KristyBauer: xD I want Steve and Natasha to hook up too . Dont tell Olivia. Thanks for all the comments :D I am glad you enjoyed Natasha so much ^^ writing her was fun!
Awesomesaurus: Heheheh...It will be soon I promise. BUT DONT BE DETERRED BY THIS CHAPTER!
Amalieaunstrup: And you are only telling me this now?! Why did I not get pages and pages and emails of you gushing about Matt Murdock and his fine behind? (and other things of course) ? HM? ?ANSWERS WOMAN!
Deathb4beauty: Aww you are too sweet, please tell more people by all means xD. Thanks for giving my story a chance and I am happy you are enjoying it ^^.
Jo: . They might they might not...Thanks for constantly reviewing you are too sweet.
Uchiha-Arandel: I dont know if you reached this chapter yet but thank you! :D
Allison: Yesh that is what I am dooooing :3 thanks!
SO just a quick note guys. I said they will be getting together (obviously considering is a stevexoc fanfic) BUT they do have issues to work out (Olivia mainly) with that said. On with the story! :D (please dont hate me)
PS there is a Tropic Thunder reference in here, fifty points for the one that points it out (I am looking at you my little danish hobbit)
xx
SSC
Steve tapped his foot impatiently within the Triskelion elevator. The lift seemed to be travelling remarkably slow, but then again he was in a rush.
The AI announced the floor and Steve dashed out of the steel confinement. He hurried down the long, carpeted hallways. He passed several agents who stepped aside instinctively as he barreled through. He finally reached the destined door and barged in.
"I'm here, what's the emergency." He demanded, his blue eyes scanning the room.
Seated around the long, meeting table were the Avengers. With the absence of Thor, the rest were present. Natasha was lounging at the head chair with her legs stretched over the edge of the table with her ankles crossed. Tony was dressed in a dark blue suit and purple tie. He was pacing the length of the projector screen when Steve had stomped in.
"It's pretty bad." Tony announced gravely. The captain's body went rigid in panic. The summoning text was the usual Avengers Assemble but for Tony to be this serious, it must be something terrible.
"What is it?" Steve demanded, immediately shutting the door behind him.
"It's been seventy five years Cap. I think it's time." Stark stated, his voice low and severe.
"Time to what?" Steve asked, the tension in his mind and body rising by the second.
"Time that you asked a girl out!"
A sudden celebratory, melodic tune began to play from an unidentified location. The blank screen behind Stark, blared to life and a kaleidoscope of colours appeared upon it. In front of the array of colours, it was written in bold white text were the words.
Operation Cupid.
The text danced about with hearts floating down from top of the screen.
"Luckily we already have the perfect candidate for you." Tony announced beaming brightly with a mike in his hand and his voice booming over the dull, chipper tune.
"So it's really just a matter of building up the confidence." He added with one his signature smirks.
"What is this?" Steve demanded his disgruntled stare fell to Hawkeye.
"Why is Barton wearing a diaper?" He insisted. Clint stood confidently in his usual battle suit with the addition of a bright, white nappy around his trim waist. Steve also noticed the attachment of a pair of white wings on the man's back and his arrows had heart shaped tips.
"A intervention of sorts." Barton stated, perfectly comfortable in his ridiculous attire.
Steve stared, stunned and unsure how to process the situation.
"How did you get Fury to agree to let you have the meeting room?" Steve managed to ask through his haze of shock.
"Actually we have Kevin to thank for that. Say hi Kevin." Tony waved at someone in the back. Steve careened around to find Agent Odell trying desperately to blend into the wall behind him.
"They black mailed me Cap I swear." He stuttered nervously with what seemed to be a packet of beef jerky in his hand. The Captain's eyes narrowed into blue slits.
"I am very disappointed in you Kevin."
The Agent sighed and lowered his head pitifully.
"Ease up Cap." Tony stated grabbing the Captain's attention once again. The genius was rubbing his scruff in thought, and then looked to the femme fatale seated at the meeting table.
"Hey Natasha put that on the list, first thing Cap needs to do is ease up."
"Defrost." She uttered the corner of her lips curled up in amusement. Steve shot her a flat look.
"Hilarious. Seriously fellas, this is just over the top." He exclaimed gesturing to the large screen behind Ironman and eyeing Barton worriedly.
"Actually it isn't. We are just trying to help you out Cap because Natasha told me you are having some doubts." Tony insisted surprisingly kind.
"Doubts?" Steve echoed in skepticism, shooting a glare at the spy.
"You are worried that she doesn't feel the same way. We are here to prove exactly why that isn't true."A new, deep yet meek voice announced forcing Steve to look to the far corner of the room. It was Doctor Bruce Banner, he was rubbing his hands in his usual nervous state and walked up to stand beside Tony. He had his signature crooked, bashful grin as all eyes watched him.
"You brought Banner?!"
