Shatter: A Marvel Fanfiction

Steve

Nat gets released the next morning. She's supposed to rest the rest of the day, and with the long car ride ahead of us, she will have plenty of time. I help her into the car at around eight thirty in the morning, and we begin our drive.

"You going to be okay for this mission?" I ask her.

"Yeah. I'm not injured or anything. Should be good to go," she responds.

"I mean are you going to be okay fighting against the girls you grew up with? Trained with?"

Natasha goes quiet. She stares out the window. "I don't know. This is going to be weird. I don't think that I'm cut out to be fighting them, though. I already lost once."

"You fought Ashley?"

She sighs. "Yeah. And I let my emotions get in the way. The moment I saw her face I froze. I don't know what happened. It was stupid."

I shake my head. "Nat, it's okay. I did the same with Bucky. And it landed me in the same place in worse condition than you were in, may I add." She smiles a little at that. "Look, Nat, I know how this feels to you, and because I lo- you're my friend," that was too close, "I'm telling you this: you'll have to make a choice. I chose not to fight Bucky. You may choose not to fight Ashley and the other girls from the Red Room." She flinches at my saying "Red Room". I continue. "But that's your choice. You may choose differently from me, but you're going to have to choose."

Natasha nods. I can tell she's considering what I said. "I left so I could keep you and the rest of the Avengers safe from them. I didn't want her to get to you guys, so I left. I know where I need to be." She takes my free hand. Hers is shaking.

We drive in silence for a little bit. I am reassured that she is willing to fight with us. That she is fighting with us. Our silence is broken when Nat speaks again.

"So, Steve, did you call her yet?"

I shake my head and laugh. "No, Nat. I told you. I'm saving myself for someone else."

"Who is this girl? Seriously! You need to tell me!"

I continue to drive without a word.

"Steve," she prods. "Who is it? Sharon?"

"No. Not Sharon."

"Tell me!" she says.

I can't answer. I look to the road smiling and pull into the next exit. We need gas. Natasha huffs. I have a desire to tell her, but I don't. Instead I pull into the nearest gas station and get out to fill up the car. As I'm pumping gas, I make the decision to do it. I'm almost sure she won't feel the same, but I need to get it out.

I get back in the car. "All right, we are almost all set. Do you want anything from my bag? I have food."

Natasha opens her bag and reveals more snacks grinning. "What do you mean almost?" she asks as I pull into an empty parking space.

I let out a nervous breath. "I need to tell you something." Another sigh. "Natasha, I told you I was saving myself for someone else. She's fought by my side a lot, and if it were down to her to save my life," I begin using her words, "I would trust her to do it."

I notice her looking at me bewildered. "Steve," she whispers.

I take her hand and kiss her.