*Author's Note*
Thank you for the faves, follows, and reviews.
It's A 'Friendly' Date…
Gem POV:
After getting home I relaxed on the couch watching Netflix until Darcy, Thor, and Jane came home. That's when Darcy declared that I needed to take a long bubble bath and sip of some cheap pink wine before getting ready for my date. Of course, Jane and Thor agreed with her so that's how I wound up taking a 45-minute bubble bath. Darcy, being the first date prep troll that she is, left me a set of lacey white underwear and its matching bra along with a big fluffy bathrobe to change into after my soak in the tub.
So now wrapped in a big fluffy pink heart printed bathrobe, I was standing in front of my closet with Darcy by my side while searching for something to wear for my date. She insisted on helping me. It was a thing she's been doing since we were in Culver. Helping me with 'first date' outfits. Most of them were hits even if my dates were misses. Hopefully, that won't be the case tonight. My date being a miss, I mean.
"You should totes wear that polka dot shirt." Darcy told me as we browsed thru my portable closet (which was a garment rack with a zip cover on it) so a nice first date outfit that would be back of a Harley appropriate since Cap rode a bike.
"That's a work shirt, Darce." I told her as I eyed the high collared polka dot cap-sleeved blouse leerily. That wasn't a 'first date' kinda shirt. Not by a long shot.
"But it's red polka dot and that was all the rage in the '40s. It'll impress Smexy Old Glory by setting off some old factory sense."
"Fine, I'll wear the shirt, but I draw the line at doing my hair in victory curls." I told Darcy, grabbing the hanger the blouse was on off of the rack.
"Yea, I don't know how to do those and Jane has no hair styling skills either so I can accept that line drawn in the sand, sister." Darcy told me as I grabbed a pair of jeans I had hanging up. "You can't wear those. They clash with the whole theme you're going for." My best friend announced, snatching the jeans from me and hanging them back onto the rack.
"Then what am I supposed to wear? I can't go pants less, Darce."
"Wear these white skinny high waisted Ralph Lauren slacks you have." She told my, grabbing some pants off the rack and holding them out for me to take.
"Once again, Darcy, they're for work." I sighed, eying the pants suspiciously. I really didn't want to wear work clothes for a date. A date at a bar that had classic arcade games in the basement no less.
"But they go with the sophisticated, but glam '40s look we're going for to impress Smexy Old Glory with."
"Fine…" I sighed, snatching the pants from her.
"We'll complete the outfit with your fancy nude peep toe heels. The designer ones you got from the Nordstorm clearance rack." She told me as I walked over to the bathroom. I just waved at her, signaling that I understood my shoe option for the night.
"Lightning Sister, how are you so good with the fashion of the ladies?" Thor asked while Darcy was grabbing my nude shoes from my makeshift closet.
"Pinterest and Polyvore boards." I heard Jane and Darcy say in unison as I entered the bathroom armed with my 'date' outfit, which really was just one of my boring work ensembles.
Shit, and I'm going to be wearing my good sexy lacy white panty set under this too? God, seems like a waste of sexy underwear. Work clothes and date underwear don't mix.
A few minutes before 7 o'clock, the rumbling roar of a Harley's engine echoed out in the air. "Ooo, he's here! Your Smexy Old Glory's here!" Darcy squealed, clapping excitedly as the sight of Steve pulling his Harley into the lot could be seen thru our sliding glass window.
"Captain Of The America shall be an honorable companion for you tonight, fair Jewel Of The Realm." Thor told me from his spot at the kitchen table, sitting next to Jane while she fussed over some science readings, while the sound of Steve's bike cut off.
Looking up from her printouts and turning her attention to me, Jane smiled genuinely, "I hope you have fun tonight. You work even odder hours then I do; you deserve a nice night out on the town."
"Thank you." I told her while at the same time Darcy made the light objection of, "Janey, you don't work odd hours anymore. Not since Thor moved in, that is."
"Hey, I still work late sometimes." Jane protested, waving her pen at Darcy.
"Not like you used to tho. At least your home before 3 am now." Darcy countered our friend right as a knock sounded at the door.
Shit, Steve really did walk up a third-floor walkup pretty fast, didn't he?
"And that's my cue to go. Have a nice night doing science and Cupcake Wars."
"Darcy shall use the DVR of the Tivo to make sure you can watch our beloved Cupcake Wars when you return from your outing with Captain Of The America."
"Thanks." I told both Thor and Darcy before going over to the door and opening it.
Standing in front of me was Steve, dressed in a button up and slacks. Okay, well, I was expecting a t-shirt and jeans since that's what he's usually in at work, but okay… He smiled sweetly and complimented me with, "You look swell, doll."
