warning: attempt of sexual abuse.

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( eighteen. james dean )

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Steve had walked her to her room that night.

Ending their conversation with a simple, "Good night," and leave her to rest. She waited until his figure rounded on a corner before stepping inside her room. She closed the door and rested her forehead against it, momentarily shutting her eyes and trying to calm down her pounding heart.

Padam. Padam. Padam. Pa—

"As much as I like the view from behind, I'd rather see what you look like upfront, Natalie."

Her eyes snapped open.

She whirled around and really felt like fainting the second she saw who it was.

"Tony?"

The said billionaire flashed her a grin. "The one and only."

She didn't move for a second. Instead, she blinked apprehensively, still trying to see if he was real and she wasn't just hallucinating.

Then one of her beige heels flew across the room.

Tony was barely able to dodge it and it instead hit the wooden wall behind him. He looked at her with wide eyes. "What the hell?"

"Next time it's a knife."

It all came sinking down to her. She could never be gladder and relieved to see that he's here. And he's in fact, real, and that he came to get her back. But she wasn't letting him off the hook that easily.

Natasha strode towards him, her eyes filled with fury that was hot enough to burn through the back of his skull. "What took you so long!?" She demanded.

Tony flinched, holding up his index finger. "Uh, let me explain—"

"Did you know how much shit I've gone through for the past three weeks? I've been stuck here for three weeks and it's messing me up!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Somehow I miscalculated the time and ended up being three weeks late prior to the date you've been sent back into."

But she wasn't listening. She was too mad and infuriated to hear nor understand what he was trying to explain. "I swear to God I will fucking cut your—"

"Violence isn't the answer." Tony interjected, gulping at the way she glared at him. "I'm sorry, really. I'm late, I know, and I'm a complete ass. But I really did left just minutes after you were gone. The control panel turned into a barbeque stand so I gambled playing with the wires and cables to get it cooking again. I didn't know that it messed up some part of the time machine so it messed me up too. I entered the same date, Nat, I swear, and I have no idea why I ended up three weeks late. As soon as I found out, I knew I was screwed up more than I am already. I'm really sorry."

After his long apology speech, she hesitated whether to forgive him or not. She searched any signs on his face if he was making all this up or any excuse so she wouldn't try murdering him like she promised, but when there were none, she calmed down.

Natasha released a breath, letting her blood cool a bit. "Fine."

Tony sighed in relief. "You believe me?"

"Yeah, whatever. Does this mean you can get us back now?"

He nodded. "Just hand me your watch so I can implant the stone."

With that, her eyes widened. "You brought the stone?" His hand went through the pocket of his jacket and pulled it back to reveal the same purple glowing stone that had caused this problem in the first place. "How did you... Thor let you bring it? Here?" She stared at him with disbelief.

"I'm not going to say that he just let me bring it. After you were gone we got into an argument again, you know, bickering back and forth. Saying that this was all my fault and if I hadn't been so careless enough yadda yadda... and Capsicle finally had it and stepped in to compromise the situation. We came to an arrangement that Thor will let me bring the stone to bring you back and by the time we get back, I will immediately give the stone back like a good little boy and let him take it to Asgard."

Natasha quirked a brow. "I'm surprised that you agreed to that knowing how much that time machine meant to you."

He shrugged. "Bringing you back is more important than the time machine." She felt a gush of warmth pass through her. Did he really just say that? He seemed to realize what he had said and added shortly, "And also because of the fact that Steve told me ten times he'll break my neck and throw me off the roof if I didn't get you back."

That sounded a lot like what Steve would do. And she couldn't help but smile at the thought of him being so concerned about getting her back. "Really?"

"Yeah, he's worried like shit. He even asked to come with me but I turned down the idea. Told him that it's too risky for the past Cap to see him and all those timeline paradox shit. And besides, having one of them is barely tolerable enough. I can't imagine having two of those around. My worst nightmare yet." He shuddered.

She rolled her eyes. Typical Tony Stark. "About the watch, how long is it going to take for you to put that stone in here? Can it even fit?"

"It will. And even if it doesn't, I'm sure I'll think of something." He replied cooly, "How much longer before you uh... disappear?"

She took off the watch from her wrist and tossed it to him.

He caught it and squinted his eyes to see the percentage. "Huh. That's strange. 45% isn't bad. I was actually expecting it to be somewhere around twenty or thirty."

