Author's Note- So, I haven't heard from anyone, so I'm gonna assume that it's broken, but I'm not gonna stop. If only one person reads this and enjoys it, it's worth it. (Also I'm thirteen chapters into the sequel and I want to share it with the world.) Please feel free to try and leave a review (Not sure if I'll get it, but I always love hearing from you all, even if its to tell me you hate my creative choices) Thank you all for your support.
By the time Steve received Brooklyn's next letter, he was more or less resigned to the fact that he was dating a woman on a different continent.
He poured himself into his work. He trained harder and learned new skills to use for SHIELD. He learned French and Spanish, and began to dabble in Russian, just so he and Natasha could gossip in front of the other agents. He learned mostly insults in Russian.
Steve cut his hair. He'd given up on waiting for Brooklyn to come home and help him decide what to do with it. He made the decision to cut it short all on his own, just like he made the decision to invite his neighbor over for coffee every couple of weeks, just so he could have some company. Steve couldn't help but think Kate was as lonely as he was.
He spent seven days a week at the Triskellion, never requesting an extra day off unless Tony needed him to come to New York on Avengers business. He begrudgingly agreed to doing a series of educational videos for high schoolers. The President, according to Tony, insisted that Steve wear his bright, skin-tight clown suit of a uniform from the Battle of New York. When he remembered how Brooklyn had warned that he'd hate it, Steve had to take a few minutes to focus, because once he thought of her, he couldn't stop.
It was the middle of October when Brooklyn's next letter arrived. Steve had stopped hoping they'd come, because he'd rather get the call that she was being extracted than another letter explaining that she wasn't any closer to coming home. He dragged himself up the stairs and ambled down the hallway to his apartment, offering a failed attempt at a smile and a wave to Kate as he passed her.
Sitting down at his chair, Steve opened the envelope carefully, almost not wanting to read its contents. As he unfolded the letter and began to scan over Brooklyn's words, he realized his dread was warranted.
My Darling Steve,
I almost don't want to write you this, because I know it'll upset you. But I think it's important you know that progress is being made. I cannot make contact with SHIELD, but if you would pass this along to the Director, I would be grateful.
The General officially ended my employment two days ago and expressed that I will never lift a finger in his home again. I guess you could say that we've made things official, and we're no longer having an affair. Things had been strained with his wife for a while, but she hasn't been around the past couple of weeks. I'm unsure if she left him, or if he got rid of her. Either way, I'm in the lion's den now.
He trusts me, and often asks for my opinion on his business ventures. I'm hoping soon he'll give me the confession I need to be able to lock him up, but he's been tight lipped about his side businesses. The soldiers keep an eye on me. They don't seem to trust me, and I'm sure that is weighing on the General's conscience, too. I just have to stay the course and keep working towards his full trust.
When I see the soldiers around the grounds, I often think of you. I think of how different you are from them. How you never lost your kindness and your compassion, despite everything you've seen and done. After he's gone to sleep, I lie awake and think of you. Sometimes I sneak away to steal a peek at the locket you gave me—it's my saving grace most nights because without it, I'm scared I'd forget what you looked like. It's been so long, and there is no end in sight.
Steve massaged his temples, taking a deep breath before setting the letter down. It was the first letter she'd sent where she needed two sheets, and he could already see that the ink was smeared at the bottom of the second page. She'd stopped writing and hid her words in a hurry.
It's been a year since I was sent away. You probably wouldn't even recognize me. My hair's been cut and dyed, I'm the palest I've ever been. Long gone are the days of scrubbing the floors and cleaning the mansion, so I'll admit, I've gotten quite lazy. I swear my face has gotten rounder. Sometimes it's easier to look in the mirror and see somebody else. It makes it easier to be so far away from home.
I hope you've been safe. I hope you've been happy. I'd give anything in this world to know what you've been up to these last twelve months. It seems so unfair that we've been apart longer than we've been together, but it's the hand we were dealt. Every day I wake up and push through, because I know you're on the other side.
