Unexpected

The Reckoning of Mortality

Over the next week I relished my work far more than I ever had previously. I enjoyed writing up my report on the Russian mission, translating documents, and answering my many emails. I couldn't even complain too much about my physical and weapons training.

Why?

Because there was a lack of skimpy dresses and groping hands.

It seemed that everything was truly slipping back into normalcy as the end of February drew near. The little girls from the floor below us brought me Valentine's Day cards on the day of love. The little, handmade cards now sat upon my mantle. Steve and I continued going over the culture and history of the 80's, watching old films and TV shows. Often as we went through a movie I helped him search for the whereabouts of Peggy Carter. It was turning out to be a long task considering how hesitant he was to actually see her and the fact that we couldn't use S.H.I.E.L.D.'s databases to help us.

My office was filled with the clicking of keys on my keyboard and the shuffling of dictionary pages as I worked without clearance blocks. Nat helped me expand my Russian vocabulary as we trained in the mornings. She kept managing to slip in words like 'seduce' and 'wiggle', which would send me blushing and running faster around the track to get away from her and her teasing.

"Come on, Nat!" I panted, putting my hands on my knees as I bent over, trying to catch my breath, which was difficult when I was also laughing, "Seriously, when am I ever going to need to say that?"

"You'd be surprised." She grinned, wiping some sweat from her forehead before pulling out her messed up half-ponytail, smoothing her curled hair again to redo it as she too caught her breath. That was one thing I was proud of; as our training continued and I improved, I was putting Romanoff through her paces too. As she trained beside me, she was also exercising and stretching her limits, getting out of breath, panting, unlike before when my training was mere child's play for her.

I rolled my eyes, "I'm never going to need to tell anyone 'I'm just quivering with anticipation', Nat."

"It can be a perfectly innocuous sentence, Penny." She said like she was assuring me that it was no big deal, trying to legitimize her claim, but then a devious smirk spread across her face, "But then again, it could be very flirty. Definitely would've worked on Derek Anton."

"Oh gosh! Please don't bring that up again! I'm going to die of embarrassment at this rate!"

"You're not going to die of embarrassment."

"Yes I will."

"No you won't!" She laughed, dropping into a starting pose for another sparing match.

"I most certainly will!" I insisted, laughing as my rosy blush faded as I followed suit, readying to spar again, watching my opponent intently, readying for her to make the first move.

Her fist flew at my face, so fast I barely saw it.

"Will not!"

Block, swipe, kick, dodge. I took a knee to the gut; she got an elbow in between her shoulder blades.

"I will!"

Kick, punch, flip, grip, stomp, twist. I managed to get her to the ground, having flipped her over my shoulder, but she took me down with her. Air was knocked from my lungs as Nat straddled me, flipping me so my face was smushed into the sparring mat. My arm was tightly pulled behind my back, making me cry out in pain. My other arm was pinned under me. I wriggled it out, tapping the blue sparring mats, giving up.

"Okay then." She puffed; I could hear the victory in her voice as she finally released my arm and helped me get back on to my feet, "I'll make you a deal. If you do, somehow, die of embarrassment, I'll dye my hair blonde in your honor."