Author Notes

I'm not the best at writing actions scenes but hopefully they work well enough for you to get the gist.

Thank you NocturnalRites for the beta work and for all the support! You rock and are very much appreciated!

Thank you everyone who has been reading and everyone that has left comments and kudos and sent private messages! I love hearing what people think.

Chapter 12 Awards

Felicity finished her scan and turned in her chair to watch the group behind her. She couldn't resist any longer. Getting up, she changed positions so she could more easily see what was happening. Felicity's heart sped up at the sight. Steve was in the middle of the mats, shirtless. He was a big man. He looked bigger shirtless, if that was possible. He was seriously muscled, but not in the way a weightlifter gets. These were muscles made to work, throw, fight. She worked around some seriously beautiful men, but he took her breath away.

At the moment he was in the middle of the group. Digg, Sara and Oliver wielded staffs around him. He was ducking and moving fast enough not to be hit, only occasionally using his forearm to counter a blow coming at him. His concentration seemed to be on watching the others rather than trying to fight back very much.

Sara and Oliver shared a look before Sara thrust her staff forward and spun it at Steve's head. Steve was in the process of countering Digg's hit which left him turned slightly away from the female assassin. As the end of her staff was about to connect with Steve's head his hand came up, caught the weapon by the tip at the same time he shifted his body backwards, moving his head out of the way. He used Sara's momentum to pull her forward and used her own staff to block the body blow Oliver was moving in for.

Sara had been a distraction to allow Oliver an opening. Felicity could see that now, but Steve hadn't allowed it to happen. As Oliver's blow slid off of Sara's staff, now held by both she and Steve, Steve twisted and pulled at the same time, taking Sara off her feet and disarming her. She rolled away quickly, coming to her feet in a crouch. Oliver had used Sara's distraction to launch himself at Steve in a side kick. He managed to land a glancing blow. Steve hadn't had quite enough time to get out of the way and still stop Digg's staff from cracking him in the head.

As Oliver was launching his attack, Sara vaulted to her feet and jumped into the air, spun and flipped herself backwards at Steve who had grabbed Digg's forearm and propelled the large man around and into Oliver. At the last second, Steve flipped himself backwards landing to the side of where Sara had aimed her attack. Without his body there for her to impact, the young assassin's forward motion would have propelled her into hitting a beam and possibly hurt herself, but Steve plucked her out of the air, their momentum forcing them back.

Steve controlled the fall and turned so his body took most of the impact before lightly tossing Sara to join the other men climbing to their feet. Oliver saw what was coming his way and braced to stop his girlfriend's fall. The half crooked smile Steve sent Oliver's way as the Arrow caught his Canary and landed once again on the floor beside Diggle made Felicity smile. She really liked that Steve joked with Oliver. Oliver needed more of that in his life. Maybe he'd get used to it and stop looking startled when Steve did it.

Roy stood up from where he'd been watching, still unsure of his emotions enough to have actually joined in. "And the winner of the prize for highest pile of stacked vigilantes goes to Captain America!" The young man exclaimed, holding out a hand to help the 'pile' stand up. Oliver rolled to his feet. Sara accepted Steve's hand and Digg let Roy pull him up.

"Great workout, man," Digg said, moving to grab his water bottle. Steve thanked him and began giving pointers on what he could see that they could work on. Felicity concentrated on breathing normally after watching the play of muscle as the team had worked out and Steve's display of agility and strength.

She was just turning back to her computers to check a beep when Kermit the Frog started singing 'It's Not Easy Being Green". She looked around for the source. Seeing Steve's jacket hanging on the chair next to heir's she was about to reach for it when his voice stopped her.

"That's Bruce," he shouted, not breaking stride as the group started another session. The three warriors were already surrounding him but this time they were obviously keeping his suggestions in mind. She could see he had to move faster and put more effort into avoiding their attack. "Do you mind answering it, Felicity, and telling him to hang on just a second? I left him a message earlier when I was changing. He's probably returning my call."

