This is his favorite spot. He comes here every chance he gets and spends a few precious hours scribbling and doodling in his secret sketch journal. He doesn’t have it with him today. For good reason, too. Today is for business.

Thor looks up from his spot across from Steve and watches as his eyes light up as you wave over at them. Thor smirks, finding it all very adorable that Steve seems to be perpetually unable to see what’s right in front of him.

Thor can see it in the way his cheeks flush lightly and the sudden blue sparkle in his eyes. The Captain is so into you and he doesn’t even realize it.

You shove your umbrella into the wooden stand then move towards the two largest men in the small converted brownstone. A hot spot for the young men and women in the area which you definitely qualify as, the coffee shop has a comfy atmosphere. All the fixtures, counters, tables, and chairs are mismatched chocolate brown woods. Some chairs do have cushions, and these are always taken first thing in the morning.

Steve avoids those tables anyway. They’re at the center where the hustle and bustle of the constant crowd streaming in and out gets annoying. He’d learned his lesson when his elbow had been bumped several times, ruining a few of his sketches. He prefers the table at the far back of the shop where he can both look out at the falling rain and keep an eye on the door to see who comes and goes. And in this corner, away from the free books to read and the self-serve treats, Steve can sit for hours undisturbed, half hidden small shelving of books for sale.

His favorite table has four, what looks like hollowed out tree trunks for seats. They’ve been sanded down and varnished but the natural wood is beautiful, and he likes the way the lines swirl. These are also the only seats that he feels are safe for Thor to sit in. The guy is massive.

As you approach the table, adjusting your very worn brown satchel off of your shoulder, you can’t help but smile at the contrast between them and the rest of the young patrons. The two men who look at you with soft smiles do not fit in.  One, a 1,500-year-old God and the other a hundred plus year old veteran look slightly out of place.

“Sorry, I know I’m late.” You sigh your apology and settle into the seat to Steve’s right and to Thor’s left. You quickly put your satchel between your feet for security, still wiping at the rain on your red bomber with your free hand. The chill in the air is strong enough that wearing a slightly heavier coat is appropriate. Thor seems to agree with you as he’s wearing his favorite dark red coat too. Steve doesn’t seem to feel the chill because he’s wearing a pair of jeans and a long sleeve, heather gray shirt with the sleeves rolled up to expose his muscular forearms.

You force yourself to look at Thor, wanting to just sit and stare at Steve.

“Not at all. We just got here ourselves.” Thor lies. He looks over at Steve who’s watching you with a furrowed brow.

“Excuse me!” He waves one of the servers over, a pretty redhead with bright green eyes, a heart shaped face, and pouty pink lips. She flushes but hurries over.

It is Steve Rogers calling her over. You’d feel flustered too if you worked here and got called over by Steve Rogers. Of course, you live with him so it’s normal to see him every day. But if you’re honest, even when he calls you over at home, your heart skips a beat when those blue eyes meet yours.

Actually, it kinda upsets you that the waitress stands much too close to him as she reaches your table. He has to pull his arm down into the circle of his chair to keep from grazing her stomach.

“Oh, hi, Steve. I didn’t know you were here today.”

What a liar! You eye her with as neutral a gaze as you can, but you feel the uncomfortable twist of jealousy in your stomach.

“Kate, can we get a few spare towels if you have them?” Steve looks up at her and gives her a smile that might have aimed at being polite but feels a little too flirty for your liking.

This Kate puts her perfectly manicured hand on his right bicep and rubs it with her dainty thumb. “Of course, Steve. I’ll be right back.”

The waitress turns, and leaves and you slump back in your chair an involuntary pout twisting your own lips.

“She was awfully friendly.” You throw at him hoping that he can’t hear the jealousy there.

“Kate? Yeah, she’s great.” Steve smiles at you then turns to look at Thor who sits shaking his head as he frowns at his comrade. “What?”

