Pumpkin Spice and Super Soldiers
If there was one thing the Avengers should never, ever do, it was a âteam bondingâ activity that Tony Stark organized.
The man had a gift for turning anything anything into chaos.
You learned that the moment the quinjet landed in the middle of a pumpkin patch. Rows and rows of bright orange pumpkins stretched out under a crisp October sky, families milling about with wheelbarrows and caramel apples, and a big sign that read Fall Fun Festival! Hayrides! Cider! Corn Maze!
You blinked. âPlease tell me weâre not doing this in full tactical gear.â
Tony, in aviator sunglasses and a scarf that probably cost more than the quinjet, grinned. âDonât be ridiculous. This is a covert operation. Codenamed: Operation Pumpkin Spice.â
Sam groaned. âIâm leaving.â
Natasha smirked. âNo, youâre not. Fury made this mandatory.â
That earned a chorus of groans from everyone except Thor, who was already halfway to the hayride yelling, âMIDGARDIAN VEGETABLES OF ORANGE!â
You turned to Steve, who looked⌠painfully wholesome. His sweater was perfectly folded at the wrists, his hair catching the light like some autumn romance cover model. He smiled, trying to make the best of it.
âCould be fun,â he said optimistically.
âFun?â you echoed. âYou mean frostbite and mud.â
He chuckled. âItâs good for morale.â
You gave him a look. âYou just like the idea of winning whatever competition Tony turns this into.â
Steveâs smirk said everything. âNot denying it.â
Sure enough, moments later Tony clapped his hands and announced, âAlright, children! First activity: Pumpkin Pair-Up! Each duo must pick the best pumpkin in the patch judged on color, symmetry, and size. Winners get bragging rights and first dibs on the hot cider.â
You and Steve exchanged a glance.
âGuess weâre a team,â he said.
You shrugged, trying to ignore how good he looked in the sunlight. âFine. But Iâm picking.â
He raised an eyebrow. âYou donât trust my pumpkin judgment?â
âNot after you said âsymmetry.â You sound like a geometry teacher.â
You set off between the rows of vines, scanning for your perfect pumpkin. Steve followed close behind, carrying a wooden basket that was definitely unnecessary but adorable nonetheless. Every few minutes, heâd kneel down, tap a pumpkinâs shell, and murmur something about density or weight distribution.
You rolled your eyes. âWeâre not forging a shield, Rogers. Itâs a pumpkin.â
He smiled over his shoulder. âOld habits die hard.â
You found yours halfway down the field a squat, slightly lopsided pumpkin with a thick, curling stem. It wasnât perfect, but it felt right. âThis one.â
Steve crouched beside you, inspecting it like a soldier assessing enemy terrain. âBit uneven.â
You placed your hands on your hips. âAnd yet, it called to me.â
He laughed quietly, the sound warm and low. âAlright, you win.â
When he lifted it effortlessly, you couldnât help noticing the way his sleeves pulled tight across his forearms.
âNeed me to carry it back?â he asked.
You pretended to think. âYou offering because itâs heavy or because you like showing off?â
You laughed, brushing dirt off your jeans as you followed him back toward the group. Sam was arguing with Natasha about whose pumpkin had more âaesthetic appeal,â while Tony had somehow bribed a festival worker to weigh his for âscientific accuracy.â
Steveâs pumpkin cradled in his arms, your slightly dented one bouncing in your basket, you caught his eye again.
âYâknow,â you said, âthis is the most normal thing weâve done all year.â
He smiled, eyes soft. âAnd somehow still competitive.â
You snorted. âItâs the Avengers. Everythingâs competitive.â
He tilted his head, voice teasing. âEven picking pumpkins?â
âEspecially picking pumpkins.â
You were about to retort when your foot caught on a vine. You stumbled and Steve caught you, one arm slipping instinctively around your waist.
âWhoa there,â he murmured.
You looked up, heart skipping as you realized just how close you were. His hand was steady against your back, warm even through your jacket. His eyes met yours, a flicker of amusement hiding something deeper.
âThanks,â you managed to say, trying to sound casual.