"Howard estimated a maximum time of five weeks for me."

Tony froze. His eyes were the only one moving as he glanced up at her through his lashes. "What did you say?"

"I said Howard estimated a maximum time of five weeks for me..." She tilted her head, furrowing her eyebrows in puzzlement. "Is something wrong?"

He shot up from her bed. "You mean he knows?" He hissed.

"What's the matter?"

"Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit."

Natasha stepped forward, narrowing her eyes at him. "Wha—what's wrong about that? You said to get help from him!"

"Exactly, to get help! Maybe to hand you a few hundred dollars but not this." He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Christ, Nat. How much does he know?"

"He doesn't know anything else other than the fact I'm from the future." She said.

Tony sighed, trying to keep his voice down to not attract attention outside. Since the walls of were made out of thin Plywood, they were really easy to hear.

"I guess there's nothing we can do about that now anyway."

For some reason, that made her wince with guilt. But she didn't know that it was not okay to tell Tony's father. And she was desperate to get back home when Tony showed no sign of showing up, her reaction could be understandable. Right?

She changed the subject. "How did you even got inside? Nobody can get past the doors of the SSR unless you work here."

"You're really asking me that question?" He said flatly.

"Yes, because nobody knows you as Tony Stark in this time. You don't get exclusive right or sudden VIP entrances to clubs here. People don't scream at you or try to ask for autographs or pictures when you're outside. So, yes, I'm really asking you that question." She deadpanned, crossing her arms.

"Take the hostility down a notch, will you? I'm still waiting for that 'Thank you Tony' since I came back for you."

"The only thing you're waiting for is my fist on your face."

"Thanks, really."

"You're welcome."

He rolled his eyes, seeing no point to press on this further. "I arranged some fake documents and even came up with a fake identity. I planned this out before I got here so, yeah, that's just the genius me talking again." He smirked, satisfyingly.

Congrats? "And so is your ego." She retorted. It was then she just observed the clothes he was wearing. She actually felt dumb for not noticing it earlier. "What the hell you wearing?"

He was dressed in a black shirt and a black trench-coat with the collar set straight up to cover his neck. He was wearing black trousers and black shoes.

Tony looked down at his outfit, clutching the ends of the coat and flashing her a seductive smile. "You like it?"

She scoffed in disgust. "You look ridiculous, Tony. What are you trying to go for? Secret spy?"

"More like James Dean."

"More like James Dick."

He gave her a sharp look. "Hey! I don't look that bad!" He pouted at her like a child. "At least mine is better than yours. Anne Klein? You couldn't pick a more creative one?"

"What's the difference? Both our names have one syllable. And you couldn't pick a name of a person that's not from this time? Really?"

"What's wrong with James Dean? He isn't born 'til late 50's right?"

Natasha sighed in disbelief. "He doesn't get known till the late 50's. He's born somewhere around the 1930's!"

"Oh," he said dumbly.

She couldn't look at him without wincing so hard. She buried her face in her hand, feeling embarrassed for him. "Could you please wear something else tomorrow?"

"Fine." He grumbled. "Only because you said please and you never say please. Especially to me."

"Okay, fair enough. You think you can get that done by tomorrow?"

He placed the watch inside his pocket. "I'll try my best so I'm not making any promises, alright? In case you decide to hold that against me."

"Whatever."

"Before I go, I kind of forgot to ask you uh... how are you doing?"

Natasha eyed him flatly. "How do you think I've been doing?"

"Besides wanting to murder me, of course." He chastised.

She sighed, "Everything's as good as it can be. I don't think I'm messing anything up yet. I kept Steve alive until now so I think that's one thing."

"Wait, so you saw what he looked like before he turned into Smaptain Ashmerica?"

"Yeah. Steve's not lying when he said that he was a wimp before that serum. He really is. Like, a real scrawny and limp kid. Just around 5 foot 4 tall."

Tony snickered, laughing at the thought. "Holy hell." He clutched his stomach in laughter, trying to visualize her description of him. "I sure wish I've seen that. Sucks. It would be something to nag him about once we get back."

"He's not that bad." She defended. "And he didn't change. So I guess that's good. The Steve we know? It's the exact Steve before he took the serum. It's kind of weird to watch him go through all this but it's kind of exciting at the same time. You know, witness the story of how Captain America was born."

