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( thirteen. broken smiles )

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Luck was fortunately at their side for them to make it out of that factory alive.

The second they got, a sight of chaos was what greeted them. Lifeless bodies sprayed across the blood-stained ground. Tanks were running over them. Men were running around and shooting guns at one another. Some of their soldiers even got a hand of one of HYDRA's weapons.

Steve gained their attention by ordering the other men to follow him. They made it to the open gates without so much bloodshed involved (miraculously). Some of the HYDRA soldiers even retreated when they found out their own leader had deserted them.

They fled the area. Running away from HYDRA.

They stopped to rest and catch their breath. The men erupted in cries of joy and triumph of course. They patted each other on the back, hugged, laughed, and finally, they thanked Steve and her for coming to rescue them. Though they still couldn't believe that a woman like her would dare come and attempt to save their asses.

They were intrigued by her, and she could only laugh in response when a few of them were already asking if she was interested in going out for a drink with them as soon as they got back.

One even dared ask her. "So, do you have a man waiting for you back in your place?"

Even Steve and Bucky turned their attention to her to hear out what she was going to say. Steve, especially, somehow hoping that what he was thinking was what she was going to answer too.

"No." She answered, her striking-green eyes looking subtly fleeting over to their captain. Her breath hitched in her throat when she caught him already looking at her. His eyes widened as soon as their gazes locked. She smirked. "Not of the moment.

"Could I have the honor of being that man?"

She redirected her attention back to the soldier in front. "Depends if you could be the type of man I want."

"I'm sure I can live up to your standards."

Natasha raised an eyebrow, dauntingly, "Can you?"

The soldier's confidence dropped down like a bomb. And the other men all ooed in amusement, snickering and laughing with one another.

She smirked teasingly. "Don't hold your breath, soldier."

Then she walked away from them. The men watched her movement, as she went deeper into the forest to get some fresh air and clear her head for a while.

Steve and Bucky were entranced by what just happened too. Bucky was the first to snap out of it though.

"Damn," he chuckled lowly. "What a dame."

And that was just one way to describe her.

Steve stared at the spot where she just disappeared from. His mind kept replaying the mental image of her just moments ago when she was fighting alongside him. When she was beating the hell out of those HYDRA men just like he was. He was amazed. Impressed. Intrigued by her.

He only knew one other woman who had the same fiery spirit and passion like her. Peggy. Peggy who he had met before he became this. She who believed in him while he still had a pair of chicken legs. And he wondered how could a woman like her, so beautiful and kind, could be so bold and daring at the same time?

Ever since that thought came his mind, a gush of warmth rinsed his heart. The thought of Peggy just always made him smile.

But now... this strange girl. This agent. This fighter.

She had made him so curious about her. She was very much like Peggy. That he had noticed recently now. She was beautiful yet terrifying at the same time. But still, despite all the similarities, there was something else. Something different. He couldn't pinpoint what exactly. Like there was a huge wall coming between those two women to show how much they were apart.

While Peggy made him warm and at ease; the other girl made him feel like he was playing with fire.

Steve still hadn't decided if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"Ey, Steve," He craned his neck to see Bucky giving him a worried look. "You alright, bud?"

It took him a second to find his voice. "Uh, yeah. I'm fine."

He stared at him with hesitance.

He sighed. "I'm fine, Buck. Really."

"Alright." He dropped the subject. And Steve inwardly thanked in relief. Unfortunately, he did it too soon because Bucky was already bringing up the subject he was trying to avoid. "So, care to help me catch up on things while I was away?"

No. He was certain that this would eventually lead to the question that he was dreading to hear. He could play it off, he may not be a good liar but he'll take a crack at it. Anything to not talk about this. "There's nothing for you to catch up on. Still the same back home. We're still at war."

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Steve."

"What?" He replied dumbly.

Bucky wanted to smack him. "For instance, why don't we start with you explaining how the hell did you turn into... this? You worked out nonstop?"

"That night at the Expo. A guy named Dr. Erskine heard what we were talking about."

"You mean... the talk when you were being a complete punk?"

