0900 hours - Avengers private kitchens
Steve closed the door behind the strange young woman, unable to stop his eyes from traveling the length of her body.
And what a view. He thought he might've had a pinup picture of her lookalike back in his day (which to him was only a two years ago). Steve sighed as he shook those inappropriate thoughts away and made his way back into the large seating area opposite of the open kitchen.
He sat heavily onto the couch he had fallen asleep on earlier that morning, it also being the one she had claimed while drinking the coffee he had managed to make.
Even though the machine had been old in comparison to the insane contraptions Tony had tried to get him using, it was still new to him. Just easier, especially since he's had time to practice these last few months.
What wasn't easy was sleeping and staying under. He hated waking in a cold sweat, and it definitely wasn't easy pretending everything was alright when asked by the others. The rooms here felt stiff and confining but he knew he couldn't blame the accommodations.
No, it was the dreams. The guilt and loneliness.
Steve looked to the door, remembering he had been snoozing for about an hour when he heard the snick of a key card being swiped and the lights overhead flaring to life. He didn't move, staying as still as stone as he watched a lovely dark haired beauty saunter into the room. Her eyes were glued to the windows with a small smile making those rosy lips all the more impressive. Not that he was ogling her. No, he was just trying to figure out who she was and how she got into the Avengers Private common room.
Steve conceded that he met so many people so often, it was hard to recall specifically. Funny, then, how after a few seconds, he knew exactly who she was. Though the last time he met her, Darcy Lewis had been out cold with her boss, Dr. Foster after their flight from London. Both women had one hell of a hangover, or so he was told.
But he couldn't process why she was came to the lounge area, so when she began to fiddle with Starks fancy coffee maker he figured he'd simply ask. He had gotten up silently, listening to her murmur and grunt in frustration. She even cussed a bit, making his lips twitch. Girls these days had mouths like sailors, not that it bothered him. A little bit of spice goes a long way.
Steve was going to warn her of his presence, opting for a subtle cough or a polite hello. Instead, as he stood behind the island watching her pout in her silly ensemble, he could not find a damn thing to say. It was like his brain stuttered, something it hadn't done since Peggy.
Steve shook off the memory and laid back stiffly, tossing an arm behind his head. Minutes ticked by but eventually he frowned, trying and failing miserably to clear his mind. Closing his eyes, he inhaled evenly, just as the docs ordered, but was caught off guard by a sweet smell of coffee and peaches.
That must be her...
He fell asleep surprisingly fast after that, thinking of soft fingers running through his hair.
1100 hours
Steve is jolted awake by the same snick sound but this time he can hear her walk right to him. He opened one eye and peaked out to see Ms. Lewis biting her lip, dressed in tight blue jeans and a... Captain America T-shirt.
She smiled brilliantly when he opened both eyes, the deep pink lipstck and rosy blush she put on made her face practically glow with life. He found he liked her look a lot. It was like she was a dame from his time and it was strangely comforting, even with the hip hugging pants and bright red high tops.
"Hey there, sleepy." Darcy whispered, bouncing down lightly by his feet. He was stunned by her easy familiarity with him. Most folks were either intimidated by him or thought he was too straight laced to socialize, which didn't even make sense.
Steve smiled politely and made room for her on the couch, sitting up. There were several other places for her to have sit, but he didn't really want to question it right then.
She turned to him and made show about bringing up her legs up under her, drawing his eyes to every curve. Steve ignored the little flare in his gut, though he thought she might've done it on purpose by the way her sea colored eyes laughed.
"So, I've got the day off and I've been in New York for like, two weeks and haven't seen a damn thing." She stated grumpily, opening the conversation before he had a chance to say hello. His lips twitched again as Darcy scrunched her ivory face dramatically with a look of consternation.
He raised an eyebrow in question but she was studiously examining her finger nails, half bitten with chipped teal paint. He found it charming.
"Well, you could always take a company car around town." He offered politely, realizing her game. But he was going to play along because this was the most human interaction that wasn't about work, that he'd had in several weeks. And the last one was arguing with a mechanic about the cost of finding a spare part for his bike. So, in terms of pleasantness, speaking with Darcy Lewis was up there.
Especially since she was teasing. That was just something people didn't do with him.
The dark haired beauty huffed, crossing her arms under her (Oh Heavens, don't look) breasts. He focused his gaze intently on her eyes, appreciating the mischief he saw there. The little minx knew he'd look.
So it was purposeful, this little game. He wasn't sure what to think about it, but Bucky would've kicked his butt, if Steve passed on the opportunity to flirt with a pretty girl.
He tried desperately to tramp down the blush he felt rising. After all, he wasn't unaccustomed to ladies vying for his attention. It still made him uncomfortable, but after the transformation, women looked at him differently. They wanted something that he just didn't want to give.
Darcy Lewis wasn't like that though. She was flirting, yea, but it was with innocence, or maybe playfulness. Like she didn't have any ulterior motives, other then a ride around town.
"I guess I could just go by my lonesome." She mumbled sadly, standing to walk to the door as her hips swayed saucily. Steve had to bite back a smile, least he spoil the game. "A little out of town girl, walking alone, in the big bad city." Then she turned to him, lower lip out in what he thought was an obscenely adorable pout.
God, it'd been a while since a woman, or anybody for that matter, made him feel this light hearted.
Steve sighed and stood, rubbing his stubbly chin dramatically. Something about this girl was making him feel a little reckless and maybe a little fresh.
