Just a Blast from the Past

Chapter Five

'I won't forget,' he answered with a smile then detached his gaze from her to choose a drink on the menu.

'5...4...3,' people sang in unison as they both watched from their seats. '2...1...Happy New Year!'

She turned to look at Steve's smiling face. The night was magical. He was alive, happy and by her side. 1943 seemed to be very promising and she never thought once she would be there to see it.

At the end of the evening, she waited for him as he signed a couple of autographs for people who had approached him when they were leaving the venue.

She threw a glimpse in his direction then stepped outside on the deserted sidewalk to breathe some fresh air. The temperature was cool but quite merciful for December/January. She heard footsteps getting closer and felt a hand reach for her purse. Her body reacted instinctively. She grabbed the unidentified hand, twisted it in a way to force the person to bend over in front of her. The man, dressed in black, and looking like a cheap thief, wailed in pain while she pressed her two fingers on the most sensitive nerve of his wrist.

'Looks like you had to pick the only lady in New York City who isn't really one,' she muttered harshly but with an entertained sneer. The thief didn't even try to escape her grip, he looked straight into her eyes and had a feeling she could break his wrist in just a flinch. And he couldn't have been any more right. Her gaze was still and serene but it was also what made it very much hostile and frightening. She looked like she was in control and knew exactly each and every movement of her hand that could inflict pain on his.

Natasha heard Steve come out of the venue and switched off her Black Widow persona. She released the pressure on the scoundrel's wrist just when Steve shouted and came running. The thief took advantage of the sudden twist of event, slipped his hand out of her willingly loose grip and shoved her before running off. She hardly staggered but took a few steps back to regain her balance. She felt Steve's strong arms slide around her waist from behind to catch her.

'Are you alright?' he asked, sounding quite alarmed, then after checking for himself by scanning her up and down, he leaped to run after the thief. She pressed her hand against his chest.

'Leave it,' she said. She was pretty positive the idiot would never renew the experience. Steve gave up but let out a sigh of frustration to blow off the steam as he watched him run around the corner. He then eventually fix his gaze back on her.

'This time, you let me walk you home,' he said. A courtesy she had always declined until now.

She nodded. He gave her his arm with a friendly smile and then they made their way to her apartment. It took them nearly an hour to reach her block mostly because they had extended their stroll. The streets were silent; shining light bulbs laying a warm and safe atmosphere around them. They discussed numerous topics: some she already knew he liked, some others she found out he had a deep interest in.

He talked a lot about having a home, children and a family.

'I know you don't put much faith in the institution of marriage,' he started with an amused smile. Yeah, she might have let that slip out during one of their talks. 'But yeah, I consider it is one step closer to achieve my definition of happiness.'

She stopped in front of her residence and turned to face him.

'Who is that woman who has your heart, Steve Rogers?' she asked softly with a little smile.

He frowned in surprise.

'What makes you think there is one?'

She shrugged and briefly broke eye contact. 'Call it intuition.'

He looked her deep in the eye, uncertain but tempted.

'Is it journalist Miss Rushman asking for her article?' he asked playfully.

'I'm asking as your friend,' she answered. She hadn't used this word in a while although she had been wanting to do so since the very beginning, but somehow, it sounded off now that she was saying out loud.

His smile turned into a sad one.

'There is...was someone. But she's gone now,' he murmured.

'From the army?' she asked.

He answered yes. She knew for a fact this woman who had his heart wasn't gone yet. And her return was imminent.

She nodded wistfully nonetheless for the illusion although not entirely because she was being sympathetic.

'She must be brave and strong,' she commented casually.

Steve looked at her intensely.

'You are brave and strong,' he stated matter-of-factly in a soft voice.

She looked up at him like she never had before. It felt like hearing the Steve from the future. Assertive as if he knew her. But it was impossible; she furrowed her brows in confusion.

'I saw you earlier with that thief,' Steve went on, chuckling. 'And he definitely was the one who looked like he was in serious distress. I almost wondered who I was supposed to rescue.'

It made her smile. 'Well, what can I say? It's my favorite purse,' she teased.

He laughed lightly, then turned an intent gaze on her. 'Aren't you from another time?'

He seemed to mean it...just not on a level close enough to what it really was.

She cocked an eyebrow.

'I hear that a lot,' she murmured with a smile. A part of her secretly wished he could know everything; know everything she was doing to save him and be the hero he had always believed she was.

Alas, that time hadn't come yet.

She lifted her hand and gently squeezed his forearm.

'Good night, Steve,' she said before heading inside the building.