Continuously

Natasha groaned loudly as her sore and sweaty body made contact with the cushions. These actions were repeated a mere three seconds later by her partner.
“Tired?” She teased Steve, her voice hoarse.
“I should be asking you. You’re the one that had to spar with Sam for three hours.” Steve mumbled.
“Mmm.” Was all Nat could manage.
The agreement had been that if Sam had beat her one on one, than everyone was free for the day. However, this never happened and eventually Steve and Natasha called it a day. Training the new recruits had been nothing but exhausting, but having each other made it easier.
“How about we clean up and watch a movie.” Steve offered, a bit nervous.
Sure, they had hung out time and time again, yet his heart still jumped, and his nerves buzzed whenever he awaited her answer.
“I don’t know soldier.” She chuckled.
Steve knew that voice, he knew she was kidding.
“How about I throw in some take out?” He added.
“Then I say, we have a deal.” She said turning her head to wink.
He blushed madly, as she stood up from the couch. Her red hair, longer than before, bounced around her shoulders, and her hips swayed enticingly as she made way to her quarters.
“See you soon Steve!” The spy called in her wake.
Steve grinned. That woman was something else.
————

Steve, now free of any sweat that covered his body nearly an hour ago was clean. His facial hair was neatly trimmed, as he dabbed on some after shave. He knew that he was being a little silly, but he felt the perk up on appearance for Natasha, not matter what occasion. Knowing she would probably be in shorts and a hoodie, he settles for grey sweats and a tight black t-shirt. Slipping his jacket over his shoulders, the blonde grabs his wallet, and exits his room.

As Steve passed the common area he noticed two heads on the couch. He recognized them immediately and internally groaned, hoping you go unnoticed.
“Where you off to Cap?” Rhodey spoke as he turned his head.
Damnit.
It was nice to know at least the spy training was paying off.
“Just to pick up some takeout.” He said casually.
Rhodey nodded, Sam’s head remained planted to the television.
“Where from?” The older of the two prodded.
“Um just some thai food.” Steve responded, getting increasingly nervous.
“Never pegged you for a thai food type of guy.” Rhodey jokes.
“He’s not.” The other voice sad.
Bingo. This is what Steve was dreading.
Suddenly, Sam's eyes were piercing his own.
“Natasha likes thai food.” Sam grins madly, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Sam.” Steve warns through gritted teeth.
“Hey man, I’m just stating facts. I’ve lived with you two a while.” Sam defended, still unable to wipe the smile from his face.

Steve, Sam, and Natasha had endured a lot together the past years. They both assisted Steve during the demise of shield, and his midst his wild goose chase for Bucky, a man neither even knew. That bonded the trio in ways that Steve has trouble to comprehend. Losing Bucky was without a doubt one of the hardest things he has ever had to face, and getting a second chance at a best friend, a brother, baffles Steve. With Sam filling some of the void his childhood friend left behind, Steve shared a lot with Sam. One of those things being the fact that he was in love with Natasha. It scared him to death, he trusted Sam, but being able to admit it to someone makes him more confused than ever. Sam encouraged Steve to share the feeling with Natasha, positive she reciprocated it, but Steve was in denial. Deep down the confidence of the scrawny kid from Brooklyn, and his confidence still loomed heavy on the Captain's mind, especially with Natasha.

“Well if you’ll excuse me. I don’t want my dinner to get cold.” Steve gulped, backing out of the room to the elevator.

Once out of earshot Sam cackled loudly, as Rhodey joined him.
“Think he’ll ever ‘fess up?” War machine thought aloud.
“Probably. But not until another catastrophic event.” Sam sighs.
Rhodey nods. The pair falls in silence for a few moments.
“So… should you call and tel; Stark they’ve had dinner everyday this week or should I?” Rhodey speaks.
Sam laughs and pulls out his cell phone.
“I’ll put it on speaker.” He laughs.
————

Natasha pushed herself from her bed, using judgment that Steve was probably settled in and ready for dinner. Looking in the mirror she smoothed out her black shorts and all too big U.S. military sweatshirt, and glides out her door. As she rounds the corner, she collides with another body, similar to hers in size.
“Sorry Nat.” Wanda says, trying not to knock strawberries from her bowl.
“It’s okay.” Natasha smiles.
Despite the shaky start in Sokovia, Natasha has grown fond of the girl. Nat can empathize well with the challenges that life has thrown at Wanda, and it was nice to have another female presence around.
“I just had the pizza Sam got for dinner, It’s really good. I’d hurry to the kitchen before they eat it all.” Wanda chuckles.
“It’s fine, I got thai.” The redhead explains.
Wanda cocks an eyebrow to the assassin.
“You got thai, or Steve got thai,” Wanda says suggestively.
“Goodbye Wanda.” Nat says casually pushing past her.
As the woman leaves her line of sight, the witch giggles to herself. Telepathy or not, it doesn’t take a genius to know that the spy was crazy for the soldier.
————

