Chapter 13
Steve stood next to the television, mic in hand,they were out for their weekly "date" and Steve had gotten up from their booth when his song had come up. The first few weeks after the press conference had somehow left their relationship slightly strained and he had no idea why.. Every time he was near, Stiles couldn’t help but blush and stutter and seemed unable to relax.
But stiles had gradually relaxed back into their regular camaraderie. Now, a month later, things were finally back to how they had been.
Stiles laughed lightly making Steve smile, almost missing his next queue on the screen.
They had just opened up a Japanese style Karaoke bar with private rooms where you could bring your friends with you and order food and drinks and sing to your hearts content.
Stiles had begged Steve to go with him before School started and he ended up swamped with school, training and work at the Tower.
Now they were sitting in a rounded leather booth with a pitcher of iced green tea and snacks, taking their turn with songs.
Stiles was stifling manly giggles as Steve sang Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi. He felt was actually doing a decently good job at the song but for some reason the lyrics were cracking Stiles him up. Steve had only picked the lyrics due to his love of motorcycles.
When it was over Stiles clapped enthusiastically and sprung to his feet, mic in hand, having already picked his song. “Alright Cap, I heard this song and immediately thought about you, it’s right up your timeline. I’ll start this one off and you can join at any time and we are so recording this one.”
He grinned and nodded as stiles set his phone up to record and then waited for the song to start.
He wasn’t disappointed when it started and Stiles crooned. “I've got you under my skin. I've got you deep in the heart of me. So deep in my heart, that you're really a part of me. I've got you under my skin. I tried so, not to give in and I said to myself this affair never will go so well. But why should I try to resist, when baby I know damn well, that I've got you under my skin.”
Stiles eyed him and Steve lifted the mic to his lips and joined in, their voices in perfect harmony. “I'd sacrifice anything come what might, for the sake of having you near. In spite of a warning voice that comes in the night and repeats, repeats in my ear: Don't you know you fool, you never can win! Use your mentality, wake up to reality! But each time that I do, just the thought of you makes me stop before I begin,’ Cause I've got you under my skin.”
When the instrumental section began, Steve grabbed stiles mic and deposited it on the coffee table along with his own before opening his arms with a grin motioning Stiles over.
Stiles laughed shaking his head. “I can’t dance.”
Steve laughed. “It’s easy, I’ll show you.”
He moved forward and Steve placed one of Stiles hand at his own shoulder and clasped his other hand and grinned. “Just follow my lead.”
After a few fumbles Stiles was following his lead, throwing his head back, laughter bubbling out of him, full of happiness and Steve couldn’t help but stare, left breathless at the sight. He almost fumbled in his revelation. How had he never noticed how beautiful the boy was? There had always been something about Stiles that captivated him, made him feel protective and affectionate, but this was different. It took everything he had not to dip him down and press his lips to his to see if he tastes of the iced tea they had been drinking. He was left reeling at the reaction.
Steve had always been that way. It took him a long time to fall for someone but when he did it tended to be deep and fast. The fact that he hadn’t felt that zing of attraction since Peggy, and that it was for someone so young, left him feeling panicked.
Stiles grabbed both of their mics in time and if no one noticed that it took Steve a little bit to catch up to the lyrics, that was between he and Stiles.
Stiles just beamed at him, crooning into the microphone. “I would sacrifice anything, come what might for the sake of having you near. In spite of a warning voice that comes in the night and repeats,how it yells in my ear. Don't you know you fool, aint no chance to win. Why not use your mentality, get up, wake up to reality and each time I do. Just the thought of you makes me stop just before I begin 'Cause I've got you under my skin and I like you under my skin.”
The music ended and they both stood staring at each other before Stiles broke their gaze, reaching for his phone and stopping the recording, a blush staining his cheeks.
Steve shook himself out of his reverie. There was no way he could take advantage of Stiles in that way. He was only seventeen years old. Steve was much older and not the kind of man Stiles should be in a relationship with. He deserved someone closer to his age that would cherish him for who he was.
They managed to finish the rest of their evening without any more awkward moments and Stiles waved goodbye before climbing into his jeep and driving off, leaving Steve next to his motorcycle.
He quickly fished out his phone from his pocket and dialing the first person that came to mind who could give him advice on this and be brutally honest.
The phone rang and answered in three rings. “Cap, what’s up.”
Steve paused for a moment before finally speaking. “Are you busy? I need someone to talk to.”
Tony snorted. “I am not the best choice for a heart to heart from what Pepper has told me but no I’m not busy. I’m home if you want to come over, I have a beer with your name on it.”
Steve quickly hung up and hopped onto his motorcycle, heading for Tony’s.
When he arrived, Tony was standing at the entrance in sleep pants and a Band t-shirt, door open and beer in hand.
