This Is Stella's Reality

November 22, 2014

Natasha Romaoff.

Former KGB spy turned SHIELD operative and Avenger. As one of my closest friends, it was only right for me to coordinate her birthday party.

I sat, perched on a barstool, admiring the way she danced between partners. Her hair bounded off her shoulders in voluminous curls and tickled the back of her neck.

Steve sighed loudly and slid into the seat next to me. His fingers drummed on the bar. I turned to him, watching his eyes flicker between annoyance and confusion.

"Looks like you've got something on your mind, Cap."

He started, surprised I had knocked him from his internal conflict, "Nothing's on my mind."

"You're not playing pool with Sam and Bucky?"

"You're not watching them play?"

"You're not dancing with Nat?"

"You're not dancing with Nat?"

Valid. I laughed and looked away from him, "Steve, go dance with her."

He sucked his teeth and stared down at the bar. The dim yellow lights illuminated his blonde hair like a halo. "She seems busy." Disappointment was clear in his voice no matter how hard he tried to hide it.

"She's always busy. Make her busy with you," I looked at him from the corner of my eye. He was thinking, still tapping his fingers on the bar.

In a fit of confidence, he stood and left without a word, disappearing into the crowd surrounding Natasha.

Idiot 100-year old man needs a pep talk from the girl he railed with his best friend like a week ago.

I shivered at the memory. Things weren't awkward between the three of us, and for that, I was glad. I still thought about it often. The adrenaline that rushed through my ears, my heart pounding erratically, their moans and soft whispers, the lazy kisses and tight grips on my body.

Not now.

Sam and Bucky were on the balcony playing pool. Bucky would be glad to have me watch him, even if he lost. He liked to show off more than anything.

My heels hit the floor, venturing up the spiral staircase to the balcony. Thor was leaned over a group of women, recounting some heroic tale from some far off planet. Bruce sat amongst the ladies and nodded supportingly.

Tony and Rhodey were arguing with Maria Hill who had an amused smile pulling at her lips. Pepper stood next to Tony, her eyes ready to roll at any moment.

A chorus of yelling brought my attention to the pool table. Bucky was leaning against his pool stick and watching Sam boast about sinking his shot. Girls lounged on barstools and sofas nearby, making eyes at the two of them.

A shot of jealousy struck my veins. We're not together. I couldn't walk up to Bucky and show them he was mine. All I could do was watch from the sidelines like the other girls.

Bucky's eyes rose to meet me. He grinned and stepped around the table, swinging his arm around me. He stumbled, and his breath smelled of Asgardian liquor.

I held him steady, and his nose ghosted along my temple, "What took you so long, doll?" I felt eyes on us, and my cheeks burned in embarrassment. Uneasiness churned in my stomach. This is too public.

The girls were muttering to themselves, but Bucky seemed oblivious. I pushed him a few inches away from me and whispered, "Buck, there's a lot of people here we don't know."