Next chapter - It is mostly set during "Love in Times of Hydra".
It turned out to be a bit more lovey-dovey than originally planned, but what can I say...

Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel, only my OCs.

Chapter 32: Loving and Leaving

They only spoke - or rather communicated - little as they went back in. Xandra still wasn't quite sure what to make of this situation and and how far she could trust him, really, and she had the feeling Steve was having the same problems.

"How do you want to go on now? What do you want to do?"

She shrugged again, before sitting down on the couch.

"You know you probably can't outrun them forever. I know you are incredibly well connected, but you don't have a team. You know I help you when I can, but... I am sorry, I have my own battles to fight, too."

at least I am not flying completely blind now, she scribbled on the paper.

"Do you think Fury told you the truth?" he suddenly asked, stopping enxt to ehr so he could read what she was writing,"about you and the whole alien thing, I mean?"

She shrugged her shoulders. The woman had genuinely wondered about this, and truth be told, after all her experiences with the man, she had the impression she couldn't be quite certain about it. Not that she had any idea why he should lie, but that was the thing about Fury - there was always a second agenda, always something happening in the shadows. He hummed, after all, he knew the man himself.

it's a start

"You know, this safehouse is probably one of the safest places for you right now, from a practical point of view. Nobody will stumble over it by accident, and even if, the perimeter is protected by a fence. I think there is a video link of some kind to S.H.I.E.L.D. if you want to make contact after all and manage to hack into it, and there is food and water for several weeks. You could stay for a while, get more used to your powers, your strength, and come back to the real world when you're ready. Fury will surely arrange transport for you whenever you want it. Or maybe I can even pick you up. The only downside is if they come here, there is no way to get away quickly since you have no car or quinjet."

still better than only running. What about u?

Steve sighed, rubbing over his face with his hand.
"I think we both know that I need to find Bucky, or at least try it. But I would hope you let me know that you are fine from time to time. And please, be honest this time."

Xandra gave him a small smile. Of course she had known his plan beforehand, had never even considered asking him for help before Fury had thrown them together again. He needed to track down Bucky before the trace got cold. It was just who he was, loyal until the end of the line.

"However," he continued, "while there is much to say for the cover of the night, I am not a fugitive and I don't necessarily need to sneak around, so I am quite certain leaving tomorrow morning will be time enough."

The look he suddenly gave her from his vantage point above her made Xandra blush slightly and he grinned, deliberately stepping closer until he stood in front of her. If there was one thing she had learned about Steve Rogers over the years than it was that his flirting abilities increased exponentially with the level of familiarity he felt towards a person. Where one slightly naughty joke had made him panic when they had first met, he could now make innuendos only with his eyes that made her flush all over. He went down on his knees in front of her, taking her hands in his. The position was intimate, honest, almost like a prayer. He was worshipping her in a way she didn't deserve, but Steve didn't seem to care. He kissed her then, tenderly and carefully, as if she could break if he pushed a little bit too hard. It wasn't just an imitation of purity right then, it was true vulnerability, the knowledge that despite what had happened, they had found each other again.

His eyes were very, very blue when they locked with hers, making her heart flutter before he let his head drop to her thigh, practically using her as a cushion. Xandra's hands started to comb through his short hair and stroke over his face and neck. She could feel the stubble of his beard form under her fingertips, the slight silvery scars from battle and the light scratches that must be marks of either her own teeth or nails on the side of his together like that was just as much for him as it was for her, she realized. They had stopped pretending not to care. The next morning, he would leave with the knowledge that the separation would probably mean heartache and pain, but not because she didn't feel the same way that he did. In their line of work, you could never be certain than you would see each other again, though it was usually a desperate crazy hope that would keep you going.

After a while of incredible calmness, he suddenly started to stroke the outside of her legs, first only small circles, then longer strokes, making goosebumps appear all over her body. Steve looked up as she kissed the top of his head, far too casually brushing her lips with his. She raised an eyebrow, silently challenging him. With a low chuckle, he kissed her again, soundly this time. Suddenly he wrapped his arms around her back, pulling her to the front of the couch so she reflexively opened her knees to position them at his sides. Her arms came to ret around his neck, idly continuing to play with the hair at the nape of his neck.

Steve just watched her while his fingers kept tracing the skin on her back where her shirt had ridden up, until she rolled her eyes, letting go of him to pull it over her head. For a moment, she was annoyed that circumstances had kept her from wearing fancier lingerie, but she didn't think Steve minded her plain black bra. Xandra wrapped her legs around his body to keep him from standing up when he pushed her back slightly so he could kiss down her neck and chest, stabilizing her with his hands behind her upper body. It was very much appreacited, thank you very much, even though she was trained Xandra preferred not to do crunchies while making out. She leaned back onto her elbows when he let go off her to take off his shirt off in a move that would have made Magic Mike jealous. The next moment he pulled her against his chest again, and the codebreaker shortly considered just not making it to the bed and staying right here on the couch. Her hands wandered up his sides, tracing his ribs and abs while kissing his neck.
Very much not America's nice golden boy right now, Steve suddenly lightly pulled her head back by her long hair. A shiver ran through her body at this very well dosed display of power, just enough to get ehr attention but not enough to really hurt her scalp.

"Darling, I really don't want to get in trouble with Fury for wrecking that couch," he told her seriously, as if he had read her mind.
Without waiting for Xandra's response, he unwrapped her legs from around himself, ignoring her pout before pulling her up to face him. Xandra rolled her eyes, but still more than willingly took his hand before he suddenly swept her up bridal style and didn't let go of her for the rest of the night.

He left the next morning, eyes serious and almost longing. Xandra walked him to the door, an oddly domestic image for the situation they found themselves on, and smiled slightly as he turned around to her in the doorway. Then he pulled her close, buring his nose in her long hair.

"Alice, darling, take care," he told her, before chuckling ruefully, "at least as much as possible."

Then he moved back a bit, cupping her face.

"You are wonderful, precious, and you might have a couple of issues right now, but you are still the most amazing person I know. Is that clear?" he asked her. "I don't want you to forget that. Ever, no matter what they say or how much anyone wants to spread any kind of hate. People are scared. And scared peopel do stupid things. That's not on you."

He waited until she nodded, then Steve kissed her with a softness that almost made her cry right then and there. Last time they had parted they had fought before and they had run without goodbyes, this time she wanted to say it so badly, and she couldn't. It wasn't fair. So instead, she kept kissing him, hoping he understood. Steve gave her a sad little smile, stroking her cheek.

"It's okay, I know."

Then he walked out of the door, disappearing into the outside world.