Thor turns his gaze on you and sits forward, resting his elbows on the smooth wooden table. “I know it’s a little strange to meet out of the compound, but we thought it might be better if we talked about this away from the others. With Tony and Pepper so close to getting married we didn’t want them to worry about some unknown threat.”

Okay, business. You like focusing on business. It helps distract you from the waitress and her stupid manicured hand all over Steve’s bicep.

“When did it arrive?” You ask, serious tone renewed as you concentrate on the task at hand which successfully drives the redhead from your mind.

You lean forward, mirroring Thor’s posture to bring you closer to him so that you can speak low. You don’t want to be overheard.

“A week ago.” Steve says, tapping his fingers against the table.

You look at him and find his blue gaze darkened as he frowns at the woodgrain. If there’s one thing that he hates it when people threaten his friends. The people he cares about? His family? You don’t want to mess with the Avengers. Especially with threats? Steve is no joke when he’s angry. And most people were afraid of Dr. Banner when he got upset.

“Have you told anyone else?” You ask him, wanting so badly to reach out and place your hand over his to settle his fingers.

“We thought it best to keep it between as few of us as possible.” Steve says with a shake of his head.

“We’re not sure where this threat really came from and we don’t want to alarm anyone if it is just someone’s idea of an ill-timed joke.” Thor agrees. “You are the expert when it comes to the forscenic sciences. Is that not right, Captain?”

Steve watches Thor with an amused grin which you also can’t help but share.

“Forensic.” You correct him kindly and Thor clears his throat.

“Is that not what I said?”

“Close enough.” Steve admits and turns the full power of his grin on you.

For a horribly pleasant moment, your heart thumps loudly in your chest as the curve of his smile lights up his face. All darkness cleared from it, you see happy Steve and you want him to stay that way. So, without another thought, you nod.

“I’m in.” You swallow hard, staring at Steve still before you force your eyes away back to Thor. “Where’s the letter?”

“Y/N? Are you sure you want to do this? It could be really dangerous.” Steve says with worry, his happy smile gone, replaced with a small frown as he reaches towards your hand on the table but doesn’t quite reach it.

“Tony and Pepper deserve to have a perfect wedding day. If I can help give them that, then I want in. Besides, no one threatens my family and gets away with it.” Your anger really does bubble up, filling your chest with heat that has nothing to do with how Steve’s hand is only two inches from your own.

His eyes sparkle and he nods at Thor who reaches into his jacket pocket to retrieve the letter but then freezes as Kate returns.

“Here you go, Steve.” She says a little breathless, handing him not one or two but a stack of six dry hand towels.

Steve smiles up at her, much too excited. Why can’t he stop doing that?! Does he smile at all the girls he meets like that?

“Thanks, Kate, you’re a lifesaver.” He gushes.

You turn your gaze away from them and look instead at the empty seat across from you with half a mind to get up and leave. It would be stupid because how the hell is Steve supposed to know that you like him? You haven’t told him. Or anyone for that matter. So, he’d be super confused as to your reason for storming off. But you want to do it. You place your hands on the side of the chair, intent on getting up to leave when you feel a light tug to the left side of your head.

You turn your head towards Steve to see what he’s doing and your heart flips as he sits with the towels carefully balanced on his right thigh while, with one of them in his hands, he carefully pats your hair dry.

“You’ll catch a cold.” He reasons, talking only to you.

“Oh.” Kate mutters.

“Miss?” Some other patron calls.

“Excuse me.” Kate says with slight disappointment.

“Thanks, Kate.” Steve repeats but doesn’t turn to watch her go.

You reach up quickly, nervous and flustered. Your hands find his in the towel and you grab them to stop them from moving. He freezes and looks down at your face, his blue eyes inquisitively boring into your own.

“I can do it.” You assure him, so nervous you’re surprised your voice doesn’t shake.

“Right.” Steve says and quickly takes his hands back but only so that he can place the right on the stack on his lap and his left flat on the table again.

