Disclaimers: All rights to Marvel. Characters, lines and context from Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) & Comics. Inspired by Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).

.

The Promise of Spring

.

"You are a cold woman, Natalia…"

"You think so, Alexi Petrovitch? Why did you marry me, then?"

"For the same reason every true Russian loves the winter, Natalia Romanova Shostakova. For the Promise of Spring. Like a winter snow, your ballerina's frost seems to shelter a secret earthiness waiting for a thaw. Yet in all the time I've known you, I've barely glimpsed the fire beneath your ice. A man could freeze to death hoping to warm himself on your heart, Natasha."

(1990 Marvel Graphic Novel Vol 1 #61 "The Coldest War")

.

The Running Man

.

When reality finally hit him, Sam Wilson was left dumbfounded. It was hard to believe how the world had changed around him in a matter of days. He had gone from being a retired paratrooper working down at the Veterans Affairs Center to being nothing less than Captain America's partner. The bond he had established with the living legend was unbelievable. It turned out that the real Steve Rogers was much more impressive than any stories about him and, still, the most noble and humble man Sam had ever met in his whole life. The Captain's heartfelt words had inspired the Falcon and everyone around them. "The price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it's a price I'm willing to pay."

Teaming up with the Russian super spy Black Widow, they had defeated the legendary criminal organization HYDRA, which had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D., the American counterterrorism and intelligence agency.

If this hadn't been astounding enough, now standing in front of his fake grave, Nick Fury, its former director, was inviting them to hunt the remaining bad guys in Europe. But, as the Falcon had declared before, his loyalty was to the Captain. The three men shook hands, and Fury said with his farewell, "If anybody asks for me, tell them they can find me, right here."

Then, a familiar feminine voice called their attention. "You should be honored. That's about as close as he gets to saying thank you."

Steve moved instantly and, like when they had first met, Sam was left behind. Amused, the Falcon observed how the Captain seemed slightly possessive, walking towards Natasha Romanoff almost as if he wanted to keep her to himself.

A gentle spring breeze blew the leaves and branches of leafy trees around them, but it was as if all sounds and movements had ceased – Steve had eyes only for Natasha. Yet, as he had been doing for the past two years, he kept his emotions in absolute control as he walked to meet her halfway. "Not going with him?" he asked calmly.

From watching her closely before, he knew that there was definitely something different about her, a touch of uneasiness mixed with her usual confidence. Beneath her smiling eyes, she sounded almost ashamed, "No."

Despite the softness on her face, there was a sense of detachment between them and he almost couldn't hide his disappointment, "Not staying here."

"Nah. I blew all my covers. I gotta go figure out a new one."

A strange feeling ran through his body – he was concerned about her safety, as always, but also troubled about how much time it would take to see her again. Instinctively, his irrational need to protect her became stronger than the logical conviction that she could defend herself from any threat. Frowning, he sounded quite impassive, "That might take a while."

Unlike each other in so many aspects, the soldier and the spy reacted differently in dealing with their feelings. Facing each other pretending everything was just fine, he was stiff, laconic, while she seemed almost as if everything was just for fun.

Staring at him with a half-smile, Natasha said, "I'm counting on it." Then, she handed him a Russian file, "That thing you asked for, I called in a few favors from Kiev."

Steve took a deep breath. Bucky's file – what he did and didn't want to see with the same intensity. His troubled soul was about to be dragged through an ocean of guilt and worry, when her soft voice brought him back.

"Will you do me a favor? Call that nurse," she asked kindly.

Since they had been partnered together, this had been part of their game – she would try to set him up with someone, and he would pretend to like her help. "She's not a nurse," he said.

Smiling, the redhead replied, "And you're not a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent."

The reality was that he took all her matchmaking as a demonstration of some kind of affection for him. Trying to look interested, he asked, "What was her name again?"

"Sharon." Natasha paused, averting her eyes, and Steve couldn't help but notice a slight tremor in her voice as she continued, "She's nice."

