I Don't Wanna Keep Running From This Feeling.

All it took was one night. One night of fun, one drink too many, one stupid mistake. And their walls came crumbling down.

Natasha and Steve had been friends since they met that one fateful day on the hellicarrier. Fury noticed how well they got on, and made them a team. They were the best he had since Barton and Romanoff, the well-known Strike Team Delta.

Steve and Natasha heard the rumours that inevitably started circulating, because of their close friendship. Yes, they spent a lot of time together, but that was because they were friends, partners, nothing more, and nothing less. Yes, Steve was the only person, other than Clint, who knew about Natasha's affinity with Taylor Swift. Yes, they had movie nights, staying up late, which usually led to fully-fledged popcorn wars. Yes, sometimes she fell asleep with her head resting on his shoulder on the couch. But that didn't mean anything, they were just friends.

Natasha didn't think much of the rumours, just the young recruits looking for some drama. Until one day, Clint pulled her aside and asked her himself,

“Hey Nat?” he began hesitantly

“Yes?” she raised her eyebrow,

“You and Steve. You aren't a thing right?” he paused, “Are you?”

“Don't be ridiculous Clint. Steve and I, we're just friends,” she assured him, ignoring the sinking feeling in her stomach when she admitted those words.

“Okay then, just checking. I'd be the first to know right?” he asked playfully,

She punched him lightly on the arm. “Sure Barton, you'd be the first to know.”

Steve didn't like rumours, he never had, they caused trouble. So when he heard the ones about him and Natasha, he didn't take kindly to them. Not that he didn't wish they were true, because boy, he did! But they were friends, and he was happy with that. He was able to ignore them, until an excited Tony found him.

“You and Red huh?” he asked, leaning against a doorframe,

“Really Tony?” Steve raised his eyebrows,

“You didn't deny it,” he pointed at Steve.

“There is no 'Me and Red' Tony. We're just friends,” he told the brunette.

“Alrighty Cap, whatever you say, but my money's on you two.” Tony said, walking away.

The spy and the soldier sat on his couch, watching a movie. She sat with her feet resting on his lap, sprawled out across the length of the couch. While he occupied the left side, his arm draped over her legs. Sure, an onlooker would have thought they were together, but there was nothing wrong with being 'just friends' with a girl.

“Steve?” Natasha asked softly,

“Yeah Nat?” her voice sounded small, and his heart fluttered at the sound,

“The popcorn is finished,” she looked sadly at the bowl resting in her lap.

Steve stifled a laugh, “Don't look so sad, I'll go make some more for you.” He removed her legs from his lap as he stood up and took the bowl away from her.

“Extra butter this time!” she shouted after him,

“If you keep having extra butter, you're going to start looking like butter!” he joked,

“Do you see the worry in my eye?” she asked playfully,

“Nat, I can't even see your eye from the kitchen. But I'm guessing you don't care?”

“Not one bit Rogers!” she heard Steve laughing from the kitchen.

Later that night, Steve had fallen asleep, still sitting up, and Natasha rested her head on his shoulder, as usual. Since he was asleep, and probably wouldn't notice, she curled her body up close to him and draped her arm around his torso.

Without realizing what he was doing, or why, he found himself wrapping his arm around a pair of small shoulders.

Natasha smiled against his chest, he was protective over her without thinking about it. She found herself thinking about what it would be like if they ever took their friendship to the next level. But no, they weren't meant for that, she wasn't meant for that. Love was for children, she told herself as she slowly fell asleep, wrapped up in her friends's arms.

“Hey gang!” Tony burst into the Avengers lounge, sounding over excited, but then again, Tony got excited for just about anything.

Everyone looked at him blankly, obviously not sharing his own excitement. Well, almost everyone, Thor seemed to have a habit of being happy for no reason.

“GOOD MORNING TONY!” he greeted,

“Why can't you guys be more like Thor?” he asked the rest of the group.

Silence.

“Okay then, tough crowd.” He cleared his throat, “We are all going to a banquet hosted by yours truly tomorrow night. Dress sharp, but if you don't have anything, give me a shout and I'll organize something.”

Everyone groaned.

“Try not to get too excited about it,” he said sarcastically, “Oh! And Thor, bring some of that lovely Asgardian mead, or whatever, I want you and Cap to have a good time too. Red, I've ordered the best Russian vodka money can buy, so you're welcome. Barton, beer, obviously. Bruce, I got a really nice red I think you'll enjoy. Thor, and Cap, you are sorted out already.”

“It better be some good vodka Tony,” Natasha told him.

“Only the best for you Madame,” he bowed, Natasha threw a pillow at him, and he squealed. “Not fair! I wasn't ready!” he stormed out like a child, and the room erupted into fits of laughter.

The next evening, Natasha stood in front of her full-length mirror. She had to admit, she looked rather beautiful in the stunning black dress she had got, on Tony's expense of course. She would be sure to turn heads this evening, even if she only wanted to turn one in particular.

Steve looked at himself as he tried to fix his bowtie, and was failing quite miserably. Usually he could tie one perfectly, but for some reason, it just wasn't working out. He sighed as he heard a knock on his door.