Swell? I look swell? Oh, dear lord…I hope things get better than this. I mean who tells their date that they look swell. "Thank you, Steve. You look good too." I smiled a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes since, deep in my gut, I was feeling like this date was a mistake.
Offering me his arm, he smiled, "Let's go, Gem."
Without saying a word, I stepped out of the doorway, shut the door, and looped my arm thru Steve's. The gesture didn't feel romantic to me. In fact, it felt more friendly. I really hope that things pick up, otherwise I think that Darcy might've read the situation the wrong way; gotten my hopes up about Steve.
After carefully walking down the flight of stairs, we exited my building only to come face to face with Mrs. Sims, who was on her way back into the building. The old bitty smiled at us and said, "You two have a nice time out tonight."
Steve gave my nosy bitch of a neighbor a sweet and charming smile before telling her, "We will, Ma'am."
"Oh, now you're one lucky girl to be on the arm of Steve Rogers: Captain America." Mrs. Sims swooned while her fuzzy dog stood by her side, looking at Steve like he wanted to go home with him.
I smiled a fake, but saccharine smile at my neighbor while telling her, "Thank you, Mrs. Sims."
"No, Ma'am. I'm the lucky one." Steve winked at my old busy body neighbor before leading us away. "Your neighbor's sweet complimenting us like that. I bet she must bake goodies for your floor." He remarked while we made our way over to his Harley. I think it was a Dyna since it looked like the bike Jax Teller rode in SOA.
"I haven't been living here long, but she seems like the type." I told Steve as we came to a stop at his Harley. She also seems like the type to throw zingers like a shank to the gut too while delivering the homemade baked goods to her neighbors too.
Steve gently removed my arm from his. "I need to get on first to balance the motorcycle; then you can get one, doll."
God, I swear if he calls me doll one more time, I'm going to pull my hair out. Who the hell calls their date doll? Baby, babe, sweetheart, darling, sugar, yea, but doll, um no…no, no, no that's just not a something a man calls their date.
"Okay." I nodded, since I couldn't really do anything else.
Silently, I watched Steve get onto his bike. Once he was settled, I got on behind him. Instinctively, I leaned closer to him and wrapped my arms around my waist. He stiffened before grabbing my hands and moving them up higher up on his torso while telling me, "Don't hold me too tight or lean in too close. I need to be able to control the bike, Gem."
Okay, well, that was embarrassing. So, the bike etiquette that I learned from watching SOA for years on end isn't proper. Yea…that's a letdown. "I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that I was holding you too tight." I lamely apologized since I wanted to salvage the date before it even got started. I mean, hell, we weren't even out of the parking lot yet and this date seemed doomed.
"It's alright, doll." He assured me before starting the Harley. Looking at me from over his shoulder, she smiled, "I won't got too fast; don't want to scare you."
"You won't scare me with the bike." I told him, letting him know that he didn't need to put himself on a 'speed limit' for me.
Steve just gave me a charming smile and said, "Don't worry, I won't speed.", before backing out of his parking space and riding out of the lot.
Steve wasn't kidding when he said he wouldn't speed. I think he truly stayed maybe 5-or-10 below the speed limit for good measure too. When we pulled up to The Boardwalk I quickly realized that it wasn't a 'date' type bar, but a 'hangout' type bar just by the look of the building, which was cornered in by other businesses. It had gallery windows that angled in on both sides of the orange framed paned glass door. A blue and white logo saying The Boardwalk DC Bar & Eatery was right on the middle of the door while the inside décor could be seen clearly thru the windows. Décor that was a Boardwalk mural on one wall and an old blue beach cruiser model bike. Mhm, this so wasn't a date bar, but maybe once I go inside things'll be better? At least I hope so. Thank god I didn't wear anything too fancy or 'datey' cause The Boardwalk isn't a place for fancy clothes. I can tell that just by looking at the brick building it was in.
"Well, this is it. Nice, right?" Steve remarked right after parking in an open spot net to the sidewalk in front of the bark.
"Yea, it looks nice." I half-honestly replied while getting off of the bike. It did look nice, but not for a date. This so wasn't a date bar, but maybe once I go inside things'll be better. At least I hope so. Thank god I didn't wear anything too fancy or 'datey' cause The Boardwalk isn't a place for fancy clothes. I can tell that just by looking at the brick building it was in.
Steve got off the bike and looped his arm into mine, only to smile, "Let's go inside, Gem." I didn't say a word, just nodded and let him lead me over to the front door of the bar. He opened the door for me and let me walk inside first. Guess chivalry's not dead after all.