I love you-
She didn't sign the letter, and there was a smear leading across the page from the "you". Steve imagined that somebody walked in and she quickly folded them up and put them in an envelope, hiding its contents. If they knew who she was, and that she was writing love letters to a man across the ocean, they'd kill her.
Steve ran his thumb over the dried smudge, wishing he could write back and tell her that he was okay. He was better than okay, he was happy. He was well adjusted. At least that's what he told himself.
There wasn't time or a place for Captain America to be distracted by a distant lover. He had a job to do, and he made himself readily available. He tossed the letters in the drawer and turned on his record player, sitting alone for a while until dinner time.
Another Christmas came and went, and nothing was heard from Brooklyn Hayes in Belarus. Fury looked at Steve with a kind of pity that made Steve twitch. If she were in trouble, he would have heard about it. He wasn't worried, he was impatient. At least he had been, now he just accepted that he was more or less single with no desire to find someone to keep him warm at night.
Snow had overtaken the capitol, and Steve imagined that if Brooklyn had been around, they would do fun snow things, like go sledding and make snowmen and have snowball fights. He'd cozy up to her by the fireplace and they'd drink hot cocoa, but instead he worked late, walked home, and watched the news.
Tony was throwing a New Years party, and much to Steve's chagrin, Natasha was excited for it. She harassed Steve about coming more than Stark did, but he stood firm. He wasn't in the mood for parties and small talk. Steve was in the mood for sulking, and not much else.
Eventually he got his way, and the Avengers gave up on getting him to attend. Even Thor was back on Earth, and Steve decided that he'd meet up with the God of Thunder later. All he wanted was to start 2014 with the woman who he loved.
Had it not been for Brooklyn, Steve felt certain he wouldn't have seen 2014. Even in her absence, it was knowing she was out there that kept him going, fighting through, and pushing away the idea that he'd never be happy in this modern world. Steve knew that SHIELD and the Avengers needed him, and he didn't have much else going for him, except for her.
He checked his mailbox without expecting anything, as he always did, but was surprised to see an envelope with his address but no name. He pulled it out and drew his brows as he studied the return address. It was stamped on, meaning Brooklyn had written him using the General's official stationery. He flipped it over and realized there was even a wax seal holding it closed.
Steve snapped the wax and the envelope opened, revealing a letter, and a wedding invitation.
My Darling,
I pray that I don't have to go through with this, but I wear a ring from a man I don't love, and I am running out of time. He assures me that when we are married, he will tell me all his secrets, but I don't want it to get that far. My love, I am running out of hope. This has gone on so long, and I'm no closer to his buyers than I was before.
I have an ally in the kitchen, an old woman who has worked here for many years. She tells me of a black book that the General has locked in a safe in his bedroom. It could hold his business transactions. I've never seen him take it out.
If it should come to pass that I marry this damn fool, just know I give you permission to put a bullet in his brain someday. I just hope I'm still around to see it.
I love you Steve. More than the expanse of space that looms above us, more than the infinite worlds we haven't discovered. I'm thankful you kissed me that day in New York. I'm thankful you didn't give up on me no matter how many times I pushed you away. No matter what happens, you are the love of my life. No man will ever hold my heart the way you do.
Love you always and forever, Brooklyn
Steve wanted to tear the letter in half, but if it was the last he ever heard from Brooklyn, he'd regret it. So, he picked up the wedding invitation, seeing her fake name and the date of April fourth. He ripped the invitation until he couldn't put the words together if he wanted to. He lit a match and started the fire before scooping up all of the little pieces and dumping them in, watching them burn. He put the letter in his drawer, then grabbed his coat, needing to go somewhere. Anywhere.
He didn't get very far.
The moment he closed his door, he heard music wafting from the apartment next door. Kate was home, and he didn't hear any conversation, so she was most certainly alone. Steve took a deep breath and raised his fist to the door, hesitating, considering the implications of what he was going to do.
He wouldn't sleep with her. He wouldn't even kiss her. But he was seeking out another woman in Brooklyn's absence. When he spent time with Natasha, it felt like spending time with a work friend. By knocking on this door, Steve was opening up himself to a civilian, a real person outside the world of SHIELD.
