The first time Steve ever sees Natasha, it's at the 2008 World Championships. He's supposed to be warming up with his teammates, but he gets distracted watching her. Despite the fact that she's technically competing against his team, he can't help but stare in awe as she dismounts from the uneven bars in a series of complicated twists and spins. When she sticks the landing and raises her arms victoriously, Steve claps with the rest of the audience.

He's so impressed that he finds himself leaving his teammates to go and congratulate her. It isn't until he's standing in front of her that he realises she might not even speak English.

"Hello," he says. He feels his cheeks heat when she tilts her head and gives him a questioning look. "That was really impressive. You're amazing."

Well, at least he managed to say something. He was beginning to worry he might just end up staring at her creepily.

"Thank you." Her accent is thick, but she smiles at him and Steve thinks he might fall just a little bit in love with her right then. "You're from the American team?"

"Yep." Steve glances back at his team then only to see them all smirking not-so-subtly. "And you're from Russia."

Her eyes narrow and he realises then that he might have sounded a bit too accusing.

"No! Not like that!" he exclaims. She raises an eyebrow. "I love Russia. You guys are great."

He should stop before he digs himself a hole, but it's too late. Bucky is nowhere nearby to help him out, so he just keeps talking.

"I mean, what you do out there is amazing," he repeats. "I'd love to be from Russia if it meant I could perform like that. I've never seen... anything like... it..."

He trails off because she starts to laugh and he's not quite sure what to do. Despite her effort to hide a smile behind her hand, it's very clear that she's laughing at him.

"Thank you," she repeats. She drops her hand and suddenly Steve is faced with her very beautiful, almost mesmerising smile. "I did not mean to laugh," she says, though she's still grinning a bit too wide. "You are very sweet."

"I was beginning to worry you'd think I was creepy," he mutters.

And that does it. Her smile breaks and suddenly she's laughing loud enough that neither of them hears the judges read out her score. Steve thinks that, perhaps, she doesn't really care.

Before Steve can continue making her laugh, someone Steve can't see barks something at her and she stiffens.

"It was nice to meet you," she says, giving him one last small smile.

"Steve," he offers, holding out his hand. "Steve Rogers."

Although hesitant, she shakes his hand and her smile grows even when the same person shouts at her again.

"Natasha," she replies.

She doesn't offer her last name, but Steve doesn't think he needs it in order to remember her.

Before he can wish her luck or say goodbye, she dashes off in the direction of the voice, leaving Steve to wonder how he'll find her again.