A/N: So, I wrote this instead of doing homework XD I came across the prompt of accidental marriage and thought it was perfect for Nat & Steve, hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel. Work is unbeta'd, all mistakes are mine.

Looking down at the reddish-colored nut that the servant had deposited in her hand, she observed it with suspicion. Rolling it over, Natasha took in the irregular shape of it, it wasn't quite round but it was smooth with dashes of yellow across it.

Wanda sat to her right, doing the same thing, "What do you think this is?" The younger girl asked as she looked across the table to Sam who was sniffing his.

"I have no clue," He muttered, eying it suspiciously.

Steve, who sat directly across from Natasha and left of Sam, elbowed his friend. "Stop that, we don't want to seem disrespectful."

Sam immediately pulled his hand away from his nose, "Smells earthy. Wonder what it tastes like."

Wanda giggled in response while Natasha smirked at him. Steve rolled his eyes before looking up at T'Challa at the head of the table.

The king stood with an outstretched hand holding his own red nut, and in front of him was a member of the Dora Milaje, Nailah, and a young man in traditional warrior garb that Natasha didn't know. The couple faced each other with nervous smiles, both dressed up in their uniforms, but Natasha noticed the earrings Nailah wore and how groomed the man looked.

No one had informed them of what would be happening tonight, but the servants earlier had specified that it was of a more formal dress code, thus the traditional floor-length gowns Natasha and Wanda wore while the boys were in suits. T'Challa had on his knee-length blackcoat reserved for special occasions and the rest of the guests tonight were dressed up more than the casual dinner that usually took place in the large dining hall every time the four Avengers visited.

"Welcome honored guests," T'Challa spoke, his voice reverberating across the hushed room. Everyone turned their eyes to the king as he gestured to the couple in front of him, "We are here tonight to celebrate the union of Nailah and Umlo, two of my strongest and most loyal warriors."

Natasha smiled as she observed the young couple who looked at each other with excitement as T'Challa continued to speak. Feeling a pair of eyes on her, she looked up to see Steve watching her with a clouded expression on his face. He sent her a smile when they locked eyes before he turned back to the ceremony taking place at the head of the table. Natasha pondered his odd actions briefly but quickly realized she shouldn't be zoning out in the middle of a ceremony like this.

Shifting her attention back to the couple, she saw them exchange the red nuts in their hands with blissful smiles before eating their partners'. She startled when she saw other guests doing the same thing. Cursing herself for getting caught in a daze, her eyes automatically shifted to Steve and registered that he's panicking just like she was.

What do we do? I missed it! She mouthed to him while he just gaped at her helplessly. After a heartbeat of panic, he exchanged the nuts in their hands, quickly popping hers in his mouth. She does the same, hastily chewing it and swallowing it before anyone catches on to their delay.

Grimacing at the bitter taste, she tuned in as T'Challa began to speak again, "And now as you two have exchanged the Kola nut, a symbol of unity and eternal love, you are both forever bound in the bond of marriage."

The king raised his hand where he still held his own Kola nut, "And as witnesses to your union, we now consume our own." Feeding himself, other guests did the same, including Wanda and Sam.

Cheers rose up around the table as Nailah and Umlo shared a kiss, but Natasha heard the meaning behind T'Challa's words sink in with horror. Wanda turned to her, with an unpleasant expression on her face. "I don't care for the taste, but I think the symbolization is nice. An interesting way to say you're married though."

Sam chimed in, his nose scrunched up. "I agree. It tastes awful."

Steve looked at Wanda with confusion and slight apprehension, "Wait, because they exchanged them and then ate the other person's Kola nut, it means they're married?"

The younger girl's eyes narrowed at her captain's lack of understanding. Usually, Steve was one of the first to read a situation and then explain it to others, this was uncharacteristic for him.

Natasha just kept looking at him with shock radiating through her as Wanda eventually replied, "That's what T'Challa said. Weren't you paying attention?"

A scowl crossed Sam's face, "You punch me for being disrespectful earlier but you were the one who wasn't even paying attention!" He turned away, muttering about double standards while Wanda continued to observe Steve. The slight panic that crept across his face before grew into full-blown alarm as he met Natasha's eyes.

She could see her own anxiety and confusion reflected back as he silently asked her, did we just get married?

A sharp gasp came from her right, causing her to turn and see Wanda staring at them with mixed levels of glee and amusement. Her eyes were tinged red, telling Natasha that she'd just read their minds and likely knew what had happened. Trying to stifle her incoming laughter, Wanda shot Natasha an apologetic look.

"What did I miss?" Sam asked, his brow furrowed. He casts a suspicious glance at Natasha when she told him, "Nothing." With a glare at Wanda to keep quiet, she focused on the meal that the servants brought out.

Her appetite was washed away by the knot forming in her stomach, but she still dug in with feigned enthusiasm. She dodged Steve's furtive glances the rest of the night as he kept trying to catch her attention, likely to discuss what happened, but she wasn't in the mood. She'd love to ignore it for the rest of eternity, but knowing him she'll have to deal with the conversation later on.

Later turned out to be right after dinner as she's headed back to her room (It's become hers since they visit so often) when Steve grabbed her and pulled her into his room instead.

"We need to talk," he began by leading her inside.

"About what, Steve?" She asked crossing her arms. A yawn escaped her lips before she continued, "Yeah, we accidentally participated in another culture's wedding tradition, but it doesn't matter. There's no legality to it, so we can just forget about it. I'm tired and I'd love to get some sleep if you don't mind."

Before she can leave, he grabbed her arm again. "But, Nat—"

"No, Steve. Drop it. We're friends and that's it." She tugged her arm free hastily. She's headed towards the door, her hand on the handle when his next words caused her to freeze.

"But what if I want to be more than that?"

Her breath caught, leaving her speechless as she stayed facing the door. She doesn't turn around in fear of looking into his eyes, knowing that they would be displaying all of his emotions right now. Hope bubbled up in her chest, like a champagne bottle bursting in celebration. But she instantly remembered their situation and squished it down.

Taking a deep breath, she turned to see his imploring eyes (damn his eyes for being her weakness). "Steve," Natasha whispered, "We, I, we can't."

"Why not?" He took a few bold steps closer.

"We're on the run from the law for one, and there are about a hundred others too!"

He's closer now, where she can spot the specks of hazel shimmering in his irises. "Why don't you want us to be together?"

Putting her hand on his chest to stop him from getting closer, she pursed her lips as she tried to think of what to say next. Because you deserve better than me, were her unspoken words, but instead she said, "Because we can't."

Without waiting for a reply, she yanked the door open and ran away to her room.

Yeah, runaway Natasha, that's what you do best, her sinister self-doubt spoke in the back of her mind.

A/N: Kola nuts are used in some African cultures wedding ceremonies, but mostly for symbolic purposes from what I read. They're also the main ingredient in Coca Cola, oh the things you learn when doing research for fanfiction.

I'll add more chapters later on, with lots of teasing as more people find out about the "marriage".

Thanks for reading, please leave a review letting me know what you think!