#rheality

“Steve?” Natasha called out as she knocked on the door leading to her husband’s office. After several weeks of negotiations that never seemed to end, they had finally acquired the paperwork for a piece of land outside Manhattan that they’d been eyeing. She couldn’t wait to break the news to him. But, it was the brunette smiling happily in the room that caught her eye first. Ada was one of the staff that Steve had hired several months ago and if anything, Natasha hated the way she took every opportunity she could to be as present as humanly possible in his day-to-day life. “Mrs Rogers,” Ada greeted as soon as she saw her and turned her attention back to Steve, “If there isn’t anything else, I’ll be leaving now.”

“Thank you,” Natasha replied as professionally as possible. Once she was certain that the girl had left, she sat down in front of his desk, dropping the files on his table. He raised an eyebrow at her, “What is this?”

She felt the irritation dissipate as she turned her attention back to the matter at hand, “Well, I’ve just received news that we got the land from Reynolds’.” The grin that broke out on his face seemed to match her own and he reached out to grab her hand, “You’re not lying to me, are you?”

Natasha shook her head, “Of course not.”

“Oh my God, we did it,” he said, leaning back in his chair in disbelief, “And it’s all thanks to you. Nat, without you, this wouldn’t have been possible.”

She smirked, shaking her head, “What would you do without me, Rogers?”

“I’d still be an office boy working from 9 to 5 for someone else for the rest of my life,” he chuckled, “If I hadn’t met you…”

“We’re partners, remember?” She said as she got up to pour them a drink, “Besides, this calls for a celebration.”

“I married the boy from Brooklyn, not this, Steve. I don’t even know you anymore. You’re never home, you’re at every single party your friends throw and you don’t even care about this-” she gestured around her, at the life they’d built, “-anymore. All you care about is how well your movies do and when you’re going to get your next job or what magazine you’re going to be featured in next. I know that you’re working hard for your dream and I love that you care and are so immensely passionate about what you do but have you ever thought about my feelings? When was the last time we even sat down to just talk without fighting? Every single time you come home, it’s always talk about work. You never ask me how I’m doing. You don’t even care.”

“I care, more than you know, Nat. It’s not that simple. I’m doing this because I love my job and I need you to understand that. We’re doing well, aren’t we? We’ve got everything anybody could ever want. Doesn’t that count for something? Don’t you want to give one hundred and one per cent to doing what you love as well?”

She could barely make out his facial expression when she spoke, the tears clouding her vision, “I gave it up so you could have yours.”

“What?” he asked, his voice soft, “What do you mean, Nat? Weren’t you going to do that piece for your promotion?”

“I gave it up so I could go on that stupid press tour of yours,” she replied, her voice cracking with every word.

“Nat, shit. Why didn’t you tell me?” Steve asked. She couldn’t even tell if he was genuinely sorry at this point.“Because that press tour was important to you. I did it because I love you but it was obviously a mistake; trading your dreams for mine. I thought I could be okay with this,” she said, raising her voice, “I thought it would be okay because you were living your dreams! I don’t know what you want me to do anymore, Steve. I gave up everything for you. Do you think you would’ve been able to do the same?”

He kept quiet and sure enough, she knew her answer. He didn’t need to say a single thing, it was clear as day. He wouldn’t. She swallowed the lump in her throat and quickly wiped away the tears using the back of her hand. She wasn’t even upset anymore; she could only feel disappointed. “Give me your hand,” she said quietly, not looking him in the eye. He didn’t respond, his face a mix of confusion and shock. She didn’t know what she was doing either but she found herself tugging at the ring that sat on her finger. When he didn’t move, she placed it on the coffee table. Natasha grabbed her bag and tossed her set of keys to the house next to the ring. She was certain he wouldn’t stop her as she shouldered her way past him, but he grabbed her arm, “Nat, stop. What are you doing?”