Thank you so much for all the reviews! Seriously you guys are the best. So as a reward here is a new chapter. It's a little short than the previous one but I still hope you like it :)
Croc9400: Aw thanks, well here is the more you were hoping for :). Sorry it isn't longer.
Calliope's Scribe: Thanks! I hope you like the new installment ;).
Shauna: Thank you, I hope you like this chapter too.
michen0897: Well here is more my friend, thank you ^^.
Demona Evernight: Oh wow thank you so much. Yeah I kinda did add a little Bucky-ness to her before the unveiling chapter. I am glad you noticed it :).
Guys thank you so much for taking the time to review my story. Your praise really makes my day, but dont be afraid to critique :).
xx
SSC
"Olivia this is gorgeous!" Claire practically shrieked at sight of the open velvet box on her lap.
After Steve's first proper ice skating lesson. Olivia bought him a warm cup of hot coco with marshmallows. They were having a quaint conversation about various topics while sipping on the drink. Steve enjoyed her company and the drink he was introduced to.
Claire had returned and joined them at the blue plastic chairs. They sat down on the row closest to the rink. Whilst Steve busied his hands with unlacing the strings of his skates. Olivia had handed her friend a royal blue velveteen box. It was rectangular in shape and Claire was shaking uncontrollably from the glee.
Steve looked to what this 'gorgeous' gift was. He was surprised by what he saw. It was a quill. It had a silver nib, sharp and pointed with delicate spiral designs along the alloy's surface. The feather had a porcelain spine and silky chocolate brown feathers with specks of white and gold. It was vintage and seemed priceless. From Claire's enthusiasm Steve gathered it was.
Steve looked to Olivia from the corner of his eyes and started longer than necessary. It was strange how people get accustomed to others the more you spend time with them. In Steve's example, he was starting to notice the little details about Olivia, ways to identify her. Like physical traits, Olivia had a birth mark on just above the corner of her upper lip. It suited her, when she smiled the little dot added that accent of mischief to her.
He didn't know why he was looking there in the first place, but he had just happened to see it. But it wasn't the physical traits he couldn't stop thinking about.
Since the moment he realized who she reminded him of, he couldn't stop comparing the two. They weren't exactly alike, but it was the subtle things. They way she talked, the way handled emotions hers and the people around her.
"Where on earth did you find this?" The curly haired woman demanded in hushed excitement. Olivia laughed at her friend's merriment.
"If I told you that the store owner would run out of customers considering you would be living there like a hermit, scaring everyone." Olivia teased gently knocking her shoulder against Claire.
"Touché." Her friend said with a simple shrug and hugged Olivia once more.
"Is that an actual feather?" Steve asked after being the silent witness of their friendship. He gently rolled the card cup between his palms.
"Eagle I think." Olivia assumed.
"Isn't it easier to write with pen?" He wondered.
"It's for my collection, plus I like acting like I am in a Jane Austen novel." Claire answered with a proud lift of her round chin. Steve didn't quite understand the fascination in that but Claire seemed to like it so he didn't judge.
"My little obsession was how Olivia and I met." Claire said, this grabbed his undivided attention.
"Oh?" He echoed slyly. Olivia groaned in a feigned annoyance and sent a glare at her friend.
"Not this story again." She grumbled.
"Come on, it's always a great ice breaker and I would know, I work with ice."
"Oh ha-ha." Olivia drawled dryly Steve was genuinely laughing.
"I want to hear it." He encouraged, eager to know about her past. Claire grinned, set her gift aside and leaned in. She hunched over her knees and Steve mimicked her movements.
"You see sweet Olli here is a bit of a collector herself." She whispered mysteriously and affectionately pinched her friend on the knee.
"Really, of quills?"
"Oh no." Claire droned with a slow, wide shake of her head "she likes hats."
"Hats?" Steve echoed in wonder "Like those Fuddy Duddies in the Victorian movies?"
"Fuddy Duddies." Claire giggled looking to Olivia who was equally amused by Steve's choice of description.
