Steve Rogers / Reader (2) - part 3
You had been dating Steve for almost four years which had been filled with ups and downs like any other relationship but there had been mostly good times. The worst was when he had to go away on the missions and you knew that they were dangerous. Usually he was away for a couple of days but sometimes he was gone for a couple of weeks. During those times you were nerve wrecked, unable to sleep or eat until you really were done. Then you had to force yourself to eat and sleep. Fortunately you managed to submerge yourself into your work.
You still worked for the Avengers, managed their public relations and during the past years you had become very good at what you did. But it was difficult sometimes.
You had moved in together a year ago. Living with Steve was wonderful and interesting. You had never lived with anyone before so it had taken some time to get used to sharing everything and making compromises but overall the year had been the best one yet. You had been slightly worried to move in with a man whose upbringing was completely different from yours. You had been raised to believe that there were no “men’s jobs” and “women’s jobs” and Steve was literally from another decade.
However everything had gone fine and Steve had never expected you to fit in any role that he had been taught to believe in. In other words he had understood that he had to do his share of household chores, when he was home, that was.
You still went out on dates; movies, dinners, slow walks in the central park in the middle of the night. You would had never dared to go there alone when was dark but when you were with Steve, you knew that you were safe. This was one of those nights. It was summer and there was supposed to be a full moon that night.
Steve had been slightly mysterious the entire day but you had assumed that he was just stressing out about something. After the work day you got home, took a long shower and then got dressed in a nice, very beautiful, light dress and put some makeup on. Steve got home too, he took a shower and put on a suit with a tie. He liked to dress up for you because he knew that you thought that he looked very handsome in a suit.
Well, you thought that he looked very handsome wearing anything and also when he was wearing nothing at all but you appreciated the effort. You also liked to dress nicely for him so you knew that you looked good as a couple when you were outside.
- Are you ready? he asked. You were in the bathroom checking out your teeth and makeup.
- Yep, all done. you said as you came out. Steve had his shoes on already and he helped you with a large scarf that you put on your shoulders. It had been a warm day but you knew that when the sun set, it would get a bit chilly when the wind blew from the sea. You loved those small gestures that Steve did. Sometimes it was him opening the door for you or helping you with the coat and sometimes he even bought you flowers even without a reason, especially when he had been away, those times he brought you one deep red rose, no matter if you were at work or home, he always gave you the flower as a sign that he had been thinking about you and missed you very much.
You knew of course, but you appreciated the slightly old fashioned ways he had. Then again you tried to show him that you had missed him by always welcoming him home with a warm meal, sometimes it was a takeaway pizza or some Chinese and sometimes you had cooked a 3-course-dinner, but usually you prepared basic foods, which Steve loved. He thought that you were the best cook in the world and he was always ready to help you and cook for you when you were working late and he had a day off. During those days he took care of the home and pampered you with a back massage.
You had never really talked about the future but there had not been a need to talk about it. You both knew that you were being serious about each other and what you shared. You did not feel like you needed a ring as a proof of his love for you when he showed it to you every day, even when he was on his missions, he still called you and wished you goodnight or lovely day, depending on where he was and the time difference. When he did not call you, you knew that he was just busy, although those times you were also worried. You always sent him a message with all your love attached to it.
You had agreed that this time you would take the subway to downtown. It was a truly beautiful evening and you liked to use the public transportation. Steve usually moved with either his car or his motorcycle but you used the bus or subway, the connections from your apartment to downtown were good anyway.
You were approaching Central Park hand in hand, just casually chatting about nothing of great importance when you suddenly asked
- Are you happy?
Steve was silent for a moment and stopped. You stopped as well and turned to look at him.
- Of course I am! he answered with a smile on his face.
- Good. you said and started to walk again. Steve started to walk as well. A silence followed. After many minutes of silence you continued
- I know I’m busy sometimes and my… attention is somewhere else than our household. Does it bother you? you asked with a soft tone.
- What are you talking about?
- I just… I hope that I am not being a terrible girlfriend.
- You are the best girlfriend that anyone could hope for! Has something happened?
- No-no-no… I was just wondering if you’re happy… with me. And I make you happy…
Steve squeezed your hand but he did not answer anything. The sky was turning dark and the stars appeared on the blackening canvas one by one, although, you could see only the brightest ones, but you always imagined what the sky would look like if the entire city killed the lights at once. You chuckled when you remembered reading about a case when there had been a complete power blackout in the city and the people, who had been used to being unable to see the starry skies, finally saw it. Some had even called the authorities and reported “strangely glowing clouds” when they had actually witnesses the glow of Milky Way.
