A/N: Read, favorite, follow, and review! This story will be in Steve's POV and it will switch to Beth's POV. Rated for slight violence, language, and adult themes in later chapters. Constructive criticism is welcome but flames will be ignored.
Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel or the Avengers.
Chapter 1: Regular Customer
Steve POV
It was a warm morning in early June and I was finally taking Tony up on his offer and moving into the new Avengers tower. I had cleaned out what few possessions I had in my apartment, mainly my clothes, some books, and a few other things that I had. The apartment I rented was already furnished, so I didn't have to move any furniture.
I put my belongings into a large duffel bag, got on my motorcycle and drove out of Brooklyn to the newly constructed Midtown Manhattan.
As I rode, I truly noticed how much the city had changed while I was sleeping. In the months following my awakening, I would go to the library so I could catch up on everything that happened in the world since 1943 and there was a lot to learn. What pained me the most was reading the files of my former comrades, most of whom had passed away over the years.
Peggy was still alive and living somewhere in England. I had contemplated picking up the phone and calling her, but as the idea floated around in my mind, I began to reconsider. Peggy was probably married with children and grandchildren. As far as she knew, I had been dead for seventy years. Maybe it would be better to just forget about her and let her live out the rest of her days happily in ignorance.
I knew for a fact that ignorance could sometimes be a blessing and that knowing too much could bring you more fear than consolation. When I woke up, I found out that we had won the war, nobody told me what we had lost as a result of it. Some days, all I wished for was a chance to go back. Back to the 1940's where people actually talked face to face, where chivalry was not a thing of the past, and where being polite wasn't mistaken for flirting. But that wasn't going to happen, so I might as well get used to the 21st century without forgetting who I am.
I pulled up to a small café near the tower and figured I would go in for a cup of coffee, anything to prolong Tony's constant mutterings about how I was an old man, a Capsicle, and a virgin.
I sat at a table on the patio, of the café, enjoying the gentle breeze and the sounds of the city.
"Ahem?"
A soft voice yanked me out of my thoughts and I looked up to meet the gaze of a young waitress.
Something inside of me shifted as I looked up at her. I didn't know what it was but a warm feeling spread through my body as she smiled at me.
She was short, about the same height I was before I was given the serum, and she was skinny but still had curves (unlike most women these days who strived to be skin and bones). She had long blonde hair and deep blue eyes. A strand of her hair had fallen over her name tag.
"Can I take your order?", she asked with a kind smile.
I looked down at my menu and said,
"Yes ma'am, I'll have a hazelnut coffee with cream and sugar."
"Will that be all sir?", she asked as she scribbled down my order, biting her lip as she wrote.
"Yes…", she went to walk away but I stopped her, "Oh miss?"
"Yes?", she asked, brows raised.
"I didn't catch your name.", I said with a smile.
She shifted the lock of hair off of her name tag and a light pink blush graced her cheeks.
"It's Beth."
Beth. What a lovely name.
"And you are…", she trailed off.
"Steve, Steve Rogers.", I replied, holding out my hand.
We shook hands and she said, "I'll be right out with your coffee Steve.", before walking away.
Beth POV
I poured Steve's coffee with shaking hands.
I never got nervous like this around guys, but something about his ice blue eyes was so familiar, I could've sworn that I'd seen him somewhere before.
I put the cream and sugar on my tray with the coffee and walked back to the table where Steve was doodling on a napkin.
"Here's your coffee. Will that be all?", I asked as he looked up and flashed a perfect smile at me.
"Yeah, thank you."
"You're welcome, let me get your bill.", I said, turning to walk away.
"Beth?", Steve called.
"Yes?", I replied, turning back towards him.
He seemed to be at a slight loss for words, his cheeks turning pink as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"Um, if it isn't too much trouble, could you just, um sit with me for a while…"
I was surprised by his request and I looked at my wristwatch and saw that I had about five minutes until I could take my scheduled break. Steve seemed like a nice guy and I nodded. He probably just wanted to find someone who would listen, who might understand. After all, everyone was a victim of the alien attack earlier that year. Maybe he was like me, lonely and struggling, trying to make it in the world without anyone's help. We could all use a friends and my instincts were telling me that I should be friendly but cautious.
After leaving my hometown of Oxford, Nebraska, I had sworn to myself that I would listen to my instincts. The last time I had ignored my instincts, I was almost killed because of my ignorance.
"No problem. I take my break in five minutes, so if you could wait a bit, that would be great."
Steve nodded.
"Of course."
