As Steve arrived home he pulled himself off of his bike feeling his leg brush against something he stopped and looked down at it. It was Skye's bag; he felt his heart jump a bit at the thought that he would have to return it to her. He quickly jumped onto his bike again kicking it to life and heading towards Tony and Pepper's home.
It was almost 10 when he rang the bell to the house; Pepper was the one who answered the door. "You did have it! We were just about to call, thank you dear." Pepper smiled stepping aside letting Steve follow her into the house. As they came around the corner to the living room he spotted Skye sitting on the couch now in a pair of what he assumed was Pepper's spare pajamas. They were just a size too big for her small frame. She had the waist rolled up a few times to keep the bottoms from dragging so badly and the strings on the pale pink tank top were tied into small knots to keep them from slipping off of her shoulders. But what shocked him the most were how her arms were covered with different stages of bruises and cuts. He almost dropped her bag as Skye noticed Steve standing in the doorway to the living room quickly covering her upper body very poorly with a nearby couch pillow.
"Mr. Rogers!" Skye gasped as she flushed with embarrassment and tucking her feet under her bottom.
"I'm sorry." He didn't know why he was apologizing as he looked away and set down her bag. "I forgot to give this back to you earlier…" It now made sense why even when he had been so gentle her face had still held so much pain.
Skye's face suddenly lit up in a small smile, "Thank you, you could have just called though. I would have been just as happy to come get it from you tomorrow."
Steve couldn't stop himself from asking the dumbest question he was sure he had ever uttered. "Are those bruises?"
Skye gave him a sad smile, "I wish I could tell you different Mr. Rogers. But that would be a lie, yes they are bruises." She slowly removed the pillow setting it on the couch next to her. "You're holding up better than Tony." She laced her fingers and set them in her lap. "He threw up."
Steve couldn't help himself he gave a weak chuckle Skye smiled glad he understood she was trying to be somewhat funny. "I was wondering where he was."
"Would you like some tea Mr. Rogers?" Skye asked standing up. "I was just going to make some for Pepper and myself, and something to keep Tony's stomach from being upset. I'm sure Tony wouldn't mind." She walked past him grabbing her sweater from the chair behind him pulling it over her torso and smiling up at him. When she looked at him like that how could he say no?
"I've never had tea before," He blabbed out.
"No worries, I'm sure you'll like it. Are you more of a bitter person or would you prefer something sweet?" Skye asked walking towards what he thought was the kitchen, he followed her without realizing it.
"Sweet please." Skye smiled.
"A man after my own heart," She pulled a tea pot onto the stove filling it with water as she started the stove and pulled out a few tea bags from some boxes they looked brand new. "I had Pepper pick a few things up for me before I arrived." She answered his unasked question.
"How long have you been planning this move?" Steve asked.
"About a month, it wasn't easy." She sighed, with her makeup gone Steve realized how tired she actually looked, not that she wore a lot of makeup but the light eyeliner and eye shadow that had now been washed from her face made enough of a difference to show.
"You really look very tired." He said softly reaching forward carefully and moving a few strands of her blonde hair from her face. She flushed a bit as he tucked her hair behind her ear. She was quite short without the heels, not that they made much of a difference themselves. Her hair which she had had in a bun at the base of her neck now hung freely and was actually really long it brushed just above her bottom and it was quite wavy. If it was straight it would have probably gone past her bottom. Her light green eyes shone very well against her pale skin and light almost white blonde hair. He couldn't help but think that she really was very pretty.
"I feel tired." She admitted giving a small yawn that ended with a small squeak, Steve couldn't help but laugh at it.
"Never heard a person make a noise like that before. It was cute."
She gave a small pout, "I hate that word," She stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm a person not a tiny animal. People aren't cute."
Steve simply chuckled again and leaned against the counter, "Well you pull it off fairly well." He saw her blush.
"Well… thank you…" She didn't know what else to say, she had never really had any compliments from a man before and she was sure it showed.
"So, what exactly do you do for a living? I heard you say something about writing earlier at dinner." Steve said he needed to change the subject or he felt he would just stand there staring at her.
