The next day Steve went to the library to return the books and was overjoyed when Evie was there working. After asking he found out that she worked almost every day except Sunday and days she wanted off. There were two other people who worked at the library, James and Ella, but they kept mostly to themselves. The ended up having a long chat about the books and Steve admitted 'Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas' made him cry, and Evie said the same as she handed him a pile of her own items that she had brought to work for him to borrow 'just in case' he came in and then recommended a few books which he immediately took out to read later.
Steve then took her out for a coffee and lunch during her break.
This happened every few days for the next 2 weeks. In which they got to know each other a lot more and found they had more than just books in common. Evie educated Steve on more pieces of technology and changed his ringtone for, but stole the Star Spangled Man song for her ringtone whenever he rung her.
They spoke about anything that came up to learn more about each other.
Evie never pushed Steve about his past, she did however ask him the occasional question but that was all but when he opened up about something she was quite happy to listen and comfort him if needed, he seemed quite surprised the first time she hugged him whilst he was telling her about Bucky.
When he opened up she did the same in return, she told him that her father left when she was four and her mother was a drunk for as long as she could remember, she spent more time with her great aunt Maggie than she did with her mom. She studied at Ohio University where she had studied IT but then somehow ended up the owner of a library in the middle of New York. She didn't go into much detail about what happened between university and New York and Steve didn't push sensing her reluctance.
He brought his drawing pad in for her to see had had forgotten that he'd drawn her. In the picture she was at the café they often went to and was grinning with a crinkled around her eyes, it was obvious he draw this form memory because she didn't remember him drawing while they were talking.
She had been embarrassed but amazed at his drawing. "You drew me?" She had asked.
His eyes went wide as he looked at the picture and blushed, "Yeah."
"Aren't there...better things you can draw?"
Steve shook his head looking quite sure. "Nothing."
A week after they had the first date, on a warmer day than most, Evie took Steve to the stables and managed to convince the owner to let Steve ride as well and they spent a few hours with Evie teaching Steve how to ride. When he first climbed into the horse he looked confident but each time the horse moved he flinched. Once he got used to it they started with a simple trot learning the basics before going into the more advanced riding since Steve is a quick learner. Riding around the large field he raced with the Evie even though she won each time not willing to go easy on him when she's in her element.
It was exactly two weeks after their first date when Evie got to work feeling cheerful hoping Steve would come see her today. He didn't come every day but most days. Evie looked forward to it every morning.
He would always turn up at 11 O'clock sharp but by the time 11:30 rolled around Evie had assumed he wasn't going to come and each time she struggled to fight against the disappointment knowing that he was probably busy with the Avengers.
Evie shook off her thoughts of Steve - as hard as that is and concentrated in actually working for once, until of course a conversation caught her notice as she walked into the teenage isle where there was a couple sat together on a chair each holding a book but they were talking quietly, "Yeah! I heard, they had made robots like those Hammer Corp' things a few years back."
"Seriously? Who did it?"
"Duno, just some terrorists or something. It'll be fine though the Avengers are out there."
"Those guys are awesome."
"And girl, Black Widow is hot." The girl turned a page on the book she was reading heavily and the guy glanced at her, "Not as hot as you of course."
"Good."
Evie coughed and the couple looked up at her, "Sorry were we too loud?"
"No, no. You're fine. I just couldn't help but overhear you, the Avengers are fighting somewhere?"
"Yeah, it was on the news about an hour ago, in Washington I think."
"What's happened?"
"Just robots or something, they didn't tell us much just that they Avengers are on it really."
"Right...thank you." Evie continued to work but worrying more than ever, she started OCD'ing over the book on the shelves. What if something has happened to him during the fight and she knew she wouldn't know anything until it was said on the news because as far as she knew, Steve hadn't told the other Avengers about her just yet.
She tried to ignore the feeling of increasing worry and found herself checking the news on her computer every few minutes hoping for something but there was nothing. Eventually the public slowly left the library and Evie decided to lock up early and made her way home in the rain.
"I'm home." she called walking through the front door and hung her coat up, there were three coats already hanging up meaning everyone was home.
Irene being her best friend, taller than Evie with blonde hair - at the moment at least, it was often dyed various colours - and sharp cheekbones, bright green eyes and an easy smile. Then Mycroft and Sherlock who were identical twins, they were both quite tall with short straight black hair, and blue/green eyes. Mycroft was slightly taller than Sherlock, with shorter parted hair and a rounder face. Sherlock had slender fingers, a wider grin and usually spiked up his hair.