“It's open,” he called.

“C'mon Steve! You're taking forever!” Natasha's familiar voice rang through his room.

He walked out from behind his closet door, and his eyes widened when he saw how breathtaking Natasha looked. But to him, she looked just as breathtaking as she did when she wore sweats and a tank top. “I can't get my bowtie right. Give me a minute.”

“Come here, we'll be here the whole evening if you keep trying to fiddle with it.” she instructed him.

He walked up to her, and she pointed her to the bed,

“Sit,” she commanded, at his confused face she clarified, “You are much taller than me. I'm not reaching up that high, just to fix your bowtie.”

He chuckled as he sat, “You know, maybe Tony's nickname for you isn't so bad. Little Red,” he joked.

She smacked him upside the head, “You better watch out Rogers, I know how to kill a man with a bowtie within seconds.”

He raised up his hands in defeat, “I'm sure you can.”

Natasha leaned forward and undid his messy bowtie, and began to refold it. Her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Steve smiled, this felt so normal, so perfect.

His smile didn't go unnoticed by Natasha, who smiled at him too as she finished off his bowtie. Steve started to stand up when the redhead pushed him back onto the bed,

“Stay there. I need to fix your hair,” she said, walking over to his bathroom, where she found a comb quickly,

“Oh, and whose fault is that?” he smiled at her,

She pointed the comb at him, “Don't get smart with me Rogers.”

Natasha combed back stray pieces of blonde hair. She brought her thumb up to her mouth and licked it, using it to push back an especially unruly golden lock. When she looked up, Steve was looking up at her with his beautiful baby-blue eyes. Her breath hitched in her throat, the way he looked at her made her stomach fill with preverbial butterflies. The tension in the room grew as she began to lean forward slowly. Her actions were interrupted when JARVIS' voice rang through the room.

“Mister Stark says that if you don't hurry up, they are going to leave without you.”

Natasha laughed, and Steve chuckled nervously, maybe they were just more than friends. Even if they wouldn't admit it.

Steve rubbed the back of his neck as he stood up, “I guess we should be going then.” He walked over to the door and held it open for her, “After you Ma'am.”

“Such a gentleman,” she smirked, walking out, and perhaps swaying her hips a little more than was necessary.

“Gosh! What took you two so long?” Tony complained,

“Steve couldn't do his bowtie.” Natasha deadpanned.

“That all?” Tony wiggled his eyebrows,

Steve visibly blushed, but Natasha didn't indulge him with a reaction. They both knew very well what would have happened if JARVIS hadn't interrupted them.

As expected, Natasha turned heads the minute she walked in. All the men in the room immediately stopped doing what they were doing, even some of the women. As much as Natasha loved getting a rise out of people, she didn't want any attention other than Steve's tonight. What? Did she actually just think that? Her and Steve were FRIENDS.

Tony leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Bar's all stocked up for you Red.”

Natasha smirked, “Thanks.”

As the night went on, the whole group mingled, with the exception of Steve, who still didn't enjoy being around such a large group of people. Natasha noticed him sitting alone at one of the tables. Okay, he wasn't alone, but he might as well have been. The young woman who was trying to flirt with Steve was making him very uncomfortable.

“Maybe we should get out of here,” the girl suggested,

Steve's eyes widened, “Uh-”

He was saved by Natasha sitting down next to him and putting a hand on his knee, “Everything alright here?” she asked Steve.

“Does it not look alright?” the girl interrupted.

Natasha glared at her, making her shift uncomfortably, “Was I asking you?”

“N-no,” the girl stuttered.

“Didn't think so. Now give the poor guy some room. Go find some other handsome guy to fool around with,” she told her.

When the girl was out of earshot, Steve smirked, “So you think I'm handsome?”

“Oh please,” she said, stealing a glass of champagne from a nearby waiter, “You know you're handsome.”

After sitting and chatting for a while, Natasha decided she wanted to dance. She stood up and took Steve's hand,

“Want to dance?”

“You know I can't dance to save my life Nat,”

She rolled her eyes, “It wasn't really a question. It's just a slow dance, nothing complicated.” Her hand was still extended towards him, “Steve, my arm is getting tired.” They both knew that wasn't true.

Steve reluctantly stood up and took her hand. The pair stood across from each other on the dancefloor. Natasha took his hands in hers and placed them on her waist, then rested hers on his shoulders. They swayed gently to the music, Natasha taking one of his hands in hers so they were almost dancing properly.

“See? It isn't so scary,” she smiled up at him,

“I guess not,” he chuckled.

As the music continued, Steve and Natasha got closer, until her head was resting on his chest. It felt nice, natural, like it was meant to be. Steve smiled to himself, but stopped when he realized who was looking.

“Nat?” he said nervously,

“Mhm,” her head still rested on his chest.

“Tony is watching,”

“So?” she didn't sound fazed.

“So,” he rolled his eyes, “He's gonna get the wrong idea.”

“So what if he does? I don't care,” she honestly didn't.

He chuckled, “Okay then.”

