Flowers, right? That's what you were supposed to give to women. Especially ones who'd been so -- so sweet to you, when you were having a hard time. A little shiver runs through Steve at the memory of just how sweet Tasha's been to him, and he lowers his head, a private, affectionate smile on his lips and a little pang of something darker dancing around inside him.
So, flowers. Not roses, that seemed to formal, too over-done. She should get something -- something better than that. Steve, who knew jack-all about flowers, had talked to Bruce, not exactly about why he wanted the run-down on special kinds of flowers that a scientist might have happened to know about for whatever reason, but sort of around the idea; apparently Bruce had already been briefed at least in part by Tony, because he'd only nodded and come up with a suggestion that keyed right on in to what Steve was asking for and why -- and for who.
Apparently, according to Bruce, "Natasha" meant "flower". And since their Natasha was Russian by birth, the scientist had suggested that he give her something that hit on that heritage, something that would be better than the big old smelly bouquets of things from the corner flower shops. Something as unique as she was, but that just so happened to have a little bit in common with the Captain as well. And while Steve had sat on a stool in the lab, blushing a bit at how not subtle he'd been about the whole thing, Banner had futzed around, making a few phone calls, until he finally turned to Steve with a big, self-satisfied grin and asked him if he could wait a week to get something that would be truly one-of-a-kind.
Which is why Steve's sneaking into her room while she's out, a small flowering plant in hand. It's lovely with delicate white blossoms, and from Siberia, and alive again in spite of all odds; he can't think of anything that suits better and he's going to have to remember to tell Bruce thanks again later, and to once more deliver the harsh warnings against gossiping about this with Tony (though he's pretty sure it's too late on that score). He sets the flowers on the table and straightens, turning to sneak back out before she can get in and catch him in her room.
Natasha was coming back from a mission as she strode down the corridor to her room. She hadn't even stopped to get out of her catsuit she was so eager just to find five minutes to herself to wind down. And perhaps there was a thought that after changing she might seek out Steve. The Captain seemed like he'd been avoiding her a little more than usual, but she wasn't one to read much into that sort of thing. They were both busy people even when they weren't acting as Avengers.
She slowed as she saw her door open and paused just as she was about to walk straight into a wall of Captain America's muscle. "Steve?" Natasha held out a hand, her fingers curling lightly around his arm to get them both to stop before a collision could happen.
"This is a surprise." A nice surprise though. It was always a nice surprise. Even since their first encounter it was hard to deny she had enjoyed each and every way she'd helped him with his 'little problem'.
Natasha closed the door behind them so that they could have a little privacy before she leaned to peer past Steve at the flowers. "They're beautiful. Did you really want to sneak away before I got to thank you?"
Her hand on his arm is bright and lovely, and he smiles a bit, ducking his head slightly at the blush is causes to rise to his cheek. He's having a hard time not picturing her naked in his mind, and he's doing everything he can to keep from having that be obvious in his eyes as he follows her into her rooms.
"I -- wanted them to be the surprise," he says softly, head still bent as the last of his blushes subside. He looks up at her, a glance from under his eyelashes, a moment's heat flashing bright in his eyes before he gets it handled. "And no thanks necessary, Tasha. I just thought you might like them, is all."
She wouldn't mind so much if he was imagining her naked. She wanted Steve to think along those lines. It meant she was still appealing to him. She certainly had her own naked thoughts regarding him. And the blushing really did increase Natasha's lust for him. She didn't know what it was, just that this man could be so strong, and handsome and still so shy and modest. She hoped he never lost it.
"They are," she assured him with another smile. She moved her hand up his arm before slipping her other one around his neck and rising up on her toes. Natasha pressed a kiss to his lips. "Mm, that's where you need to learn to be a little manipulative. 'Thank you' means you getting lucky or at least some very nice kisses. Take the thank you, Steve. And I do really like them. I like them, and I like you."
Her touch is light, and more than welcome. His eyes light up further as she slides an arm around his neck, his own arms wrapping around her waist with ill-disguised eagerness. He hadn't wanted to press, or presume, but he's more than happy with her taking the first move.
The kiss is good, and he pulls her closer as she speaks, smiling as he leans down to steal a kiss of his own. "Manipulative? Me? Let's not get crazy here," he murmurs against her lips, really liking the idea of this whole "getting lucky" business. "Then I suppose 'you're welcome' is in order."
