Chapter 5: Falling in Love
*****New York*****
Felicity was having so much fun. She went with Pepper to the opera the night after her dinner date with Steve. Tony hated the opera and Pepper didn't want him to take her if Felicity wanted his ticket since Tony would always be asleep by the intermission. Felicity had never been before, and Pepper was glad to take someone who actually wanted to go. Felicity really enjoyed it. It wasn't something she wanted to go to all the time, but the music had been amazing. She'd felt so grown up at intermission sipping wine and mingling with the opera lovers. She couldn't wait to tell Diggle all about it. Felicity was actively putting thoughts of Oliver out of her head, and it'd been much easier than she thought.
Her dinner date with Steve had been perfect. They'd had so much fun. For the most part, it'd been a perfect first date. Pepper called their lunch their first date, but Felicity didn't. It felt more like a payback for helping him with his phone than a date. The dinner, though, had most definitely been a date. They'd held hands. He'd complimented her. The way he looked at her made Felicity want to melt into a puddle. When the night had come to an end, and he walked her to Tony and Pepper's door, she'd been dying in anticipation of their first kiss. However, it hadn't happened. He'd kissed her cheek and wished her a goodnight. He'd told her that he hoped she'd have dinner with him again. Felicity had been so crushingly disappointed that she'd wanted to cry. However, she'd said goodnight and went inside.
Pepper had been waiting up for her. When Felicity told her Steve wasn't into her, Pepper had been surprised. Felicity explained what had happened, and Pepper had insisted that Steve was from another generation that moved much slower. She advised Felicity that she shouldn't take it as a rejection. Unfortunately, Felicity had been friend-zoned so much in her life that she wasn't sure Pepper was right. However, she hoped very much that was the case. Although she had appreciated his old-fashioned manners and his slower pace, the voice inside her head kept flashing back to all the ways Oliver had ignored her and her attraction to him. He'd not been the first beautiful man to do so. She'd had one or two hard crushes in college that wanted her as a tutor and never as a date. Her insecurities flared up after Steve said goodnight.
When Steve had called her the next day to ask her to go out again, she'd been both excited and relieved. Maybe Pepper was right. He wouldn't have asked her out for another date if he wasn't attracted to her. Pepper had already made plans with her for the opera, so Felicity would be seeing him the next night. As the driver was driving them home from the opera, Felicity thanked Pepper for a great night.
"I'm glad to take someone that doesn't make me hear his complaints for weeks for going," Pepper said, smiling.
"Well, it's not something I could see taking some of my guy friends to back home. Diggle would probably be as bad as Tony," Felicity said, giggling at the thought. Then she thought of Roy there and smiled more. She missed her friends, but this was the best vacation she'd ever had.
"I'm sure Oliver has went before," Pepper said, purposely bringing him up. Her cousin hadn't mentioned the man she'd fallen for much since she'd been in New York. Although Pepper was glad to see her enjoying herself with Steve, she didn't want to see Steve hurt if Felicity couldn't move on from the tortured Oliver Queen.
"I'm sure he has. I'm sure he took Laurel pre-island," Felicity said. "He's not went since I've known him, though."
"And you'd know, right?" Pepper said, smiling.
"Well, I am his assistant. I usually know what he's doing most nights," Felicity said. "Even when I'd rather not."
"I know it's probably too early, but do you think you can really like Steve? I know you have strong feelings for Oliver," Pepper said.
Felicity nodded. "Yeah, I do. Oliver's important to me. I love him," she admitted. "But love not returned doesn't really grow. I want more for myself—I think I deserve me."
"You totally do!" Pepper agreed.
"Steve seems too good to be true, but I'm cautiously optimistic," Felicity said. A second date was a good sign.
Pepper smiled. "Good! I'm happy for you!" she said.
When Felicity fell asleep and dreamed that night, it was Steve and their first kiss she dreamed about.
******The Next Night*******
Their second date included a performance of Shakespeare in the park before dinner. Felicity was absolutely delighted to see a live, intimate performance of Taming of the Shrew. That Steve, a soldier, was not only familiar with Shakespeare but enjoyed his plays surprised and pleased her to no end. He wasn't like any guy she'd ever met. When they went to dinner, they talked about the performance.
"My best friend Bucky dragged me once to a performance of Othello," he shared, smiling at the memory. "Bucky, of course, had two sisters with him who wanted to see it. I was always his wingman. I don't think he realized what it was going to be about. However, watching the main character driven mad with jealousy captivated even Bucky."
Felicity laughed. "That's great! I love it when people like something against their will," she said. "I wish I could've known your friend. He sounds fun."
