CatSamWays: Yay knew reader ^^ Aw thanks, I hope you like this chapter too :D.
Amalieaunstrup: Me too, I hope that maybe one day Jeremy Renner will see this and chose to wear a diaper in my honor. If Broken didn't make you cry, then this might :/... ^^"
Allison: Aw thanks ^^ Well all I can say is you are going to love this chapter ;). No babe, you are fantastic.
Jo: LOL Tony & CO. That should be a thing, like a band or something. Aw thank you so much, you are brilliant for the & Co comment, that is priceless xD. I hope you like this chapter ;).
Kristybauer7: Man, I feared I made you have a mental break down or something, you sounded really stressed on that last comment. I am sorry ( but not really sorry muwahahahaha) By bake do you mean Mary Jane? (LOL JK...) I did used to, a lot during college but too busy to do that now so I like it when my characters bake :D. What about you? BTW this chapter might make you want to hug Olivia. A LOT . juss saying.
Deathb4beauty: Sorrrrryyy :(
debatable-cerealkiller: First of all, why would you kill cereals? Second of all, OMG New reader yaaaay. My Stiles story got you here? Neat! ^^ I am particularly fond of that one. I hope you like this chapter :D.
Thanks for all the reviews guys! I am both apologetic and victorious over the chapter. Sorry and Muwahahahahaha.
xx
SSC
Steve was invited to out to have a drink with Kevin and Natasha. It was a long mission, they felt like they needed a drink. Steve was up for it, any excuse not to sit at home alone.
Thinking about her and how they haven't talked in a week.
Not even a phone call.
He didn't blame her. Steve understood in a way that she was allowing him some space, but he wondered who needed the time apart more. He missed her, a lot. But every time he picked up the phone to call he couldn't bring himself to.
He hated that he was acting like such a coward. It wasn't like she rejected him bluntly. He honestly didn't know what to categorize the incident as. He continued to ponder the meaning of it all. He was back to being unsure of how she really felt about him.
He dwelled on his turmoil emotions and endless questions as he sat at the bar. Natasha had headed off in search of the ladies room, leaving Kevin and him behind.
The joint was relatively packed. Most were people from their own building, enjoying a few drinks with friends at Happy Hour. The booths were taken over by white collars, shunning Steve and his friends to the bar counter. He didn't mind, he preferred the solitary and didn't think of himself as much company that night.
"Hey Cap what's up?" Kevin appeared, patting him heartily on the back to gain his attention.
Steve had been staring idly at his glass of whiskey, watching the amber colours in vague interest. He glanced at his friend and smiled before leaning back on his stool.
"Nothing Kevin, just thinking." He confessed, but his hapless smile was far from convincing.
"I haven't seen you this blue since you wore your stealth suit." Kevin commented light heartedly and took a seat on the free stool by the Captain. He then crossed his arms over the wooden surface and leaned onto his elbows.
"Guess Olivia left huh?" He assumed while observing Steve's somber expression.
"Yeah... she did." He said and then took a sip of his drink. The ocher liquid burned down his throat but he hardly felt the sharp kick. His apartment still smelt like cinnamon rolls. He would stare at the blue wall sometimes, lost in its Copen shade. The pillows, even after he had washed the covers, they still carried a faint scent of lavender. His insides clenched in longing in remembrance of the soft toy Alfie, he had taken the elephant off the couch and into his bedroom.
"I'm also guessing there is more to it than that." Kevin noted, Steve nodded begrudgingly
"You told her didn't you?" The agent sighed "She didn't feel the same way?"
"No it-it wasn't that." Rogers quickly corrected "She said she wasn't ready."
He lowered his gaze to the sloshing ocher liquid for a moment.
"I think I scared her." He murmured anxiously.
"I don't think you scared her Cap." Kevin stated candidly "She must have scared herself. When you go on for a long time from feeling too much, to feeling nothing and then too much all at once, its overwhelming."
Steve was surprised by his insightful words and wondered if the man knew about Olli's niece. He looked to Kevin to find him staring at the bar counter. His dark features angled and brooding.
"She needs you more than you think, just give her time and whatever you do, don't let her think you've given up on her."
"What do you mean?" Rogers inquired, eager to understand. Kevin turned his profile to him and smiled kindly.
"She was your friend first, right?" He asked. Steve nodded frantically.
"Then you should make sure she knows that even though she didn't return your feelings yet, she hasn't lost you as a friend. Cause it doesn't matter how much you tell her you like her if you can't stick around to prove it."
Kevin's shockingly wise words were a heavy revelation to the ninety five year old war hero. The man was right. Steve had to prove himself.
"Olli. What's wrong?"
Olivia turned away from the view of the city, outside of the Children's Hospital. She focused her attention on her seven year old niece, Norah.
Norah was sitting up on her bed, dressed in the paper dress with little green dinosaurs all over it. The nurse had brought a normal pink one with yellow crowns but Norah demanded to have the dinosaurs. She had stated quite frankly that it was unfair that only the boys got to wear them.
Olivia smiled fondly at the thought. The little girl had such life, such fire in her. It pained her to think of ways to explain to her what she found out.
Norah had her wide, blue eyes focused on her aunt. Her eyes seemed impossibly bright against her shoulder length, wavy black hair.
"I was just talking to the doctor." Olivia answered while approaching her niece.
"She said there is something wrong with me, didn't she?" The young girl asked. Her nervousness clear as she watched her aunt from beneath her fringe.
Olivia took a seat on the chair beside her bed and then leaned her upper body onto the edge of the mattress. She began to play with the bed sheet while trying to figure out how to word the news to her niece.
"The stomach aches you have been having are a lot more complicated than we thought." Olivia voiced unable to meet the child's stare.
"Is this because I ate too many gummy bears at Julie's? "
Olivia's gaze immediately snapped to her niece at the sound of her contrite, almost in tears, guilty tone.
Norah's eyes were brimmed with tears, repentant and fearful, like she had done something terrible. Olivia's heart went out to the child and she reached out and gently grasped her tiny hands in hers.
"No honey you didn't do anything wrong. it's just." She whispered lovingly. Norah sniffled and didn't seem convinced. Olivia smiled hoping to assure the young girl, when she was struggling to find ways to explain the situation to the adolescent.
"You know how certain times in the year I start sneezing and I can't stop?"
"Yeah?" Norah responded anxiously.
"Well it's like that sweetie, it's not something I did it's just how my body reacted, like there is something different in me." Olivia's smile wavered when she added.