Although they looked almost exactly the same, they dressed a lot differently and acted just as differently. Mycroft usually dressed proper and he spoke with a posher accent. Evie always made fun of him for that, he put it down to his job. Sherlock usually wore jeans and a T-shirt and was much quieter but he when he did speak it was usually something meaningful or amusing.
"Hey, sexy," Irene called from the living room on the left. "Lover boy come today?"
"Nope, didn't you see on the news? Avengers are fighting in Washington."
"Ah crap."
Sherlock moved over to allow Evie to sit down beside him and she curled into his warm side. "Where's Croft?"
"Cooking!" Mycroft's voice called from the kitchen through the corridor on the right.
"Mm what you making?"
"Chicken and potatoes. Give us 20 minutes."
"Croft, that's the best thing you've ever said." Evie sighed with relief along with her rumbling stomach.
"That says a lot about my intellect." Mycroft chuckled.
"Since we're all here, Friday night film while we eat?" Irene asked.
"Depends? What film?"
"Horror." Sherlock stated as if there were no other genres.
"Something easy?" Evie asked hopefully.
"An easy horror?" Mycroft asked, amused.
"What about that film where you said the guy looks like Thor?"
"What? Chris Hemsworth?"
"Yeah, him? What's that horror film he'd been in lately?"
"Cabin in the woods?" Evie guessed, "I haven't seen it yet."
"Yeah. That would be an easy horror. It's not too scary."
Evie rolled her eyes but nodded, letting Irene to get up and set it up before staring on dinner once it was done.
Evie curled up against Sherlock while Irene curled up against his other side and put her feet across Mycroft's lap and the brothers just sat comfortably with their best friends around them. Until halfway through the film as the zombies broke into the house there was a loud knock on the door and absolutely everyone jumped, Irene dropped the popcorn she had made and looked around as if waiting for the zombies to attack.
They sat in silence for a minute glancing around and Mycroft paused the film. Evie switched on a light and glanced at the time, 9:49. Slowly she walked to the door glancing back to see Sherlock just behind her, she pulled open the door.
Where Captain America stood, soaking wet in full uniform and shield in hand.
His uniform had quite a few rips in it where blood was slowly seeping out and she could see what looked like burns on his skin and clothes. Even the paintwork on his shield was scratched and burnt. He was leaning heavily on the side of the door.
"Evelyn!" he greeted cheerfully but tiredly, "3rd times a charm I guess."
"Sorry?"
"I tried two different apartments before this."
"Right." Evie wasn't completely sure what to say as she stepped back to allow him in. Steve sent her a grateful look before his knees seemed to give way and he fell forward, Evie tried to catch him but he was too heavy so Sherlock stepped forward to help, leading him into the lounge where they sat him on the couch. "I'm going to assume you haven't been to a hospital yet?"
"Nope." Steve shook his head and stared up at her earnestly, "Tomorrow night. Go on a date with me?" Steve asked before Evie could say anything else.
"Tomorrow night?" Evie asked shocked, had he come to her apartment after an obviously hard battle just to ask her on a date?
"Yes. I was fighting earlier and I thought I've taken you to a café for lunch but we need a proper date, a dinner date. I wanted to give you that so I came immediately."
Evie smiled shocked and nodded, "Sounds like a plan. A very...very...very good plan."
"Good." Steve grinned, "Very good. Great actually." Steve grin at her "I should..." he gestured to the door but his legs didn't seem to like that and he fell back onto the couch with an undignified 'ofph'. "I hope you don't mind but I think I'm gonna just..." Steve's eyes closed and lay backwards on the couch, immediately falling unconscious but he was still gripping hold of his shield, arm hanging just off the end of the couch.
"That was unexpected." Evie muttered.
"You never told me he was this hot in person." Irene muttered annoyed, Evie rolled her eyes at her friend. "That is the sweetest but probably stupidest thing ever."
"What is?" Evie asked dumbly watching as Mycroft left the room.
"He's obviously just come back from a battle and comes straight to you to ask you on a date? Can I date him instead?"
"No." Evie rolled her eyes glancing up at Mycroft walked back into the room holding a blanket and a first aid kit.
"We should just make sure most of those...injures aren't too bad." He explained bending down beside Steve and attempting to pull his shirt off, Evie wasn't sure what to do so Sherlock stepped forward to help, both Irene and Evie couldn't help but stare appreciatively at Steve's bare broad chest despite the injures scattered across until Evie snapped out of his and went to get a towel to dry him from the rain but also some warm water to clean the blood off.