As soon as I set foot inside of the bar, I realized that my first instinct was right and that this place wasn't suitable for a first date. It was suitable for hanging out with a friend. So, he just saw me as a friend. A pretty friend, but a friend never-the-less. Great…of course I'm just the pretty friend he brings to a bar with an old photobooth in the corner, a Boardwalk mural on one wall, an old blue like on the other, and table and chairs that are plastic and suitable for the beach instead of a damn bar. Also, all the hanging lights were bubble clusters that were an ungodly level of bright. And of course, right above the basement stairs was a sign that read Arcade. I was told this place had some old games in the basement, but I was expecting it to be like other bars, not a fun beachy themed place that made you feel like you were at Coney Island or The Shore.
"Do you want to sit down and order something or go downstairs and play some skeeball?" Steve asked me as we stood in the middle of the cheerfully and fun themed bar.
"Um, whatever you want to do's fine." I tentatively said, feeling a bit out of sorts in the bar. It wasn't that I didn't like fun themed places, it's just that I really thought this night out with Steve was going to be a 'real' date at a bar that casted more of a 'get to know you' vibe instead of a 'friend' date at a bar that casted more of a 'have your birthday party here' vibe.
"Let's go play some skeeball." Steve suggested, causing me to just nod. Looping his arm into mine, he winked, "I've got a mean arm, doll. You're going up against the skeeball champ.", while walking us over to the basement stairs labeled Arcade.
I let out a tiny giggle, one that sounded a bit tight. "I think I can handle you. Last time I played skeeball was a few weeks back when I was out with my cousin and his kids." I told Steve while we walked downstairs into the arcade that was just a basement full of various pinball machines, an air hockey table, and a few skeeball lanes. The basement also had a coin machine for exchanging bills for quarters.
"I bet you must miss them." Steve remarked wistfully while unlooping his arm from mine and going over to the coin machine.
"Not really. They drive me nuts." I chuckled while coming to a stop next to Steve in front of the coin machine.
While pulling out his wallet, Steve gave me a very disappointed look (it made me feel like I'd just kicked a bunch of puppies and murdered a bunch of kittens) paired with a half-sighed lecture of, "Oh, Gem, that's not a nice thing to say about your family. You should cherish them; never know when you won't have them in your life anymore."
Oh no, he's having some regrets about not being able to say his childhood best friend Bucky Barnes from that deadly fall off of that Nazi train.
"I know, but I come from a big and loud family. If they didn't drive me nuts, well, something would be wrong." I defended my previous remark, feeling a bit tense from being lectured y an American hero, while watching Steve take out a few dollars and feeding them into the coin machine.
"Gem, even if they do drive you nuts you should tell people. You're a nice girl and nice girls just don't do that." Steve told me while scooping the quarters out of the machine's tray.
"Sorry, brain to mouth filter's not something I do very well." I apologized, feeling a bit foolish and awkward, while Steve pocketed the quarters and lead us over to the skeeball rows.
"A lady's always mindful of her actions, doll. But a slip up happens from time to time." He told me with a friendly smile as we stopped at our destination: the skeeball wall. "Ready to go up against the champ?" He asked while pulling some quarters out of his pocket.
"Sure, let's play." I smiled, prompting him to place the quarters into the slots for two skeeball rows; making the game come to life and release the balls that were used to play the carnival game.
Brock POV:
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuckity-fuck. My legs burned and felt like jello as I ran on my inclined treadmill. It was inclined so high that I might as well be Rocky running up that mountain in Siberia during Rocky IV. I hated running, but it was a necessary evil for cardio. Plus, I running was a part of my job if shit went sideways. I had to be on top of my running game, so killing myself on my Nordictrack was a must. Eh, I also had to burn off the calories from all of those cookies I stress ate tonight too. Goddamnit, all that sugar, butter, and other processed ingredients in those things will wreck my abs if I don't kill myself with working out.
My knee began to ache as the treadmill declined in a downhill motion. I knew I should just pull the emergency cord and step off before I aggravated an old injury, but I didn't want to quit. I only had a couple more miles to run before I was finished with the route I picked out (which was a mountain…). Also, I was stressed and didn't want to stuff my face full of cookies again (even tho the ones I had on my counter and in my freezer were the diet ones). Doing a hard exercise regimen tonight was helping me clear my head. I already jumped rope, beat the bag, did some pull ups, did push-ups, and flung around the kettle weights. My run was the last of my extreme workout and I wasn't going to throw in the towel just cause my knee was starting to ache and my lungs were burning a bit.
