AN: Writing this with Catherss and this is also on Archive Of Our Own, using the same pen-name.
Also the Evie Rae used in this has a completely different back story, the first few chapters will be Steve and Evie will be getting to know each other and then it'll pick up more. This is an X-men crossover but the X-men won't turn up for quite a while so we didn't bother to put it as a crossover.
I'll try and continue with the Sherlock/OC series soon.
"Fantastic book."
Steve looked up, moderately surprised, at the voice to see a tall woman with dark brown hair and brown eyes stood in front of him grinning; she was wearing a badge to signify that she worked here. Steve looked at his book momentarily forgetting what he was reading.
"Yeah, it looks really good. I've not read much of it, though." Steve answered carefully, not used to random women coming to talk to him unless they were fans and would squeal loud enough to give him a headache and ask for his autograph. Steve put a book mark in the book, Private Peaceful, and closed it, to show he was listening.
"What part are you up to?"
"Um, Grandma Wolf has just moved in."
"You like books set in the war?" she asked with genuine interest.
"Yeah." Steve shrugged and glanced around, vaguely wondering why she had come to talk to him.
She smiled to herself as she walked away holding up a finger to signify she'd be back in a moment, which she did coming back holding two books in her hands, "Well, I'll recommend these: Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and War Horse." she handed both the books to him and Steve read the blurbs. "Though, Boy in the Striped Pyjamas isn't actually about a soldier, but it's good all the same."
"Yeah... they sound really good." Steve stated, "Thank you." He looked back up at her and suddenly noticed how attractive she was and how she was looking at him with bright beautiful chocolate eyes. He rubbed the back of his neck. Was it that warm before? "So – um...what's your name?"
She grinned, noticing his sudden discomfort with amusement but sat down on the chair beside him hoping to make him feel calmer without her towering over him, "I'm Evie Rae. You?"
"Captain Steve Rodgers." Steve mentally cursed as he realised he put 'Captain' at the front of his name automatically.
"Captain? You're a Captain?" Steve opened his mouth to answer when Evie's eyes widened and she stood up again out of shock more than anything else,
"Captain Steve Rogers?! You're Captain America?!"
"Uh...yes?"
"No way!" Evie laughed and then glared across the rows as she heard someone shush her. "This is...no wonder you like war books..." Evie's eyes widened, "Sorry, I don't mean to be rude...just..."
"It's fine." Steve smiling at her obvious excitement and sudden nervousness.
"I was a...huge fan of you when I was younger and now when I heard you were found in the ice...wow!" Evie giggled again, "I wanted to come see you but civilians weren't allowed and there was a huge line, my aunt tried as well but nobody believed her except some dude with an eye-patch...I have all the comics and cards and all the collectables and I sound like such a stalker! Please feel to shut me up at any time."
Steve chuckled, "It's nice to meet you Evie. Is that short for anything?" He asked mostly to change the subject but he was also curious.
"Short for Evelyn. But nobody calls me that except my aunt."
"Evelyn. That's a beautiful name."
"Thank you. So is Steve." Evie frowned suddenly blushing at her stupid comment, and Steve laughed glad that for once that he wasn't the only nervous person.
"Thank you I think."
"God, I should shut up before I embarrass myself further."
"I think you're doing ok. Better than I normally do when meeting a beautiful woman." Steve's eyes widened, cursing himself again. Why did this always happen?
Evie giggled almost hysterically, "Thank you Cap'n."
"Please, call me Steve." Steve added struggling to fight the urge to stutter.
"Steve." Evie agreed.
"So, do you enjoy books set during the war too?" Steve asked motioning to the books that she had recommended. They both relaxed at the subject.
"Yeah, as said I'm a huge fan of you...my aunt knew you, and that made me want to find out more about the wars so...I did. Loads of these books, especially Michael Morpurgo, are really good and of course non-fiction. Like a book that just came out, 24 Hour Trench or something, they used official manuals and diaries to build a real trench system and live in it for 24 hours, recreating the frontline daily existence. It's really amazing, the library hasn't got it yet 'cause its new but I could lend you my copy?"