Steve rolled his eyes, a small smile crawling its way to his lips. "Anyway, he got impressed by my stand. Asked me one question on why I wanted to join the war and kill somebody, but I said I didn't want to kill anyone. I just don't like bullies. Never like them at all. He said he could give me a chance, and I took it of course. The next thing I knew... I was in the base with the other recruits. I trained every day like a normal soldier does."

Bucky was speechless. "Jesus."

"Then they started this special project... it's called Project Rebirth. Its goal is to create a new line of super soldiers to be sent out in the war."

"And I'm guessing... you're one of them?"

"I'm the only one." His face fell, remembering the unfortunate incident involving Dr. Erskine's tragic fate. He sighed. "The night before I became this, Dr. Erskine came to talk to me. I asked him a simple question, Why me? A lot of soldiers are more suitable out there, Buck, and I know it. I was too weak. Got tired too easily. I thought that they would just be wasting it on me."

"Are you even hearing yourself?" Bucky cut him off in disbelief. "Why you? I think the more appropriate question is, Why not you? Sure, you may be a stubborn idiot. A scrawny kid from Brooklyn who always gets his ass beaten up and who I always need to look after. But hell, I'm more than sure that you're far from weak, Steve. I don't even need you to go through the whole thing making me understand why you were chosen. If you're still planning to hold this grudge on yourself, I'm not hearing any of it. Because I'd rather deal with Steve Rogers's scrawny ass over Captain America's any day of the week. Because that's who my best friend is. Not this man."

Steve could only stare at his best friend. Stunned by his hell of a speech. In a matter of seconds, his face suddenly broke into a warm smile. His blue eyes were glinting in happiness. He shook his head in amusement. "You're a jerk." He muttered.

Bucky smiled back, giving him a pat on the shoulder.

Silence dawned on them. Only the sound of the other soldiers chattering and murmuring to one another was heard along the wind. Steve already started to stand up and tell them they should get moving because it was already noon.

When Bucky threw the bomb on him.

"So, what's going on between you and Anne?"

He stopped. "What?"

----------------------------

Natasha took the time off to be at peace for a short while. After everything that has happened, it's been awhile since she was exposed to an atmosphere like this again. How crazy it sounded to say, she missed the cold wind brought on by rainforests.

Since she wasn't recently going on missions with the Avengers, she wasn't out there in the world like she normally is.

She sighed, glancing at her watch, 60%. It read.

Before, she was anxious by thinking how soon Tony was coming to get her back.

Now, she was anxious by thinking if Tony was even coming at all.

And how much she wanted to crush this watch to pieces. If it weren't for her coming down to Tony's lab that day she wouldn't even be here in the first place. She wouldn't be messing up everything the way it was messing her up.

God, may you help Natasha Romanoff's soul survive through all this.

After she was done having a moment in the woods, she turned on her heel to get back to the men. By the time she arrived, she found Bucky and Steve in the heat of their conversation. She tried not to interrupt them by coming up as quiet as possible, since whatever they were talking about was pretty... huge.

When she got closer, standing by a few feet in front of them, she could pick up a few pieces of their conversation. Both were too engrossed in their talk to even notice her presence.

"Would you drop it? There's nothing going on between us. I don't even know where you get that nonsense." Steve heaved an annoyed sigh.

"Yeah, I ain't falling for that."

"Seriously, there really is nothing going on. I don't even know if we're considered friends or something because we hardly know each other outside of work. We just met recently."

Oh, they were talking about her.

In Steve's perspective, it would make sense that it would seem that way to him. And she once again reminded herself that would be fully throwing away the plan of being 'incognito' if she chooses to go down this path she started herself on.

Bucky looked puzzled. "Really?"

"Yes, really." He shot him a look. "Do you believe me now?"

"Fine." She thought they were done talking. She was about to make her presence known when Bucky continued on, his lips curled into a devious smirk. "If that's the case, then you wouldn't mind me making a move, do you?"

Her eyes widened. She was not expecting that. At all.

Apparently, so did Steve. "Wha-you mean like... ask her out? On a date?"

She decided this was the perfect time to cut in. Her voice was loud, enough to make sure she got their attention in one go. "Ask who out?"

Sure enough, it did. Both boys turned to the direction of her voice, surprised at the fact they didn't even notice her walk in on them.