I still can't believe that Gem's got a hot date with Cap. What also gets under my skin is that Fury and Hill want to use their budding relationship as a SHIELD PR stunt. Fuck, nobody bothered them when they were dating so shouldn't they give Cap and Gem the same respect? Honestly, I wasn't too crazy about Gem dating Cap, but I that's what she wanted then I'd respect it. I might just flirt here and there with her every once in a while, to get a rise out of her, but I wouldn't press for something. After Darcy ruined my chances with her, I'm not surprised that Gem's trying something with Cap.
Goddamnit, even this run's not removing all of my stress. Looks like I need to grab my hidden pack of smokes (I've quit 4-times now) and got out on my deck when I'm done with my run. Yes, I know, smoking a terrible habit (one I've quit 4-times), but I started up when I was a young teen in Bensonhurst and it's been a hard one to shake (quitting 4-times is no joke).
If only Fury didn't 'remind' me about Gem's date. Then I'd be sitting on my couch eating one of my prepped meals instead of killing myself running on a treadmill while having a sudden craving for a smoke.
*Meanwhile At The Boardwalk Bar & Eatery…*
Gem POV:
After playing a few rounds of skeeball, we went upstairs and spent some time together in the bar. We ate hot dogs and popcorn (yea, more or less 'friend' food and not 'date' food) and had a couple of drinks. He ordered an old fashioned while I had a Moscow mule. Honestly, I just ordered the Moscow mule because it was the only thing on the drunk menu (which only had 4-things along with a small selection of beer) on it that wasn't too old timey. God, all of the mixed drinks on the menu were popular when my grandparents were dating (which was right after WWII ended so…).
"So, you really can't get drunk?" I asked, astonished by Steve's earlier remark that it was impossible for him to get drunk, while sipping on my drink.
"Yea. The super soldier serum made it where it's impossible for me to get drunk. I also have super sonic hearing and a very strong immune system so I never get sick."
"Oh…" I nodded. "But the serum also gave you super strength and speed, right?"
"Yes, it did. It also more then doubled me in size too." Cap chuckled. I didn't really find the remark funny. I didn't find him going from a scrawny and very sickly guy to a healthy as a horse one cause of a science exeramnent done by the SSR very funny.
I just blinked and forced a smile before taking another long sip of my drink. "So?..." I asked since I didn't really know what to talk about. It seems that if we weren't in a cafeteria with our friends to act as convo buffers then things lulled between us.
"Would you like to pick out a song to listen to? There's a jukebox over there."
"Um, sure." I told Steve, causing him to dig out some quarters from his pocket and hand them over to me. "I'll be right back." I stood up with a small lined smile on my face.
"Pick out something good, doll."
Of course, when I reached the jukebox and looked at the list of songs all of the songs were from the '40s, '50s, and '60s. Aparently the owners of The Boardwalk were really going for a nostalgic theme. Some of the songs were vry big and or were the country ballads (like the Patsy Cline stuff) so I mostly perused the names of singers and bands that I recognized (the stuff that my family played in the car when I was growing up). When my eyes fell upon the boldly printed label of Down on the Corner-CCR they lit up. I loved that song. So, quickly, I put the coins into the jukebox and pressed the buttons to select the CCR song.
"What's this, Gem?" Cap asked, his mouth in a frown, as CCR blasted throughout the brightly decorated bar.
"CCR."
"CCR?" He asked, brow raised curiously as the John Fogerty crooned out the simple lyrics of the catchy tune that was Down on the Corner.
Creedence Clearwater Revival. They're a band that was very popular in the late '60s and early '70s."
"Oh, and you like this music?" Steve asked, one of his rows raised slightly as his head cocked curiously to the side.
"Yea." I nodded before reminiscing with a big, bright smile, "I grew up listening to CCR when my Nonna deep cleaned the house. She'd put the records on and clean like a bat out of hell. My Auntie Connie would just sing and dance with me instead of helping clean our rowhome."
"Gem, language." Cap chastised me. So, I can't say the word hell around him either? Okay… "Your aunt should've been helping her mother clean instead of dancing with you to this song. Housework's a very important chore for a lady to do."
"Nonna's my aunt's mother-in-law. Auntie Connie's married to Uncle Rocco, who's the third out of my grandparents' 7-kids."
"It must be nice to be from such a large family with many aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was always just me, ma, and our neighbors the Barnes'."
"Bucky and his family, right?" I asked, hopeful that he's shed some light on his past with them.
"Yea, that's right doll." Steve told me, his eyes dull and his smile not having its usual charm. He took a sip of his old fashioned before musing, "This song's not that bad, but I personally wouldn't pay to listen to it." Standing up, he announced, "I'll go find us a real nice song to dance to, doll."