He smiled softly. âAnytime.â
The teamâs shouting snapped you both out of it. Tony was declaring the pumpkin selection round âofficially complete.â
Steve reluctantly let you go, clearing his throat. âWe should, uh head back.â
You nodded quickly, hoping your face wasnât as red as the leaves overhead. âYeah. Before Tony starts giving out medals.â
As you walked back side by side, the air crisp and the sunlight golden, Steve glanced your way again, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
You couldnât help but grin.
Maybe Tonyâs dumb team retreat wasnât such a bad idea after all.
By the time everyone got back to the compound, the pumpkin patch outing had already descended into legend.
Tony, of course, couldnât just end the day there. He needed a finale.
âLadies, gents, and assorted supers,â he announced dramatically from the kitchen doorway, âI present to you⌠the First Annual Stark Industries Pumpkin Carving Contest!â
Groans, cheers, and one loud âIâm in!â from Sam filled the room.
Steve sighed beside you, arms crossed, pretending not to be amused. âHeâs serious, isnât he?â
âHe always is,â you murmured, smiling. âLast year it was gingerbread houses. Remember how Clint tried to weaponize his icing?â
âYeah,â Steve said, chuckling. âPepper banned him from frosting privileges after that.â
Tony clapped his hands once. âAlright, listen up! Contest rules: one pumpkin per team, thirty minutes to carve, bonus points for creativity and team spirit.â
You nudged Steveâs arm. âWeâre still partners, right?â
He glanced down at you, lips twitching into that soft half-smile. âWouldnât have it any other way.â
The room exploded into activity. Natasha and Wanda teamed up, already whispering like they were plotting sabotage. Sam and Bucky were arguing over stencil designs (âWeâre not carving the Falcon logo, Sam.â âWhy not? Branding!â). Thor was⌠eating a pumpkin seed raw.
You and Steve found a clear counter, setting down your slightly lopsided pumpkin. He surveyed it with the solemn focus of a man preparing for battle.
âSo,â he said, cracking his knuckles, âwhatâs the plan?â
âThe plan,â you said, reaching for a carving knife, âis to make something cute. Maybe a smiley face.â
âYes, Rogers. Not everything has to be tactical.â
He gave a dramatic sigh. âFine. But at least letâs make it symmetrical.â
âSteve, itâs a pumpkin, not a mission briefing.â
You started cutting around the top, sawing through the thick rind with focus. Steve hovered nervously. âCareful. That knifeâs sharp.â
You rolled your eyes. âWhat do you think Iâm AH!â
Your hand slipped slightly just enough to flick pumpkin guts right at him.
He froze. Looked down at his sweater. A bright orange smear stretched across the blue fabric.
You slapped a hand over your mouth. âOh no.â
Steve looked up slowly, the corners of his mouth twitching. âDid you just⌠throw pumpkin at me?â
âI it was an accident!â
You backed away, laughing. âSteve. Donât you dare â
He scooped a handful of pumpkin guts from the bowl and raised an eyebrow. âPaybackâs fair.â
You gasped. âYou wouldnât.â
The next ten seconds were chaos.
You squealed, dodging around the counter as he chased you, pumpkin goop in hand. Natasha yelled, âCollateral damage!â as a stray chunk hit the wall. Tony was recording. Sam was narrating like a sports commentator.
Finally, Steve caught you around the waist, laughing breathlessly as you squirmed in his arms.
âAlright,â you panted, grinning, âtruce! Truce!â
He loosened his hold slightly but didnât let go. âYou sure?â
You nodded, giggling. âYes! I surrender!â
He smiled down at you, eyes bright and cheeks flushed. âGood.â
You were suddenly aware of just how close he was the warmth of him, the faint smell of soap and cinnamon. His hand was still on your waist, his other brushing against your wrist as if unsure whether to pull away or not.
Something shifted in the air.
âARE YOU TWO FLIRTING OR FIGHTING?â Samâs voice cut through the noise like a siren.
You jumped back; Steve coughed and stepped away. âWeâre carving!â he said quickly.
Sam smirked. âUh-huh. Looked like a different kind of carving to me.â
You threw a pumpkin seed at him. âFocus on your own disaster, Wilson!â
The laughter eased the tension, and soon you and Steve were back at it this time actually working on the pumpkin. He was careful and precise, carving neat shapes, while you handled the design. Every now and then your hands brushed, and each time, neither of you seemed to move away quite as fast as before.
