Frail heart

Evocation

Chapter sixteen

Neither Steve or Nat were happy with the fact that both you and Wanda had decided to go on a tangent, but more than anything, they were relieved.

Wanda had returned to the compound after some much-needed time sat beside you by the water, and you had been back in your room in Wakanda by sunrise, to Shuri's surprise. T'Challa wasn't fond of the fact that you had destroyed your cell, but he was proud of you for not hurting anyone, it spoke volumes about your progress.

Order had seemingly been restored, besides for General Ross and his incessant need to foil Steve's plans, but Fury was working his charm on that matter.

"Just like that. Go again."

Nat and Wanda had been making significant progress regarding training, the two meeting really early in the mornings to practice Wanda's control over her abilities. Natasha was more than proud of Wanda, not only because of training but because of the sheer strength the woman had to keep going despite everything she'd been through.

"Can we take a break?" Wanda timidly asked, wiping the sweat from her brow.

Natasha tossed Wanda a water bottle, smirking when the younger girl caught it with her magic, "I think you've done enough for today actually. Well done. You did good, kid."

Wanda lips pulled up into a small smile as she left the room, Natasha watching her leave with an air of content.

"She's doing a lot better."

Natasha smiled at the sound of Steve's voice, turning to see him leaning against the gym's doorway with his arms crossed, "She is."

"It's all you, you know." Steve encouraged, walking towards where Nat stood in the middle of the room.

She hummed appreciatively, "Not entirely. I'm sure her run in with Y/N had something to do with her new burst of confidence."

Steve agreed, watching Natasha with a gentle smile, to which she smirked at, "What, Rogers?"

"You're a beacon of hope for those two. They have a lot of trust in you, I admire that."

Natasha's smirk dropped at the seriousness of the conversation, and she shrugged, packing her things a little slower, "I know what it's like, to feel so out of place, lost. They're kids who never got the chance to be just that, the least I can do is make them feel as if the whole world isn't crumbling."

Steve reaches forward to stop Natasha from stuffing her things into her bag, making her face him properly, "You're a good person, Nat. So many people are better because of you. Including me."

Natasha takes in Steve's words and feels her heart jump at the sincerity within them, and possibly also at the proximity of the blonde. Steve always knew what to say, the right buttons to push and crack Natasha's composure little by little.

Her eyes drop to his lips as his do the same, the distance between the two closing ever so slowly as their breaths fanning across each other's faces.

"Hey Steve, I- oh."

Steve and Natasha jump apart at the voice, both clearing their throats with bright red faces as a smug smirk grows on Tony's lips, "Well well well, would you look at this."

"Shut up, Stark. Tell anyone about this and I'll kill you myself." Natasha sneers, yanking her bag off the bench and strolling out the room.

"Wouldn't dream of it!" Tony calls to her retreating figure, shaking his head in amusement.

"What is it that you needed?" Steve askes politely, as if nothing had happened.

Tony smiles knowingly, but answers anyways, "A certain super soldier is rather adamant that he come back to the compound."