Dancing Under The Stars

20

"This is ALL your fault." grumbled Steve. He removed his sand-stained shirt and glared at Natasha, and Natasha only laughed gleefully. The golden light shone across the sea, and a warm breeze filled their lungs. A comfortable silence passed through them. "You know..." Natasha said, "You should just stick with training the others instead of going undercover. Being an undercover agent is not your thing."

Steve looked at Natasha's captivating and sparkling green eyes, she seemed to shine in the sun. It did make him feel his stomach curl nervously. He restrained the thought of tucking the red strand of hair behind her ears, although it did bugged him. A bit, just a bit.

"What?"

"Nothing." He turned his head away and stared at the families and couples and friend groups enjoying their time. If only their lives were that simple, he thought wistfully. "Maybe after all these missions, we should just retire and hand the work to the trainees, you know? Someday, I just wanna lie down and have a normal life."

To that, Natasha only laughed bitterly, "We have people to protect, Steve. We can't just throw their lives away for our own. Maybe you can, but I can't." Steve realized that she must be talking about her past, and he wanted to scream: It isn't fair! Nothing is fair! But for god sakes, he's Captain America, he have to give up his life for this. He chose this.

He sighed, she was right. They both knew that. And this vague feeling of battling till death felt familiar.

A bunch of guys walked past and whistled at Natasha, to which Natasha rolled her eyes, but it did break Steve out of his thoughts. He was about to let it go when one of them approached her. The bald guy with tattoos walked over to Natasha, smirking, "Hey shawty, may I have a word with you?"

An unknown boiling fury rose up Steve's chest. He knew he was jealous, and he had no right to be, but he still was. He balled his fists and tried to control his rising anger. He can, and he will. Natasha must've sensed his uneasiness because she winked at him and gave a small smile. She's fine. He told himself.

"A minute." Natasha said, touching Steve's arm briefly before adding, "Just over that palm tree."

The bald guy grinned and Steve wanted to punch his smug expression off. But he held himself, just yet. He watched as Natasha walked towards the palm tree. The bald guy whispered in Natasha's ear and Natasha grew stiff and her relaxed posture turned to a more guarded one. She hissed at the bald guy then stormed off towards Steve, with her arms crossed.

He jerked his heads towards the bald guy's direction, he was smiling, but it was more of a strained one. Then, he turned his head back to Natasha, worriedly, he asked softly, "Are you alright?" Natasha bit her lip and nodded, and Steve knew she didn't want to talk about it.

"Let's just go back."

~

Natasha stood on her tiptoes and walked past Steve's sleeping figure. Then slung her duffel bag on her shoulders. She glanced at Steve again, before slowly opening the door and ran out.

The streets were chilly and she wrapped her hoodie more tightly. The thin leggings she wore didn't help with the cold too. She wondered how long would Steve notice that she was gone. Too late, you made up your mind already, focus Natasha.

"Hey Nat!" A familiar voice rang by. No no no no. The worst times of all, he had to appear. She turned around and forced a smile, "Hello Grant." Grant chuckled and ruffled her hair, "Do you want to have a drink?" Natasha swallowed nervously, if only she was in the mood for this, she would've happily accepted. She gripped her duffel bag a tiny bit tighter.

"No, I'm busy."

"In the middle of the night?"

"I'm an avenger, Grant."

"What's going on?"

She fell silent. Thoughts were reeling in her mind of how, and what to say to him. She didn't want to lie, she felt tired of constantly saying "I'm fine." when she knows she is not. Not even close. She checked her phone, 00:07, she still has some time. Grant slung his arm around Natasha and she stiffened, it wasn't like Grant, he's usually pull her into a hug first. Maybe he's just a teeny weeny bit drunk. Again, she forced a small smile and said, "Lead the way."

Grant smiled, and Natasha couldn't help but notice that he grew a bit taller. A bit too tall for her liking. His arms seems to loose a bit of muscles, not that she minded it. His babbling words just made her mind drift off even more. She just nodded occasionally and smiled so that he knew she was listening. When she wasn't. And if Grant noticed, he didn't show any sign of it.

"So, where is Steve?"

"Pardon?"

"Your partner?"

Natasha opened her mouth then shut it again. She didn't recall telling him her partner was Steve. Even if she did, Grant would usually refer her teammates by their superhero names. Then it hit her, brutally like a tsunami. It was so obvious, quiet but practically screaming to be seen. And how could she, of all people be this blind? She never told Grant, and Grant never knew. But someone spying on them might.

It finally made sense to her, the height, the arm, the way he walks, the way he acts... Grant wasn't drunk, he was impersonated.

"Such a shame, Alianova, you were such a smart girl."

She snapped her head up and her pupils widened. She walked right straight into a trap, then her alarm rang, 00:15, they were just in time. "No..." Her legs felt weak and wobbly, she didn't dare to speak. Her mouth tasted like rust and she could feel her stomach twisting into knots. Behind the mask, was her old tutor, Madam B.

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Oops- I love plot twists :)