Once they were done Mycroft put one of his shirts on Steve even if it was a bit tight and Evie covered him with the blanket. Sherlock attempted to move the shield to make him more comfortable but even unconscious, but Steve was gripping tightly to it. "We'll know if they get any worse then we'll sort it out in the morning when he wakes up."
"I'm gonna get to bed." Irene muttered with a look to the two men who both agreed.
"We can finish the film tomorrow?" Sherlock suggested and Evie nodded.
"Goodnight guys." Evie muttered watching as they left the room and went down the corridor to their bedrooms.
She sat there for a while just staring at Steve still shocked; Captain America had seriously just come to ask her on a date? Now fallen unconscious on her couch? When she woke up this morning she had not expected this.
Evie lightly brushed his hair back and smiled, she had only known him for two weeks but she hoped to God that she would know him much, much longer. Not just because he's Captain America but because he's sweet and kind and funny and just everything she's ever wanted.
Sighing in content Evie stood up and made her way to bed.
Mycroft and Sherlock were usually the first two awake and Mycroft went to check on Steve to find him still fast asleep. Mycroft considered leaving him asleep but decided that the rest of the Avengers might be worrying about him and Evie would be waking up soon for work at 10:30 so Mycroft bent down and lightly touched Steve's shoulder.
And only just about dodged the shield in time as it was flung towards him and landed in the TV causing it to fall over and spark. Steve sat up quickly and looked around before staring at the shocked looking Mycroft and Sherlock as the latter ran into the room. A moment later Evie and Irene joined them wearing pyjamas and shocked expressions.
"Uh...sorry..." Steve muttered staring at the TV, "I'll uh...pay for that."
"What the hell?!" Irene murmured looking between Mycroft, Sherlock and Steve.
"Sorry, I'm not used to be woken up..." Steve added slowly sitting up and looking about until he caught Evie's eye.
"Good morning." Evie spoke amused, eyes running up and down him appreciatively. He looked incredible in Mycroft's tight shirt and his tight Captain America pants.
"Morning." Steve blushed as he noticed her appreciative look and ran a hand through his hair ruffling it so it was perfect. "Sorry, I planned to go back last night, I think I was a bit more tired that I realised."
"It's alright. Just wasn't expecting to need a new TV."
"I'll pay for that." Steve repeated walking to the smashed TV to collect his shield; Mycroft left the room and came back with a black bag and a dust pan and brush.
Sherlock bent down to pick up the now broken TV but was obviously struggling so Steve put his shield down on the table and took it off him, holding it up easily, "Where do you want it?"
"By the front door please." Mycroft answered as he started to clean up the glass.
"Uh, I should probably introduce you all." Evie realised, "Steve this is Mycroft, Sherlock and Irene." She pointed at each of them as Steve came back into the room.
Steve nodded and smiled sheepishly at each of them, "Pleasure to meet Evie's friends, I apologise again for the intrusion and TV."
"Quite alright, I should have known not to wake a solider or Avenger in an unfamiliar place." Mycroft smiled and Steve blushed unsure what to say to that, luckily Evie saved him.
"I'll make some breakfast then shall I?" Evie offered walking into the kitchen; Steve stayed to help Mycroft, Sherlock and Irene in cleaning up.
"Irene, keep Evie in the kitchen." Mycroft spoke up suddenly, his voice low and eerie making Steve look up at them and frown. He glanced towards Irene as she left the room and he heard a noise of protest from Evie but she didn't say anything in warning so Steve tried not to worry. He couldn't help but glance at his shield which he had placed on the sofa.
Both brothers stood up towering over Steve who was knelt on the floor cleaning the glass, he was tempted to stand but knew he could over power the two men if need be quite easily, "What are your intentions with Evie?" Mycroft asked as soon as he knew Evie was stuck in the kitchen.
"Uh...to court her?" Steve answered very carefully, not wanting to say the wrong thing.
"Is that a question or an answer?" Sherlock asked sternly.
"An answer?" Sherlock gave him a look and Steve sat up straighter, "An answer." he added more firmly.
"And you like her?"
"Yes. I mean we've only known each other for a couple of weeks but yes. I do."
"What would you do if she was hurt?"
"Call an ambulance and try to help her."
Sherlock's face hardened and Steve tried to re-think his answer but another question was asked before he could, "We know you're a superhero and you fight battle, Evie is put in danger by this correct?"
"Yes. But I believe she can handle herself. Despite that I will protect her best I can. I'm sure once she meets the rest of the team they will treat her as they do Pepper."