"He was," Steve said. He was silent a moment as he debated on what to share. "I mean, he is. Bucky isn't dead. I thought he was. But recently I discovered he was captured and experimented on. Some form of the serum was used on him. However, his mind was twisted. Kind of like that Slade guy you mentioned. He didn't remember me. He tried to kill me. They really did a number on him."
"Oh no!" Felicity exclaimed. "What happened?"
Steve gave a small smile. "I managed to get through to him," he admitted.
Felicity looked relieved. "That's amazing! Is he okay?" she asked.
A pained expression came over Steve. "I don't know. He took off, and I haven't seen him since," he shared. "Natasha and I spent some time looking for him, but we never managed to find him." He was surprised that he was sharing so much with Felicity. It went against his training, but there was something about her that invited confidence. Besides, he already knew how well she was at keeping secrets.
"Sometimes people need time to get over trauma. They push those closest to them away while they learn to deal," she said, thinking of Oliver. "I saw that happen with Oliver and his sometimes girlfriends Sara and her sister Laurel. I'm sure your friend will come around when he gets a handle on everything."
"I hope so," Steve said.
"But he may never be the friend you remembered," Felicity warned. "Oliver wasn't after the island. It was hard for people who knew him before to get used to the changes. It hurt them that he wouldn't open up to them, but he wanted to protect them from what he became. I'm sure your friend feels the same way. You took the serum and became a hero. I'm assuming things went much differently with him."
"Yes, you could say that," Steve said with a grimace.
"He probably needs time to come to terms with what has happened to him and the things he's done. Just be ready to be his friend when he does show up," Felicity said.
"You really think he will?" Steve asked hopefully.
"I really do. A true friend is hard to find," she said. No matter what had happened or not happened with her and Oliver, she knew that he was her friend. He'd do anything for her. That meant something, and it always would.
Steve smiled at her and picked up her hand. They'd just finished eating, but he was lingering with her, not wanting their time to end. "I hope you'll consider me your friend," Steve said, giving her a warm look.
Felicity heart raced as he held her hand, but she felt her insecurity flaring up. "Only friends? I mean that's fine. I can always use another friend, but I sort of hoped you wouldn't friend-zone me," she admitted with a forced smile.
Steve looked confused. "Friend-zone? I'm not sure what that means. I want to be friends," he said. When he saw a flash of hurt in Felicity's eyes and she pulled her hand away, he realized he'd done something wrong. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. A guy like you with a girl like me," she said with a shrug, trying and failing to smile. She pushed her chair back some, wanting some distance.
"I hurt you," he stated. "How? I'm sorry. I'm confused. Why does being friends upset you?"
Felicity got up, her face red. This wasn't happening! How do these things happen to her? She thought it'd be different this time. She should've known better. Hadn't Oliver taught her that? She wasn't worth the risk. She wasn't the kind of woman that attracted a man like him or Steve. "I think we should go. I'm done. Aren't you done? I'm going to the bathroom," she babbled as she turned to flee.
Steve watched her leave, confused and concerned. He really liked this woman. She was the first woman he'd been attracted to since Peggy. The first woman in this new world that made him feel normal. Somehow, he'd hurt her. He paid the bill and rose to find her. When he didn't see her out front, he went to the bathrooms and waited by the doors. Eventually, she came out. It horrified him to see that she'd been crying.
"Felicity, please talk to me! What's wrong? How did I upset you? I'm truly confused," he said earnestly.
Felicity sighed. She knew Steve didn't mean to hurt her. It wasn't his fault he didn't want to be with her that way. Sometimes, a person didn't feel the same way. It wasn't anyone's fault because it was just one of those things. She gave him a tired smile. "It's okay. I overreacted. I'm sorry for upsetting you," she said. "Are you ready to go?"
"I paid the bill, but I want us to talk about this," Steve said.
Felicity walked a head of him to the exit. "How about we just part as friends and forget my babbling?" she said. She went out the doors of the restaurant.
Steve went after her. "Part? Are you leaving already? I don't want you to go," he said, upset.
Felicity stopped and looked at him. "I'm confused. You said you just wanted to be friends. I thought we were dating, and that you were attracted to me," she admitted, feeling foolish. She could feel her face getting hot. However, she took a deep breath and looked at him.
"I do want to be your friend," he said. He reached for her hand. "I am attracted to you, and I thought this was a date."
"You are? But you said you just wanted to be friends," Felicity said, frowning in confusion.