"I've pumped out a few books otherwise I actually work for a publishing company. A small place in London, but as I always did my work from home there is no worries about doing it from here." The tea pot started to whistle and Skye took it off of the stove and poured the boiling hot water into some cups with the tea bags already inside them. The smell was heavenly. She placed everything onto a small silver tray.
Steve took the tray from her and followed her back into the living room where Tony now sat with Pepper looking a bit paler after his puke session. "I'm sorry Tony; I didn't know you'd be so queasy. Here." She handed him a cup of tea adding a splash of cream and a bit of sugar in it. "This will calm your stomach and help you get some sleep." She smiled as Steve set the tray on a coffee table, Pepper picked up her own and added what she wanted to it sipping at it. "Here," Skye helped Steve add sugar and cream to his. "Let me know what you think." She smiled as Tony played his stomach for all it was worth getting some sympathy from Pepper who coddled him a bit in humor. Skye couldn't help but feel happy mixed with a small amount of jealousy at her cousin's luck with finding a good man. She turned her attention to Steve who took a drink from his cup and nodded.
"It's not too bad, I actually like it." It was true and he enjoyed that Skye smiled at it.
"I'm glad!" She sipped at her tea and letting out a long sigh. "This is what I was missing today…" Her eyes fell on the TV that Tony was currently flipping through, finally stopping on an old black and white movie that Skye didn't know the title of. She settled herself into the couch her feet under her making her lean towards Steve, her shoulder brushing against his as she breathed in and out. Steve knew it, it was an old horror movie that came out the same year he had become what he was now, he knew it was called The Corpse Vanishes but that was all he knew. "That's Bela Lugosi!" Skye breathed, "He was just an amazing actor. I loved him in Dracula." She flushed as Steve looked down at her, "I kinda have a thing for horror movies. I prefer the older ones like this, but I'll watch anything with blood and gore in it." Steve felt himself smile. "My favorite is Creature from the Black Lagoon. I love the old black and white ones the best." She sighed again as they settled in to watch the movie.
Before long Steve felt Skye press against his arm, he looked down and saw that she had fallen asleep. Her head was tilted to the side and rested against his shoulder, he reached over careful to not disturb her grabbing the cup from her before it spilled. With his movements she let go of the cup moving her arms to wrap around his bicep, she snuggled against him for the warmth as she let out a small sigh tucking her chin to her chest.
"She looks comfortable." Tony whispered smiling, Pepper was grinning herself.
"Steve, you can stay the night if you want." Pepper whispered getting up to take his empty cup and Skye's from him.
Steve wasn't sure what to say he just gave her a small nod, turning back towards the movie trying to ignore the smirk Tony was giving him. "You know, I think you two are cute together." Tony muttered while Pepper was in the kitchen rising out the cups.
"She hates that word," Was the only thing Steve could think to say.
"Well, hates it or not it's true. You two look like you were made for each other." Tony sighed and stretched out a bit turning back to the TV himself letting Steve think. "But I will tell you because you're my friend. I don't think she's ready. At least not yet." He looked back over at Steve who was watching Tony out of the corner of his eyes. "Right now she just needs support and a good friend."
"And who says I can't do that?" Steve asked a bit defensive.
"Didn't say you couldn't, but I see the way you look at her already. Love at first sight, pretty sure she has it too."
Steve's heart did a small leap, "Why would you say that?"
"Because otherwise I highly doubt she'd be sleeping against you like that if she wasn't." He silenced himself as Pepper came back into the living room shutting off the light as she did so. Now the only light in the room came from the TV hanging up on the wall. She grabbed a blanket covering her cousin and part of Steve as Skye gave a small twitch.
Steve looked down at her expecting her to be awake and he prepared himself to move away from her, but she was out like a light. Her arms and legs twitched as she slept throughout the movie, when it was over Tony handed Steve the remote and told him where Skye's room was and the spare bedroom he could crash in himself when he was ready for bed. He watched them walk away thinking that he could just take her to her room and head home himself, but the thought of still being there when she woke up in the morning gave him butterflies. He heard a clock strike one in the morning somewhere in the house and he felt a bit tired himself.
