It was late afternoon when they all walked out of the meeting at the palace. Everything was planned and ready, except for a cover for Steve and Jane. Nakia was tapping into her network and promised to let Steve know as soon as she had something. Sam and Nat were set to leave that night. Shuri and Bucky would go the next morning, and Steve and Jane would leave the following evening, followed by T'Challa and Nakia three days after them.
Steve was eager to get to the design institute where Shuri had brought Bucky after he'd woken from cryosleep. The Quinjet landed with barely a shudder and Jane was right behind Steve as he followed Shuri into the building. The three of them walked down the spiral ramp, and Steve looked around, his eyes finding his best friend sitting on a bed on the far side of the lab.
"Buck." Smiled Steve as he approached, extending his hand.
"Steve." Said Bucky, his eyes much softer and kinder than the first time Jane had seen him as he shook Steve's hand
"How are you feeling?" asked Steve.
"A little woozy at times, but a lot more like myself." He directed his gaze to Jane. "Hi, Li liweyo," he said with a grin.
"Just call me Jane," she smiled.
"Jane, what has this punk been up to while I was out?"
She raised her eyebrows in jest, "I think we should probably sit down somewhere with a drink to talk about that."
Bucky's eyes shot to Steve, who was trying hard to push the blush from his cheeks. "Now I'm intrigued."
Shuri strode over with a tablet in hand. "Li liweyo, I have something for you." Jane followed her, leaving Steve and Bucky on their own.
"Have you asked her on a date yet?" asked Bucky.
"She asked me."
"How'd it go?"
Steve blushed up to his ears, clenching his jaw.
"That good huh?" Mused Bucky, smiling like a Cheshire cat.
Steve nodded shyly.
"So are you... goin' steady?"
Steve cleared his throat. "It's hard to explain... she's not like other girls."
A doubtful look crossed Bucky's face. "How so?"
"She doesn't know, or she does because of me, but she's never really dated anybody before."
Bucky snorted. "Neither have you, pal."
Steve chuckled. "Yeah, I know."
"So have you kissed her?"
"Yeah."
"Did she like it?"
Steve shot him a look that said: "Come on."
"Rounded second base yet?"
Steve was blushing again. "She has."
"Steve," began Bucky with an exasperated look on his face, "you gotta get with it, she's showing you the way."
"I don't want to go too fast and have her regretting anything." He explained. "She means a lot to me."
"Yeah, just be careful not to make her feel rejected. I can tell you dames don't like that."
Steve frowned. He hadn't thought of it that way.
"So do you love her?" asked Bucky.
Steve's face grew serious. "I think I do."
"Well have you told her?"
Steve's jaw clenched.
"Steve, do I need to knock some sense into you?"
"I know..." blurted Steve, taking his hand out of his pocket and running it nervously through his hair.
On the other side of the lab, Shuri came to a standstill in front of a mannequin and handed Jane a bracelet. It was the colour of gunmetal and Jane ran her thumb over the intricate motif carved into its surface. She looked up at Shuri, "this is beautiful."
"That's just your way to my gift." Said Shuri, smirking. She reached over and touched the smooth round focal point surrounded by the intricate motif.
Jane's eyes snapped to the mannequin. Led by a glowing golden edge, a suit appeared as if out of thin air until the mannequin was completely clothed. She took a step closer, awestruck.
Shuri chuckled, "you are looking at the latest incarnation of my nanotech Vibranium-leather armour. I have incorporated various aspects that have made up who you are here, with us, in the design."
Jane's eyes roved the charcoal coloured suit that had aspects of the armour of the Dora Milaje to it. The armour over the shoulders and chest, in particular, reminded her of it, though it was all more or less the same shade of charcoal and not all metal. The detail in the reinforced areas around the elbows, knees and around the abdomen revealed the same runes that were carved on the box they'd found her in. It lacked the dress aspect that the Dora's armour had around the hips. It was more of a catsuit. Intricate golden tread-like inlays around the neck caught the light as Jane walked around what she considered a masterpiece.
