The common room buzzed softly with low conversation and the hum of an old movie playing on the large wall screen. Natasha sat on the couch, long legs curled beneath her, absently flipping a knife between her fingers with practiced ease. Sam was seated nearby, a bowl of popcorn half-empty on his lap, and Bucky was slouched in one of the armchairs, scrolling through something on his phone with a smirk that made Natasha suspicious.

“Something funny?” She asked without looking up.

“Private.” Bucky replied with a lazy shrug.

She gave him a side glance, unimpressed, but didn’t push. Moments later, his phone buzzed again and he stood abruptly, tucking it into his jacket pocket. “Back in a minute,” He muttered, already heading out of the room.

Sam raised a brow. “Think he's got a girl?”

Natasha smirked. “He better. Might knock the brooding down a few notches.”

Minutes passed. The movie droned on, but Bucky hadn’t returned. Natasha reached over, casually snagging his phone where he’d left it beside the chair. A soft chime came through the comms system—Bucky’s line. Curious, she tapped the interface, lifting it to her ear.

You, over comms, playful and sultry: "I hope you saved me for dessert."

Natasha froze for a second, then let a sly smile tug at her lips.

Natasha: “Bucks isn’t here, baby girl.”

A beat of silence on the other end. Then—

You, caught but unfazed, teasing. “Oh! I knew that. That was just for you.”

Natasha leaned back into the couch, amused now, her voice dipping into something velvety.

“Mmhm. You sure about that, sweetheart? Or are you just covering for yourself?”

Natasha asks, teasingly. Across the room, Sam’s head popped up, eyebrows arched high as he listened in. Natasha didn’t mute the line. She wasn’t feeling generous.

Sam, grinning. “Don’t let Bucky hear you say that. Man’s already possessive enough.”

You, laughing softly. “He doesn’t have to know... unless you're gonna tell on me, Wilson.”

Natasha rolled her eyes but her smile lingered.

“So, what exactly were you hoping for, calling in all sweet like that?”

“I was hoping for dessert. But I wouldn’t mind a little danger instead.”

Natasha let out a low chuckle, her fingers toying with a strand of red hair.

"Careful now. You flirt like that with the Black Widow, you might just get caught in a web.”

You, voice softening just slightly. “Maybe I want to.”

The room quieted for a moment. Sam, mouth half-open with another joke, seemed to think better of it and just sat back, shaking his head.

“Man... y’all are trouble. I need a drink.”

As he stood and left, Natasha let her gaze linger on Bucky’s still-abandoned phone, then back to the comms line. Her voice was quieter now, but still edged with amusement.

“You’re braver than most, you know that?”

“Takes one to recognize one.

You say with a light chuckle.

Natasha leaned her head back against the cushion, eyes on the ceiling, a hint of something warmer threading through her voice.

"Next time you want dessert, don’t call. Come find me.”

The line crackled softly with silence, then your quiet response.

“Deal.”

The comms clicked off.

Bucky walked back in moments later, clearly unaware. Natasha tossed his phone back on the chair before he could notice anything amiss.

“What’d I miss?”

Sam, walking in behind him with a soda. “Oh, just some top-tier flirting and identity theft.”

Bucky paused, looking between the two of them. Natasha just smiled innocently and went back to flipping her knife.