Steve gawked for a minute before deciding to latch onto the end of the sudden babble not sure how to reply to the rest of it. "That would be very kind of you."
Evie shrugged, "No trouble, I'll uh...bring it into work and you can come collect it whenever you want."
"Thank you." 'Ask her out you idiot!' A voice that sounded surprisingly like Bucky's yelled and Steve wanted to but how? "I went to France last month," he stated mentally cursing when he didn't manage to ask her out, "To visit the graves from the Battle of the Somme with Natasha."
Evie nodded slowly, "I've been there. It's...touching would be the only word I can use." Steve took a deep shaking breath as he nodded, some unwanted memories coming back to him. "If you don't mind me asking...what was it like? The war?"
"I remember the war very differently to most people, but the things I did see..." he trailed off, "That's one of the reasons I quite like reading these books, seeing how the war was from the view of others." It was the easiest answer he could give and Evie accepted that. They spoke a bit longer about various books they've read from historical to fantasy to sci-fi including Harry Potter. He told her that when he had first read the third book's title he had thought it was Alcatraz, not Askaban. They laughed at that. Then -
'Who's strong and brave, here to save the American Way?
Who vows to fight like a man for what's right night and day?
Who will campaign door-to-door for America,
Carry the flag shore to shore for America,
From Hoboken to Spokane,
The Star Spangled Man with a Plan!'
Steve blushed deeply as the song came out extremely loudly and he fumbled around for his phone murmuring an apology to Evie who couldn't help but giggle loudly and a few people glanced around at the noise, "Hello?" Steve answered.
"Where are you?" Tony asked immediately.
"In the library. Why?"
"Good. Hulk's smashing his floor. Has been for ages and Clint's not here." He sounded urgent.
"Dammit Tony," Steve glanced at Evie as she made a little squeak at the name. "You should know by now when he's getting irritated!" he stood up and pulled his jacket on.
"Wasn't me!" Tony attempted but Steve rolled his eyes.
"I'll be there soon as possible. Call me if he de-Hulks before I get there."
"I will. Ow! Bruce!" Tony yelled as Steve pocketed his phone and glanced at Evie who was grinning widely and looking curious at the same time.
"Star Spangled Man with a Plan?"
"What? Oh, my ringtone. Tony changed it. He didn't tell me how to change it back, and not even Bruce would help me." he frowned looked so rejected Evie had to resist the urge to hug him.
She laughed lightly, "I can help if you want?"
"That would be great...but right now I've got to get going, uh..." Steve hesitated blushing again, but he could almost hear Bucky's voice urging him on in his head 'If you don't ask her I will!', "How about lunch tomorrow? There's a nice café just across the road?"
Evie's eyes widened almost comically and she giggled slightly hysterically, "That would be incredible! I mean - I'd really like that - it would be fun – I, uh..."
"Meet at 1?" Steve asked understanding her nervousness it was only due to Natasha's and Peppers influence that Steve managed to keep calm.
"Yeah." Evie grinned at him as he stood up. "I'll sort out those books for you?"
Steve rose an eyebrow before glancing down at the books he was still holding. "Oh right. Please. Thank you."
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He got back to the tower in under 10 minutes, to find Bruce's floor almost completely destroyed but the Hulk was still smashing; he couldn't leave the floor since Tony had it Hulk proofed. It didn't take Steve too long to calm him down since Hulk would only listen to him and Clint for some reason.
But Steve couldn't stop thinking about her. She was beautiful and funny and interesting, and despite her initial excitement at realising it was him, she didn't treat him differently, like he was about to break like some of the agents from S.H.I.E.L.D did, nor like a celebrity like the annoying fans did.
Steve couldn't help but feel guilty as he thought of Peggy but as Tony had stated many a time, it's time to move on, Peggy would want him to be happy.
Once the film was over Steve made his way upstairs to his floor where he found himself absent-mindedly drawing Evie from memory.
Evie spent the rest of the day walking on air, she greeting everyone she spoke to with a huge grin and her co-workers started to worry that she was on happy-drugs.
She soon got home and went straight onto her computer ignoring her room-mates.
Greetings, my 79 followers. (And thanks the ten who've followed me since last week – you guys are amazing!)