When Tony called time, your pumpkin looked⌠well, unique.
It had one big round eye, one smaller one, and a mouth that somehow managed to look both terrified and thrilled.
âItâs perfect,â you declared proudly.
Steve tilted his head. âItâs something.â
âDonât mock my artistic vision.â
âI wouldnât dare,â he said, smiling. âThough it might haunt my dreams.â
You laughed, bumping his shoulder. âYou love it.â
He met your eyes and smiled softly. âYeah,â he said. âI think I do.â
âAlright, everyone!â Tony announced dramatically. âHands off your pumpkins! Letâs see what weâre working with.â
He strolled along the counter like a judge on a reality show, Pepper following with her tablet as if she was taking official notes.
Natasha and Wanda had carved a perfectly smooth jack-oâ-lantern with intricate floral details. Clint and Kateâs pumpkin had an arrow through it (literally). Sam and Buckyâs was⌠patriotic. Very patriotic.
And then there was yours.
Tony squinted at your pumpkin and tilted his head. âSo this isâŚ?â
You grinned. âModern art.â
Steve tried to keep a straight face. âItâs abstract.â
âItâs terrifying,â Sam said. âLooks like it saw taxes for the first time.â
âLaugh all you want,â you said, folding your arms, âbut ours has character.â
Before anyone could respond, Bucky flicked a small bit of orange pulp at Sam and thatâs all it took.
Within seconds, the pumpkin carving contest descended into absolute chaos.
Someone (probably Clint) lobbed a spoonful of guts across the room. Natasha ducked, and it hit Thor square in the chest.
Thor blinked. Then, slowly, he reached for an entire pumpkin. âFood fight?â he boomed.
âTHOR, NO â Tony started, but it was too late.
The next five minutes were an explosion of laughter, shrieks, and flying pumpkin bits. Steve tried (and failed) to play peacekeeper, and you somehow ended up crouched behind the counter, clutching a mixing bowl as a makeshift shield.
You looked up just in time for Steve to vault over the counter beside you, blocking a flying handful of pumpkin guts with his arm.
âThanks, Captain,â you said, laughing breathlessly. âYou saved my life.â
He smirked. âJust doing my duty.â
Pumpkin splatter streaked his cheek, and you reached out on instinct to wipe it away. His eyes met yours, and suddenly the noise of the room felt distant.
Your hand lingered just a second too long.
âYour hairâs got some too,â he said softly, brushing a stray seed from behind your ear. His fingers skimmed your skin, warm and careful.
The air between you tightened like a pulled thread about to snap.
âPaint round!â Tony shouted. âBecause why not?â
âWhat?â you blurted, blinking as he rolled out tubs of orange, black, and white paint.
âItâs artistic escalation!â Tony grinned. âWinner gets bragging rights and first dibs on the leftover pie.â
Steve sighed. âThis is gonna end badly.â
Within minutes, everyone had forgotten about the pumpkins entirely. Sam had handprints all over his shirt, Natasha had drawn a mustache on Clint, and Thor was painting Mjolnir to âblend with the season.â
You dipped your brush into orange paint, plotting your next move then froze when Steve looked at you suspiciously.
âDonât even think about it.â
He pointed his brush at you. âI know that face.â
You grinned. âWhat face?â
Thatâs when you flicked a bright streak of orange right across his jawline.
Steve gasped dramatically. âOh, thatâs it.â
You squealed as he grabbed a brush and retaliated, leaving a messy white streak across your nose. âSteve!â
You tried to dodge, but he caught your wrist, laughing as you both stumbled back against the counter. Paint smeared between your hands, streaking his shirt and your arms.
You were both laughing so hard it hurt. And then suddenly, it wasnât funny anymore it was just soft.
He was still holding your wrist gently, thumb brushing paint along your pulse point. His eyes were warm, bright even under the fluorescent kitchen light.
âYouâve got paint everywhere,â he murmured.
âSo do you,â you whispered.
He smiled faintly. âGuess weâre even, then.â
You nodded but neither of you moved.
And for the briefest moment, it felt like the rest of the world disappeared. No laughter, no chaos just the sound of your heartbeat and Steveâs thumb still tracing lazy circles on your skin.