He knocked.
Kate opened the door after a few minutes, pushing a blonde curl behind her ear, "Steve? How are you?"
"I'm okay. I'm…" he looked back at his door, "alone. I heard your music playing and was wondering if you were alone, too."
She nodded slowly, "I am, actually. Would you like to remedy that?"
"If you don't mind. I could use some company." Steve answered honestly and she held the door open a little wider to invite him in. He looked around the space, seeing it was hardly decorated, but there were a few little houseplants around and her laptop was out on the coffee table in front of the television. "This is nice." Steve muttered, setting his coat down on the back of one of her chairs. "Thank you. For inviting me in." Steve added, and Kate just nodded as she clasped her hands together in front of her stomach.
"Thanks for knocking."
So, Steve spent New Years Eve with his neighbor, trying to ignore the sickening feeling in his stomach at midnight drew closer and closer. They watched the countdown on the television, and when the ball dropped, Steve turned to Kate, but she was texting somebody on her phone.
He was thankful for that. He wasn't ready to kiss someone who wasn't Brooklyn, even though she was marrying somebody else.
On January 24, 2014 at 1800 hours, Steve got the call from Nick Fury.
"Prepare your team. We move out within the hour." Fury said over the phone, "Be back here by six-thirty for briefing. We have to move fast, and we have to move quietly."
"Sir?" Steve asked, unsure why Fury's voice was so strained, "Where are we going?"
"Belarus." Fury answered simply, and Steve was already out the front door of his apartment with his shield strapped to his back. "Got the call from Hayes, she got his little black book of buyers. She's ready for extraction. We've spoken with their government, sent the scans over that she sent to us. They gave us the go ahead to take him out."
Steve sped down the road faster than was safe or legal, but all he could think about was getting back his girl. He practically dove off his bike once he reached a parking spot, lingering just enough to pull out his key and sprint into the Triskellion. He was met by Fury and the STRIKE team in the lobby.
"You sure you're up for this, Rogers?"
He turned to see Nat keeping pace with him, and he slowed down a little to make it easier on her. She looked him up and down quickly, as if trying to gauge where his head was at, "I'm surprised Fury called you in on this."
"If he didn't, I would have gone on my own." Steve muttered and Natasha grinned slightly, ducking her head as they approached the others. Steve clenched his belt as he looked at Fury, ignoring everybody else, "I just need to change. I'm ready to go."
"This guy's got a lot of firepower. If he catches a whiff of something off, Hayes is as good as dead. That's why you're in charge. This is your team, bring her home." Fury told Steve sternly, looking to Rumlow, "She has his book. If he realizes it's gone, she's got a target on her back."
"I'll change on the jet. Let's move out." Steve ordered and everyone filed towards the hangar. Steve turned to face Fury and growled, "I can take him out?"
"Be my guest." Fury answered, and Steve didn't need anything else from the Director.
The quinjet was set to land less than ten miles from the General's mansion, but Steve couldn't wait that long. The moment Natasha got within fifty feet of the ground, he opened the back and dove out sans parachute.
Steve ran through the trees and stopped when he reached the massive fence lining the property. Pressing his comm to his ear, he whispered, "I'll take out the security fence. Widow- take out any guards or soldiers you come across. Not a shot is to be fired until we have Agent Hayes in our possession, is that understood?"
"You got it, Cap." Rumlow answered and Steve pulled his shield off his arm and hurled it at a power box near the top of the fence. The electricity shorted out and he heard shouting from inside.
Steve ran around to the back of the estate, looking over his shoulder to see the security guards checking the fence and not looking for whoever broke it. He threw a grappling hook to the top and walked up the side of the wall before throwing himself over.
"I'm in."
"Looks like the guards are inspecting the fence by the gate, where do you want us to enter?" Rumlow asked as Steve hid behind a tree and watched more soldiers rush to the front.