Steve couldn't find words to express staggered his outrage.
"Well he is a scientist." Tony pointed out flatly. The captain's eyebrow began to twitch visibly.
"You brought a radioactive expert to help me with Olivia. What is wrong with you?"
"Oh that's a topic we can't cover right now Cap." Natasha pointed out frankly, sitting up on her chair and resting her arms on the surface of the table.
"It would take way too much time."
Tony frowned, he did not enjoy being on the receiving end of Natasha's many insightful quips.
"Anyway." He grumbled, averting the subject away from himself "We sent Natasha to gather some information on your looooove interest."
"What did you do?" Steve questioned looking to the red head.
"Nothing, we just had brunch." Despite the casual voice of her statement, the rest of the men found the words extremely stupefying. She was a little caught off guard by their stares and shrugged innocently.
"What? I know what that is." She defended, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning back into her chair. They did not seem to believe her but they didn't dare defy her either.
Natasha smirked fondly and averted her attention to Steve. "I like her by the way."
Rogers found no relief in this.
Tony grinned and glanced over his shoulder and at the screen. He had a small silver clicker in his grip. He brought it up and pressed a button, prompting the slide show.
"Her interests are as follows." He began to say.
"I know what her inter-"
"Please, no talking during the presentation." He interrupted sternly, forcing Steve to fume silently. Tony smiled in triumph and pressed down on the clicker once more.
"As I was saying." He announced. Steve's lips parted in a rebuttal, but he swallowed his retort when a large picture of Olivia appeared on the screen. She was smiling brightly with her large frames resting on the bridge of her nose, and that mischievous twinkle in her honey brown eyes. The picture was taken from an upward angle and she was seated on her living room rug, assembling what looked to be a Lego house on the floor in front of her.
Steve knew it was an old picture considering her hair was longer. He guessed Tony found the image on her Facebook or this Tumblr she spoke of.
The picture shrank and was moved to the top left corner of the screen, then beside the image words began to appear in the form of a list.
"Subject is Olivia Thorne. No middle name which is weird but no judgment. In her spare time she likes to eat ice cream, spend time with her cat, binge watch TV shows and hang out with her friends. The rest of the stuff you probably already know about her. So from Natasha's Intel we compiled a list of attributes for her ideal man, by that I mean the kind of men she is attracted to. Based on her past experiences, celebrity crushes, etc."
"Shouldn't you be working on something more important, like Mark 576." Steve grumbled sardonically.
"Please this took me like five minutes." Stark stated smugly "Anyway we have come to the conclusion and after several girly talks Natasha had with Olivia, we have discovered her biggest man crush is Terry Crews."
"The Brooklyn nine nine guy? That dude is built." Clint whistled in approval.
"Yes but her interests go beyond the physical." Tony responded all knowingly "She said and I quote 'Oh my gosh I love that guy, I mean he is tall as heck and cuuuut. But he is super dorky though, I love big softie guys'."
Steve tired to not be steered away from his annoyance, even though Tony repeating Olivia's words in such dull tone was utterly amusing.
"Now who do we know that is also tall as heck, fairly cut -not as cut as me obviously-and super softie in reality. Like the softest of the softie's , King Softie."
"Get to the point Tony." Steve cut in briskly, his eyes squeeze shut in self loathing.
"Ta daaaa." Tony exclaimed in accordance to the slide show that presented an image of Steve Rogers himself. Steve hated that picture. It was one Clint had taken of him when he attempted to use the blender at Tony's place. Steve had forgotten the top half of the machine and the smoothie he tried to make had exploded all over him. He had stared helplessly as Clint took several pictures, one of which was presented on the wall in front of him, tauntingly.
"Well you are not of African descent but I know a few things about pigment alteration." Tony mumbled mainly to himself while rubbing his goatee.
"This is ridiculous. I have things to do."
"If it helps, she does yoga." Tony added just as Steve turned to retreat. He stopped at Stark's notification and slowly spun around to face him.
"How does that help?" Steve demanded incredulously.
"She is flexible Steve." Barton spoke grabbing his attention.
"You know...flexible." He added with a suggestive whisper.
Steve sighed in despair and ran a hand down his face and looked to the ceiling, praying for tornado to conjure and destroy everything. But at the same time Steve was trying not to think about what Barton had implied.
"How do you know she does Yoga?" Roger demanded crossly, his blue eyes widening at the obvious fact. Tony, Natasha and Barton exchanged guilty glances.
"Did you have her tailed?" He questioned vehemently.
"Sort of." Natasha mumbled.
"That is a invasion of her privacy, even if it was for me it is unethical and rude." Steve lectured. He was thoroughly annoyed. The idea of his friends spying on someone he cared about, while she was visiting him, did not sit well with the man.
"Well it's a good thing, we can confirm there is no other man in her life but you, Steve." Tony added cheekily, hoping to lighten the situation. "I mean yeah you had asked her but we were making this official for you."
