I had a knock on my door while I was brushing my teeth, I called out for them to wait while I spit out my toothpaste. I swung the door open to be met by Captain's muscular frame, I froze in my movements. His ice eyes pierced me as he stood there.
"Meet me in the gym in 5," He said before he stalked off. Leaving me staring at the empty hall. I got changed into gym gear and took a deep breath before exiting my room and heading towards the elevator.
"Would you like me to take you to the gym Dr. Mater?" Jarvis asked her.
"Yes thank you Jarvis," The elevator headed downwards. I walked down the hallway, having no idea where the gym was but I found it. It had glass walls and I could see the blonde head running on the treadmill already. I opened the door and Steve slowed his running and turned off the machine and came over to me. There was already a punching bag set up.
"I'll teach you the basics of boxing first. Copy my stance, place your feet hip-width apart," He showed me the stance and I tried to copy. "Feet wider," I did as he said, the awkwardness of the lesson did not escape me. He taught me simple boxing moves and we spoke nothing but about the movements. He remained tense the entire time and honestly so did I but quickly the session ended and I left him in the gym alone. I went to shower in my room, I didn't know what to say to him and I think for now, it was best I left him alone. I headed to the lounge but stopped in my tracks and almost felt deja vu when I saw Thor and Cap sitting in the sitting room, there were both whispering to each other. Well I scratch that, Thor was talking to Steve and not exactly in a nice tone. They stopped when they saw me standing at the elevator looking at them. Thor's eyes followed me and when I started back towards the elevator after I grabbed a drink, I could see them in the corner of my eye. Thor waited until I look over before grabbing Steve and kissing him, it went quickly from kissing to making out and I could not have got to the elevator quick enough.
The next day when I showed up for our training Steve looked horrible. There wasn't any outwards signs of injuries or bruises but the dark circles under his eyes gave him away. He was resting his head in his hands almost looking like he was sleeping on the bench against the gym wall. He looked up when I came in, that's when I saw the circles. Steve stood up from the bench but he groaned as he did. "Are you ok?" I asked him, breaking our silent code of not bringing anything into conversation.
"I'm fine, hurry up and wrap your hands so we can start," His voice was tough and laced with anger but I could see the stiff way he walked and his face cringed with pain, he was not ok. He made me show him a sequence of boxing hits, he was standing behind to judge my position and when I pulled my hand back to make a hit I elbowed him straight to the stomach. The amount of power I used would've usually done nothing to the super soldier but when I turned around he was keeled over at the waist. I quickly moved towards him, wanting to help.
"Steve you need to sit down," I helped him over to the bench and this time he didn't stop me. I went to pull his shirt up but his large hands stopped me. His face was still contorted by pain. "You need to let me help you," His hands slipped from mine and I pulled his shirt up to reveal multiply large bruises covering his stomach and over his abs. The amount of force that would've been needed to cause such a deep purple colour on Steve never could've been done by any normal human.
"Please," Steve begged me quietly, his blue eyes large. "Don't say anything," My face fell as the pure emotion on his face, it wasn't anger anymore it was purely fear.
"You need to leave him," I told him quietly, he just looked up at me. I dropped his shirt, once again concealing his injuries. "When you're ready, I'm here for you" I moved away from Rogers then, back towards the punching bag and began the sequence I was learning once again. Allowing him to join me when he as ready.
"More swing with the hips," Steve said as he got up slowly to watch me again, the incident behind us, for now.
I was up late days after the gym incident, all I could see when I closed my eyes were the purple bruises that painted Steve's stomach and his expression of fear. I'm sure they were faded and healed by now but it still made me sick to the stomach. I couldn't help someone who didn't want to be helped and I've been giving him space but it didn't take away from the fact I wanted to help. I got up from my bed, walking my bare feet out of my room and to the elevator, the lights all activated automatically thanks to Jarvis.
I went to the lounge area, starting a kettle and grabbed a box of tea. I heard the elevator open once again and when I turned around I saw Steve standing under the single light in the elevator. I checked for any signs of his boyfriend but he wasn't there. I turned back around, grabbing a second cup and a second bag of tea. I made the two cups and by the time they were done, Steve was standing behind the breakfast bar. He said nothing and I passed him the cup. He took it cradling it between his hands. I walked over to the glass door that opened to the balcony garden and stepped outside, away from the peeking cameras and microphones. Steve came to stand next to me, a considerable 7 inches taller than me.
