Please don't go (Steve x Reader) one shot

You were dragging your feet behind you, climbing up the stair, trying to make it home. It had been a long day at work and all you wanted now was to drop on the couch, stuff yourself with fries and watch a movie. Preferably one where you didn’t have to think. You searched for your keys in your purse and slowly opened the door, already feeling a headache pounding against the inside of your skull. You’d probably be asleep halfway through the evening.

    When you entered your apartment a delicious smell filled your nostrils, taking away some of the fatigue that had nested into your muscles. “Steve, is that you?” you called out into the kitchen, putting your keys safely in their tray beside the door and shrugging off your coat. “You’re making me dinner?”

    “Hey,” Steve smiled, emerging from your kitchen with an apron on. “I got your text and thought I’d make you some comfort food. Don’t worry, I’ll put the spare key back underneath the mat.”

    “Keep it,” you said, walking towards him and pressing a kiss on his lips. “I’ve been meaning to give it to you for a while.”

    Steve smiled, nodding at your words and putting the key back into his pocket. “I’m making us pasta.” He put his arms around you and pulled you into his embrace. “Nothing special,” he whispered, stealing another kiss from your lips.

    “It smells delicious, Steve. I didn’t know you could cook… If I did, I would have given you that key a long time ago.”

    He laughed softly, shaking his head before turning to the pasta boiling on the stove again. “How was your day?”

    You groaned, taking in a deep breath. “Well, you know, they’ve been busting my ass… But you’re here, so all is good,” you said, moving yourself into his embrace again.

    “Hey, I’m trying to cook over here.”

    “Just… one more moment.”

    “Go sit at the table. Dinner will be ready in five.”

    You laughed, letting go of him. “I’m not one of your recruits, Steve. You can’t tell me what to do.”

    “Oh, I know,” he said, raising an eyebrow at you as dropped yourself on the couch. “So, we’re eating in front of the television?”

    “Just this once, please?” you pleaded, looking at him from your place on your way too comfortable three sit sofa. “I’m exhausted.”

    He nodded. “Alright, but just this once.”

    You sighed relieved, nesting yourself into your couch with a blanket. You turned on the TV, hoping there would be something nice on for a change. Steve and you hadn’t been together all that long – several months now – but he’d been around your apartment more often lately. You thought it had something to do with everything that had happened with the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D., but you knew better than to ask. You didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. You were glad he was here and that you’d have someone to cuddle up to on the couch.

    He hadn’t actually spent the night yet – he was always gone before midnight – but until now that had been fine with you. You liked to have your space and coming out of a long relationship before you met Steve, you hadn’t been ready to share your bed with someone else either. You were perfectly happy being apart together, though, you could feel that change slowly.

    “There you go,” Steve said, waking you from your thoughts, placing two plates with steaming spaghetti on the small table before the TV. “I hope you like it.”

    “Right now, I’ll eat anything…” you sighed, getting your plate and placing it on your lap. It was still hot, but you were so hungry that you ignored Steve’s warnings and immediately started eating. “It’s good,” you panted, feeling the hot meal slide down your throat, filling your stomach with some much needed food. “Really good.”

    “There’s more in the kitchen if you want.”

    Steve ate his meal slowly and in silence, while you finished your plate within ten minutes and kept talking about your day. He simply listened and nodded or smiled at you when needed. He got himself a second serve, while you pushed aside your plate and fell back into the couch, rubbing your stomach.

    “I could get used to this,” you said when he walked back into the living room. “How did you even find the time to do cook for me?”

    “I had a day off.”

    “What? Why didn’t you tell me? We could have gone somewhere.”

    “I know you’re busy. I didn’t want to bother you.”

    “Steve,” you shook your head, laying your hand on his arm with a sad frown, making him look at you. “You never bother me. I–I love you…” you swallowed hard. You had never said that out loud before, but you could see in his eyes it meant a lot to him.

    A smile slowly curled his lips, his eyes shifting over your face. “I love you too, [Name].”

    You smiled as well, moving over to him and laying your head on his shoulder. He pressed a kiss on your forehead and pulled you into his embrace.

    “I’ll tell you next time.”

    “You’d better…”

    You sat there together until the show you had been watching had long since ended and one weird new program was followed by another. Steve softly stroke your back, telling you about his day while you were slowly falling asleep on the soft hum for his breathing in your ear. You could feel his heart beat steadily beneath your fingers and hear the vibrations of his voice all the while the lingering sleep slowly pulled you to the land of dreams. You didn’t even notice when Steve had stopped talking and was merely staring at the young woman in his arms, peacefully sleeping; feeling safe in his embrace.

    You scarcely felt him pulling you up from the couch and carrying you all the way to your bedroom, where he tucked you in and pressed another kiss on your forehead. You felt a smile curl your lips as he pulled the sheets over your shoulders and whispered in your ear he really loved you.

    “Don’t go,” you whispered, getting his hand when he was about to walk away.

    He stared at your open eyes and smiled shortly. “It’s best if I do.”

    “Please?”

    He swallowed hard, looking at you in the big bed all by yourself. He hadn’t actually been in here before and you could tell he was nervous. Nervous about spending the night with you and what that would mean and what could happen.

    “I don’t like to sleep alone…” you said, letting go of his hand and leaving the choice to him.

    His eyes shifted over your face until he seemed to have made up his mind. He nodded slowly and walked over to the other side of the bed, crawling in beside you. You searched for his body with your hand and nested yourself against his chest, feeling his arm close around you as soon as you had found a comfortable position.

    “Goodnight, Steve,” you sighed satisfied. “Thank you for dinner…”

    “Goodnight, [Name],” he said, pressing a soft kiss on your lips. “Thank you for… everything.”

    You soon fell asleep in his arms, knowing neither of you had felt so safe before.

 

THE END