Pt.2 of I kinda have to like you
Ft. Romanogers 

Ever since their parent's died, Tony and Natasha's relationship has only grown extensively. Tony has become a bit of a protective big brother and has kept her out of harm's way, even if there was no harm for miles. 

Natasha loved her brother, don't get her wrong, but she really did love her freedom, which she rarely got with Tony checking in every chance he got. He was busy, having taken over Stark Industries, but also had his assistant, Pepper Potts, schedule time for them to talk while he was away. 

But whenever he was away, it was her perfect opportunity to have fun and go out. Her best friend, Clint, who Tony didn't like at all because he felt like he was a little carefree, would always take her out, and she would hang out with his girlfriend Laura at her bar. Laura had a great bar, it was actually where Clint and she met. 

Natasha was sure Tony would have loved the bar a few years ago before he started abandoning the party lifestyle. He was trying to get together with Pepper, who was too mature for him, so he was stepping things up, and Natasha truly believed he liked working, which is something she never thought she would have said a few years ago. 

He was currently out of town, and unfortunately, Clint and Laura were visiting their families, but that didn't matter, she had plans tonight. She was going to a new bar, it was called the commandos and it was in an area of town she'd never normally go and hopefully no one would recognize her. She had a clean reputation thanks to Tony, she'd hate for it to get tainted in one night. But she also needed fun so it was worth it. 

The bar was loud and there was a good number of people there, but it wasn't overly crowded. Most people were dancing leaving the bar open so she took a seat towards the wall. A man came over, he tall, and wore an amused smile as he had just been laughing at something. 
"Hello, I'm Sam, what can I get for you?" He asked. 

"What do you recommend?" She asked. 

"You new here?" She nodded. "Okay well, I would suggest you try the Black Widow. It's a little concoction that my friend came up with, it's got Vodka-" 

"I'll try it." She said. "You had me at Vodka." Sam laughed and nodded his head. While Sam prepared the drink Natasha looked around. It was a little weird to be there by herself and probably risky but she was having trouble caring. 

"So kid, you from around here?" Sam asked when he brought her the drink. Natasha took a sip, immediately enjoying the taste. 

"You could say that. I'm Natasha. Do you own the bar?" 

"Me? No, my friend does, I am just working here" Sam had just gotten out of the army, and he was hoping to propose to his girlfriend and he needed the extra money to do so. After their chat, Sam had to go deal with someone who spilled their drink leaving Natasha alone. 

She was enjoying the drink and just taking in everything when someone came up to her. The smell of alcohol was already strong in there, but when the man sat down she cringed. 
"Hey, baby." 

"Excuse me?" No one calls her baby. It was a bit demeaning. 

"How are you doing?" 

"I was doing great." She has no time for this man. She was here to let loose, but not loose enough to get with that sorry excuse of a man. 

"Names Brock." 

"Good for you." 

"How about we skip these little pleasantries and we get out of here?" 

"I am not here looking for sex." 

"Maybe that's because you don't know what you're looking for." He said, getting dangerously close to her. Natasha used her hand to push him away. 

"I said no." She repeated. 

"You know," He placed his hand on her thigh, "Men don't like it when you play hard to get." She was about to flip him over the counter. Tony made her take self-defense classes for a reason, but she didn't get the time as someone stepped in between the seats. 

"The lady want's you to leave." His' voice was strong. Natasha looked up at the stranger and saw a tall blonde man staring angrily at Brock. 

"This has nothing to do with you, Rogers." 

"It does when you are simply being a horrible human being who lacks any ounce of decent. Maybe you are just too stupid to know the meaning of no. If you want to be reminded of the consequences I suggest we step outside." His voice got dangerously low. 

"Rumlow." Someone else said. He was about an inch shorter than Steve and had long blonde hair. "Didn't I ban you?" Must be the owner. 

"You two are no fun." He stood. "You sure darling? I'm sure you won't regret it." 

"I don't sleep with a low life like yourself." Truth be told she's a twenty-five-year-old who's never slept with anyone. Tony was protective, and never approved of any of the people she showed interest in. She's never been in a serious relationship. 

Rumlow only rolled his eyes and left the bar. The blond man's eyes watching him dangerously. "Sorry about that." The brunette hair man said. "I'm James, the owner, you can call me Bucky though everyone else does. This protective man over here is my best friend Steve." 

"Sorry about the show, but Rumlow doesn't know when to stop." 

"It's alright. I was about ready to flip over the counter." 

"Good thing we put a stop to that," Bucky joked. "These are expensive glasses!" 

"Trust me it wouldn't have been a problem." She muttered taking a sip of her drink. "I'm Natasha." 

"Nice to meet you," Steve said. Bucky excused himself to help Sam deal with a drunken customer. Steve's politely asked if he could sit beside her. She nodded. At least he didn't smell like alcohol. 

