You Break It, You Buy It {Romanogers}

40

Natasha's POV

Me: hey, im in the parking lot by your car, let me know when you're out of practice :)

I tucked my phone away and put my hands in my pockets, looking around. I asked Steve to give me today's French notes after school so I could tell him about Russia.

The nerves were slowly getting to her and I almost considered ditching before realizing I had already texted him. Practice had been out for a couple minutes and the field was empty, so Steve should have been on his way by now.

I looked around and saw a crowd of people in a huddle across the other side of the parking lot. I jogged over to see what it was about and tried to hear over the laughs and jeers.

"Heard your girlfriend's living with Barnes," A distinct male voice said. Rumlow. So then he was talking to Steve?

"Why don't you just shut the hell up?" I heard Steve respond, and I saw the crowd shift as he made his way through, trying to leave.

"Walking away from a fight?" Rumlow continued to jest, following Steve as the rest of the people boxed him in. He stayed facing the crowd of people, not acknowledging Rumlow. I had almost made my way to the front, enough to see what was happening well enough. "That bitch really did change you. Imagine that, huh?" Rumlow laughed, as Steve did nothing. "The great King Rogers tamed by some slut who couldn't even keep her hands off your best friend."

My eyes widened and I saw Steve turn to face Rumlow before launching himself at him, and I audibly gasped as the two began to tumble on the floor, throwing punches every which way. Steve and Rumlow were pretty much neck and neck until Rumlow pinned Steve down on the ground.

"You've gotten weaker. She got you real good, didn't she? Must mean she's great in bed."

Upon hearing that, Steve flipped their bodies over so he was on top of Rumlow and began punching him violently until Rumlow was able to get up. It looked like things were just getting worse and worse, especially with the crowd chanting names and picking sides around them. I could feel tears springing to my eyes as I watched it all unfold until I couldn't take it anymore.

"Steve, stop!" I pushed my way to the front of the crowd, but Steve had either ignored me, or chose not to hear me. At this point I saw Sam and Pietro yelling at the two of them to stop as well, but they were smart enough to not involved in the fight. Steve had faltered ever so slightly when he heard my voice, but he must have thought it was someone else and continued.

Sam and Pietro watched me as I pushed my way through the remainder of the people who had come even closer to the fight. I stood feet away from the two while Sam and Pietro tried to get some of the crowd to disperse. "Steve, he's not worth it, think about what the hell you're doing! Someone's gonna get hurt, just stop it!" I shouted and screamed and yelled whatever words wanted to come out. My heart was beating a mile a minute and my hands were shaking violently. I didn't know what to say, but as soon as I said it, he stopped. "Steve, if you really love me, you would stop!"

I could see his eyes soften and he and Rumlow were suddenly still. When Steve stopped, Rumlow pushed him off of himself and tumbled out of the way, getting onto his feet. I ran up to him and examined his face. "Are you kidding me?" I laughed softly, looking at him, my fingers wiping off some blood on his face. He had cuts and bruises everywhere. "Let's get out of here. Now." I grabbed his hand and started to leave the circle until a voice pulled me back.

"That's right, Rogers. Go running to your mommy."

Steve kept walking, but I stopped dead in my tracks, turning around. "Natasha, what are you--"

I punched Rumlow dead in the face, my knuckles meeting the bridge of his nose in one swift move. The group of people had begun laughing at Rumlow, who was attempting to get up. I grabbed Steve's hand and walked all the way to the car, not looking back. I got in the driver's seat and took the keys from Steve, pulling out of the parking lot before he even had a chance to get his seatbelt on. I drove to Steve's house in minutes, probably breaking at least ten laws. Once we pulled into the driveway, I went to Steve's side of the car, helping him out.

"Nat, it's not that bad, really," Steve tried to say as he limped out of the car.

I ignored him and wrapped my arm around his waist as we walked inside. I sat him down on the couch and speed walked to the kitchen to get the first aid supplies. "Take your shirt off, let me see how bad it is." Steve obliged and I saw the sheer amount of bruises and gashes that had already formed. "Lay down."

Steve relaxed on the couch and I put a pillow behind his head while I used a Q-tip soaked in alcohol to clean up the blood. Once he was done, I handed him his shirt and got to work on the cuts on his face in silence.

I could feel something on the tip of Steve's tongue and sure enough, he started to say, "He called you a--"

"I know," I cut him off. "I know."

He sighed heavily and I finished cleaning him up with a small cloth. "I'm sorry."

"I am, too."

"What for?" Steve asked, wiping his hands off.

"For not telling you the truth." Steve looked at me confusedly and I bit my lip, tossing the damp cloth aside. "After we got back from Spring vacation, my mom sent me a message. She's really sick. She wants me in Russia after school ends just in case she's... not around for her much longer." Steve didn't say anything. "And I'm going." Every last bit of hope drained from his face, but it was soon replaced with realization.

"Is this why--?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "I didn't want to tell you and then... leave."

"And everyone else knows?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "I'm sorry you were the last to know. You really were the one I wanted to know the most."

He had tears in his eyes and I was struggling to hold mine back. He reached out and held my hand. "Don't feel bad."

I smiled shakily and Steve wrapped his arm around me. And we just sat there on the couch while his tears soaked into my hair and mine into his shirt.

"I should go," I said after a while, wiping my tears away.

"Yeah," Steve said. I didn't move from where I was and he looked me in the eye. "Don't leave yet."

"I won't."