"It's like that with you."
Norah pondered this for a moment, unsure of what to say. Olivia waited in a patient attentiveness for the child to absorb her words.
"What is it called?" Norah inquired.
Olivia swallowed hard.
"Cancer." She said, reluctantly.
Norah stared, oblivious and uncomprehending of her sickness. Olivia hoped she had said the right thing, she had relied heavily on the doctor for coaching. She didn't want to hide anything from Norah, telling her she would be just fine was a lie. Her illness was serious (as the doctor had stressed) but Olivia did not want to deny the child hope.
"But sweetheart we are going to do our best okay?" She said grabbing the child's attention once again "I talked to the doctor about our options and I am going to apply for treatments, we are going to solve this alright?"
"Okay." She responded dolefully while nodding.
"Is it going to hurt?" She asked while nervously biting the insides of her cheeks.
"Nothing you can't handle. It will be uncomfortable. The doctors will be taking you through things like chemo. It will make you very tired and you will be sick a lot of the time but it's just what happens when your body is fighting for you. Do you understand?"
Norah nodded slowly and Olivia smiled, amazed by the young girls maturity. She patted her soft hands gently and placed a doting kiss to her forehead, against her downy hair.
"I'll be here every step of the way."Olivia vowed "You could say I am your second in command."
There was a sudden spark of hope in the child's bright eyes, she raised her thin brows in alertness.
"Does that mean I am like Captain America?" She asked soft and hopeful.
"Heck yeah!" Olivia enthused earning a large toothy grin from the child. This spurred on the energetic aunt, she was happy she managed to make her niece smile again.
"We are going to kick this thing in the butt!"
Norah giggled in that cute, innocent way she always did.
Even when Olivia woke up that morning, empty and alone, her giggle continued to echo in her troubled mind.
Olivia Thorne found herself once again, stuck in that same dark corner of her mind. She hoped that the moment she woke up the day would somehow, magically lift her spirits. But each morning began with the same emptiness and the day dragged on endlessly until it began again.
Olivia wanted to feel better, but she was struggling to find reasons, to find ways to cope.
She rolled over and hugged her plush pillow tightly to her chest. Her hair was tousled and her eyes were puffy. The crying had not helped her sinuous. Just when she thought she had made it through the day without suffering a mental breakdown, the thin strings of her sanity wearied away and she would stay up at night crying, until the fatigue lulled her to sleep.
Her bleary eyed gaze fell to her cell phone that rested face down on her bedside table. She reached out for it and swiped her thumb over the screen.
Multiple messages from Claire and Charlie.
None from him, not even a phone call.
Her eyes began to sting again. A shuddering breath left her lips as she tossed the phone onto the empty space on her mattress.
She knew it, she could practically taste the bitterness of it. Her friendship with Steve had undoubtedly ended. She wasn't surprised by this. Who would want to be with a miserable woman like me?
She didn't understand herself. She was the one who had said she wasn't ready yet why was she expecting him to call?
But it wasn't like she hadn't tried. She tried to call him but the fear stopped her, to the point where she couldn't even text him. It felt desperate, malicious even. She felt like if she did attempt to contact him that would send him mixed signals. She knew she had to leave things as they were. She needed to think.
But it's been four days...
She shook her head and determinedly wiped the water lines streaking down her face. She didn't want to dwell on her sadness anymore. It was the middle of the week and she had a lot of work to do. She couldn't have her job suffer too.
Chanting this repeatedly in her mind. Olivia jumped out of bed and marched to the bathroom, firm on starting her day.
Olivia sat on her couch staring at her TV. She had tried to work on a pending project but it was damn near impossible. Her mind was fixated on him and that amazing week off that ended in a heart breaking disaster.
She moved to the couch, hoping some day time television would help ease her mind a little, but she was hardly paying attention.
He likes me...
Her pulse began to race.
We kissed...
Her lips still tingled at the memory, her heart clenched in a fierce burning intensity. She closed her eyes hoping to calmly usher the moment from her thoughts but it only made things worse.
She pictured the stark vulnerability in his gorgeous blue eyes. He was being honest, he had taken the leap and acknowledged the growing bond between them. A intimacy that she had convinced herself was only friendship.
He told her how he felt and-
All I had to say was, I'm sorry?!
She hated herself for breaking his heart, she hated herself for being such a coward. Why couldn't she just-
Ding Dong!
Olivia didn't realize she was crying until the abrupt interruption made the sobs stop. She was startled by the intrusion. She wasn't expecting anyone and she didn't want to see people either.
She wiped her face into the palms of her hands and slowly got to her feet. Anakit appeared from some random direction and was spurred into action when she made her way to the door.
Anakit wailed relentlessly to gain the woman's attention but Olivia's focus was fixated on the door. Her heart was fluttering at a sudden thought.
Steve? She found herself hoping.
Bang bang!
"Olivia Thorne you better be in there!"
"Give her like a minute Claire."
Olivia sighed and shook her head in vague amusement. It was just her friends. As usual Claire was the obsessive worry wart and Charlie was trying to calm her down.
"The woman is going to give me a freaking aneurysm, not answering her phone and shit, who the hell-" Olivia swiftly opened the door and seized Claire's threats all together.
"Finally!" She cried turning away from scolding her boyfriend and averting her incensed stare to her best friend.
"You have-" Claire was once again brought to a halt when she saw Olivia's blood shot eyes and grim expression.
"Olli?" Charlie called in concern, the smile that formed on her lips was immediate.
Forced, but immediate.
"Hey." She murmured unable to mask the fatigue in her voice "You guys I wasn't trying to ignore you, I had my phone on silent while I was working, you didn't have to come all this way."
"Yeah we did." Claire stated factually, her pretty eyes were soft in deep worry "Sweetie what happened?"
"Nothing I am just having the allergies, really." Olivia insisted as Claire cupped her face delicately in her hands.
"I am an expert on allergy Olli and this is not her." Charlie avowed, his dark winged brows furrowed apprehensively. Olivia sighed and shook her head, lightly pushing away Claire's touch.
"I'm fine."
Her friends were hardly convinced and frowned fretfully at her.
"Let us in Olli, we can help." Claire pleaded softly.
"Don't shut us out." Charlie added from behind her. The two seemed like a pair of orphaned children begging for a home.
Even though Olivia was warmed by their concern for her, she couldn't help but find it a little irritating.
"I can't believe you two are double teaming me." She rolled her eyes and pushed the door further, opening her home to them.