He reached out and took her other hand, facing her. "I think being friends is part of caring for another person. I don't want to date someone that I don't consider my friend," he said.
"So you're attracted to me?" Felicity asked, her surprise evident. "But you kissed me on the cheek."
Steve couldn't believe a woman as beautiful as she was had so many doubts about her appeal. But he'd spent too many years being rejected himself to forget how that felt. He never wanted to hurt anyone that way, especially not a woman he was growing to care about.
"I didn't want to be too forward," he said. "But just so there's no doubt." He tugged her closer, bending down to place his lips on hers.
Felicity was surprised when he moved to kiss her, but her arms went around his neck automatically. His lips were warm and so appealing. They moved over hers softly and sweetly. He pulled away before the kiss went deeper, and she blinked up at him, dazed.
Steve smiled down at her. "Was that okay?" he asked.
Felicity felt her face flush. "It was perfect," she said softly.
"So you understand? I like you, and I am attracted to you," he told her.
"That's good because I like you, too," Felicity said.
"I want to be friends," he explained. "But not just friends." The heated look he gave her made it very clear what he was feeling.
Felicity blushed and finally smiled. "Okay," she said breathlessly.
"I know you don't live here, but I'd like to keep seeing you while you're in town," Steve said.
"I'd like that, too," she replied, her smile going even wider.
His hand went to her cheek. "You have such a beautiful smile," he told her.
"Really? No one's ever told me that before," she said smiling.
"You must be hanging out with a bunch of idiots!" Steve said, taking her hand.
Felicity felt joy burst inside of her as they walked down the street to his car. The way he was gazing down at her convinced her that he was serious. He really did like her the way she liked him. Neither could spare much time looking where they going because they only had eyes for each other.
******Stark Industry******
Steve decided to stop by and speak with Tony after his third date with Felicity (he counted lunch as their first date). He had no trouble getting through security and up to his office. Happy walked with him, chatting about his new workout regimen.
He smiled and half listened to Tony's former security guard. Tony trusted and cared for the man, so Steve knew he was a good guy. Since his perfect body came to him through science and not through his own efforts, he couldn't really give Happy many tips. "Sounds good," he offered before Happy said goodbye, leaving him at Tony's office.
He knocked on the office door. A distracted, "Come in!" gave him permission to enter. He found Tony and Bruce in front of a white board. There were equations Steve had no understanding of on the board.
"Hey, Captain!" Tony said, happy to see him. "You are just in time to see Bruce humiliated as I put him in his place."
Bruce had a small smile on his face. "Tony, once you solve it, you will see that your idea won't possibly work. I've tried this one before. I've tried them all. How many times do I have to tell you?" Bruce asked.
"What are you working on?" Steve asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"A way to use the gamma rays to reverse what happened to Bruce," Tony said.
"You don't want to be the Hulk anymore?" Steve asked in surprise.
"I don't want to be an out of control rage monsters that comes out and destroys anyone who is stupid enough to get me angry," Bruce explained. "I'd like to be normal again."
"Well, as normal as you can be," Tony said with a smirk.
"I told Tony it'll never happen. The Hulk is too much a part of me now, but Tony thinks he can do anything. There's no talking to him when it comes to science," Bruce said, rolling his eyes.
"Just because you haven't thought of it yet doesn't mean me and JARVIS won't," Tony said smugly. He looked at Steve. "So what brings you by? Everything go okay with your date with Felicity? Pepper said she came home smiling."
Steve brightened at the news. "Really? That's good," he said. He paused, unsure how to continue.
"Do you need to speak to Tony alone?" Bruce asked, always sensitive to the moods of others.
"No, that's okay. I'm just not sure how to say this," Steve said, unsure. "Last night in the middle of the date, Felicity got upset with me."
Tony's eyes darkened angrily. "What did you do?" he demanded. "If you hurt her, I swear, I'll put on the new suit I recently made and give you a beating like you'd never had!"
"Relax, Tony! You know I'd never hurt her!" Steve said, offended. "I did so accidentally. I told her that I was glad we were friends. She thought I was friend-zoning her—a term I'd never heard before, by the way. She was awfully quick to believe I wouldn't be attracted to her that way. How is that possible? She's beautiful, kind, brilliant, brave, and loyal. How could any man not want her?"
Tony beamed proudly. He'd loved Felicity from the moment they met. She and he were kindred spirits. They both got lost in their work or their projects. Since his dad died, he had no one really like that in his life until Pepper had introduced them about a decade ago. "Yes, she's great! I knew you'd appreciate her," Tony said.