He grabbed the beer on his way inside, toeing his shoes off and taking a long tub of the brew and sighing before flopping himself on Tony’s huge sectional sofa. “I really wish I was able to get drunk right now.”
Tony raised a brow, closing the door and sitting himself next to Steve. “I’ve never seen you like this before, what’s wrong?”
Steve leaned forward elbows against his knees, beer loosely dangling from his hand. “I think I’m in love with someone.”
Tony leaned forward curiously. “So that is what has you all melancholic? What’s wrong with being in love with someone?”
Steve sighed. “It’s Stiles.”
Tony snorted. “Steve, you’ve been dating the kid for months.”
He frowned, shaking his head. “I would be fully aware if I had been dating Stiles.”
The billionaire rolled his eyes and pulled his phone out and brought out photo after photo of Stiles and Steve together. The first one of them at the Diner, one of them at a carnival, the other was Stiles holding the hugest stuffed teddy bear ever and Steve grinning with a huge cone of cotton candy.
He kept going on, photo after photo. “Do I need to keep going?”
Steve sighed. “We were just hanging out.”
Tony scoffed. “Steve you and that kid are the most oblivious people I have ever met in my life. Everyone else in the world knows your dating except you two. If you’re in love with him then so what? Just tell him how you feel. I can guarantee you he feels the same.”
Cap took another sip of his beer, shaking his head. “He’s just a kid, he deserves better than someone like me.Everyone I've ever loved is lost to me. Bucky was taken and experimented on and turned into a weapon and became a shell of himself. I was frozen and when I came back, Peggy was in her eighties. From what I've seen of Bucky there is a big chance I'm going age extremely slowly, how can I have him go through that?”
Tony rolled his eyes. “He’s going to be eighteen in a month and even though I call him kid, he’s more of a man than I am. He’s gone through a lot and was forced to grow up way too quick. He’s just as crazy about you, and I know you would never hurt him. The both of you deserve to be happy, why not be happy together, even if its just for as long as you can be together. It really is as easy as that Cap.”
Steve sighed, taking another pull of his beer getting lost in the droning chatter that was Tony as he told him about his most recent project he was working on.
Would it really be as simple as that? How could he explain to Stiles how the only other people he had loved were alive yet unreachable to him and that he was deadly afraid the same would happen to him if he were to let him in?
~*~
Stiles waved goodbye to his Uncle as they separated for work, Stiles off to Start Tower and Phil to SHIELD HQ.
Turning his Jeep on, Jarvis was quick to announce himself. “Good evening Stiles. You have a new message from Heather, would you like me to read it to you.”
Stiles smiled. “Good Morning Jarvis, Sure let me have it.”
Jarvis proceeded to dictate Heather message. “Hi Stiles. I really wish you were still in Beacon Hills. My birthday is coming up and I miss you. Would have been fun to party together, we could have taken care of each other’s stubborn virginities together. I so don’t want to be stuck a virgin at seventeen years old.”
Stiles nearly swerved the Jeep into traffic at the words being spoken in Jarvis’s voice that should never, ever be uttered by the AI.
Jarvis was oblivious to Stiles thoughts, continued to speak. “Would you like to give Heather a response?”
Stiles sighed. “Yeah, tell her Happy Birthday Heather, I wish I could be there for your birthday too but I’m a little far. Have an extra drink for me okay?”
Jarvis confirmed the message being send and Stiles became lost in thought, remembering yesterday’s duet with Steve and how it felt to be in his arms.
That moment they had shared had seemed mutual and it was driving Stiles crazy. He had resigned himself to it only being one sided and he didn’t know what to do anymore.
It wasn’t like he could talk to heather about it or any of his friends. He needed someone who wouldn’t judge him and who might actually have life experience with relationships.
The first person who popped into mind just happened to be the person he was on his way to see.
Settling into his parking spot at Star Tower, Stiles turned off the jeep and grabbed his things, making his way upstairs; barely even acknowledging Happy or Rose.
He impatiently waited while the elevator moved overly slow for the amount of patience he had today.
When the door opened he bolted through and quickly made his way into Peppers office, thankful that Tony was not there for once.
Pepper eyed him quizzically as he closed the door and locked it.
Once he turned to face her he whined rushing to her side and hugging her. “I have boy problems and need your opinion!”
Pepper huffed in amusement and stroked his hair gently. “Come and sit on the couch and we can talk.”
Stiles let himself be led to the couch and accepted a cookie that was offered before he finally sighed and started to speak. “I’m pretty sure it’s obvious I’m in love with Steve. I was completely fine with it being one sided. I was in love with Lydia since third grade and she never even acknowledged my existence. But then last night when we went to Karaoke we had this moment where he taught me how to dance and there was like this moment that passed between us, like we were being pulled together by gravity and in that moment he was just as attracted to me as I was to him. I don’t know if I’m just imagining it or not and I really don’t know what to do. It’s driving me crazy. I don’t want to put myself out there and it ruins our friendship but at the same time even though I say I’m content to just be his friend, I want so much more.”
