When Natasha's hand settles on his back, Steve squares his shoulders and straightens, ready to let her lean on him as much as she needs to. Even if it's just a small touch, when it comes to Natasha even the smallest of gestures can have a lot of meaning behind them. He's just as off-kilter as she is, honestly, but the two of them are trained to adapt to changing environments and to recover quickly, even when it feels like the earth itself is shifting under them.
As Natasha's touch wavers on his back, Steve turns himself to better face her, grabbing for her wrist to hold it tight between his gloved hand. It's a way of forming a connection, to remind her that no matter how turbulent everything is right now, he's still there with her.
Eventually Natasha opens her eyes and they've got all the sharpness that they should as she takes in any possible threats around them. (But it seems like they're alone out here, far away from the mansion that he knows is just over the crest.) He's seen that look on Bucky's face plenty of times too, and it reminds him just how similar they both are.
Bucky -- he needs to find him. But first he needs to find his feet and help Natasha do the same. He releases her wrist and slides his hand down to grasp her palm instead. Neither of them are usually this physical with each other, not like this, but it's been a long couple of weeks and this is just the icing on the cake.
Before Steve can answer her question, Natasha gives him the response he'd been looking for. They match, up to the exact moment, and that's enough to bring a tentative smile to Steve's lips. "Hey, I was preparing to dodge out of the way. You have taught me a few things, you know."
Finally he lets go of her, activating the magnets in his suit so that his shield can sit on his arm instead. "I guess we need to find our way out of here and then figure out how long it's been." A year, in their case, but the amount of time that's passed in Wonderland is probably much less.
you know you love him
As Natasha's touch wavers on his back, Steve turns himself to better face her, grabbing for her wrist to hold it tight between his gloved hand. It's a way of forming a connection, to remind her that no matter how turbulent everything is right now, he's still there with her.
Eventually Natasha opens her eyes and they've got all the sharpness that they should as she takes in any possible threats around them. (But it seems like they're alone out here, far away from the mansion that he knows is just over the crest.) He's seen that look on Bucky's face plenty of times too, and it reminds him just how similar they both are.
Bucky -- he needs to find him. But first he needs to find his feet and help Natasha do the same. He releases her wrist and slides his hand down to grasp her palm instead. Neither of them are usually this physical with each other, not like this, but it's been a long couple of weeks and this is just the icing on the cake.
Before Steve can answer her question, Natasha gives him the response he'd been looking for. They match, up to the exact moment, and that's enough to bring a tentative smile to Steve's lips. "Hey, I was preparing to dodge out of the way. You have taught me a few things, you know."
Finally he lets go of her, activating the magnets in his suit so that his shield can sit on his arm instead. "I guess we need to find our way out of here and then figure out how long it's been." A year, in their case, but the amount of time that's passed in Wonderland is probably much less.