Then Tonyâs voice broke the moment like a gunshot:
âOKAY, WHOEVERâS FLIRTING IN MY KITCHEN BETTER CLEAN THIS UP!â
You both jumped apart instantly. Steve rubbed the back of his neck, blushing hard enough to match the pumpkins.
You couldnât help but laugh. âGuess weâve got cleanup duty.â
He smiled, still a little shy. âCould be worse. At least Iâve got good company.â
The compound kitchen looked like a pumpkin-themed crime scene. Orange pulp dripped from the counter, paint stained the floor, and Bucky was still trying to peel a seed off his arm.
You and Steve worked side by side, cleaning up the mess youâd definitely helped create. Every now and then your shoulders brushed, and neither of you seemed in a hurry to finish.
Outside, the late-autumn evening had settled in a gold and violet sky fading into night. Someone had started a bonfire in the yard, and the smell of woodsmoke drifted through the open doors. Laughter echoed from outside where the others were already roasting marshmallows.
âCâmon,â you said softly, tugging Steveâs sleeve. âWe earned a break.â
He let you pull him out to the yard. The fire crackled high, throwing warm light over the group Tony gesturing wildly as he told a story, Thor laughing loud enough to shake the trees, Natasha smirking from her seat with a cup of cider.
You and Steve found a spot a little apart from the others, close enough to feel the heat of the fire but far enough that your voices would only be for each other.
You sat wrapped in one of the plaid blankets spread across the grass, and Steve settled beside you. The glow painted gold across his cheekbones, catching in his eyes.
âRemind me never to challenge you to another pumpkin contest,â he said, a grin tugging at his lips.
You laughed. âWhat, afraid Iâll win again?â
He shook his head. âAfraid Iâll end up wearing more paint than the pumpkin.â
âAdmit it,â you teased. âYou had fun.â
He looked at you then really looked. âYeah,â he said quietly. âI did.â
For a moment, you just sat together, watching sparks dance up into the dark sky. The air smelled like cinnamon, smoke, and cold leaves. Someone was playing music softly through a speaker. It was peaceful so peaceful it made your heart ache.
You tucked the blanket around your shoulders a little tighter, and Steve immediately moved closer, lifting the edge of it to wrap you both up.
You nodded. âYouâre warm.â
He chuckled. âSuper soldier metabolism. Guess it has its perks.â
You tilted your head against his shoulder, just enough that your temple brushed his jaw. âThatâs one way to justify being my personal heater.â
He didnât move away. âI donât mind.â
You smiled against the fabric of his sweater. âYou really are terrible at pretending you donât like me, you know.â
There was a long pause. The kind that holds its breath.
Then, softly âWho said I was pretending?â
Your heart skipped. You turned to look at him, but he was already watching you, eyes gentle and steady under the firelight.
âI tried,â he admitted quietly. âI told myself it was just⌠friendship. That I liked spending time with you because you make the team laugh, because you make everything feel lighter. But somewhere between the pumpkin guts and the paint fightâŚâ
He smiled a little. âGuess I realized Iâve been falling harder than the leaves.â
You didnât mean to laugh but it slipped out anyway, bright and shaky. âThatâs the cheesiest thing youâve ever said, Rogers.â
He grinned. âYou like cheesy.â
You met his gaze, your smile softening. âYeah. I really do.â
And when he leaned in this time, you didnât hesitate.
The kiss was slow and warm, the kind that felt like home the fire crackling nearby, your hands still faintly stained with orange paint, his thumb brushing along your jaw as if memorizing the moment.
When you finally pulled back, the team was still laughing somewhere in the background, but the world felt smaller. Softer.
Steve rested his forehead against yours, smiling. âSo⌠we won the contest, right?â
You laughed quietly. âPretty sure we lost.â
âNot from where Iâm sitting.â
You kissed him again, just because you could just because autumn nights were meant for moments like this.
And somewhere behind you, Tonyâs voice broke the silence:
âHEY, NO MAKING OUT BY THE FIRE. HEALTH CODE VIOLATION.â
Steve sighed against your lips. âHeâs never gonna let us live this down.â
You smiled. âWorth it.â
He chuckled low, tucking you closer under the blanket as the stars came out over the compound. âYeah,â he murmured, voice barely above a whisper. âDefinitely worth it.â