You would never guess who I bumped into at work today.
THE CAPTAIN AMERICA.
Yes, you heard me right.
STEVE HOT AS HELL RODGERS
And I fangirled all over him, too! I said his name was beautiful, after he said mine was. I am an actual idiot!
He was looking at a book when I spotted him. First I thought he was just a look-a-like. But then he introduced himself as CAPTAIN STEVE RODGERS!
It was kinda adorable, too, because he was looking at Private Peaceful. (Don't worry dear readers! I also recommended Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' and War Horse) He said that he liked war books.
He's actually a pretty sweet guy. After he apparently noticed I was a woman he suddenly got all nervous and adorable. For someone who can battle Nazi's and giant monsters he's pretty shy. After I made a complete fool out of my self over the name thing, he said, (And I quote), "I think you're doing ok. Better than I normally do when meeting a beautiful woman." Then he went and blushed and he looked like 15 year old boy asking his crush out!
I asked him about the war. He said that he remembered it very differently from the other soldiers, and that he was reading the books to try and get an idea of what it was like for most.
We chatted for a while (he said that he'd read the Harry Potter books, and that he liked them a lot because there wasn't anything modern in them. When I asked if he'd seen the films, he said that Natasha had lent him the first three, but he fell asleep halfway through the first one. Only later did I realise who Natasha must have been)
… and then his phone went off – his ring tone is 'Star Spangled Man with a Plan'! He later explained that 'Tony did that. He didn't tell me how to change it back, and not even Bruce would help me get it back.' And he looked proper rejected!
I fangirled. Completely lost it. (Not that I had it in any point in the conversation). I'd forgotten that the charming, sweet guy in front of me was an Avenger. He had a conversation to TONY STARK. Yes THE Tony Stark Genius Billionaire Iron Man! (At least he said Tony's name) and said something about poking someone. I heard Iron Man yell 'Hulk' through the phone so I assume Bruce Banner had Hulked out!
And then…
AND THEN…
He asked me out for coffee!
I am actually screaming as I write!
Coffee! With Captain America!
I will tell you more at a later time, followers! I need to go to bed now!
Evie squealed slightly as she sent the blog, she couldn't believe it was actually true. It wasn't long before she started getting replies from some of her readers which she tried to reply to.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Steve couldn't sleep, he was so excited but also nervous, eventually he managed to drift off into a restless nerve filled sleep where he found himself dreaming about going to the date and suddenly he was back to his old self without the serum and Evie didn't want to know him so she just left, walked away from him and he tried to follow her but had an asthma attack and couldn't breathe, she kept saying 'Do you think any girl would want to know you like this?'
When he woke at 6:30 as usual the first thing he did was check he wasn't his old self and when he wasn't he lay back in absolute relief. He was tired but went for his usual run greeting the people he usually did and stopping at the nearest Café for a quick coffee and a chat with Beth the woman he had apparently saved during the battle 5 months ago, she was really nice and was contently flirting but she wasn't really Steve's type.
When he got back it was 8am and Steve would spend an hour cleaning up last night's dinner dishes and then start making breakfast which varied depending on his mood. Fruit salad today.
Bruce woke up first using at 8:30 he was always the most grateful telling Steve he didn't have to make breakfast every morning but Steve would tell him it was fine and he quite enjoyed it. Bruce would then put coffee on for everyone. Then Natasha and Clint would usually wake up around 9 O'clock and eat the breakfast silently. They wouldn't say a single word until they had food and coffee in their system unless there was an emergency. Half way through the agents eating breakfast Pepper would wake soon followed by a Zombie-fyed Tony. Pepper would eat the breakfast and get into a chat with Bruce or Steve about something. Tony would drink exactly 2.5 mugs of coffee before he'd speak and then eat breakfast and start talking science with Bruce. Lastly Thor would come in at exactly9:13 every morning, always too cheerful for any sane person in the morning, put pop-tarts on and ate the leftovers of whatever Steve had made and the pop-tarts while talking casually with anyone that was in a chatting mood.