"Alright stop." Steve ordered with a wide gesture of his arms.
"Hammer time?" Stark added comically. Rogers shot him a warning look and the genius immediately fell silent.
The Captain sighed and then pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to simmer his irritation and gather the strength to speak as calmly as possible.
"Listen fellas." Steve began to say, lowering his arm to his side. He allowed the tension in his shoulders to melt away and acknowledge things as it was. His friends were making an effort to help him.
"I know you all meant well but this isn't my idea of friends helping. So if you will excuse me, I have things to do." Steve was determined to walk away that time.
"We brought you up around her by the way." Tony spoke up again.
Rogers sighed and didn't bother to turn.
"What?" He asked exasperated by the continued delays to his work schedule.
"Brucey has this great little toy that measures people's heart rate and blood pressure from a few inches away. He initially had it for himself for obvious reasons." Stark explained.
That made Steve revolve around and focus his glare on the timid doctor.
"You used it on Olivia?" He demanded coldly. Banner grinned nervously.
"It's harmless but don't you want to know the results?" Tony asked.
Steve's mouth twisted angrily, ready to fire a repertoire of diatribes at the man, but then the screen lit up again.
"So Olivia how are things with you and Steve, you having fun?" It was Natasha's voice, a recording that played in the form of a thin, blue, wavy line, pulsing on the screen.
"The best, Steve is awesome and DC is so different to New York. I currently do not miss the big apple." Olivia's soft tone followed, he could practically picture her smiling face. In the background of the recording, Steve could hear the gentle thumping of her heart.
Ba dump.
Ba dump .
Ba dump.
"You are not looking forward to going back?" Natasha had asked.
"Well I have to go back but yeah I guess I don't want to leave him, kinda wish I could take him back with me but obviously I can't do that." Steve's heart was racing at her words. Olivia wanted to take him back with her? She missed him that much.
"What if you could?" Romanoff asked kindly.
"What do you mean?" Olivia inquired dubiously.
Badump Badump
"I mean what if you could take him back with you, what will you guys be doing anyway?"
Olivia laughed timidly. Steve imagined she had tucked a stray strand of her inky black hair, just behind those dainty ear lobes of hers.
"Just hanging out I guess like we usually do." She answered fondly.
"Just hang out?"
"What are you insinuating?" Her voice a little prim but polite.
"Just seems like you two have a lot of chemistry." Natasha countered in the microphone. Steve glanced at the spy and she nodded affirming her words.
"Nah, Steve and I are just friends." She insisted with that same nervous giggle, but even in that moment, Steve sensed that she was holding back her true feelings. After all, it was pretty hard to hear over how fast her heart was racing.
"So is your hair like naturally red?" Olivia had asked wistfully. Steve's lips curled up in a smile at that, it was a typical adorable deflection of hers. Even Natasha was smirking, amused by the recollection.
"Quite the thumping heart eh Cap?" Tony teased winking at the veteran.
"Maybe she is just nervous." Steve attempted to defend, gingerly. His mind was taken over by thoughts of her. He didn't want to hope too much, confidence was always followed with some form of downfall. But everything seemed to point in contrary to his doubts.
"Yeah like you really believe that." Clint scoffed and then slanted him a enthusing smile "She likes ya Cap, don't think about the variables and just follow your heart. I mean the variables make it pretty obvious but I think we all know what you want to do."
"Also I would just like to add from personal experience, she has a very wicked tongue." Stark added coyly.
Everyone simultaneously grimaced at his statement.
"That sounded really sexual." Barton pointed out while tugging at the hem of his diaper. Rogers nodded while fixating a warning stare on the industrialist.
"I didn't mean it that way!" Stark defended with his arms up in surrender "We had this dispute a while back."
Dispute? Steve was no a stranger to this notion but he was however, surprised by the glimmer of guilt in the man's eyes.
What had Olivia said to him? He was eager to find out and he knew Stark would be biased. Well, probably more biased than Olivia.
Steve Roger's used his apartment key and unlocked the front door. He stepped into short foyer, hung his coat on the peg beside the wall and proceeded to enter the living room.
"Steve, welcome back!"
He grinned fondly at the happy greeting. He turned to find Olivia's head peeking out from behind the head of the second couch, facing the balcony windows. The couch was situated in front of his television. He had hardly had time to watch anything but it was nice to see it being used.
His heart warmed in delight, happy to enter his home and not be greeted by the usual lonely silence. There was a sweet, delicious scent in the air, mixed with warm bread and cinnamon.
"Hey what are you up to?" He responded smiling fondly. He placed his shield beside the door frame and made his way to her.
"Well I put those cinnamon rolls to bake so while waiting for that I am watching Brooklyn nine-nine."
Ah, he nodded in acknowledgment, that explains the smell.