Bruce. He must mean Dr Bruce Banner. Felicity wasn't sure how she felt about answering the Hulk's call. She'd never seen the man before, only the beast he turned into. Like most of America, if not the world, she'd seen scenes from New York and watched the Hulk literally tear aliens limb from limb. "Steve Rogers' phone," she answered.

"Ahhh, hi," the voice on the other end of the line was surprisingly smooth and pleasant. It was even a little tentative, not ragey at all.

"I know Steve didn't get a secretary so this must be the Ms. Smoak I've heard so much about. I'm Bruce Banner returning Steve's call," the man on the other end of the line said. She felt herself smile that Steve had been talking about her.

"Call me Felicity, Dr. Banner," she replied. "Steve asked me to answer. He said he'd be just a moment and here he comes now." She told Banner.

"It was nice to talk to you, Felicity. Please call me Bruce."

"I'll do that, Bruce. Here's Steve," she finished as she handed the phone to her sweaty date.

"Thanks." he smiled and took the phone from her before settling into the chair his jacket was hanging on next to her. Felicity glanced behind her at the group still working on the mats. She could tell that Oliver was paying more attention to Steve's conversation than he was to the fight. Digg was able to hit him across the back of the legs. Sara, too, had slowed up and seemed to be listening.

"Thanks for returning my call, Bruce." Steve was saying. She wished she could hear the conversation on the other end of the line. "No, the ring tone is still the same. I haven't figured out how to change them yet. I had it figured out once, but Tony locked the phone on me and forbid Jarvis to tell me how to unlock it."

"It's a song about how hard it is to be green," he was saying. Felicity tried to hide her smile. So Tony Stark had programmed Steve's ring tones before locking him out of that feature so he couldn't change them back. For some reason, that seemed surprising to her.

It was hard to think of the serious, battle-hardened group that the world had watched stand against the aliens in New York as being human enough to pick on each other. She couldn't really see Oliver pranking one of them or taking it well if she did it.

Felicity glanced over at Steve. She guessed she'd seen the Avengers as larger than life, including Captain America. The trouble was, it was hard to think of Steve as Captain America. He'd started out as Steve and that was what he was to her. In the abstract she knew who he was, but to her he was just a really amazing man with a build she wanted to run her hands all over.

"Could be worse, Natasha's is Itsy Bitsy Spider' and Hawkeye's is the big bird from a kids' show singing 'Birdland Jump'," Steve was saying. Felicity couldn't have stopped the bark of laughter that erupted from her if she'd tried. She received a roll of eyes and a playfully dirty look from Steve. "Not. Funny," he mouthed.

"I can fix that for you," she whispered to him. Steve smiled and nodded enthusiastically, mouthing "You're forgiven" to her. She smiled and turned back to her computers. She loved his quick wit and easygoing sense of humor.

"So about the message," he interrupted the conversation coming from the other end of the line. "I could sure use your help, Bruce." He listened intently to the other end of the conversation and looked sad for a moment at what was being said. When he answered, his voice had a new air of authority in it she hadn't heard before. "Bruce, I need your help, not the other guys, but if you're uncomfortable, we don't have to do this." There was also patience and understanding in his tone. It must have done the trick. She watched him relax as he listened.

"Thank you," he said, sounding like the conversation was coming to an end. Felicity glanced over at Steve just in time to see him sit up straighter and tense. "Why didn't Pepper call me?" his voice full of worry. The three sparring on the back mat had finished and Oliver was coming over to stand near Felicity's computer as Steve's body language clearly showed his concern.

"Tony forbidding her doesn't seem to matter all that much any other time." The frown on his face clearly said that Steve did not like what he was hearing. "Doesn't matter, it's still my responsibility." His body was no longer relaxed as he continued to listen.