Mycroft looked vaguely impressed at that answer. The brothers glanced at each other with small smiles on their faces, "Well then, we like you. You seem like an honourable man."
"But you should know,"
"No matter how famous,"
"Or honourable,"
"Or just plain liked,"
"If you harm one hair on her head,"
"You will regret the day you were born." Sherlock finished the sentence with a glare that would actually make Steve take a step back.
"Got it?" Steve's eyes were wide but he nodded, "Got it?" Mycroft repeated.
"Yes. I won't hurt her. I don't want to hurt her."
"Good. Irene, Evie." Sherlock called and the two girls walked back into the room, Evie shot Steve an apologetic look and gestured for him to join her in the kitchen.
"I am so sorry about them." She murmured in the kitchen glancing through the corridor where the others were cleaning up, "They're a bit over protective of me especially since everything happened with my family and well...every time they think they have to make the brotherly speech and they usually end up scaring people off. If you don't wanna know them and by extension me I get it an-"
Steve cut her off with a kiss and Evie looked at him surprised, "I've fought against Nazi's, Aliens, Robots, geniuses, psychopaths and I live with Tony Stark. I think I can handle protective friends. Anyway if I hurt you I deserve anything they give me."
Evie smiled softly and lent into his broad chest in a hug, Steve wrapped his arms around her and they stayed that way for a moment.
Until of course Steve remembered that he had just left last night telling the others he'll be back soon, so reluctantly he pulled back, "I'm really sorry Evelyn, but I should head home. The others are probably starting to worry about me. And I need to get changed and this fixed," he gestured at his clothes before he suddenly noticed he wasn't wearing his usual blue shirt. "Uh..."
"Right, sorry, we made sure your injures aren't too bad and that's Mycroft's shirt." Evie blushed as she all but admitted she had seen him shirtless but he didn't point that out, instead he nodded.
"Thank you, where's my-"
"By the sofa. How are you feeling? It looked kinda painful last night?"
"Yeah...got burnt by lasers a few times, it's fine though I heal quickly."
"I'm glad." Evie smiled. "Alright I'll see you soon?"
"Yeah, tonight." Steve bent forward and captured her lips in a kiss.
"Yeah," Evie grinned at him once he pulled away, "Tonight."
Steve grinned back out of the kitchen leaning into the lounge, "Thank you for letting me sleep on your couch last night. Again sorry for the intrusion and I'll pay for the TV." He told the others.
"See you." Mycroft called while the others waved.
"Don't forget this." Irene handed him the shield, helmet mask and shirt, "Huh...lighter than it looks."
"Thank you ma'am." Steve smiled and left the apartment murmuring another goodbye.
"He called me ma'am." He heard Irene giggling.
"He calls everyone ma'am, you see that's what polite people do. But of course you wouldn't kn..." the conversation faded away as Steve got further from the door and made his way home.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Steve walked into the common room, to find everyone but Tony already awake and crowded around the breakfast bar already eating breakfast.
Natasha and Clint looked the worst from the fight yesterday with cuts, bruises and burns all over their visible body but they didn't seem to be very bothered, being quite used to being bruised and injured after fights. Thor seemed as cheerful as normal but tired and obviously aching. Bruce looked fine just over tired and aching due to changing into the Hulk.
"Morning Steve." Natasha greeted with a barely concealed yawn.
"Morning, what's all this?" he gestured to the plate of waffles waiting at his usual spot on the breakfast bar.
"We woke up and thought we'd make you breakfast for once." Bruce answered and Steve smiled gratefully.
"Thank you."
Steve sat down and started to eat when Tony came in to cheerful for his usual self so early in the morning. He looked a little rough for wear but no better than the others. "Cap! You need to watch this!" Tony stated with amusement in his voice, Natasha and Clint sighed and Steve glanced at them curiously, "JARVIS. Play it?"
The TV across the room switched on to show the video of room they were in but it was focused on the kitchen counter, the time stamp in the corner said 8:38. Clint and Natasha were lying on the counter curled around each other sleeping peacefully. It was obvious they had both just collapsed. Natasha started to stir causing Clint to do the same, they both so suddenly pushed at each other throwing the other off the counter and grunting in pain as they hit the floor.
Tony's immediate laughter was heard off screen and slowly the two assassins slowly sat up and looked around and at each other.
"Huh." Clint mumbled then glared in what Steve assumed is Tony's direction as the other man was still laughing.