"Where is he?" I asked, vague but he knew what I meant, what else could I mean?
"He's asleep, he sleeps like a rock," He said, the steam of the tea rising to his face and he took a sip. The silence grew between us.
"Do you even love him?" I had to know.
"What is love?" He asked back sadly. Both of us watched the skyline of New York, sipping at our tea watching the lights of the city gradually turn off. Even after finishing our teas we stood there next to each other. "I should go back incase he wakes up," He says finally, turning to look at me. I turned looking up at him.
"What are you going to do?" He sighed at the question.
"I'm going to break up with him and tell him I've had enough," I frowned at him and he shrugged. "What else am I going to do?"
"Be careful Steve," He just nodded but I could see a flash of fear but he seemed to swallow it down and gave me a look of confidence. "Call me if you need me," I was so afraid for him. He left me then going back to his room and to the sleeping lion.
I saw Steve and Thor around the tower the next day but I didn't bring it up in training. That night, I was sitting on my bed reading a book, Gone Girl. And man the wife, Amy, freaked me out. Psycho. Then my phone ringed, it was an unknown number but I picked up anyway. "Lizzy," I heard a voice cough out, there was a lot of banging in the background. Steve. "I need your help," I ran out my door and into the elevator, clicking Steve's floor.
"I'm coming, hang on Steve," I found his door and it was cracked open so I slammed it open. Steve was keeled over on the floor, I went over to him, seeing blood but I couldn't tell where it was from. I helped him up and towards the bed, he groaned loudly but I couldn't leave him on the floor with the broken glass. "You need to lay back so I can check you over, please Steve," He did as I said but groaned loudly and his face was twisted with pain. I pulled his shirt up and there were many cuts, they were all shallow and none needed stitches with his fast healing abilities. However the bruises were dark and deep but I couldn't do anything about that. I checked the rest of him over, he had a few bruises on his face like he'd gotten punched but that was it. "Everything is surface injuries and I can't do anything about them but I can bring you painkillers, you will have to rest for a few days, I'll just tell the others that you aren't feeling well and.." Steve cut me off, grabbing my hand and squeezing it.
"Thank you," I heard his words but I could only think it was my fault, he let go on my hand. He looked really tired and I didn't know how long he was beat for so I left him on the bed.
"Sleep, you need it," I told the super solider, he just nodded closing his eyes. I gathered up the broken glass and placed back the bedside light, soon the room was spotless, it just missed some picture frames and vases. I looked over at the sleeping form of Steve before pulling the blanket over him. He shifted in his sleep but he groaned at his did. The thought of his injuries made my blood boil, how dare Thor do that do him and get away with it. I went to go and grab painkillers from the lab hoping Banner wasn't there, it was late but Bruce worked late a lot. As I close the door I thought of something.
"Jarvis?" There was silence but then I heard a buzz before the AI responded.
"Yes Dr. Mater?" The British voice spoke back.
"Where is Thor Odinson?" I asked the AI, I never had time to ask Cap.
"It appears he returned back to Asgard," I let out a sigh, relieved that he was gone for now. "Would you like me to alert you if he returns to Stark Towers?"
"Yes, yes please Jarvis. But don't tell Tony,"
"Of course ma'am," I left the floor, going up to the labs to find painkillers from the lab but when I got there Banner was still there working.
"What are you doing here Lizzy?" Bruce asked me kindly as he looked up from his work. I knew this was the time to start spinning the lie.
"Steve isn't sleeping well and asked me to grab sleeping pills for him," I knew it was unlikely the super solider could ever get a flu or a cold with his immune system so I spun the "PTSD" story and I hoped Banner would fall for it.
"Has his nightmares come back?"
"Yeah he hasn't been sleeping well,"
"Wait," Bruce called right before I was going to leave the lab, I smiled fakely back at him.
"Where is Thor?" My hand clenched at the name the monster that hurt Rogers.
"It appears he had an emergency and he had to return back to Asgard," Bruce just nodded and I took the chance to walk quickly out of the lab. I went back to Steve's room grabbing a bottle of water and the painkillers and left it on his side table. I sat on the couch in the corner of his room, curling up and closing my eyes.