He made sure to move carefully as to not wake Skye as he slipped his arms under her holding her to his chest. She was a lot lighter than he guessed she was. He turned towards the stairs and quietly slipped up them her form bouncing against his chest as he did so. Tony had said it was the first bedroom on the right and that the one he could stay in was right next to it. He carefully opened the door with his foot, not wanting to jostle her to use his hand, thankfully it swung open and he stepped into the room a source of light coming from a small lamp next to her bed. He made his way to her bed and laid her down covering her up to her chin. He stood for a moment wondering if he should turn off the light for her. Looking down at her he felt a ping of sadness in the pit of his stomach at what she had to have gone through, it couldn't have been pretty and she still found the strength to smile. He sat on the edge of her bed, less tired than he was moments ago feeling he could sit and watch her all night to make sure nothing happened to her. He swept a few stray hairs from her face as he watched her for a couple more moments. Just as he was about to go to bed himself her eyes fluttered open looking up at him.
"What time is it?" She asked with a small yawn, the squeak at the end like before.
"A little after one, you uh, you fell asleep down stairs I was just getting ready to go to my own room." He stood wanting to give her space.
"Oh alright." She sat up a bit in the bed looking up at him a soft smile on her lips. "You're really comfortable you know that?" She slowly unbuttoned her sweater slipping it off and letting it fall to the floor.
"Really? Normally I hear I'm too hard." He wished he hadn't said it like that, it sounded wrong. Skye just giggled.
"Well then obviously you're cuddling with the wrong women. Or men, whichever." She sat up more her back straight as though a board was placed against it, he never noticed it before. "I don't judge."
"I'm not, I mean, women, err, I like women." He was flustered if she noticed she ignored it.
"It's okay if you don't. I used to have some friends like that, they were really nice." She played with the blanket. "I can't sleep if people stare too long, if you were wondering." He almost thought she could read his mind.
"I thought maybe I woke you by moving you." Steve admitted.
She shook her head no, "No, I'm actually a pretty deep sleeper. Normally once I'm out I'm dead to the world." She smiled up at him. "So you're staying the night then?" Steve nodded. "Do you like pancakes?" Again he nodded. "Good, I was going to surprise everyone. Well it's not really a surprise now that you know, but I thought it'd be nice to surprise Tony and Pepper."
"Well I can't wait. I normally go out for breakfast." Steve said sitting again on the edge of her bed, when he wasn't thinking about what to say next she was very easy to talk to.
"All the time?" She looked surprised.
"Every morning, there is a nice little place around the corner from my apartment I go to."
"Doesn't your girlfriend cook you breakfast?"
"Well, I uh, I don't really have one."
"Seriously? A gorgeous man like- I mean… a handsome man like you? I don't believe it for a second." She smiled at him again, he could tell she was teasing him.
He broke into a smile himself, "I'm serious. Most women just see me as Captain America, not an actual person. They'd rather have me for a prize than an actual boyfriend."
Skye shrugged, "You are kind of a prize," She stated, Steve felt himself frown. "I mean no matter where you go people are going to be in awe about you, but you deserve a woman who can handle that as well. Sure it sounds fabulous to be the girlfriend of a superhero, but it can't be easy. No relationship is easy, no matter whom the other person is you should treat them the way they want to be treated. That's what I think."
"How can such a smart woman like you end up with such a horrible guy?" Steve heard himself say before he could stop himself.
He saw her blush, "Even the smartest of us make mistakes… I made mine and I'm going to learn from it. I know someday I'll find the guy I'm meant to be with. I just hope he'll be as amazing as I dream about…" She said softly looking out the window that was in her room.
"He will be. I'm sure." Steve said his hand over hers. "I'll see you in the morning alright?"
Skye nodded and stood up herself. "I'll shut the door behind you. Good night Mr. Rogers."
He stopped at her door. "Steve, please, call me Steve."
She smiled and nodded. "Goodnight Steve." They stared at each other for a couple moments more before he forced himself to walk away towards his room.