You had a favorite spot deep in the park where you always sat and stared into the skies. You still pretended that the airplanes were shootings stars because the city lights prevented you from seeing the real ones. You were getting nearer to the spot and you saw that there were kind of Christmas lights hanging from the tree. They were pale-white in color and they did not flash. They just softly twinkled as the wind played with the branches. There was a blanket and a couple of pillows on the ground with a picnic basket.
- It seems that our spot is taken… you said with a slightly disappointed tone and looked around to see another spot to sit.
- Come…
- But it’s-
- Come on! he said with a wide smile on his face. He helped you to sit down and then sat down next to you before opening the basket and taking a couple of glasses out and a bottle of sparkling wine. He had also gotten some green, seedless grapes and chocolate.
- Oh… wow! you commented when he poured the wine into the glasses that you were holding. Then he took one and smiled shyly.
- What are we celebrating? you asked.
- Nothing… he answered.
- To us and our future together. he said and raised his glass.
- Yes, absolutely! you said and raised yours.
There was a chilly wind coming from the sea that made you shiver. Steve took a blanket that had been neatly folded under a pillow and put it on your shoulders.
- Oh! You know me too well!
- Yes… You never put enough clothes on. he smirked and put his arm on your shoulder. You leaned onto him and enjoyed his firm presence. Suddenly there was a sound of a scooter approaching and you could see the headlights flashing behind the trees. The scooter stopped in front of your picnic place and the young guy asked
- Rogers?
- Yes! That is me. Steve said and stood up. He paid the guy who gave you two pizza boxes in return and then drove away. Steve waited the park to get silent again and then handed you the other of the boxes.
- I think this is yours. he said casually and then returned to sit close to you. He had ordered the pizzas in advance and asked them to be delivered at 9 PM to the Central Park, with a detailed location included. He knew what your favorite combo was and you trusted him with such important things such as food. But only because he knew what you liked and disliked.
- What was the flavor again? he asked casually as he opened his pizza box.
- How am I supposed to know? I mean you ordered it…
- It should be written in the box. Here, can you see? he said and pointed at the rather sloppy writing.
- Uhm…
- Oh, let me help… he said and took his phone. He turned on the screen and pointed it at your pizza box.
- Oh, okay… whoever wrote this has a terrible handwriting… you commented as you tried to make sense of the ingredients. You read it a couple of times and then chuckled.
- So what is it?
- It’s a… “Will you marry me?” –pizza.
- Oh? That sounds interesting. Do you think you would like the flavor?
- I… I… I am sure I’ll love it.
- So will you?
Suddenly you forgot how to breathe entirely. Your head was spinning and all you could do was to either chuckle or smile like an idiot.
- Listen, I love you. You make me happier than anyone else ever could. I know that I am a handful sometimes… but…
- Yes! you exclaimed, put the pizza box on the blanket and turned to face Steve who was trying to find something from his pockets. “Oh shit” he mumbled and sighed.
- What? you asked with a concerned tone. Steve never cursed and he had made sure that you had stopped cursing almost entirely. But now he did and it meant that something was really wrong and it made you worry.
- I was supposed to have the ring here with me, but it seems that I have forgotten it home. I am so sorry…
- Hey… Don’t worry about it! you said with a relieved tone. You had thought that it was something more serious.
- I wanted this to be perfe-
- It is! you said. Steve mumbled something about being so nervous earlier that he had completely forgotten the whole ring. It was adorable how he had wanted his proposal to be perfect but he had messed it up slightly and now he was feeling bad for it. You however could not care less for a ring. In your opinion, the whole thing was perfect just as it was and you felt so grateful for the amount of effort he had put into it.
- Steve! you said with a firm, assertive tone. Steve went silent and turned his head to look at you. You smiled and put your hand on his cheek. You caressed his soft, warm skin, oh how you loved the fact that he kept his cheeks always so smooth. You brushed his lips and then slid your hand on his neck and gently guided him to kiss you. He put his pizza box on the blanket and then lay you down against the soft pillows.
His lips caressed yours gently just like yours caressed his. You nibbled his lower lip a couple of times when he was about to draw back. He kept close and smiled as he stared deep into your eyes. Then he attacked your lips with more intensity and kissed you until you were both out of breath. Finally he drew back and whispered
- Now, let’s eat.