I shifted for what must have been the 100th time in my seat. We'd been on this plane for nine and a half hours and I was still nervous. Seven days on an island, a private island, alone with Steve wasn't going to do much for my mental state but hell, if it meant I'd get to sleep for a while then I was more than happy to face my emotions head-on. I shifted once more trying to stifle a yawn. Steve being the caring man that he was had offered for me to go to sleep saying he'd wake me up when we landed but I was too anxious. The small private plane was comfortable enough and the air was warm. Mixing in Steve and his overpowering scent, it was all making it hard though.
"We'll be landing in about fifteen minutes, it'll be a twenty-minute drive to the house and then you should sleep, alright?" Steve informed me.
I nodded turning my head to face the window. The sky was clear blue with no clouds to blotch the vast expanses of the calming color. Most of our ten-hour flight had been spent in nerve-wracking silence but not for lack of trying on Steve's part. The tense silence was all on me; any attempted he made was briskly shut down. I vaguely heard Jarvis inform us that our descent had begun and I couldn't help but feel foreboding and agitation settle in me. At that point I had no hope for a future with him, I was too young and petty to just let it go. That didn't seem to stop his buoyant gaze from locking on my face from time to time but I knew he could sense my trepidation and lingering animosity. He was choosing to ignore it. Forever the optimist he was choosing to stay hopeful. It made my anger dissipate somewhat but I could still feel it curling in my gut ready to spring up and lash out at any misstep on his part. Just like it had done on our date when I'd unintentionally tried to ruin the night or when I shoved him out of my bed after what was probably an innocent kiss.
"Jay, are you going to stay on the plane?" Steve asked with a chuckle at my inattention.
"I thought about it," I mumbled upon standing. His gaze flickered down and his mood fell a bit but he tried his hardest to hide it. I sighed. "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for."
"Look, I'm trying. Please just try to have a good time." He pleaded helplessly.
I sighed giving him a nod and allowed him to lead me off the plane and to a car. The salty air felt good on my lungs. It was warm but a cool sea breeze came off of the water making the temperature seem less harsh. The car ride was surprisingly smooth but slow and it was getting hard to keep my eyes open. Luckily it took less than the predetermined twenty minutes and as soon as our luggage was inside I collapsed on the couch and my eyes shut until the next morning.
"The water is really clear," I said amazed. Steve hummed his agreement not pausing in his effort to make a comfortable lounging area in a shady spot. I rolled my eyes at the effort he was putting in but ignored him and waded into the water. The water was cold but I didn't pay it any attention as I pushed further. I glanced at Steve over my shoulder to see him relaxing in the shade. "You know the point of going to the beach is to swim right?" I snarked.
"You know you have a smart-ass mouth right?" He retorted.
"Language." I snapped playfully.
"So we're telling jokes now?" He teased.
"Maybe, maybe not. What are you going to do about it?" I challenged. He seemed to contemplate it for a moment before jumping up and sprinting at me. I laughed running from him but my legs were shorter and the water slowed me down enough that he caught me after a few minutes. His arm wrapped around my waist and I was lifted and spun around until Steve lost his footing and we both went down, the water breaking outfall.
"You used the water against me." I pouted.
"No, I just used it to my advantage." He laughed.
We stayed in the water until the evening air began to grow cold. We rushed inside laughing about the last wave that had knocked us off our feet. We both got dressed and went to the kitchen which Tony had flown out beforehand to stock with food. Steve offered to grill hamburgers and I agreed lazily, pulling my jacket closer to my body as we stepped out into the cold damp air.
"I really didn't believe Tony when he said it got cold here but damn I should have listened." Steve laughed handing me a plate.
"Do you believe that he'll stay away for the whole week?" I asked.
"No, I don't but I hope he does." He admitted.
"This is really good." I complimented.
"Thanks. Uh, I know we didn't get a chance to explore the house last night but I looked around this morning and it's one bedroom but I can take the couch if you're not ready to share a bed..." He trailed off.
"You're rambling." I laughed.
That night we hadn't slept in the bed together. While he was showering I fell into a fitful sleep in the chair that occupied one corner of the bedroom. The next morning breakfast was quiet until we both got more woken up, then we went on a hike until we found some suitable cliffs for diving. Although looking over the cliff edge I realized that I didn't like heights if I could see the landing.
"What's wrong, you looked happy a moment ago," Steve asked kicking his shoes off.
"I seem to have just discovered that I'm afraid of heights," I mumbled.
"You do fine flying." He commented.
"I also can't see the ground," I replied backing away from the uneven edge.
"You know how to concur fears right?" He gave me an evil grin.
