Winterwidow One-shots

The Bet

Natasha walked down the hall, trying to receive as little attention as possible. This was her general modus operandi of sorts. Especially at school. She was so tired of all the stupid people and their stupid popularity contests. It was a relief to her that she was nearly done with it all. Natasha was proud to say that prom was a day away and she did not have a date. The only reason she was going was because her sister, Yelena, was making her. She wanted Natasha to come solely because she knew Natasha didn't want to. However, she was convinced that Natasha would be sorry if she didn't go.

Just as Natasha was scoffing at some of her classmates hanging a prom banner as she opened her locker, an unwanted visitor approached her. Well, any visitor would be unwanted during passing period, but this one especially. James Barnes sauntered towards her with that smug grin he always seemed to wear. He was the typical popular jock. Football team star. Entry into West Point already secured. Natasha was dreading the interaction before he even opened his mouth. He walked over to her and stopped to lean up against the locker next to her. She surveyed him with a look of disgust on her face. "Can I help you?"

"As a matter of fact, I believe you can," James said as he looked over his shoulder. Natasha followed his gaze to see his best friends, Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers, standing by a water fountain, laughing, backpacks slung over their shoulders while they watched the interaction. Well, Sam was laughing. Steve had his head in his hands like he didn't want to be a part of this, but he was still smiling. Natasha knew in an instant that James had been put up to whatever he was about to do. She just rolled her eyes and unpacked her bag to change out her books for her next class.

"So listen," James started. Natasha held up a hand to cut him off. "Save it," she said simply as she slammed her locker shut. James' smile faded slightly. "Wait, please," he said before she could storm off. Natasha sighed deeply. She was so done with all of this school's bullshit. "What? What is it that you could possibly want from me?" James put a hand to the back of his neck. "I was kind of wondering if...well... Would you go to prom with me?"

Natasha raised her eyebrows. She'd expected a lot, but she had not expected that. "I'm sorry what?" she asked flatly. James smiled a bit more and that made her want to punch his perfect face. Natasha couldn't lie to herself, she did find him physically attractive, but she'd never seen him be anything but a hotshot and a jerk. "Well, my buddies over there bet me twenty dollars that I wouldn't ask you to the dance and I'm about to be twenty dollars richer." There it was. There was the prick everyone around here had come to know and love. Everyone except Natasha. She just turned to walk away.

James grabbed her arm lightly, but enough to stop her in her tracks. "Take it off, or I break it off," she said in a monotone. James quickly removed his hand. Natasha began to move forward again, but stopped herself. She turned around to face James, whose face lit up at the possibility of her continuing the conversation. "Touch me again, and the only thing you're going to prom with, will be a broken jaw"

A smile crept across James' face. Natasha tilted her head. "Did I say something funny?" she asked mockingly. James' cheeks flushed just a bit. "You're just...really cool." Natasha scoffed at this. "No, really," James said quickly. "My friends only dared me to ask you out because I told them I liked you. There's no pressure. If your answer is no, that's fine."

Natasha glared at him, but thought about this offer. He wasn't being a jerk about asking her, he was actually really cute, and she really wanted to throw having a date into her sister's face. Natasha bit her lip and then sighed. "You will not pick me up, you will not give me a corsage, and we will not match our outfits in any way. Understood?" James smiled bigger than he had this whole time. "So that's a yes?" he asked her quietly, as if even he was in disbelief. Natasha smiled to herself before turning on her heel and walking to class. "I'll meet you in the gym at six sharp. Do not be late."