"I knew you two getting together was going to come back and bite me in the ass." She grumbled under her breath and walked back towards her living room, with Charlie and Claire eagerly pursuing her.
"What happened?" Claire broke the silence as they entered the seating area "I thought you had a great time at Steve's at least you sounded like it."
Olivia mutely took a seat on her couch, falling back heavily into the comfortable leather.
"I did, Steve is wonderful." She said with a dreamy murmur to her words. The faint smile that curved at her lips disappeared at the remembrance of her need for solitude.
"But um, this thing happened." She confessed vaguely, while picking at the insides of her nails.
"What?" Charlie wondered while taking a seat on the edge of the coffee table, facing her.
"We kissed."
"WHAT?!"
"Guys." Olivia groaned tiredly even though her cheeks were a flame from the memory "Don't make a big deal out of it."
"Uh how can we not? Steve kissed you and you are only telling us this now?" Claire demanded, taking a seat on the table, beside her boyfriend.
Olivia was alarmingly silent and seemed immune to Claire's scandalized words and body language. Charlie reached out and lightly patted his friend on the arm, snapping her out of her reverie.
"Olli." He whispered "What's wrong?"
She bit her lip, that same ache in her chest returned and Steve's guileless gaze flashed in her mind again.
"I can't be with him." She gasped out.
"What do you mean? Do you not feel the same way?" Claire asked gently.
"It's not that." Olivia said with a wide shake of her head, her eyes glistening with tears "I finally got out of the depression, you guys remember what a mess I was. The silences, the spacing out, everything else. I am happy now."
Claire sighed, she would be lying if she said she wasn't a little disappointed to hear Olivia's reasons. However, she didn't want to push her friend. Olivia had after all come out of a very dark time, she has to decide the pace to move, not her friends. Claire knew she had to respect that.
Charlie on the other than, he knew Olivia well enough to see when she was kidding herself.
"Are you really happy?" He asked her, quite bluntly.
"Well I was."
"Well you are not with Steve right now. Why don't you just go back to being happy?" He countered sternly. Olivia was a little startled by his question and there was a flash of annoyance in her brown eyes.
Claire tensed, seeing the brewing tension between the two.
"It's not that easy." Olivia uttered.
"Not that it isn't. It's because during your time with Steve, that's when I saw you happy after a long time." He stated with much conviction "Before that you were just getting by."
Claire saw it. Charlie's words had pierced through Olivia's self doubt and left her staring at them, vulnerable and very afraid.
"I can't put myself through that again." She opposed with a trembling voice.
The seriousness on his sharp features softened and the empathetic devotion in his eyes was comforting.
"You are thinking of one terrible possibility and ignoring everything that could go right." Claire added finding truth in her boyfriend's words. Olivia looked to her and shook her head less than convincingly.
"Olli, what happened was horrible. We all miss her." Charlie saw the way Olivia winced when he mentioned Norah. He refused to let the sensitivity of the topic stop him from making his point. So he reached out and grasped her hands and made her look at him.
"It's not the same without her but you have to realize that you are still here. Do you think she would want you to be like this? Afraid of taking chances just because of what could happen?"
Olivia was stunned and stared wordlessly. Charlie held her gaze, waiting an answer but at the same time he knew she wouldn't speak anytime soon. Her eyes were wide and absorbing the revelation that hadn't dawned on to her until that moment.
Charlie and Claire knew in that instant, it was time to let Olivia make her own decision.
They exchanged glances, secretly hoping it was the right one.
Olivia didn't know what to feel anymore.
Years, years of fighting. The struggle, all those tests and experimental procedures and in the end it was the verdict she was terrified of hearing. Even after all the warnings she still couldn't make herself believe it.
Norah was dying and there was nothing more they could do.
Nothing she could do.
"Olli."
She was startled out of her thoughts by her raspy voice.
"Yeah hun?" Olivia responded without a delay while hastily wiping away the hot tears on her cheeks. She turned away from the window and looked to the child.
Norah lay on her bed, pale as the sheets she laid on. She smiled through chapped lips and reached out for her.
"Can you...can you bring me some water please?" She croaked.
Olivia nodded wordless from the pain in her chest and immediately stepped to the water jug. She gripped the plastic container by its handle and poured the liquid in to a synthetic pink cup.
"Here you go sweet heart." She murmured helping Norah drink by cradling the back of her head.
The heart rate monitor pulsed and beeped weakly in the background as Olivia watched her niece drink water with a great struggle. Norah had only managed to gulp down a few sips before feeling exhausted from her exertions.
Olivia took the cup away and placed it on the food tray. Then she slowly took a seat on the chair beside her bed.
"You are really quiet Olli." Norah voiced her observation.
Olivia raised her bloodshot eyes to her niece and stared passively. Norah gazed back with those blue eyes that were once bright and full of vitality.
"Yeah I...I don't know what to say." Olivia confessed. The doctor had informed her moments before Norah woke up. While Olivia's head was spinning from the daunting news, the doctor chivalrously offered to tell Norah.
But Olivia dazedly insisted that she tell her niece, after all she was the one who had given her hope. She felt it was her duty as Norah's guardian.
Norah saw the struggle in her aunt's straying, guarded expression.
"If it helps, I know." She murmured.
Olivia stared stunned.
"She told you?" She asked. Norah smiled and slowly shook her head.
"I have a feeling." She mumbled and began inching her scrawny fingers towards the edge of the mattress. Olivia took that as a hint and immediately cupped her niece's hands in hers.
"It's okay Olli." The child whispered holding her aunt's tear brimmed eyes.
"I am not afraid to die."
Olivia gasped and struggle to smile against the tears the spilled from behind her frames.
"Sweetie I am all for you being wise beyond your years. but I really can't bear to hear that right now." She choked out.
"You think I should be afraid?" Norah asked.
"You are only twelve." Olivia cried in despair and then bit her lower lip, determined to keep her emotions in check, but it was increasingly hard.
"It's not fair." She added through trembling lips.
Norah's gaze softened sympathetically and that look was enough to send Olivia into a fit of sobs.
She released Norah's hands and yanked off her glasses while furiously trying to wipe away her tears, but they kept flowing like the river Nile.
"Olli." Norah called gently.
"I know." Olivia sobbed and tried to look to her through blurred vision.
"I'll stop crying." She sniveled, but her shoulders continued to quake.
"No don't do that." There was amusement in the child's voice.
"You are sad you can cry. I'm just all out of tears. That's why I wanted water."