"Sounds a hell lot like boring to me."

She rolled her eyes. "Anyway, so yeah. Despite everything, I don't think I messed up something big or change something at least." Yet. "And I'm also planning to go with the HYDRA missions with Steve—"

"No!" Tony's eyes widened. "You can't do that!"

"Why not?" she challenged.

"What happened to be incognito?" She was kind of wondering what happened to that idea too. "You're actually quite famous here, you know. It's not that easy to forget a blonde nurse running around the streets of Brooklyn while carrying a gun and leaping from corner to corner."

Natasha felt like she was supposed to be ashamed of what she did, but she wasn't going to admit it. She knew she had made a mistake but there was no point bringing it up again now.

"It was a wrong move, I know. I'm sorry I couldn't help myself. When I see something bad rounding a corner I can't just sit here and do nothing. Sometimes I wish I could." She said.

"You sound a lot like Cap. God, what did he do? Made you watch those black and white soul-awakening tapes?"

"What?"

"You can't go." He said, a lot more firmly this time. "Your addition to the team might cause major changes in the future. Think about it, your picture and name are going to be posted with the Cap's war buddies! How is that being incognito?"

"Will you stop talking about being incognito for just a goddamn second?"

Tony ignored her, continuing on, "You said that you haven't messed up or change anything yet, so don't risk in letting that happen now! Come on, we're close to going back here!"

"I'm not going to..." She squeezed her eyes shut, taking a deep breath. "I'm not going there to grab some attention, okay? I'll make sure that documents or photos of me won't make it out here. The only reason I'm planning to do this because I need to protect Steve."

"You want to protect Steve?" Tony said it like he misheard what she said. He looked at her with complete disbelief. Like he was tempted between laughing or scowling. "That guy's an old man he can do his protecting for himself! He doesn't need a babysitter to watch his back!"

"I am not a babysitter." She fumed, clenching her fists. "I just want to make sure he stays alive long enough until we're finished with the missions."

Recognition filled his face. His eyes turned darker. "You mean until he goes down on the ice?" That shut her up. "We're trying to make sure he lives long enough so he could die at the right moment? It's like raising a pig for slaughter."

Natasha kept silent because she knows he's right.

There was no way to sugarcoat it. No matter how bad that sounded, it's the sad truth. About Steve. About his life. Death. Everything.

"Cap's fate is a tragic one. We can't do anything about that." He said it almost as if he felt sorry for him. As if he cared about his teammate. His friend.

Her ears perked up, a thought coming into her mind. "What if we can?" He glanced at her in confusion. "Tony, we could... we could actually give him the life he wanted all along."

He was already waving his hands in protest the moment the words spilled out of her mouth. "No, no. Natasha, you don't understand—"

"Yes, I do! I... come on, you know how he is? You know how hurting he is every time someone mentions his past? It's a sensitive subject for him because it's something that he lost. And it's something that he can't ever get back. But what if he did?"

"You want us to let Steve stay here? Do you know how crazy that idea sounds? Forget being incognito, you're practically going to be changing the next 70 years of time!" Tony argued.

Yes, she knew that. She knows that. But maybe they were sent back here for a reason? And that reason is to change Steve's fate?

To actually give him the happiness and life that he deserved all along.

Because even though Steve told them numerous times that the Avengers were his only family now, that he was content with what he has and tried to positively adapt through the 21st century—she had always felt that a part of it was a lie.

And now that she had witnessed all this? She was surer than ever.

Because she never once saw Steve smile, talk, or laugh with them the way he did with his friends here. These people were his true family. True friends. True life.

Natasha couldn't take that away from him.

She wouldn't let his second chance at living his life be wasted again.

"Steve is happy here." She could only say. "I know he is. Even if he tells us that he's happy being with us back at the tower and staying up late at night to watch movies with us, I just know that he isn't. Not the way he is here with them."

"Natasha, are you sure you're ready to go back and live in a world where Captain America is just a hero from the past? A world where he's not our leader, our teammate, or our friend? Can you live with that?"

"Can you?"

"Don't answer a question with a question."

"I just want him to be happy. No matter what it takes."

