The Thunder

"Why is it always me?" You growled to yourself as you heard Allison typing on the computer. Giving her a sideways look, you saw her face of concentration. Her brown eyes were focused on the bright screen, barely blinking as she moved her fingers at at lightning speed on the keyboard. A lock of vibrant dark hair fell carelessly on the side of her face, brushing against her creamy skin of her neck. Now, what was she looking for? No idea. She could either be from infiltrating Tony Stark's databases or stealing Rand Industries accounts, to doing a job she did not have to deliver until the next course- When Allison did things, she did them well.

"Aren't you supposed to be in class?" the brunette asked, ignoring your question deliberately and without looking away from the computer. This girl was so amazing with the technology that at one time you had asked if she was related in any way to Garcia. But it was not, as the DNA analysis that you had ordered had found -an analysis that perhaps hadn't been entirely legal... but that was another matter.

"I have that course at the NY Academy of Music," you acknowledged, shrugging. "Liv thinks it can help me, but technically it's not class."

This time, Allison's eyes did move toward you.

"And technically she can't kill you, but I'm certain she will if you don't move your ass. And, "she added distractedly, "it's not like you can do anything else."

"It's not like you can do anything else," you mimicked her tone mockingly. Your friend, again, ignored you. Sighing - and knowing she was right, whether you were going to admit it or not - you grabbed your backpack from behind the desk she was on and walked out the door closing behind you so hard that Allison took a small leap in her seat.

Cursing softly, she turned to the screen in time to see a series of numbers descending rapidly before the SHIELD symbol appeared in front of her. She smiled, proud of her job.

"Bingo".

"Why is it always me?", you growled for the second time that day when, when leaving class, you saw an incredibly familiar blond-haired man in a leather jacket and sunglasses just in the front of the Academy.

Of course, that wasn't what you had expected to find that morning after leaving that transitory prison of yours... Okay okay, maybe that was a little too much. You had to admit that you loved the time you spent there. The school was a large white building with marble capitals and golden touches in the right places that inspired grandiosity and calmness at the same time. And -why try to fool anyone?- you were in love with music almost from the exact moment Riley had turned on the radio all those years ago. And if you were talking about when you had a guitar in your hands... man, the feeling was indescribable.

Besides, it was the only thing you had now that the first year of college was over. It seemed like a lie... You had never even thought you were going to get to that point. You hadn't spent a minute thinking on the subject, if you were honest. Having a normal life didn't fit into your plans...

As you walked in the direction where Steve stood to find out what he was doing here (and how he had known where to go, although the truth is that you could imagine that one...), the glass door closed behind you with a little more force than necessary and you could see the Captain's smile starting to tremble a bit. The soldier ran his hands through the front of his pants, in a casual gesture that indicated you that he was at least as nervous as he appeared.

"What are you doing here?" You crossed your arms in front of your chest, raising an eyebrow. Steve gave you a hesitant smile and you felt your own lips curving up involuntary.

"I.. I wanted to apologize," he coughed with genuine nerviosism. "And tell you that it's okay if you don't want to talk to me again, it's not like I'm someone to have fun with, but.. I really enjoyed our meeting and I would very much like to know you and maybe... be friends". Sad blue eyes met yours and guilty crashed into you like a wave, washing away your determination and any sassy reply you had prepared. You had thought you were ready for anything he could say, but what you hadn't definitely expected was his mouth spilling out those words charged with sincerity.

After discussing with yourself for a microsecond, you made up your mind. Sighing, you moved your head toward the street.

"Would you mind if we talked while walking?" You inquired giving in and mentally cursing Gwen for softening you like this. "I've got some things to do".

Steve's face lit up with a brilliant smile that made your heart flutter. Okay, maybe he was attractive, as Gwen had made you notice since minute one, but why your heart had to choose that moment to start reacting as a normal one? Jesus.

"Of course," he agreed, his hands on his pockets as you two started to walk down the road. "So... it's a good day, isn't it?"

You laughed out loud at his statement and you would swear you saw his ears reddening.

"You wanted to talk about weather? Really?"

He cleared his throat and bited down his bottom lip to avoid his own smile.

"I was trying to break the ice".

"Now I understand why you were trapped in an iceberg for 70 years".
You giggled again at the Captain's shocked face, which looked way too funny with lips half parted and a look between scandalized and devilish, like a child.

"If I had had someone like you near, I probably would've scaped in two days".

He gave you a crooked grin and your laughter stopped instantly. Did he just call you hot or it was your mind that made up that conclusion? You almost choked as you started to cough due in part to you stopping laughing so promptly and in part so you didn't have to answer that. Steve's big hand went to your back then, asking you if you were okay, which you reassured nodding vigorously.

"Maybe we could start where we left it that night?" He offered in a half hopeful, half fearful tone. When you nodded, he smiled. "Great. Well, you told me about someone who taught you to play guitar; can I ask who?"

"My dad," you answered after a minute. "I loved playing with him, composing or just go around in his track listening new -well, new to me- music".

Steve seemed to notice something was a little off as he doubted to talk again.

"I think we would get along well. He seems like a great man".

His mouth went dry when you answered.

"He was," you said, a little of sadness filling your voice. "He died years ago".

"I'm.. Sorry, (Y/N)".

