Go Down in Flames

VIII. Windows Boarded Up After The Storm

"Well that was strange," Melina said.

Natasha chuckled, "That's certainly one way to describe him. So, now that that's over, I think I'll be heading out to run an errand."

As walked past Steve she trailed her hand along with the fabric of his grey shirt.

"You coming, мой суперсолдат?" She said and shot him a sly wink as she disappeared into the garage. Steve helplessly looked around the room.

"Don't look at me, man," Sam said and put his hands up.

Steve swiftly walked towards the garage, "See you guys when we're done, I guess."

Alexei groaned in disgust. "You know, we're no better than those two," Melina said, "Come on, Crimson Dynamo. Let's go get some sleep."

The raven-haired woman led the ex-convict as he protested with the name she gave him up to their bedroom.

"It's Red Guardian— Lena told you to call me that, didn't she."

"I'm not saying a word," Melina mimed zipping her mouth shut.

"Well, I guess that just leaves you and me," Sam said, sending a flirtatious wink Maria's way.

"Not a chance, Wilson," Maria said while smirking, "I'm going on a run."

"Maybe I could join you?" "Only if you can keep up!" Maria called out as she headed up to her room to get changed, "Although, I really do doubt it given that you're more used to flying."

Sam opened his mouth, fully ready to make a comeback but Maria was already in her room.

—

"So," Steve said as he sat in the passenger seat of his jeep, "What errand are we running?"

Natasha casually chewed on her gum, "I'm not telling you."

She smirked at Steve.

"Seriously? I can't even know where we're going?"

"Nope," Natasha said as she turned the corner and an abandoned barn came into view.

"Woah," Steve said. The jeep slowed to a stop and Natasha stepped out of the car.

"How'd you find this place?" He asked.

"I was on one of my morning runs when I found it," Natasha said. She took Steve's hand and led him into the barn, "I took it upon myself to spruce it up a little."

Steve followed Natasha up the rickety stairs each step creaking under their weight. She led him into the loft of the barn. A quilt lay in the middle, surrounded by a mountain of blankets. They had a view of the little town. The floor itself was adorned by fairy lights making it seem all the more magical.

As if on cue, rain started pattering on the wooden planes of the roof creating an ethereal and tranquil sound. Natasha admired her handiwork as Steve stepped towards her, but this time, something about his approach was different. He was gentler as if he was afraid of hurting her. He cradled her face into his own hands, cupping her chin. He leaned down and enveloped her lips with his own.

Natasha wrapped her arm around his neck pulling him closer. They moved together in an angelic way, responding to each other's movements. The smell of wet grass and dirt wafted up to the second floor as Steve kissed down Natasha's neck, slowly nipping at the soft skin as she arched into his kiss. He began slipping her coat down her shoulders, but she brought her hands up to stop him.

"Wait," she said.

"What's wrong?" He asks, "Do you want to stop?"

"No, no, but can we go slow?" Natasha nervously chews on her lip, "I haven't done this with anyone since I had to sleep with people to get intel."