Natasha let out a laugh - a quick one, just a short little burst, and to her own surprise, it was a genuine one. She leaned forward, enough so she could touch her forehead to his, lean her cheek into his hand, open in every way she could be to let him know yes, this is allowed, touch me anywhere you like. You're the Winter Soldier and if no one would ever let you this close to their neck, here I am. Here's my trust. Here's my beating pulse, do with it what you will. "What they made me see," she agreed, and her arms dropped to wrap around his shoulders, a shudder running through her as he pulled her closer.
It was so familiar. She had forgotten how he held her, and now that he was here and touching her, she remembered everything. Only now, he could touch her out in the open. They didn't have to hide, or find shelter, or press themselves into a dark, dirty corner as though this was something dark and dirty, some human frailty that they should be ashamed of.
She had never known what it was like to get to hold him in the sunlight. Where, if anyone walked by, the worst that would happen would be an eye roll and a get a room, Romanoff, Jesus Christ.
"Let's get one thing clear off the bat, yes?" she told him, her voice thick. "Whatever suffering came afterwards, for the rest of my life, there has never been a single moment when I thought to myself it wasn't worth it. You, James Barnes, were always worth it. Always will be. And I don't know about you, but I'm taking an exceeding amount of pleasure in knowing this moment is happening after so many of them told me it never would."