"That is so cute!" Claire screeched, she had her fingers curled into her palms as if she was resisting the urge to pinch him lovingly. A nervous laughter escaped his lips and began to wonder if a man his size should have said such childish word. He cautiously glanced at Olivia. She smiled in a way that immediately assured him.
"Not just that right Olli?" Claire cut in "There is a deeper meaning behind it, also not the only weird thing she is obsessed with."
Olivia sunk further into her chair. Steve observed her for a moment. Bucky reacted in similar ways when he was embarrassed. As if saying anything would only dig the grave deeper. Steve knew that despite the embarrassment Olivia still wanted him to know the story because it would amuse him.
Bucky never minded making a fool of himself for the purpose making another laugh. Especially Steve, when he was too sick to get out of bed and ended up being moody the entire day of rest.
"So anyway I see her at this thrift store and she is checking out this hat." Claire began to narrate and Steve listened intently "Real Mad Hatter type and it was obviously no interest to me, until I see what I had came to collect was attached to the hat."
"A quill was on the hat?" Steve marveled.
"Yeah, placed on this ribbon. I don't know who's wise idea that was, the pen tip was still on it." Claire expressed crossly.
"Well you have to admit the purple did look good against the velvet colour of it." Olivia added, her eyes glittering.
"It was an abomination." Claire argued "Anyway I'm not so good at interacting with strangers."
"Good thing your livelihood doesn't depend on it." Olivia teased under her breath and sent a sly glance in Steve's direction. He was quick to grasp the humor in her statement and grinned.
"Hey that's different." Claire bickered. Olivia raised her hands in surrender. Claire sighed and then continued her story.
"So I'm trying to figure out how to approach her and I get close and then all of a sudden she grabs my hand."
"Why?" The Captain asked while fighting back a laugh. He looked to Olivia for an explanation.
"I thought it was Norah behind me. " She said defensively "and this idiot didn't warn me till I had dragged her all the way to the counter while rambling about the damn hat."
"It was funny though." Claire giggled.
"Norah thought so." Olivia added faintly. The Avenger's leader look to his friend, that solemn mist was back in her eyes.
"So what is the meaning behind your hat obsession?" He asked at an attempt to distract her.
"It's a silly reason." Olivia said with a breathless laugh and a lazy wave of her hands "For one thing hats look amazing on me. Plus I feel more creative when it comes to my working process."
Steve sent a perplexed look in Claire's direction, the woman shrugged in acknowledgement.
"I don't get it either." She said "So Steve, what's the plan for you these days?"
He smiled and leaned back into his seat while musing on her question.
"I'm stationed here for the time being. Olivia has been showing me around." He gestured to his friend and Olivia beamed at him " New York's changed a lot since my time."
"I can imagine." Claire mused in agreement "I guess Olivia has only been taking you to the best food places."
"He didn't complain." Olivia murmured a little bashfully.
"I really liked it." Steve insisted kindly in defense of Olivia while being honest at the same time .
"Well that's convenient." Claire teased and winked at Olivia. Her friend rolled her eyes behind the thick frame of her glasses.
"Oh if you want to go shopping I know the best places!" the bouncy ice rink staff member, announced and abruptly jolted to her feet
"In fact, I'll give you guys a list."
Olivia and Steve watched her departure. The captain was astounded, Olivia was laughing at his shock. In between her laughter she gasped out an apology for her friend's energy.
"I like her." Steve added, the corners of his lips turned up in a reticent smile.
"Yeah Claire is a real people person and a huge Avengers fan by the way. If I came here with Thor she would have most certainly fainted. A little sad I won't get to witness that."
"You just might, Thor will eventually visit, we can stage it." Steve suggested impishly, despite the seriousness his face expressed. Olivia's eyes narrowed playful.
"I see why we get along." She said and adoring poked him in the arm. Steve was about to respond jovially, but at the feeling of her cold skin against his, he was immediately flooded with concern.
"Aren't you cold?" He asked quietly. At the mention of the chilly temperature, her right hand immediately fell to her left arm.
"A little" She replied casually while rubbing at her goose pimpled flesh "but i'll be alright, the drink is warming me up."