"I didn't have much confidence before I was in the military, but that was because I was sick and weak. Felicity's almost perfect. I don't get it," Steve said with a frown.
"Well, she was a genius amongst idiots. Unlike me, her genius wasn't expected from her. Her mom works in a casino in Vegas. Her dad abandoned them. I hear she gets her genius from her father, but he left before he could really nurture it. Kids don't treat kids that are different very well. She graduated high school a few years early, so she never had friends her own age really. She's often awkward and babbles when she gets nervous. Most people can't keep up with her train of thought since it moves so much quicker than others," Tony shared. "But I think that the biggest reason she automatically assumed you wouldn't like her like that is because of Oliver Queen."
"Her boss?" Steve asked in surprise.
Tony nodded. "Felicity's had a crush on him since they met. I think it went a bit deeper than that this past year, but he used her as bait to defeat Slade. It really hurt her. It made her realize that he was never going to see her as more than a tool to be used in his quest to protect the city," Tony said.
"Do you think she loves him?" Steve asked, not sure how he felt about this.
"I don't think she wants to," Tony said. "I think she is trying to move on from him. I'm glad she met you."
"I don't know that I like being used that way," Steve said, clearly unhappy.
Tony's eyes widened in alarm as he realized that Pepper was going to kill him if he messed this up for Felicity. "Listen, Felicity would never use anyone. Olive Queen hurt her. She came here to get some distance from him. We pushed her to meet other people, so don't blame her. If you like her and she likes you, then that's what matters. You've been too isolated since you were unfrozen anyway. Felicity is an amazing woman. You won't find anyone like her. If you think there could be something real between you, give her a chance. Give it a chance," Tony said.
Steve glanced at Bruce to get his opinion. "I like her. You don't meet many women that smart and that pretty. At least not any that aren't arrogant and know exactly how appealing they are," Bruce said, smiling.
"Yes, I know she's special," Steve said smiling.
"So do you really like her?" Tony asked.
"Yes, she's amazing," Steve said.
"Good. You can help me convince her to work for me and move here!" Tony said eagerly. He wanted more family around for Pepper. He wanted Pepper to have everything she could possibly want. He really screwed up with the latest debacle that nearly killed him. His near-death experience saving New York had been hard to shake. Then he'd handled the Mandarin poorly and almost got them both killed. Pepper had put up with a lot from him. Tony wanted Felicity to stay, though, not just for Pepper. He loved having her around, too.
Steve gave him a wry smile. "I'm not going to pressure her to do anything, Tony," Steve said. "We've just gone out three times."
"So go out more and convince her to stay!" Tony said happily, rubbing his hands together in anticipation of getting his way.
"You have your own jet. If you want Felicity to visit more or want to see her, you can do so," Bruce pointed out.
"True, but she works as much Pepper," Tony said.
"Her work is important to her," Steve said. He knew that Oliver Queen was a big part of her work. He wasn't sure how he felt about knowing the woman he was falling for may be in love with another guy, but he had never been a quitter. He wasn't about to start now.
"I know," Tony said with a sigh.
"If it makes you feel any better, I'm going to see her this afternoon," Steve said with a smile.
Tony's expression brightened. "Really? That's great!" he enthused.
Bruce and Steve shared a laugh at his enthusiasm.
*****A Few Hours Later*****
Felicity had come up with the perfect outing for her and Steve. She couldn't wait to introduce him to something new. Since he was like a one year old when it came to pop culture (even worse than Oliver), she could enjoy introducing him to some of her favorite movies. When the doorbell rang, she opened it with a smile.
Steve held a single red rose in his hand. "Hi. This is for you," he said, holding it out to her.
She couldn't remember the last time someone besides Diggle gave her flowers (he did for her birthday), so she flushed with pleasure.
"Oh, thank you! I love flowers! That's so sweet!" she gushed. She reached up and kissed his cheek before she lost her nerve. Then she turned to grab a small vase she knew Pepper kept under the kitchen sink. Tony brought home flowers whenever he particularly annoyed Pepper, which worked out to about once a week. "I'm going to go put this in my room, and then I'll be ready to go." She quickly went to the guest room she was staying in and put the vase on the dresser. It would be something she could easily see when she woke up.
When she made it back to the living room, Steve was staring out the big open window. The view was always amazing, and she'd spent time there herself since her arrival. The penthouse apartment allowed for an incredible view of Manhattan.
"I'm ready," she announced. He turned and flashed a smile at her. "So I had an idea that I hope you'll like."
"I'm up for anything," he said.
"Well, you said you love movies, so I thought I'd introduce to one of my favorite actors. He's got an interesting range of movies that I think you'll enjoy," Felicity said.
