The Villain

powers

"Cinema?", Steve dodged Natasha's punch, aiming for her head.

"That sounds -", she stepped to the side, a quick punch on his shoulder distracting him, "so generic.", Natasha ended, standing behind him now, trying to get him into a headlock.

Steve thought a short training session while waiting for their new assignment was a good idea, but the room offered Natasha an unfair advantage. The small office, it's narrow walls and missing opportunities to get some space between his opponent and himself weakened his normally well-working technique.

With Natasha, or people who fought like her; fast, almost unseen, and basically unpredictable, Steve valued the short moments of distance between them.

They were necessary to figure out where she would aim next, how to duck and how to advance again – but in the end, he would only profit from this learning experience.

Natasha closed her arm tighter around his throat.

"It's not generic, just...classic.", Steve defended his idea, getting rid of her by shoving her into the wall behind him.

She let go of him then, although Steve very well knew in a real fight she wouldn't.

"What about dinner?", she asked and Steve turned around just in time to stop her fist mid-air.

"That's less generic?", he got a hold of her wrists, but let go when they both heard the beeping sound of the computer at the other side of the room.

"True.", Natasha nodded, walking past him.

"So... what should I do?", Stave asked finally, clueless.

Natasha had given him dating advice unprompted a million times before, talking to her about this had seemed the logical course of action to Steve.

"You should invite her to the party.", Natasha suggested, looking over some of the files Nick Fury sent them.

A ship, criminals, weapons, some deal with a European investor that they should crash. Fourteen men, the cargo was the more important thing.

"She doesn't seem the type who likes parties...in Tony's style.", Steve said carefully, not sure if inviting Tessa to such an event was a good idea.

"Everyone likes Tony's parties. They're fun.", she shrugged, smiling at Steve ever so secretly. "Also, the way I see it, you're just avoiding this."

"Avoiding what?", Stave asked, standing beside her to have a look at their mission.

"Asking her out. You're a coward, Captain Rogers.", she teased and Steve shook his head.

"A coward?", he asked again, as if he hadn't heard her, his memory drifting off to a time when people called him that on a regular basis. A very long time ago.

"Yes. Besides, I'm sure she'd come if you invite her.", Natasha explained, shutting down the computer and making her way outside, Steve beside her in an instant.

They left the building side by side, like the partners they were and the friends they became along the way.

He beamed with excitement at her encouraging words, and Natasha banned the guilty feeling rising in her chest. This was just too good of an opportunity to let it slide.

"I know you want to see her again.", she chirped, getting in at the driver seat and Steve only shook his head, looking at his hands.

Yes, he wanted to see her again. He really wanted to see her again. He missed her too much considering they didn't even know one another that well. But Steve wanted to change that.