"This isn't just about him, Natasha. Everything would change if Steve Rogers doesn't go down in the ice and wake up 70 years late. The Avengers would change, SHIELD would change and HYDRA might be worse. I know it's unfair to him, but if you know Steve very well, you know he would always put himself last even after everything he's been through just for the sake of many."

She didn't say anything, lowering her head down. She felt her stomach twisting and clenching in pain. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Nat," he sighed. "If you do this... you, we—we will never see Steve again."

That broke her.

Her heart seared in pain at the thought. She averted her gaze when she felt her eyes stung with tears. "I know," she whispered, her voice faltering.

"And you're okay with that?"

She didn't answer.

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Natasha didn't get so much sleep that night.

After leaving her room, Tony had told her that he will be keeping her watch with him for the meantime while he tried his best to get it working as soon as he can. He reminded her not to do anything stupid enough like he would.

The next day started out awful. It was a miserable morning. She was exhausted but her mind didn't put her to rest. Her constant thoughts about the time machine, about Steve, and about everything that has happened kept her awake till dawn. She barely had enough time to sleep or even shut her eyes for a short while.

"That isn't very attractive."

She looked up the voice and saw Bucky. He had a tray of food in his one hand while the other was gesturing at the crease lining her forehead.

"Today's not one of my best days." She grumbled, resting her forehead against her palm.

"I can tell." He took the seat opposite to hers, placing the tray down and propping his elbows on the table. "You've been awfully quiet when the colonel was discussing our agenda for the missions. Usually, you're more verbally active."

She let out a humorless chuckle. "You mean usually I'm more likely to question his orders to annoy him."

"That too." The humor slowly died down from his face when he turned more serious. "What's on your mind?"

She sighed, shaking her head.

"It's been bugging him too, you know." He nodded his head towards the side.

Her eyes followed what he was referring too and eventually saw Steve seated with Dugan and Morita. His eyes flashed with worry and concern. When he realized she caught him looking, his eyes widened slightly and immediately averted his gaze.

A small smile reached her lips. She looked at the unappealing tray of food in front of her and started tossing it around with her fork. "Alright, there is something on my mind."

"What?"

"You might think I'm crazy."

"No offense but I think there's nothing particularly new with that, Anne."

She rolled her eyes, setting her gaze back to him and dropped her fork. "You've seen me fight, right?"

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Yes?"

"And you know how much I can handle myself, right?"

"I think everyone is well aware of that already." She bit the inside of her cheek, and she could tell that he was giving her a baffled look, not knowing why she was asking him things that he already knew. "Why are you suddenly asking me all these? I have a bad feeling about it."

"Because," she sighed. "I want to come with you."

"Huh?"

"No, not just with you. All of you." She cleared out. "James, if I ask for your opinion can you answer me honestly?"

It only made him more freaked out. "Okay?"

"What do you think if I go on the HYDRA missions?"

Like the previous people she has opened this idea up to, she was already expecting that she'll hear another round of protests again. And she was prepared for it this time, more keen on convincing them of the reason why she should come.

Shockingly, Bucky reacted the opposite of what she was expecting to hear. "I think it's a great plan."

Her eyes lit up and she was almost too dumbfounded to speak. "You're not... you're not messing around are you?"

"No." He said in all seriousness. "You said to answer honestly right? And that's my honest opinion. I really think it's a great idea for you to be on the team. Considering all the... things you can do."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this." Stunned wouldn't even be a word to describe how she looked right now. She was beyond taken aback. "You're actually the first person to agree with me on this."

"I won't say that I'm happy about it, though. Of course, I don't like the idea of you going out there when you have the chance to stay on the other side of the card. It's dangerous but I'm in no place to stop you. It's your choice." He offered her a smile. "And it's not like you're taking no for an answer, right?"

Of course, she wasn't. "Right." She agreed, a lopsided grin appearing on her face.

"There you go. Was this what's bothering you the whole time?"

She couldn't lie about it. Not when he was being openly honest with her. "Yeah..."

"Well, you've already gotten my 'yes' to hop on board. I guess the only thing you should be worrying about... is getting his." Bucky nodded in the direction where their captain was sitting. He gave her a forced smile, sighing as if he felt sorry for her. "And I'm telling you, it's not going to be easy."

Natasha winced at that. It was definitely more than just 'not going to be easy'. Based on how long she knew Steve from work and personally, it's going to take a serious amount of persuading to get his 'yes'.

