And here's the rest of their conversation! Wanted to let everyone know that, considering it's almost Christmas, updates might be a little sporadic. My beta and I are going to try our best, but there's finals and travelling, so we'll see how it goes the next couple weeks. I just want you all to know that the story isn't going to be abandoned anytime soon, even if I am late with an update or two. Thanks for all the comments and reviews, I love to hear from you guys. To everyone taking finals, good luck! Hope you do well!
Let me know what you think! As always, I'm more than happy to answer any questions/comments/concerns. Just let me know!
Steve pulled away first, eyeing her for a moment, his lips turned down into a frown. It wasn't the most enthusiastic response to her presence, but Eve knew he had a lot to think about. She also knew he was thinking about kissing her, about what it meant. Mostly because Steve was that kind of person. He wouldn't pretend it didn't happen, even if that was easier. And Eve wasn't about to start that conversation, not when she was ninety percent certain it would end in her heart breaking.
"About earlier, in the kitchen…" Steve trailed off, his mission face falling into place. Eve fought the urge to wince, wondering why he felt she was suddenly an obligation. That was one of her worst fears when it came to him. All of this, keeping her safe and helping her get over her own nightmares and, just, all of it, was just because he held a sense of obligation to her. She was honest when she'd told them all, multiple times, that they didn't have to protect her. If anything, she could always go to Nova's family. They were all highly trained operatives and no one that wasn't invited was getting into the Dugan stronghold. It was damn near impossible. Eve and Nova had set up a lot of their more high-tech security measures; she knew the odds of someone getting in there and they weren't high.
There was an awkward moment when Eve didn't take over like he was obviously hoping she would, her lips remaining sealed shut. Partly because she didn't know what the hell to say and partly because she wanted to see how he would end that sentence. Without knowing what she felt on the subject.
"I'm sorry if it was a little abrupt. I know that usually I'd take you out first and then probably kiss you goodnight when dropping you off at your door, but that's not really possible at the moment. If you didn't like it or anything, you can just say so. But I wanted you to know that it wasn't a mistake on my part. Kissing you. I wanted to." Steve paused and Eve just stared at him, her heart stuttering in her chest. He couldn't be saying what she thought he was because he didn't like her like that. He couldn't. He was Steve Rogers, literally the perfect man. And she was Evangeline St. James, the girl with more issues than the New York Times. "And, if you don't want to or you think it was a mistake, I'll respect that. But I want to lay the offer out. I'll be whatever you need right now. But I'd like to be able to try and take you out, if you're interested. I want to be with you. In any way you want. We've done almost everything backwards, but doing it the right way around hasn't really worked out for me that well, so maybe that's for the best."
Steve gave a self-deprecating laugh, looking down at her hands and covering them with one of his own. Eve weaved her fingers through his, tracing the veins on the back of his hand with her fingertip as she thought about what he was saying.
He wanted to be with her. Anyway she wanted him. And she wanted him in every way. He was offering everything she hadn't let herself dream of. A life with him. A place where she felt unerringly safe. Even a home, maybe. She wouldn't have to worry about what happened after they left Sam's house because he wouldn't leave her. At least, not if she didn't want him to, according to that speech. How did she explain that she never wanted him to leave? That he was the only person in the entire world that could make her feel absolutely and truly safe?
"What are you suggesting? Dating? Being in a relationship?" Eve asked, her voice as firm as she could make it in the quiet of the bedroom. His bedroom felt like a different world than the rest of the house. It was like their own little piece of the universe and it was one of her favorite places ever. Right up there with the Dugan stronghold and the Tower.
"Either. Both. If that's what you want." Steve clenched his jaw and glanced up at her through thick lashes. Eve met his gaze steadily, her mind whirling with the possibilities.
Would he feel the same way when they were in the real world? When she went back to being his communication's specialist and he went back to running active missions? Could she seriously date someone who went out and risked their lives on a daily basis? Steve Rogers was a name everyone knew. If they went out in public, she would be in the spotlight. People would talk. And she knew they'd find her lacking. From her scars to her previously unknown status, they would think she wasn't right for him. And they would probably be right.
"What about when we leave here? It could be tomorrow," Eve reminded him. Steve gave her his full attention, eyes sparkling dangerously. His jaw was set and his fingers tightened around hers, callouses brushing against soft skin.
"It could be next week or a month from now. I'll still feel the same way. We'll talk about it. Work it out. If we are going to be in a relationship, it's going to be a partnership. I won't ask you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. You know that, right?" Steve's eyes darkened slightly and Eve squeezed his hand back, her lips just slightly turning up.
"I trust you. I know you wouldn't. But life outside Sam's house is a lot more complicated than it is inside this little bubble. Are you sure you want to be tied to me?" Eve asked, raising her eyebrows in question. Steve's face lit up and a smile bloomed, warm and beautiful. There was something about his smile that pulled her in, that lit up whatever room he was standing in. And not just because he was incredibly handsome, but because there was genuine excitement behind his sparkling eyes and his smile definitely reached them.