"H-How long were you standing there?" Steve asked, becoming all flustered.

"Long enough to know something." She answered vaguely, sauntering over until she was right in front of them, "So, what were you two talking about?"

"Do you like Steve?"

If the expression, 'knocked off guard' was not applicable to her before, it was definitely happening now. Her jaw almost dropped and she felt her knees buckle. "Excuse me?"

Steve was practically a tomato at this rate. A flushing tone of red spread all over his face down to his throat, it even accentuated his ears. "Buck, what the hell?"

"Come on, it's a simple question." Bucky looked at her. "So, do you, Anne? Do you like Steve?"

"This is ridiculous."

Bucky rolled his eyes at him.

Steve now looked at her, still in a blushing state, but his eyes narrowed. "You don't have to answer that. Come on we need to get going."

"But-"

He cut his friend off with a sharp glare. "We're going." Before he could embarrass him any further, he walked away from them and called out to the other soldiers.

Since their transponder was mushed to pieces, they couldn't activate it for Peggy or Howard to track them back. They were in for a long walk.

Steve was up front so she couldn't get near him. She settled at the back with Bucky as her company.

"Okay, Steve's gone. Could I get the answer to my question now?" he suddenly said.

She furrowed her eyebrows. "Why are you so keen to find out?"

"Because the punk's not giving me a damn answer. I figured if he won't tell me then I'll just have to ask you instead."

"I don't know if my answer's the answer you're expecting to hear."

"Well, what is your answer?"

He really wasn't letting this go. She figured being honest would be the easy way out. No point in lying anyway because there's nothing to lie about.

Is it? "We're just... co-workers? Allies? I think those are the terms I'd use." Bucky tilted his head at her questioningly, like he was trying to read her. "Besides," She sighed, looking away, "He likes someone else."

Bucky could only hum in response. His tone was slightly off, probably on the verge of teasing and disbelieving. "Whatever you say..."

Natasha looked back at him, suddenly feeling this sudden gush of annoyance flood past her. "Are you done asking questions now?"

He looked taken aback. "Yes. I'm sorry if it bothered you. I just wanted to know-"

"Yes, you did. And I'd greatly appreciate it if you would stop."

"Hey, I didn't mean to... I'm sorry, Anne."

"It's fine. Whatever."

He flinched at her cold tone. From the corner of her eye, she could see him giving her a tensed look. His eyes were downcast and his lips pressed into a thin line.

"You don't like me very much, do you?" he chuckled humorlessly.

Maybe it was the way he spoke it that made her regret her cold demeanor a little. Her mouth went limp. The words got stuck in her throat as she could only look at him.

She must have gone a little too far about not trying to get acquainted with him to the point that he'd realize she actually hated him. This wasn't what she was meaning to do. She kept telling herself that she was distancing herself from him because she didn't want people at this time to remember her, but then, why was she acting differently towards Steve? Why was Steve an exception?

No matter how much it annoys her to admit a mistake, she realized that she wasn't being rational enough with this. She was unconsciously dragging her past with him-no, with the Winter Soldier, to make these impulsive decisions.

She may loathe the Winter Soldier. But it wasn't fair to Bucky Barnes.

"I'm sorry if I did something wrong to make you so... stiff towards me. Since the Expo, I've felt you being kinda... no, really uncomfortable around me especially when I'm trying to-uh, get to know you. Maybe I was being too pushy without realizing it. And I'm sorry." He sighed, then finally looked at her with a weak smile. It looked way too forced. "I hope you can forgive me, Anne."

She let his words sink in for a moment. And when they finally do, just when Bucky was about to leave her side, she held out a hand to stop him. "Wait," He did stop to look back. "Uh, I... I wouldn't say I don't like you, particularly. It's just that you're..." My past lover. The assassin who murdered hundreds of innocents. "Acting like you're interested in me."

Bucky raised an eyebrow, not missing a beat. "Maybe that's because I am?"

Her eyes widened.

Oh, shit. "Huh?"

He chuckled. "Why do you think I invited you to come with us at the Expo? And even if I had two lovely dames in my arms that night I still wanted you to come with us but you sort of... disappeared that night. I didn't see you again."