"The back. My hook is still on the fence. Get in, take them out from behind. Nobody makes a peep until you hear my word." Steve reiterated, sprinting towards the back of the house. He ran and leapt up, grabbing the siding of the bricks, and pulling himself up to the second story window. Peeking in, he saw the hallway was empty and carefully slid it open, listening for any conversations happening within.
"Моя любовь, what is it?"
The hairs on the back of Steve's neck stood up at the sound of Brooklyn's voice. It was thick with a Russian accent, but Steve knew it anywhere. A gruff, muffled voice answered in Russian and Steve realized he didn't know nearly enough to know what was going on. He heard footsteps approaching and dove into a room to avoid being seen.
Steve looked around, realizing he was in the master bedroom. He heard a door close in the adjoining bathroom and he ducked into the closet, pulling his gun in case he came face to face with the General. Footsteps approached, and then stopped. Steve tried to peek around the heavy jackets that hung in the closet, but he wasn't able to see who was there.
With a deep breath, Steve emerged from the closet with his gun aimed at the intruder. They threw their hands up and gasped, but Steve reacted quicker than she could and put his left hand over her mouth. He looked down at the blonde woman as he held her mouth, carefully sliding the gun back into his belt, "It's been too long."
"Steve." Brooklyn released the breath she'd been holding when he dropped his hand and she turned around to wrap her arms around him. She grabbed his face and pulled his lips to hers as he ran his hands over her body, rediscovering the woman he loved.
"Are you okay?" Steve asked quietly and Brooklyn nodded, looking over her shoulder towards the bedroom door. "I've got the team. We've been ordered to take him out. Now that I have you, it doesn't really matter what state we leave the place in." Steve hissed as he gripped her lower back, "You hold onto me, no matter what, do you understand?"
"Yes, Captain." Brooklyn said quietly without a hint of sarcasm or teasing. She ran her fingers along the heavy fabric of Steve's stealth suit, and Steve wanted to strip down to nothing so he could feel her fingers on his bare skin. His eyes quickly dropped to her hand, seeing the massive diamond on her ring finger. She caught his gaze and fiddled with it, clearing her throat, "I have his book strapped under my nightgown. I've kept it hidden since yesterday afternoon. The easiest way to get out of here is to pretend to kidnap me, or else I'll be shot on sight."
"I'm not above leaving no one alive." Steve said darkly as he let go of Brooklyn and took a few steps towards the door, "I get the first shot. STRIKE is dealing with the guards downstairs."
"Okay." Brooklyn said quietly as she wrapped her hand around the strap for his shield. "He'll be in his study."
Steve didn't even nod at her words. He just moved in the direction she motioned to, drawing his gun again as Brooklyn stayed close behind. Steve used every ounce of focus he had to not think about the woman behind him. All he had to do was get her out of here, and then she was his.
She had written that he'd hardly recognize her, and she was right. Her hair was curled just below her shoulders, dyed a soft blonde to help her blend in with the locals. She wasn't nearly as lean and fit as Steve remembered, she'd clearly been well fed and not worked in the last several months. Steve wondered if she was still soft and smooth, or if the man he was about to murder had broken her. If Steve found so much as a bruise, he'd dig up the General's body just to wring his neck.
Brooklyn pointed past Steve towards the study, and he carefully pulled her hand away and lifted his finger to his lips to tell her to be quiet. He grabbed the doorknob and twisted it, raising his shield to receive the inevitable gunshots that he'd earn.
The door opened and the large man on the other side stood from his desk, reaching for his gun, but Steve was faster, firing two shots into the man's chest. He glared at the General as he fell, then raised his hand, still holding his gun, to his ear to say, "Take 'em out."
Steve turned to the doorway to see Brooklyn shaking. She clung to the door frame with a wobbling lip, staring at the corpse before she could look up at Steve. The soldier steeled his jaw, furious that she was feeling heartache for this man's death. He grabbed Brooklyn's forearm tightly as he snarled, "He deserved that. Don't look so upset."
"It isn't his death that bothers me." Her voice quivered as she kept her gaze low, "It was how ruthless you were about it."
"He had something of mine for too long. I've thought of little else."
