Timing is everything (Steve x Reader) - 1/3

You had been living in New York for several years. You had been there when the aliens attacked the city and had even remained when your whole apartment turned out to be destroyed. You had always enjoyed living there, but when your best friend had died in a car crash nearly a year ago and you had survived, everything had gone down hill.


Most of your other friends had moved away to villages to start a family in peace and for the past few months you had spend Saterday nights alone in your bedroom. It was not the life you had imagined you'd have at 23. When - above all - the company you worked for went bankrupt two months ago, you knew you had to leave New York and go back to your hometown.


Your parents had offered to take you back in for the time being and even though you didn't like to leave the city you had loved so much, you had accepted you were going to have to start all over somewhere else.


That was, until you met Steve...


It had been raining all afternoon that day. You didn't feel like going outside, but you had agreed to meet your friends in a restaurant in central New York for your birthday. In just a week you would be going back home and they had all insisted you should meet up in the city you had met in for the last time. While at least one of you still lived there.


You ran towards the restaurant holding your hands above your head, trying to keep your hair somewhat dry. Your clothes were already soaking wet however, and you cursed softly feeling the cold water run down your back. 


A group of people was entering before you and a tall, handsome, blond guy held the door open for you.


'Thank you,' you panted, wiping the water from your brow. You knew you looked like shit, but he still smiled at you like you were the most prettiest girl in the whole world.


'No problem,' he nodded. 'It's the least I can do with the weather like this.'


You squeezed the water from your dress and sighed, trying to spot your friends in the busy restaurant. You checked your phone, but there were no messages and your friends were nowhere to be find yet either.


'Waiting for someone?' the blond guy asked, still smiling at you. One of his friends was talking to the manager and as you looked closer you were quite sure it was Tony Stark, otherwise known as Iron Man. You had no idea the restaurant your friends had picked out was so fancy.


'My friends,' you replied, looking at the people the guy was with and soon realizing the Avengers were standing before you. You frowned, looking up at the blond guy. 'Aren't you?'


'Yeah,' he swallowed hard. 'We usually don't go out like this, but Stark insisted we'd come here to celebrate.'


'Celebrate what?'


'I have no idea,' he laughed.

Looking into his deep blue eyes you knew he could be no one else than Steve Rogers: Captain America.


You had always thought you would feel nervous when you would meet any of them - they had saved your life during the attack on New York, for which you were more than grateful - but Steve seemed very down to earth and you felt really comfortable talking to him.


'But I'm being rude,' he smiled again, offering you his hand. 'I'm Steve. Steve Rogers.'


'[Name] [Last Name],' you replied, shaking his hand.


'Nice to meet you, [Name],' he nodded. 


You could tell he wanted to say something more, but before he could, Tony called his name and told him to follow the manager. He looked at you for a few seconds, but soon excused himself and let you alone. You watched him as the manager took them to the back of the restaurant, where no one would disturb the Avengers while they were eating and enjoying a night out. You thought they more than deserved it after what happened the last two years - with the attack on New York and fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. 


You were quite dissapointed that you hadn't been able to talk to Steve a bit longer, but you didn't have much time to think about it, since after a few minutes your friends arrived. You hadn't seen them for several months and you quickly forgot all about Steve, although you caught yourself staring at the back of the restaurant numerous of times.


At the end of the night the waiter brought you a large coupe of icecream with fire works. Your friends started to sing happy birthday and the whole restaurant joined in. It made you feel uncomfortable and when you noticed Steve looking at you, your cheeks colored an even brighter shade of red. You realized how much you had missed doing things like this and how much you missed your friends. Being alone all the time had really broken you and it was probably for the best that you were moving back to your parents. Then you would at least not be alone on Saterday nights.


The dinner ended way too quickly - your friends still had to drive home - and before you knew it you were saying goodbye to them again. You were the only one still living in New York. Once they had all left, you had to walk all the way home alone, in the dark. You didn't really mind. You had done so many times before, but on your birthday? You'd rather not be alone the rest of the night.


Just before you walked out of the restaurant someone called your name.


'[Name], wait,' Steve cried out, rushing your way from across the hallway. 'Are you leaving? Alone?'


You nodded. 'It's just a few blocks. I'll be fine,' you reassured him, seeing the worried look on his face. For a guy you had just met he was very thoughtful.


Steve looked over his shoulder to his friends, seeing them still sitting behind the table and sighed. 'Let me walk you home,' he said, when he had turned to you again. 'We can't have you walking home alone this time of night.'


'You really don't have to,' you told him, but he already walked with you and held the door open for you.


'It would be my pleasure,' he smiled. 'Besides, it's your birthday. You deserve an escort.'


You chuckled, putting your hands into the pockets of your dress, feeling a shiver go down your spine. It had stopped raining outside, but it was a lot colder than you had expected.


'Which reminds me: Happy birthday, [Name]. I hope you had a great night.'


'I did,' you smiled. 'What about you? Aren't your friends going to be angry you ditched them?'


Steve laughed softy. 'Maybe, but I'm sure they can handle themselves. Here,' he suddenly stopped, pulling his jacket off. He laid it over your arms and rubbed your shoulders to try and stop you from shaking.


'Thank you,' you nodded at him gratefully, feeling the warmth spread through your body again. His jacket smelled nice and you pulled it further around you. You swallowed hard, realizing Captain America himself was bringing you home.


He walked you to your apartment and you talked all the way. You never had such a relaxed conversation before. You realized Steve was all you had imagined him to be and more. He told you much about himself (and the Avengers) and you in turn told him everything there was to know about you. 


You must have walked by your house more than ten times, when your hands started to freeze and Steve thought it was better if you got inside. He walked you up to your door and smiled as you fiddled with your keys, your frozen fingers too numb to get them inside the keyhole.


'It was really nice talking to you, [Name]. I never have the time for something like this. I needed it. So, thank you.'


You smiled, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks. 'Thank you for walking me home and not letting me spend the rest of my birthday alone.'


'Of course,' he brushed it off. 'I wouldn't have had it any other way. I... Can I ask you something?'


You swallowed hard, nodding slowly.


'Could we do this again? I don't have much time, but I'd really like to see you more often.'


You sighed, turning your gaze from him. You wanted to see him again too, but you were leaving in just a weak. There was no time.


'I'd like that,' you started, 'but I'm leaving New York in a few days. I don't want to... I...'


Steve nodded and took a step back. 'I understand. Tomorrow?'


You smiled, feeling a weird sensation spread through your stomach. 'Tomorrow...'


Steve seemed satisfied with your answer and walked down the stairs. 'Good night, [Name],' he whispered, before tucking his hands in his pockets and disappeared into the night.


You made your way inside your apartment, grinning like a madman. Once you were inside you realized two things. One: you still had Steve's jacket - which smelled exactly like him - and two: it could never work between you. You couldn't stay in New York and Steve couldn't leave...


TO BE CONTINUED