Through the Bottom of a Glass
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and any OCs.
Chapter 7: The A-Team
(ITALICS- Steve, BOLD- You'll see…)
11.30 PM
Steve pulled back the curtain draped in front of the wall of the left wing of Cap's. They rarely used the stage on the left, except for storing spare tables and chairs. But in the middle of the discarded furniture there was a beautiful grand piano. A thick layer dust had settled on the piano, it was years since Steve had played. Not since the death of his father, who had also been a Marine stationed overseas.
Steve pushed back chairs as he made his way toward the instrument. He brushed the dust off of the leather cushioned stool and sat down. Lifting the cover over the keys, Steve could not keep the childish grin from his face. His father had taught him to play when he was eight. Taking a steadying deep breath, Steve rested his fingers on the white keys. Seeing Nat and Bucky so close had sent alarm bells ringing and knifes pointed at his chest, threatening to tear through his heart. Heh, he always had been dramatic. Steve took another breath as began to play.
"White lips, pale face,
Breathing in snowflakes,
Burnt lungs, sour taste.
Light's gone, day's end,
Struggling to pay rent.
Long nights, strange men…"
He sang with all the disappointment and sadness he had kept built up since the last time he played: after his father's funeral.
"And they say
She's in the Class A Team,
Stuck in her daydream.
Been this way since eighteen,
But lately her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting,
Crumbling like pastries.
And they scream
The worst things in life come free to us!
Cause we're just under the upper hand…"
Steve began to remember the keys and became more animated as he continued, losing himself in the heartfelt music.
11.30 PM
Sam had left earlier to give Bucky a ride back the his apartment building, the same one both Steve and Sam lived in. That left Natasha and Steve to close up, at least it left Natasha to close up, Steve had disappeared. She gave the large office at the back a quick once-over before grabbing her leather jacket from the hook. She turned to leave through the back door but she heard something coming from the bar that stopped her. Music… Soft, lovely music. Natasha crept silently into the bar, she was slightly surprised by what she saw. In the three and a half years she'd known him, Natasha had never heard him play piano or sing, Steve had never even mentioned it. Natasha tiptoed slowly from behind the countertop and set her bag down. Watching Steve's head nod as he moved his hand along the keys, it was clear he loved playing. She moved closer to the stage, carefully avoiding the dark tables.
"And go mad for a couple grams,
And she don't want to go outside tonight.
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland,
Or sells love to another man.
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly,
Angels to fly…"
Steve was actually pretty good, his voice was soft and his hands moved deftly along the keys. To think a man his size could play something so gentle, so soft. Natasha was captivated for a minute but when he opened his mouth to start another verse, she sang instead, making Steve jump.
"Ripped gloves, raincoat.
Tried to swim and stay afloat.
Dry house, wet clothes
Loose change, bank notes,
Weary-eyed, dry throat.
Call girl, no phone…"
Steve knew that Nat could sing. She would hum and sing softly as she served patrons and weaved around tables. Her voice was as beautiful as her eyes, she had a sultry tone. Strangely, her voice matched the way she looked, if that made any sense. She made her way onto the stage as Steve played on. His heartbeat began to increase as she sat beside him on the stool.
"And they say,
She's in the Class A Team,
Stuck in her daydream.
Been this way since eighteen,
But lately her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries.
And they scream
The worst things in life come free to us!
Cause we're just under the upper hand…"
"And go mad for a couple grams
And she don't want to go outside tonight
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland
Or sells love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly…"
They answered each other as the song wore on. Steve began looking less at the piano and more at than smiling girl beside him. Natasha was in her element, eyes closed and her little smile on her lips. She swayed in time to the music, playfully bumping Steve's shoulder with her own. He chuckled and bumped her back.
"An angel will die,
Covered in white.
Closed eye
And hoping for a better life.
This time, we'll fade out tonight,
Straight down the line…"
Natasha opened her eyes and found herself and Steve gazing at each other. Steve played on through the instrumental but kept his blue orbs firmly fixed on Nat's emerald eyes. Pressed closely together on the small stool, Steve could feel her breath on his face and she his breath on hers. He started on the chorus but his soft voice was little more than a whisper now. Having Natasha so close forced him into a whisper, as if he was afraid to scare her off. But she did not go anywhere, she didn't even move inch on the stool.