"I know."

Bucky gave her a wry smile. "Good luck."

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Later that night, she came to get her new set of uniform which included a pair of cargo pants (finally) and a tan polo shirt, black necktie, and leather jacket. Oh, and combat boots instead of the usual pumps she wears every day.

She didn't know they were given this uniform. It only convinced her more to see it as a sign that she was making the right choice of going on those missions.

Nothing happened much today, though, which was quite surprising as they always had something to talk about.

Natasha betted her chances and tried to talk to Peggy, not wanting for her to be as distant and untrusting as she was towards her the first time. Thankfully, she went along with her small talks despite what happened yesterday, and she assumed that was a good sign, so she repaid her with the same treatment.

She also heard her apologize to Steve afterward, remarking that it was an unprofessional thing for her to do. He forgave her, of course, and they resumed talking again. Which only sparked up the bitter feeling inside her once more.

Jeez, she really needed to get a grip on her jealous side.

She shrugged the thought away and went to go back to her room. It was past nine at night. Everyone had already gone home or went to rest in their bunks so she wasn't expecting anyone to be up at this time already, especially the soldiers.

When she felt an arm grabbed her from behind.

Her instincts kick in. She jutted her hips and slammed it back to hit the person right in the gut. She dropped her hold on her uniform and swung around to slug him across the face. She couldn't see his face since the lights were dim in this part of the hall, but she could see him grunt in pain.

Suddenly, another one grabbed her arm and slammed her against the wall. She felt a wave of dizziness rush through her head but still got to raise her arms up just when her attacker tried to grab her throat. Her fingers curled around his wrists as they both struggled to move.

Natasha lifted her foot to land a kick on his leg. He whimpered in pain and withered forward but she didn't expect him to turn his wrists around to grab ahold of her own. Before she could do anything about it, he pinned them both above her head to the wall.

He was forcefully pressing himself against her and she was starting to get uncomfortable when her chest was already brushing against his torso.

She could snap this guy's neck in a second, obviously, he had no idea what he was getting himself into.

"Get off me." She demanded, not sounding the least bit frightened.

Her attacker laughed, his breath hotly fanning against her face. "You're feisty, Agent. I like that. Not all pretty agents have the guts to resist when someone's already manhandling them."

"Yeah, well I'm not like most agents." She hissed.

"I can see that." He murmured lowly, leaning closer until his lips brushed against her jaw. "You think you're that feisty in bed too?"

Natasha was fuming. This was too much. Her fists clenched against his hold. "Get the fuck off me, you asshole. Last chance."

His lips started trailing its way to her jaw down to her throat. "Oooh, that's a foul mouth you have there. And I think pretty girls with foul mouths ought to be punished, don't they?"

All right, that's it.

She was about to attack when the other man from the shadows appeared in front of them. "Hodge! Hey! That isn't fair! You get to chance with her while I stay here on the lookout?"

Hodge? You mean that sick bastard who intentionally kicked a pole and caused a barbed wire to fall on Steve while they were training? That piece of shit?

"Be patient! You'll take your turn. I just got to have a taste of—"

He didn't get to finish his sentence when Natasha suddenly rammed her head into his.

As expected, he stumbled back, holding his now broken nose. "You little bitch." He went to strike for her again but she caught his fist in time and twisted it until she heard him cry out in pain. She landed a blow to his groin that made him crumple down to the floor.

She set her gaze on the other man and saw him take out a knife. It glinted through the darkness. "Am I supposed to be scared now?" She asked, daunting and even with a little disbelief.

"I'd prefer we'd do it the easy way, hot stuff. It would be less painful."

She couldn't help but scoff at that. "I highly doubt that."

Once he leaned over, she was about to knock the knife out his grasp when he suddenly swooped down and grabbed the material (her uniform presumably) from under her. She didn't expect that and lost her footing, slipping and falling back down to the ground.

While she was momentarily incapacitated, he crawled on top of her, pinning both of her arms against her chest and locked them in place. His free hand held the blade dangerously to her throat.

"Scream and I'll make a precious cut on your throat." He threatened.

Her eyes darkened.

Just when she was about to toss this guy to the side and get rid of him for good, a voice boomed from the end of the hallway.

"Hey! What's going on there?"

Her eyes widened. She knew that voice.

