Oh, I'm Falling for You
After a month of training or so, Nick had eventually allowed James to become an agent. And even an Avenger. Tony had hosted a party for his achievement, the billionaire had warmed up to the super-soldier and now was considered a friend to James. The party was wonderful, a little over the top if you asked James, but that was just Tony for you.
“He likes to spend his money,” Steve shrugged when James looked in awe at how the compound was decorated. He was glad Steve had encouraged him to wear a suit once he saw everyone in elegant wear.
“Hey man, congrats. You’re officially at Nick Fury’s beck and call,” Sam joked, punching Bucky’s arm in a brotherly way. But he winced after he had done it, accidentally punching the metal one.
“I hate it when you wear long sleeves,” he muttered, shaking his hand.
“And I love it,” James smirked.
Tony had eventually made his way to the three, smiling at James.
“Looking sharp, Barnes. Gotta say, you look good in a suit. Trying to impress some ladies tonight?” he asked, while handing him and Steve a drink. Sam already had a beer of his own in hand.
James just scoffed and shook his head while Steve handed the drink back to Tony. “I can’t get drunk.”
“So what? Just enjoy the taste of it, though I do feel bad for you,” he clicked Steve’s glass once he forced it back into the captain’s hands, then walked away before he could protest.
It was champagne, sweet and bubbly, yet he still didn’t feel like drinking it. James took a sip and smiled.
“God, it’s been forever since I’ve tasted this stuff,” he laughed.
“And you, Mr. Winter Soldier, can get drunk?” Sam asked.
“No, I just enjoy the taste more than Steve does,” James shrugged.
“Because you’re the one who always loved alcohol,” Steve rolled his eyes.
“True, had my first beer at twelve,” he chuckled back.
Sam laughed and started up a conversation along the topic of sweet margaritas Steve may like. Steve of course denied that he would like any alcoholic beverage.
“I’m starved, I’m going to find some food,” James said, and left the two to their banter.
He ran into Natasha at the appetizer table. She was putting a few freshly made mini crab cakes onto her plate.
“Hey,” she smiled at him when he approached. He couldn’t help but look over her figure. She was wearing a long dark maroon colored dress that actually blended nicely with her hair (almost surprisingly). It accented her curves perfectly, being tight around her waist and middle, while flowing airily from her hip to the ground. The neckline was low, exhibiting a bit of her cleavage he hadn’t really noticed before. Okay, maybe James had noticed, but it wasn’t really showcased as it was that night.
He forced himself to look away after a second, hoping she didn’t just notice how he looked her over. “Stop it! She’s your co-worker, your friend,” he told himself in his head, but it was as if there was some magnetic force he had to her. That feeling of trust had evolved into attraction and he didn’t know how to stop it. He didn’t know if he should.
“Hi,” he replied. “You look… beautiful.” He made the words out, flustered, as he busied his hands by adding a few bread rolls onto his plate followed by some cooked green beans and a couple shrimp.
“Not looking too bad yourself,” she replied with a kind smile. His heart was pounding in his chest, and he didn’t know how to calm it down. “And I noticed you got a haircut.”
She reached up and ruffled his hair, not exactly ruining it since he didn’t put any gel into it (thankfully). With just a run through it with his own hand, the style was back to normal.
“Thanks, finally went to a barber shop,” he responded, almost shyly. They had talked before, countless times, yet why did he feel so… flustered?
“Good,” she nodded then began to walk away. “I’m going to sit with Maria and Wanda, have a nice time. You deserve it.”
He watched her walk away, then broke out of the daze and walked back to Steve and Sam before anybody else or Natasha would notice.
The thing was, that whole time, how he had eyed her, Natasha had noticed. And it gave her hope.
***
A few hours later, most of the guests that James didn’t even know, had left. The only people remaining in the compound were the Avengers, including: Steve, Sam, Wanda, Vision, Rhodey, Thor, Bruce, Tony, and Clint; along with a few other important people: like Helen Cho, Pepper, Maria and Jane (Thor’s girlfriend). Sharon had eventually arrived as well, which caused for Steve to leave James and Sam to spend some time with her.
James smiled as he watched the two laugh and talk with each other. He was glad that Steve had eventually found somebody to care for. He knew that the Captain would always love Peggy, as his first love, but maybe Sharon was the right person for him for the future.