She noticed a star on top of each of the bracers covering the wrists, and she knew that was how Shuri had incorporated Steve.
She looked around at her friend, tears stinging her eyes. "Shuri, I don't know what to say, this is too much."
"No it's not," deadpanned Shuri, putting the bracelet around Janes' arm and touching the disk again. As Jane looked down, the suit appeared on her body, fitting her like a second skin. As the golden edges closed on each other, the line of runes that ran down Jane's back appeared on the suit, glowing for a second and Shuri smiled like the cat that got the cream.
"It takes on the characteristics of its owner, making it truly, your own."
Jane turned her now gloved hands over, examining the otherworldly thread of the material.
"I don't know how to thank you." She said.
"How about you stay alive and make it back here with us?" Shuri asked, more serious.
"I certainly don't intend on doing anything else," replied Jane and Shuri smiled.
Shuri took Jane's wrist and turned it, so her palm faced up and she pressed down on the brace. A small square compartment opened revealing the runestone that Shuri had pulled from Jane's throat the night they'd found her.
"Just in case you need it." Said Shuri.
Jane could feel its ghost in her throat and swallowed, closing the compartment with another touch.
Steve caught Bucky staring in the direction Jane and Shuri had gone, and he turned to see Jane walking towards them in the suit.
"Nice," nodded Bucky as she reached them.
"Right?" She agreed with a huge grin on her face.
She looked up at Steve whose eyes held a mix of concern and wonder. It hit home for him at that moment that they were deliberately taking her into harm's way and he was very grateful to Shuri, who he was sure had built in every protective measure possible. Jane touched the disk on the bracelet and the suit dissipated, leaving her standing in the skinny jeans and white shirt she'd put on that morning, and Steve blinked out of his reverie.
He turned to Bucky. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"
"I am." He replied. "It's nice to be wanted."
It was dark by the time Steve and Jane returned to the apartment block. Nat heard the elevator arrive and poked her head out of her apartment.
"We ordered pizza."
"Well look what the cat dragged in," mused Sam as they walked in and Steve closed the door behind them.
"How is he?" Sam asked Steve.
"He's more like the way I remember him," answered Steve.
"That's gotta be an improvement," muttered Sam as he took a large bite out of a slice of pizza.
Jane noticed the packed bags by the door and the gear both Nat, and Sam was wearing and it hit her with full force that they were about to embark on the journey that would lead her to herself and hopefully, her purpose.
They ate and joked until it was time for them to leave and Steve and Jane saw them off on the roof where they boarded the Quinjet.
"See you on the other side," said Sam as the ramp closed. They watched as the Quinjet disappeared from view and walked back to the elevator.
Steve took Jane's hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. The intensity of the simple gesture from him struck her. Once the elevator doors closed, you could cut the tension between them with a knife.
She looked up at him, and he caught her in the corner of his eye. Being next to her in this small space had him feeling like he could run through several walls. He was working just to stand next to her.
"Do you want to come over and watch a movie?" She asked, her voice soft.
He was tentative about it for a second and then he remembered his conversation with Bucky.
"I'd like that." He replied.
The elevator doors opened, and they walked out, hand in hand to Jane's door. Once inside, he made a beeline for the couch, and he could hear her chuckle behind him. She put food out for Dog and gave him a good scratch, washed her hands and made them some coffee, she contemplated the Whiskey in the cupboard for a moment and then remembered that Steve couldn't get even a little tipsy.
She put the coffee down on the coffee table and sat down next to him.
"Thank you," he said.
"My pleasure," she smiled at him.
"What are we watching?" he asked.
"Whatever you like."
He didn't know why, but he suddenly remembered the day he went down to the VA on Sam's request, and Sam asked him what made him happy. Steve recalled his reply. "I don't know."
He looked at Jane sipping her coffee next to him and for the first time since he could remember, he felt like he knew the answer to that question. He was looking right at her. He absentmindedly ran his fingers through her hair where it hung down her back. She looked around at him and put her mug down. A small frown appeared between her brows as she took in his expression.
"What's wrong?" she asked, turning to him.