To your left, Thor chuckles. Both you and Steve look at him, nervous as hell.

“What’s so funny?” You demand, freezing in your hair drying.

“Hm? Nothing I just repeated forscenic in my head.” He laughs again and sits back, shaking his head.

You’re not sure if he’s telling the truth. Thor is really good at being sneaky when he wants to be.

Steve also stares at Thor with a furrowed brow.

Intent on moving past the awkwardness you lower the towel onto your lap.

“The letter?” You remind them.

“Right.” Thor says, remembering and once more reaches into his coat’s breast pocket and produces from it a bagged letter and envelope.

“An evidence bag?” You ask, impressed by their forethought.

“I though it might be easier for you to work if we didn’t contaminate it any more than we already did.” Steve explains as he grabs another towel and offers it to you.

You take it but put it in your lap before reaching out for the sealed bag. You lean over it, staring at the careful handwriting and read the threat. It’s simple. Not complicated or contrived. It’s straight to the point.

Felicitations on your happy day. I’m sure it’ll be a bang.

“Felicitations? Who the hell uses the word felicitations these days other than pretentious assholes?” You wonder aloud, disgusted by the threat and the audacity that some people have to try and ruin special days for other people.

Thor looks between you and Steve with shifting electric blue eyes before he very slowly raises his hand. You realize that he would probably use that word. Oops.

“Thor, buddy, come clean and we’ll call it a day.” Steve assures him with a nod.

“I would not threaten my friends on their special day!” Thor defends himself and you try and stifle your laugh, but it bursts from your lips with a slight choking sound.

Steve chuckles.

“I’m sorry.” You reach over and place your hand over Thor’s massive one, gently rubbing it in reassurance. “I didn’t mean to imply that you’re an asshole.”

“Or pretentious?” Thor presses.

But you wrinkle your nose at him, tilting your head from left to right. “Mmmm.”

He huffs at your teasing which only makes you laugh again.

“I’m only kidding, Thor. You’re not pretentious or an asshole. You’re very sweet.” You can’t help but beam at him when his frown relaxes into his soft goofy grin.

“Where the hell is our damn coffee?” Steve suddenly grumbles and waves Kate over again.

He was just laughing. What’s with the mood shift? You watch his face light up again as Kate approaches. “We had three coffees, Kate, can you see what’s taking so long?”

The redhead blanches as she looks down at her tray. “Oh…I’m sorry, Steve. I think I forgot to put the order in. I’ll go put it in right now. I’m so…so sorry. Please forgive me.”

You stare at the redhead, astounded by her distraction with Steve. She’d been staring at him so hard she’d completely forgotten to put the order in? What kind of non-professional…

“It’s alright, Kate.” Steve assures her, his sweetest smile offered as she gives him a small shy smile of her own.

“I really hope that I haven’t ruined your opinion of me.” Kate suddenly throws out, unembarrassed to be making such declarations in front of two other people. One of which is you, a girl who clearly has some kind of personal relationship with him. “I want you to think only good things of me.”

“No harm done. And trust me, Kate, nothing but good things.” He assures her with a charming half-smile.

Your half-smile! Okay…maybe that was exaggeration, but you’d never seen him offer that smile to anyone but you when you were at the compound, working.

The ache in your chest has you up on your feet, the bagged letter shoved into the front pocket of your satchel as you pull the strap up onto your shoulder. “I’m gonna start on this right away. You can forget the third coffee.”

You don’t mean to spit your words at the redhead, but you do, and you don’t even feel bad about it.

“You’re leaving already?” Steve asks, sounding slightly disappointed.

“I should get started on the letter. And I don’t want to impose on you.” You look at Thor as you speak, unwilling to look at Steve to see what expression he might be wearing.

“Impose?” Steve sounds so confused but you won’t look at him.

