A formal event was in full swing at Stark Tower and everyone was chattering about and dancing. Steve was just standing there on the side of all the excitement, observing. Natasha, who was behind the bar, notices his lonesome inspection and calls to him.

"You should be out there." she says.

Steve turns and watches her pour a drink. A small smirk tugs at his lips as he approaches the bar.

"I could say the same for you."

She smiles and looks up at him.

"Well I'm clearly...occupied."

Natasha slides the drink to someone at the end of the bar.

"Hmm, it seems like at every gathering your alway here at the bar. That looks a lot like hiding if you ask me."

She pulls out a beer and places it in front of him.

"Oh no Rogers, I'm not one for hiding."

"Then why are you over there instead of out here? "

Natasha pours another drink into a martini glass.

"Well, I guess I'm just holding off."

Steve takes hold of the beer and takes a sip.

"Holding off for what?" he asks.

She grabs the martini and takes a sip, her eyes surfacing the crowd, while Steve's gaze fixate on a water droplet trailing down the side of his beer as he slightly hovers it over the counter.

"The right partner...I think."

Steve's eyes shot up to look at her. His breathe almost hitched at how swiftly he drew it in. His beer slid down on the counter with force, and all he could do is search Natasha's expression. She remained relaxed, she took another sip and glanced at him.

Slowly her eyes grew curious at the intensity of his stare. It was almost alarming, as if he'd seen a ghost.

Right when she was about to question his gaze, a blonde petite woman appeared. She slid her hand on Steve's shoulder, as she stood right next to him. Steve almost jumped at her touch and turned to see who it was. Sharon Carter.

"Hey you! I was looking for you but there's just so many people here tonight." she said with a smile.

Steve chuckled uncomfortably.

Natasha observed her and was about to make her exit, when Sharon turned her eyes to her.

"Hello Natasha." she said sweetly.

She stopped in her tracks and looked over at her.

"Hi." she responded.

Steve's gaze still burned hot on her, and for some reason being in the presence of both Steve and Sharon made Natasha feel uncomfortable so she just wanted to leave immediately.

"I was just leaving."

"Oh no, stay." said Sharon.

"I would but I'm...tired."

"Oh, well have a good night."

She raised her martini glass at them with a tight smile and walked off.

Steve followed her with his eyes, still reeling from her words. He couldn't understand why she would say that, or better yet what did this mean? Did it mean anything it all? The coincidence was so powerful it was hard to just ignore easily.

Sharon noticed his deadpan expression.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

He broke his gaze from a distant Natasha. As he looked at Sharon, he slowly came down from his awe and calibrated his thoughts.

"No."

Natasha came to a halt as she pondered why there was something so telling and alluring in Steve's gaze, she wondered what it meant. She turned around to peak at him and see if there was anything worth thinking about or was it all just in her head.

She saw how Steve had now redirected his eyes to Sharon, and raised his hand to brush her arm.

"Everything is fine." said Steve as he gave Sharon a reassuring grasp.

Natasha looked away and shook her head, she couldn't believe she even thought that there was something different in his look towards her. That his eyes shifted and gave her an intriguing and fulfilling flare inside her. Like a wave crashing on a shore. She looked at the glass in her hand, half empty.

"No wonder your seeing things, Natasha." she whispered to herself as she walked off.