I went back inside the café to get Steve's bill and to tell my boss that I was taking my break.
I walked back with Steve's bill in my pocket and sat down across from him, sliding the bill across the table.
"So…", I attempted to start a conversation.
"Uh, what's your favorite color?", Steve asked.
I laughed, but stopped when I saw his somewhat ashamed expression.
"I'm sorry,", I apologized, "I just don't get asked that question a lot by the other customers."
Steve nodded, looking down at his hands.
"It's blue.", I answered.
He looked up at me with a half-smile on his face and said,
"Mine too."
It was my turn to ask the question.
"What brings you to New York City? Or have you lived here your whole life?"
"I was born and raised in Brooklyn, my parents died years ago, so I'm on my own now. I've been overseas for… a long time and I'm checking out my new place here in Midtown. How about you?"
"I was born and raised on a farm in Oxford, Nebraska. It's a small town in the middle of nowhere. My parents also died when I was little and I was raised by my aunt and uncle. I came to New York City to try and get on Broadway."
"You're an actress?"
"Well…sort of. I haven't actually got any callbacks yet."
"Don't worry, I'm sure you're on your way…Since you already answered my next question, I suppose it's your turn."
"Oh…Um…you said you were overseas, are you a soldier?"
He nodded and said,
"Yes. I'm Captain Steve Rogers of the United States Army."
My mind went fuzzy.
This guy was a captain? He looked so…young.
"Wow. How old are you, because you look really young for a captain?"
"Physically, I'm 24. Mentally, I feel like I'm a lot older."
I cocked my head to the side.
"How so?"
He took a deep breath and said,
"My parents were very old fashioned folks, my mom was a nurse, my dad was a soldier and both of them raised me to be a gentleman, to always be polite, kind, and honest to everyone. When I went overseas, the way I was raised truly paid off and I made the rank of captain for an act of valor. When I got back here, I was shocked at how everyone suddenly forgot how to act. I guess I had been away too long and things just…changed."
I nodded.
"I understand. My aunt and uncle raised me the same way. It felt wrong to put aside some of my values for work."
"How so?", Steve asked.
"You've probably wounded and killed people in your line of work, I bet that wasn't one of the things your parents taught you to be. Same here, only I'm not picking up a gun and shooting people. I was raised catholic and I went to church every Sunday. When I moved to New York City, I had to work two jobs and go to my auditions just to make ends meet. Going to church took a back seat because of work."
"I was raised catholic as well, but I haven't gone to church in a while. I wonder if that's changed too…", he trailed off.
"BETH!", my boss yelled, "GET BACK TO WORK!"
I blushed twelve shades of red and quickly got up from the table.
"I'm sorry, I have to go. It was nice talking to you.", I went to walk away when Steve called out to me again.
"Beth!"
"Yes?", I asked, turning around again.
Steve held out the bill to me and I took it from him.
"Thanks for listening…and the coffee was excellent.", he said. "Maybe I'll have to stop here more often."
I took the bill and my tip.
"Goodbye Steve."
"Goodbye Beth, I guess I'll see you around.", he said with a friendly smile as he got up and walked to his motorcycle.
I went to pocket my tip but in my haste, I must've picked up a napkin along with it.
I noticed some writing on the napkin and I found that it was a note with a phone number on it.
Beth-
Call me anytime you want to talk and good luck with your auditions.
Your new regular customer,
Steve Rogers
I looked up as I saw Steve ride away in the direction of Avengers tower before looking back at the note in my hand. I smiled and put the note in my pocket. I couldn't help but feel like this was the start of something amazing.
Later today, I'm going to give my new regular customer a call.
Steve POV
As I rode away from the café to Avengers tower, I let the air hit my face and calm my nerves.
That had to have been not only the longest conversation I've had with a woman in this century, but also the most daring thing I had ever done in my life.
"Really Rogers? All you did was give a very pretty young woman your phone number and you're scared of what she'll think about you?", I thought to myself as I pulled up to the tower and was let in by Tony's girlfriend, Pepper Potts, who had just got back from an early board meeting.
Pepper was very kind and we rode up to the main level of the tower together.
I was listening to her talk about how good it was to have a full tower with everyone together when the doors slid open to reveal none other than Tony Stark.
"Hello Pepper.", he greeted his girlfriend with a smile and a kiss before turning to me with a smirk on his face.
"Welcome home, Captain Virginity."
I groaned internally at the greeting and thought that the sooner Beth called, the better.
A/N: How was that? Tell me in your review!