"Mind holding this for a moment?" He asked gesturing the empty cup of milk to her. She immediately assisted and accepted the cup into her free hand. Steve smiled and began to shrug off his brown leather jacket.
Olivia attempted to stop him but it was hard to convey the message with two cups in her hands.
"No wait Steve seriously I am fine you don't have to-"
"Too late." He had already draped the coat over her shoulders.
Olivia sighed, her shoulders hunched forward in defeat as she reluctantly allowed him to adjust the coat on her.
"Thanks." She slanted him a grateful smile "You are a real boy scout."
He watched as she shimmied her shoulders a little to get comfortable in his jacket. He had to admit, it was adorable to witness.
"Hey this feels great where did you buy it?" She asked curiously while admiring the glossy skin of his coat.
"It was among my things when I first joined S.H.I.E.L.D." He answered pensively.
"Oh, do they have like a super secret stylist or something cause this doesn't even have a label on it. This explains how fabulous you all looked while fighting aliens."
He laughed a little "I dont know, the suit was awfully tight."
"Yeah but I am pretty sure the girls will disagree, myself included." She muttered the last part of the sentence to herself. He blushed knowing she was referring to him, so he chose to pretend like he hadn't heard.
"Hey does the Hulk have one of those one size fits all pants or is it custom made? Cause it makes no sense how everything else on him rips and falls off and his pants are still there. Not that I am complaining, it kept everything family friendly but still the physics boggles my mind."
Unable to resist, Steve began to laugh with his hand pressed into his side. She said the most ridiculously enlightening things.
"I'm serious." She objected watching his hilarity.
"I know." He gasped out biting back his laughter in order to form feasible sentences "That's what cracks me up."
Olivia couldn't help but crack a smile at the adorable twinkle in the Captain's eyes.
"Another thing!" She announced gallantly. "Thor's armor. I mean I saw on TV, chainmail literally appeared from thin air and attached to those biceps of his, what is he a human magnet?"
"Thor is a wild card." Steve said as his chuckles died down but his smile still remained "He is referred to as a Demi-God."
"Isn't he also technically alien?" She asked with a lift of her dark brows "Maybe it is one of those Clark Kent type situations."
"Who?" He echoed.
"Superman."
"Oh right." Steve felt a little proud of the fact that he actually knew who that was.
"That does make sense." He agreed. Olivia grinned and gently bumped against him.
"What are you two giggling about?" Claire appeared behind them, forcing them to crane their necks to acknowledge her presence.
"Thor's physics." Olivia chimed.
"Yeah that dude is smokin fine." Claire whistled. Steve's fair brows furrowed in confusion and Olivia barked out a laugh.
"Physics not physique." She corrected, beaming up at her friend.
"Same difference."Claire said with a hapless heave of her shoulders.
" Here you go Steve." She said and handed him a thin, rectangular sheet of paper.
"Thanks." He accepted it graciously and his clear blue eyes skimmed over her cursive handwriting. It was a detailed list of shopping places (Steve guessed) with addresses and neighboring buildings in case he gets lost.
He liked how helpful Claire and Olivia were. It made him a bit more hopeful about the world.
A sudden clattering noise behind them grabbed their attention. It was a group of males dressed in matching dark blue polo shirts and black pants. One of the larger males was carrying a steel staircase and the others were holding cardboard boxes.
"Oh damn, here come the decorators." Claire observed despondently then looked back to them. Her face was heavy with sorrow.
"Aw this means I have to say bye for now."
Olivia nodded solemnly and placed the empty cups on the vacant chair beside her. She got to her feet with Steve's coat still balanced on her shoulders. She turned to her friend and smiled. He admired Olivia in his jacket, he didn't know how else to describe her look but as a secretary with a wild side.
By wild he means adventurous, not sexual.
"Well whenever you are free you should come out with us." Olivia suggested making her friend smile. Steve followed her movements and stood up as well, towering over the two women.
"Yea definitely. Let me know if you guys are going out tomorrow night, I know the best place for a drink." Claire proclaimed playfully directing a wink at them.
"I can't get drunk." Steve uttered despondently, shamefully awaiting their alarmed exclamations.
