Should be Mine

Part 3

(After one month)

Natasha

It was my turn to make breakfast. I absolutely hated waking up early and cooking, but Steve had already done it a lot of times for me, it was unfair.

I tried to keep my eyes open as I cooked, until a pair of strong hands grabbed my waist, his muscular body pressed against my tiny body, and he pulled me closer, hugging me tight from behind.

"You didn't have to " he said in a whisper, moving my hair to a side, he placed a gentle kiss on my neck.

"Don't be ridiculous, Steve. You were doing everything for me. Its not fair. " I said.

"You are my friend" he said, leaning closer to kiss the front of my neck.

His kisses were so oddly comforting. It was so random. One day as I woke up, we exchanged our usual smiles, and then as we hugged before getting out of the bed, he kissed my neck gently.

Then the next day, at night, as we talked, he kept caressing my neck with his fingers. And then, slowly, it became his habit. He started kissing my neck every now and then. And then he also kissed my hands, my shoulders, my cheeks. But my neck was his favorite spot.

"Its fine. And its almost done. Stop spoiling me" I said. I finished and took the dishes to the table. Sam was already sitting there. He looked at Steve, Steve lowered his eyes and Sam looked away. There was something going on that I didn't understand. And I didn't ask. I know there are always  some secrets between friends they cannot say out loud. Clint and I had our fair share. And so did Steve and I. Like the fact that we had kissed once.

"Its actually better when you cook Cap. This is too hard to swallow" Sam said with am annoyed face.

"Sam!! Its wonderful Nat, but you should let me cook" Steve took my hand and squeezed it.

"Fine, go to hell you too. I won't cook anymore" I pushed my plate away and left in anger. As if I enjoy cooking. Clint did all the cooking at all our missions. I hate cooking, I hate doing what I had learned due to the fear of non existence. They didn't teach cooking at the red room. No one was proud when it was done right. You had to learn to stay alive.

I sat on the bed, trying to force the tears back, I don't like to cry, I don't want anyone to see my weaknesses.

I had made that mistake once, by letting Bruce see my weak side. And that hurt me so much. In the end, he left. He didn't care. I made a joke of myself yet again. And that almost destroyed me for the second time.

"Nat?! " Steve sat beside me and put a hand on my shoulder.

I don't know what happened to me, but the next thing was, me hugging him tight, and sobbing like a child.

"Natasha? Oh my God. I am so sorry. You cook fabulously, I love it, really. Please don't cry" he rubbed my back, trying to console me.

I couldn't speak, I just grabbed onto the back of his shirt and sobbed. I couldn't believe myself. How could I be so vulnerable, so open, how could I show him my weaknesses.

"Nat!! Hey, Nat" he pulled me back, and cupped my cheek, wiping the tears with his thumbs, "Hey, don't, please. "

"Its not about cooking, I... I just.. " I wiped some tears of myself, "I just had some memory recalls. "

"Can I.. Do you want me to know? " he asked so tenderly, obviously I couldn't refuse.

"I always hated cooking and.. I had to.. Back then, if I didn't cook, I was starved for days, because no one would share, no one would care, I had to survive on my own. " I told him.

"Oh my God, Nat! You won't, I won't let you cook anymore. I am sorry we didn't know. Sam is stupid, forgive him. Do only what pleases you okay, I care for you Nat, I really do. " He said quickly, but his words pierced my heart.

I grabbed his shirt and rested my head on his chest. He put his arm around my shoulders and comforted me taking my hand and kissing it gently.

We stayed like that for a long while, until it was time for us to leave for work.

_________

Steve

I had always seen Natasha has a strong woman. I admired her so much. But now, my respect for her had grown even more.

She was weaker then anyone could ever guess. She was so soft, so gentle, so fragile inside that she could break with the lightest of touch. But she had successfully enveloped herself with a very hard shell. She had herself guarded, shielded from all kinds of emotions and vulnerabilities.

I thought she would be so broken after Bruce left. But I never saw her shedding a single tear. She was that composed. She never let anyone of us know what that had done to her. Anyone would think she had easily moved on. It was just another fling. But I knew better. She had invested herself too much. She waned it so bad. Even if the choices were wrong. It was the first time she actually tried to be happy. And that hurt her in the end. I was sure she was a wreck inside. Only I couldn't break the shell and comfort her.

When Peggy died, she was there for me. I wish I could comfort her the way she did.

After her breakdown on the breakfast thing, I was happy. At least she shared something, at least she opened up a little.

I walked in at night and she was busy applying cream on her legs.

"Nat? " I said, hesitantly.

"Hmm? " she didn't even look up.

I lay down on the bed and she cuddled into my arms, in our usual position to sleep, and stared into my eyes curiously.

"I don't want you to be alone either" I told her.

She just stared at me, and then a faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

"I know" she said, and closed her eyes, hugging me tight.

*****
Okay, I guess this won't be very short of a story😂
I have no idea how long it would be.
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