Steve grunted. He'd retreated to his punching bag that he had left unattended during the time Loki had been here. The short time. The bag swung through the air as Steve packed in punch after punch effortlessly. Steve punched harder with every punch and soon enough, the bag burst and the material flew out, drifting like snow to the floor.
That got Steve to finally stop. He looked at the floor, and saw drops of water hitting the ground. Steve looked up and held out his hand, it didn't seem like a leak or pipe burst. He felt his forehead, it wasn't sweat. Running his hand over his face, he realized there were hot tears that were streaming from his face.
Steve started to laugh a sort of forced laugh. This was what he had wanted. Steve had dared not to even think his name. He had never cared. He just fooled everyone so he could escape. This was a test. To see if Steve would let his guard down. And he had.
Eventually, after a day, the Avengers had realized Loki had escaped and they scrambled to go looking for him. Steve remained at the tower. Steve had gone down to the gym the moment the team had left, and remained there through the next day. The Avengers hadn't returned, and Steve's anger was never-ending. He was content at the moment, sweeping up the material from the punching bag as if they were the memories he'd shared with Loki, that he could simply throw away.
Unfortunately for him, they didn't get thrown away like the punching bag material. They stayed, and festered in his head, burning. Steve lashed out. He threw himself against the wall and floor, screaming and punching them, creating dents. Worn down, his back against the wall, Steve slid to the floor, silently sobbing.
When the Avengers returned Steve had cleaned himself up, and claimed that he had been guarding the tower in case Loki had returned.
The next few days they waited nervously for a phone call or another invasion. None came. After an angry argument with Fury and another week of caution and suspicion, the Avengers had gone back into their routine. Steve was more accepted, as if the previous invasion had brought them closer. Steve cooked for them, and they began to have dinners together often, joking and playing.
Steve's sorrow had eventually faded, and had gone to the very back of his mind, he chided himself for being so careless with his emotions. He put his thoughts to better things, like the team and training. Months went by, small incidents here and there occurred with other villains , but nothing related to Loki which both relieved and worried Steve.
It was a Friday evening, and the Avengers had returned from a long day of training.
"What do you guys want for dinner tonight?" Steve asked, he was looking through their barren fridge, frowning.
Tony was reading the newspaper, and shifted uncomfortably, "oh Cap, sorry but don't count me in on tonights meal, I promised Pepper a night out."
"Clint and I are going to the new restaurant across town tonight." Natasha said, making eye contact with Clint and smiling. It was no surprise that the assassins had finally revealed their feelings to each other and had begun to date.
"Same with I, mighty man of the shield" Thor added reluctantly. "Jane has come into town and I feel obliged to take her out to a fine Midgardian restaurant. I apologize for the-"
Steve shook his head, "It's fine guys! Don't feel bad, Bruce and I can have a bachelors night, right Bruce?" He looked toward Bruce's usual spot to see it empty and remembered he had left earlier that day to visit a "friend" who had flown in.
"Awkwarddd" Tony said, breaking the silence that had filled the room. He looked at his watch, "Shit, I have to go change. Toodles guys. Have fun in the tower Steve!" He got up and the rest soon followed, heading toward the elevators and going to their rooms to change.
Steve was left alone in the kitchen. He grew annoyed. If these people thought that Steve would be stuck in the tower, they were wrong. Steve could still have fun. He went downstairs and threw on a pair of brown cotton pants with a white button down and a black jacket. He tore apart his closet looking for his royal blue tie, and with a quick look over in the mirror, he scurried out of the tower before anyone could see him, and before he got second thoughts. He wandered the streets for a couple minutes before centering in on a fancy little restaurant that didn't look too busy. It had a musky, 20's atmosphere, and upon entering the building, Steve felt a sigh of relief escape from his lips. He walked up to the young woman at the counter. "One please" He said.
The woman looked him up and down, a seductive smile gracing her lips, "this way sir" she said. She walked him over to a corner, one-person booth. "Your waiter will be right over. Just find me if you need anything."