Steve tugged Brooklyn along as the sound of rifles went off in the floor below. Brooklyn had to borderline jog to keep up with Steve as he walked down the stairs towards the main part of the mansion.
"Cap, the guards are out, but the staff is armed." Natasha called through the comm before the sound of gunfire cut her off.
Steve looked to Brooklyn and she looked up at him without lifting her chin from her chest, "How do we get out past the staff?"
"The kitchen." She murmured and took the lead. She pushed through a swinging door with Steve's hand in hers, coming face to face with an older woman with greying hair.
Captain America raised his shield and the woman flinched, so Brooklyn put her arm out in front of the man. He exhaled slowly, waiting for Brooklyn to tell him what to do.
The sound of screams and gunshots echoed through the mansion, and Steve stiffened, knowing they didn't have time for this. "Honey, we have to go."
Brooklyn pulled the ring off her finger and handed it to the old woman, "Take this, and go. Save yourself."
The woman shook her head, clearly confused as she began to chatter in Russian as she began to run away. "Кто ты? Я никогда не видел тебя здесь раньше."
Biting her lip, Brooklyn sucked in a sharp breath and reached for Steve's belt, grabbing his gun and shooting the woman in the back. He stared at her in disbelief, and she sighed, "She said she'd call the militia. We can't leave any survivors."
Steve nodded, grabbing Brooklyn's hand, and taking off into a jog that she sprinted to keep up with. They left the house, looking back to see Rollins throwing a grenade into the mansion as Romanoff came running past him. The Black Widow paused and looked up at Steve and Brooklyn with a stunned look on her face, then kept running as the rest of the STRIKE team moved out before the mansion went up in flames.
When the team arrived back at the quinjet, Brooklyn reached up under her black satin nightgown and pulled out a black notebook that she handed to Natasha. "You know how uncomfortable it was hiding that against my stomach all night?" Brooklyn grumbled as Natasha flipped it open and moved to the front of the jet to call Fury. The STRIKE team sat and pulled off their helmets, resting in the seats lining the walls, but Steve lingered back by the door as the pilot took them to the sky.
Brooklyn gave Rumlow a half-hearted hug before turning to Steve. His heart clenched at the sight of her approaching, but he couldn't move from his spot. His whole body felt stiff, as it had when he woke up from the ice. It was like they'd gone back in time, only this time he'd saved her.
"You okay there, Soldier?" Brooklyn said quietly as she tilted her head and looked up at Steve. His lips turned up into a small smile and she entwined her fingers between his, "I missed you."
"I missed you, too. I missed you so much." Steve's voice cracked at the words and his knees buckled as he threw his arms around her and pulled her close. He pressed his lips to her temple, clenching his eyes closed as he whimpered, "I've waited so long for this. I can't believe you're coming home."
Steve felt her fingers slide up his suit and wrap around his neck just above his collar. She began to scratch the base of his hair as she leaned into him, "You cut your hair."
At that, Steve pulled away and chuckled, "It was too long."
"I like your hair long. I like to play with it." Brooklyn said with a fond look in her eyes. Steve thought she looked tired. Her face was rounder, as was the rest of her, but he couldn't care less.
"Your hair looks nice. I like the blonde." Steve told her under his breath, cautious not to let the rest of the team hear their whispers. She pulled her hair over her shoulder, but a lot of it slipped down her back anyway. "You look really good."
"I really don't, but I appreciate the lie. It's been a time." She laughed and slid her fingers along Steve's scalp, "You haven't changed a bit. Except for your hair."
Steve bent down and gently pressed his lips to Brooklyn's, taking his time before sliding his tongue along her lower lip, begging for entry. She leaned her body forward and Steve slung his arms around her upper back to keep her trapped against him, kissing her lovingly in the back of the jet.
"Can you two get a room? I'm gonna be sick." Rumlow grunted from the front of the jet, but Steve hardly noticed. He could strip her naked and fuck her in front of his team and he wouldn't realize they were still there.
Brooklyn pulled away though and sighed, "I'll have to go to the Triskellion for debriefing."