After almost half an hour of dancing, Natasha looked up at Steve, “How about a drink? Tony promised me some good vodka. And I saw Thor come in with his super alcohol.”

Steve chuckled, “Let's go get some then.”

Natasha took a sip of the vodka, smiling as the familiar liquid burned her throat, “Mmmm,” she hummed, “Not half bad.”

“Not half bad?!” Tony popped up behind them, “Red, this is the best vodka I could find!”

“Thank you Tony,” she laughed, “It's wonderful,” she assured him, it was quite clear he was drunk.

“HERE YOU ARE MY GOOD CAPTAIN!” Thor boomed, handing Steve a glass full of some kind of liquid. “AS PROMISED.”

“Thanks Thor,” Steve smiled at him as he took a sip. He coughed, “Wow, that is strong!”

A couple hours, and one shot too many later, Steve found himself at Natasha's door back at the Tower. He had insisted on taking her up to her room, even though she wasn't that drunk, she was still pretty out-of-it.

“Goodnight Nat,” Steve said softly, starting to walk away from her door,

“Steve wait!” her eyes widened in shock as it dawned on her that she said it out loud. Honestly, a few shots, and her filter completely dissipated.

They were frozen in time. Just looking at each other, standing awkwardly in the doorway.

“Yes?” he inquired.

Natasha swallowd the lump forming in her throat, “I-uh, I was wondering, if,” she rubbed her forehead, “If it would matter if,” she paused, “You know what? Screw it!” she jumped forward and pulled Steve down into a kiss.

Much to her delight, he melted into it, wrapping his arms around her waist as he pulled her closer. Natasha thought his lips tasted like chocolate, so soft, delicious, she never wanted to not be kissing them. Steve thought hers tasted like strawberries, sweet, intoxicating, pulling him in further with each passing second. Natasha brought her hands up to Steve's face as she kissed him harder, not wanting to let this moment go, knowing that, the next morning, everything would return to normal. Steve's fingers tangled in her red locks, savouring every moment her lips were on his. They kissed each other desperately, eventually stopping when they needed air.

Gasping, they pulled apart, “S-sorry I-I didn't mean to do that. Just uh- just forget about it,” Natasha abruptly stuttered out as she shut the door in his face.

Steve was standing in the hallway blushing furiously, he missed the feeling of Natasha's lips on his. His heart ached when it dawned on him that tomorrow everything would go back to normal.

Natasha slid down against her door, as she buried her face in her hands. “What have I done?” she whispered to herself. It was quite possible that she had ruined her friendship with Steve completely. She silently hoped that they would both be too hungover to remember what happened.

She had no such luck. It was obvious that both her and Steve remembered, and they would never forget. They spent the next few weeks avoiding each other as much as possible. Awkward silences filled the room when they were alone, and usually ended up with Steve rambling like an idiot and making up an excuse to leave the room.

One day, it was just the two of them at the Tower, the rest of the team had gone to see a movie that neither of them were interested in. Natasha was sitting in the lounge, when Steve walked in. She made a move to stand up when Steve stopped her.

“Nat wait, we need to talk,” he said shyly,

She reluctantly sat back down, and shifted away when Steve sat on the double-seater couch with her. They sat in awkward silence for at least five minutes, until Steve finally spoke up.

“Look Nat, I-I'm sorry for kissing you that night,” he apoligized,

“I'm not,” she paused, fiddling with a piece of fluff on her jersey, “And actually, I kissed you.”

Steve chuckled awkwardly, “Well then, we've got that settled. But Nat,” he hesitated, “I don't wanna keep running from this feeling.” Unwanted tears welled up in his eyes,

“So then don't,” her voice was shaky, almost as if she was pleading with him to feel the same way she did.

Natasha finally looked up at him with big, emerald eyes, “Don't. Don't run, not without me.”

Steve looked at the redhead, she looked so small, so vulnerable, all he wanted to do was wrap her arms around her and hold her tight. He took a deep breath before moving closer to her and cupping her face in his hand,

“I wouldn't dare,” he smiled softly at her,

She looked at him with wide eyes, Did he actually say that?Or did she imagine it? She got her answer when he repeated himself.

“I wouldn't dare,” he slowly leaned forward. Looking at her eyes, then her lips, unsure of whether to kiss her or not.

Natasha couldn't handle the suspense, so she kissed him, her lips crashing against his. She closed her eyes as they kissed. She ran her fingers through the soft hairs at the base of his neck. He tasted the same as he did that night after the banquet, if not better. She softened into his embrace, her lips still pressed against his.

Steve's stomach flipped wildly. Here he was, kissing the woman he had had feelings for, for so long, but pushed them down. Ever since that one fateful night, with just a little to much to drink. She had kissed him, he kissed her back. Now they were kissing again, and he never wanted it to end. He kissed her desperately, but softly, pulling her closer to him. The way her hands rubbed the back of his neck made shivers run down his spine.

They parted after a few minutes, “Time to stop running,” he smiled against her lips,

“I guess so,” she kissed him again, this time softer, slower, knowing that there would be a next time.