There will always be another time for us to fall in love /

[relicta]

This is it -- the house of cards she constructed come tumbling down. She knew it would happen, really she did, but somehow she'd convinced herself it wouldn't be for a long time. That they had all the time in the world to just play house. This is her fault and she's letting Tony take the rap for it. She's always been a coward when it came to feelings, but she can't imagine how Steve must be feeling now.

She watches him go by in a blur of color, and she makes her choice, following him into the room though she stops herself at the doorway. She's probably the last person he wants to see, but they had become connected so long ago it would be impossible for her to turn her back on him now.

"I feel like Mom and Dad are fighting," she jokes ineffectually, her face falling even as she moves to sit on the edge of his bed, green eyes watching him like a hawk for any tiny move he makes.

Comments

[relicta]

Natasha's hand runs down his arm until it finds his, curling their fingers together and looking deep into his eyes. "You are ready, Steve. You have been for a while." He's been holding himself back for ages, something that had steadily been breaking her heart every time she went to see him. Now that he's here -- in New York. In the real world. And Tony is setting a path for him back to who he once was? There's no limit to the things he could do. "I'll be right here next to you." Which is going to get complicated when Bruce eventually comes back, he always does. But she'll deal with that when she has to.

[inthecold]

He tries to believe what she's saying. Despite his low self-esteem, he knows there's some truth to this. Steve knows he's been getting steadily stronger for a while now. Maybe it will be enough out there, maybe not. It means everything that going out doesn't mean losing her.

Steve has no words to thank her properly for it. He opts instead to close eyes, lean in further, and kiss her. He hopes it's enough to convey his gratitude.

[relicta]

If anything, Steve going outside should mean her losing him. There's no way she can be enough once there's a real choice, but she fully intends to take advantage of what she has while she has it. Her free hand comes up to cup his face, shutting her eyes too and smashing her lips back against hers. It's imprecise and messy -- but so are they. She only pulls away when she absolutely has to, her breast heaving as her lungs try desperately to play catch up; and resting her forehead against his while they do so. "...Should we go out there?" It seems like it's getting pretty intense again, and if Steve can be brave so can she, as much as she really isn't looking forward to her own lecture from Bucky.

[inthecold]

He doesn't need air as desperately as she does, but parts all the same on her cue. Steve runs his tongue over his bottom lip as he catches his breath. He nods in agreement against her forehead. They need to make sure there's no more argument about what's to follow now.

"It's time." Very reluctantly he pulls away from her to stand up and head back to join the other two men. He's ready to do what he has to.