A/N: Takes place one year after Eyes Closed, which puts it three years after the snap. Currently a WIP hopefully have it finished up by the weekend, will update it once it's completed. Reviews are always welcome.
The elevator comes to stop and the doors slowly open, revealing a man with the literal weight of the world on his shoulders and he takes a deep breath before he steps into the hallway. He really tried tonight, to help the others in his group, but today marks three years since half of his friends turned into ash, and even though he kept saying it to everyone else, it wasn't getting any easier. It was days like this he envied normal people, he would give anything to be able to grab a bottle of whiskey and numb the pain, but thanks to his enhanced metabolism, that was useless. He slides his key into his lock before open the door to his tiny apartment.
The sweet and spicy smell of kung pao chicken hits him as he pushes his door open and he realizes there's someone here. His only thought is Natasha, but she never shows up, she spends all of her time at the compound, he often takes his laundry there as an excuse to spend some time with her. She'd called him this morning just for a brief chat, neither one of them brought up what today was, but it was understood.
He closes his door behind him warily as someone steps out from the small kitchen area, a dishtowel in her hands and a half-smile on her face.
"Hi," she states quietly.
"Hi," he says in confusion, dropping his keys on the table before he shrugs out of his jacket.
Steve Rogers has always considered himself a decent guy, he respects women, and he's never exactly been the type for one-night stands, then Lexi Wilson happened. It's been a year since that night, she was gone when he woke up the next morning, and he hasn't seen her since, not that he hasn't tried. Unfortunately for him, she didn't want to be found. They were barely friends before the snap, she was not only Stark's protégé, but had been in a relationship with someone else when they'd met. She was stubborn, snarky, and would challenge his authority every chance she got. Add to that, she was the only female to ever make James Barnes blush, which in itself was a feat. He remembered Tony calling her difficult once and if that word didn't describe her, none of them did.
"I tried to call you," he says, hanging his jacket over the small hook on the back of the door.
"I know," she nods, looking at her sneakers.
"More than once," Steve continues, folding his arms across his chest.
"I know."
"I didn't want you to think…" he begins, "I'm sorry."
"I'm the one who ran," Lexi glances back up as she interrupts him, "you don't have to be sorry."
He gives her a soft smile, "So, is this you saying sorry?"
She waves her hand at the Chinese food on the coffee table in the small living area, "An apology and a meal."
"Took you a year to say you're sorry," he quips as he moves toward the food, "that's very Tony of you."
She smiles, "My Tony side is the only reason you like me."
"That's not true," the man replies as he sits down in his chair, picking up a container of kung pao chicken.
"You're not fan of my other side," she says, using her powers to move chopsticks from the table over to him midair.
Steve narrows his eyes at her as he takes them, "I never said that."
Lexi walks over to sit in the floor beside the coffee table, folding her legs under her as she grabs a container of lo mein and states, "You didn't like for me to train using my powers."
"I didn't like for you to rely only on your powers," he clarifies, "but that was before I knew what you were capable of without powers."
"Well," she smirks, "I showed you."
"No," he begins to laugh, "You showed Buck."
They both laugh for a moment before it subsides into a quiet sadness over the memory of the aforementioned man who's no longer with them.
The two of them eat in silence for a little while before Steve speaks up, "Does Tony know you're in town?"
"I saw him this morning," she glances over at him with a soft smile, "he's good."
"I'm happy for him," he replies genuinely.
Once they finish, Lexi tosses the empty containers in the trash before she grabs her jacket and slips it on. Steve does a double take as he places the leftovers in the refrigerator, surprise on his face at her actions.
"Are you leaving?" He questions as she walks towards him.
"No," she smiles, reaching past him inside the refrigerator, retrieving a six-pack, "meet me on the fire escape?"
He raises an eyebrow as a thought crosses his mind, "I have a better idea."
She watches him curiously as he walks by and grabs his coat from the door, slipping it on casually. Lexi follows him, picking up the blue plaid blanket off the back of the couch as she passes by it.