Olivia stilled and took long deep, ragged, breaths. She looked to Norah through swollen, wet eyes and saw her staring up at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts.
"I am not ready to let go of you." Olivia confessed, grasping her frail hands in hers again.
"I don't ever want to be."
Norah tilted her face to her and smiled lovingly.
Olivia felt a little distraught by how calm the child was. She knew the palliative ward was responsible for how accepting the child was of her eminent death. It scared her knowing that Norah was more comfortable with leaving her than how miserable she was that she was going to leave her.
Olivia knew Norah saw the thoughts that went through her mind and weakly flexed her fingers in her aunt's grip.
"My very wise and very pretty aunt once told me that we shouldn't stress about things that are beyond our control."
Olivia rolled her eyes and scoffed, feigning annoyance to entertain her niece.
"This isn't like the time my laptop crashed on me." She chided gently making Norah smile even more at the memory. Olivia's face abruptly sobered as she held the child's tired gaze.
"You are my life Norah. What am I supposed to do without you?"
Norah stared back wordlessly unsure of what to say to assure her aunt.
Olivia gazed back, praying for a miracle like she had been for the past six years.
Norah suddenly turned her head and looked towards the door. She shuffled her free hand under her pillow and pulled out a long, rectangular envelope. It was a light blue colour with various stickers of cartoon penguins on it.
"I wrote this for you." She expressed and laid it on her flat stomach, over the bed sheet, as if letter was too heavy to hold for too long.
"I had been feeling really overwhelmed lately with all my feelings. Theresa told me to write them down so I don't let it dwell inside me making me sicker." Norah confessed eyeing the letter on her person with a unreadable stare. Then she looked to her aunt and smiled adoringly.
"It helped and I hope this helps you." She said.
"You will read it right?" She asked, her eyes were pleading.
Olivia nodded bravely as more tears ran down her cheeks.
"Yeah..."She gasped and smiled at the child "Yeah I'll read it."
"I'm sorry." Norah stated, her smile disappeared.
"For what?" Olivia inquired gently.
"I know how hard it is for you to let people in and then when you get attached and they end up leaving you. I am sorry I am one of them."
Olivia felt her heart break a little at Norah's apologetic words. She wanted to embrace the child and pull her into her arms like she had done many times during heavy lightening storms.
In that moment all their memories began flashing through her mind. The lazy weekends, the occasional arguments, all the loving moments full of laughter that they had shared.
Her grip on her hand tightened a little and Olivia stared the child dead in the eyes.
"Never be sorry for crashing into my life. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me." She avowed devotedly.
"Yet." Norah breathed, grinning mischievously "I am sure someone will come along."
Olivia winced at that, dread making her pale. Norah had already begun to imagine a life for her aunt without her in it, or she had been imagining it for a while now.
"No." Olivia shook her head firmly "I won't let them in."
"You have to Olli." Norah whispered, tears staring her thin lashes.
"For me." She pleaded "Even if it is a kitten or a guy who says he is a wizard with a walking house. You have to let them in because there would be like...no meaning."
"But it hurts Norah." Olivia wrenched out, her face etched in agony.
"I know, but it's the good pain. Like when you eat too much cookie dough. It's what makes it worthwhile."
Olivia's tears spilled faster while absorbing her niece's wise yet childish declaration.
"Is it okay if I go to sleep?" Norah asked softly "I am very tired."
A prickle of dread coursed up Olivia's spine and she desperately clung to the child's hand and leaned further on to the mattress.
"No please, not yet. Stay up with me a little while longer." She begged.
"Olliiii." Norah whined childishly "That's irresponsible."
Olivia cracked a smile at that and lowered her gaze, warmed by the memory. It was their thing. She would be the immature aunt that loved to stay up late in to the night and Norah was the ever studious brat that was eager to get to school.
"No I am not, you are just a Nerdasaurus."
Silence followed as Olivia waited expectantly for Norah's signature rebuttal, but there was none. She raised her gaze and was stunned to find her a sleep, the epitome of serenity.
"Norah?" She called glancing at her chest and was horrified to find it was no longer moving.
"N-Norah?" She stuttered out, rising on to trembling legs.
"You have to tell me I am a sloth monkey." She cried grasping her tightly by her cold, thin arm and shaking frantically.
"Norah you have to say it!" She shouted, but the child was unresponsive and laid there, smiling peacefully in a forever sleep. The realization floored Olivia and the tears fell endlessly. She continued to call her name while crawling into the bed, beside the body. She curled by her side and gathered her into her arms.
"Norah, please." She pleaded holding her tightly, determined not to let go.
"Please. Don't leave me."
The heart monitor continued to stretch on as a thin, green line.
It had been an year since her death but Olivia still couldn't bring herself to read the letter. It was in her room, along with all her other belongings that she wasn't ready to touch.
As painful as it was for the memory to resurface, she had managed to remember it without falling into a dark depression. It was a sign, a promise she had made to her dying niece.
For me...
But it wasn't just for her. Olivia realized in that moment, she wanted to be with Steve, more than anything else in the world.
"Olli?" Charlie perked up from his lazy, leaned back position against the kitchen counter when he spotted his friend. She was wandering about the living room, her attention focused on the ground as her hands moved objects in her path.
"What are you looking for?" He asked curiously. She was supposed to be taking a nap and naps were generally longer than ten minutes.
"My phone." She answered not looking to him "I don't know where I left it."
"Why are you looking for your phone? No need to return our calls." Claire responded cheekily, earning a chuckle from her boyfriend. She was in the middle of cleaning a few of Olivia's neglected dishes at the sink.
Olivia raised her stare to them from the other side of the island and smiled.
"I am going to call him." She announced.
"You are?" Claire asked, turning away from the dishes and wiping her hands on a rag.
"Yeah, I have to see him." Olivia added firmly.
"You mean you are...?" Charlie was hinting at the question they needed an answer to. Olivia's smile widened and she nodded in a silent agreement.
"You guys are right." She stated.
Charlie and Claire exchanged frazzled glances and then immediately flooded out of the kitchen.
"I think it might be in the couch." Claire announced, tossing the rag to a side and stepping towards the living room.
"I'll check your work area!" Charlie declared and scurried off to Olivia's work space at the corner of the room.
Olivia smiled, amused by her friends devoted enthusiasm.
"Oh my God!" Claire shrieked.
Olivia was alarmed into attention, she almost knocked her head against the edge of the coffee table she was searching under.
"What? Did you find it?" Charlie asked, appearing at the back of the couch in four quick strides.