"A movie? That sounds great," he said happily.
"Would you like to do a double feature?" she asked. "We can have dinner at the little cafe across the street. There's this small theater that is celebrating Patrick Swayze's birthday—that's the actor I want us to watch. They're showing his movies all week in chronological order."
Steve smiled at her enthusiasm. "I'm not sure who the guy is, but if you say he's great, I'm sure I'll enjoy him," Steve said.
"Oh, you totally will!" she said excitedly. "We'll start with the movie when he was a young man. The Outsiders. It's based on this awesome book by S. E. Hinton. Most people don't know that Hinton wrote it when she was sixteen. Of course, she used her initials, so most don't know the writer of the book is a woman. Most of her books are about teenage boys. Anyway, Red Dawn is a military movie about the Soviets, who used to be our enemies, invading America. It's kind of dark. Well, they both kind of are, but I think you'll like them. Then there's the best two Dirty Dancing, which isn't as dirty as it sounds. Then the movie all men love Road House, my personal favorite. I thought we could watch two today and two tomorrow. That is if you want to see me tomorrow."
Steve grinned down at her as she babbled enthusiastically about the movies and the actor. God, she was adorable. He found himself unable to resist and bent down to place a light kiss on her lips. She gazed at him through the glasses perched on her nose. It was the first time he'd seen her in the glasses, and he found them incredibly cute on her.
"What was that for?" she finally asked.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't help it. You're just so cute," he said with a sheepish smile. "And I'd love to see movies with you tomorrow, too."
She blushed prettily and took his hand, leading him out of the penthouse. The day felt like the beginning of something.
*****A Few Hours Later*****
Felicity loved spending time with someone that was always with her in the moment. Steve seemed to get the most out of every experience. He enjoyed the movies but loved the dinner in between the most because he got to spend it gazing at her and getting to know her better. When he took her back to Tony's, he didn't hesitate to pull her into his arms for a kiss. One she returned with equal enthusiasm.
They repeated the experience the next night. Felicity was not surprised when Road House ended up being his favorite. He hated bullies and loved that Swayze's character had been standing up to the man who was basically a rich bully. It was Steve who suggested they go to the final night and watch Ghost, the one that had earned the most critical acclaim.
After the movie was over, they walked out of it in silence, holding hands.
"Well, what did you think?" Felicity asked.
"I'm not sure why I was so surprised that he didn't get to be with the woman he loved at the end. I know not all movies are happily ever after," Steve said. "But it made me sad."
"Yeah, I cried the first few times I saw it," she said. "It's okay to be sad about it. However, I think it's beautiful. Not even death stopped him from loving her, from seeking a way to connect with her. I envy that. To be loved that way would be so amazing!"
Steve looked down at her, knowing that he could empathize with the character from the movie. When he gave his heart to a woman, he wouldn't let anything keep him from her. "I've never loved a woman that way," he admitted. "I thought that I could've loved Peggy that way. I was beginning to love her when I was taken from her. She had a good, full life without me, however. My disappearance didn't alter her world much."
"I'm sure it did," Felicity told him. "Women are just made to deal with the impossible sometimes."
Steve reached out and cupped her cheek. She leaned into his touch, enjoying it. Steve had quickly learned she was a woman who loved small, physical displays of affection. He was surprised to find that something inside him responded to her desire for touch. It'd been so long since he'd had someone to touch affectionately. His mother had died too soon, but Bucky had been his friend until the end of the line. They had often thrown an arm around the other in camaraderie. Steve had almost forgotten what it was like to feel like he belonged with someone. Felicity made him feel like he belonged.
"You're the kind of woman a man never forgets. I've known you just a short time, and I already feel like you've changed my life forever," Steve confessed.
Felicity's stomach clenched at his words. How did she get so lucky? She couldn't believe he was looking at her the way he was or saying those words. It overwhelmed her. Since she wasn't always good with words, she reached up to kiss him, her arms going around his neck. She opened his mouth to accept his tongue, allowing it to mate with her own.
His kisses never ceased to touch her deep inside, always leaving her hungry for more. They were growing closer every day. Although she knew she was only there for a vacation, she couldn't bear thinking about a time when she'd have to say goodbye. He had come into her life at a time when she wasn't sure she'd ever feel whole again. Oliver had hurt her without meaning to. Their night job meant too much to her to walk away from, so she had begun to feel trapped. Meeting Steve had been so incredible. Their time together was like a fairy tale—one she didn't want to see ending when her vacation was over.
******Chapter End******