[for Natasha and Steve] carnival

[onlyapassenger]

The first day had been dedicated to making sure the rides and the games and the food weren't about about to kill anyone, but by the second, Bucky's suspicion towards the unexpected carnival had waned enough that he could attempt to enjoy it while it lasted; the Island was by turns benevolent and sadistic, and in this action, it seemed like the biggest harm to the people of Tabula Rasa was getting sick from eating too much processed sugar. He hasn't been to an amusement park since he was young, not having had much cause later in life (let alone the time), but it's difficult to not get swept up in the atmosphere at all, even though better judgment would have him maintain a level head.

Given the outfit Natasha's chosen for the day, though, his better judgment went out the window some time ago. They aren't, perhaps, the most romantic of couples, though their story is certainly as sweeping as anything in fiction, but there are times when even he can forget the darkness from which they were created. His hand has barely left hers throughout the afternoon, letting go only to watch, with pride, as she dominated the shooting games, though he expected no differently. Sharpshooting skills aside, however, there's no mistaking them at a glance for Captain America and the Black Widow, his appearance and demeanor so clean cut and quaint that he looks like he stepped out of a period film; the only difference is, she's the one winning him prizes.

With a stuffed Iron Man tucked under his arm -- target practice, she said -- and a grin on his face that stretches from ear to ear, he laughs as he presses an easy kiss to just below her ear, not minding the public display for the gleeful chaos surrounding them.

"I ever say how much I love you?"

Comments

[widowskiss.livejournal.com]

If asked, Natalia would say she is a spy first, an agent second, and a teammate later still. In spite of this, she's served on many over the years, but no team so readily as Steve Roger's. To call him a natural leader would be a disservice to him, and yet Natalia could not produce the words adequate to describe his effect on people, how eagerly they fall in behind him when the time for action has come. Natalia is no different, and though it's been months since they saw battle, the effect of her commander's voice is immediate.

She releases James, back straight and eyes forward. What she does not do is jump away as if he were something distasteful. "Christ," she repeats with a brow raised for both of them, "would imply a certain amount of holiness in this situation." She looks at Steve, determined that if she is going to suffer, they all will, and shows him a sweet smile. "I was hoping for very much the opposite."

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

"Good," I say, briefly digging my fingertips into the center of my forehead, "excellent, thank you for that, Natasha."

I drop my hand and return it to my slacks pocket. Despite what some people- mostly Tigra- may have implied over the years, I am not a prude. Other than the inherently embarrassing nature of the situation, which is as much evidenced in Bucky's face and Natalia's pointed calm as much as my own reaction to finding them, I have no objections. They're consenting adults, and moreover, not that I would necessarily say anything about it, I'm actively invested in them as a couple. They both deserve to have something good in their lives, someone they can trust who makes them happy, more than anyone else I know.

That doesn't mean I want to be kept this well informed of how things are going.

"You two enjoy your evening," I say, taking a step back the way I came.

[onlyapassenger]

"We will," Bucky replies, evenly, trying hard to keep the smirk off his face, but failing miserably. He's more irritated for the interruption than embarrassed, strictly speaking, and while under other circumstances Natasha's words would leave him blushing redder than his gloves, he's mostly just glad that they proved enough of a deterrent to send Steve packing without any lectures about public indecency and foul language.

Giving his friend a halfhearted salute, Bucky looks at Natasha out of the corner of his eye, unable to hide his amusement when he adds, "Won't we?"

[widowskiss.livejournal.com]

Natalia is not so startled that she can't appreciate the rarity of the situation - the ease with which James brought them back here, the good humor with which he sends his friend off now. She's never seen them quite like this, and she wonders if this was how it was for them all those years ago, James a handsome terror while on leave and Steve enduring it.

"We," she says, taking a fistful of his shirt and tugging, "will have to apologize." The later is of course implied, and it should be impossible, to feel naughty after all she's seen and done, but the sight of Steve Rogers' retreating back will do that to a woman.

[onlyforthedream.livejournal.com]

As a parting shot, over my shoulder I call out, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do," and then I'm ducking into the deeper shadows of the jungle, heading for home.

[widowskiss.livejournal.com]

She shouldn't - that poor man - but she can't help herself, and Natalia pulls her mouth from James' ear with a giggle. "Sharon is remarkably talkative after a third martini!" she calls back cheerfully.

Not to the degree that Natalia's suggesting, but neither man need know that. "Don't worry," she tells James, "we have quite a few options left."

[onlyapassenger]

Bucky coughs out a surprised laugh, letting his forehead fall to rest against Natasha's instead of going for the kiss he planned before the interruptions. He supposes he ought to feel a little mortified, but the emotion, if it even qualifies as one, barely registers, Natasha far too warm underneath his hands for the distraction to prove sufficient.

"Doesn't matter even if we didn't," he says, the words half lost against her mouth. "I've got my own way of doing things. Now, if I recall correctly..." He trails off, fingers climbing back up her thigh. "We were somewhere around here."