"Yeah and it's ringing." Claire announced, and thrust her arm up into the air, with the phone still in her grip.
Olivia scrambled to her feet swiped the phone out of her friend's hand. Her eyes widened at the call ID and understood why Claire was so startled.
It was Steve.
What are the chances?
With a fluttering heart and sweaty palms, she answered the call.
"Steve?"
"H-hey Olli." He sound just as nervous and frazzled as her, but she found comfort in that.
"Is this a bad time?" He asked uncertainly after clearing his throat.
"No, of course not." She smiled and began to stroll around the coffee table "This is so weird, I was just about to call you."
"You were?"
"Yeah. Is everything okay?" She glanced at her friends. Charlie had rounded the couch to take a seat beside his girlfriend, they were staring at her expectantly. Olivia willed herself not to be nerve wracked by their gleaming gazes and focused on Steve's voice.
"Yeah... well Stark wanted to show me this idea he had for some new tech so I am heading that way this weekend." The Captain stated trying to seem aloof "I was just wondering if you wanted to meet up, but I understand if you are busy."
"Yes." Olivia exclaimed a little took quickly.
"Oh okay." He murmured disappointed. She was confused by his lack of enthusiasm at first, then she realized he had misunderstood her.
"I mean no. I mean yes to the meeting up part and no I am not busy." She lightly smacked herself in the forehead for being so clumsy "We can meet up at my place if you are okay with that."
"Yeah that's fine." He was hopeful again and Olivia felt her heart warm a little
"I'll see you Saturday then."
"Yup."
A silence followed, the intimate kind where they both waited, desperately wanting to say more but at the same time, they were comfortable in the accompanied quiet. Olivia did want to say more, but her racing heart and tight throat prevented her.
"I have to go." He abruptly announced "Cell reception is about to get really bad."
The insecure thought of him wanting to get away did worm into her mind, but she heard the loud whipping noise of air in the background. She figured he was in the middle of a mission, probably on one of the Quin-Jets.
"Yeah alright, bye Steve." She said softly.
"Bye Olli." He responded in that sweet way that made her insides melt. She waited for him to hang up first before slowly lowering her phone to her side, her mind a daze.
"Smooth." Charlie mused sarcastically, earning a glower from her.
"Shut up." She hissed lightheartedly.
"Aw It's so cute to see Olli all flustered." Claire cheered while grabbing her boyfriend's arm and squeezing to release her cute aggression.
"So what's your strategy?" She asked eager to know.
"My strategy was to tell him over the phone." Olivia responded guilelessly.
"Coward!" Claire booed.
"You know I hate confrontation." Olivia grumbled defensively.
"What's wrong with confessing over the phone?" Charlie question earning a frown from his girlfriend.
"It's so cliché, you gotta tell him in person, like all those romance movies." She expressed in a dream like daze.
Olivia's brows furrowed, perplexed by her friend's words. Charlie laughed and hugged Claire to his side.
"You just contradicted yourself babe." He teased and pinched her nose. Claire squatted his hand away while grumbling irately.
"But she has a point." Charlie added.
"It can't be so hard right? I mean it's Steve." Olivia stated with a sigh. She contemplated what she would say and everything in her head sounded so...pathetic.
"Hey man remember how I rejected you at first? Guess what? I changed my mind!"
Claire and Charlie chuckled and shook their heads in amusement.
"Score!" Claire enthused with a sardonic thumbs up "You two will be making out in no time."
Even though Olivia laughed, it was one full of hidden nervousness. How the heck was she going to tell him?
Steve was a little relieved when Tony had contacted him that week and invited him over to the Stark Mansion. He knew that either way he would have made up some excuse to cover up the fact that he desperately wanted to see her.
Even though Kevin had warned him to give her some time. Steve couldn't help himself, it physically hurt to not hear her voice. Wasn't four days enough time? He had hoped it was when he called her. He remembered how hard and fast his heart was pounding as the phone rang. Agonizing unanswered moments passed and Steve felt his enthusiasm take a dive, he figured she wouldn't answer his call, until she had.
"This is so weird, I was just about to call you."
He had sensed no deceit in her breathless confession. She was about to reach him. Had she made a decision? Are they going to be friends or maybe even more? He prayed for the later.
After their phone call had ended, Steve felt a little more ready for his mission. The waiting and stressing had paid off in a way, she wanted to meet him and he was both nervous and excited to see her.
The days passed by quickly after that and he soon found himself climbing up the steps to her apartment. He was dressed in his brown leather jacket paired with his usual white t-shirt and casual, faded jeans.
He couldn't stop fidgeting, he either fussed around with his hair or kept adjusting his coat. He rubbed his palms together and then eyed the door bell, after a moment of hesitation he reached out to press it.
He was forced to stop when the door abruptly swung open and Olivia's face came into view.
"Steve!" She exclaimed, startled by his presence at her door.
"Hey." He stuttered out, equally staggered. His keen gaze quickly scanned her attire. She wasn't in her usual plaid home wear. She was dressed in her black skinny jeans and a dark blue sweater with a white sketch of a cat in the middle. He noticed that she was wearing her sneakers, which meant she was on her way out.
"Am I too early?" He inquired tentatively, taking a step back.
"No-well yeah but it's not a bad thing." She adjusted the frame of her glasses while grinning up at him.
"I just have to drop this off at a client's office." She presented A4 sized manila envelope in her hand to him in a vague motion.
"You can come with me if you like." She quickly suggested before he felt unwanted.
Steve smiled and nodded "Yeah sure why not."
He was glad to not be in an enclosed room with her, she looked particularly adorable that day. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were glimmering with an emotion he did not understand. He sighed wistfully to himself, why did she have to be so beautiful?
"Great." She enthused and shut the door behind her before locking it.
He stepped aside allowing her room to pass. She slanted him a shy smile and strolled past him. Steve tensed at the familiar scent of lavender that brushed under his nose. He gulped heavily and pursued her.
They walked silently side by side and it wasn't as calm as he hoped for. It was tense, the air around them felt tight and suffocating with all the words they were yet to say. It nearly the end of October. Halloween was just around the corner and the streets of New York had begun putting up their decorations.
The month was beginning to reach it's frigid temperatures and everyone they passed was wrapped heavily in warm coats and scarves.
"It's this building right here." Olivia announced when they arrived in front of a tall, well lit sky scraper. She jogged up the short steps and towards the entrance, Steve followed her. She navigated through the spinning glass doors and reached the reception area. Steve realized he recognized the building, it was one of Stark's investments. He had never entered it but remembered picking up Pepper with Tony in his car a few times.