He was abruptly alerted of something else she had mentioned. Brooklyn 99. His eyes widened in realization. That was the show Tony said Olivia's crush was on.
"Oh, is that a TV show?" He asked, coyly. Olivia nodded and averted her attention back to him, away from the screen.
"It's the best you don't watch Comedy Central?" She wondered, looking up at him from her comfortable position on the couch.
"No not really." He confessed, situating his hands on the head of the settee and leaning into his strapping arms.
"Well come join me Cap." She insisted, patting heavily on the empty space on her right.
"This show is the best."
Steve obliged and rounded the sofa and sat down. He relaxed into the plush leather and allowed his thoughts to wander while observing the motion pictures on the bright screen.
His mind was still on the intervention from the Avengers. He couldn't stop thinking about what he had heard and worried if he was assuming too much.
"You okay?" Olivia called snapping him out of his thoughts. He looked to find her watching him, her eyes shivering in concern.
"You seem a little dazed." She noted gently.
"I'm fine." He smiled reassuringly, cherished by her concern.
"Long meeting." He expressed.
"Ah yeah, hate those." She responded sympathetically "Kinda the reason why cooperate doesn't suit me. You should come to my office meetings, and by meetings I mean me, Anakit and a bowl of cereal."
Steve chuckled, humored by her story but he didn't dare question the validity. After all he had seen her talk to Anakit with his own two eyes.
"It's Terry!" Olivia abruptly exclaimed, startling him. She was leaned over her folded legs and staring wide eyed and heart struck at the screen. Steve followed her ogling stare to the television. He was surprised to see it was Terry Crews, the man Tony had showed him a picture of.
He was a little intimated by the man's size. He was hulking mass of muscle with a pearly, contagious grin.
"I love that guy!" She exclaimed excitedly like a adoring fan.
"He reminds me of you actually."
Steve stilled and the sudden anticipation made his heart thudded once again.
"Really?" He asked a little breathless, but she didn't seem to notice and continued to smile at the TV.
"Yeah, big hulking muscular dude but a true softie at heart."
In any other situation Steve would have taken that as a gentle compliment, a platonic one. But after his conversation and what Tony had brought to light, it no longer felt platonic at all. It was the assurance he needed, the validation that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance.
He took deep silent breaths, determined to find the serenity she had shaken out of him. It was exceedingly hard to when all he could think about was gathering her in his arms and kissing her senseless.
"Olivia." He called, his voice strained.
"Yeah?" She regarded him with her innocent gaze. He smiled lovingly.
"I am really glad you are here." He said meaningfully.
"Aw. I'm glad to be here too." She grinned and lightly smacked him on the arm.
"In fact I was just telling Natasha what a great time I was having."
"You went out with Natasha?" He inquired feeling deceitful for feigning ignorance.
"Yeah and look." Olivia picked up her phone from next to her thigh and tilted it towards him. She presented the screen and Steve saw that it was a picture of her and Natasha. They were seated at a wooden table with the clear, blue sky in their background. Olivia was grinning wide like a happy six year old and Natasha seemed cool with her black shades on and sipping on the straw of her of drink.
"Don't we look adorable?" She asked blissfully.
"Yeah, you do." Steve whispered, watching her secretly with a doting glimmer in his sea blue eyes.
There was a sharp ding!
He was taken aback by the sound and glanced over his shoulder, toward the kitchen.
"The rolls are ready, whoot whoot!"Olivia cheered and jumped to her feet and hurried to the pantry.
Steve watched her leave with a hopeful smile playing on his lips.
He was ready to tell her.
Steve was glad that he found the resolve to tell her, but in matters of the heart finding the courage wasn't everything, there was also the crucial matter of timing.
Even though they had spent that entire week together, there were distractions everywhere.
He knew he couldn't just blurt out the confession and scare the woman out of ever being his friend. He wanted to tell her frankly and he noted to himself not to be coy about. One main thing he learned about Olivia was that she didn't seem to understand subtlety at times. She appreciated honesty and that was the one thing Steve prided himself on.
Steve knew he had to tell her soon. It was Saturday again, a disheartening reminder that Olivia was leaving on Sunday. She had extended the day from Friday for him but it still didn't feel enough. If he could, he would keep her forever.
"Hey Steve." Olivia strolled over to the breakfast bar that morning. Steve was transporting the fried eggs from the pan onto individual plates.
"Yeah?" He acknowledged, not looking up as he slide the spatula under the egg whites.
Olivia took a seat on the stool facing him and placed the morning newspaper on the counter. She pointed to a large advert on the tabloid while leaning forward onto her arms.
"Did you know there is a Captain America exhibition down at the Smithsonian?" She asked as her gaze skimmed over the Ad and then looked to him.
"Yeah I know." He murmured while placing the empty iron pan on the empty surface beside the dishes.
"I got the invitation for the opening last week." He added.
There was a lengthy silence from her end. Steve figured his answer was enough of an explanation, he didn't not expect to be wrong.