"Thank you by the way." She said. "I have to be honest I was kinda hoping you'd beat him up." 

"I am sure with Rumlow there will always be another opportunity." 

"Good." She smirked sipping her drink until it was gone. 

"Can I buy you another?" 

"Are you trying to get me drunk?" She teased. "I have to warn you, it takes a lot to get me drunk." Steve was interesting, he didn't seem like he was flirting, but she was definitely going to flirt with him. Could anyone blame her? He looked like a god. 

"I guess I will take the challenge." He smirked nodding to Sam for two more drinks. 

Steve and she ended up talking all night. Laughing, and just talking about stupid little things. Steve told her about his art, he was an art teacher at a school in Brooklyn. She learned that he has brunch with his mother every Sunday. She told him about how she was working to become a lawyer. They just connected. 

"Can I walk you home?" He asked as Natasha prepared to leave. 

"I don't think that's a good idea." 

"Oh," His excitement vanished slightly. 

"I didn't tell you my entire story. I live pretty far." 

"Oh? Well, I don't mind an extra few blocks." 

"Steve, my full name is Natasha Romanoff- Stark." It seems to all click in his mind. He looked down at her clothes and frowned. She wasn't dressed all fancy and there was definitely no defining factor in how she acted that would tell him that she was rich and famous. 

"What... um, what are you doing all the way over here?" He asked still trying to process this new information. 

"My brother is away and I wanted some personal freedom." She said. Steve nodded his head. He almost looked disappointed finding out that she was stark. Which she didn't know why, most people when they find out she is rich become nicer and try and get into her circle. "I really liked hanging out with you tonight Steve. Maybe we can exchange numbers?" 

"Really?" He perked up. 

"Yeah," She smiled, "I really like you." 

"I just thought that..." His sentence \faded off. 

"That because I'm rich I wouldn't want to hang out with you?" 

"I didn't mean any harm I just... too many people let wealth control them." 

"If I let wealth control me, I wouldn't be here." She laughed. "Most people who live like me have never seen Harlem. Which is a shame because it's really beautiful, and this bar is one of the best. So what do you say, Mr Artist? Can I have your number?" 

That was how they met and led to them texting every single day. Natasha really connected with Steve and her favorite part of the days was when they talked. About three weeks after they met, Natasha wanted Steve to come over to her place. 

They have hung out occasionally, mostly at the bar, and he took her out to dinner once. They were practically dating, except for the kissing aspect. They held hands as they walked around the park, yes he took her on a walk after dinner, and she would lean her head on his shoulder when they sat in a booth at Bucky's bar. But they hadn't taken it any further than that. 

Natasha was grateful for that. She really liked Steve and before she took that step with him, she wanted him to meet her brother. Who still had no clue that she was technically dating someone. Pepper, who knew of course because there wasn't anything Pepper didn't know, told her she should tell Tony soon. 

"Why don't you tell Tony you like him tonight as well?" Natasha asked as Pepper stood behind her. She was doing her makeup for the day and Pepper, upon Tony's request, came in to ask if she was ready for dinner. Natasha of course ignored the question. 

"So you don't want any?" Pepper asked also ignoring Natasha. 

"I am serious Pepper. If you tell Tony you like him after I tell him about Steve, there's a chance he'll be less angry with me." 

"Only it will be super awkward around us. Besides I don't like Tony." 

"Sure you don't," Natasha said. 

"Besides it won't matter. Not only will Tony be angry that you're dating, so Will Jarvis. Hate to break it to you Nat, but the only person who will be excited for you is Ana." Jarvis and his wife, Ana, who were like parents to Natasha after the Starks died, would also be joining them for dinner, as they did every Sunday.  

"You know but here's the thing. I really don't care. Does it matter to me if Tony likes Steve or not? Of course, he's my brother and I want them to get along. But the thing is, I really like Steve and I don't want anyone driving him away from me. I love Tony, I really do, but I can really see something happening with Steve. Something I won't get to experience if Tony pushes him away. I'm 25 now, I'm not the same girl who will stop talking to a guy just because her older brother is overprotective." 

"Tony won't like this. Even if the man is the best man on Earth." Pepper told her. 

"I know." She sighed. "I am just hoping he sees that I've thought this through, that I'm ready and happy." 

"Well come on. I want front row seats. I love seeing Tony freak out." 

"Sometimes I really hate you." Natasha glared at Pepper, who only smirked. "Steve will be here in ten minutes, make sure Tony's in a good mood." 

"No promises!" Natasha shook her head. Oh, this was going to be an interesting night. 

|~| 

"You are dressed really nice," Natasha smiled as Steve parked his car. Everyone else was already inside, but she wanted to wait for Steve so she went outside. Steve has dressed in a blue button-up shirt, that hugged his muscles perfectly. His hair was combed back and out of his face, he looked really hot if she was being honest. 

