Could you beam me up
Give me a minute, I don't know what I'd say in it
I'd probably just stare, happy just to be there, holding your face
Beam me up
Let me be lighter, I'm tired of being a fighter
I think a minute's enough
Just beam me up
Chapter Four:
Dinner lasted only about an hour or so for Steve and Lily. Not much happened over the course of dinner, due to Steve being uncomfortable and slightly paranoid around Tony's presence. Steve had discretely managed to pull some poorly hidden spy software Tony had put under their table. The Captain was a little on edge after that.
Still, Steve and Lily managed to carry on conversations here and there. Steve had found out Lily was a vegan immediately after she ordered a tofu salad. She instantly fessed up and explained to him about her sister's diet and how the rest of the family jumped on board to show their support. Over dinner and as they talked, Lily noticed the little things about Steve. He was very sweet, polite and seemed to always have a lopsided grin on his face when she talked. He was admittedly a little different than she ever imagined him being. But in a good way, of course.
Once they were finished eating, Steve dropped a hundred dollar bill on the table and quickly escorted Lily out the door and drove off. Not wanting the night to end so soon, he asked her if she wanted to take a walk with him. Lily agreed and mentally started to think about things to talk about so there wouldn't be an awkward silence.
Steve pulled over to a nice park a few blocks away and even though it was dark and cold as all hell, they still agreed to take a little stroll because it was still absolutely beautiful out and there was no one around.
"So if my knowledge of you serves correctly, you are 97-years-old?" Lily half joked at the man walking beside her. "You know we had a chapter in our history books about you. High school, sophomore year U.S. History class."
Steve glanced over at the smaller girl, who had her small hands shoved in the pockets of her thick coat.
"Easy there, I've only been awake for 28 years total," Steve lips pulled up into a lopsided grin. "I never bothered to ask over dinner. How old are you?"
"Oh. I'm 20-years-old..." Lily trailed off and watched for Steve's reaction. She saw his eyebrow barely raise up in surprise. Almost like he had meant to react a lot worse but caught himself in time. "What's the matter, Steve? Is my age a problem?"
"No," Steve quickly answered. "No, of course not. You're just a little younger than I expected, is all."
Lily let out an amused laugh and bit her lip before saying, "I'm twenty-five, Steve. I'll be twenty-six next month."
Steve raised both his eyebrows in surprise. She got him good. "Ha ha, Lily. Good one."
"I know. Not to worry, I'm almost your age. Kind of?" She questioned before laughing again.
"I wasn't worried," Steve reassured the younger woman. "So when exactly is your birthday?"
"December 26th," Lily supplied.
"I assume you just celebrate your birthday on Christmas?"
"Right you are. I don't mind it one bit though. And hey, it's pretty neat how your birthday is on July 4th," the brunette teased.
"Happy coincidence," Steve said with a shrug.
"Nothing is ever a coincidence..." Lily trailed off, immediately regretting voicing her opinion. Come on, Lily. That wasn't necessary...
"And why is that?"
"Well..." Lily cleared her throat before speaking. "Now I haven't lived a long life like you now, but I've been around long enough to know that there is no such thing as luck or chance. Everything happens for a reason. You know, that sort of stuff...but anyway..."
Steve only smiled in awe at the younger woman.
"You make a great point. And I actually don't believe in coincidences either," he teased. "I just wanted to see what you would say."
Lily rolled her eyes and felt her cheeks tingle with embarrassment. "Thanks, Steve."
"So your sister tells me you can sing."
"And the embarrassment continues," Lily halfway joked. Yes, she was a little on the shy side, but she knew Steve was just joking.
"That's nothing to be embarrassed about. From what I hear, you're really good at it."
"Umm...it's really just a hobby, if anything."
"Maggie told me you planned to make a career out of it at one point. Must have been more than a hobby," the Captain teased.
"What did she tell you my whole life story?" Lily asked while raising her eyebrow.
"Some of it."
"Yes," Lily sighed, almost as if was something she dreadfully missed. "I certainly gave it a go, but turns out my heart wasn't in it. Don't get me wrong, I still miss being able to perform. I'm sure you know all about that my star spangled man with a plan."
Steve felt his heart almost skip a beat when she had said that. He didn't know if it was from the old nickname or the fact that she said 'my'. But he quickly dismissed it. She probably didn't even realize she said it herself.
"Each one you buy is a bullet in the barrel of your best guy's gun," Steve said in his exaggerated all American voice.
Lily was beaming by the end of it and broke out into laughter. "Wow. You gave me chills. Not even kidding!"
Steve was admittedly a little surprised by her reaction. But he found himself laughing along with her soon after. "Good. Because that was a one time thing," he joked.
"I'm really not sure if you know just how big of a deal you are. I grew up watching videos about you and learning all about you. And I know the last thing you want is a fangirl and I swear I'm not, but I'm actually talking to the man who made history...and saved lives..." Lily abruptly stopped talking and flashed Steve an 'I'm sorry look'.
Steve knew Lily probably felt bad for talking a little too much, but Steve didn't see it that way at all. In fact, he loved listening to her talk.