"Well?" She urged, dragging him out of his thoughts.
"Hm?" He regarded her with his sea-blue eyes.
"Why didn't you go?" She inquired with a fond smile.
"I don't know, it's not really my thing." He said with a hapless shrug "Besides Fury gave me a mission that day."
"Which you happily took I assume?"
Steve grinned and nodded.
"Gave the illusion of me being busy saving the world."
He busied his hands by pulling out two knives and forks from the drawer under the counter. He handed Olivia hers and then carried his around the bend, to his seat.
He climbed onto the stool with ease and turned to face her. Olivia's profile was directed towards him, while she leaned the upper half of her body against the edge of the counter. She had her left elbow posed on the marble surface while munching on a slice of toast.
"I get it I mean this is not your type of thing but..." She paused and chewed pensively before adding.
"Why don't we?"
Steve was a little taken aback by her suggestion. He looked to her and was snagged under the glimmering playfulness in her honey orbs.
"I'll get recognized." He reasoned hesitantly.
"Not if you wear a disguise." She noted factually "I mean you look like any other dude that frequents the gym when you wear that cap and coat."
"I am a little curious about it." He said after a moment of deliberation.
"Me too." She enthused encouragingly.
"Come on, it might be fun?"
"Yeah." He nodded began to increase in confidence.
"Alright." He agreed giving him a shy smile.
"Yay." She cheered and then focused her attention on the food.
Steve watched her from the corner of his eyes attentive to her ways. It wasn't that her eating habits grabbed his attention, though he had to admit they were not as civilized as the girls he was used to in the 40's. Olivia was hunched over her plate. When it came to eggs and toast she barely used her cutlery and instead choose to rely on the slices of toast.
It wasn't very lady like and he doubted she attended any finishing school, but it wasn't like her manners appalled him. She was neat where it was needed and he couldn't help but find it a little charming. After all it just made it clearer that she was comfortable around him.
However, he was watching her because he couldn't help but be a little excited to go. He avoided the Smithsonian before because he didn't want to be made a public spectacle, but he was always curious about the display. He was glad he didn't have to brave through it alone.
"This place is huge." Olivia cried in awe, observing the vintage airplane models they had placed around the space. The pretty chiffon skirts of her white dress with red daises, swished around her calves.
"Tell me about it." He breathed in marveled agreement "I could walk this place for twenty years and still find new things."
Olivia concurred with a nod as they made their way towards the escalator. Steve buried his hands deep into the pockets of his navy blue vinyl coat. Once in a while he would adjust his cap while glancing around. Even though the place was filled with adoring fans wearing the t-shirt with his infamous shield, no one noticed him. Steve was relieved, he didn't want to face a mob, especially if it risked hurting Olivia.
He glanced at the female that stood beside him as the escalator steps ascended. She was observing everything around her with a child like fascination. Steve couldn't help but be a little dazed by how pretty she looked. Maybe it was just the dress. Steve had decided he liked her in dresses ever since she surprised him at his apartment.
They reached the entrance to the Captain America display. He as a little stunned when he was greeted by a large poster of him saluting to a far off distance. Olivia whistled in a low, teasing admiration that made him blush.
They wandered around the space, admiring the many artifacts that were posed around the hall. They were either shielded behind glass casings or on display with a generous amount of spot lighting. Steve was stunned by the memories that rushed through his mind. They were playing reels of him during battles, the clip played continuously in monochrome.
It all felt surreal and overwhelming.
"Hey, you okay?" Olivia's gentle voice brought him out of his daze.
He lowered his gaze from the poster of the Howling Commandos and met her concerned gaze.
"Yeah just...it's like I time travelled." He murmured breathlessly.
"I just wasn't expecting it all to be so..."
"Familiar?" She added unsure. He smiled and nodded.
"That's the power of research and decoration for ya." She said cheerfully, bringing her hands up and creating a frame with her thumbs and index fingers "To give the whole nineteen forties experience."
"No kidding." He mused his eyes dancing.
Steve was distracted by a large mural of Hydra forces against him and his army. The painting was decorated with murky, grey skies that seemed to follow the Hydra forces. His suit was the only thing in bright colours, a symbol of hope standing gallantly and ready to fight. The painting made a shiver pass through him, it had a strange foreboding feeling to it, like the war against Hydra wasn't over.
"Who is that?" Olivia suddenly asked his attention immediately snapping to her. She was pointing to another mural, the one of the Howling Commandos. Steve was astounded to find she was gesturing to one of his best friend, Bucky Barnes.
"That's Bucky." He announced haplessly. The sadness he kept tucked away consumed his heart again and made the light in his eyes dim, just a little.
"That's him? You never told me he was a looker." She murmured eyeing him curiously.
"Love his eyes. He got that whole devilishly handsome thing going on eh?"
