star spangled heart

[Hiatus]

If anyone could possibly understand what he was talking about, it was her. Even when she still had her brother, stuck in a cell, far away from him, she’d been alone, with no other option other than, well, suffering by herself. Just having company, someone to listen to her talk and to talk with as well, even if about the simplest of topics, it helped more than he could ever imagine.

“I guess I’m not most people, then.” Steve could tell Wanda was baffled, but everything he was saying was true. The first Avengers had been a travesty as a team, and none of them had really gotten along. Steve didn’t want to make that same mistake with this new team, and he wanted to do the best he could to take care of all of its members. 

Steve laughs a little when she mentions everyone’s scents, surprised that people pick up on things like that. He had never paid too much attention to it - but then again, he hadn’t been physically close to anyone in a long while, except for maybe the undercover kiss he had shared with Natasha.

Regina let out a bark of sharp, humorless laughter. “You must have lived a good life if you think that,” she observed bluntly. There was no malice in her tone but she felt a pang of jealousy; she wished she could love her son the way he needed her to.

Steve’s face was sad when he looked at Regina again, both for her sake and his own. He couldn’t say his life had been good - not until meeting Peggy, at least. But now she was gone, and he had to pick up the pieces and try to figure out why his life was worth it. 

They had traveled a fair amount of distance while she left Steve to his thoughts. It wasn’t that she was speeding, the last thing they eeded was a traffic ticket. The whole world knew who she was, Natasha didn’t have any covers to hide behind. And she figured it wouldn’t look good if captain America got a ticket.  Her lips twitched at the thought. He did steal a car. 

That makes Steve laugh, a genuine smile appearing on his face for the first time in a while. He’s glad Natasha can lift the mood a little, since he seems to be a constant angst fest, himself. 

Peggy, feeling his arm going around her shoulders, let out a rather content sigh and leaned against him, her own arms going around his waist. It was still so surreal, holding him like this. No war, no Hydra, no… threats breathing down their necks. It was a bloody miracle, and it wasn’t one she would ever take for granted.

Steve sighed softly when he felt Peggy’s arms around his waist, and he turned the stove down for a moment, wanting just to be held by her. He wrapped his arms around her in turn, pulling her close.

“He’s probably better off without me,” she said softly. “He deserves a family who can love him properly. I’ve never been able to love anyone properly.” She almost envied his fate; she had the small, dangerous glimmer of hope that would keep her in agony forever. At least he knew there was no chance. But…

Steve frowned a little. “Everyone is capable of love.” Regina was angry and sad, but she didn’t seem like the type to abuse someone. He knew how it felt to need to lash out like her, and he got the impression it wasn’t out of a desire to be malicious. Regina was in a lot of pain, just like he was. 

Peggy couldn’t refuse when he offered half of the cupcake, eating it carefully so as not to get crumbs all over the bed. “Mm– anything to see you dressed up, darling. You’ve got me sold on the idea.” She teased, covering her mouth to hide her chewing. “But Steve… you look good in everything, and you can’t blame a girl for staring for extended moments when you’re done up in your far-too-tight athletic wear.”

Steve blushed when she mentioned how tight his clothes tended to be, and he scratched his head, embarrassed. He blushed further once she straddled him, glad he was finished with the cupcake by now. It was hard to concentrate on what Peggy was saying while she was in his lap, and he hoped he wasn’t doing that full body blush thing again.

“Pancakes,” she breathed, and closed her eyes, maybe a little bit longer than she should have given that she was driving, Green eyes opened a moment later, and she tilted her head to catch Steve’s profile, her expression soft, relaxed, and for all intents and purposes, unguarded. There kitchen would more than likely be stocked with instant pancakes. 

It was a while before Steve spoke again, and he was grateful that Natasha let him gather himself. He still had a hunch that Natasha might have more of a history with Bucky than she was letting on, although he felt like it would be inappropriate to ask about it.

An amused look crosses her features at his words. “I am not much of a dancer either.” Wanda admits with a shake of her head. “I remember vaguely dancing with my father in the living room as we listened to the radio. It was childs play, you know, nothing much, but my brother would take the lead when my father danced with my mother. But I barely remember it—it was more than ten years ago.” 

Steve’s expression softens as he looks at her, knowing all too well how memories like that felt. They were bittersweet, but he didn’t ever want to be without them. 

“Anything but Stark—I can work with that.” She replies with a smile, nodding faintly before falling silent in thought. The topics were many and she wasn’t sure where to go, though she figured anything was a good starting point. “Natasha showed me a game yesterday—Just Dance? She is very good at it. Have you ever played or seen her playing?” The woman had lasted three songs without stopping for a break, meanwhile, Wanda had been out of breath by the end of the first half of the first song. Talk about endurance.

“She’s been trying to get me to play that, actually.” Steve laughed a little. “I’m afraid I’m not much of a modern dancer, though.” His eyes looked faraway for a second, thoughts of Peggy flashing briefly through his mind. “I might step on my own feet.”

“Good, besides, this cupcake looks rather delicious.” Peggy smiled, letting out a small sigh as Steve kissed her hair.She rather liked the idea of dinner, and fireworks, of course. “A proper date, hm? You just want to give me an excuse to gussy up for you, right?” She teased when he looked up at him, brushing her nose across his jaw. 

Steve began to eat the cupcake, offering her half of it. He blushed when he felt her nose against his jaw, always a little flustered by her gentle touches. “Well. I’d be getting all dressed up nice for you, too. You mostly see me in a T shirt and athletic-wear these days. I’d like to wear something a little fancier.”