The screen went black and Steve grinned but he wasn't surprised. "How did you get the shiner?" he knew the answer but it was fun to ask.
"Natasha gave it to me after I showed Bruce."
"And you continue to show it to everyone anyway?"
"Well dur!" Tony shrugged and bent down to kiss Pepper and stole one of her waffles. "Where did you disappear to last night?" he asked Steve before Pepper could mention the waffle. She rolled her eyes at him and Steve stared blankly, "Soon as we got back. You left?" Tony prompted.
Steve shrugged, "I had to see something." he caught Natasha's eye and knew she knew but her face didn't show any reaction. Pepper however was grinning slightly and Steve had a feeling she may have guessed something but he couldn't be sure, maybe it was a female thing. He didn't think Natasha would have told her but then again girls gossiped ever more in this time than in his.
"You obviously just got back," Tony gestured to what Steve was wearing. "And that's not you're shirt." Tony smirked, "So you were out all night?"
"Yes."
"With anyone special?" Tony stared at the shirt Steve was wearing, "Male or female, we don't judge."
Steve cringed slightly and shook his head, "No offence meant but Tony, it's not really any of your business." Steve took a large bite of his waffle and smirked at Tony who scowled, not liking not knowing.
"Bruce, Tony have you had any luck with my Clints new arrows?" Natasha asked making Clint perk up and Steve grateful for the change of subject.
"Not much, still trying to figure out how to make heat sensitive but with wood it's hard."
"We need sonic waves for that so we're trying to re-create Doctor Who's sonic screwdriver but we need a-"
"The Doctor." Tony interrupted.
"Sorry?"
"'Doctor Who' is the show 'The Doctor' is the man."
"Right..." Bruce rolled his eyes at Tony's Sci-Fi geeky-ness. "The Doctors sonic screwdriver. But we need a stabilising agent."
"What do you need?" Clint asked. "I'm sure S.H.I.E.L.D would be able to get it."
"Not sure yet, there are a few that could work but also ones that could cause a nuclear bomb."
"Ah."
The group continued to talk for a while about things that went completely over his head until Steve left first for a shower and quickly the group dispersed, Steve walked back into the common room to get a drink and found Natasha sat there alone. "You like her a lot." It wasn't a question.
"Yes." Steve nodded glancing around nervous that someone else was listening. It wasn't that he was ashamed of Evie but he had only known her two weeks, once he introduced her to the Avengers it'd feel more serious. He wasn't sure if he was ready for that just yet. "I mean...I barely know her but she's...amazing."
Natasha allowed her lips to twitch, which to her was a huge grin, "I'm glad. You deserve someone. What happened last night?"
"I fell asleep on the sofa...her roommates threatened me this morning."
Natasha's eyebrow's rose and she looked concerned, "What happened?"
"Oh, nothing serious, just worry for Evelyn."
"Ah. Do you want to tell the others yet?"
Steve hesitated, "I don't know...we've been out for coffee but I think tonight would be a proper date. It's odd because in my time dating was done so differently than it is now and I want her to be comfortable."
"Steve," Natasha spoke up sternly, "Do what you want. If she gets uncomfortable or doesn't like it, she'll tell you, but I doubt you can make anyone feel uncomfortable unless you want them to." Steve smiled at Natasha's words, relaxing slightly knowing she spoke the truth but it was still hard to not worry about these things, "Where are you taking her?"
"Uh it's a small Italian restaurant down the road called 'El Grillo'."
"The Cricket?"
"Sorry?"
"El Grillo," Natasha said with an Italian accent, "It means The Cricket."
"Oh uh...yeah I guess." Steve shrugged. "Tony's mentioned it a few times."
"Why don't you take her dancing? Something I assume you'd enjoy and that's always a fun romantic gesture for most women." there was a slight wistful look in her eyes but it was gone as quickly as it had come.
Steve blushed, "I uh...don't know how to dance."
"You don't?"
"No...I never learnt, I was...waiting for the right partner."
"But if you don't know how, then how will you dance with her when you find her?" Natasha just sounded confused more than anything.
Steve shrugged. "Peggy was going to teach me."
Natasha's eye softened as she stood up, "JARVIS play...Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller." The song immediately started play and Steve looked at Natasha curiously as she walked into the middle of the room staring back at him expectantly.
"What-?"
"You don't need to take her tonight, so I'll teach you, we can spend the next few weeks learning different dance's except break dance, I'll only do that if I'm on mission."