“I’ll see you guys back at the compound.” You turn on your heel and as quickly as you can manage, you weave your way through the crowd of people coming in out of the freezing rain.

“Y/N?” Steve calls out to you, but you don’t stop and leave the shop as quickly as you possibly can.

“What the hell was that about?” Steve wonders, turning his gaze back to Thor.

Thor sits, shaking his head again at his friend, disappointment written across his ruggedly handsome face. “You, my dear friend, are a half-wit and I hope she never gives you the time of day.”

“What?” Steve demands confused more than ever.

Thor gets to his feet. “Dear Kate, I will not be requiring a coffee either.”

“Where are you going?” Steve asks, looking over at Kate who is already leaning over to the barista and cancelling the second coffee.

“To see my girl. I will not make the same mistakes my friends make. You are a good man, Steve. Just a bit stupid.” Thor moves for the door with no trouble. Everyone parts for him. He draws up his collar and disappears out into the rain.

Steve stares after Thor, wondering what the hell he could mean but when he sees your umbrella, forgotten in the wooden stand, Steve’s heart gives a sudden jolt. He’s up on his feet, racing for the door. He grabs your umbrella and without another word, he too disappears into the darkening afternoon.

Poor Kate moves towards the table, cup of coffee balanced carefully on her tray where no one is waiting.

“What the fuck?” She mutters, under her breath, then marches back to the counter in defeat.

“Y/N?” Steve’s voice makes you jump.

You accidentally tear the letter at the top and sigh heavily as you glare at the rip.

“Damn it.” You growl.

“There you are.” Steve says with a smile. He moves towards you where you’re leaning over your lab table where you’ve been rubbing swabs on the edges where fingers would have more than likely touched first.

“Where else am I supposed to be?” You ask, still grumpy from the coffee shop debacle a few hours ago.

“Nowhere. I just wasn’t sure you’d still be in here. But you’re always in here.” He shrugs. “Shoulda known better. Anything yet?”

You put the now torn letter aside and shake your head. “The last two swab samples are finishing up now. What are you doing here? I thought you’d be sipping java with your redhead.”

“Redhead? Oh, Kate? She’s nice.” He nods.

You hate him. You officially hate him and the redhead.

“But I don’t think I can be comfortable around her. She’s tires too hard. I want someone I can lounge on the sofa with. Someone who’ll watch movies with me. Excited because it’s usually the first time I’ve seen them.” He stops beside you, turning around to lean his back against your lab table. He’s fidgeting with something but you’re thinking about the description for the person he wants to be with. You and he love watching movies together. Well, you love watching movies with him and he’s never complained about your company. “Even when they’ve seen them a million times before.”

You look up at him and feel your chest tighten nervously. “Is that my umbrella?”

You finally focus on what he’s got in his hands and he nods, frowning at you. “You left without it. You’re going to get sick.”

“Me? Not possible. I’m resilient.” Almost as if it’s on cue, you double over with a sneeze.

“Right, resilient. And what the hell are you wearing?” He asks, outrage on his handsome face.

“What?” You look down at yourself. You’re wearing your lab coat. But he probably means what’s underneath it.

You had showered and changed into your satin pajamas, dark blue shorts and a matching button up shirt with a light pink embroidered line along the hem for embellishment. Your feet are covered with your fluffy white slippers. You’re warm!

“There’s nothing wrong with what I’m wearing.”

Steve frowns, placing your umbrella on the table and turns to face you, opening his mouth to argue. Before he can there’s a ding and with an excited jump you scamper over to the autosampler and push a few buttons on the touch display.

“Anything?” Steve asks.

You stare at the screen for a minute then turn to look at him. “Yeah but…” You suddenly realize what must have happened.

“Where did you say that you found the letter?” You put your hands on your hips and move towards him slowly, stopping only when you’re a foot away, staring up at his confused and handsome face.

“On Tony’s lab table. Why?”