Weirdly enough Steve felt no jealously. Maybe it was the sense that Olivia was just admiring and complimenting someone dear to him.
She lowered her gaze to the small elevated panel in front of her. It was a monochrome clip of Bucky and Steve. It started off with them on the back of a truck analyzing a map and the next was of them together. They were standing side by side. Steve was grinning wide and proud and Bucky was laughing uncontrollably.
Olivia's face softened, her expression sobering. This was his best friend. The man that Steve spoke so grandly of, the man that she reminded him of. She was a fascinated to know about the man but at the same time, knowing she would never get to meet him made her feel hapless. More than that, her heart went out to Steve.
She was proud of him. He braved forward and chose to come to the Smithsonian. She hoped that someday, she could find the same courage. After all Norah's door was yet to be opened.
"He usually had that effect on people, he was the lady's man." He mused with a fond memory. All the girls wanted Bucky. He had this certain dark charm that women were attracted to.
Olivia smiled impishly at his words and looked to him over her shoulder.
"That's hard to believe, considering you are Captain Heartthrob." She noted teasingly. Steve laughed abashedly while slowly shaking his head.
"That's now." He pointed to the glass display behind him "That's then."
Her focus snapped to the direction he gestured to. Her eyes widened in wonder as she stared upon the scrawny post version of Steve Rogers.
"That's you?" She demanded, astounded. Steve nodded his lips pressed down to a thin line. He waited with his heart in his eyes, expecting what he always expected in his former form. Ridicule, rejection, criticism. He knew Olivia (as gentle as she was) was not capable of saying nasty things, but old habits die hard.
"Oh my gosh." She squealed stepping away from him and approaching the picture.
"You looked so cute that helmet is so big on you—that's just adorable." She was murmuring to herself.
The sensor activated guide was brought to life when she had appeared.
...Denied enlistment due to poor health, Steve Rogers...
Steve approached slowly, uncertain if what he heard was real. She was admiring him, like one would admire a cherubic faced ten year old. He was a little embarrassed, after all he was a grown man at the time.
"Adorable. I'll take it." He chuckled while palming the back of his neck. She glanced at him.
"It's much better than puny ass runt."
Olivia gasped out a laugh and grinned sweetly up at him and then looked to the black and white photo again. How such things were possible she never knew but she was glad. The whole museum in itself brought her new insight to what Steve had gone through to become the war hero that he is and the people he had lost.
"Oh my." Olivia whispered in awe. Steve looked to who she was admiring and was a little taken back by the image.
It was Peggy Carter.
It was a profile of her beautiful face, staring off into a distant future with the glimmer of pride in her dark eyes. The monochromatic image left little imagination for the colours, but Steve knew she was wearing her usual red lip.
"Who is that gorgeous lady?" Olivia asked, intrigued by the first woman she saw in the presentation.
"Peggy, she was my..." He paused struggling to find words while gazing upon her pretty face.
"We had a date." He forced out looking to Olivia.
"I was going to take her dancing."
She smiled gently, but there was a rising sadness in her eyes. She lowered her gaze pensively, her lips pressed down in a thin line.
"When I miss my friends they are usually a phone call or a short drive away, but I can't imagine what you must be feeling." She murmured in despair.
Steve smiled crookedly and shook his head in a gentle dismissal of the air of gloom.
"It's not so bad anymore, I have you to thank for most of it." He insisted kingly, looking to her.
She gazed at him with those great, enchanting, brown eyes.
"Still, it makes one think doesn't it?" She said "How much we take for granted."
She had a point.
Steve remembered he had taken a few things for granted. But in the heat of war it was dangerous to think about what one could lose when winning was the only option between death and life.
His glimmering gaze moved to across the many displayed photos. The one of Bucky, to the Howling Commandos and then back again to Peggy.
"One of my biggest regrets was not telling the people I cared about how I felt." He confessed somberly. He averted his attention to Olivia again, she was watching him attentively.
"But I like to think I've been blessed with a second chance." He added the hope he felt echoed in his deep voice.
She smiled in that sweet way that deepened the laugh lines around her mouth and reached her glistening honey orbs.
"What are you going to do with it?" She asked curiously.
He met her stare bravely.
"Make the most of it." He said.
It was more than just the confidence in his voice that stole her breath away. It was the fierce determination in his shinning eyes, paired with an intense adoration she had turned away from many times. But this time, she couldn't avert her gaze.
His stunning, ocean blue eyes moved down her face and to her lips. Olivia saw this and swallowed hard, she could neither move nor speak. She was suddenly aware of how close he was and how hard her heart was thundering against her chest.
Steve felt it, the air thickening in anticipation as his blood raced. This was the timing he needed and he half expected her to turn away, but she didn't. She simply stared with those beautiful eyes of hers that made him weak.
He felt himself being pulled in by a relentless, magnetic attraction. From beneath his long lashes he sent her a swift wary glance. His eyes seemed to silently beckon her to stop his advances, but she did no such thing.
