At Once Returned

Chapter 18

Natasha only pulled away once Steve had relaxed. Even so, she only pulled back far enough to look up at him. Despite the aching in her shoulders, her fingers were laced behind his neck and she craned her head up to look at him. When his eyes finally opened, he was met with the sight of Natasha's face close to his, her forehead pressed against his and her eyes still closed.

"It's not your fault, Steve," she said softly.

He sighed and hugged her carefully, taking care to remember her injured ribs and bruised body.

"I'm still going to blame myself," he murmured wearily.

She turned her head so she could lightly kiss his neck then squeezed him tightly. "That's why I'm not going to tell you."

Natasha was the first to pull away from the hug and she did so slowly. Steve let her go, watching as she sat on her bed. There was a moment of hesitation as he glanced at her then the door, wondering if he should leave or stay. He knew the odds of the group sleeping in the same room were high, but he didn't want to make things awkward.

"I'm going to go to bed," Natasha told him with a sly smile as if it wasn't obvious.

He nodded and watched as she pulled back the covers and laid on her bed. Still standing awkwardly between her bed and the door, Steve watched dumbly as she raised an eyebrow at him.

"Are you going to join me now or later?"

"I'm going to go check on Sam and Wanda,"  he decided.

She nodded and scooted further under her covers. Finally making a decision, Steve flicked off her bedroom light and walked into the living room where Sam and Wanda were still sprawled out on the couches.

"What happened?" Wanda asked, glancing at Steve as he walked in.

He looked at her suspiciously then turned to see Sam smirking. When Wanda began to smile too, Steve sighed.

"Nothing," he told them.

"That's not what Wanda said," Sam told him, nodding at Wanda who looked as smug as ever. "She made it sound like you and Natasha were about to procreate."

"Wanda!" 

She burst into laughter and Sam snorted, covering his mouth to keep from laughing at Steve's distress.

"I could practically feel the love oozing," she teased. Steve felt his face heat up. "First you were fighting, then it was all happy, lovey-dovey feelings."

She made a face at that and Steve rolled his eyes.

"It wasn't like that," he clarified. He knew they weren't going to believe him no matter what he said, but he still tried to explain himself, "I was expressing my concern for what happened on the Raft and then we kissed. We did not almost procreate."

"Okay," Sam said through his stifled giggles. "We believe you."

Based on his tone of voice, Steve knew Sam did not believe him. Rather than start an argument in the living room, he took a deep breath then looked at both Wanda and Sam.

"I'm going to bed," he told them. "I don't care if you watch another movie, but don't expect me to feel sorry for you when you fall asleep during the press conference tomorrow."

"Yes," Sam exclaimed, asking FRIDAY to play another movie.

"Marley & Me!" Wanda demanded when FRIDAY asked which one. Steve turned to leave the living room, but Wanda managed to say, "Don't forget protection!" before he had completely disappeared.

"You're not allowed to stay in Nat's room tonight," Steve told her over his shoulder.

Wanda just rolled her eyes, knowing Natasha would never send her away after a nightmare, and turned on the couch so she could enjoy the movie. It was always great to see Steve flustered. Especially when Natasha wasn't around to get after them for ganging up against him.