Natasha being a badass at SHIELD and making Steve more comfortable. AKA, Steve is way out of his element at the SHIELD Facilities and Natasha goes out of her way to try and help him out. 

Steve was used to not being received well. When he had first joined the army before the serum, most of the men there had thought he was a joke, and for the most part he was either completely ignored or made fun of. 

Entering SHIELD was not all that much different. 

People didn't seem to dislike him. Not because of anything he'd done at least. But several people seemed bitter about his new employment there and Steve wasn't naïve enough to think that they liked him. 

He sat alone when he ate in the cafeteria and any conversation he had with most coworkers was limited to work topics only. 

Natasha was an exception to that. 

Steve wasn't sure if it was because they had fought together in New York or if she was just professional enough to not let it show if she didn't like him. 

He guessed that it was probably a combination of both. 

"Morning Natasha," Steve said, coming besides her as he went to fix a cup of coffee. 

She looked over at him with a friendly grin, "Morning Cap. I didn't take you for a coffee drinker." 

Steve shrugged, "Gotta keep the energy up somehow." 

"I guess I just assumed you would drink tea...that tends to be a popular preference among the elderly," She joked with a smirk. 

Steve rolled his eyes, secretly loving the banter that they occasionally had. She walked alongside him as he headed towards his table in the corner of the cafeteria. 

"Anyone sitting here?" Natasha asked. 

Steve shook his head with a slight laugh, "No. People don't seem to like me very much around here." 

Natasha rolled her eyes, sitting besides him, "That'll pass. Right now some of the higher level agents are just pissed that they are having to take orders from someone who is better than them without trying. Rumlow threw a fit when Fury told him you'd eventually be leading the STRIKE team on missions." 

Steve raised an eyebrow, "Rumlow?" 

Natasha nodded, "I wouldn't worry about it, the guys a total asshole. People will grow to respect you. Just give it time." 

Steve shook his head, "Rumlow is one of the few people who actually reached out to me though. He texts me all the time." 

Natasha frowned, "Can I see those text?" 

Steve nodded and handed Natasha his phone. She scrolled through them and held back a sigh, not wanting Steve to be embarrassed. 

Yesterday it seemed that Rumlow had taken to educate Steve about emoticons and how to use them. Except his advice was to use at least one in every message.

Natasha shrugged, "Maybe he's cooled down about it." 

She added her personal number to the phone and then handed it back to Steve.

"I've gotta get going but let me know if you need anything," Natasha said. 

She walked off, pulling up Rumlow's number as she did so. 

Keep messing with Captain Rogers and I'll have the entire Strike Team disbanded within an hour :)

She didn't get a text back but by the look of both fear and loathing Rumlow gave her that afternoon at a briefing session, she figured that he got the hint. 

------------------------------------------------------------

Natasha continued to look out for Steve around SHIELD the best she could until people adjusted to him being there. 

She got Fury to send them on a few missions together and started eating meals in the cafeteria with him when their schedule allowed. Since then, people seemed to have a little bit more hospitality towards him. 

Natasha was highly respected (and also a little feared) at SHIELD so people trusted her judgement. If both Fury and her vouched for Steve, people would be a lot more receiving of him.

We've got a mission. I'll meet you at the hanger in five for a quick briefing :)

Natasha had been using emoticon's in almost all of her text to Steve. It was not something that she had ever done before but she knew how hard it was for him to adjust and he had genuinely been so proud of knowing how to use them that Natasha simply didn't have the heart to tell him that people didn't use them often. 

That was another issue...Natasha was starting to care way too much about Steve. 

She was used to being professional. She was good at professional, and she had no problems with making friends with her coworkers. 

But even then she kept them an arms length away and didn't see them off SHIELD property unless it was for a mission. Steve had been watching movies with her at his apartment almost every night and she trusted him almost completely. 

Her physical attraction to him didn't help either. 

It took about three weeks, but eventually, Natasha realized exactly why she cared so much about helping him adjust. 

She was falling in love with Captain America. 

--------------------------------------------

As Steve became more and more liked around SHIELD, he also became the newest interest of all the female agents who thought that Steve was the best thing since sliced bread. 

Natasha probably wouldn't have disagreed with them, but she hated watching them all flirt with them right in front of her. 

"You know Cap, I could really use a lesson in hand to hand fighting. It's my weakest area right now and I hear you're the best of the best," One agent had tried once while Steve and Natasha were eating breakfast. 

Steve blushed, "I don't think I'd be a very good teacher. I just do what feels natural when it comes to fighting." 

The Agent shrugged, "I think my problem might be that I can't seem to get out of my head ever. Think you could help with that?" 