Steve played the last keys gently, closing his eyes for the final note. He forgot how close they were, all he could think about was… well, nothing. He kind of went blank for a second. Steve leant forward slightly as did Natasha. She could smell his cologne, it was one of her favourite smells. Natasha loved it when he rushed past her and she would smell it in the displaced air. They leant in further and closed the gap.
Steve wrapped arm around Natasha's waist and pulled her closer, she slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Suddenly, one of their arms hit off the keys, making both of them jump. They burst into laughter immediately, though Natasha stood up after thirty seconds. She cleared her throat as she collected her bag.
"I-uh- I should go," she said. Steve laughed as he got up and followed her, he had never ever heard Nat stammer before.
"You want a ride home?" he asked. She smiled a little.
"No, I'm okay tonight. My car's out back," she replied. Natasha turned to leave through the back but Steve decided to do something extremely reckless and perhaps life-threatening. As Natasha was about to go through the gap between the bar, Steve caught her elbow and pulled her back, kissing her once more. She kissed him back, resting her hand behind his head. Then, after a minute or two, she broke away and turned on her heel
"Good night, Steve," she said as she walked straight out the back door. Natasha didn't turn around but Steve could sense he smiling.
"Sweet dreams, Nat."
But she was already gone.
9.45 AM
"ANTHONY EDWARD STARK, GET YOUR BACKSIDE UP HERE THIS SECOND!"
"Well, shit…" Tony muttered at Pepper's yells. He picked up a dirty rag from his workbench and wiped his oily hands.
"That sounds delightful," Bruce said, not looking up from the tablet he was holding. Tony said nothing but gave a thin, forced smile at his 'science bro.'
"What did you do this time, Tony?" Tony detected a hint of a smile in Bruce's question.
"I don't even know. Wish me luck, Brucey Boy," Tony replied as he trekked up the stairs from his workshop. He was greeted by the sight of Pepper sitting at a marble topped island in the middle of the kitchen, surrounded by three different celebrity gossip magazines and two laptops.
"Hey, Pep. Do something different with your hair today? Looks great." Tony tried his best to look innocent as he crossed the room, Pepper continued to glare at him.
"Not hair, then. New jacket? Beautiful."
She slowly turned one of the laptops around to face him, it was displaying a website dedicated to 'the latest in celeb gossip!". As he got closer, Tony saw the headline across the screen:
DOES TONY STARK HAVE A NEW GIRL?!
Reports are suggesting that billionaire Tony Stark may have a new leading lady after he was snapped leaving a diner arm in arm with an unknown lady…
He didn't bother reading anymore.
"Pepper, believe me. This is all a misunderstanding, I was being tailed by cameras, she was my cover!" Tony tried to convince Pepper. She stood up, Tony braced himself for the oncoming onslaught.
"I know that, but they sure as hell don't!" she exclaimed, pointing at the different forms of media laid out on the island.
"Do you have any idea what kind of PR headache this creates?! And what about that poor girl? Jesus Christ, Tony!" Pepper jabbed a finger in his chest, just above the circle of light shining through the fabric of his T-shirt.
"You better fix this!" she said. Tony was aghast.
"What am I supposed to do?" he asked. Pepper looked at him sternly before turning to gather everything up.
"I've already sent out a couple of statements explaining what happened. It's down to you to make it up to that girl and maybe the guy in the photo, go find her before the press do," Pepper advised. Tony closed his mouth and nodded like a scolded child.
"J.A.R.V.I.S?" Pepper called out to the A.I butler.
"Yes, Miss Potts?" a polite voice answered.
"Make sure Tony does what he's told."
"I will, ma'am."
"Thank you," she said politely. Her tone changed when she turned back to Tony.
"I've got a meeting in D.C, I'll be back tonight. Fix this by then," she ordered. Tony gave an unfaltering smile.
"I will."
Pepper smiled back at him and pecked his cheek before walking through the door to the hallway.
"I love you," he called after her.
"I love you too, you idiot," she answered.
Tony smiled before clicking into business-mode. He turned around and headed back down to the workshop. Might as well drag Bruce into his shit, too. What are science bros for?
Friends! Hello! I am fresh from the beach, it was sunny today (yay!). Longer one today, and- if I may say so myself- shit went down… Song used was Boyce Avenue's cover of The A-Team by Ed Sheeran. It's a magical cover, definitely check it out. That's it from me!
Have a great day, night, afternoon, etc…
Thanks for reading,
Love ya! ;)