She craned her neck to see past his attacker and tried to get a look at the person who stepped in the exact moment.

And sure enough, her eyes immediately recognized that person to be Steve Rogers.

"Steve," she gasped.

He was now given a clearer view of the scene happening in front of him. The moment he saw her, surprise struck his face. But when it went over to the man towered over her, holding a blade against her throat, his mood quickly changed. His eyes loomed over the man with darkness. Rage. Horror.

The next thing she knew, the weight on top of her was gone with Steve yanking the man by the collar and punching him square in the jaw.

Then another. And another.

"Steve!" She screamed, standing right back up. She knew that he could possibly kill the guy unintentionally considering how strong he is. "Steve, stop!"

He punched hard all right. Real hard that the guy was knocked out cold on the floor after getting just a few blows from him.

Steve quickly turned to her, inspecting her for any cuts or bruises. Worry filled his eyes. "Are you alright?"

"I—"

She didn't even get to finish what she was saying when his eyes landed on something behind her. The worried expression was quickly replaced with the same dark look he had earlier. "Wait here," He zoomed past her and grab the man by his shirt. He pushed him against the wall.

Once Steve could get a clearer view of his face, disbelief struck his features. "Hodge?"

"Captain Rogers," he replied mockingly.

It infuriated Steve more. He gripped his shirt tighter, clenching his jaw while he glared at him as hard as he could.

She remarked that he had never seen Steve this mad before.

"Leave her alone." His voice was venomous. It was filled with so much rage and anger.

"Or what? You gonna put me to sleep like what you did to that fellow over there?" Hodge laughed humorlessly. "Come on, Rogers. It's not like she's yours to start with anyway. You already have Queen Victoria hot for you, at least let us have her. I'm sure I can give her a good time."

Then Steve stroke his fist into the bastard's face. Hodge spat out blood to the side, his already broken nose bleeding more furiously now. He held him up, his fingers were curled against his shirt so tightly that his knuckles were turning white.

"If you lay one finger on her again I swear to God I'll beat the day out of you, you bastard." Steve snarled.

She was stunned. Steve rarely ever cursed. And every time he did, it would only because he was joking or wanted them to stop bugging him about being too uptight about their 'language'.

Hodge didn't try to move from his hold because he knows he won't stand a chance against the super soldier.

Natasha came over and settled a hand his shoulder. "Steve," she said quietly, mentally telling him to let him go. "He's not worth your time."

It took a while, but with great hesitance, he did.

She went over to pick up her (now dirty) uniform and grabbed Steve's arm to lead him out the hall. He was silent the whole walk and until they finally reached the door to her room. She turned around and was about to thank him and bid him good night again when the words died in her throat as soon as she got a look at his face.

His blue eyes looked at her with concern. Worry. Fear. "Anne, are you okay?" She wondered how could his voice be so possibly soft and vulnerable when just a while it was enough to scare the hell out of her. He searched her for any signs of assault. "God, what did they... did they hurt you?"

She shook her head. "No, no they didn't." They couldn't, is what's more likely.

"Those bastards." He scowled under his breath. She could see his lips quivered, the way his jaw still clenched at the reminder of what happened. "What are you even doing out here this late?

"I came to get my uniform." Her eyes glanced down at the clothes she was holding.

He didn't tear his gaze from her. Disbelief rattled his voice. "And you couldn't do that in the morning?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "I do what I want to do. It's not like I can't handle myself against assholes like them. I had the situation under control."

His gaze turned softer as soon as he realized what she was implying. He was too caught up in the fear that she was hurt and forgot that she wasn't just any other woman he knew. "I know. I know you did. I'm sorry, I was just worried."

Same old Steve. She sighed. "You? What were you doing out here so late?" she returned his former question.

A faint crimson red crawled over his face. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I... well..." She raised an eyebrow. "I came to get the report's for tomorrow's mission from the office."

Natasha smiled, teasing him, "And you couldn't do that in the morning?" She sassed. He blushed harder, rolling his eyes as if to say she made her point.

They stood in silence for a while, both hesitating to make a move. Truth is, they didn't want to move. If anything, they would like to stay in the close distance they were in.

He was the first to snap out of it. "I guess—uh, I'll see you tomorrow then?" He offered a warm smile. "Good night, Anne."