"Maybe he's not ready for this," Steve stated. "Just because he's building suits again doesn't mean he's forgotten what that wormhole felt like." The more that Steve talked, the more that she watched him tense until he finally stood, his fist clenched. "I'll call Tony," he said after a while of listening. "I've got him. Thank you for letting me know, Banner." Steve hung up with a sigh.

"Obviously there's a problem. Is there anything we can do to help?" Oliver's offer didn't surprised Felicity. He might not always have the right plan, but Oliver was always willing to try to help those he considered under his care. Apparently Steve was being added to that group. She could see that it had taken Steve by surprise though.

"Thank you, Oliver, but I just need to talk to Felicity for a few minutes." Steve answered. Oliver nodded.

"I'm going to go take a shower, but if you need anything I can help with, let me know. You're not the only one willing to help a friend." Oliver squeezed Steve's shoulder before picking up his water bottle and heading to the shower.

Felicity noticed that Diggle was shepherding Roy and Sara up the stairs. Her stomach turned over a little bit. Steve wanted to talk to her in private, that had suck written all over it.

"You're cancelling our date." Felicity blurted. "It's OK; I know that you have to take care of your friend…" Steve sat back down in the chair next to her and took her hands, interrupting her.

"As much as I love listening to you, because I do," Steve told her, "I think I need it to be my turn for a minute, doll." She tried to smile at his endearment, but she was fighting the disappointment as well. Something always stopped her when she thought she was going to take a good step in relationships. Well at least it wasn't as drastic as lightning this time. She should have known that Steve was too good to be true. He was probably on his way back to New York to take care of Stark like he'd told his friend Bruce.

"I think it worries me when I can see the thoughts racing around behind those beautiful eyes but you're not blurting anything out," he told her. "I do need to cancel the fundraiser part of our date Felicity, but it's not because I want to. Will you allow me to make it up to you?" She could see that he wasn't sure of her. That surprised her. Who would turn down such an amazing man? "I know it was on the news about the episodes Tony had in public right before his home was destroyed and then he destroyed all the Ironmen suits."

She nodded. She'd seen them and the wild speculation what had caused them.

"Tony went through a wormhole in the battle of New York. It's a long story and some parts of it I can't tell you, but we thought he was dead. When he came crashing back to earth, unconscious, Hulk barely caught him in time." Steve's words surprised her. She hadn't known that Tony Stark had nearly died.

"He was in another realm and none of us, except maybe Thor, has any idea what exactly he saw but it got to him. He's been trying to get past it and this fundraiser is the first time he's going to be in public in a suit since it all happened." Steve sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Pepper Potts was supposed to be with him and he seemed to think he was alright, but Pepper had an issue come up and can't come. From what I'm being told he is worried about losing control and doesn't want her to tell me."

"It's a billionaire thing," Felicity pointed out, earning a laugh from Steve. "They don't like anyone to know they aren't perfect or that they might actually need help."

"Yeah?" Steve questioned. "Is that how Oliver has been?"

"He takes help, but he takes everything on himself to protect us. I think it says just how scared he is that he can't win against Slade that he's let you in." She didn't mean to admit so much to Steve, but her uncertainty was hitting her babble button. "So are you headed back to New York?"

"No," he was quick to assure her, a look of surprise on his face. "I don't want to be in New York even if you weren't here, Felicity, but you are and I want the chance to see where things can go with you." Steve's words made her heart jump and lifted some of the worry she felt. "I'm hoping you might want to be my girl if I play my cards right." His lopsided smile and hopeful look coupled with the old time wording melted her heart. She smiled back and laced her fingers through his, squeezing.

"You've been playing some pretty good cards so far," she told him, leaning in to give him a quick peck, but Steve had other ideas. He let go of one of her hands and used his to tangle in her hair at the back of her neck, gently holding her in place so that he could deepen the kiss. Felicity moaned breathlessly when he nipped at her bottom lip. As soon as she opened to him, Steve swept his tongue in to tangle with hers before pulling back and placing a kiss on her forehead. She liked that his breathing was as fast as hers.