"Even better!" Claire cheered, surprisingly him "We have a designated chaperon."
Olivia grinned and looked to the Captain.
"What do you say Steve? You up for it?"
"Sure, why not." He agreed with a casual shrug of his broad shoulders and a charming smile.
"Great!" Claire exclaimed and gathered Olivia into a hug.
"Oh shall I let Aaron and Charlie know?" Claire asked in a hasty remembrance. Steve was confused by the new names he heard.
"Yeah sure why not. I heard he got a girlfriend?" Olivia responded.
"Yeah, Jessica. She is nice. Tries a little too hard but that's to be expected."
"Don't be so hostile Claire." Olivia chided when Claire rolled her eyes sardonically.
" Especially not on my account." She added.
"Yeah yeah." Claire flicked her wrist dismissively. Olivia sighed and turned to Steve.
"Anyway, shall we take off?" She asked, Steve nodded and averted his attention to Claire.
"It was nice to meet you Ma'am" He said with a polite recline of his head.
"The honor is mine Steve." Claire retorted, a dark orbs glimmering. She then beamed at Olivia much like a ecstatic adolescent.
"Bye Olli." She whispered adoringly. Olivia leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss to her friend's cheek.
"Who is Aaron and Charlie?" Steve asked the moment they exited the ice rink. Olivia was a little distracted by the process of removing his coat off her shoulders. She folded the clothing over her arm before returning it to him.
"Well Charlie and I used to work together in that company I told you about." She said, Steve nodded in acknowledgement while sliding his arm into the sleeve of his coat .
"He is a real goof ball, I love him to bits." She added with a fond smile playing at her lips. "Aaron is Claire's brother."
Steve was quick to notice the tension in her frozen smile at the mention of the second guy.
"I sense there is more to him than that."
"You curious about my past Steve?" She teased while slanting him a playful smile.
"Well analyzing and reading the emotions off of you and Claire I'm correct to assume there is tension yes? As a friend I will be more than happy to help you out of it, once I know more about the situation of course."
"What a cheekily sensible response." She laughed at his diplomatic rebuttal and nudged her elbow into his side. Steve didn't know why his face reddened whenever she responded warmly.
"Aaron and I used to date, but this was way in the past." Her tone was a lot more casual than he predicted it to be, but there was a flickering shadow in her eyes. As if she was trying to fight back a repetitive memory.
"Oh, did you end on bad terms?" He asked.
"Not really, I put Norah first. He didn't really get it. I don't really blame him for it though, we were both very young and by the time we realized our mistakes, it just wasn't the same anymore." She said softly with a hapless smile "There is no tension, at least I don't think so. Claire just wanted us together for her own sentimental reasons. Bringing her best friend into her family type of thing."
"That make sense, official sisters."Steve mused as they made their way down the side walk.
"That's right." She nodded "But things change, people change. I don't want the same things I wanted when I was in my early twenties."
"What do you want now?" He inquired curiously.
"Right now?" She asked, his head bobbed in response.
She smiled brightly in the way that made the apples of her cheek expand and pushed her thick frames up a bit. She side stepped a little closer to him.
"I just want to go have lunch in the company of my very interesting friend named Steve."
Her words dazzled him for a moment. He felt his heart flip internally from the sweetness in her smile and adoring warmth in her eyes.
He chuckled and nodded, a tinge of pink colored his handsome face.
"He would like that very much." He murmured looking to her with shinning eyes full of gist, beneath thick sandy lashes. Steve liked the way her timid smile broadened till her dimples deepened.
"Great because there is this amazing pizzeria I just have to take you to." she said the confidence turning to her honey brown eyes.
"Shall I stop a cab?" His attention instinctively searched for passing yellow cabs.
"Nah its only a few blocks away, come on."
His concentration immediately returned to her the moment she grasped his wrist. Steve was a little stunned by the contact at first. He felt a sudden spark just under her warm hand. She tugged him forward and then hooked her arm into the crook of his elbow.
The gesture felt so familiar, so perfectly normal yet completely out of his comfort zone. But he didn't mind, in fact, he wished she would never let go.