fight for me

chapter six: mine

Tonight was the Stark party. Tony had invited people I've never seen in my life and had told them they could bring friends and alcohol. So as you can imagine, there were many people in this tower right now. Many. I felt uncomfortable between the drunken strangers so I stayed most of the time at the bar. I didn't want to dance much, I didn't want to have their hands on my body, I didn't want to join their games.

Until this moment I was completely satisfied with my own company and Natashas, even though I mostly ignored her gazes. She was there, I was there, we talked a bit but I held the distance. Although she had really tried the last few weeks but I knew she had drunk this time.

After the desaster in her room I left my room only for the most necessary things in the first few days. I didn't see natasha, I guess she stayed by herself as well. The days passed and eventually we had to face each other again as we had to resume our lives as avengers again so the others wouldnt press any further as they had already done.

And Natasha tried.

She would pay attention to me, to my needs and comforts, she would try to smile at me and create the faintest of body contact. She wouldn't fight me in front of others, she would leave as soon as the possibility shows up that we could be alone for more than a few seconds so I wouldnt feel forced to say something I wasnt ready to disclose yet. And I've gotten more and more eased around her, I became more relaxed and comfortable with her as my company. She had created the perfect foundation. I was looking forward to see her, I was happy when she noticed me again, smiled at me, comforted me and just showed me so much affection.

I began quickly to return those favours, in little steps. I loved making her smile, making her laugh. I loved how she jumped and smiled happily when I would stroke her back when I passed or when I would take my seat next to her in a meeting or at the dinner table. It was always so nice with her but I couldn't ignore the butterflies that always showed up when she was around. I couldn't ignore that I caught her staring sometimes but that she caught me even more often. I couldn't ignore the feeling of wanting to kiss or touch her all the time.

Now, we got invited to a game; I didn't agree, she did, having enough of my aloofness. So I was standing alone at the bar, observing the group Natasha had joined. She was well integrated, everyone seemed glad she finally came and everyone cared about her, also in the game. I smiled sadly.

'I see, you have your eye on someone.' I heard a voice on my right. Carol. The blond woman leaned next to me at the bar, pouring herself a drink. 'I cannot blame you. She's really pretty.'

'what? No. I mean, yes she is but– it's not what you think.'

'It isn't? Doesn't seem so to me. You've got obviously something for her and she had always a thing for you.'

She had always a thing for me? What?

'what are you talking about,' I shook my head. 'we're just friends.'

As if she had heard me, natashas smile slowly faded away as she looked at me. None of us broke eye contact until Clint patted her on the shoulder and directed her attention back to the game.

'But friends don't look at friends that way,' Carol smiled and leaned back, sipping her drink. Instead of disagree with her I caught Natashas gaze again, this time eyeing me up and down slowly. I turned away, flushed, but Carol was gone. There was another person, on my left. A really drunk person I could tell after the first words.

'Heey my beauty,' Wanda slurred and leaned in to kiss me on the cheek. With that she lost her balance and fell forwards, straight on me so I had to catch her.