Is This Love? (UNDER EDIT)

Chapter 7 - A Whole Month

Steve pummeled his fists into the bag repeatedly. Sweat dripped down his neck and back, drenching his shirt. 

It had been a week. It was a week since he had last seen Nat. A week since he'd hurt her. Each day, Steve felt worse, guilt consuming every inch of him. He shouldn't have said it. He let his worry about her turn into anger, and to say it didn't end well would be an understatement. 

He really just wanted to keep her safe, but in the process, he'd only hurt and pushed her further away. Had he thought of checking on her? Too often, he knew that Nat wasn't ready to see him. Steve's words had cut deep. But what's done was done, and now he resorted to helping her from afar. 

Steve prepared meals, making sure that they were only her favourites, freshly cooked to perfection for Clint to take to her. He did this because he knew that Nat was too stubborn and would readily starve herself if it meant she didn't have to see him or anyone else. 

Steve wasn't even sure if she knew that he was cooking her meals or not, not that he cared. He wasn't looking for recognition; he just wanted to make sure that she was okay and was willing to do whatever it took to be on good terms with her again. 

Steve delivered the final blow to the punching bag, using the towel he'd bought to wipe the sweat off his face. He was a mess without her. 

Picking up his belongings, he exited the training room, pausing in the hall as FRIDAY's robotic voice echoed around him, telling Steve to report to Fury's office immediately. 

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The elevator dinged, signalling Nat's arrival at Fury's office floor. Walking out, she glided down the corridors silently until she landed in front of his office, striding in without even knocking. 

"Agent Romanoff," Fury acknowledged.

"Fury," She replied, imitating the same formal tone, "You wanted to see me?" She asked, her voice devoid of emotion. Fury nodded and gestured for her to sit opposite him on the mahogany desk. Following his command, Nat perched herself on the arm of one of the chairs non-commitally, showing her unwillingness to spend any longer than necessary in the office. 

"A solo mission, I presume?" Natasha asked in a bored tone. Fury had sent her on several solo missions lately, for whatever reason. 

"You will be working with a partner on this one, actually," Fury informed her, making Nat raise an eyebrow. Before she had a chance to inquire, a voice from behind made her stomach drop through the floor;

"Director Fury, you called for me?" She could recognise the voice anywhere. Squeezing her eyes shut and clenching her jaw, Nat steeled herself before glancing over her shoulder to find the very thing she'd been avoiding all week. 

One look from Nat immediately gave Steve the impression that she was far from ready to see him. This impression was further proven correct when he saw her, out of the corner of his eye, subtly lean further away from him as he sat down on the seat beside her.

"You will both be sent together on this mission. Now Romanoff knows about it; a group of criminals are involved in stealing and illegally transporting valuable minerals around the world. I have received intel about their next drop spot. The issue is that I only know that it will be in the next four weeks. We're aren't exactly sure when." Fury informed us that he had bought different images and files onto the screen behind him with his tablet. 

"Forgive me, but doesn't this sound like the kind of thing the local police could handle?" Steve inquired, earning a scoff from Natasha. Weird, Steve thought. 

"Do not doubt these criminals' abilities; they are strong and have previously slipped through SHIELD's grasp. You leave for Laamu Atoll, Maldives, at five sharp tomorrow morning. You will stay in one of the resorts there, undercover as a recently married couple enjoying their honeymoon," Fury continued, pausing to let his two agents process the information. 

"Your mission will be to find out exactly when the shipment will arrive, gain intel into the organisation, and find out what they intend to use the stolen minerals for. Based on past intel, the buyers should arrive two days before the rest of the shipment does. As soon as it lands, take it all down. Clear?" Fury finished.

Steve smiled, relief washing over him. He would finally get the chance to get Nat alone and make it right between them. Fury cleared his throat, bringing his agent's attention again. 

The Maldives is acting as a remote midway point for the materials. Once you have intel about when the shipment will arrive, there won't be much else you can do until then. So, for once in your life, please take this time to relax and enjoy yourselves. You both deserve it, and something tells me that you will find the Maldives very relaxing." Fury was interrupted by Natasha. 

"Oh, how sweet; I always dreamed that all of my vacations would include a dangerous mission," Nat retorted, rolling her eyes as she got up and marched out of the room. Steve smiled; if it were any other agent who walked out on him, Fury would be firing their ass and cussing them out. With Natasha, he just smirked as she left the room.  

As if Fury was reading his mind, he cleared his throat.

"Rogers, Romanoff is an essential agent of mine. It is advantageous to SHEILD that she gets a holiday. I'm basically certain that she has never had one before, or any real-time to relax, for that matter. So, can you make sure she gets one? As she so eloquently pointed out, I know the circumstances aren't extraordinary, but can you try for me, Steve? 

Steve knew there was something between them but was momentarily shocked; Nick Fury had never been this personal with him. He even used Steve's first name, which he never does. 

"I will try my absolute best, sir," Steve replied as he got up and walked out of Fury's office to shower. 

Steve would be lying if he said he was shocked that Natasha had never had a holiday before, but it still broke his heart. 

One thing was clear to Steve: He was going to do everything in his power to ensure that this mission was, ironically, the most relaxing and memorable holiday Nat had ever had.