Thousands of things were passing through his mind, but he couldn't utter a word. He did his best to smile back at her, but became apprehensive, noticing that her eyes were somewhat moistened. In the field, he was the consummate leader. Everywhere else, she was the one holding all the cards. He had no idea about what to do, and waited, motionless, for her lead.

They stared at each other for a brief moment and then she leaned in to kiss his cheek. The bitter-sweetness of that act hit him hard – it was a goodbye kiss. His heart was sinking to his feet, as she walked away.

But then she stopped, saying, "Be careful, Steve." When she turned back, the delicate sun rays seeping through the leaves of the trees lit her, revealing her entirely unmasked face – she was stunning. This time wasn't just a moment of weakness. There she was, willingly open, showing herself to him. The real Natasha she fought so hard to conceal inside her, but whose fire in the heart had captured his interest and invaded his dreams… The one he hoped… desperately dreamed would care for him… someday.

Seemingly unaware of his feelings, she motioned to the file, warning, "You might not want to pull on that thread." Then, as quickly as she came, she left without looking back.

Concern, guilt and many other feelings were coursing through him as he lowered his head and opened the Russian file. Loss. A deep loss was the strongest feeling which overwhelmed him. Steve had lost Bucky once and, at that moment, it felt like he was losing Natasha too.

The Falcon came close, and glanced at the file, saying, "You're going after him."

Despite everything, Steve needed to save the man that had once been like a brother to him. "You don't have to come with me," he spoke full of sorrow, looking at the information on how James Barnes had become The Winter Soldier.

Having lost a partner himself, Sam understood the pain, and replied, "I know. When do we start?"

The Captain paused for a moment, as if he wasn't sure about how to begin.

"Aren't you gonna ask your lady for help?" the Falcon questioned, "She's Russian, right?"

It was the obvious course of action, and above all, it was what Steve secretly wanted to do. "My lady? Natasha? No, no, she's not… We're just… We're partners." He was taken by surprise by how much it hurt him to say that out loud.

Ever since Sam had seen the soldier and the spy together for the first time, he had suspected that their connection was deeper and more intimate than they had shown in public. Curious, he inquired, "Why?" Looking at the redhead walking far away, he raised his thumbs together, making the touchdown sign, and teased, "Man, I wouldn't think twice…"

Immediately, the Captain stepped around in front of the Falcon, blocking his view, "Hey!"

Realizing that maybe he had gone too far, Sam chuckled, "Sorry, Cap, it was a bad joke."

Uneasy with his impulsive and territorial reaction, the soldier shook his head, upset.

Sensing the tension, the Falcon tried to make amends. "And I'm sorry for interrupting you two, that day, you know, back at my place."

That had been a very special moment. The soldier remembered how vulnerable and real she had been, with the same unmasked eyes she had showed him today – absolutely beautiful. He had wanted to hold and comfort her so badly… but he did nothing. As it had always happened before whenever he had been in front of Natasha, Steve shied away… and the moment… passed.

"Sam, you have nothing to apologize for," the Captain replied and, after pausing for a moment, added melancholically, "You didn't interrupt anything."

"She's amazing, Cap. What's the problem?"

"Yeah. She is. But we're just friends," Steve added quite embarrassed, "She was actually trying to find me a date."

"Do you need any help?" The Falcon couldn't sound more incredulous.

This time, the soldier smiled. "No, it's not that. I mean… she's not interested."

Remembering their talk at the VA, Sam insisted, "Aren't you?"

Yes. The thought hit Steve's heart harder than a punch from Bucky's metal arm. Even so, he gave the standard answer, "We're partners. It wouldn't be appropriate."

"There's no more S.H.I.E.L.D., Cap. What are you waiting for?"

Another sad realization hit the Captain – her world had collapsed too, like it was for him. He took a deep breath, "I have a job to do. She has her own search, and she's not…"

"You think she's not interested because she's trying to set you up with other women?" the Falcon raised his eyebrows, "21st century dating tip: women are masters at the art of misdirection. They say no when they mean yes."

