Steve and Jo both sat around the tiny round table in Steve's apartment, an awkward, pregnant silence hanging between them. Well, it was awkward for Steve. He'd just spilled everything about him—from his birth in the last century, and all about Peggy and Howard Stark, and all about him being frozen and discovered as, using Tony Stark's words, a Capsicle. Steve had hesitated before telling Jo about the Battle of New York, wondering if maybe she'd think of him differently if she knew he was a hero, but as he told her about his adventures with the Avengers, she listened avidly, not saying a word, hardly a muscle moving on her face. She merely sat there, sipping the hot chocolate Steve had brought her, clinging onto every word he said.
And now that he was done, she still sipped the last of her hot chocolate, gazing across the table at him with a thoughtful, puzzled look in her eye. Steve propped his elbows on the table, putting his head in his hands and looking down, blue eyes weary with worry. What if she thought of him as an entirely different person because of this? What if she idolized him like everyone else? Surely, Steve adored everyone that adored him, and he was thankful for them, but he wanted a friend—not a fan. He sucked in a few shaky breaths before exhaling, thinking of what to say to break the silence. Apparently, he didn't need to, because Jo spoke first. "I should've known you were Captain America." She said with a nod of her head, which sent her strawberry blonde curls bouncing. "You looked oddly familiar. I mean, I know you wear the mask at all, but you've got one fine jawline. I'd recognize it anywhere."
Steve felt himself smiling and blushing simultaneously, and the thought of it made him laugh lightly. "I mean, yeah, I get the whole protection and protecting-the-identity thing, but do you heroes really think we won't recognize the half of your face that isn't covered, let alone your voice?" Jo teased, leaning across the table and giving him a gentle punch. Steve pretended to feel it. "Look, Johanna, I completely understand if you don't feel the same about me, or if you cant look at me the same anymore. I guess I could understand where you're coming from." Steve nodded to himself, looking up at her and giving a truly fake smile, trying to encourage her to tell the truth. Jo got a funny look on her face, and she tipped her head back and laughed heartedly before pushing her chair back and standing. She walked over to Steve, bending slightly and rubbing his back soothingly.
"Steve, honey, I wouldn't think any differently of you if you told me you were a murderer. Okay, that was a lie. But you're not a murderer, so I don't think any differently of you." She said soothingly. Steve smiled despite his efforts not to. "And honestly, I do think differently of you, and I think you're really cool—but not for the reason you think. I think differently of you because you told me the truth, and because you pretty much saved my life." Jo said, sitting on the table in front of him. She placed a finger under Steve's chin, tipping his head up so that his blue eyes met her sea green eyes. "I think of how easily you could've kept walking and left me to fend for myself in that alley. I think of how, when you brought me here, you could've done bad things to me. I think of how, when I snooped around and found your papers, you could've yelled. I think of how you could've easily lied to me and said they were all fake, or part of some RPG." She continued.
Steve's brows knit together in utter confusion. "I—sorry, but—what's a, uh, RPG?" Steve asked. Jo got a funny look on her face, and she smiled and smacked her forehead with the palm of her hand. "Sorry. I keep forgetting you're from a completely different era. It's, well, sort of, basically, a game. I guess." Jo muttered, biting her lip. "It's a geek thing. My brother plays them. I'll have him explain to you if I ever see him when he doesn't have school."
Steve could only nod. "Well, anyway. You are honest. And you are true. And you are pure. I think you're absolutely amazing, Steve Rogers, and truly, I'm in your debt for all the things you've done for me today." She said, moving closer to him, so that their faces were only inches apart. Gently, teasingly, she brushed her lips against his in a gentle kiss before pulling away with a smirk on her face. "So, is there anything—anything at all—you want me to do for you?" She asked, her voice low and sultry. Steve blushed bright, tomato red, and his heart sped up. Flustered, he searched his mind for something to say, but it had all gone blank.
"You could go on a date with me." Steve whispered softly, impressed at his ability to stop himself from stuttering or stammering nervously. Jo giggled, a sweet, tinny sound that was like music to Steve's ears. "A date? Sure. But, not tonight. It's Sunday, and I've got work tomorrow." Jo muttered. At the sound of the word "work," Steve's memories rushed back to him. Furrowing his eyebrows together in confusion and determination, Steve pushed himself up and walked to the kitchenette, looking at the tiny calendar there on the fridge. "Damn it, I've got work tomorrow." He muttered.
"Work? You mean there's a schedule for defending the world from aliens or whatever?" Jo asked, sliding off the table. She walked over to join him, and together they gazed at the big red letters on the calendar. MEET-UP. "What's a meet-up?" Jo asked, a confused look on her face. Steve thought it was genuinely adorable. He kept that thought to himself. "It's something Tony thought of. Every few weeks, we all get together just to check in." Steve glanced at Jo, before looking back at the calendar. "Would you like to come with me?"
Jo froze, but there was a wide, excited grin on her face. "You'd actually take me to work with you? Well, considering I'm your girlfriend now…" Jo grinned. Steve felt himself blush, and he turned to her and smiled as he wrapped his arms around her in a gentle, loving hug. A girlfriend. Never before had he ever had a girlfriend… other than Peggy. Jo hesitated in confusion, before her arms came up around him. She was small and tiny in his arms, but they fit together perfectly, and the way she leaned into him, completely trusting, and vulnerable… it made him smile and adore her even more.
"You're amazing, Steve Rogers." Jo whispered, burrowing her face in his chest. "As are you." Steve answered quietly, resting his chin on the top of her head. She giggled and pulled away from him, standing on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "I don't think I want to go home tonight. Mind if I stay over?" She asked, glancing at the clock. It was already nearing nighttime. "I think I'll take the day off work tomorrow, too."
Steve's cheeks tinted light pink at the thought of her in his bed, but since all he wanted to do was rest up for what was sure to be a stressful day at SHIELD, Steve nodded. "I'll go get the bed ready. There's clothes in the dresser over there if you need anything to sleep in." Steve nodded in the direction of his dresser, before pecking her lightly on the cheek and heading to the bedroom. He pulled the thick yellow comforter back, folding it neatly and evenly dispersing the four pillows. Vaguely, he wondered what side she'd sleep on. Seeing as how he'd never slept with anyone and always slept in the middle of the bed, he couldn't really make a prediction. He stood there, gazing at the bed and thinking of how he might kick in his sleep, until a soft padding of footsteps on carpet shuddered him out of his thoughts.
"I call the right side." Jo said softly, standing in the doorway. Steve looked at her, his jaw nearly dropping and his heartbeat accelerating quickly as he looked at her. It felt indecent, yet so right. Jo was standing, curvy and beautiful, wearing nothing but her maroon panties and Steve's baggy old military shirt. Her wavy hair was loose around her shoulders, cascading in a beautiful honey waterfall, color rushing to her cheeks. "I hope you don't mind I'm wearing this shirt. It smells like you." She said softly, her green eyes glowing brightly with energy and joy. "I don't mind at all." Steve said, busying himself with removing his shirt and pulling on his pajama bottoms, sliding into the left side of the bed.
Jo smiled, making her way across the room almost silently, climbing sinuously into the right side of the bed. She bunched up the bedsheets, making somewhat of a cocoon around her. With a small smile, she inched closer and closer to Steve, until she was pressed up against his bare chest. "Goodnight." Jo whispered gently. Steve lay on his side, running his fingers through her hair, soothing them both to sleep.
"Goonight, Johanna."