"You know, I'm glad I met you," Steve all of a sudden found himself saying.
"Really? I mean, I'm glad I met you too. Even under the circumstances."
It was just then Lily realized that she and Steve had stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and were facing each other both with their own hands in their pockets.
"Right," Steve let out a chuckle and gently cupped her face. He brushed his thumb close to her nose, careful not to touch it. "How is your nose, by the way?"
Lily found herself furiously blushing at his touch. "Um..it's f-fine..." she shyly looked away when she saw his blue eyes gazing into hers. "A lot better."
Steve retracted his hand, unsure of why he even made such a bold move in the first place. Something about Lily was making him act without thought. He had never touched another woman like that, and yet found himself cupping her face without a thought. He knew he liked her, that was apparently obvious. He assumed it was probably obvious to her as well.
"So what do you say? Have I redeemed myself?" Steve asked, the question was seemingly a joke but his tone was a little more serious.
Lily brought herself to make eye contact with the Captain and smiled at him. "Between making my sister the happiest I've seen her in awhile and the wonderful dinner and walk I'm having with you? I'll have to say yes, you most definitely have redeemed yourself."
Steve couldn't help but be drawn to this girl. She was a little bit of everything. Smart, playful, shy... She seemed almost too good to be true. He found most women he talked to either fawned over him or were completely un-relatable.
"Hopefully that doesn't mean we have to stop seeing each other?"
Lily started to feel butterflies in her belly. It felt like butt load of butterflies batting their wings at a rapid pace.
"You want to see me again?" Lily asked if she didn't hear him right.
"Yeah, I do," he said with an assuring smile. "If that's okay with you, of course."
"Of course, Steve," she answered cooly, fighting a wide and beaming smile that was close to surfacing.
"Great. Because I really want to take you out on another date. One that was a lot better than this one."
This time, Lily couldn't hold back her smile. On top of wanting to see her again, he had asked her on another date.
"You say that like there was something wrong with this one? Which I'm really enjoying, by the way."
Steve knew he couldn't done a thousand times better than what just happened tonight. But he wasn't about to let her know that.
"It feels like it's about to end. I want it to last longer," Steve truthfully admitted.
"Well, I mean...I have no where to be. I have the whole night. I mean I'm not sure if can spend all of it walking in the freezing cold but I'm sure there's something we can do in the ci-"
Lily was abruptly cut off by Steve gently pressing his lips against her own. It was a soft kiss that lasted for about four seconds or so. When he pulled away, Lily was as red as a tomato and was definitely shocked by his sudden action.
"Wow..." Lily touched her lips with her fingers, missing the feeling already. "What was that for?"
Steve brought his fist to his mouth and cleared his throat. "I've been wanting to do that. Was that too much?"
Lily let herself smile as she shook her head. "Not at all. Perfect. A little surprising, but perfect."
Steve grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him. Lily watched as he tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear and cup her face.
"Are you going to kiss me again?" Lily asked and again, mentally scolded herself for asking another stupid question.
Steve couldn't help but smile at her.
"I wanted to make sure you weren't caught off guard this time. A first kiss should be memorable, right?"
His blue eyes were right above hers, staring into her own cerulean blue eyes.
"We already had our first kiss," Lily playfully reminded.
"Memorable second kiss?" Steve suggested, happy to know she was okay with his bold and sudden actions.
"Sounds like we should give it a try..."
Steve only smiled before bringing his lips down to hers and kissing her again.
This time, Lily was prepared, or as prepared as she could be to kiss the Captain. And when his lips made contact with hers, she felt her whole body grow warm and her heart started to flutter uncontrollably fast. Their kiss was simple, just like the first one they shared, yet it was so electrifying.
"Wow..." she whispered once he pulled away.
"Is that a good wow or...?" Steve pressed his forehead against hers.
He knew he hardly knew the woman but he couldn't help himself. His actions were so unlike him. He had never been so straight forward with another woman before, romantically speaking of course, but he found himself being a whole different person around Lily.
"Yes, it's good," she affirmed as she felt him grab her hand and loop it through his arm.
"Let's get out of here. I'm sure we can find something else to do in the city if you're up for it?" Steve suggested. He didn't have any plans for the next day unless he was needed so there was no harm in spending the night out.
"I most definitely am," Lily beamed, happy that the night wasn't ending so soon.
And for the rest of the night she spent with Steve exploring what the city had to offer, she had a light heart. In only a day, a lot of burden and hurt that had been weighing her down had been lifted by a man who seemed to enjoy being around her for whatever reason. But hey, she wasn't going to complain or try and overanalyze why. She was simply going to let it be and enjoy herself with him.
She looked up at the man who she never once in a million years thought she would meet, let alone kiss her, and saw that he seemed genuinely happy. Lily only hoped that she could continue to get to know Steve Rogers. She already knew he went down in history as a brave and selfless man, but she found herself wanting to know everything her history books didn't teach her...
Thank you for all the support so far. I'm keeping the chapters short I can update more frequently. Please show some love, I could really use it right now! Reviews appreciated, but no flames. Those are definitely not welcome.
Till next time!