Steve smiled, "thanks" he said. When she left, Steve looked around, the restaurant. There was a group of elder people in the middle of the room and another middle aged couple near him. The restaurant had an elegant atmosphere and a large chandelier hung from the ceiling. An old fashioned lamp that Steve could recognize as a style he had in his home was on his table along with a small vase of tulips.
"Good evening, what would you like to drink tonight sir?"
Steve looked up. The waiter's voice was eerily familiar, but he couldn't place it. He had blonde curly hair, and blue eyes. Steve frowned, no he did not know this person. But he caught a flicker of recognition and some other emotion in the waiters eyes. "Um, I'll have, a… Gin Fizz" he decided finally. He couldn't get drunk but he would enjoy this night and the taste of the drink was not as foul as the drinks they have today.
"Excellent choice" The waiter said. He sped off before Steve could say anything else. Steve thought little of it and looked at the menu. Within minutes the waiter was back with his drink. "What will you be having this evening?" he asked, eyes focused on the paper, avoiding Steve.
"I'll have the signature salad." Steve replied, handing him the menu.
"The salad? A man like yourself should be having more protein." The waiter replied.
"I can handle myself thank you." Steve replied, annoyed that even in this day, people were telling him how to eat.
"Of course, so sorry sir." The waiter scurried away again before Steve could apologize for the comment.
The salad came soon, and as good as it was, Steve did regret not ordering a more filling meal. The waiter's voice still lingered in his mind, and as he was paying the check, it hit him.
Steve waited 3 hours outside the restaurant on a bench. At long last, the lights inside dimmed and a group of older teenagers and college age students exited, chattering and laughing before breaking apart and going their separate ways. An older man soon followed accompanied by another man. The last person out locked the door and started to make his way down the emptied street before Steve stood up to stop him.
"Loki wait."
Loki froze. He had recognized Steve immediately when he'd entered the restaurant. He even switched tables with another waiter to be able to serve him. He regretted doing so, seeing Steve's reaction to when Loki had asked what he wanted. Steve's body had tensed, and Loki could see the searching for recognition in Steve's eyes. Again Loki had messed up when commenting about the salad. He had chosen not to speak directly to Steve again, and as he watched Steve leave, knew that he wouldn't see him again. The rest of the night his mind screamed at him for 1. For being a coward and leaving in the first place and 2. For not confronting Steve.
Steve cleared his throat, "Loki, what are you doing? Why are you.." He gestured to Loki's form. "Looking like this?"
Loki put on a blank expression, "don't worry, I am only doing this to pay for the rent of my apartment." Hoping that it would magically explain everything.
"Why did you leave?" There it was, the dreaded question.
Without thinking, Loki panicked and then bolted, he ran as fast as he could and ended up in central park under a lamppost . Before he could even move out of the light, Steve had run up. They stood there and Steve went to take a step closer. "I'm sorry!" Loki burst, he was shaking, and tears streamed down his face. He could feel his Jotun form coming because the Midgardian form had taken lots of magic and combined with the running, he had lost energy. "I've never been accepted. I left before I could be thrown out, or locked away. I never meant to…."
"To what?" Steve asked, taking another step closer.
"To fall in love with you" Loki, broke down. "But I'm a monster, and you're a captain that destroys monsters like us."
Steve frowned. Emotions bottled up for the past months flooded into his brain and without thinking he grabbed Loki's arms and kissed him. There was a small burn, but it left as quickly as it came. The kiss felt like a millennium, maybe longer. Loki had returned it after a moments confusion and wrapped his arms around Steve's shoulders.
When they broke Steve smiled a huge goofy smile like the one Thor wears when he is able to please Loki. And Loki smiles for the first time in years. Steve took Loki's blue hand and intertwined it with his, ignoring the small burn. Realization hit them both as they strolled down the path, the weight in Steve's chest had lifted and the emptiness in Loki's heart was filled.