Pepper couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped her before she pulled Stiles into a tight hug. “Oh honey, you’re in love, It’s normal to feel like that. Steve is a good man and I don’t think he would ever try to hurt you on purpose. You need to tell him how you feel and have it settled one way or another. If you don’t you will go through the rest of your life wondering what if? I think that your friendship means just as much to Steve as it does to you and even if Steve doesn’t feel the same, your friendship is strong enough to survive it. Though to be honest, his showing up last night to spill his heart out last night to Tony points towards him returning those feelings.”
He raised a brow and Pepper chuckled. “I am not joking, go talk to him after work.”
Stiles contemplated what Pepper had told him throughout his shift, texting Steve when he left the tower, asking if he was available to talk.
He received a response almost immediately and headed to Steve’s apartment.
Steve was waiting for him, looking just as nervous, when he arrived and they quickly made their way to Steve’s apartment before they both started to talk at the same time, their nerves getting the better of them.
They both shuffled nervously before Steve offered Stiles to go first.
Stiles took a deep breath before blurting everything out in a slew of words, knowing that if he didn’t get it all out at once he would chicken out. “Here’s the thing. I’m in love with you. I have been for a long time and I don’t casually say that and I was too scared to say anything because I was worried that it would make things awkward between us if you didn’t feel the same and I value our friendship too much. But I can’t keep it in anymore, please don’t hate me.”
Steve huffed lightly. “I could never hate you Stiles. I feel the same about you but have been reluctant to explore what’s between us. There is the age difference yes but there are things that I need to show you before we go any further. Are you willing to go for a little drive?”
Stiles nodded and they made their way downstairs, climbing into Stiles Jeep and started to drive, Steve giving him directions.
When they arrived at a senior’s home, Stiles felt his blood chill, slightly reluctant to move out of his vehicle.
Steve smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry Stiles. It’s nothing bad. Hopefully she is having a good day.
Stiles followed Cap as they walked through the halls, people nodding and softly greeting him, obviously used to his visits.
He stopped in front of a door and Stiles breath caught in his throat when he saw Peggy Carter elegantly scrawled on the sign on the door.
Steve knocked softly before entering, Stiles following.
A beautiful elderly lady sat comfortable on her bed, gentle smile on her face as she stared at them. “Steve, it’s so lovely to see you, I see you brought a friend with you.”
He smiled in relief at stiles; obviously Peggy was having a good day.
He moved to sit at her side, taking her hand gently in his. “Hey Peggy, This is Stiles.”
Her eyes sparkled as she eyed him shrewdly. “So you are the Stiles that Steve has been beaming about. It’s nice to meet you; I haven’t seen your father or your Uncle in years. Great men, from the things Steve has told me, you will be too.”
Stiles moved forward, unable to stop the smile. “It’s nice to meet you Peggy.”
He pulled a chair up and sat, listening and entranced by the stories she told.
Much later she slowly started to become confused, forgetting what she was saying halfway through a story or asking Stiles name but Stiles had been used to this with his own Nona before she passed away.
It wasn’t until just as they were about to leave that Stiles witnessed what he was sure Steve had wanted him to see.
Peggy’s eyes went wide in shock and disbelief, voice soft as she wept. “Steve? You’re alive! You came back. It’s been so long, so long!”
He could see that Steve fought back his own tears, smile firmly in place as spoke. “I couldn’t leave my best girl, not when she owes me a dance.”
They stayed a little longer, Steve calming her down enough for her to rest and gently kissed her forehead when she fell asleep.
They left her room in silence and walked down the hallway and exited the building, their silence finally broken by Steve, when they arrived at the Jeep. “You can see why I’m so scared to let someone close again. I don’t age, or at least my age is slowed down tremendously. And the only two other people I have ever loved both are alive yet lost to me. I don’t want that to happen to you as well.”
Stiles shook his head. “You can’t let what happened stop you from loving, Steve. I’ve already seen how that affected someone else in my life. You deserve happiness and so do I. Both of us have our eyes wide open going into this? Why can’t we make each other happy?”
Steve stared back at him; eyes still filled with pain, yet a little bit of hope peaked through. “I want to wait until your eighteenth birthday. Take the time to think and make sure that this is what you really want. Then we can discuss it again, alright?”
Stiles moved forward, wrapping his arms around Steve in a tight hug that Steve returned almost desperately. “Alright Cap, we’ll do it your way, but I won’t change my mind.”
Steve sighed as they separated, smiling. “I hope your right Stiles.”
Stiles grinned. “Come on; let’s get to the Gym before Natasha skins us both alive.”
Steve’s eyes went wide, obviously having forgotten that today was a training day.