“Because the samples returned Tibetan soil and germicidal solution.” You wait for him to realize what’s going on, but he stares at you in utter confusion.

“The attacker is from Tibet?” He asks, seriously.

“No, Steve. There is no attacker.” You begin to remove your lab coat and throw it over your stool and stretch your arms over your head. Steve’s expression changes as he watches you stretch, his eyes moving down along your torso then back up to your face. Why are his eyes dilated? “What other pretentious asshole do we know who probably has plenty reason to spend time in Tibet?”

Steve continues to stare down at you and it becomes so invasive that you cross your arms across your chest and wait for him to answer.

“Who?” He asks.

“I’m sure Stephen didn’t mean to surprise you and Thor, but he is the only other idiot I know that would use the word ‘felicitations’. Why can’t he just use ‘congratulations’ like other normal people? Dumbass.” You move around Steve, dropping your hands as you walk.

His hand suddenly grabs your wrist and he pulls you to a stop. “Where are you going?”

“To bed? I’m beat. I’ve been running around all day and then I spent the last six hours in here running tests on that stupid letter.” You look down at his hand around your wrist and wish he’d just grab you and kiss you. But he won’t. You gently pull your arm out of his grip. “Goodnight, Steve. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight.” He replies.

With disappointment tightening your chest, you find solace in at least the fact that the redhead, Kate, is no one to be worried about.

“It took you long enough. Do you have any idea how long I have been waiting for you to realize that you are utterly in love with our little forensics expert?” Thor gestures towards the doorway of Steve’s bedroom.

Steve looks over at it and knows that Thor is gesturing towards the kitchen where you’re busy baking to relieve some stress after all that nonsense with Strange’s letter.

“I guess I’m still as clueless as ever when it comes to dames.” Steve sighs, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck.

“Clueless you may be, but a further idiot you do not have to make yourself. No one is home. It is you, Y/N, and myself. In a moment I will leave you and I suggest you make a move. Any move. Tell her you love her, kiss her, embrace her, just do something. I can’t stand watching the two of you pining any longer.” Thor claps Steve on the shoulder and moves towards his door to take his leave.

Steve springs to his feet and tries to fight the fluttering of his heart as he takes in Thor’s carefully worded advice. “Wait, are you saying she likes me back?”

“Like?” Thor shakes his head again. “You’re both idiots.”

With that, Thor turns and leaves Steve standing in utter nervous excitement, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he searches for the confidence to make his move. He has to make it clear that you’re the one he wants. Not Kate, not any other girl he’s ever met. Just you.

You’re busy checking on the chocolate cakes baking in the professional grade oven that Tony spared no expense on in the kitchen. The smell is so intoxicating. Devil’s Food Cake is your best dish. It’s almost finished. Just a few more minutes. You’re so focused on your cake that you don’t notice as Thor sneaks down the hallway to the elevator and takes his leave.

You pull the cakes out two minutes before the ding of the timer.

Your hair pulled up into a messy bun you carefully pull the two round cakes out of their tins and place them on the cooling rack but even though you know that you should wait until the cakes have really cooled down before you start piling them up into a two-layered cake, you reach for your carving knife and very carefully cut the dome of the bottom layer away leaving a nice, flat, and even cake.

You set the slivers of cut cake aside on a smaller plate before you pile the cake up.

“What the hell is that smell?” Steve’s voice shocks you again and you jump.

“Jesus, Steve, don’t you knock?” You demand, irritated with how easily he scares you.

“I live here.” He sasses you. He stops behind you, peeking over your shoulder at the chocolate cake, smiling that stupid half-smile that he gave to Kate. It irritates you because you’d thought that was your smile. Now you’re wondering how often he smiles like that outside of the compound. “That looks good. What kind of frosting are you going to use?”

“Frosting? I’m not going to use any frosting.

“What?!” He demands, somewhat outraged.