This morning was no different, Steve was observing the group, Tony and Bruce were talking about school tablets or something apparently they were calling it the 'Stark Banner'. Pepper and Thor were discussing design ideas for the new Quinjet Tony had bought for the Avengers, and Clint and Natasha were talking about going for a run and training in the park for once instead of the training rooms.
Everyone wasn't usually here, so today was a rare day. Natasha, while being an Avenger was also sill a S.H.I.E.L.D agent and still did jobs for them, as did Clint. Bruce sometimes went away to developing countries to help out with extra funding from Tony. Thor would often go to visit his girlfriend and was sometimes summoned back to Asgard. Only Steve, Tony and Pepper lived full time.
Steve smiled at his strange little family as he left the room to let them do the dishwasher as he did every morning and sat down in his room to read War Horse.
It was 12 O'clock when he was dragged out of his thoughts by JARVIS reminding him to check his virtual farm on Facebook. Bruce and Clint had showed him how to use it. He had been getting a lot better with technology but he did struggle with a lot. Especially when trying to use a phone, he could call and answer, occasionally text but that was it. How was he supposed to play games or do anything else on a tiny little telephone? He was ok with TV's but the first time he saw one he had stared for hours, how did they get everything on it with 'Cable' so Steve asked Tony to explain it, Tony had made no sense so he asked Bruce and it just about made sense.
Clint had mentioned that living in Stark Towers was probably the worst place he could be after living in a world with barely any proper technology as Stark Towers was probably the most modern place in the entire modern world.
Steve smiled as he opened his laptop, Bruce and Clint had spent hours with him teaching him how to use it and made him various account, E-mail, Facebook, twitter and Tumblr. He barely used his e-mail, only played with the farm on Facebook and didn't really understand the other two especially when he was asked to follow people, he felt like a stalker. After he checked his farm he realised he needed to get ready to go.
But what should he wear? What should that talk about? He didn't know what to do on a date!
So he decided to ask for advice. He knew exactly who to ask.
Natasha Romanov.
She was a spy so she wouldn't tell anyone if he asked her not to, and she's a woman so she'd know what to do. He hoped. He found her on her floor with her back to him, he could see that she was typing a mission report or something on her laptop, "Hello Steve." she greeted without looking at him. Steve didn't bother to ask how she knew it was him.
"Hey 'Tasha,"
"What's up?"
"I uh...need your advice."
Natasha closed her laptop and turned around on her chair to face him with a raised eyebrow. She motioned to the sofa for him to sit down and she moved to sit beside him making him feel slightly nervous. "What about?"
Steve hesitated, should he really ask her? She obviously knew it was something he was really worried about judging by her reaction when he asked. She was staring at him patiently and Steve sighed and gave in, "I'm meeting a woman soon..."
Natasha's eye widened slightly, the most reaction she'd ever give to any form of shock, "Ah."
"What should I do? It is a date? What should I wear? How should I act? Sh-"
Natasha placed her hand over his mouth successfully shutting him up, "Casual clothes. Thing's you'd normally wear, jeans and a shirt. It'll look better if you un-tuck it but it's more...youwhen you tuck it in so that doesn't matter. I'm assuming you asked her for lunch right?" Steve nodded mutely her hand still over his mouth, "Then she's going to assume it's a date and it's obvious you want it to be a date. So you talk, what do you have in common?"
"Bmmoooks." he answered muffled.
"Books? Right start with that. Then asked her about herself, make sure to do that and just talk about whatever comes up. Lastly pay. Make sure you pay, even when she says it's fine she'll pay her side don't let her ok?" Steve nodded again and Natasha allowed the corners of her mouth to twitch in a smile as she released his mouth, "What time are you meeting her?"
"One."
"Go get changed then. Come back here for me to check it out before you leave."
Steve nodded and went back to his room putting on the black jeans that Tony had bought him and a light red and white checker shirt. He started to tuck it in before changing his mind and un-tucked it. He pulled on his browncoat and went back to Natasha's floor who rose an eyebrow and motioned for him to spin around.
"Mm. You look good."
Steve blushed at the appreciative tone, "Thank you."
"One last thing, if the date goes well kiss her. Whether that's on the lips or cheek. Go get her Captain Tightpants." Steve rose an eyebrow at the nickname but didn't comment as he smiled gratefully at her help.
