„Ahhh, Pepper? I, ahh, need some advice."
„What is it Steve?" Pepper asked kindly, but she mentally sighed. Hopefully he did not blew the kitchen or something like that. But no, that was more Tony's style.
„I, ahhh..."
„Steve."
„I want to aske Maria out, but I don't know how." He said it very fast and pretty quiet.
„Where do you want to go with her?" Pepper asked, only to get a helpless look.
„Okay, then we start with the basics. I guess you never asked her out before?" He shaked his head.
„Or any other woman?"
„Only Peggy, but that was different."
„And seventy years ago. So today, I think you could start with asking her out for coffee."
„But how?" He still looked completely helpless.
„Just suggest it when you see her next time. Say something like 'I hate drinking my coffee alone. Would you mind to join me?' That should work."
„But I don't hate drinking my coffe alone."
„That's not the point, Steve. You want her to join you, don't you? Yes. You see. Just ask."
„Okay …. thank you, Pepper."
Two days later, Pepper received a call from Maria.
„Did you tell Steve to ask me out for coffee?"
„Why?"
„Figuered it was you. You're the only one he would go to for that. By the way, thank you. It was terrible to wait for him making the first step."
„So you liked it?"
„He was so cute. You could not not like it."
Pepper smiled. Mission accomplished.
AN: Hope you liked it as much as Maria did. Review?