I Thought You Were Different

Peggy

"Okay, Nat, let's go over this one more time," you paused, "what do you say if Steve asks why I'm not here?"

"You were asked to consult on a security...something... panel in...Washington?"

You hung your head and laughed, "a security commission panel in Japan. If he thinks that I'm still in the U.S., he might try to poke his nose around in my business. Say it back to me."

"You will be gone for four days to consult on a security...commission panel in Japan?"

"Seriously, Nat, what's going on with you? Why is this so hard?" You turned and threw your final bag into the back of the quinjet, now just waiting for Tony to join you. "Now that I think about it, you've totally failed at this twice already, and both times were with Steve..."

"I can't lie to him."

Your mouth hung open with a crooked smile at her admission; you couldn't believe that of anyone on the team, she would be the one with this revelation. "Natasha, you can lie to everyone. You lied to me three hours ago. What's so different about Rogers?"

"I don't know what it is," she groaned, a clear look of disgust in herself covering her expression, "ever since D.C. I haven't been able to do it. Like he gave me some weird honesty virus or something. I'm not happy about it." She turned and gave Tony a small wave of greeting when he passed by, carrying his bags in and prepping the jet. "Hey, what's the big deal anyway? You've been back at this facility for a month now and he's kept his distance. Why would he mind if you left for a while?"

"Because when I'm here, he can keep an eye on me. Just you watch," you paused, standing to grab the cane you had been using for the past two weeks, "as soon as I'm gone, it's gonna hit the fan. He won't admit it, Nat, but he's no less protective than when we were together. He thinks that I don't see him watching my sessions, or when he's staring at dinner, or when he's always right there to grab me if my foot slips or my ankle turns."

"Alright, kiddo, you ready to...wait...is that all you're bringing?" Tony asked, pointing at the cane in your hand.

"Yeah? Tony, this is all I've needed to walk for a couple of weeks now. Where have you been?"

"Um, at the tower, thank you very much. It's not like I get minute-to-minute reports on your progress down there, you know. I do have work to be done," he snickered, holding his hand out for you to enter the jet door. He spun and looked at Nat after you passed him, silently and angrily mouthing 'why didn't you tell me that?"

'Sorry!' she whispered back with a shrug of her shoulders. "So, (Y/N), what if I screw this up?"

You walked back to the door and peeked your head out with a sarcastic grin, "You know what, just tell him the truth. He'll never believe it in a million years."

"What," she scoffed, "that you're going to England to see his ex-girlfriend?"

"Do what you gotta do, Nat. Just keep him off my back."

~~~

Steve reached up and rubbed a spot on the side of his skull, blinking a few times with a shake of his head and a slight cross in his eyes. "How hard did you throw that? Why are there two of you?"

"I threw it no harder than the previous attempt, but if you recall, you neglected to move your head that time as well," Thor chuckled, setting Mjolnir on the ground and walking towards Steve. "Allow me," he offered, holding his hands out to check the Captain's supposed injury. "I see no blood. You'll live to fight another day."

"Seriously, man, there's two of you."

"Come, sit," Thor replied, taking Steve's arm and leading him to a nearby bench of the vast training room. "I'll bring Doctor Banner if you are so concerned. Wait here."