The door sounds open, and Steve doesn’t flinch, he used to this, used to her coming in.
“Howdy partner.” She says poking his shoulder from behind where he sits on the couch.
“Hey.” He turns to face her.
Call him soft, but his breath hitches a little. She looks beautiful like this. Her fiery hair pulled back into a braid, her green eyes shining under the light, and his all too big sweatshirt swallowing her whole.
“Did you hear me Steve?” She says nuding him.
“Huh?” He shakes his head, drawing him back to reality.
“I said we can watch this new horror movie that came out after dinner.” She restates.
“Oh sure, foods on the table.” The soldier points.
Natasha licks her lips and leaps to her chair. Scooping some of her noodles she moans loudly at the first bite.
“Never gets old.” She says through chews.

Steve chuckles as they fall into conversation about what's up with their fellow Avengers. Both talk to Tony often, he decided to take some time and travel around with Pepper, which he seems to never be happier about. Nat talks to Clint a lot as well, and she and Steve plan to visit the farm within the month. Thor has apparently sent some messages to Tony saying he is okay, but getting in touch with Bruce has been impossible. The pair knows he would most likely reach out to Tony first, so it was a waiting game, something they were all too familiar with.

“So what about you?” Nat asks, her voice softening.
“What about me?” He asks a bit puzzled.
“Hows my favorite soldier doing?” She clears up, her voice almost in a whisper as her hair falls from her braid in small tendrils.
His heart beat speeds up, and his eyes widen.
“Things have been crazy training the new recruits, and I know searching for Barnes on top of that all, it's a lot Steve.” She explains.
He nods slowly.
“It is.” He clarifies.
Nat gazes up at him, her emerald green eyes melting into his ocean blue ones.
“But you make it easier.” The blonde continues reaching for her seemingly smaller hand.
“Nat I don’t think I could do any of this without you. The training, the look for Bucky. You never had to do any of it, and yet you do.”
Natasha smiles, and it's the most genuine thing he thinks he’s ever seen.
“Well, I think I may have been wrong.” She whispers.
“Huh?” He says his brows furrowing.
“I think we might in the right business Rogers.” She says her hand smoothing over his knuckles.
He smiles back to her as they stare at one another a moment longer. Drinking in the stillness they rarely get. Time passes, but for them it feels like the world is still, that is until Nat cellars her voice.
“How about that movie soldier?” She offers with raised brows and a tight lipped smile.
He nods, and takes away any remnants of dinner.
————

The pair find themselves on the couch in no time, and more importantly the pairs find themselves intertwined with one another. Natasha is leaning into Steves side, her head on his chest as his arm is draped around her shoulder, absently playing with the ends of her hair.

Someway into the film, Steve hears her soft snoring in his ear. He adjusts himself to get up and shut off the television, until she's grabbing his hand. The redhead mumbles something incoherent Steve shishes her and places a kiss atop her crown. As he moves around, her mumbling continues, causing him to chuckle. Returning to her, he scoops her up gently and carries her into his bedroom. Placing her down gently, he settles next to her. This was a routine for them. Her head eventually finds his chest, as his arm returns around her middle, and soon enough they're both asleep.
————

Natasha is shivering. Maybe falling asleep in shorts was not such a good idea, especially since there is nothing she hates more than the cold. Slipping out of bed, she places her hand on the knob to her closet to grab some sweatpants. However, when it swings open she is meant by mounds of snow. She turns quickly to go back to the door, to her room. But, there nothing but landscape.
“Hello!” Her voice rips through the air, as she crosses her arms in attempts to stay warm.
“Over here.” A whisper says over her shoulder.
Turning again toward the voice, the door is back, and soon enough she is entering through it. The second she steps in, she wish she hadn’t, that she could be anywhere else.
“Choose one. Or all will suffer.” Madame B’s voice sounds heavily into her ear.
Tears stream her face as her vision blurs. In Front of her tied to the chair is each of her avengers, looking as terrified as she is.
“I can’t” She sobs.
“You will.” her tormentor responds.
“I can’t!” She yells, her knees scraping the concrete floor.
“You were always stubborn Natalia.” Madame B says.
In an instance, shots ring through the air.