Steve frowned, "I don't know how-" 

"Sex Steve. She's asking for sex," Natasha interrupted, playing with the food on her plate and glaring slightly at the woman.

Steve's face turned dark red and his eyes widened, "Oh. I uh I'm not interested. I don't really have time to date." 

Natasha tossed a grape in her mouth, "That was his way of saying he's not interested Agent Tang. Get to training." 

The woman scowled at Natasha and walked away. 

Steve scratched behind his ear, "Seventy years in the ice and I'm still terrible with women." 

Natasha laughed, "Yeah I won't argue there. But in your defense she came on very strong." 

Steve laughed slightly and blushed, "I don't think I'm ready for that." 

Natasha grinned and stood up from the table, "Too shy or too scared?" 

Steve shook his head, rolling his eyes, "Too busy." 

Natasha knew that was bullshit but didn't say anything because the only argument that she had was that if he was busy he wouldn't have time for movies with her, which she definitely didn't want to stop.

"Whatever you say Rogers. Now hurry up or we'll both be late to the mission briefing." 

Steve rolled his eyes and stood up, "Relax, you're their favorite agent. They won't punish you for being five minutes late." 

Natasha scoffed, "Is Captain America really excusing unprofessionalism?" 

Steve rolled his eyes again, "It's not unprofessional if no one else gets there on time either. We just passed Rumlow making out with some girl and you know we can't start until he gets there." 

Natasha grinned, "Whatever you say Cap. Just know I'll blame you if Fury has anything to say about this." 

Steve grinned, "I'm okay with that." 

Natasha just smiles in response and keeps walking. 

-------------------------------------------------

"Steve have you ever driven a really fast car?" Natasha asked randomly one night after they had watched Fast and Furious. 

Steve shook his head, "What defines fast?" 

Natasha rolled her eyes, "If you have to ask, then the answer is no." 

Steve sighed, "Why would I need to drive a fast car? I have my Harley." 

"What if hypothetically I needed a getaway driver. I'm not escaping on your Harley. So get off your ass and come with me." 

Steve sighed and followed Natasha out of his room and towards the garage. 

Natasha tossed him keys and grinned as she got into the passenger seat. 

"Where am I supposed to go Nat?" 

Natasha shrugged, "I want Sonic so just drive until we find one." 

Steve frowned, "What is Sonic?" 

"Fast food but they have slushies and I want one so put the car in gear and go." 

Steve laughed slightly and turned on the car, "Which way do I go?" 

"Left out of the facility and then go straight until I say otherwise." 

Steve sighed and did as she said, though not nearly as fast as Natasha would have liked. 

"Rogers if you don't actually put your foot down on the gas pedal I'll climb over and do it myself," Natasha said, propping her feet on the dashboard.

Steve laughed and sped up a little, "If we get pulled over, I'm not taking the blame." 

Natasha rolled her eyes, "You really think you would need to? You're Captain America, no cop is going to give you a ticket." 

"You'd be surprised how many people don't recognize me without the suit on."

Natasha smirked, "Well if all else fails, I'll just work my charm. There's a reason I've never gotten a ticket." 

Steve grinned despite himself, "You're a terrible influence." 

"And yet here you are driving me to Sonic at midnight."

Steve simply shrugged, "I guess you're pretty hard to say no too." 

"It's all part of my charm," She teased. 

She pointed at a streetlight, "Turn left there." 

Steve did as she said and soon saw the bright lights of the Sonic. 

"This is the place?" Steve asked skeptically.

Natasha nodded, "Yeah. Pull up to the window and I'll order." 

Steve did as she said and couldn't help but stare as Natasha hung her head out the window so she could speak into the microphone to order from. 

"You want anything?" She asked. 

Steve shook his head, "Just get me whatever you got." 

Natasha nodded and leaned back out the door.

"So what did you just get me?" Steve asked when she leaned back into the seat. 

"A blue coconut slushy." 

Steve frowned, "Coconuts should not be blue." 

"Which is why the fact that these are is specified in the title." 

Steve chuckled quietly. 

Pretty soon they were interrupted by a teenager roller skating up to the car window with the two slushies. 

Natasha took them and handed the girl a wad of cash, telling her to keep the change and then motioning for Steve to pull away. 

"Where to now?" Steve asked. 

"Drive another mile north and then turn left twice. You'll end up at a drive in movie theatre. Let's see what's playing tonight." 

"What's a drive in movie theatre?" 

"It's like a movie theatre, but you stay in your car and the movie plays on a giant screen." 

Steve nodded in understanding and drove to the place Natasha had directed him to. He had never heard of the movie it was playing but bought tickets for he and Natasha anyways. 