"That was a really great card," she told him. He chuckled before sliding his hand to capture her chin and raise her face to his.

"I need to be there at the fundraiser suited up as Captain America." Steve told her. "That will help Tony hold things together to have one of us beside him but I also need to be there suited up if he loses it and I have to stop him from doing any damage. Tony is not someone you want the locals handling and especially if he has access to a suit."

"But just you against Ironman?" she questioned, suddenly nervous this night could turn into a disaster. "I know you're Captain America, but you can still get hurt and he has a mechanical suit. Fleshy bits against mechanical never turn out well for the fleshy bits.

"I stopped him and Thor from killing each other when we all first met. I think I'll be OK," he told her with a warm look in his eyes. "It's nice that you worried about me," he told her. "But you don't have to. Besides, Pepper likes me and Tony is scared of her. He won't hurt me that much." There was amusement in his voice.

Felicity nodded. He sounded like he'd be fine. He didn't need her worrying about him. She could also see what he was saying about needing to be there if things did go wrong and of course he wouldn't want her by Captain America's side. She was just a former IT girl turned EA. She wasn't Captain America arm candy material. The feeling of watching Oliver walk through various parties with all his different arm candies left her feeling cold.

"No, No, Felicity, that's not it at all." Steve rushed to assure her. "And I can see by your face you hadn't meant to say that. But I'm glad you did. You not blurting things was starting to make me worry." That got a smile out of her even as she punched him in the arm.

"Then what is it?" she questioned.

"I would be very proud to have you on my arm and to show you off to the world." Steve looked at her with wonder in his eyes. "You're beautiful, smart, funny, why wouldn't I be, but I'm hoping when Tony leaves they will assume Captain America left too. It's not unusual for me to go with Tony to a fundraiser the Avengers are going to then leave at the same time.

I'm done trying to hide who I am here in Starling. I'm not good at it, but I'm not going to advertise it either. If someone is hunting me, I'm not going to go national to paint a target on your back." That sounded reasonable when he put it that way. "But I will get to talk to you at the party and introduce you to Tony. I want him to meet you. I'm disappointed Pepper won't be there. I think you two would like each other." She wasn't sure what she could possibly have in common with Pepper Potts, but she liked that he put her in the same thought as he did the beautiful, polished CEO of Stark Industries.

"I'd like it if you'd let me make this up to you starting tonight. We could have drinks with Tony in his suite after this thing. It's in the same hotel as the event so we just walk up the steps and no one is the wiser. What do you say? Have drinks with a couple of Avengers this evening and let Steve take you to the dinner of your choice tomorrow to start making up for canceling on you and maybe for introducing you to Tony? That can go either way with people."

Felicity couldn't help chuckling a little at that. She'd seen enough footage of Tony Stark on TV to figure out he was arrogant and difficult and maybe one of the smartest men of their time. She could put up with some arrogance if he'd let her see some of his tech. For a moment she wondered if weaseling tech ogles out of someone was proper drinks etiquette then realized that she'd probably said that out loud. She swung her gaze up to meet Steve's.

He looked back curious for a moment before letting out a chuckle of his own. "You're wondering if you said whatever has had you woolgathering for the last little bit out loud aren't you?"

"Did I?" she asked. It was a little disconcerting how well this man read her after only knowing her such a short time. People overlooked her unless they needed her. Steve saw her and was getting a pretty good handle on reading her. It was scary and amazing all at the same time.

"No," he told her. "You're safe this time, but I'm a little disappointed. I'm terrible at reading women. It's much easier when you're telling me what you're thinking."

"You mean you only like me for my mouth?" She came back before suddenly realizing what she'd said. Steve turned red. She felt her own face get hotter. "Ahhh, I didn't mean for my mouth as in a sexy way but because I do… well this."

