Steve
Steve Rogers is Captain America. Really, Captain America. Let that sink in. The first time Natasha had heard the name she had been young, very young. It was a name brought up in disdain and jealously. She didn’t pay much mind to it.
As she grew older the absurdity of the title began to truly sink in. She shook her head at the thought, ridiculous. Then she was recruited by Clint Barton who introduced her to Phil Coulson. Coulson, who admired Captain America possibly beyond all else. And when he explained why some of the absurdity had dissipated. Though not all of it.
Then she met Steve Rogers. Who, without meaning to, embodied Captain America. He didn’t need to even try, it’s just who he was. That’s when she accepted it, Steve Rogers was living proof. There was no denying it.
In addition to being such an icon, Steve Rogers is also a genuine kind of guy. Respectful, at times humorous, and if you were lucky enough to get close to him—a damn good friend. But everyone has their ups and downs, and Steve Rogers has... well you didn’t want to get on his bad side.
Natasha had seen it before, mainly after Hydra had been discovered inside of SHIELD. But one time, after the Triskelion fell into the Potomac she really saw it.
Bucky Barnes, that was his shortcoming. And he had been searching relentlessly for his friend with Sam Wilson. Natasha had given him the lead herself, and wished him well. And she had meant it. She had gone her own way meaning to build some new covers, when she heard about the base.
According to her sources, it was a Hydra faction, a small but powerful one. She didn’t reach out to Steve immediately, she had made sure her intel was correct then when it was inevitable she reached out to let him know. She almost regretted this. Almost.
They met a few miles outside of the base. She had drawn up a layout and had it ready and spread out on the hood of her car when Steve and Sam joined her.
“How’d you even get this?” Sam asked.
She looked up slyly, a dangerous smirk playing on her face. “A girl has her ways.” Sam didn’t press the matter.
What she hadn’t told Steve was what was inside; a lab of sorts. With a metal chair and an electronic contraption. It felt familiar to Natasha though she couldn’t quite explain why... they’d cross that bridge when they came to it.
“Plan is to flush them out.” Steve said. “No one left behind. Completely dismantle the base.” He spoke firm and there was a hint of fury in his voice. Barely recognizable but it was there. She should have known better.
Sam and she agreed and they moved in. They would flank the base from three sides, and meet in the middle. Sam wouldn’t use his wings and instead joined them in stealth mode, taking out the Hydra soldiers one by one. Steve threw his shield as though it were a frisbee and it knocked off of one soldier to the next. Natasha’s Widow bites were the silent weapon, shocking unknowing unsuspecting enemy soldiers. They each moved to the center of the base leaving unconscious bodies behind them, until finally—they came to it.
An observation room separated by a sheet of glass looked on into the room with the metal chair. A man’s back was turned to them, they couldn’t see who he was.
“Captain America...” he spoke, a laugh hinted in his words. “I thought you would come.” He turned to face them. He wore a monocle and Hydra army uniform. His hands clasped behind his back, he stood tall and intimidating. “You know who I am?”
“Can’t say I do.” Steve said.
“Can’t say I care...” Sam muttered.
The man laughed, “I am Baron Von Strucker.” He said, “I am, how you say... Hydra’s Head.”
“Hydra has many heads.” Natasha said, “I doubt you’re the only one.”
Strucker turned to her. “You are not wrong Romanova,” He said. “Perhaps you also recognize me?”
“Sorry to disappoint.” She said.
“Ah,” he replied hand reaching out to the metal chair and rubbing it up and down. “That is all well and good then. This tells us our programming is indeed effective.”
Natasha barely let the confusion show on her face before she let it fall back to neutral. Strucker turned to Steve, “No matter.” He said, “I assume you are here because of the Soldier?”
Natasha’s heart sank, she turned to look at Steve. There was no mistaking the heartbroken look that had befallen him. Strucker knew he had struck a nerve, he smiled. “Yes indeed.” He said. “Sergeant Barnes sat in this very chair.” He patted the metal arm. “I admit, it was not the only chair where we remade him. There were several. But,” he circled around the back, and placed both hands on the chairs arms leaning down slightly. “this is where I had the privilege to work on Master Barnes. Perhaps I should try the same on you?”
There was no time to stop it, a loud roar had filled the room and Steve had flown forward. Instead of colliding with Strucker he flew threw what they now knew was a projection. Steve turned, his face red with fury, breathing hard. “You son of a bitch!”
Strucker laughed again, “No Captain. I am no longer here. As soon as you came I was gone. And now so is Hydra. You are all that is left. I thought you wouldn’t fall for it, I’m glad I was wrong. You truly are a man out of time.”
Natasha thought back to the bunker in NJ and cursed herself. “We have to go!” She yelled. “Now!” She made to run out Sam on her tail, but she could tell something was off. Turning back she saw Steve hadn’t moved. “Rogers!” He looked up, the anger still vibrating through him. “I need you to move soldier, that’s an order!” Strucker’s image was still laughing. Natasha saw the projector and shot it out making the image disappear. Steve still didn’t move. She turned to Sam, “Get out of here!”
“I’m not leaving him.” Wilson said.
God save her from stubborn men.
“I got this,” she snapped “Now GO.”
Maybe it was something in her tone, maybe it was something she did. Sam seemed to cower at her command. He nodded and left. Natasha turned to Steve.
“Listen to me.” She said harshly. “I didn’t know this is what the room was for, maybe I should have.” Strucker’s words echoed in her mind.
“You knew this was here?” Steve said through gritted teeth. The anger was coming to her now. Good, she could work with that.
“Yes I did,” she said backing towards the doorway. “And I still made you come. I knew what this place was. I knew he would be here. I knew... I knew Bucky had been here.” Steve roared, he ran at her and she ran.
Before she knew it they were both outside and she was running for the perimeter, they were maybe 20 feet away when he tackled her into the grass. He pinned her down, his hands making their way to her throat—
BOOOOOM! The base exploaded, the impact threw him off of her, they could feel the heat from the flames. They both gasped and stayed on the ground, the place burning. Sam came over to them, kneeling by Natasha. She waved him off and went on her knees, crawling to Steve. He was jerked over, hands grabbing the grass and pulling out the blades. Sobs wrecked his body.
“Rogers?” Her voice was raspy, she didn’t speak loud.
“I’m... I’m sorry.” He said between cries.
She placed a hand on his back. “It’s alright. I’m sorry too.” She looked back at the burning base.
“I wasn’t there for him.” He said, “I should’ve... should’ve been there.”
“You couldn’t have known. There’s no way you could’ve known.”
They stayed like that for a while. Eventually he turned and say cross legged on the grass. There were tear tracks on his face, and his eyes were red rimmed.
“You lied to me.” He said. “You lied to me, and I attacked you.”
She smiled slightly, “I manipulated you. Sort of my specialty.” She said. “I’m not even sure I’m sorry I did it. Saved your ass didn’t I?”
He huffed out a laugh. From above Sam blew air between his teeth. They both looked up at him. Sam shook his head,
“You guys are crazy. Like clinically insane. I hope you know that.” He said.
Steve nodded, “Didn’t know I had it in me.” He said. He turned to Natasha, “Thank-you.” He said.
“Don’t mention it.” She said. “Really, don’t. Sam will have a field day with this story for his PTSD group.” She stood up and held out a hand, he took it and she pulled him to his feet.
“I already have enough to tell.” Sam said. “Besides, no way am I bringing up Captain America going apeshit.” He said lightly, clapping a hand on Steve’s back.
“I appreciate that.” Said Steve.
“My therapist is another story though...”. Sam muttered.