"They can have you tomorrow. I'm Captain America. I have a little pull around here."
"Oh, really? Do you?" Brooklyn cooed as she rubbed her calf against Steve's pant leg, "Captain America." She muttered softly, and Steve's smile slipped at her longing tone.
"What is it?" He finally asked after she stood for a few minutes, staring at the wall. She looked to him, and he saw that her eyes held a sadness he had never seen before, "Brooklyn…"
Steve didn't know what to say. He didn't want to ask if she loved the General, but Steve knew it was a possibility. Steve knew how he felt for Brooklyn after six weeks at the Retreat. He couldn't imagine what fourteen months had done to her.
"I'm sorry." Steve choked out, and Brooklyn's eyes widened as she pressed her palms to his cheeks, spreading out her fingers to hold him still.
"Thank you for saving me. I'll be okay. I'm just readjusting. It's been a long time."
Steve pulled her into his arms and rested his chin on her head as he ran his hand up and down her back while the other hand planted itself at the back of her neck to keep her close. He swayed slightly, and Brooklyn went limp against him, relaxing in his embrace. He'd been patient before. He'd be patient now until she was feeling like herself again.
When they landed at the Triskellion, Fury was waiting on the tarmac for them. Steve scooped up Brooklyn and surged away from the quinjet before she could complain about walking on her own. He didn't put her down until she was face to face with the Director.
Fury smiled weakly and Brooklyn pulled in a slow, deep breath. She fidgeted in the long coat she'd been given by the team, still wearing her nightgown beneath it, "Sir."
"Welcome back. I'll see you tomorrow, say 1300 hours. Give you a chance to rest." Fury turned to Steve when he said 'rest' as if to emphasize to the soldier that he wasn't supposed to use her downtown to break her in half. "I'm glad to see you made it through okay."
"It wasn't easy at times, but we did it in the end."
"The people of Belarus owe you a lot. A lot of corruption will end with this." Fury stated, turning to Steve, "Get her home safe, Cap. I'll see you at ten for a debriefing on your end of the mission."
"Yes, Sir." Steve said with a smug grin. Even he was getting time to sleep in, meaning Fury wasn't completely against Steve's intentions.
Instead of riding his bike, Fury sent Steve and Brooklyn back to his apartment in one of SHIELD's armored vans. She sat in the backseat while Steve sat in the passenger's seat, looking over his shoulder over and over again to make sure she was alright, but Brooklyn just stared out the window longingly.
When the car parked, Steve scrambled to get out and pull the van door open for her, helping her out into the street before thanking their driver and ushering her into the building. He paused by the mailbox instinctively, before turning to his girl with a hopeless smile.
"What is it?" She asked quietly, her hazel eyes scanning him up and down as his eyes began to water.
"I've checked the mail religiously every day since you left. Now I don't have to."
"You should still check your mail, Soldier. Be a responsible adult." She teased, but Steve responded by scooping her up again and carrying her up the stairs. Brooklyn giggled as she tucked her head against his chest as he easily ran them up to the third floor, "I need to go away more often if this is how you treat me when I return."
"Please don't." Steve murmured when they reached his hallway, setting her down and pressing an slow kiss to her forehead. "Please don't leave again. Not for a little while."
"You know that isn't my decision to make, Steve."
Steve opened his mouth to respond, but Kate's door swung open and she appeared with her jacket in her hand. When her eyes landed on Brooklyn, she froze, "Oh! You're home! That's so wonderful!" She practically choked out and Steve beamed as he pulled Brooklyn tighter to his side.
He realized, though, that Brooklyn had gone stiff at the sight of the other woman. "Brooklyn, this is my neighbor, Kate. She's a nurse."
Brooklyn shoved her hand forward harshly, "Nice to meet you, Kate." She sneered and the blonde shook her hand. "How long have you lived here?"
"I moved in…" she looked to Steve questioningly, "Maybe a year?"
"She moved in not long after you left on your business trip." Steve said slowly, but Brooklyn just huffed and shrugged.
