Bad For You

9

An hour or so later Lane stood outside the club with Matt, tugging the color of his jacket tightly closed.

"Can I ask you something?" She cocked her head to the side as a realization hit her.

Matt laughed as his brows shot up. "That depends on how much trouble answering could get me in."

She rolled her eyes. "It's not bad, smart ass. I'm just curious why you had to come here for this. You guys are clearly in contact. Why not just meet up somewhere dark-"

She squeaked slightly as he took several steps forward, backing them away from the door. "He's working as muscle for the folks who run this place," he turned his head to assess if he could say more. "Things are getting a little hot and he's being watched. Figured dancing with a girl at work wouldn't attract too much heat."

"Huh, so you're saying I paid for VIP access when he could have given it to us?"

Matt laughed again and stepped back, ignoring her question. "You sure you don't want me to walk with you?"

"Nah," she tugged a hair tie from her wrist and pulled sweat dampened hair up off her neck, the cool night air making her shiver slight as it hit the moisture. "I'm going to P's and it's in the opposite direction and I know how you are if you don't get your beauty sleep."

"Hey," he grabbed her hand as she started to head down the street, pulling her in for a hug. "Thank you, for tonight."

She pressed a kiss to his cheek before backing away again. "Anytime, Matty Cakes, but do me a favor and just call me next time."

A knowing grin rose on his lips as he nodded. "Yeah, yeah," he waved and then spoke a little louder before turning and taking off down the street. "Nice to meet you again."

Lane was confused for exactly two seconds before she backed into a solid wall of muscle.

"Hey," a familiar, annoying voice spoke and strong hands gently grabbed her shoulders to keep her from toppling over when she whirled around. "Careful."

When she and Matt had left Yelena and Natasha seemed to just be getting started for the night and showed no signs of leaving anytime soon so they'd waved their goodbyes. But now, Steve stood before her with a jacket on, looking sheepish.

"Captain," she said, looking around for the others. "Did the widows decide to find a livelier club?"

"Uh, no." He looked around nervously as he slipped his hands into his pockets. "This really isn't my idea of a good time and I thought maybe I could use the excuse of catching a ride back to the compound with you to get out of it."

"Uh huh," she said before taking a deep breath and heading up the street, opposite the way Matt had gone. "Well, I don't have my car here since I'm not going back to the compound tonight so..."

"Well, where are you going?" He took a few large steps to catch up with her and she looked around confused at his trailing her.

"Why, have I been grounded?"

"No, no," he shook his head and Lane didn't miss the way his eyes caught on her legs for just a second too long. "I just thought maybe I could walk you. Make sure you get there alright."

"I've lived in New York my whole life. I can get around just fine on my own."

"Lanie," he grabbed her hand.

Her hand. Not her wrist or her arm or hell even her throat like he'd done weeks ago after their argument and she just stared at it because he didn't let go.