As he was about to leave, she grabbed his arm. "Wait," His head immediately snapped to hers. She needed to do this right now. There was no time. "Can I talk to you? It will only take a minute. Can you..." She darted her head to both sides of the hall, checking to see if the coast was clear. "Can you come in? It's not exactly the kind of talk you can do out here."

His eyebrows practically shot from his face but when he saw the pleading look on her face, he assumed it was something serious. He nodded.

She smiled, realizing that she was still holding his arm and quickly let go. A noticeable blush appeared on her cheeks. She fumbled for her keys in her pocket and unlocked the door, letting him step inside.

Steve was nervous. He had never been invited to step inside a woman's room before. Even if this wasn't exactly, well, her room. It was like he was invading her personal space. The room was quite small. It looked the same as the bunks they had only this was more... orderly.

Natasha didn't waste any time. "Listen," She placed down her uniform on the top of her dresser and walked a tad nearer to him. "I need to ask you something but promise me you'll hear me out first."

Now he was becoming anxious. "Is something wrong?"

She breathed heavily, looking down at the wooden floor, then back up at him. His blue eyes were swimming in a swirl of confusion and concern. Her heart was soaring but she kept a determined look. "Captain, I want to be on your team." She finally said.

He stared at her. "Team?" Realization sunk in and his mind went off with a click. He gaped at her. "On the HYDRA missions?"

Natasha nodded. "Yes."

His eyes practically popped out of his sockets. His calm composure damping down a bit as his jaw went slightly agape. "Are you out of your mind? You saw how we barely got out of that damn factory. And now you want to go back in?"

What? Aren't they doing going to do the exact same thing too? Why was he acting like she was the only crazy one here? Her eyes narrowed. "I can say the same for you guys."

"That's different."

"How is that any different?"

His tone went dangerously low and serious. "It's too dangerous, Anne. I can't let you risk your life for that. This isn't just like the rescue mission we did, it's a hundred times more complicated than that."

Fury burned in her eyes. "I know that!" she snapped. "I'm not a little child that needs to be debriefed. Of course, I know it's a risk and I know that it's going to take more than luck to finish the missions and get our alive."

"Well, you're not wrong about that." His tone dripped with sarcasm.

She clenched her fists. "You saw what I'm capable of right? You're the first person to ever know that! The least you can do is trust me. That I can fight just like you guys and I can take care of myself and get the job done. I want to help."

Steve kept quiet, pressing his lips into a thin line. He still wasn't budging. She was right in everything, though, as much as he didn't want to admit it. He knew she was just as probably as strong as any of the men in his team (even stronger who knows?) but he just couldn't bear the thought of her being out there and risking her life.

He couldn't bear the thought of losing her.

"You know you don't have to do this."

I know. "But I want to."

Maybe she was just stubborn as he is. No, wait, not maybe. Certainly. He sighed. "Are you sure about this?" He asked, looking concerned.

Natasha kept her head up, giving a single nod. "I may not be a soldier, Cap, but I sure as hell am a fighter like you too." She said, giving a smirk.

A short smile appeared on his face but then it turned into a frown. "But we'll already start with the missions tomorrow. You couldn't have asked me this earlier?"

Guilt crept up on her face. Her cheeks flush in embarrassment. The truth is, she could have, really, but she knew that he would just turn down the idea and said something along the lines of 'I'll think about it'. Might as well ask him the night before right?

Steve's eyes widened in recognition. He took in her flustered look, he pouted. "You planned this out, didn't you? You knew that I'd immediately say yes when it's last minute."

She smiled sheepishly. "Sorry?"

He shook his head, amusement filled his face. "You really are something, Anne." He smiled, looking at her. "Be sure to pack everything you need. We're leaving at 0600."

"Yes, Captain."

Steve turned to the door, stopping just before he was about to go out. "You don't have to be so formal when it's just the two of us you know." He grumbled.

"Okay," she chuckled, walking over to where he was. She surprised him by leaning in to plant a chaste kiss on his cheek. His eyes widened to the size of oranges, cheeks heating up to the color of crimson red. She grinned at him, "Good night, Steve. And thank you."

All flustered up, he struggled to get the words out. "D-don't mention it." He put up an adorable smile. "Good night, Anne."

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Sorry if this is getting darker and more mature-rated as it progresses.