"Doesn't matter, nice to meet you, Kate." She said with a smile as the blonde's phone began to ring.
Kate pulled her cell from out of her pocket and looked to Steve casually, "It's my aunt."
"Oh?" Brooklyn said in almost a gasp, causing Steve to stare down at her for being so rude, "Wouldn't want to keep her waiting on our account. I'm sure she wants to hear about your work as a nurse."
Kate narrowed her eyes and gaped a Brooklyn a little as Steve stammered an apology, but his neighbor just smiled up sweetly at him, "I'll call her back. It isn't a big deal." She turned to Brooklyn and offered her the same sweet smile, despite Brooklyn's immediate disdain for Steve's favorite neighbor, "You remind me a lot of her. You have the same spirit I always admired in her. It's a lot to live up to."
"Well, then why bother try?" Brooklyn snapped, taking a step forward, but Kate just sighed and looked to Steve, "I gotta go. Talk soon?"
"Of course." Steve said evenly as Kate turned to go down the stairs. Once he knew she was out of earshot, he turned on Brooklyn, "What the hell was that Brooke?"
"I don't like her. I don't like the way she looks at you." Brooklyn said darkly as she pulled out her own key to Steve's apartment. "I'm sorry, I know she's probably really nice, but I don't trust her."
Steve's chest deflated at Brooklyn's words. He'd hoped his girl and his neighbor would be friends. "She's been a good friend to me while you were away. I was lonely, and nothing happened between the two of us. We just enjoy each other company and a cup of coffee every once in a while."
"Well, I'm home now, so you don't have to worry about being lonely again." Brooklyn said, as she tossed her jacket on the back of a chair at Steve's island. She looked around the apartment, and Steve bit his tongue when he saw how her expression dropped at the sight, "It hasn't changed a bit."
"Why would it?" Steve asked quietly, reaching down and taking her hand, "Life stopped when you went away. I just did what I had to so I could get by alone."
She looked up at him with big doe eyes that made his knees weak. When she reached up to grab his cheeks, Steve didn't know how long he could stay a gentleman, because he needed to strip her from that nightgown and burn it while he washed away all the stress and terrors she'd endured with his love. "Baby, I've waited for you every day. I thought about you all the time and waited for this moment." He swallowed, not wanting to scare her off because she was clearly spooked by coming back to reality, "Now that you're home, we can pick up where we left off."
Brooklyn placed both of her hands on Steve's chest as the air was audibly pulled from her lungs, "Which was where, exactly?"
Steve leaned his forehead down to rest against the top of hers, cupping her cheeks and rubbing her jaw with his thumbs, "We were in love." Her breath hitched and Steve closed his eyes, unable to meet her gaze when he asked his question, "Are you still in love with me?"
She didn't answer but bobbed her head up and down a little before a little whimper left her throat. Steve kissed her gently, then pulled away to look at her, finally drawing the words from her lips, "I am."
"Did you love him?" Steve asked quietly, and she shook her head, but tears began to stream from her eyes. He used his thumbs to wipe the tears away, trying to ease her pain and guilt, "It's okay. I can't imagine being in your position."
"I just had a life there, you know? And it's weird to know that it's gone. Nothing will ever be the same. It'll be so much better, but…" Brooklyn paused, and Steve pressed a soft kiss just below her ear, "I think I tried so hard not to think about you. I tried so hard not to imagine being back here with you that I forced myself to believe it was real to ease the pain."
"Whatever you need," Steve breathed into her ear as he leaned his cheek against her temple, "I'll give it to you. If you need space, time, whatever. It's yours."
"I just need you to be gentle with me for a while."
"Of course." Steve moaned as he ducked to kiss her lips slowly, teasing her with his small acts of affection, "You set the pace. I'll win you over all over again if I need to. I'm yours forever."
Brooklyn leaned away to get a good look at Steve, and he raised his brows expectantly at her melancholy expression. "You're too good to me. It's too much." She pushed her fingers through her hair and looked away, as she bit her lip. Steve wanted to lavish her with attention, but she wasn't ready yet, and he had to be patient. After a few moments, she added, "I don't deserve you."