She didn't know what to say. She really didn't know what to say. "James..."

"And I'd never thought I'd see you again but here you are now." He smiled. "But I couldn't just barge myself in the front door after being away for so long. And from the way you two and Steve moved back there, the way you talked and looked at each other... I thought I saw something. And I assumed there was."

"But there's not." Sadly.

"I know. And now that I know that, I guess there's no point in keeping this to myself for so long."

Uh oh. She knew where this heading. Before she knew it, she was trying to get a glimpse of Steve at their front. She was out of luck though, because she could only see his red, white and blue shield strapped to his back.

He was too far out of sight. Too far to care about this.

Why would she even think for a moment that he'd care if Bucky was actually showing interest in her? Ridiculous.

"I won't scare you off by saying I like you, because I'd let to get to know you more before I reach that part," Bucky said. "If you would let me." He added shortly, flashing her another one of his charming smiles.

Natasha bit her lip, feeling her heart beating wildly against her chest as she struggled to answer. "Uh... I-uh."

She wasn't actually giving into his charms again, isn't she?

"You don't have to answer that now." He said softly. "Think about it first. I'm fine to wait for as long as it takes."

The problem was, Natasha didn't know if she would ever have the answer to that. Ever.

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Nightfall came.

They didn't reach the base in time and decided to set up for the night. They were all too exhausted to even think of carrying on the long walk up continuously till dawn.

They all sat around a bonfire. She was seated between Bucky and a soldier named Timothy Dugan. Steve was sitting right beside Bucky, and if she would glance from the corner of her eye, she'd actually get to take a peek at him without him catching her.

They spend their time introducing one another. There were a lot of them, but the ones that rang a bell were the names of Dugan, Morita, Jones, Dernier, and Falsworth. The Howling Commandos. And she suddenly realized why they stood among the rest.

Eventually, it was her turn to share her story.

All men's ears were hers now.

So, she started with the basics. She told them that she first started working as a nurse when Bucky's sister helped her apply for one (With one of them men curiously asking if she's hot and ended up with Bucky grunting a 'Dude?'). And that she had already known Bucky when she went with him to the Stark Expo.

"Ahh. So that's why you said there was no lad waiting for you back home because he is already here with you." Morita grinned, putting two and two together.

Her cheeks turned hot and she waved her hands frantically as if to say he got it all wrong. "No, no. It's not like that-"

Falsworth joined in, "Ey, Barnes, how come you didn't tell us?"

Bucky was obviously enjoying the moment, only grinning like an idiot the whole time. Natasha stared at him hotly. Like she couldn't understand what he finds so amusing in all these.

Then her gaze flickered over to one soldier.

His blue eyes were staring into hers with puzzlement, curiosity, and... was it disbelief? She didn't know for sure. She couldn't read his expression as easily as she could because he looked like he was holding back. Like he was putting up a wall to guard himself.

But he seemed bothered enough.

"I didn't know what exactly to tell." Bucky shrugged.

"That's because there isn't anything to tell. You guys misunderstood."

When he didn't show any sign of backing her up to prove it was true, she elbowed him in the gut. Bucky oofed in pain. He groaned, holding a hand to his side. "Yeah, it's true. We're just friends... I think."

Thankfully, they seemed to be convinced now.

She glanced back at Steve and saw that there was a hint of relief in his face? His blue eyes were a big lighter now compared to earlier. His shoulders were no longer tensed up.

When he caught her staring at him, his cheeks painted pink (again), and gave her a little smile.

Natasha smiled back.

She continued her story without anyone interrupting her, thank God. They were actually thrown off their places once she told them about her 'running around Brooklyn wearing a goddamn skirt and beating up two HYDRA men' fiasco. Their faces were enough to show astonishment for her actions. Then Steve told them about the time she actually spoke back to a colonel.

They cheered at that. Everyone knew that no one had the guts to talk back to a high-ranking officer like a colonel. But they completely lost it when they found out she had actually done it after getting a promotion from the same person.

She and Steve couldn't hold themselves back from laughing at their faces.

Truth be told, Natasha actually enjoyed talking to them that she actually forgot her current situation for a short while.

Once that was all over, they all turned in for the night.

