I love you so much I'm gonna let you kill me ●

[relicta]

She can't keep the smirk off her face as Steve gets into the passenger's seat, like so many times before. Except this isn't like any times before, because this a real undercover mission. One she isn't completely sure he's ready for, or more to the point one he isn't sure he's ready for so she'll have to do a lot of validating him. Which isn't exactly her strong suit, as they'd found over the course of working together and admittedly growing much closer than she ever could have anticipated.

"I'm surprised Stark is letting you go for a whole month." But she sure isn't disappointed. Out of all the people she could be (and had been) fake married to? This might not be such a challenge to sell. Not that she's reading into that any, why bother.

Comments

[valuedstrength]

The imagery is too much. He blushes and makes a point of looking anywhere, but Natasha right now. "Flowers, my love. I just want some old-fashioned romance." He couldn't sound more bitter if he tried. He hates her.

[relicta]

Her lips twitch in a telltale way, but she holds in the snickers (somehow). Mostly because her teasing isn't actually malicious. Most newlyweds are seriously gross, they have to pull off at least one layer of that if they hope to convince anyone. "You know I hate having flowers in the house, dearheart. They make me sneeze."

[valuedstrength]

"I would hate for you to be unhappy, sweetheart." Steve replies dryly. "I'm sure you feel the same way."

[relicta]

She shrugs. "As long as you pretend to be happy I'm cool with it." Only the tiniest hint of a smile gives her away.

[valuedstrength]

"I don't think I have to do much pretending considering who I am gonna wake up next to." He replies a little too honestly for his own good. Steve wets his lips as he realizes uncomfortably that he should have kept the joke going.

[relicta]

Her heart stutters in her chest. He wasn't joking, she knows when he's joking. Nat glances over at him sharply, but then swivels her head right back to the road. No need to crash her car over this, it's a really nice car.

"I made sure we got a king so you wouldn't be scrunched." Though she has this feeling like he curls up when he sleeps -- not that she thinks about things like that. But he still acted like he was small in so many other ways, she just idly thinks that. For no reason. It's an observation.

[valuedstrength]

"I don't take up much space," Steve replies honestly. When he can sleep, he curls up like he's fighting to keep every bit of warmth he can in his body. Time hasn't changed that. "Do we really need to sleep together?" It might sound weird considering how often he lets Tony into his bed, but there you go.

[relicta]

"I do," she volleys back immediately. Which is true she fans herself out like a cat trying to take up the entire bed okay. One eyebrow lifts, but she doesn't show anything else on her face. Because there's nothing else to show. She's not disappointed or anything crazy like that!! "A second ago you couldn't wait to climb in bed with me. The short answer is yes, unless I send you to the couch."

[valuedstrength]

"That was before I knew you were going to hog the whole thing to yourself." Steve quips back regardless of how much sense it actually makes. "You're not going to kick me in the face tonight, are you?"

[relicta]

"...Not intentionally." A beat. "Unless you deserve it." That's a no across the board Steve, she doesn't do night terrors.

[valuedstrength]

"Fair enough." Steve concedes with a laugh. He sobers up to give her a necessary truth. "I have trouble sleeping alone. Tony usually helps with that. I'm not sure how it will be sleeping in a place without him." Even if Tony sleeps with Pepper, it's not like all traces of him are gone. That's usually enough to compensate. But, now? Well he'll let her get the co-dependent jokes out of the way now.

[relicta]

He needs to stop bringing this down. Especially when it makes her feel... bad for making fun of him in the past. "...Can I help?" she asks after a long pause, trying to keep her voice as neutral as possible even while her knuckles turn white on the wheel.

[valuedstrength]

"Contact helps. Reminds me where I am." Which sounds more serious than it needs to be. He tacks on quickly, "It wouldn't have to be anything intimate. You could probably just hold my hand or something." He forces a smile. "Should have mentioned this before I accepted, huh? I didn't mean to put this on you."

[relicta]

"Shut up," she urges, unable to take any more well-meant sincerity. Natasha offers him up a quirk of a smile that's gone as quick as it had come. "But it could be? Intimate?" So sue her, she likes it when he blushes.

[valuedstrength]

His ears actually turn red this time. Steve glares at her without as much heat as he'd like. "Well we are married. If you want to kiss me to make it better..." He shrugs innocently. "Just a suggestion, beloved."

[relicta]

"Don't suggest unless you intend to carry through." Her eyes twinkle as she fixes him with a look as sharp as razor blades. She's turning off towards the next exit ramp. They need gas and she wants a slurpy.

[valuedstrength]

Steve swallows as he meets her eyes. That was a little intimidating even for Natasha. He glances back out the window uncertainly. Now isn't the time to get into a long conversation about it when they're due to stop any minute now.

"Sorry."

[relicta]

She frowns, failing to make the connection. "...For what?"

[valuedstrength]

He shrugs uncomfortably. Don't make him actually say it!!! "Sorry for the crummy joke. That's all." He scrambles to change the subject. "Think we should get some snacks?"

[relicta]

"You don't expect me to apologize for those too, do you?" Because they'd be here a long time if so. She nods vigorously at snacks though. That's something they can always agree on. "You read my mind, soul mate."

[valuedstrength]

"Even I won't live that long." He points out with a laugh. "How about those little cinnamon cakes? I'm starting to like those."

[relicta]

"And hot fries." She's the queen of gas station snacks don't even try to get one over on her right now son. "And slim jims. I want Reese's..." She pulls up to a pump and gets out, gesturing to him vaguely.

"Pumpkin, will you do this for me while I get our snacks? I would hate to chip a nail." She calls it loudly so the other people are sure to hear, making her way into the store before waiting for his answer.

[valuedstrength]

"Whatever you want, beloved." Steve shouts at her back. He gets to paying with the card SHIELD gave him and pumping. This is truly an exciting use of his time. Clearly he should always play the whipped husband.

[relicta]

She blows him a kiss before turning around and disappearing into the store. When she returns he's already done and had pulled the car up to the door like a true gentleman. Natasha finds herself oddly touched by the gesture, and oddly also finds that it doesn't even bother her that he took the liberty of driving her car without asking. Also without comment, she climbs into the passenger seat and shows him her many bags of loot. They are set for life. Nat pulls out a wrapped cake for him and sets it on his thigh, opening the bag of hot fries for herself as she buckles in. "We don't have all day, husband-mine." She flashes him a smile and starts to dig in.

[valuedstrength]

He smiles wide at her. Steve can't help feeling like their two kids at the start of an adventure. It almost reminds him of the old days back in Brooklyn. Almost.

"Just thinking of your safety, sweetheart." Once Natasha is safely buckled in, he resumes the journey. He pulls out of the gas station and heads back on the road. Steve can't resist shooting a couple of fond glances her way before picking up his cake. He rips it open with his teeth and takes to munching down on it as he drives. This is probably the perfect moment. Steve doesn't want to spoil it by trying to fill the comfortable silence.