Let me take care of you
Your date with him went well. You went to see a space-survival-movie and after that you went to have a dinner in a cozy restaurant. Time passed and you kept seeing each other a couple times a week and he visited your floor almost daily. Then one day your boss, not Tony Stark but one of those countless middlemen asked you to his office.
- How long have you been with us? he asked.
- About a year at copy-and-scan and almost 5 months at the data-analysis department.
- I see... You know Jarvis?
- Yes.
- Well Jarvis will take over your department and I'm afraid we have to let you go.
- Oh...
- You just aren't efficient enough. Nothing personal, just business. he said and gave you a paper stating that your working contract had been terminated.
- You may leave immediately. he said and shifted his attention back to the computer screen.
- Oh... you said and stood up. You walked to your cubicle and took your bag. You put on your jacket and said goodbyes to your co-workers. "We'll keep in touch" they said but you knew that you did not really share any interests. Work had been the thing that had glued you together. You walked down the hall, swiped your ID-card one last time and signed out from the building. It was the beginning of December.
You got home, took off your shoes and jacket, put your bag on the floor and walked into your bedroom. Losing your job was like the worst thing to happen. Besides all this time you had thought that you had been doing rather good job; you had managed to contact some people online who knew criminals that ran a red room –site. To get fired like this was a big setback even in the personal point of view. The records had to be set straight… but not today.
Rogers took the elevator to the accounting-floor. He had become a familiar sight there and he was always greeted by the same faces who told him where to find you in case you were not in your cubicle.
- Hey... you know where (Y/N) is? he asked one of the accountants.
- Oh... (Y/N)? She got fired. Jarvis took over her job.
- Did Stark fire her?
- Stark? As in "Tony Stark"? I don't think Stark even knows what happens here on the ground level.
Rogers took a pen and tapped it against the table surface a couple of times.
- (Y/N) is probably home by now, she left two hours ago.
- Thanks. Rogers answered and went back upstairs. He tried to call you but you did not answer. You had turned your phone on mute because you wanted to be left alone for a moment. Rogers knew that since you had told him that you did not deal with negative feelings and bad news that well. He was worried though.
- So... how was Mrs. Rogers? Stark asked when Rogers got back to the top floor.
- I have to say that I was not expecting you to return this qui-
- (Y/N) has been fired.
- Excuse me?
- Yes... Apparently your operating system can do her job better than she can so she was fired.
- I... have no idea what goes on so far down- Stark stated with a tone that reeked disrespect and ignorance which caused Rogers to look at him with an angry look on his face.
- I mean... it is a big company... I can't personally know what happens... around here. I have too much of my own shit to be taken care of. he continued and fixed himself a drink.
- You'd better find her a new job from the Avengers -initiative by tomorrow. I am signing off now. Rogers said and walked to the elevator.
- How is it my problem if Jarvis can do her job better than her? Stark shouted.
Steve parked outside your building. He tried to call you but you did not answer still. An old lady came out from the building and let him in from the front door. He ran up the stairs and knocked on your door. You woke up to the knocking and checked your phone. "5 missed calls" the screen said. All of them were from Steve. There was the knock again.
- Yeah, yeah... you said and walked to open the door barely awake. Steve had never seen you so tired and beaten up. You had cried yourself to sleep and it showed. It was embarrassing to be seen like that because you were always so self-aware; what you looked like, sounded like and what kind of impression you gave of yourself to other people. You opened the door and saw Steve.
- Oh no! you mumbled.
- I heard the news. he said and came in. He took off his shoes and jacket.
- Yeah… Fun times. you said and turned around before he could see you breaking in tears again.
- Are you alright?
- Uh-uh. you sobbed and tried to keep yourself together.
- Please, turn.
- I don’t… want you to see me like this.
- I’ll close my eyes… he said and walked to you. He wrapped his arms around you and held you tight. He ran his fingers in your hair and listened you crying silently. When you seemed like you had calmed down he stepped a little further away. He put his hand under your chin and lifted your head gently. You tried to hold your tears in by keeping your eyes closed.