Confused, Steve was also hopeful. Natasha wasn't like any other woman he had met in his entire life. He chuckled, "That was true also back in my day, but I'm not so sure about now. The women I've met so far have been pretty straightforward. They're not afraid to say what they want."

"What do you expect? You're Captain America. Everybody fancies the superhero."

But not her. The soldier looked down pensively. "Natasha isn't like that." That was one of the things that had attracted him to her in the first place – she always saw the man behind the mask.

"Don't you like her?" Sam's question hit the main point.

Since the very beginning. The Captain couldn't answer or face his newest partner. He wouldn't lie, but these issues were too personal for him to talk to anyone about, especially since he hadn't even admitted them to himself yet.

The signs of psychological denial were unmistakable and Sam needed to help his troubled friend. Patting Steve's shoulder, he reassured, "When it matters, everybody hides, afraid to get hurt."

Thinking about when they first fought together, the soldier remembered how fearless she had been.

"You don't know her, Sam. The Black Widow isn't afraid of anything."

"I don't doubt you, Cap. I'm just saying that you didn't see her looking for you after the battle, or waiting at the hospital when they were operating on you," serious, the Falcon continued, "You were in pretty bad shape, man. We were all worried about you… and so was she."

Once again, the Falcon offered nothing but his camaraderie and friendship. "With all due respect, man, I think she's not the kind of woman you find everywhere. She's the kind you don't let escape."

The Captain paused.

After fighting Bucky and falling from the Helicarrier, he really didn't remember much. Memories of the emotional Natasha at the hospital after Fury's accident came to his mind… along with her teary green eyes… Still… I don't know if I can do that.

The smile on Sam's face was full of compassion, "She cares about you, man, for real."

Steve was totally lost. He knew that Natasha was far from the cold person the Black Widow was supposed to be, but to let himself believe in these words… it was too terrifying.

As he remembered their kiss – it had been a total disaster… He couldn't fool himself – she didn't care… at all. It had been just a disguise. Still, he could've done something, anything! But no, he had blown the chance he had awaited for so long…

The look on her face had been one of total disappointment… "You still uncomfortable?"

"That's not exactly the word I would use." He couldn't help it, he had felt like a complete idiot.

Right on target, the Falcon pondered, "Brother, we all have the same problems. And we feel guilt and regret for the things we didn't do."

Rubbing the back of his neck, Steve answered, uncertain, "The timing couldn't possibly be worse…"

"You know, I just figured out something about you. You stink at problems you can't solve with your fists." The Falcon looked a bit concerned, "Steve… Do you have feelings for her?"

Like everybody else, in matters of the heart, the superhero was just human. Frustrated, he drew a sharp breath, but didn't say anything.

In a last attempt, Sam pushed, "You'd better go chase her, running man."

Captain America froze completely. That was everything Steve Rogers wanted to do… but…

Could the little guy from Brooklyn cross that one line?

.

Author's note: Since Captain America: The Winter Soldier premiered, I've been going to the theaters, watching it again and again. I can't get enough! So, I had to write my view about what was between the lines!

Having watching all Marvel's movies and The Nanny Diaries (which features Chris & Scarlett as the romantic couple), I fell in love with Steve & Natasha together, especially after their interviews at Comic-Con 2013.

Thanks to my dear friend & Romanogers beta, Lovedrr. Your words are an inspiration!

Remember, for a writer, feedback is gold, and your opinion always matters. I appreciate anything and everything you want to say. So, please feel free to ask me anything and forgive any English mistake, my 1st language is Portuguese. Comments in Spanish are welcome!

I hope you enjoyed!

xxoo Mari

Ref: Comics: Captain America and the Falcon #7 "Lost in Translation" – [Steve] The timing couldn't possibly be worse… [Sam] You know, I just figured something about you… You stink at problems you can't solve with your fists. Steve… do you have feelings for her?