He parked where she told him he should and watched as she tuned the car's radio to that of the movie's sound. 

Steve found pretty quickly that whatever it was, he wasn't interested. 

He was probably too preoccupied staring at Natasha, who always looked stunning but seemed especially radiant in the dim lighting of the car. 

"I don't think I ever said thank you," He eventually said quietly. 

Natasha looked over at him, "For what?" 

"Well it's not like people took very kindly to me at SHIELD to begin with. A lot of people had issues with it and I think most of them thought I was just some big idiot who could lift heavy things. You've been amazing, and you're the only reason anyone there respects me. " 

Natasha shrugged, "They'd have come around eventually." 

"I'd have probably quit long before they did though." 

Natasha smiled softly, looking back at the screen, "That would have been a shame. I can't imagine what a super solider would do without working for some kind of organization. Sports?" 

Steve laughed, "No. That wouldn't go over well." 

Natasha shrugged, "Maybe not for the other players." 

Steve rolled his eyes, "I'm trying to have a serious conversation and thank you Nat." 

"It's not necessary but consider me thanked." 

Steve sighed, "You're impossible." 

"I'm pretty sure you just said I was amazing," Natasha teased.

Blushing, Steve looked back at the screen, "Amazing and impossible. Along with a lot of other things." 

Natasha grinned, tilting only her head towards him, "All good things I hope." 

"All great things." 

Steve looked back at the screen with a smile, missing the way Natasha's grin faded as she realized how highly he truly thought of her. 

Her eyes softened and she smiled again, this time reaching over and placing her hand atop Steve's as she faced the movie screen once again, not missing how Steve's breath caught in his throat when she moved the armrest and rested her head on his broad shoulder. 

--------------------------------------------------

Steve was never a fan of parties. He had avoided them before getting the serum for obvious reasons and after it, he had been obligated to attend so that the US Army could parade him around like a brand new toy they had just gotten. 

Now SHIELD was throwing a banquet and Steve had been warned that the only reasonable excuse for not being there was being on a SHIELD issued mission or being dead. 

Apparently, he was taking that threat more seriously than Natasha. 

"It didn't sound very optional when Fury told me about it," Steve argued, desperately trying to convince Natasha to go so he wouldn't be alone.

Natasha shrugged, "What are they going to do? Fire me? I'm not worried about it. I haven't gone to a single SHIELD gathering since I started here and Fury's never said a word about it." 

"Please Nat, don't leave me alone with all of them." 

Natasha frowned, stepping into the elevator, "Just don't go Steve. Nick will get over it." 

Steve stepped in besides her and sighed with a pleading look in his eyes. 

Natasha mentally cursed Steve for the effect he had on her. She was going soft.

"Fine. But you're buying me dinner and you're paying for whatever dress I buy for it." 

Steve smiled, "Deal." 

Natasha groaned, "God you owe me big time for this Rogers."

"I promise I'll make it up to you. I'll do your laundry and dishes for a month and dinner every night this week is on me." 

Natasha nodded, "Damn right it is. I can't  believe you're making me go to one of these damn parties."

"I'm not making you do anything," Steve said with a small victorious grin.

Natasha rolled her eyes, "Watch it or I'll change my mind. Now hand over the credit card so I can go find a dress." 

Steve reached into his pocket and handed it to her with a smile, "Thank you Nat." 

Grinning, Natasha stepped out of the elevator, "You can thank me when you get your credit card bill this month." 

Steve laughed and watched as she walked away, suddenly finding himself excited about the party that night.

------------------------------------------------------

Steve knocked on Natasha's door later that night feeling more nervous than he had in a long time. He knew that this party wasn't a date but just knowing that he was going to see Natasha made his heart beat a little faster. 

She opened the door a few seconds later and Steve's jaw just about dropped to the floor. 

"You look stunning Natasha," Steve managed, blushing furiously. 

Natasha smiled, "Thank you. I figured you wouldn't mind if I spent a little extra to get this one." 

Steve shook his head, "Whatever it cost, it was worth it." 

"I'll remind you that you said that when you see how much it was." 

Steve laughed and extended his arm out for Natasha, "You ready to go?" 

Natasha nodded, "I suppose. I'm still pissed that you are making me do this though." 

Steve looked down at her and smiled, "If it's awful than I won't ask you to stay. Just come have a drink with me." 

"I'm gonna need more than one to deal with the assholes we work with. Rumlow is always wasted at these things." 

Steve sighed, "I can't stand that guy." 

They entered the ballroom and Natasha nodded, "Well, he's already here and he just saw us so don't be surprised if he walks up." 

Steve groaned when he and Rumlow made eye contact and the man started walking towards them. 

