What matters is on the inside - Locked to <user site="livejournal.com" user="steverogers_cpt" title=

[kick_ass_curls]

Tasha knew it was reckless, dangerous and stupid, but she marched down to Fury's office after he talk with Steve and layed it on the line. Not all of it of course, but the Director wasn't blind with that one eye of his. He could tell Agent Romanoff was taking far more than simply a professional interest in Steve Rogers. Wisely, he didn't call her on it.

After hours, she finally had the clearance, the team of lower level agents to help them, the files on how Erskine had done it and a hell of a lot of motivation to get the man she...whatever it was she was feeling for Steve, back to being the first Avenger.

Now all she had to do was convince Steve he could stop hiding and come with. You can't make Captain America if you don't have the key ingredient. 

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[steverogers-cpt.livejournal.com]

Steve watched her as she stood, feeling it a little that she didn't even smile or give him a hug. He rubbed his brow before standing. "Pretty sure I can't suit up when i'm too small for it."

[kick-ass-curls.livejournal.com]

She can't let herself get emotional on this. Emotions make you sloppy, leaving you and your teammates in a position of having exploitable weaknesses. She can't afford that and neither can Steve. At least that's what she's telling herself. What Natasha really wants to do is hold him and tell him they'll fix this no matter what it takes but...no.

Steve has a way of changing into a powerful, fearless leader that anyone will follow into battle when he picks up that shield and puts on that suit. Now...he can't. So she thinks has to be that person.

"There's standard SHIELD field gear in the bag, and weapons." Tasha says matter-of-factly. "The shield and the suit are in the plane. You'll need them later."

[steverogers-cpt.livejournal.com]

Steve nodded, picking up the bag and looking inside. He bit his lip momentarily when he pulled out the gun and put it on thebed, not liking the idea of holding it, let alone using it. Looking up at her, Steve stepped closer to her. "You okay?"

[kick-ass-curls.livejournal.com]

She knows he can use a gun, that's why it's in the bag. Tasha is silent, simply waiting until he asked that question. "I'm fine." She lies, in the type of voice that gives that fact away.

[steverogers-cpt.livejournal.com]

"No, you're not..." He replied, looking her in the eye. "Natasha..."

[kick-ass-curls.livejournal.com]

"I said I'm fine." She turns away from him the second she feels her voice start to break. He's not being the brave one right now so she has to be. She has no choice.

[steverogers-cpt.livejournal.com]

"You can talk to me, i'm..." He paused for a moment, letting a long breath before finishing. "... i'm still me."

[kick-ass-curls.livejournal.com]

"But you're not..." Tasha's voice finally breaks with sadness as she hugs him suddenly. It's not the same feeling as it was before and she doesn't like it. No matter how much he's still Steve, he's not Captain America anymore. He's not complete.

"We have to get you back." Natasha whimpers, hiding her face against him. "All of you."

[steverogers-cpt.livejournal.com]

Steve stepped back slightly when she hugged him, closing his eyes for a moment as he placed a hand on her lower back. "Main part of me's still right here." He replied quietly, holding her. "It'll all get sorted out and i'll be fine."

[kick-ass-curls.livejournal.com]

"I know." She says softly, nuzzling against him, trying to push away all that fear she's going to get him hurt or killed by doing this. This problem is he's one of the few people alive still that remember how the process worked.

Natasha pulls back, resting a hand on his chest, over his heart. She smiles sadly and nods. "We should get going, the planes waiting."

[steverogers-cpt.livejournal.com]

Steve smiled slightly in return and reached up to gently brush his hand against her cheek for a moment. He then let it drop and nodded. "I should probably get changed."

[kick-ass-curls.livejournal.com]

"Yeah." Part of her wants to tell him not to, that he can stay like he is forever and she'll be fine with it.

But she knows he won't be fine with it. And if he's not happy, there's no way she'll be happy.

"I'll be at the plane, we don't even have to steal it this time."

[steverogers-cpt.livejournal.com]

Steve nodded, giving her a small smile. "I'll wear a helmet or something so people won't know its me." He replied, trying to make a joke to lighten the mood but failing.

[kick-ass-curls.livejournal.com]

That does earn him a smirk. "I'll know it's you." Natasha nods at him. "Get dressed and meet me at the plane, tough guy." She's hoping her little joke will motivate him.

[steverogers-cpt.livejournal.com]

Steve smiled, rubbing the back of his head and nodding. "I'll see you there."

[kick-ass-curls.livejournal.com]

A small part of Natasha worries he won't show up. Really it does, but she's got enough faith in Steve that he'll do what he has to.

[steverogers-cpt.livejournal.com]

"I'll be there." He repeated, seeing a slight doubt in her eyes. Steve didn't want to leave the room, but he could see how much she wanted him to and he didn't want to let her down.

[kick-ass-curls.livejournal.com]

She's waiting, and antsy. Tasha knows she's going to have to keep him safe during this mission and that...well...could make things awkward between the two of them afterwords. Like they need more awkward.

[steverogers-cpt.livejournal.com]

Steve had put on the uniform and gotten one of the agents that were going with them to give him a helmet so he could hide his face. When he walked onto the plane, he removed the helmet. His clothes too big for him.

[kick-ass-curls.livejournal.com]

"Ready?" That's all she says, even though Natasha has an enormous amount of respect for him for doing this. She's not exactly happy were they need to go to follow up on her lead though.

"Strap in, it's going to be a long ride."

[steverogers-cpt.livejournal.com]

Steve nodded, putting the helmet aside and sitting in a seat, strapping himself in. He breathed in deeply and looked at her.

"Ready."

[kick-ass-curls.livejournal.com]

She got a pilot for this mission, so she could focus in the data she's collected to make this mission a success. Too much is at stake for it not to be. Natasha doesn't like the fact they're going somewhere she never wanted to return to, though.

"Ever been to Russia?" she asks casually.

[steverogers-cpt.livejournal.com]

Steve frowned at her, shaking his head before asking. "We're going to Russia?"