"No, don't you think about it," I shouted darting away from him. He laughed and gave chase until finally, he grabbed me. I shouted my protests and struggled against his grip while he ran at the cliff. I gave a short cry as his feet left the earth in a graceful leap and I felt my heart stop and my brain speed up and my stomach in my throat as we dropped until we hit the water and I realized that I felt alive. I was alive and in love and where I was meant to be with who I was meant to be with. Our heads broke the surface and I couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled up. I wrapped my body around him as he swam back to land.
"Steve, kiss me," I said as he pulled us from the water. He responded by locking our lips together in an intimate kiss. I moved my lips against his savoring his taste mixed with the salty water. He pulled away from me pressing our foreheads together. I smiled finally feeling the lingering ire leave my body. Everything felt like it was falling into place. It felt like my personal hell was drawing to an end. I just needed to say the words and I'd be happy again but I couldn't at that moment, the timing was wrong.
I laughed running from Steve as the sun set behind us. I'd poked his belly button goading him until he finally decided to play along. I turned my body swiftly dodging the obstacles all the while laughing and not paying attention to the uneven ground. Until I toppled, my foot hitting an indent and hearing the odd snap of my ankle dislocating.
"Jayson, are you okay?" Steve asked running up to me.
"I'm fine, but I hurt my ankle," I said a bit disoriented from my fall.
"How bad is it?" He asked looking it over.
"I think it's just dislocated," I told him.
"Alright, it's getting too dark out here for me to do anything about it, let me carry you back to the house so I can relocate it." He sounded hesitant. I wrapped my arms around his neck and allowed him to hick his arms around me and pick me up bridal style. The trek back to the house was silent as I rested my head against him taking in the soothing scent I'd grown so attached to. steve didn't complain as my added weight made it harder to move across the rugged terrain. He'd never complained about helping me. He hadn't once complained about having to take care of me. He was so perfect that it hurt. And if I were being completely honest with myself I was having trouble remembering why I was mad at him in the first place. We reached the house and he set me gently on the couch, kneeling down so he could look at my ankle.
"You're right it's just dislocated. I can relocate it for you but it'll probably be sore for a day or so." He said rubbing it gently.
"Okay, do it," I said holding my breath.
"Alright on three. One. Two." The pain wasn't the worst I'd ever felt but the sound knotted my stomach making me want to puke.
"Are you okay?" He asked, voice soft.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I said swallowing hard.
I fought back a yawn a few hours later. Steve laughed and poked my nose. His eyes were bright but held a sad cast to them that made his face look a bit older. It made my chest ache. "What's with the face?" He asked. I pushed myself up so I was straddling his stomach.
"Nothing, I'm just tired," I said trying to fight back another yawn.
"Alright, why don't you take the bed tonight, that way you can rest properly," Steve suggested.
"Or we can both sleep here, together, on the bed," I said slowly
"Are you sure?" He asked trying to hide his excitement.
"Yes," I whispered lowering my eyes. "Please?"
"Of course, anything you want." He agreed. We curled up together and I fell asleep in less than two minutes. My dreams were not happy dreams of some fantasy reality, they were, however memories I had of Steve from the moment he cut my hip open with his shield. Memories of the mix of emotions I'd felt around him. Memories of a time when he scared me and memories of a time I realized I felt something for him other than some neutral feeling of nothingness. Memories of worry and laughs and great sex that satisfied but also left me wanting more. When I woke up to an already dressed Steve I launched myself at him wrapping my around around his neck and pushed our lips together. He made a muffled sound of surprise and wrapped his arms around me to keep us from falling.
"What's gotten into you?" He laughed when I pulled away.
"I've missed you," I said tone a bit whiny.
"I've missed you too, Jay. I love you." He said happily.
"I'm hungry," I said.
"Okay, I'll make you breakfast while you get dressed." He laughed.
"Yes, sir," I said giving him a mock salute. I started rummaging around through my suitcase trying to find clothes. I threw a pair of sunglasses that Maria insisted I needed and they landed on a bag that Steve had brought and had yet to open. Curiosity crawled through me and I tried to ignore it but despite my best efforts, I couldn't. I moved over to the bag and unzipped it and couldn't stop the resonant laughs that escaped me upon what I saw. It was full of various boxes of tampons. No two were the same. I'd almost forgotten about the ridiculous demand I'd made. I ended up doubled over in laughter and only laughed harder when Steve came in to inform me that breakfast was ready.
"I didn't expect you to actually get any tampons let alone every box you could find," I said trying to calm my breathing.
"Okay in my defense you didn't specify and I've never had to buy tampons before and the lady who tried to help me couldn't." His face was tinted pink and it was the cutest thing I'd ever seen.
"Steve," I called before he could start rambling.
"Yes?" He answered.
"When we get back to New York I want to come home," I said looking at him shyly.
"Does this mean you've forgiven me?" His grin split his face and made him look years younger.
"Yes, I also want us to be together." My voice cracked.