"Well if it isn't Agent Romanoff! Since when do you come to these things? Aren't you normally too busy?" 

Natasha gave him a forced smile that was way too sweet to be natural and they all knew it, "I cleared my schedule. Figured it would be worth it to see you get rejected by all the women here."

Rumlow forced a loud laugh, "You really are a charmer. No wonder Fury always sends you to seduce idiots. Any man with an IQ above 50 would know better than to hang around you. Isn't that right Rogers?" 

Steve frowned and raised an eyebrow, "If that were true you wouldn't still be hanging around Brock. If I remember correctly you didn't score so well on SHIELD's last intelligence test." 

Rumlow frowned, "When did you become her bitch?" 

Natasha was about to pull the knife from her bra but was interrupted by Fury approaching them. 

"Agent Rumlow, see yourself out of the ballroom before I have you removed. You need to learn your place around here."

Rumlow scowled at Natasha and Steve but didn't argue. 

"Now you've been here no more than five minutes and you are already stirring up trouble. Maybe I prefer it when you don't come to these things," Fury said, narrowing his eye at Natasha.

Natasha shrugged, "All due respect Nick, but that had nothing to do with me and everything to do with the assholes working on your STRIKE team. Rumlow is their brainless leader and he felt the need to show them all that he wasn't afraid to start a fight with the Black Widow and Captain America."

Fury sighed, "Whatever you say. Just don't break anything if you do start a fight. This venue was expensive." 

Steve laughed and followed behind Natasha as she dragged him to the bar. 

"Now do you understand why I don't come to these things?" 

Steve nodded, "I feel like a piece of meat..." 

Natasha glanced around and saw the numerous women staring shamelessly at Steve. 

She laughed, "Oh Cap you've got quite the audience. See anyone that piques your interest?" 

Steve shook his head, "No. Definitely not out of them." 

Natasha sighed, "You're making it really hard for me to find you a date Steve. You've got to at least try to get to know some of these women. SHIELD is crawling with single women who are dying to date you." 

"None of them are you though," Steve mumbled so quietly that Natasha barely heard him. 

She raised an eyebrow, "What?" 

Steve turned a bright red, "What? Oh. Nothing. I was just mumbling to myself, that's all." 

Natasha grinned, "Steve I thought we established that you are a terrible liar." 

Steve sighed, "We did." 

"Then answer me this, okay?" 

Steve nodded. 

Natasha grabbed his hand and stood only inches away from him, "Do you want to kiss me right now?" 

Steve nearly choked before pulling himself together and nodding vigorously. Natasha smiled and pulled Steve away from the bar and onto a lesser used patio. Once they were outside, she took both their drinks from his hand and set them on the counter before pulling Steve towards her for a passionate kiss. 

Steve responded quickly and let his hands come to her sides to rest on her hips. 

"God, Nat--" Steve mumbled, kissing her jaw softly, "--you are incredible." 

Natasha smiled, "It's about time you did that," She mumbled. 

Steve laughed and kissed her again, "Does that mean you wanted to kiss me too?" 

Natasha rolled her eyes, "Steve if I didn't want to kiss you than do you think I would have offered?" 

"No," Steve said quietly. 

"Believe me, I wanted to," Natasha reassured more kindly when Steve still looked hurt. 

Steve looked down at her and Natasha could practically see the gears turning in his head as she wrapped her arms around his neck. 

She leaned up on her tip toes and kissed him again softly, "Stop thinking. You'll hurt yourself." 

Steve relaxed slightly and sighed, "What does this mean to you Nat?" 

Natasha bit her lip, she should've known Steve would have wanted to talk about this. She just didn't even know where to begin.

"I don't need a profession of love or anything like that but I can't do this if it's just physical, because this is everything to me Natasha. You are everything to me." 

Natasha nodded, "I don't know what it means yet but I know it's important. I'm no good with defining emotions but I know that I trust you and I want to try and be whatever you want me to be." 

Steve smiled, kissing her again, "I just want you." 

Natasha smirked, "Yeah? Your room or mine?" 

Steve blushed, "Nat you know that's not what I meant." 

Natasha laughed and let her hands drop to Steve's hands, "I know. But you can't blame a girl for trying." 

"Can I take you out for a date tomorrow?" Steve asked quietly. 

"Yes." 

Steve grinned ear to ear and kissed her again, this time letting his hand roam through her hair gently while she held onto him tightly. 

"Thank you," Steve whispered. 

Natasha pulled away slightly, "For what?" 

Steve smiled at her and Natasha just about melted, "Everything." 

Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long. I've been working a ton and wrapping up my senior year so life has been wild. I hope you all enjoyed this monster of a chapter and if you did please comment and vote!!