"Does that mean you're saying yes?" he shot back, his hand bracing on the bed. "Because I don't care what the outside world thinks. What matters is what you think. Are you sure you want to be tied to me? Technically, I'm old enough to be your grandfather."
"Technically, you could probably be my great-grandfather. If you want to go that far. And I'm being serious. There's a large difference between you, Steve Rogers, superhero extraordinaire, and me, SHIELD agent. Hell, I'm not even a SHIELD agent anymore," Eve reminded him, poking at his stomach to get him to be serious again. Steve caught her hand in his other one, linking their fingers together with that hand as well.
"I'm not a superhero. I work on a team of people with talents that are useful when taking on the evils of the world. I make mistakes, just like everyone else. I got myself frozen in ice for seventy years," Steve reminded her, as if she would forget that fact.
"Yeah, saving the world."
"I was in the Army. My job was to stop the plane and I did what I was ordered to do. That doesn't make me a hero, it makes me a soldier. And, if you'll have me, I'll try not to get frozen again," Steve promised, squeezing both of her hands this time. Eve shot him an unamused look, knowing that he was harder to convince than even Tony Stark. Steve didn't see himself as a hero, even if he undoubtedly was one. There were full chapters in history attesting to that fact, chapters he dutifully ignored whenever it suited him.
"Were you planning on getting frozen again if I said no?" Eve quipped, rolling her eyes.
"Well, you never know. But, if you're saying yes, I'll put those plans off." He thought he was hilarious.
"I can't believe I'm saying yes. You're a pain in the ass," Eve huffed while Steve was already wrapping her in his arms, a deep chuckle reverberating through his chest. Eve grumbled as he pressed his lips into her hair, squeezing her tightly against him. After a moment of pretending to be upset, Eve wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him back, hoping she hadn't made a mistake. Then again, if anyone was going to treat her right, it was Steve Rogers. Even without his Captain America alter-ego, he was the most polite, chivalrous man she knew.
"I may be a pain in the ass, but now I'm your pain in the ass," Steve teased, pulling back to grin at her like he'd won the lottery.
"What am I getting myself into?" Eve teased, smiling up at him and just admiring him in general. Steve was built like a linebacker with big shoulders and narrow hips, a few inches over six feet. He was made with strength in mind, which was probably what the scientists were going for when they'd concocted their serum. It didn't look out of place in the least on him, though. There was nothing overly bulky. He was all rippling muscle and warm skin.
"Honestly, probably trouble." He shrugged a little, reaching out to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. His fingertips brushed the shell of her ear and he ran them down the soft skin of her neck before pulling back. Eve shivered a little at the contact, knowing now that it was a hundred percent romantic intent. Any other time, she could talk herself out of it, but it was obvious what he was going for this time.
"At least you're being honest," Eve sighed, dropping back onto the bed and staring up at him. He turned out the light and joined her laying down, pulling her into him as he did. She'd noticed he laid on his back almost all the time when he slept. Neither of them had been shy about touching one another and Eve was apt to curl into him just to leech off his unnatural heat. Honestly, it was kind of surprising that her being in his bed didn't give him nightmares. Her fingers and toes were usually cold enough to count as popsicles and he hated cold things with good reason. But he'd never complained when she tucked her hands against his stomach and her toes against his calves, hiding from the chill in the air.
"Always." Steve wrapped an arm around her and Eve curled into him, tangling her fingers in his tee shirt. He dragged his fingers up and down her arm as she got comfortable. His pointer finger traced over a deep scar on her upper arm, feeling out the bumps and scars that accompanied her body. He didn't pull away or make a disgusted noise, instead simply moving on to the next scar he could find, tracing that one out as well.
Eve set her head on his shoulder and kicked one of her own legs over his, tucking it between his legs to gain heat. Steve moved to accommodate, letting her get comfortable without a word.
Steve tucked the blankets around both of them, making sure she was covered fully. Considering how close they were, it would be ridiculous if the blankets couldn't cover the both of them, but Steve wasn't quite as cold as she was and he used less blankets than she did on a regular basis. So he tucked her into some extra covers, not seeming the least bit annoyed that she was stealing almost all of his covers and half his bed. And his body heat, if they were being honest.
"You really think we could make it as a couple?" Eve asked quietly a moment later, glad that she couldn't see his face in the dark. His hold around her tightened and Eve fisted her hand in his tee shirt, not wanting to let the small amount of comfort go.
"I told you. If we're together, this is a partnership. We both have equal power and we both make the decisions. And I think we have a shot at making it, yeah. And, even if we don't, that doesn't mean I'm going to just disappear one day. You're still important to me and you're still my best coms. No matter what happens here," Steve promised, pressing his lips into her hair again. Eve snuggled into him, gripping him just a little tighter against her.
"Goodnight, Steve," Eve sighed, letting the tension go. Tomorrow was going to be anxiety inducing enough.
"Night, doll."