"I-"
"Steve. Now." Steve obediently stood up at her stern tone and walked towards her nervously, he was much taller than her but it didn't matter too much as she grabbed his wrist moving it to place his hand onto her waist and then placed her hand onto his shoulder before taking his other hand. "You're the man so you need to lead." Natasha begun to explain it as they moved, just a simple waltz.
They did this for about half an hour before Clint dropped into the room from the air vents and Steve pulled away quickly.
"Whoa sorry." Clint apologized; "If I interrupted anything...?" he started to back away towards the elevator but Steve shook his head.
"'Tasha was just teaching me how to dance."
"Is that what you're calling it now?" Clint winked making Steve blush and Natasha roll her eyes.
"Practise with Clint." Natasha ordered and both men turned their eyes on her.
"Sorry?" Steve asked.
"What?" Clint didn't understand, "Dancing or dancing?"
"Dancing." Natasha answered exasperated. "Clint, be the woman we all know you are. Steve, lead."
Both men glanced at each other then back at Natasha, Clint shrugged and stepped forward having no qualms about dancing with another man he just hadn't expected to. Steve, however, was hesitant. In his mind he could hear his dad yelling 'the heck are ya doing, son?' His father had been extremely homophobic, and so it was hard-wired into Steve. Tony had told him that it was completely okay for a man to be gay, or a woman lesbian, and but it was still hard for him. Tony had understood that, but told him rather bluntly to 'get over it'.
So, Steve took a step forward.
Clint grinned and took his hand putting his other hand on Steve's shoulder, "On my waist darlin'." Clint smirked when he noticed Steve looking unsure what to do with his left hand.
Steve placed his hand on Clint's waist.
"Clint's the woman so you need to lead." Natasha spoke softly as another song started to play.
After a few moments of Clint waiting patiently Steve started to lead him in the waltz. It felt different than dancing with Natasha, especially as Clint didn't have the curves and his muscles felt odd against Steve's own. After about 5 minutes Clint released Steve and grabbed Natasha. Steve laughed as she looked shocked for a second before she actually laughed and danced with Clint. Steve grinned as he watched the two in a dance that looked so practised and so...perfect that Steve found himself mesmerised. Until of course Clint swapped again.
After 10 minutes of this the music stopped and claps were heard from the side of the room where Tony, Pepper, Bruce and Thor stood.
"Woo!" Tony grinned Steve jumped away from Clint; Clint just wrapped his arm round Steve's shoulders having to stretch to reach them due to Steve's height.
"Why were you two dancing?" Bruce asked curiously.
"Is there going to be a ball?" Thor asked hopefully.
Steve shrugged with a faint blush on his cheeks, "No Ball, I was learning."
"You're a fast learner." Pepper spoke up, "That looked amazing."
"Thanks."
"When did you all turn up?" Clint asked, that was a rare question for Clint as he usually noticed anyone immediately.
"About 5 minutes ago." Tony answered, "I saw it on a video, had to see it in person. So did they," he gestured to the others who just looked exasperated at Tony's actions.
Natasha rolled her eyes and sat down on the chair and a tired but grinning Steve sat beside her and the others disappeared to their little corners of the tower.
"That was...interesting." Steve murmured and Natasha laughed making Steve stare. She looked relaxed and was actually smiling. "You look really pretty when you smile." he said without thinking and then blushed, "That's not to say you don't look pretty when you don't smile because you do. You definitely do, I just-"
Natasha laughed again and put her hand over Steve's mouth. "Shh."
"Mmmrrery." Steve said which was meant to be 'sorry'. After a moment Natasha released it, "I just meant you don't smile often. You should."
"What part of shh don't you understand?" Steve shrugged and Natasha rolled her eyes, "Thank you for your compliment. It's just strange to know I'm safe enough to relax." it was obviously hard for her to admit to that but Steve was glad she did.
"You're safe here."
"I know." Natasha smiled again and stood up, "Have a good time on your date."
"Yeah. Thank you, for the lesson."
"Use it wisely." Natasha walked into the elevator and Steve made his way back to his room.
The rest of the day past by quickly until Steve checked with Natasha about the clothes he was wearing and then made his way to the library which he found locked.
Frowning Steve looked around, where is she? He waited a few minutes before he pulled out his phone; it was 6:07 so he decided to text her. It took him a moment before he remembered how,
'Hello have you forgotten about tonight? If you don't want to go that's fine, I just found the library locked.'
He wasn't sure how else to word it and wasn't sure he'd be able to change it even if he wanted to, so he sent it hoping she hadn't changed her mind.