First steps
Steve looked up. He sat in this room on his bed for hours now, staring at nothing but his hands or, more importantly, what was in his hands. Peggy gave him a card, an invitation to a military ball, and it was tomorrow night! The invitation was festive-looking, beautifully handwritten and signed by a high someone of the government. An occasion to dance! Something Peggy really enjoyed, and he wanted her to be happy and had taken the card smiling, agreeing to dance with her. That's where his distress begins: He doesn't know how to dance! How could he?! Before his time at the army no girl had even looked at him with more then compassion, so there was no reason to learn it, and now he had to work nearly every day and night to protect his country. There had to be some way… The door opened and he jumped up, ready to hit the incoming man. "Hey champ, there you are, better take it slow, wouldn't want to be hit in the face! I was looking for you everywhere, already send search troops after you, but then I realized, maybe Captain America didn't leave his room today, so here I am!"
Howard Stark walked next to him, sat down on the bed and implied to make Steve sit down too. "So what's the point of staring holes in the wall?" "Mr. Stark, I don't want to bother you with my problems, you probably have to attend something by now and I should get working too so I am very sorry that I nearly hit you, it won't happen again and..“ "Slow down, nothing happened and I think you have a problem and since we both don't have anything to do for today, I'll show my selfless side and help you with it.“ „You...what?", Steve asked surprised, wondering if Stark was playing with him like with this fondue-thing. "No, listen Steve: we are friends now, you and me, and my dear friends won't have problems, so please, how can I help you?" Howard looked Steve right in the eyes and those beautiful dark brown deer eyes were so full of honesty that Steve just couldn't not trust him, only wondering why he had never noticed that astonishing feature of his new old good friend before. ’’I…I got invited by Peggy to a dance, more like a ball, and I don't really do exactly know how to dance there and…" "You don't have to talk further, I will teach you every step you need to know, trust me, you'll learn all you need to know in one afternoon." Howard got up, padded Steve's shoulder and was on his way to the door when he saw that Steve still sat on the bed. He shouted over his shoulder: "Sitting there won't get you anywhere my friend, you'll have to come with me.", an order Steve couldn't help but smile at and comply with directly.
They walked out of the military building Steve lived in and got to a car. "Howard, where exactly are we going?“ "What do you think Rogers, like you can learn dancing in /that/ building? Oh no, we are driving at my mansion!“ "Don't you think this is a bit exaggerated?“ "Not if you really want to learn how to dance in one afternoon." After that, Steve went silent and listened just to Howard babble about some new weapons he created and what energy source they would use and couldn't help but regard it as adorable. This grown man. Talking about weapons. Howard Fucking Stark. Yep, this whole dancing-thing had to stress him out more than he had thought. They arrived at the mansion and a man in a suit came out, opening Stark's door. "Thank you Jarvis, please park the car, Steve and I will be in the salon and don't wish to be disturbed.", Howard said nicely. "Of course sir.", answered the man Steve now knew was called Jarvis, who drove the car away as soon as both of them where outside. They stepped into the giant house and Howard led him into what was apparently the salon. "Soo..we'll probably need music for this but first, let me see the invitation!" Steve gave it to him wordless. "Wow, that IS a rather big event! They even invited me!" Steve smiled at him in despair. "Just another person that can laugh at me when I make a fool of myself.“ "You forget that you'll learn from the master now.", Howard said and winked at him. He then walked over to a radio and turned on the music which resounded from seemingly everywhere in the room just like the orchestra would be playing right in there. Howard got back to his side and turned towards him. "Now put your hand on my hip.“ "I..what?!", Steve responded. "Put your hand on my hip. That's how it works! I'll lead first so you just have to move with me but we have to start with you placing your hand", he took Steve's hand, "on my hip", and put it on his hip holding it there for some seconds before releasing it. „I...think I can do that.", Steve said a bit embarrassed, surprised by the sudden nearness. "Now take my other hand and come a bit nearer. Exactly.", Howard said when Steve did so. "Now just move to the music, let me be your guide, first step left foot behind you, second step right foot trail, etc. You ready? Go!" Steve moved forward the same time Howard did and so they both tripped and fell onto the ground, Steve more or less lying on top of Howard, pinning him to the ground. Panicking blue eyes looked into surprised brown ones. "Well that was certainly unexpected.", a now grinning Howard Stark determined. Steve couldn't help but blush, not being able to move off Stark and still looking directly in his eyes, just wanting to melt in them, to come nearer but at the same time feeling the desire of running away as fast as possible. "Are you ok Rogers?" A soft voice awoke Steve from his dreams. "Yes..ev..everything's fine,", he stuttered, becoming aware of their situation once more, "I just..oh, this has to be terribly uncomfortable for you, I'm pressing you to the ground, I'm so sorr.." "It's ok, I don't mind you, but the ground is rather hard, and if you don't mind..", he nodded upwards and so Steve stood up, having to awkwardly roll over Howard but still paying painfully much attention to not touch him as far as it was possible. Howard shifted on the ground and took Steve's hand thankfully, which lifted him up, a bit to fast and strong, which lead again to Howard landing in Steve's strong and muscular arms. "Still not really used to the power, hm?", the engineer asked curiously, having to look up to see Steve's face, who couldn't else wise but to notice how adorable the smaller man in his arms looked. "...yes, it's quite new to me, the transformation has been just a month ago...so...yes" "I see." "Yes." Howard now fully lifted his face to look again directly in Steve's eyes, who just wanted one thing now. "Another try?", Howard asked and gave him a wide smile. The music was still playing and they kept on practicing for hours, Steve was getting better and better and at some point, both forgot they were practicing and just moved together with the music.
Steve left when it was already dark.