THIRTY FOUR

Before any wedding celebrating could be done, there was a mission for the Avengers to take care of.

They were sure that there was a small base on the other side of the country, somewhere in the Mojave. It didn't need the entire team; just three of them would do. It had taken a while to decide and had caused a lot of fighting over who went and who stayed, but eventually, it was decided. Gemma, Natasha and Clint were sent off- Natasha and Clint could do a lot of the heavy lifting, and Gemma could interrogate whilst keeping the other two in check. Steve, Maria and Sam would keep an eye out from New York.

Gemma wasn't as nervous as she usually was. Maybe she was just getting used to her job, or her brain registered this wasn't as big as other things, such as aliens. Although, there was still a small stomach ache. But it was a good sign.

Natasha was the last one on the Quinjet, dashing to the pilot's seat. Gemma had been talking with Maria as Steve and Sam waited by the end of the ramp.
"It's go time!" Clint yelled. Maria and Gemma jumped at the loud noise.
"I'm right here," Maria said, although she did start walking down the ramp. Gemma faced the trio as the ramp started to lift.
"Be safe!" Steve called. "I love you!" Gemma's mind froze, and she snapped her fingers at him.
"Right back at ya!" Her voice sounded strained, but before she could fix the situation, the door closed. Gemma stood still for a moment before she turned to Natasha and Clint.
"Did Steve just say 'I love you'?" she asked. Natasha nodded in response. "And I said 'Right back at ya' and did finger guns back?"
"That was gold," Natasha said, grinning. Clint punched her arm.
"Not the time, Nat."
"Why do I ruin everything?" Gemma groaned, dropping into one of the seats.
"No, don't be stupid," Natasha soothed. At another look from Clint, she got up and sat with Gemma.
"He told me he loved me and I just- oh, I hate myself. Why did I do that? Oh, balls."
"Hey. We had this conversation. It's not the end of the world. We know you feel the same. You just need to say it."
"I-" Gemma paused, sighing. She didn't know what to say. She let it sink in. Then she turned to Natasha, a giddy smile on her face. "He loves me," she said.
"Oh, my God, you're going all soft on me," Natasha mumbled. "See? You're okay. You just gotta say it back."
"How do I do that?"
"You say 'I love you'?" Natasha frowned. "Stop being a wuss!"
"I feel like I missed out on the whole wuss thing," Clint said. Neither Gemma nor Natasha heard him.
"Stop being a wuss. Yeah. I can do that. Not scary at all." Gemma knitted her brows together. "What if he hates me now?" Both Natasha and Clint sighed.
"He does not," Natasha replied reassuringly, standing up at Gemma's nod. She leaned back in her seat and Natasha returned to the copilot seat.
"I ruin everything."

The mission was mostly a success. The base was near-deserted, with only two guards on the outside. Defences seemed low. It was easy to get in, although they did put up a fight. The three of them definitely got scarred a little- it seemed the preferred weapon of choice was swords (which, really, were no match for a whip, a bow and arrows and an electrocuted baton). As it was such a small base, it was easy to find what they needed, and then go again. They spent a lot more time flying there and back than actually being there.

The way back, however, seemed to be the worse part for Gemma. Her mind was still alight with the 'I love you/finger guns' incident. But she was going to say it. She loved Steve; now there was no doubt about it. Gemma knew it. There was no other word for it, now that she had figured it out. And Gemma couldn't believe it had taken her so long to work it out; she was a detective, for God's sake. It was true; love made you stupid.

Steve wasn't there when they landed. Gemma had been so ready to speak the truth, and he wasn't there.
"Well, you guys are back earlier than we thought," Sam said when Gemma asked.
"So, that would be a no?" Gemma clarified.
"That would be a no," Sam confirmed. Gemma sighed, clicking her tongue.
"It's okay, I think I know," she said after a minute, hurrying off.
"You're covered in blood and grime!" Clint yelled as she ran off, but Natasha whacked his arm.
"Let her go. Finger guns, remember?"
"Oh, she's never going to hear the end of it," Sam added, grinning at the assassin.

Of course, Gemma had been right when guessing where Steve was. When he got stressed, he'd box. The soldier was alone in the gym; his back to the entrance. He seemed to be completely in his own world as he moved, and it looked as if he was really frustrated. Despite herself, Gemma couldn't help but admire him. She didn't often, because it always heightened her own insecurities, but goddamnit, he was gorgeous. The low light of the gym outlined his figure, and mixed with his sweat, he was literally glowing. He could've been a Greek god, an adonis. She didn't know how she got so lucky, that someone like this was so into her.

And then he broke the punching bag, pulling Gemma from her own reprieve.

Gemma had to hold in a laugh as she approached Steve, who was still unaware of her presence. She couldn't think of anything cool or funny to say, so she just said, "Hey," like an idiot. She hated that he could make her feel like this. Like a silly schoolgirl.
"Hey. Didn't realise you guys would be done so early," he said, attending to his hands. As Gemma approached him, she took over, familiar with how it was done.
"Neither did we," Gemma responded, looking down at his hands. This felt awkward.
"Look, I-"
"No, let me go first," she interrupted, looking up. She placed a hand on his cheek and took a deep breath. "I love you. God, I love you. And it makes me feel stupid and giddy and scared and I just didn't know if you felt the same and then you said it and I couldn't believe my l-" Steve stopped her by placing his lips onto hers. Instantly, Gemma softened into the kiss. She always did. She dropped the hand she was still holding to wrap her arm around his neck, pulling him closer as his hands moved to grip her hips. When they broke for air, a smile ghosted both of their lips.
"That was a really nice way of shutting me up," she whispered. Steve chuckled.
"I love you," he said again. Gemma felt like pure sunshine when he said it.
"I love you," she responded. "I'm sorry." Steve shook his head.
"Don't be. I surprised myself, too."
"But I really think you should shut me up again."