"I'll uh be back later."
"I'm assuming I'm not to tell the others?"
"Not just yet please?"
"Of course," Natasha motioned for him to get into the elevator. She wished him good luck.
He would need it.
20 minutes later he walked into the café and sat down ordering himself a coffee, a few minutes later the door opened and Steve glanced over to see Evie walking in. He stood up and greeted her; she was wearing a pair of tights with denim shorts over the top and a cream coloured shirt with a belt around the middle. "Hello," she greeted nervously.
"Hello," he greeted just as nervously, "You look stunning." he pulled her chair out and when she sat down he pushed her in lightly and she was grinning widely at his chivalry and blushed at his complement.
"Thank you. You look good too."
Steve smiled shyly and sat down, "Uh...nice morning?"
"Yes. It's been ok." truthfully she had spent hours getting changed about 20 times and spent over an hour on her make-up that would usually take less than 20 minutes. "Yours?"
"Yeah, I read War Horse."
"Oh? What did you think?"
"It was fantastic. I mean, following a horse's journey through the war, not something you see often but it was so real but it does show a very real feeling of the war."
"Did you ever have a horse?"
Steve's answer was interrupted by the waitress coming over, "Are you ready to order?"
Steve looked at Evie, "Evelyn? Are you?"
"Uh no sorry," she smiled apologetically but the waitress didn't notice as she just stared at Steve.
"Give us a few minutes please." he told the waitress politely but looked back at Evie oblivious to the looks he was getting from the waitress.
"Sure, you're Captain America right?"
"Uh...yeah I am." Steve nodded.
"Could I have an autograph?"
"Sure," she handed Steve a napkin and a pen and he quickly wrote down his autograph.
"Awesome, thanks." Steve nodded with a smile and the waitress walked away.
"I'm sorry, what were you saying?"
"Horse?"
"Oh right, no. I've never ridden a horse in my life."
"Really?"
"Really." Steve nodded, "Before the serum I physically couldn't, since then haven't had the chance. Have you?"
"I ride often. I should take you one day, or I mean you should go one day at least."
"That'd be fun." Steve agreed with a shy smile and Evie laughed nervously. "Should we uh...order?"
Evie nodded and looked down at her menu, "Egg and chips?" she said after a moment.
"Sounds good. I'll have the same."
They ordered and Steve looked at Evie, "So uh...what do you enjoy? Hobbies and the like?
"Uh reading, writing, horse riding..." Evie shrugged, "What about you?"
"I enjoy reading and drawing I guess."
"You draw?"
"Yeah."
"Any good?"
Steve shrugged, "People say so. I guess."
"I'd love to see."
"I'll have to show you at some point. Do you draw?"
"Stick figures." Evie laughed, "I've drawn Pikachu once."
"Pikachu?"
"From Pokémon? You need to watch that!"
"Pokémon? Never heard of it."
Evie gasped, "You poor man."
"I'll have to watch it I guess."
Evie nodded, "I have all the trading cards. Took me most of my life but I have at least one of each."
"As well as Captain America cards?" Steve asked teasingly relaxing as the conversation flowed easily.
Evie blushed, "Yeah...I've got them all, vintage." Steve swallowed sadly as he remembered Coulson saying that and he never got the chance to sign them.
"Would you like me to sign them?" he asked hoping that he didn't sound too vain. Most people wanted him to, anyways, and judging by Evie's now wide excited eyes and the trouble she had in swallowed the sip of tea she took, he guess it was a good idea to ask.
"That would be quite...amazing." Evie answered breathlessly. "Thank you." Steve nodded but their food came before he could say anything else. "So uh, what are the other Avengers like?"
"Tony is...well Tony Stark..." Steve shrugged unsure of how to describe Tony, "Less of a uh...playboy I think is the term he used, than he used to be because of Pepper. Bruce is less shy than he was at the beginning and a bit of a prankster he'll never admit to that though. Thor is quite amusing and loud. He is also not stupid as the media seems to believe. Clint and Natasha are terrifying." Evie laughed at that description. "Do you live on your own or...?"