"From how you described your brother, he doesn't like any man who comes near you. I want him to like me because I can really-" He took her hand into his own. "see this going somewhere." 

"I am glad we are on the same page." She smiled. 

"Besides I would really like to kiss you right about now." Steve smiled down at her. Steve was really set on making things official with her brother first, he knew how important he was to her and if they wouldn't make this work, then he didn't want to get too attached. But if was being honest, he got attached to her the moment they met. 

"Feeling is mutual." She smiled and looked at him through her lashes. "Ready?" 

"As ready as I'll ever be." He said. 

"Great. I hope you are prepared to be interrogated." 

"Wait what?" 

|~|

Tony was concerningly quiet when Natasha walked into the dining room with Steve on her arm. He hadn't taken his eyes off of Steve, as if he was reading him. 
"Everyone I'd like to introduce you to Steve." She said with a smile. Jarvis and Tony shared a look, while Ana stood up with a smile. 

"Oh my, Natasha did tell us she was inviting guest," She was practically over the moon. "Especially if that guest is a man." 

"I wouldn't say he's a man... a boy really," Jarvis said under his breath, so only his wife could hear. Ana carefully kicked his shoe as a friendly reminder to shut up. 

"We are inviting friends over to family dinner now?" Tony asked. 

"Well your girlfriend is here," Natasha reminded. 

"Who? Pep?" Tony asked before saying a bunch of random excuses as to why Pepper wasn't his girlfriend, Pepper saying as many as she could come up with as well. 

"Oh hush," Ana said. "Steve you can stay it's a horror to have you here." 

"The honor is all mine," Steve nodded politely. "I have heard so much about you all." 

"Funny, I have heard nothing about you," Tony said. "What's your name again? Stewart?" 

"Tony, it's Steve and you know it," Natasha said, sending him a glare. 

"Well, Steve." He said putting emphasis on his name. "How did you and my baby sister meet. You know this one right here, who you are sitting a bit too close to." 

"You really have to stop calling me that, I am only two years younger than you." Tony ignored Natasha, his gaze focusing on Steve. Steve looked over at Natasha, he knew she had 'snuck away' that night and wasn't sure If he could say exactly how they met. Natasha gave him an okay, by nodding her head. 

"We met at a bar." 

"A bar?" Tony turned to his sister. "Since when do you go to bars?" 

"Since I am twenty-five and can do what I want." She answered him. Tony was acting a tad bit over dramatic. 

"I really don't like this whole attitude thing you have going on." He looked at Steve. "You know her and I don't fight,  she never sneaks out, but now-" 

"Woah Woah excuse me, we are arguing right now because you don't know how to stop treating me like a child!" She said. "Tony, can you even try and be respectful? and for your information, I sneak out all the time, sometimes when you are home!" Steve put a hand over her's telling her that Tony wasn't being too bad. She looked annoyed but closed her mouth. 

"So Steve, what do you do?" Ana asked, trying to turn the conversation back into a happier one. 

"I am an art teacher." Tony laughed. 

"Tony," Natasha warned. 

"What? You brought him here so I am assuming that this is a serious thing. Maybe. Which means one day you might want to marry this man," She could see the annoyance in his eyes. "He's a teacher Nat, how could he ever support you." 

"With all due respect," Steve said before Natasha could speak up. "I am a teacher, and yes I understand it's not the most rewarding job financially, however it's what I love doing. If we did get married and had kids, I'd prefer them to do what they loved instead of focusing on money. But we did just meet two months ago, it's kind of too soon to even think about that kind of stuff. And if we are being honest here, Natasha is a smart woman, she doesn't need anyone to take care of her, she's becoming a lawyer, she's more than capable of supporting herself, not to mention you obviously care about her very much, I don't think you'd deny helping her in any way. The bond between siblings is strong and I think it's even stronger for you guys." 

Everyone was silent. There was a lot of people out there who hated Tony, but none had the courage to stick up to him, Steve did it so quickly. Tony watched him, as Natasha watched him carefully as well. She too was surprised. Again, she found this oddly hot. 

"Okay," Tomy said nodding his head. "Shall we eat?" Natasha looked over at Steve and smiled at him. She nodded her head. Ana was smiling as well. Jarvis still looked like he wanted to say something, but bite his tongue. 

"Okay." Natasha smiled. This was only the beginning, Steve was probably going g to be on the receiving end on Tony's snarky comments for a while, especially when he finds out Steve and Natasha had their first kiss that night, and the night of Natasha's birthday bash, a month later, they took things a step further. 

She could only imagine his surprise when they announce their first child together only a year later.... before they are married.