He smiled down at his lap for a moment, wary of letting himself have it. Happiness. She took his hand, and he felt himself reach for it. He looked up and met her eyes, and moved to pull her onto his lap.
Her cheeks flushed at the look in his eyes. She saw something new there, something she didn't know. She held his hand in hers and explored the rough texture of his palm and his fingers. He relished in the feeling for a long moment, and then he let his other hand wander into her hair. He pulled her close and as if for the first time, he kissed her.
The world fell away around him as she put her arms around his neck. He wasn't holding back, and the kiss soon grew feverish. She had fistfuls of his hair as she felt his hands rest on her hips. His kisses wandered down her jawline and into her neck, leaving her breathless. Her eyes shot open as she felt his fingers move up, under her shirt, coming to rest on to her waist, his thumb gently stroking the bottom of her ribcage.
Steve followed her longingly as she pulled away slightly, searching his eyes, he was just as out of breath as she was and watched as she slowly let her hands move down out of his hair to the button just under his shirt collar. She paused there for a second as if asking for permission and he granted it with a kiss. She slowly began undoing his buttons, driving him crazier the lower she followed them. When she had them all open, she placed her palms on his chest and slowly pushed his shirt open. He felt a low moan escape him, but he wasn't done following her lead. He pushed the longing down and waited for her next move.
She let her hands explore his chest, and he felt her fingers slide over each one of his abs until she reached his navel. She came up for air, and the look in her eyes sent him over the edge. He pushed his hands around to support her back and lifted himself, turning to lay her down. He put his weight on his one elbow so he wouldn't crush her and squeezed himself into the space between her and the couch. She gently ran her fingers through his beard and with his free hand, he touched her cheek. His fingers roamed down her neck and gently caressed the notch between her collar bones.
Completely entranced, he ran his hand slowly over her shirt, down her sternum, watching as her chest rose and fell quicker at his touch, down all the way to her navel and it was her turn to moan. The sound was the most incredible thing he'd ever heard, and he promised himself he would bring her to do that more often. He slowly undid the bottom button of her shirt, holding her gaze for any sign that she was uncomfortable. He kept going until he was halfway up and placed his palm on her belly, pushing her shirt open.
He brought his lips right up to hers and felt her ragged breaths before he claimed her mouth. She ran her tongue over his bottom lip, and he reflexively dug his fingers into her skin at the feeling, and she moaned again.
His pocket vibrated against his leg, and they were both pulled from the deep pool in which they'd been diving. He closed his eyes, working to calm his breathing as he pulled his phone reluctantly from his pocket. It was T'Challa; he had to take it.
The line connected in his ear.
"Steve, we've found you a cover," said T'Challa.
"I don't know how to thank you." Answered Steve, frowning. It made him feel very guilty to keep accepting his friend's help without anything to repay him with. The last thing he would ever want if for T'Challa to feel like he was taking advantage.
"I owe you. A lot."
"I have told you, you have no debts here."
"Still, I'm not writing any of it off."
"Suit yourself - the documents should be ready tomorrow morning, so you're on track to leave tomorrow evening."
"Thank you," said Steve.
"Have a good night," said T'Challa.
"Same to you," replied Steve and he ended the call.
Steve slid the phone onto the coffee table and turned back to Jane.
"Time for bed," he said, pushing himself up and helping her to her feet.
Jane felt a pang of disappointment. She didn't want to be without him, but her thoughts were interrupted as he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. Without switching on any lights, he pulled back the covers and put her down gently. She lay down, fully expecting a kiss and a 'goodnight', but he climbed over her and lay down behind her. She felt his arms snake around her, and he pulled her tight against him.
He kissed her just behind her ear. "Goodnight Sunshine."
She pulled one of his hands up and kissed his palm. "Goodnight Steve."
Steve lay awake for a long time, too excited to sleep. He held on to her, listening as her breathing grew deeper as she fell asleep. His mind raced with thoughts of her, of the past few months and the mission ahead of them. Eventually, his eyes grew heavy, and he buried his face in her hair. He drifted off into the night, warm and happy.