"It's okay," you breathed. "He was a soldier, too".

"My mother died too when I was a teen," Steve blurted out suddenly and you couldn't help but to eye him, kinda surprised you two were actually talking like... this. "It's hard. But I'm sure you'll get pass it".

"Yeah," you gave him a smile then and the Captain gave you one of his own back. "But stop with sad things. What else do you do besides avenging and stalk me?"

This time, your teasing tone didn't get him off guard and he just shrugged without losing the smile.

"I.. well, I go running every morning".

You blinked.

"By avenging I included trainment as well", you pointed out. The man in front of you shifted awkwardly. One of his hand went through his sandy hair, leaving a mess behind that you could only describe as precious, the sun making the gold of his hair shine in a thousand of shades.

"I used to draw, back in my day".

That... that was pleasantly nice, to be honest. You didn't know that behind the blue-eyed soldier, the so supposedly righteous man, there was an artist. Certainly, that made you curious, to say the least.

"Were you good?"

"I'd like to think so," a little, proud smile appeared on his lips. "I used to study in the Art Academy of Brooklyn. But then.. my mum died and I had to start working," he grimaced then, his brows coming together forming a somewhat sad face.

"And then came the War," you whispered to yourself, even tho he heard you nonetheless.

"And then came the War," this time, his eyes showed resignation. "And the rest is in the History books".

You snorted.

"I must say they didn't include the best part of the Captain".

"What? The artist part?" He inquired, sending a simpatizing look toward you. "That wasn't an important piece of the Captain America symbolism".

"No, but the 'Steve Rogers' part was -it still is," you shot back, pouring your heart in those words, even if you didn't even know where they had come from. Silent remained for about a minute or two before you started to mocking him again to try and get him out of his stupor. "On the other hand... here I was, thinking the the Star-Spangled-Man-With-A-Plan was a gentleman, yet haven't asked me to carry my pack for me," your teasing tone made him chuckle, realizing you probably were trying to "break the ice", as he himself had stated.

He shrugged as you approached the handle of the Police Station principal door.

"Thought you wouldn't like to," he admited, once again sincerity soaking every letter. "I don't want you to think that I didn't realize you were a pretty independent, strong woman".

That ... that had caught you completely off guard. You looked back at the Captain -no, Steve- realizing that you had really enjoyed that conversation and his company, and that maybe James was right about him after all.

However, you being you, and before you could say anything, fate chose that moment to make the door burst open, startling you both as you found yourself met with brown eyes.

"Hey, (y/n)," Olivia gave you a quick hug as a warm smile spread across her face. "Just in time to go eat with the gang."

"I told you I would come this time," you answered, not letting go the opportunity to prick her a bit. She chuckled in response.

"You sure did," she said. Then, her inquisitive gaze went to Steve, and her smile became a little less warm and a little more cordial. "And this handsome youngster is...?"

"Oh! Uh-mh, Steve Rogers, ma'am," he introduced himself right away, taking off his sunglasses and cap quickly and standing straight. The muscles around Olivia's eyes tightened slightly and without releasing you from her grasp, she extended a hand towards him.

"Nice to meet you, Captain," she replied as Steve's big hand closed over her, giving a firm shake. "Lieutenant Olivia Benson."

"No need to be so serious, you know," you intervened, trying to lighten the mood. "Liv, this is Steve, I met him at the bar where Carisi always tries to drag us -Steve, this is my aunt, Olivia."

"It's a pleasure, ma'am-sir-lieutenant-sorry." Steve stumbled with the words, a red tone covering his cheeks.

This time, Olivia's smile and yours were similar. This man was perhaps a condecorated soldier, but definitely his behavior was that of a perfectly normal young adult.

"You can call me Olivia, Captain," your aunt assured him then. Releasing his hand, she smiled at both of you.

"Well, I guess it's time for me to leave," Steve commented, a slight smile on his face as he eyed you. "I hope you have a good time."

Steve's sincerity seemed to make Olivia decide to extend to helping hand.

"Why don’t you come to eat with us?," your face turned so fast in her direction that you would swear you almost heard your neck protest, even if that did matter little to you now. Had she said what you thought she had said?

Realizing your reaction, Steve quickly raised his hands and shook his head. He didn't seem hurt at all, but rather to understand that it was a private matter - and thank God, because if you had to endure the jokes of Derek and Rossi after this, you would throw yourself out of a building. Without web-shooters this time.

Olivia shrugged. "On another occasion, then."

Smiling at both of you and assuring that he would accept the next time, Steve said goodbye, placing his baseball cap over his head and turning to leave. Olivia linked her arm with yours giving you a suggestive look and you dedicated yourself to roll your eyes.

"It's nothing," you murmured, although you knew her playful gaze was more for making you mad than because she thought you might be interested in the soldier.

"(Y/n), wait!" Immediately you turned around to see Steve again, who had run back to you and had a piece of paper in his hand. Taking it feeling kinda confused, you couldn't prevent your eyebrows from shooting up when you saw a neatly annotated number. "In case you feel like talking again someday."

Before you could answer, Steve had already ran off in the other direction, waving goodbye in yours, before getting lost in the crowd.

"Sure, 'nothing', of course," Olivia commented, smiling briefly before taking your hand again, not without first noticing with amazement how you kept the note in your pocket.