His hands slide down to settle on her lower back, and there's still that little hint of a blush on his cheeks, every so light; a shy smile on his lips and in his voice. "And I like you, too, Tasha." A slight pause, and then he laughs, low and soft and a little self-conscious but totally sincere. "You're one hell of a woman."
Natasha smiled as she moved in even closer. She wanted him to feel comfortable to be able to touch her when they were alone. She wanted him to know that it was welcome. She might not come across as the person most open to affection but she was when she liked someone. Just not out in the halls.
She kissed both his cheeks before kissing his lips once more. "Thank you. I'm still honoured that you would feel me worthy of your attentions. And I like that you aren't manipulative but it's okay to be in some circumstances. I won't hold it against you."
So, flowers. Not roses, that seemed to formal, too over-done. She should get something -- something better than that. Steve, who knew jack-all about flowers, had talked to Bruce, not exactly about why he wanted the run-down on special kinds of flowers that a scientist might have happened to know about for whatever reason, but sort of around the idea; apparently Bruce had already been briefed at least in part by Tony, because he'd only nodded and come up with a suggestion that keyed right on in to what Steve was asking for and why -- and for who.
Apparently, according to Bruce, "Natasha" meant "flower". And since their Natasha was Russian by birth, the scientist had suggested that he give her something that hit on that heritage, something that would be better than the big old smelly bouquets of things from the corner flower shops. Something as unique as she was, but that just so happened to have a little bit in common with the Captain as well. And while Steve had sat on a stool in the lab, blushing a bit at how not subtle he'd been about the whole thing, Banner had futzed around, making a few phone calls, until he finally turned to Steve with a big, self-satisfied grin and asked him if he could wait a week to get something that would be truly one-of-a-kind.
Which is why Steve's sneaking into her room while she's out, a small flowering plant in hand. It's lovely with delicate white blossoms, and from Siberia, and alive again in spite of all odds; he can't think of anything that suits better and he's going to have to remember to tell Bruce thanks again later, and to once more deliver the harsh warnings against gossiping about this with Tony (though he's pretty sure it's too late on that score). He sets the flowers on the table and straightens, turning to sneak back out before she can get in and catch him in her room.
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She slowed as she saw her door open and paused just as she was about to walk straight into a wall of Captain America's muscle. "Steve?" Natasha held out a hand, her fingers curling lightly around his arm to get them both to stop before a collision could happen.
"This is a surprise." A nice surprise though. It was always a nice surprise. Even since their first encounter it was hard to deny she had enjoyed each and every way she'd helped him with his 'little problem'.
Natasha closed the door behind them so that they could have a little privacy before she leaned to peer past Steve at the flowers. "They're beautiful. Did you really want to sneak away before I got to thank you?"
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"I -- wanted them to be the surprise," he says softly, head still bent as the last of his blushes subside. He looks up at her, a glance from under his eyelashes, a moment's heat flashing bright in his eyes before he gets it handled. "And no thanks necessary, Tasha. I just thought you might like them, is all."
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"They are," she assured him with another smile. She moved her hand up his arm before slipping her other one around his neck and rising up on her toes. Natasha pressed a kiss to his lips. "Mm, that's where you need to learn to be a little manipulative. 'Thank you' means you getting lucky or at least some very nice kisses. Take the thank you, Steve. And I do really like them. I like them, and I like you."
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The kiss is good, and he pulls her closer as she speaks, smiling as he leans down to steal a kiss of his own. "Manipulative? Me? Let's not get crazy here," he murmurs against her lips, really liking the idea of this whole "getting lucky" business. "Then I suppose 'you're welcome' is in order."
His hands slide down to settle on her lower back, and there's still that little hint of a blush on his cheeks, every so light; a shy smile on his lips and in his voice. "And I like you, too, Tasha." A slight pause, and then he laughs, low and soft and a little self-conscious but totally sincere. "You're one hell of a woman."
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She kissed both his cheeks before kissing his lips once more. "Thank you. I'm still honoured that you would feel me worthy of your attentions. And I like that you aren't manipulative but it's okay to be in some circumstances. I won't hold it against you."
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