She was about to go to sleep too when she saw Steve sitting all by himself by the fire. His face looked troubled. He would pick up a twig on the ground, snap it in half, then toss it into the fire. Then he'd repeat the same routine all over again.

She couldn't sleep without making sure he was okay. "Steve?"

He turned around.

"You okay?" she asked, concerned.

He seemed surprised that she was still up, probably thinking he was the only one awake. "Uh, yeah. Fine."

Of course, that would be his answer. It always is every time he's asked that question. She took a seat beside him, leaving a distance of about a foot between them for their own sakes (her, mostly).

She wove her hands together as they sat together in silence. Simply watching the orange-yellow flames of the fire pit lit up the darkness around them.

Then a strong and chilly breeze rush past them. She felt it pricking into her skin like needles and subtly raise her hands to rub her arms.

Apparently, not subtle enough.

The next thing she knew, Steve was already taking off his torn and half-burnt leather jacket and draping it over her shoulders. She looked at him in surprise but he only offered back a weak smile.

But she saw it. That behind that smile there was something else. Something bothering him.

"What's wrong, Steve?"

It was enough to make that smile fall from his face. "Nothing."

"It can't be nothing." She pressed. But she could see the hesitance on his face and decided to keep quiet and give him time. If he didn't want to talk, then she wasn't going to force him.

Still, she didn't leave. She stayed there with him. With the scent of his cologne still distinguishable among the smell of ash, dirt, and sweat latched on his leather jacket, it made her stomach clench all over again.

There was the certain force tugging the both of them again. Like the last them they were alone back in the medical ward when she was taking his blood. Only this time, it was much stronger.

She tried to keep away. Tried to move away. But she couldn't. And for some odd reason, they ended up getting closer without neither realizing who moved.

Their shoulders were brushing lightly now, and God, how the touch was driving her mad.

"Anne," he said quietly. She looked up at him but he was looking at something straight ahead.

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

Her heart was racing faster. And her stomach was doing flips that she didn't know were possible.

He took her silence as a 'yes' and went on. "Why did you come to Brooklyn?"

Okay, she certainly wasn't expecting that kind of question. "Uh, I told you, I lost my job and needed a new one."

"But why Brooklyn? You could've gone anywhere you want, you know."

She didn't understand where this was heading. "Maybe because I heard from a lot of people that job opportunities are higher in Brooklyn than the rest of the boroughs in New York." She lied smoothly.

He looked satisfied enough with her answer. "Okay."

Alright, something was seriously up with him.

She sighed, shifting around to face him more directly. "What's going on, Steve? Is this about the mission? About the way back to the base? What? You can tell me."

"No, I..." he shook his head. "God, I suck at this."

"At what? You're not doing anything."

"Exactly." He finally looked at her. She wasn't prepared for it because with that position, their faces were just inches away. "I was just... I was trying to-I thought," he bowed his head down, "Shit."

Natasha's eyes widened. It was the first time she actually heard him cursed. A gasp escaped her lips. "Language, Cap."

Steve blushed in embarrassment, laughing sheepishly. "Sorry."

At least she got him to smile. "Mind telling me what's going on?"

The smile faded from his face but he didn't look too uneasy now like he was previously. "I just wanted to... know more about you." Her heart skipped a beat. "But! I just-I don't plan to... not like what Bucky said... no. I don't-I'm not heading that way. I just really want to get to know you. Like..."

She swallowed thickly. "A friend?"

Who do you want me to be?

How about a friend?

He seemed surprised at her suggestion. A flicker of disappointment flash through his baby-blue eyes but it was gone before she could see it. He ignored the tightening feeling of his gut and nodded curtly, "A friend."

A quiet laugh escaped from her lips. But when the sound of her own laughter reached her ears, she heard it. Fake. Strained. Broken.

Her heart clenched in dismay. "I guess that would be nice." No. It's not.

Steve stared at her. His eyes swirling a decipher of emotions that were too hard for her to determine. And with her heart sinking too deep, she couldn't care less about finding out what it was.

Then he smiled at her.

But what she didn't realize was how that smile could hide just how broken he was as her on the inside.

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A friend? *snorts*

Yeah, right.