"I like you for more than your mouth, dollface," Steve finally managed to get out of his mouth though his color hadn't come close to returning to normal. "But those lips are a definite plus for all of the above." Steve paused for a moment. "Are we OK, Felicity?" He finally asked. "I don't want to mess this up"

"We're fine," she told him honestly. It wasn't as if she didn't understand how things could change or the responsibilities of heroes. "I understand and a plus is that you're willing to make it up to me. I figure your guilt should be good for a make out session on the couch and a bottle of wine?" Felicity liked the sound of Steve's laughter and she loved that she could make him blush. She knew her face was a little bit red. It felt good to not be the only one that wasn't a worldly playboy.

"That's a deal," he was quick to agree. Pulling Felicity's chair toward his he stood up with her still seated and easily lifted the chair she was sitting in. She squeaked a little and braced her hands on the chair arms as he stepped between her legs and leaned in to kiss her.

It felt strange, the feel of the chair under her, her legs supported so that she didn't have to wrap them around his waist. It was a little disappointing to not be able to brush her heat against him. She wanted the pressure. The kiss that he was giving her was setting her on fire. Being in the chair but held so close to him felt exciting and intimate. She was beginning to see the fun in the slow build he seemed have in mind for them.

Suddenly it hit her that Steve was holding her and her chair as if they weighed nothing. She moaned and reached for Steve's shoulders wanting to feel his hard planes under her fingers. The play of muscle as he supported her was turning her on.

She took advantage of the fact that he had to use his hands to hold up the chair she was sitting and ran her own down his chest. Circling his hard flat male nipple, she flicked her finger nail across one experimentally and was rewarded with a groan that rumbled through his chest and a quick intake of breath. Steve nipped lightly at the corner of her mouth and jaw line before moving to her neck. Felicity allowed her head to fall to the side to give him better access. He'd never traveled so far down her neck before and it was causing little moans of her own to escape.

Liking the direction Steve was taking, she decided to go for more. Sliding both hands down to the area of his body she wished she had her center pressed against right now, she brushed by in a quick move that teased but didn't cross any boundaries she thought he might not want to cross yet. Steve moaned and nipped at her collarbone sending tendrils of heat through her body.

Smiling at her results, she went for more. Sliding both hands up and lightly pinched both of his nipples at the same time, she slid an ankle up the back of his heavily muscled leg. The groan that she caused with her hands turned to a growl when it came out of him. The nip Steve gave to Felicity's throat was obviously uncontrolled and stronger than anything he'd been placing on his travel down her throat.

Felicity couldn't help the whimper that escaped her as liquid desire pooled low in her belly. Steve pulled back quickly, meeting her eyes. His were blown with lust, turning his blue dark and stormy. With a quick intake of breath he dropped his head to where her neck and shoulder met, dropping a kiss on her skin where he'd probably just marked her.

"Down payment on later?" she questioned, also breathing hard.

Steve snorted against her neck. She'd made him snort! She wasn't sure why that made her proud.

"Yes," he agreed, "down payment." Steve set her chair down lightly and let go, squeezing her arms lightly. "I'm not sure I'm going to survive payment in full," he decided, making her laugh. She was confused when Steve's face suddenly turned serious and he reached forward lifting her chin to examine her neck. "Oh God, Felicity, I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" She wasn't sure what he meant.

"Your neck. You caught me by surprise. I lost control for a second. I left a mark." He trailed off running a finger across where he'd used his teeth on her a little more enthusiastically than he'd obviously intended. Picking up her cell phone, Felicity flipped the camera around and used the device to look at the mark. It was low on her throat, almost over her heart. She smiled and ran a finger over it. "I like that you marked me as yours and its low enough I can cover it in public," she told him feeling a blush work its way up her throat. "I like that you lost control a little with me."

Steve's pupils had gone almost black at her words. He reached a finger out to trace the bruise. He didn't say anything. Felicity sighed and closed her eyes at his touch. Steve slid his hand up to her throat and around the back of her neck to pull her to him for quick kiss. She opened for him as his lips met hers. He didn't allow it to go on for long but pulled back almost immediately. Dropping another kiss on her forehead he sighed and stepped back.