You push the cake to the side and turn to hop up onto the counter, then pull the wooden tray up onto your lap, the cake perfectly balanced at the center.

“It doesn’t need any frosting. It’s sweet enough as it is. This is my Devil’s Food Cake!” You assure him. You don’t need to add anything. It’s already perfect.

“You can’t not add frosting. It’s not cake without frosting.” He moves closer, standing in front of you to look down at the un-iced cake, his hands on his hips.

“Fine. You want proof?” You reach over and pull the small plate with the slivers of shaved cake, grab a decent sized piece and hold it out for him to take. “Here, try it.”

Your heart stutters as he places his right hand on your left next to your hip on the counter. He eyes the offered cake then looks up into your eyes. The amused intensity of his sparkling blue eyes ties a knot in your chest making it hard to swallow. He places his other hand on your other side, his thumb gently grazing your hip as he leans in towards you.

He opens his mouth and before you can pull back, he closes his mouth around the cake and the tips of your fingers.

Butterflies tumble violently in your stomach making you feel as if you’re floating. He pulls back, licking his lips as you sit frozen on the counter, your chest burning with a sudden desire.

“You know what?” You’re right.” He admits, nodding and twisting his mouth in defeat, not oblivious of the state that he’s put you in. There’s a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. “You’re sweet enough without it.”

He pulls back fully and moves towards the living room across the meeting room as you continue to sit, still frozen on the kitchen counter.

“What do you wanna watch?” He asks. His questions snaps you back to reality and you spring from the counter, shoving the cake onto the counter as you storm after him.

He’s already sitting on the long sofa, flipping through the selection of movies on the T.V. with a furrowed brow.

“You can’t just do that and walk away from me, Steve. What the hell was that?”

“What was what?” He asks, innocently.

“What thing with-with-with your mouth and the cake and my fingers?”

“I was tasting it.” He shrugs.

“Am I just a joke to you?” You demand. Your heart aches slightly, wondering if he knows how much you think about him. Always, he’s on your mind. What he just did…that teasing…

“Well, you are pretty funny.” He says, that half-smile back.

“Oh, screw you, Steve.” You turn sharply on the ball of your foot to storm out of that living room, but Steve’s hand is once again on your wrist, stopping you from moving.

Without warning he yanks you back so that your legs hit his left knee and you tumble backwards onto the sofa, landing on your back. Slowly Steve leans himself over you, lifting your legs with his right arm so that you’re lying on the sofa completely.

“What are you doing?” Your pounding heart tells you that you know what he’s doing. But you want him to say it. You want to know you’re not wrong.

“Making my move.” He explains, quietly.

Before you can reply he leans down and presses a sensual kiss to your throat. You gasp and try to remember how to breathe.

“How long have you liked me, Y/N?” He whispers against your throat, his breath tickling your skin and making it erupt into goosebumps.

You have trouble finding your voice for a second. “A long time.”

Steve kisses your throat again then pulls back, licking his lips as he stares down into your eyes.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He reaches up, caressing the sides of your face as he works his right knee between your legs to lay himself on you a bit more comfortably.

“I was afraid that you wouldn’t like it, me liking you. You’re way out of my league.” You insist.

Steve smiles your half-smile and he shakes his head. “Trust me, Y/N, if anyone is unqualified, it’s me. I’ve loved you since almost the first moment I set my eyes on you.”

Love?!

“Can I show you?” He whispers, leaning down to whisper against your lips.

You’re so intoxicated with him and the way you can taste your cake on his breath.

“Show me.” You plead, and he closes the space between your lips, kissing you with so much desire that you’re sure he’s wanted you just as much as you’ve wanted him.

His hands trace the shape of your hip before he hooks his hand around your thigh, slides it down to rest behind your knee and lifts your leg to wrap it around his waist.

As Steve presses himself between your legs, drawing a muffled moan from your lips, you’re sure of one thing; When Steve Rogers decides to make a move, he makes a move.