Chapter 10

By: MysticFantasy

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"At least the rain let up a little." Steve said before he leaped up and grabbed the trunk of the tree. He then quickly climbed up the rest of the way and began to toss large pieces of fruit down where Natasha was able to catch them.

"I'll be glad when it stops." Natasha said as she quickly gathered the fruit on the net. "Being stuck in a cave with Clint and Tony snoring is not exactly fun."

Steve chuckled and dropped to the ground, landing in front of Natasha.

"Hopefully, not all of us are that bad." he said.

"No." Natasha replied as they began to walk through the misty rain. "You're the easiest to get along with."

"Well, glad to know that." Steve said with a smile and they came to another tree that looked like it held banana's.

"So, do you have a girlfriend we should know about?" Natasha asked.

"Oh, come on, Natasha." Steve said before climbing the trunk.

"I'm just asking." Natasha said.

"Sorry to have to dissapoint you but, no, I don't have one." Steve said.

"Steve, honestly?! After all of the nice ladies I suggested." Natasha said and easily caught some of the bananas he tossed down.

"None of them sparked my interest." Steve replied as he tossed down the last of the good looking bananas.

"Well, what kind of woman does spark your interest?" she asked as he jumped down. "Maybe I know someone."

"You probably do but I don't want you to waste your time on this." Steve said as he gathered the net and easily lifted it.

"I am not wasting time." Natasha said. "I'm helping a good friend find a girl who will make him happy."

"Look, there is someone on my mind but...it wouldn't work."

"Really? Who is it? I can make it work if you'll let me help."

"Nat..."

"Please Steve. Tell me."

"No, I can't. Besides, even if you knew, I wouldn't be able to tell her because...I'm a stuttering mess around beautiful women."

"So I'm not beautiful?" Natasha asked teasingly.

"What? No...I-I mean, yes! Yes, you are beautiful, Natasha." Steve stammered.

"Good." she said and pressed a light kiss on his cheek. "If you said no, I'd have to kill you."

"Really?"

"Of course not." Natasha chuckled. "Like I said eariler, you're the easiest to get along with here and I think that our friendship is pretty nice right where it is."

"I think so too." Steve agreed. "I'd hate for anything to mess it up."

The two went silent after that.

Not knowing how the other felt, they did believe that their friendship was perfect and didn't want anything to ruin it.

It was one of those rare friendships where it was absolutely perfect just the way it is.

But they each wanted to go a little further. Wanted to make their friendship a relationship. But fear of being rejected and ruining what they already have prevented them from taking the next step.

It was a standstill at the moment.

"But seriously, who is this girl that has your attention?" Natasha asked as they stood under a tree to get out of the rain for a while. "I can 'nudge' her in your direction. No girl would ever say no to a date with Steve Rogers."

"No, they wouldn't say no to a date with Captain America." Steve corrected. "Very few women actually know Steve Rogers. You being one of them."

"Well, I wouldn't say no to a date with you." Natasha said and felt her heart skip a beat at what she just said.

Steve's heart did the same.

"You wouldn't?" he asked timidly.

"I wouldn't." she answered with confidence. "We could go on a practice date when we get off this island. That way, when you get to ask this mystery girl, you'll know what to do."

"But what about the date after that?" Steve questioned. "I'm not exactly an expert on women or knowing how well the first date goes."

"Well, while we're stuck here, I can teach you everything you need to know." Natasha said. "When we get back to New York, we can go on a few dates and I can help you a little more. Things to talk about, how to hold her hand and all kinds of things. Trust me, you'll have her eating out of the palm of your hand one day."

"Well, thank you for offering to help me. You're a really great friend, Natasha." Steve said.

Natasha lightly smiled and they began to make their way back to the cave. She hoped that Steve thought the smile was because she was happy to be helping him.

But really, she was smiling because, even though it would be a practice date, it was a date. A date that she would have with Steve.

She could already picture it.

The both of them dressed nicely, Steve offering his arm and some roses, him pulling out her chair when they got to their restaraunt, small talk over a candle lit dinner, slipping his jacket over her shoulders so she could be warm...the possible good night kiss.

Distracted by her thoughts, Natasha nearly tripped over a rock. Strong arms quickly shot out and caught her.

The two stood but didn't move an inch once they realized they were in each others arms and staring into each others eyes.

"I...thanks, Steve." Natasha said softly.

"You're welcome." he said. "Are you alright?"

Natasha nodded, not daring to break eye contact. They stood still and continued to look into the others eyes for what seemed like hours. They would have continued to do so were it not for a sudden voice shouting through the trees.

"Cap? Red? Where are you guys? Getting some jungle lovin'?" Tony shouted.

The soldier and spy broke contact and stepped away from each other.

"We better get back to them." Steve said and gathered the net that had the fruit.

Natasha nodded, staying quiet and followed Steve back to the shelter that promised warmth and protection from the rain and cold.

They walked into the cave and right away felt the warmth from the fire. Clint tossed them each a dry towel and they began to dry themselves.

"Nice haul." the archer noted as he gazed at the net of food. "The rain letting up?"

"A little but the clouds looked like they were regathering." Steve answered as he sat in his spot.

"Great. More water." Clint muttered. "I think we've been around it enough."

"Not as long as me." the soldier replied with a bit of a dark smirk.

"I wonder what's taking Thor so long." Bruce voiced quietly.

"I hope that he didn't run into any kind of trouble." Natasha said.

"Maybe he's just taking a rest." Tony suggested. "Or maybe he had to go in another direction. We're not even sure of where we are so he probably had to change course a few times."

"I hope he didn't get lost." Clint said. "Maybe he should have called that guy he's always saying opens that rainbow bridge."

"Yeah but it would only work for Thor." Tony said. "His daddy doesn't exactly like us mortals. Thinks Thor is wasting his time being around us in the first place."

"He sounds like a real fun guy." Natasha said sarcastically.