He braved through his trembling anxiety and claimed her lips.
Lightening. He could find no other words to describe except as a bolt of energy that started from her lips and jolted him in the heart, and then spread under his skin like a million stars. The sparks he had felt when their skin merely brushed had returned in tenfold. He was both terrified and thrilled.
After a stunned moment, he felt her kissing him back. His tense shoulders relaxed in relief and he grew a little bolder.
Steve gathered her face in his hands and pulled her closer, finding strength when he held her.
The kiss deepened. The lavender scent of her made him dizzy in the best possible way and he didn't want to stop. He raked his fingers into her short, wavy hair as her hands climbed up his chest and gripped the lapels of his jacket, clinging tightly.
It felt right, like they were meant to be there, and for a few seconds, time rode the back of a snails shell.
The drugging kiss came to a sudden halt when Steve felt a sharp tug at the right leg of his trousers.
"Excuse me." He heard a meek, girly voice ask.
He tore his lips from hers. Dazed and disoriented he craned around and searched for the face the voice belonged to. His gaze fell to the figure closer to the floor. It was a little girl. She seemed around six years old with dark brown hair that reached her jaw line in a straight, bowl shaped cut. She had a pair of large emerald eyes that gazed innocently up at him. She was shifting nervously in her blue sandal-ed feet, the skirts of her pretty white dress reached her round knees.
"Are you Captain Steve Rogwers?" She asked in that cute voice.
Steve sighed, he did not want to stop kissing Olivia but at the same time he didn't want to be rude to the child.
He cast a glance at Olivia, he still had her face in his hands. She was even more beautiful with her flushed cheeks and bee kissed lips. However her dazed stare was on the little girl standing behind his broad body. She was blinking rapidly from underneath her glasses. Feeling his stare, she looked to him, wide eyed and in disbelief.
He grinned, blushing scarlet and slowly released her. He mumbled an 'excuse me' under his breath and turned his profile to the child.
The little girl had a paper in her hand and she was hugging it to her chest as if trying to hide away whatever as on the other side. Steve glanced ahead to find two adults lingering in the background. He sighed in relief, the child was supervised. He sent a friendly wave to acknowledge them and they nodded back and respectfully didn't approach.
He averted his attention to the child once more and bent down to the floor.
"Yes I am." He answered her previous question with a gentle smile.
"But you can't tell anyone. I am on a special secret mission." He murmured the last part surreptitiously while glancing around for dramatic effect. The child was alerted by this and immediately straightened her posture and then looked around warily.
"Oh okay." Her head bobbed in understanding, then she shyly gestured the A4 sheet of paper to him.
"But can you sign this please?" She asked in that same adorable voice.
"Sure thing." He said and accepted the paper and the red pastel she handed him. He laid out the paper on his lap and observed just what she was hiding. It was a drawing of his shield. The star was a little misshapen and the circle was clearly traced using the ring of a cup. But the colouring was fairly neat, except for a few wiggly lines over the edges. He grinned and then posed the tip of the crayon on the bottom corner of the page.
"What's your name?" He asked politely.
"Katie." She mumbled.
"This is a nice drawing Katie, did you do it?" He wondered conversationally while writing a little note for her.
"Yesh." She said proudly while bashfully wringing the skirts of her dress
"With my crayons."
"Oh, what kind of crayons?" He inquired sending her a glance.
"Just crayons, they come in this- this box it has the sun on it and a little girl dancing."
"Oh I should go buy myself some." He mused earning a giggle from her. He ended the note with a signature and then carefully returned the paper and crayon to her.
"Here you go Katie."
"Thank you." She accepted the autograph with petite, dainty hands.
He watched as she inspected the note with large absorbing eyes. She nodded to herself approving his work and Steve couldn't help but crack a smile at her adorable ways.
"Bye Cap- I mean Mister Rogwers." She quickly corrected apologetically and glanced around to make sure his "cover" wasn't blown.
"Bye." He said with a short wave and watched her hurry off to her parents.
The moment the child was out of his sight was when he started to see the rest of the crowd eyeing him curiously. He wasn't recognized yet, but he knew was about to.
He cautiously rose up to his long legs and then turned to face Olivia.
"We better dash before word gets out."
"Huh?" She drawled snapping out of her thoughts. Steve was not expecting the tear brimmed state of her eyes. But she blinked, willing away the brief moment of despair in her eyes and nodded frantically.
"Yeah, sure." She murmured faintly and lowered her gaze, refusing to meet his stare.
Steve began to panic. He prayed to God he hadn't just messed things up.
They finally returned to his apartment and the silence was deafening.
She hadn't spoken to him the entire way home. Steve didn't feel encouraged to make conversation because of her unapproachable body language. Her shoulders were tense, she had her eyes fixated on the ground and her eyebrows were furrowed broodingly.