“No!” Natasha screams as she is startled awake.
Steve jolts awake at this and without hesitation captures her in both his arms.
“Hey you’re okay.” He says pushing her damp hair from her face.
“Where are you?” He asks.
This is a routine they follow.
“New York.” She breathes through cries.
“Good, and who am I?” He tries.
“Steve Rogers.” She exhales.
“Hear that Nat, you’re safe, you’re home.” And he doesn’t mean to say it, but he just does.
Her breathing stops and her cries. Home. Home isn’t the Avengers facility upstates, home is here, in Steve's arms.
“I’m home.” She whispers wiping her tears.
Her head turns to meet his own.
“Remember all those years ago, when I promised you I’d never run without you.” Her groggy voice speaks.
He nods.
“You have to promise me the same.” She is practically begging.
And fuck, it scares Steve shitless. He’s never wanted to promise anyone the world until this very moment.
“Of course.” He agrees kissing her forehead.
“I’d promise you the world if I could.” He whispers and its low, so god damn low. Had they not been in the stillness of the tonight it would have gone unheard.
Natasha just lets another tear slip, as she places a kiss on his cheek. The spot tingles where her lips were, and he pushes her to lay back. Steve grabs onto her, and she clings tightly.
You’re supposed to find safety within your own home, and here in his arms, she knows he provides just that.
————

Nat manages to fall into a deep sleep, emotionally and physically exhausted from the previous day. She is displeased to be awakened from her slumber from a loud alert on her phone. Like her, Steve jumps at the noise. She grabs the device and read the incoming message.
“Everything okay?” He worries.
“Up and at em’ soldier, I just got a tip.” She says yawning.
“Where to this time?” He asks already sifting for his duffle bag.
“Canada.” She replies.
————

“I will take the pull out couch.” Nat tells the trio.
Wanda and Sam don’t protest, all too excited to have their own full beds. Wanda has been coming on their adventures while tracking Bucky not only is she a good asset, but it's good experience and Steve and Natasha trust Vision and Rhodey to watch the tower. Steve almost looks betrayed at the statement, but it’s all in good fun.
“We will take the pull out couch.” He says picking her up and throwing her seemingly weightless body over his shoulder.
Natasha giggles loudly at the action, and Steve's laughs can be heard as well as they filter into the living area.

“They make me sick.” Sam says, but his smile betrays him.
Wanda chuckles.
“You think they’ll ever tell eachother?” Wanda questions.
“Wait who told you-” Sa, begins suspicious of her serious tone.
“No one, I-” Wanda starts.
“Look Wanda you know how pissed Natasha would be if you were sneaking around in her head.” Sam scolds.
Wanda laughs a little at this.
“No one had to tell me Sam.” She confirms.
“I’ve known since Ultron.” The witch states.
“Ultron?” Sam asks, he missed the events that ensued.
“He took Nat, and I had met Steve wright after the fact. He was completely torn up, angry, confused, sad. It was love if I ever saw it.”
“Sounds like him.” Sam agrees.
“I was more shocked to find out they weren’t together from the way he was acting you’d think they were married.” The brunette chuckles.
The room grows silent. Wanda takes this as a cue to crawl under the duvet, as Sam flicks off the lamp next to his bed. The room is completely dark when Sam speaks again.
“They’ll figure it out eventually.” He says.
Wanda's neck turns to make out his silhouette.
“Life's too short.” Falcon finishes seriously, before turning to sleep.

————
The tip was no good. Again another dead end, it was one after another, and Steve was getting tired of it.

They all enter the hotel room in their dripping wet suits, Wanda and Sam disappear to their area and shut the door, as a very irritated Steve sits on the couch. His anger slowly fades into sadness, as Natasha tries to approach him.
“Steve.” She tries softly.
Nothing.
“Steve, come on, this isn’t the end.” She explains.
Steve is on his feet in a moment looking down at her, fire in his eyes. She has to refrain from cowering away over his tall and scary stance.
“Quit.” He spits.
Natasha looks hurt.
“It’s no use. I brought you out here to find him.” He says still angry
“How crazy am I? Dragging you around to save a man that the only time you met he shot you. Point blank. You could’ve died.” Steve says sitting back on the couch and tears are falling from his eyes.
“It’s all my fault. All the bad he’s been doing, it's on me, if I just had saved him.” His voice lowering as he sobs into his hands.
“The truth is you didn’t save him.” Natasha deadpans.
Steve's head snaps up.
“But there’s nothing that's is going to get done, if you keep living in the past. All we have is now, and now is the chance to make this right.” She explains.
“I need to make it right. But Wanda, Sam, you… you don’t owe this.” He says through a hoarse voice.
Natasha courtches, bother her hands finding his.
“I want to.” Is all she can say.
“Why?” He says through glassy eyes and the lump in his throat.
She freezes, because she knows she can’t lie to him.
“Because what’s important to you is important to me.” She starts.
“What scares you I want to tear apart, and what makes you happy makes me happy.” She breathes.
Steve's face has a ghost of a smile.
“You Steve Rogers are my partner, and with that is a vow that we face everything together.” She says her hand atop his cheek.
He leans into it.
“Plus you can’t go anywhere, not without me.” She says becoming choked up herself.
His hand wraps around her wrist as his eyes flutter shut. He couldn’t do it without her, not now, not ever. Despite anything, he comprehends what he’s feeling.
And with that he speaks:
“Not without you.”