for that moment, everything is okay. when she opens them again... she forgets how to breathe, stumbling over an inhale as he somehow manages to apologize for something that isn't his fault yet again. she scrubs a hand over her face and takes a step back. ]

The thing is... it kind of is your place. [ that came out wrong. she swallows, dials it back. there's so much noise in her head she can barely hear herself speak. ] We've been over this before, okay, I know, but... for most of my life, I wasn't a very good person.

[ her voice wavers but her gaze stays trained on his. she's determined to get this out. it's eating her up on the inside. ] Actually, I was kind of a. A bad person. And sometimes I forget, Steve. I honestly forget that I'm a real person now. On the books. I exist, and my actions have real consequences in the real world.

[His heart quietly breaks for her because what an awful thing to live with. It's true he got angry over her careless behavior in the past. He sees a different side to Nat now. They've grown closer as a result. He has far more faith in her ability to act like a person now. He doesn't want to dismiss what she's saying by pacifying her with that so he nods. He can find a middle ground. Just give him a second.]

Okay, then, I remind you. Even if it means I'm a little too stern. [He smiles weakly.] You're a part of this world now. Be someone better.

[ his unwavering patience and faith in her is overwhelming at times like these. be someone better. he makes it sound so simple. ]

You're not. Too stern. [ nat shakes her head, taking a step back towards him. ] You're... just the right amount of stern. [ she musters up a tiny smile for him, trying to hang onto her courage for just a moment longer. there are so many things she needs to say now, but they stick in her throat. ] Thank you. [ is all she manages in an equally tiny voice, looking up at his face from a much closer proximity now. ]

[He gets the feeling he's missing something here. Steve thinks he's done something right here so he tries not to let that bother him even as the hairs rise on his arms. She's close and intense right now. His thoughts are quickly becoming unprofessional.]

Anything to help, Nat. [It's comes out distracted, but sincere. He really would do anything for her sake.] You know how much you mean to me.

[ it's hard not to notice his demeanor shifting, and it's beyond welcome. there's nothing else she'd rather do than bridge the gap and-- but she's gone about this all wrong. accidentally friendzoned steve and now, what? set him up as the rebound? she shakes her head even if it's a response to what's going on inside rather than what he said. what he said makes her heart skip a beat and her pulse quicken even more. it's hard not to notice how close their faces are now. ]

You're too good to me. [ her mouth goes dry. he's too good for her too. this is a stupid plan. she should make an excuse and go, but she doesn't. instead, he reaches out a hand and places it gently on his arm. ]

[He eyes fall shut. Steve doesn't know what has gotten into him. He feels like he can't breathe, his arms are covered in goosepimples. Clearly he's let his mind get away with him now that she's broken up with whoever that was. Frankly it's a bit embarrassing on his part, he thinks.

He shakes his head in response.] C'mon. Don't make it sound like you don't deserve it after everything we've been through together.

[ deserve. it isn't about deserving. but he really believes she's different. does she? ]

I... [ she can't do it, she can't stop herself. natasha was always perfectly in control of everything she did... until steve. and now it's all getting away from her. ] I'm going to do something a little reckless.

[ that's all the warning he gets before her fingers tighten around his arm and her lips seal over his. ]

[It comes as both a surprise and a relief. Steve doesn't realize how much he'd been holding back until she invites him to act. Nearly instantly his hand settles on the side her waist, pulling her in closer as he kisses her back without reservation. This is without question one of the stupidest things he's ever done. What does it say about him that he jumped at the chance to hold her close and kiss her? It's unprofessional at the very least.

He can't take it back though. Steve pulls back for air and asks the most obvious question he can think of,] What was that for?

[ she makes a small, involuntary noise against his lips when he kisses back. it isn't politeness or even being caught off guard, she can feel the difference. steve kisses her with intention, the same way she did him. her fingers tighten on his arm, already dreading the part where they break apart, a shiver pulling up her spine at the way he palms her waist. natasha draws out the kiss for as long as she can, but even supersoldiers need to breathe apparently, how inconvenient.

her own breathing is so loud; the rush of blood in her ears and the pound of her heart almost drowning out his question. but she registers it belatedly, giving him a look somewhere between hurt and confused, even if she doesn't blame him for doubting her sincerity. how couldn't he really? ] Because I wanted to. [ she licks her lips absently, tasting him residually as her eyes zero in on his lips all over again, swollen and enticingly red. ]

[His breathing is more subdued by comparison. It sounds loud and harsh to his ears all the same because he's uncertain. Steve doesn't know what he's doing here. While being lost isn't anything new to him, this is. They're not putting on a show. They wanted to do this. Natasha confirmed it on her end and isn't that the side he ought to be more concerned with? He looks down which is a mistake because his hand hasn't left her waist. Now he feels obliged to do so.]

Wasn't expecting it. [Reluctantly his hand falls off, fingers teasingly following the curve on the way down. Steve forces himself to meet her gaze even if it isn't strictly on his eyes.] Why?

[Only he could be this stupid.]

[ she draws in a sharp take of breath at the almost ticklish way he pulls off his hand. she misses the contact instantly. ]

Because... [ she steels herself, wondering if he's ready for this twist. she knows she isn't. ] Because there was never another guy.

[Yeah he doesn't see it coming. Steve looks like he got a bucket of water dropped on him. That isn't inaccurate. He's so confused right now.] What?

[ natasha shrugs, her expression helpless. ] I made it up. [ to get your attention. it's so pathetic she can barely stand herself. ]

Why would you lie about sleeping with a guy? [He doesn't get it or rather doesn't want to let the thought reach its logical conclusion. She wanted a reaction from him. She certainly got it.]

I'm sorry. [ she shakes her head up at him. it was never supposed to go this far. ] It was dumb.

[ which really isn't an answer, is it? ]

Dumb? [He lets out of a bark of a laugh. This can't be happening.] What is going on with you? We're not kids. Unless this is some kind of prank to you?

[ she knows they aren't kids, but that doesn't mean she knows how to be an adult about this. like, at all. her brow creases at his question, equally disturbed by its content and that she made him think that. ]

A prank? Steve, no. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. [ if that's what she did, she doesn't even know what's going through his head. but she reaches out for his arm again, wishing they could go back to their kiss a moment ago. everything was simple then. ]

My feelings aren't hurt. [He retorts as she takes his arm. That's a lie though. His feelings are a little hurt. He thought they were past the lying. Steve can't be too angry since he's lying to her right now.]

I just thought we were done with the stories. I don't know why you'd go back to that.

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