Dance, in a bar like this? Um no. Nope, no way. "Um, no, that's okay Steve. I'm not much of a dancer." I quickly told Steve before he left out table to go put on some big bag song to swing dance too.
"Oh…well, then, I suppose we could call it a night and get you back home before it gets too late."
"Yea." I nodded, feeling like I was slapped in the face with the 'friendly date reminder' by his words.
"I had a nice time tonight, Gem." Steve told me while walking me to my door once we were done walking up 3-flights of stairs.
"Yea, me too." I lamely replied since I didn't know what else to say. He saw me as a friend; I didn't want to ruin our friendship by dumping on him the fact that Darcy had convinced me he wanted a 'real' date and not a 'friendly' one.
"Maybe was can do something again sometime?" He asked right as we came to a stop in front of my door, which had a watermelon theme summer wreath (that me and Darcy made during a craft session to make me feel better about being cheated on by man slut when I first moved in) on it.
"Maybe." I shrugged with a tiny smile.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow for Darcy's movie night, doll." Steve told me as I dug my keys out of my small crossbody bag.
"Yea." I nodded before pointing to the door and asking, "Do you want to come in for tea or coffee? Maybe a diet pop?"
Steve turned down my offer politely with, "No, Gem. I'll be going as soon as you're safe inside you're your apartment."
"Oh, okay, well, have a goodnight then."
"Goodnight to you too, doll."
I swear, doll's getting on my nerves.
As soon as I unlocked y door and walked inside of my place, Darcy paused Cupcake Wars on the tv and gave me a weird look while making the oh so observant remark of, "You're home early."
"I'm afraid that her date wasn't as we thought it'd be, Lightning Sister." Thor told Darcy before turning his attention back to me and asking, "Isn't that right, Jewel Of The Realm?" while I trudged over to my makeshift closet.
"That's right, Thor." I told the thunder god as I stopped at my makeshift closet.
"What happened?" Jane asked from her spot curled up on Thor, who was on the ratty corner armchair.
"Yes, I demand to know what happened since I dressed you up in precisely the right outfit to drive his old factory senses crazy." Darcy shrieked as I unzipped my portable wardrobe and put my small crossbody bad into the canvas box that was on one of the shelves.
"He just doesn't see me as anything other then a friend, that's what happened. The date was at one of those fun themed bars that's the kinda place you have a birthday party at." I explained to my friends while taking off my shoes and putting them into the shoe storage holder that was hanging on the rack.
"Oh, so there wasn't any romance?" Darcy asked, disappointment oozing from her tone.
"Nope, none what-so-ever." I shook my head. "Damn, I should've stayed at the bake sale."
"Why? Were the sweet treats that tasty?" Thor asked while staring at the tv screen that had a baker frozen mid-mixing batter on it.
"No. Fury called Brock to help him when I had to leave. That man sure does look hot in aviators and that tight black t-shirt he was for a STRIKE uniform." I answered Thor while pulling out some sleep shorts and a tank top out of my makeshift closet.
"My dudette, if you were digging his hotness then why didn't you stay and hit him up? The mojo between ya'll's off the chain so…" Darcy shrieked, her Virginia southern girl dialect breaking thru just a bit with the use of y'all's, while I took my phone out of my cross-body bag and zipped my makeshift closet back up.
"Cause I already made plans with Steve; that's why I didn't stay at the bake sale."
"Boo!" Darcy exclaimed while I crossed the room.
"Don't go boo, Darcy. She did right; we don't like jacked-booted thugs, no matter hot cut their abs are, cause they're science thieves." Jane said while I placed my hone onto the coffee table.
"But, in hindsight, staying at the bake sale ogling Brock and watching both Fury and his daughter toss out motherfuckers and motherfucking every other word while scaring the living daylights out of people to buy baked goods would've been a better time then going to that themed bar with Steve." I remarked while making my way over to the bathroom in order to change out of my work/'friendly Steve' date clothes.
"Fury has a kid?" Everyone asked at the same time, their voices all different levels of shocked.
"Yea and his wife's Agent Hill." I told my friends right before entering the bathroom. I bet their minds are blown now.
AN:
So, Cap and Gem have two very different views of a first date. To his defense he's still in his '40s mindset so he views the date as fine and his actions as gentlemanly. Gem's a modern era girl so to her a first date's a bit different then what she got with Cap.
Anyways, in the next chapter Gem's going to call up her uncle and talk to him about her date and give him an answer about that blind date with Arlo's son (cough *Brock* cough).