"Hey Carl." She greeted a tubby, dark skinned security guard who sat on the other side of a wide, white marble desk.
"Evening Miss Thorne." He acknowledge with a large friendly smile and tilt of his head. He rose up from his chair as Olivia placed the envelope on the gleaming surface in front of him.
"Mr. Page said you'd be dropping by, you can go right in." He said. Olivia smiled sweetly as Steve lingered behind.
"Thanks, is it alright if I take a friend with me?" She asked gesturing to the tall male behind her "This is Steve by the way."
"Evening Sir." Carl greeted.
"Hi." Steve responded, smiling pleasantly.
"Yeah go on up, Tiffany had to head out early but you know where her office is right?"
"Sure do."
"Sign here just for courtesy's sake." Carl presented her with a grey clip board that had a attendance sheet attached to it. She quickly scribbled her signature down on the relevant field while filling any other necessary details.
"Nice fella you got there." Carl commented eyeing Steve as he strolled about, admiring the vast glimmering interior and the many landscapes along the walls.
Olivia blushed scarlet.
"Oh he isn't-we are just friends."
"Well that's a mighty shame, he is a looker." Carl mused with a doleful sigh.
Olivia snuck a glance at the Captain who meandered patiently by the elevators.
"I am aware." She murmured mainly to herself.
She placed the last signature and handed the board back to Carl before picking up her envelope. She joined Steve by the elevators just as they arrived. They filed in and ascended to her desired floor.
Olivia hastily dropped the enveloped at the secretary Tiffany's desk and hurried back to the elevator. They waited as the lift began to descend again. It was a lift with a window that showed off the amazing cityscape of Manhattan. They admired the midnight view until she got bored and decided to break the silence.
"So uh, how has Washington been?" She asked.
"Good."Steve seemed relieved that she chose to speak first "The apartment is quiet without you."
"Things are not the same here, believe me." Olivia mused softly "I felt like I left some wonderland or something."
"Taking the wonder with you." He had meant to say it teasingly, but it came out as a longing whisper.
Olivia raised her gaze and met his, Steve stared back bravely.
"Steve I-"
There was a sudden, loud, metallic creak and the elevator jolted to a stop. Olivia lost her balance and tripped forward, she would have met the floor if Steve hadn't steadied her in time.
The lights abruptly flickered off and they were swallowed up by the darkness. Steve blinked through the shadows and held her firmly.
"Olli are you alright?" He voiced his concern.
"Yeah, yeah I am fine."She insisted, grasping him in turn and finding her footing again.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah." He released her and searched the darkened space, trying to assess the situation.
"What happened?" He demanded out loud.
"Must be a power cut." Olivia mused averting her attention to the view. A few neighboring buildings had experienced their same power surge and their windows were black.
"See this whole district is in darkness, this happened yesterday, it came back in a few minutes."
"Oh, well I guess we will have to give it a moment." Steve responded searching the floor and then looking to her.
"Wanna sit down?" He suggested.
"Sure." Olivia agreed with a shrug. They found a space on the cold floor, against the window. She crossed her ankles together and placed her bag between her legs. Steve sat opposite her, mimicking her position.
"Oh I have walnuts in my bag!" Olivia abruptly announced and began fishing through her carrier. Steve grinned, amused by her ways.
"Forgot your afternoon snack?" He teased.
"Nah I'm eat when I am nervous." She said and offered him the plastic baggy with the walnuts.
"I am sure the power will come back in no time." He said to assure her while accepting the food, but he didn't recognize that was not what Olivia was anxious about.
She didn't respond and Steve was oblivious to her sudden silence. He didn't realize how famished he really was until he started munching on the walnuts.
"Steve do you believe in divine interventions?"
Her odd question stilled him for a moment.
"That's a strange question to ask." He voiced his thoughts.
"Not that strange if you knew what was going on in my head." She mumbled.
Steve chewed while pondering the subject. He was relieved in away, the silences between them had been so awkward that he was happy she was willing to start up a conversation again. He figured it was her usual questions that ignited a frenzied debate between them about life and anything in general. He didn't want to deny the chance.
"I suppose Thor coming down from Asgard to help us defeat Loki is known as a divine intervention." He answered artlessly.
"No I mean the mysterious subtle kind. The kind that make you think that maybe this was meant to happen in a big plan."
"Yes, I believe that." He said without skipping a beat. Olivia sighed loudly and began to inch towards him.
"Good because I've been such a coward that a divine intervention was needed in order for me to tell you what I've been dying to."
"A coward?" Steve was mystified by this "It's hard to believe that a woman who would risk her life to save a kitten could be a coward."
"That's sweet Steve but it's true, I am." She said dolefully "But I am going to try being brave now because you are worth being brave for."
Steve didn't reach for another walnut when all his focus fell on her. It suddenly dawned on to him that this wasn't just any conversation. Olivia wanted to tell him something important, and he had a feeling it was about them.
He set aside the plastic bag and leaned towards her, giving her his complete, undivided attention.
"What do you want to tell me, Olivia?" He asked gently.
He wished it wasn't so dark.
Olivia was grateful for the power cut. The lack of illumination made it easier for her to say what she wanted. It was a relief that she couldn't see those gorgeous eyes of his, watching her, threatening to render her senseless.
"It's about that kiss, at the Smithsonian." She uttered.
Steve felt a jolt of longing pass through him just at the memory of it.
"It was great." She said with a nervous chuckle "I wasn't expecting it. I mean I thought you only thought of me in a platonic sense. Especially when you said that I reminded you of Bucky."
His mouth opened, ready to correct her, but then a realization made him stop and deliberate her point of view for a moment. Steve had always wondered why Olivia had no clue about her feelings yet everyone around them seemed to see it. She thought he only saw her as a friend? Maybe it was true in the beginning but not later on, not when they got to know each other better.
"Oh, that makes sense." He murmured finding logic in her words.
"But, I didn't mean it like that."
"I know Steve, but you are not the first guy to tell me I remind them of another male friend. First one to kiss me though." She attempted to joke, but Steve was too caught up in the moment to really notice she was trying to lighten the mood.
"Anyway I uh..." She averted her gaze to her palms and rubbed them together out of a nervous habit "I've been thinking about us a lot and the main reason I said I wasn't ready was because I was scared."
"Of what?" Steve asked.