She was distant, a side he had never seen, not in actions anyway.
He had opened the door for her. She mumbled a meek 'thanks' under her breath and stepped in. He followed in hesitantly, his fair brows creased in concern.
He shut the door behind him and held the handle contemplatively. He felt stupid. He shouldn't have kissed her so suddenly, right? Is that what is causing her to be so distressed? Was it really just one sided? Had he imagined the whole thing?
He had to ask, despite sensing the answer, he had to know.
"Olli?" He called cautiously, releasing the door knob.
"Yeah?" She answered, slowly spinning around to face him. She was looking at him but not in his eyes, like she was afraid to.
"You've been very quiet and it's not the good kind. I am getting a vibe." He voiced softly, his blue eyes large and shining in a youthful vulnerability.
Olivia stared and then suddenly took a deep sharp breath. The straying control she had over her stoic features crumbled and her pretty face scrunched up in pained sadness. Steve was shocked into action, his heart began to thunder in his chest, not expecting her desolate reaction. His stomach turned to knots.
"Steve I-"There was a catch in her words, she lowered her chin and stared at her hands.
Concern flooded his body and he was willed into action. He immediately stepped to her, but then slowed his pace to not frighten her.
"What is it? What's wrong?" He asked gently, resisting the urge to reach out to her.
She was rubbing the heel of her thumb into her left palm, her hands were trembling and Steve felt helpless. She took another deep ragged breath and then finally raised her gaze.
He was startled to find the beginning of tears lining her eyes, threatening to spill.
"I am not held together, I am very broken." She said through tremulous lips "I am so broken that sometimes I have trouble sleeping at night because I am too busy crying. I get hit with random waves of depression and I stress about these waves and that gets me even more depressed."
His heart clenched tightly in his chest. The chiseled angles of his face taut with sorrow.
"Y-you don't want to be with someone like me." She sobbed, averting her tear brimmed gaze.
"Yes I do." He said with conviction, gathering her hands in his.
She gasped out a laugh, a poignant attempt to stop her tears.
"No you think you do because I look held together, but I am not." A shuddering sigh escaped her lips.
"I'm not." She repeated firmly to herself while shaking her head.
"No one is Olivia." He whispered lovingly.
She looked into his eyes and winced at the adoration she saw in them. He watched her, so willing to be struck down but determined to help her, to be with her. Olivia felt breathless by the affection and felt inadequate. Like he deserved more, someone stronger.
She swallowed hard, the lump in her throat heavy and painful as she prepared herself to utter the words she had to but didn't want to.
"I'm—I'm not ready Steve. I'm sorry." She choked out with stark grief in her eyes.
"I am so sorry."
Steve felt his heart crumble, it was agonizing and demeaning. Yet he couldn't find himself to care about his own turbulent emotions, all he wanted to do was gather her into his arms and quiet her heartache. The last thing he wanted was for her to be guilty about being honest in her fears.
"No please don't be sorry, I understand." He too wanted to weep, but he held back his sorrow behind a gentle smile "I am sorry I shouldn't have kissed you like that, it wasn't gentleman of me."
"No no don't say that." She sniffled "It's not like I didn't lean in, I did kiss back."
Steve felt a flicker of hope again. She wasn't lying, she did kiss back. What he felt was real and he knew he couldn't just forget about it so easily even though that seemed like the simplest solution.
"That little girl K-Katie?" She looked to him for clarification. Steve nodded, listening intently.
"It was chilling how much she reminded me of Norah for a moment and it hit me how scared I am of letting people in only to lose them." Steve identified greatly with her in that moment and could only empathize, understanding completely why she was so terrified.
"I-I don't think I can give you what you need." She mumbled, her voice strained and dry.
"I understand." He whispered. She looked to him and held his stare through a blur of tears. He couldn't hold back his instincts to hold her. He gently gathered her into his arms like she was made of the most delicate crystal.
She tensed in his hold, her breathing hitched.
He placed his hand tenderly on the back of her head and used the other to sooth the tension in her back.
"Don't cry Olli it's alright." He breathed his hold on her grew tighter. She melted into his embrace but she was too afraid to return it, she didn't want to seem misleading. His kindness made the tears run faster and what he set out to stop was her undoing.
Steve smiled despite his own sadness and kissed the top of her head.
"It's okay." He breathed.
He wanted to feel hurt, to feel humiliated. But the situation didn't feel as such. Instead he felt like he understood her just a little better now. Hope was a powerful thing but more than that, so was honesty. She was honest with him. He knew it was hard for her to confront her feelings, let alone admit them but she did and he was grateful.
He just hoped that she will realize she didn't have to be alone with them.
I know I know WHAT HAVE I DONE?! But every love story has its hurdles right?It will get better I PROMISE! but the next chapter is a bit of a heart breaker. I am going to touch on Olivia's past and her time with Norah so...just a warning :D
xx?