After Sam had left the actual party, only half an hour later, saying he had a counseling meeting tomorrow morning, sharp and early, James was left sitting alone. He looked across the room and found Natasha instantly. She was laughing at something Wanda had said before Vision walked up to her and asked her to dance. Natasha shooed her away, probably telling her to go dance with the toaster, before nursing her own drink by herself.
A good amount of people were near the center of the room, dancing to whatever song was on in the background. Steve and Sharon had made their way over as well, along with Thor and Jane, and Maria danced jokingly with Rhodey (the two being pretty close friends).
“You should ask her to dance,” Tony said, walking up to James. “I’m going to grab Pep is a sec.”
“Who?” James asked.
“Red, of course. You’ve been eyeing her the whole night,” Tony laughed.
“I don’t know… I don’t think she sees me like that or anything. We’re just friends,” he shook his head. The last thing he wanted was to ruin their friendship and trust, one that he valued so much. Without her, James didn’t know how he would’ve coped with everything.
“Pft,” Tony scoffed. “She looks at you differently too, you know. Only slightly, she’s far too good at hiding all her emotions, but she smiles at you differently compared to how she smiles at Steve or even Clint. That says something.”
“I don’t know Tony,” James shook his head again. “I don’t want to risk anything.”
“It’s just a dance, solider. Just ask her as a ‘friend’ if that makes you feel better,” he shrugged, then left James alone to decide for himself while he went to ask Pepper to join him on the dance floor.
After a moment, James gave in and made his way over to Natasha, where she still sat alone.
“Hey, um… do you want to dance?” he asked, shakily. Why in the world did she make him so nervous all of a sudden?
She looked at him with an unreadable expression for a few seconds, yet it felt like minutes. Had he stepped too far? Had he just ruined everything? The questions circulated through his brain. Did she even have a boyfriend? That James didn’t know, but Tony would’ve probably mentioned it if she did. Right?
“Sure,” she gave her response after what felt like an eternity. James let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, and took her hand.
Natasha didn’t expect James to ask her to dance. The thought hadn’t even really crossed her mind. But she had noticed his eyes lingering on her for a majority of the night. She didn’t know if it was recognition or maybe just attraction, though both made her heart flutter at the prospect.
He took her hand and led her onto the floor, just in time for a slow song to play through the speakers spread around the room. Natasha recognized the song, yet she didn’t really know how: It’s You I’m Falling For.
She walked onto the floor, decently close to the center, and placed her hands on his shoulders, while he placed his own, almost shyly, on her hips.
Oh, it’s you I’m falling for. My heartbeat just stops for more.
The warmth of his hands soaked through her dress. It felt comforting, familiar.
It’s you I’m dying for. You’re killing me the best way possible.
They moved slowly in tight circles, though the dancer side in Natasha came forward and she led him in a basic two-step waltz (Russian of course).
And if I had the chance, I’d tell you. You’re more than what you see.
She’s danced this waltz with him before. A more complicated one, but she had. In Moscow as a cover. Yet they had danced not as the cover then, but as themselves. Oh, how she wished she could tell him.
And all the fear that you face, is mirrored by your sin.
Why hadn’t she checked? Waited? She could’ve save him then. They could’ve ran away from the Red Room together. Like she had promised.
Oh, it’s you I’m falling for. My heartbeat just stops for more.
Almost as if by habit, she reaches up and wraps her arms around his neck. At first he tenses then relaxes to the touch, letting he hands circle her hips.
It’s you I’m dying for. You’re killing me the best way possible.
And it feels like she’s in that ballroom all over again. She wants to lay her head on his chest and inhale his cologne. But she holds back. They’ve gotten this far, yet an action like that might be too much. No, it would definitely be too much. Why was this so hard? To control herself?
Oh, it’s you I’m falling for. My heartbeat just stops for more.
James tightens his grip by just a bit, as if he doesn’t want to let her go as the song nears its end. Natasha’s heart skips a beat at the movement. He always had that effect on her.
It’s you I’m dying for.
She would still die for him. But would he?
You’re killing me the best way possible.
Did he remember her? Is this why he asked her to dance? Or why then? Her lack of answers was torture.
The song ended, yet Natasha was so buried in her own thoughts that she barely noticed.
“Natasha,” she heard James whisper.
“Yeah?” she looked up at him.
“The song’s over,” he explained. Everyone on the dance floor were now dancing to a more upbeat song, Natasha didn’t know the title.
“Right,” she nodded, gave James a weak smile, then left the floor and headed back to her drink. This whole “not telling him what they had” thing was getting harder by the day.