"Being happy..." It sounded silly the moment the words left her lips, but she was determined to press on "Because everything with Norah had taught me that moments like this are fleeting and they never last. I was scared that if I did give in and we ended up dating or whatever, there will be an end.. Horrific or otherwise."
"Olivia..."
The way he softly whispered her name made her flinch with a deep yearning.
"I know it's silly to think that way, it's cowardice." She mumbled self deprecatingly.
"No, it's rational." He assured.
She raised her gaze to meet his, they were like glittering gems in the dark. The blue moonlight illuminate the chiseled edges of his handsome face, drawing her in.
"I don't want to be rational." She stated firmly "I was rational once, before Norah and I remember how miserable I was while being a false sense of happiness. So yeah maybe we won't last, maybe something might happen and ruin what we have but that's all just conjecture and contradictory."
"Contradictory to what?" He asked, resisting the urge to pull her into his arms. Her large, sorrow filled eyes was too much to bear.
"My whole getting out of the comfort zone speech." She said holding his stare, unafraid to show how much she wanted him.
"I don't want to be in the comfort zone." She confessed ardently.
Steve moved closer to her and gathered her trembling hands in his.
"Neither do I." He responded lovingly.
"So..." She gulped down tried to ignore the frantic rhythm of her heart.
"You want to give this a shot?"
"Affirmative." He relented and reached out to her and cradled her face in his warm hands.
"One hundred percent." He whispered as he leaned down, his lips searching for hers.
Olivia smiled in pure joy and relaxed into his touch and allowed her eyes to close, awaiting his kiss.
Just when their mouths were about to meet, the lights flickered on, nearly blinding them.
"That is such a mood killer." Steve grumbled irately under his breath.
"That was awfully convenient. I told you something freaky is up with the universe." Olivia said earning a smile from him.
"Well then I'll stop complaining." He said playfully.
She grinned.
Steve stood up and then helped Olivia to her feet. He didn't want to let go of her just yet and when she laced her fingers into his, he knew she felt the same way. He wanted to finish that kiss and he thought that he just might.
Until the elevator doors opened and the person he was least expecting stood on the other side.
"Tony maybe if you stopped messing around with the wiring and let the men you hired in the first place to do the job, actually do the job." Pepper nagged her boyfriend, the famous industrialist Tony Stark.
Anthony Stark listened to his former assistant's words and nodded as if he was actually deliberating her statement.
"First of all you know how I get distracted by naughty thoughts when you say the word 'job'. Secondly, it wasn't my fault sweetheart, I bet it was JARVIS. That shady son of a-" Tony was surprised to come face to face with Captain America. But the astonishment lasted for a second and he grinned, assuming Steve had arrived to see him.
"Hey Capsicle, sorry about the- " The surprise returned when he noticed the short female beside the soldier.
"Olivia?" He voiced his bewilderment.
"Stark." She responded coolly.
"Well this is a coinky dink." He mused while pursuing his lips in thought.
"Considering it is your building, not that shocking." Olivia replied. Steve and Tony did not miss her snide tone.
"I see the hostility is still there." Tony noted casually while crossing his arms over the front of his business suit.
Olivia sighed and her expression softened apologetically.
"Sorry, old habits die hard." She admitted reluctantly, but when she spotted the pleasant, leggy girlfriend of the billionaire, her mood immediately brightened.
"Pepper, hey!" She greeted enthusiastically.
Miss Potts smiled sweetly and nodded with a lady like grace.
"Hey Olivia it's great to see you. Loving the haircut by the way." She compliment causing the web designer to blush from the appraisal.
"Thanks well you hair is as fabulous as usual."
"Why aren't you guys taking the time to comment on my fabulous dew? But wait before you do that." Tony fixed his pointed finger to Steve and Olivia's interlocked hands.
"Why are you guys holding hands?" He demanded.
The two in question simultaneously tensed and exchanged awkward glances.
"Um."
"Aw, this is just too precious!" Stark abruptly exclaimed startling everyone.
"JARVIS note to self Operation Cupid was a success and also take the footage from the elevator cameras." He announced as if he was talking to the air.
"Sir, there was a power cut, which was entirely your fault by the way."
"Also note to self, do not consult traitorous AI."
"Operation what?" Olivia probed. Steve's postured stiffened even further as he shot Tony pleading stares.
"So where are you two heading?" Stark asked calmly, averting the attention away from Olivia's interest, Steve relaxed a little.
"Somewhere private I bet." The industrialist winked.
"Yes, so you should really have no business asking." Steve quipped out frankly, earning a frown from the former playboy.
"Come on I am just teasing, what is with you two? Sheesh." He pouted, Olivia rolled her eyes. Steve did not miss her impatience with the man.
"Anyway sorry for the inconvenience with the elevators." Tony continued "Power grid malfunctioning and all that. How about I give you guys a lift home?"
"That's not really necessary." Olivia insisted.
"We can take the Lambo?"
However, this grabbed her interest
"The silver one?" She inquired.
"Yes." He nodded smirking victoriously.
Olivia seemed conflicted with herself and Steve watched her, highly amused by her inner struggle.
"I am sure I can put away the hostility for ten minutes." She reflected to no one in particular.
"Five minutes technically." Tony corrected in his usual irritatingly, all knowing manner.
Steve and Olivia took up the backseats of Tony's Lamborghini as Pepper occupied the seat next to the driver. Tony Stark was as usual, rambling on, his new topic of interest was Olivia and Steve.
"In a way this makes perfect sense, you two have such strong sense of righteousness." He noted.
"It's called a moral compass, you should invest in one." Olivia clipped out. Steve was not expecting the antagonism in her voice.
"I see your wit hasn't withered away." Tony grumbled. This sparked a long, heated argument between the two that caused Olivia to shift to the edge of her seat.
Pepper and Steve sat awkwardly while listening to the two curse each other back and forth.
"So um where does Olivia live?" Potts asked the Captain, hoping to drown out dispute.
"By the Flatiron district." Steve answered politely.
"Oh alright, are you coming back with us Cap?" She asked. Steve took a little time to answer the question, he was distracted by the row between Tony and Olivia.
"Well you dont have to trouble yourselves, I can find my own way back to the mansion." He said in a haste.
"Nah its fine we can wait, can't we Tony?" Pepper smiled and glanced at her boyfriend.
"Yeah sure honey-and further more you ruined my favourite white shirt."
"You were wearing a blue shirt and how the heck did I ruin the shirt? It was pure vodka. You probably ruined it yourself by puking the contents of whatever drink you could get your hands on." Olivia snapped.
