Disclaimer: I do not own Captain America 2 or anything to do with Marvel. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
*****
Sharon Carter's dirty little secret was she loved to cook. Well, that and the whole gay thing, but she hadn't been hiding that so much as implying her own don't ask don't tell policy, as in if nobody asked she wouldn't tell. Not that it was anyone's business anyway.
However, while she didn't mind people knowing she was a lesbian she did mind people knowing she liked cooking, because it seemed a little too feminine and while the emphasis at SHIELD had always been on a military professionalism which always seemed very masculine. Certainly, if she had more friends and they knew about her dirty little secret she was sure she'd get teased.
However, she had let Natasha in on that secret, and at this point pretty much all her secrets, The Black Widow being unsurprisingly disarming and easy to talk to without revealing much herself.
Perhaps that would change on this, their third date. They had been in public for the past two dates, one-time at the movies, so there wasn't much chance for talking there and Sharon could understand Natasha's reluctance to offer up anything but small talk in a crowded restaurant.
But tonight would be different, Sharon determined not to allow Natasha into her bed until she had got something out of the redhead she hadn't known before.
That would be a difficult task, especially now Natasha had gotten to know her body, and more importantly Sharon had come to know exactly what another woman could do to her.
What The Black Widow could do to her, Sharon becoming lost in blissful memories for a few long seconds before she heard a knock on her door, the CIA Agent quickly moving to answer it after once again checking herself in the mirror, Sharon never feeling more girly than in that moment. She both hated and loved it in equal measure.
"You know, a girl could get used to this whole knocking thing." Sharon smiled as she opened the door.
"I still prefer to make more of an entrance, but it has its perks." Natasha smiled, walking into a gentle kiss, Sharon happily wrapping her arms around her as she pushed the door closed behind them. They remained kissing for a while, then Natasha pulled away and said, "Something smells good."
"Thank you." Sharon beamed, "It's Auntie Angie's recipe. You remember, I told you about her?"
"Yes." Natasha smiled and walked further into the apartment, adding as an afterthought, "Your Aunt's lover?"
"Huh? Oh no. They..." Sharon began, before a lifetime of memories came flooding back to her and she mumbled almost as a question, "They were just roommates."
Turning back Natasha smiled, "Do you truly believe that?"
There was a long pause and then Sharon frowned, "They... they never said anything."
"Consider their generation." Natasha pointed out, "It wasn't that long ago such a thing was illegal, and it used to be much easier to keep a secret. I should know, mine are all over the web."
"All of them?" Sharon shot back hoarsely, and then when Natasha shrugged she added, "Come on, there must be something no one else knows."
"Well..." Natasha grinned, "I am dating this really hot blonde."
Before Sharon could get any more than that the timer on the oven peeped, forcing the 'hot blonde' to rush into her little kitchen and dish up the Italian cuisine.
It was probably for the best, given that the 'hot blonde' comment had Sharon blushing, and she was still reeling from realising the truth about her Aunt Peggy and her 'roommate'.
In retrospect Sharon felt really stupid. She had been encouraged since childhood to call her Aunt Peggy's best friend Auntie Angie for crying out loud, and she still hadn't suspected anything? Some spy she was.
"Sharon!" Natasha said loudly to bring the other girl out of her thoughts and then repeated, "It really is good."
"Thanks." Sharon blushed, then after a brief pause asked, "Did you ever meet my Aunt?"
"Which one?" Natasha smirked.
Sharon glared, then thinking about it for a second said, "Both."
"Yes." Natasha said, "Briefly."
"And from that, and everything I said about her, you worked out she was gay?" Sharon asked.
Natasha stayed silent for a moment, and then murmured, "I think she truly loved Steve... erm, Captain Rogers. But I knew she loved Angie Martinelli just as much, if not more, from a single meeting."
Sharon frowned, "How?"
Natasha smirked, "By having eyes."
Sharon glared at the other woman, "But, but... there has to be more to it. I knew the woman my whole life, how could I not know?"
Becoming solemn Natasha asked, "Are you sure this isn't about something else?"
"Like what?" Sharon asked.
"Like the fall of SHIELD." Natasha said softly, "None of us saw that coming, and-"
"The difference is I was never close with anyone at SHIELD. I loved Aunt Peggy and Auntie Angie. I had more in common with them than my own parents." Sharon protested, "Hell, I had more in common with them than anyone."
Natasha smiled, "I don't exactly have many friends either."
"You have The Avengers." Sharon pointed out.
"Yeah, but we don't exactly sit around swapping secrets." Natasha said.
"So do that with me." Sharon said softly, taking Natasha's hand, "Seriously Nat, tell me something no one else knows."
After a long pause Natasha said dryly, "I am dating this really hot blonde."
Sharon rolled her eyes and tried to pull a handout of Natasha's grasp, "Natasha-"
"Let me finish." Natasha insisted, squeezing Sharon's hand to hold it in place, "I am dating this really hot blonde... and I really like her."
Smiling softly Sharon asked, "Really?"
"Uh-huh." Natasha nodded before elaborating, "She's pretty uptight, but it makes me laugh. And she's smart, can handle a gun and is a really, really good cook... plus really hot... all qualities I look for in a girlfriend."
"Girlfriend?" Sharon smiled softly.
"Yeah..." Natasha said softly, before quickly adding, "Unless you think it's too soon for such a label, in which case-"
"I like labels!" Sharon blurted out, "Well, not always, but in this case I like it very much. And, I'd be honoured."
"Good." Natasha smiled before leaning forward for a kiss.
Sharon briefly allowed Natasha to kiss her, then broke it and firmly ordered, "Finish your food."
"I'd rather eat something else." Natasha smirked, before slipping back into her seat, "But okay."
Natasha's smirk widened as her words made Sharon blush adorably, so much so she tried to hide it by sipping her wine. After that Sharon continued asking probing questions, which put Natasha on edge.
She had checked and double checked Sharon wasn't a traitor and found nothing linking her to Hydra or any kind of other shady organisation, and she knew that logically Sharon was just trying to get to know her better, but sharing wasn't easy for Natasha.
Not just because being emotionally vulnerable went directly against the training which was forced on her since childhood, but because of that training and her various undercover missions it was hard for her to hang onto a sense of identity. She barely knew herself, so how could she share anything with another person?
She had hoped that by asking Sharon to be girlfriend she could avoid any further probing, but alas Sharon remained unusually chatty.
Not that had been her only reason for asking, because she genuinely wanted Sharon to be her girlfriend, but part of Natasha worried it was much too soon. Which was ironic, because they'd already had sex several times, but Natasha was good at that part.
Physical intimacy had always been easy for her, as she had used it often to put her targets into a false sense of security, but emotional intimacy was difficult. However, she did manage to reveal a few minor things, mostly because of Sharon's constant probing, and the fantastic meal relaxing her.
Of course when it was over Natasha was eager to move on to something she was more comfortable with, "That was wonderful Sharon."
Beaming happily Sharon replied, "Thank you, I..."
The blonde trailed off as the redhead got up and sauntered over to Sharon. Natasha then gently cupped her face softly, "It is I who should be thanking you."
Sharon smiled softly, "I think you just did."
Natasha raised an eyebrow, "You think that was sufficient?"