. Please look at me.
- Don’t ask that of me… you pleaded.
- Hey… he whispered.
- There is nothing to fear. he said and kissed you softly. When he pulled away you opened your eyes and looked at him directly into his eyes. Your mascara and liner had smudged and left black likes on your face. You looked so sad and helpless but still very beautiful but in a sorrowful way.
- I’m sorry… I’m just tired. It has been a rough day. you said and looked down.
- Hey… You don’t have to say “tired”. You can admit that you’re sad… I am not going anywhere.
- It just… I don’t want to be this person who just cries…
- Awww… I have heard you laughing so many times that you should not worry about that.
- I should go and wash my face. I look a mess.
- You look beautiful.
- Well… the makeup is burning my eyes… so… ha-ha… you chuckled and went to the bathroom. After a moment you came out in your pajama shorts and top. You walked into your bedroom and climbed to your bed. Steve followed you, he suspected that you needed someone strong and calm right now. He lay down next to you.
- Come on… he said and spread his arms. You snuggled close to him and wrapped your arm around him as you rested your head on his chest.
- I had planned to tell you later… but… I think I’m in love with you. he said suddenly.
- What did you say?
- I… love you. I had planned to take you for a romantic dinner and tell you then, but… I couldn’t wait anymore.
- You love me even though I am unemployed and a red-eyed-mess?
- Yes.
- I… you sighed.
-… love you too. you mumbled.
- Get some sleep. When you’ll wake up, I will order a pizza and we’ll camp in the living room.
- Okay. you mumbled and closed your eyes.
It was almost 7 pm when you woke up. Steve had left the bed. He had ordered the pizza and gathered a pile of pillows on your living room floor. You got up from the bed and as you were walking to the living room Steve said
- Wait! Close your eyes.
You stopped and did as he asked. After a few seconds you heard the light switch click and you could tell, even with your eyes shut, that the room was darker.
- Now… he said. You opened your eyes and saw a few candles here and there, a pizza cut in slices and a camp made of pillows in the middle of the room. You chuckled and smiled widely.
- Oh my!
- You approve?
- It’s amazing! you exclaimed.
- Please… sit down. he said and handed you a plate.
- This is… oh wow… you’re like the best boyfriend ever! I mean… uh… I should had not said that… I am jumping ahead of things… sor-
- I actually liked that… Boyfriend… he said and listened carefully how the sounded.
- So… Now that I am your boyfriend… You must let me take care of you.
- But…
- I know, I know… You’re not a damsel in distress… but I want to be your shoulder to cry on and I want you to feel safe with me. That you trust me and let me close… to share your sorrows as well as your joys.
- Is that Captain America speaking? you laughed.
- Yes… but also “Steve -the normal guy”. Do we have a deal?
You were silent for a moment and weighed the options seriously; to discard your protective walls and let him see you at your weakest and worst, or keep your guards on but risk pushing Steve away. The thought was slightly frightening. He was clearly waiting for an answer.
- Okay. It’s… a deal. you answered.
- Seal it with a kiss. he said and took the plate away from your hands and put it on the table. You were sitting on the pillows. Steve got on his all fours and crawled to you. He put his arm behind your back, lifted you up just a little and then pulled you to lay on your back. He crossed his fingers with yours and pinned your hands against the pillow to the both sides of your head.
He kissed your neck and then your lips. He lowered himself carefully on you and kept kissing you. He released your hands. You put your hand on his shoulder and other on his jaw. He supported himself with one hand and the other hand he ran on your sides and arms. He devoured your neck making you moan softly and returned to kiss your lips. Then he kissed you a couple of times just softly and returned to sit. He pulled you to sit as well. He handed you the plate and pizza. It was good pizza. After finishing it you watched a movie and just lay side by side talking. He held your hand and occasionally kissed it until it got late.
- Do you want to stay the night? you asked. Steve seemed to hesitate.
- I would really love you to hold me tonight and I would also love to wake up with you tomorrow. That’s it.
He smiled and nodded. He had never spent a night with a woman in same bed, not sleeping or anything else either.