"That's conjecture!" Tony exclaimed.
"Measured fact." She countered.
"Conjecture!"
"Fact!"
"Um, are they always like this?" Steve voiced his concern, looking to Pepper for answers. She grinned and shrugged, unaffected by their quarreling.
"Actually this is the first time I've seen Tony and Olivia bicker like this, it's a long story really."
"Ah." Rogers mused on this for a moment "I guess I'll have to ask huh?"
"Guess so, at least you'd know more than me. Tony hardly remember the night and what Olivia says is definite fact."
"We maybe arguing but I can still hear you." Stark chimed with his hands posed on the steering wheel.
"I think we can walk from here Tony." Steve cut in, eager to exit the vehicle.
"What already?" Stark marveled. He brought the vehicle to a slow stop at a nearby sidewalk and then leaned back into his seat.
"See, five minutes." He observed, motioning to the digital clock on the dashboard.
"Actually it was six so ha." Olivia refuted
"That's cause you were distracting me with your lies." Tony asserted irately.
"Facts." She scoffed.
"Lies."
"Facts."
"Okay." Steve cried out and thrust a hand between the two, immediately bringing their bickering to a halt. Reveling in the silence, Steve busied himself by opening the door and then looking to the web designer.
"Olli shall we?" He asked smiling sweetly at her.
"Yup." She agreed with a nod.
"See you Pepper, Stark."
"Thorne." Tony clipped out. Olivia rolled her eyes and exited through her side of the door. She was surprised to find Steve already waiting for her, with his hand out for her to take.
She blushed, unused to such courteous ways and eagerly accepted his touch.
Olivia felt a sudden guilt course through her. She was so occupied in arguing with Tony that she had completed neglected Steve. She hoped he didn't hold it against her, but seeing how much he was smiling as they walked slowly towards her apartment, she guessed everything was well.
Better than just well. Her heart felt warm and at peace, she hadn't felt such a way in a long time.
"You know you never told me what exactly happened with you and Stark." He observed as they strolled down the sidewalk to her building.
"It's not a big deal." She said with a lazy shrug. However, Steve was not satisfied with that answer.
"Were you guys." He hesitated, unsure of how to word what he wanted to ask.
"Friends?" He asked, regrettably.
Olivia bit her lip, suppressing the urge to laugh and slanted him a mocking smile.
"You know when you say 'friends' it sounds like you are insinuating something else."
"Am I right to?" He asked hesitantly.
"No" She shuddered at the thought "Ew."
Steve didn't know why exactly, but her displeasure made him extremely happy.
"Tony is not the type of guy I would ever think of that way but uh, Claire and him were, friends." She added surreptitiously.
"Oh."
"Yeah, they have a little history. Met because of me unfortunately, when I had designed his website. I honestly didn't know about the affair till it was too late to warn her. Tony had broken her heart and I had to help pick up the pieces."
"I'm sorry to hear that." He attested gravely. Steve had come to find that Claire is a wonderful person, he didn't like knowing that Tony had hurt the female in the past.
"Yeah well it's behind us. Unfortunately it had caused her to be more cautious around men but maybe it's a good thing. It helped her pick the right one this time." Olivia professed with a gentle smile.
"I only know about Tony from what I read but, he has changed a lot since. Been committed to Pepper for a while now." Steve added confidently.
"That much I can tell which is why I'm going to ease up on him. Plus it makes sense, Pepper and Tony. She was the only one who could handle him." Olivia mused.
"Hey, we are already here." She announced the entrance to her apartment building. Steve felt his heart sink a little. He didn't want to leave her just yet.
"Wow, I swear my place was further ahead." Olivia continued to observe in disbelief. She turned her attention away from the entrance and then smiled up at him.
"Guess it depends on the company huh?"
"Guess so." He agreed, returning her smile.
He held her gaze with a thumping heart. Do it, ask her, it's now or never. His mind continuously chanted, urging him.
"Olivia." He called softly.
"Yes?" She responded, watching him expectantly with those gleaming honey brown eyes.
His ears reddened under the doting glow in her gaze. He struggled to find the words to express what he wanted.
"Since I get a chance to I was wondering, if you would maybe like to go out tomorrow night?" He asked, his anxiety clear in his scarlet face and shaky voice.
"As a date, officially." He added clumsily so she assume it was just another friendly outing around town. Of course this was the last thing Olivia thought.
"Yes." She answered, her face ached from her wide, unbreakable grin.
"Great." Steve uttered, a manly blush coloring his cheeks "I'll pick you up at seven thirty."
"Okay." She murmured in a dazed, her hungry stare focused on his tempting lips. Steve was swept up in the wave of desire and leaned down.
Their lips met in that same surging intensity that made his knees weak. He found stability by burying his fingers into her soft hair and pulling her closer. She fell against his chest and grasped the lapels of his leather jacket and held on tightly.
Steve gasped into the kiss when she abruptly pulled him down, forcing him to bend forward as opposed to her getting on her tip toes to reach him.
So this was what it meant to receive Olivia Thorne's complete, unchained affection. He liked it, she was more passionate than he could have imagined. He smiled against her lips and treasured the moment with a racing heart.
His lips were as soft and warm as she remembered and she just couldn't get enough. She never believed in the whole fireworks myth of a kiss, she never felt such a thing before. All she had with her previous boyfriends was just raw, passionate heat. But with Steve, in such a simple thing as a kiss, there was so much more.
A heart pounding, blood rushing, fervent need she had never felt before.
They released each other, breathless and flushed. Steve grinned boyishly, his neatly combed hair was tousled by her exploratory hands and his lips were swollen and pink.
Olivia couldn't help but grin lovingly and placed a doting kiss on his handsome, clean shaven face.
"Good night Steve." She whispered, leisurely pulling away from him.
"Good night Olivia." He responded, reluctantly releasing her.
She smiled coyly, turned and began to make her way towards the steps to her building. Steve lingered at the lamp post, deciding that he would wait till she was safe behind closed doors.
She reached the landing and then swiftly spun around, flustered and a little dazed.
"What time did you say again?" She asked sheepishly.
"Seven thirty." Steve laughed.
She grinned and nodded.
"Right right." She muttered apologetically under her breath and quickly jogged up the steps. She unlocked the door, placed on leg into the hallway and then turned to send him a short, frantic wave.
Steve smiled at her endearing ways, and waved back before beginning his trek back to Stark's car. The certain skip in his step was unconsciously done.