"I guess I could ask Agent Coulson to join you. He'd do me the favor." He wondered aloud, almost breaking character when her face reared back, a half angry squint to her eyes.
"No way, Stars-and-stripes. I don't need that music thief to hover and sigh with thinly veiled annoyance. I suppose I'm on my own." She muttered darkly, though her cheeks were pink. He thought for a second about that blush and those lovely blue green eye's, and how he'd like to be selfish just this once. Just enough to spend some time with a beautiful woman who liked to smile.
"Ms. Lewis," He said gently, laying his hand on the door before she could bolt. (Which looked entirely possible). "Would it be acceptable if I escort you around town?"
Steve was utterly relieved when she punched his shoulder with a cheeky grin, making his heart jump curiously.
"I thought you'd never ask!"
1200 Hours - Stark Garages.
A low whistle echoed off the tall concrete walls deep beneath the tower. Steve couldn't help but smile softly, watching as Darcy walked around his favorite bike, her eyes appreciative and full of giddy wonder.
She was definitely a strange one, but strange in his life, was a relative term.
"My my, Mr. Apple Pie. Looks like you've got a bad boy hiding under that star-spangled veneer." She hummed happily, running a hand slowly across the old leather seat of his classic Harley and he nearly choked at how sinful she made it look.
Holy Hell! He forced himself to look away quickly, noticing the blush spreading across her cheeks. He was confused by this reaction, seeing as he only just properly met the gal this morning. But she was pretty and she liked his bike but most importantly she was looking at him. So being slightly... flustered wasn't too odd, right?
Maybe he was just looking for some simple distraction. Not in the perverted kind of way (though his imagination was hanging a field day.) Just a normal friendship in his chaotic life of superheros, aliens, and spies.
Her husky laugh brought him back to the moment, as she lifted one of the helmets and strapped it on. It had his shield painted on the side and he kinda liked it on her.
"No ma'am. No bad boy here." Steve replied with mock seriousness, hoping that this easy back and forth teasing could continue because this is the closest he's felt to being a normal man in years.
She eyed him excitedly, her pale cheeks now glowing with that little pink blush and Steve wanted to capture her face in a drawing to preserve it's beauty. Even in the dim garage, he could see what a knockout she was.
"Liar." She shot back, scrunching her nose. Both of them were shocked when he laughed, deep and hard. The sound bounced off the walls, amplified by the stone, but it only made her grin widen.
1300 Hours – North Central Park
Steve enjoyed the drive, having her arms wrapped around his waist helped. At one point after leaving the private garage, she had squealed when he took a sharp corner on accident, unaccustomed to having a passenger. But by the way she squeezed him tighter, he made sure to take a few more sharp turns. Darcy laughed when she finally caught on and splayed her palms out across his stomach in retaliation.
Damn, he nearly groaned. Her hands were warm, even through the cotton of his t-shirt. Next time he'd have to remember to zip up his worn brown leather jacket. Or… maybe not.
The city opened up before them as she yelled over his shoulder, asking questions about this thing, or that place. He tried to answer as best he could but New York was nearly as new to him as it was to her.
The further they rode, the more relaxed he became, despite the towering buildings that were so unfamiliar to him.
After several minutes of a standstill traffic, Darcy shifted up, leaning up into his back. He had to grip the handles a little tighter, hoping to tramp down his vivid imagination as the weight of her breasts pressed against him. This wasn't like him, to react like this. Not even close.
"Let's grab some grub! I can't keep this figure by starving." Darcy breathed happily in his ear, sending spirals of electricity down his body. He nodded stiffly, hoping she couldn't sense his body's inappropriate response.
0200 Hours
As they walked along the long winding paths of Central Park, each munching on a classic coney, he found himself thinking about her in ways that were far from appropriate. He was a gentleman, as his ma rasied him to be, but a man nonetheless. He simply told himself he appreciated the female figure as an artist.
There was a group of young people sitting on the sidewalk, each playing unique instruments, and Darcy halted their walk to stop and listen. Her eyes were filled with joy, bobbing her head along to the beat being made from a few empty buckets. Steve barely heard a thing, too distracted by the girl who was fishing in her pockets for cash to toss into the offered cardbox. Darcy was... she was an anomaly.
Didn't he have enough on his plate? Trying to help Stark re-build some sort of trustable intelligence institute, sans Hydra. He had missions he went on occasionally with Sam and after everything with Bucky… well. He hadn't thought about too much else.
But here, in the pleasant weather of early autumn, he found himself enjoying the company and the stress free feelings she brought about. He didn't have to think of anything but her, though that was proving to be a little inconvenient where his imagination was concerned.
"Oh shit cakes!" Darcy cussed suddenly, phone buzzing in her hands. She looked up to him with genuine disappointment making Steve instinctualy not like whomever was on the other side of that device.
"I've got to get back. Jane needs my help with… everything." She grumbled, then proceeded to finish off her hot dog in two massive bites. His smile was wide and a little confused.
"I'll be free soon for my own vacation and I demand you take me out again. Pick up where we left off." She winked at him, though he could see hesitation. "If that's cool."
He could too; take her back out. It was the most calm he's felt since the S.H.I.E.L.D./Hydra chaos. Hell, even before his freeze. Maybe having a little walk about town with a saucy lady would be a good thing for Steve.
And before he could stop himself, he nods and says, "Looks like it's a date then."