"I better go find Roy before I leave." He reached for the water bottle he'd set down when he'd taken the call. "I'll see you tonight."

"Yes," she agreed, standing up. "Wonder if I can grope Captain America's butt without getting on national television." She mused out loud, not taking her eyes off of Steve.

He was just taking a drink, which he promptly spit out with his surprise and swung back to her. At the mischievous look on her face, he wiped his mouth and raised an eyebrow. "You meant to do that." He accused. She didn't answer, just smiled at him. "Ok, I see how it is." He chuckled. "All right, Felicity Smoak, you win this one, but they tell me I'm fairly good at battle plans." His blue eyes were very intense but there was laughter in them also.

"I just started a war, didn't I," she asked, just a little nervous about what he might plan to even the score.

"Not a war," he assured her, "but maybe a little skirmish." Who knew Captain America had a good evil look. There was just something wrong with that. Steve chuckled as he hit the stairs. She wondered if she'd said any of that out loud.

Steve closed the door of the basement and leaned against it for a second, giving himself a moment to focus. Felicity had gone to his head. He wasn't sure he could wait much longer before taking her to bed. She made his blood run hot. He'd never wanted anyone as intensely as he wanted Felicity. It was as scary as it was exciting. Pushing off the door and pushing thoughts of the woman on the other side of the door for later, Steve found Roy moving boxes of bottles.

Without a word, he jumped in and helped the young man finish moving the stack he was working on. "Thanks, man," Roy offered. "So is your friend coming down to babysit me?" He didn't seem very happy at the prospect. "Because I gotta tell you I can't imagine someone understanding what I'm going through or being able to help. The rage isn't something I can turn on or off, I've tried. Oliver has tried to help me."

Steve searched for something that would help the young man. "What happened to you is not easy, but it happened. You can let it beat you or you can stand up and fight. One of the best men I know is a giant green rage monster that broke Harlem before he learned control early on." Steve didn't know if he was helping, but the young man was listening to him. "That was before I met Bruce Banner, but now he's got his rage under control. I trust him, whether he's Bruce or Hulk. He found a way and he's willing to help you. You couldn't ask for better than Dr Bannor. What do you say Roy, seems like you'd be in pretty good company?"

"You're saying if this guy Banner can find a way to control his inner Hulk, I should be able to get a handle on my blood rage?" Roy shifted where he was leaning on bar and plopped down in a chair at the table Steve was leaning on.

"Yeah, that's what I'm saying."

"If he's willing to come all this way, I guess it wouldn't hurt." Roy smirked, "Well unless I piss him off and the Hulk kills me." He pointed out.

"Let's avoid that." Steve suggested, standing and offering Roy his hand. As Roy was accepting it, he glanced around him, took in the still empty room and met Steve's eyes without releasing his hand.

"That thing you did downstairs, you didn't seem to have much trouble putting me against the wall." Steve just nodded, unsure where his young friend was going with this. "I'm scared," Roy confessed. "I'm scared for me, but mostly I'm scared I'll get out of control and hurt someone and there won't be anyone around to stop me."

Steve could understand the young man's feelings. Roy went up in his book. He was trying to make sure he never hurt the innocents around him. That said a lot about his character deep down.

"I'll stop you if I need to, Roy, you have my word." Roy just studied Steve's eyes for a moment. A look of relief crossed his face before he nodded and released Steve's hand. As Steve turned to make his way to his home to shower and change he shook his head marveling at the world he found himself in. Just two weeks ago he'd felt isolated and trapped in his own head. Now he was falling ass over tea kettle for a beautiful dame and was starting to find people to maybe trust again. Suddenly he realized he was even looking forward to the fundraiser and seeing Tony. Bucky was still a hole in his heart but that particular organ was starting to heal a little bit.