Steve understood her guilt. She'd spent months in bed with another man, and of course she'd forced herself to like it. If Steve were in her situation, he'd try to enjoy himself too. However, Steve couldn't bring himself to feel guilt about putting two bullets through the man who had slept with his woman.
"Yes, you do." Steve answered quietly as he snaked his arms around her waist, pausing a moment to see if she'd try and get away. When she just leaned into him, he told her, "I want you. I waited for you. The ball is in your court, I'm yours to play with."
Brooklyn's lips morphed into a smirk and she ran her hands up around Steve's neck before latching them in his short hair, "Oh yeah? I have a few games we could play."
"You sure you're in good enough shape to get back on the field?"
"I'll suffer through the pain for you." She said coyly, but Steve could hear the seriousness in her voice. She pulled him down to kiss him hungrily, thrusting her hips towards him as his hands sank down to her ass.
"You're thicker than you were before." Steve growled as he squeezed her ass, breaking away from her kiss to gaze down at her breasts, "I love it."
Brooklyn moaned at his words as she nipped at his jaw, "Yeah? You don't miss your sleek agent?"
"How about I get this nightgown off and find out?" Steve's voice dropped an octave as he grabbed the light fabric and ripped it apart before sliding the scraps down Brooklyn's arms, "Hope you weren't fond of that. I don't want you to have anything of his in this apartment."
"Yes, Sir." She replied as he studied her intently, "Am I fit for duty, Soldier?"
Steve snorted as he reached forward and snapped her lacy underwear at the hips to discard along with her tattered nightgown, "I'll have to put you through your paces and find out."
"Not sure I'm in shape to… perform up to your standards." Brooklyn's voice almost sounded sad as she took a step back from Steve, but he just licked his lips and moved closer. He was going to eat her alive. "Steve?"
He snapped his head up from her smooth body to look into her eyes, seeing that she wasn't playing anymore, "Yes, Sweetheart?"
"I'm not the same person who left last year." She said slowly, shifting uncomfortably as she crossed her arms over her chest, causing her cleavage to look even bigger as Steve practically twitched in excitement to get his hands on her. "He did a number on me."
Steve sighed and nodded, pushing back his hair as he looked at the dark fireplace, "I know it won't be easy, but I want to help put you back together. I want you to feel happy and confident again." Steve's sincerity transformed into darkened lust as he began to stalk towards Brooklyn again, "Besides, I think I like you better this way. I just want to sink my teeth into you."
"Just your teeth?" Brooklyn taunted as the back of her thighs hit Steve's bed. He ripped his shirt over his head, and she sighed as she scanned him, "I used to have abs."
"I have enough for both of us." Steve slid his hand behind Brooklyn's neck and cradled her head, so she'd look up at him, "You lead. If you give me an inch, I'll take the whole mile."
Brooklyn ran her fingers down Steve's chest and over his cut abs before reaching the V that led down to his hardening cock. She bit the side of her cheek and looked up at him from under her dark lashes as her hands reached for his belt buckle, "I could do a mile. As long as we walk and not sprint."
"Baby, I'll fucking crawl if I can get myself inside you." Steve purred as she freed him from his jeans and let them fall to the floor around his ankles. He kicked himself out of the denim along with his sneakers before grabbing Brooklyn's upper back and dropping the two of them onto the bed. He held her inches from the mattress as he leaned on his other arm, gazing between them longingly, "Where do you want me to start?"
"Up here." Brooklyn hummed as she leaned forward to press her lips against Steve's, "Then work your way down. You gotta warm me up before the marathon."
Steve's chest rumbled with laughter that shook them both as he shook his head, "I've waited so long for you, it won't be a marathon tonight, Sweetheart. You'll be lucky if I last a sprint."
"Then it's a good thing I love how you warm me up." She whispered before Steve let them both fall to the bed, holding himself over her as he began to kissed his way from her lips to her breasts, then lower to devour every inch of her until he had to loan her back to Fury in the morning.