"With a couple of friends. Sherlock and Mycroft, yes their parents are huge fans of the book. And Irene."
"Also got parents fans of the book?"
Evie laughed, "No but they bonded over it. I've been tempted to change my name to Mary just to join in."
Steve laughed, "I couldn't imagine that. Evelyn suits you."
Evie grinned wider vaguely aware she must looked slightly crazy with such a wide grin but didn't care, "I take it you've read the books?"
"Yeah, I read them all when I was younger,"
"They are quite fantastic, what's your favourite?"
"I'd say The Final Problem but also The Return of Sherlock Holmes."
"Oh yes! So sad, there's a TV series written by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss that's set in modern day London. There's also Elementary, but… that's not as good. It's set in New York, and Watson is a woman."
"A… woman? How have they pulled that off?" he asked.
"She's called Joan, and she's Asian. She's his sober companion, after he got off drugs."
"Huh…"
"Well, I'd recommend Sherlock any day. It's better. Elementary is just a copy."
"Oh?"
"Sherlock came first. Anyways, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss are both amazing writers anyways. Moffat wrote some episodes of Doctor Who. It's a British thing, so it came to America a few months ago. I'll have to lend you the DVDs."
"How much things am I watching, reading or doing now?" Steve asked amused and Evie laughed.
"Sorry."
"It's ok. Maybe I can surprise Tony when I know about something he mentions."
They laughed and then talked for another hour before Evie glanced at the time. "I'm really sorry but I should get going, my break was over like half an hour ago."
"No it's fine. I should get going to." he called a waitress over, "Can we have the bill please?"
"Of course."
She came back a moment later and Evie pulled out her purse at the same time as Steve got his wallet, "How much?" Evie asked and Steve shook his head.
"On me."
"No, I've got-"
"It's fine." Steve put the right amount and a tip down.
"Thank you."
Steve nodded and gestured towards the door calling a thank you to the waitress. "It was really nice to see you today Evelyn."
"And you Steve."
Steve hesitated before bending down and gave her a quick peck on the lips before pulling away and smiled at her, it was obvious she was really struggling not to squeal but she was definitely grinning crazily. "Here," he grab a note of paper from his pocket and wrote down his mobile number handing it to her, "Uh, I can't promise I'll answer because I'm really bad with making sure it's charged but I'll try."
Evie grinned at that and wrote down her own number, "We'll talk soon?"
"Definitely."
They went their separate ways both grinning as hard as each other. Almost bouncing as they walked.
Steve couldn't believe it. Kissing Evie...even just a peck was amazing. He couldn't wait to see her again.
Evie was once again walking on air. She had just been on a date with Captain America! He was a gentlemanly as she had heard but also funny and easy to talk to. He was definitely shy but managed to get over it long enough to talk calmly to her.
She got home and told her roommates immediately who all wanted to meet him and of course, had to write another entry on her blog.
Hello, my dear followers! As I promised, I will now expand... on the date! Yes, the date!
It started out a little awkwardly (I think Steve's never dated someone before, or at least never had to go through the whole system of dating someone). He said he read War Horse and enjoyed it. A waitress came over, and asked us if we were ready to order (And did a fair bit of staring at Steve! He didn't notice which I should NOT be this happy over but I am!), and Steve called me by Evelyn! Gosh, he's so sweet.
I asked if he'd ever ridden a horse in his life, and he said no, so I invited him over to ride with me (And all my followers from the horse obsession, I will be posting more photos of Pokey jumping soon!). He said he was good at drawing, and then he said he'd never seen Pokémon! He is a deprived man. (But he has read Sherlock Holmes, so I am a happy camper.)
Conversation started getting easier after that, and we discussed the rest of the Avengers. (He called Clint and Natasha, and I quote, 'Terrifying'! and that's saying a lot coming from a Super solider!
Steve insisted on paying - and then BAM! He kissed me! On the lips! For such a shy guy, that was a pretty big move! (Even if nothing comes of this, at least I will be able to say that I have met, talked to and kissed Captain America!)
I should get going now my dear readers but if I see him again (Which I REALLY hope I do) I will let you know!