Little Star // a Steve Rogers, Captain America, Avengers story

It'll Freeze That Way

As he came around the corner and passed the elevators, Steve recognized several voices ahead. The team. Nat, Bruce, Clint, Jim, and even Thor. From the kitchen he heard Tony, Pepper, and Happy as well.

"Well, it's not my birthday, so what is this? A mission?" he asked, brows furrowed.

"We're not exactly sure ourselves," said Nat as she walked over to give him a hug. "But we know it's got Tony in a state."

Steve made the rounds, shaking hands and slapping backs. Thor was particularly energetic with his welcome, as always.

"Steve, when will you visit New Asgard? We have delicious ale and beautiful women. And beautiful ale and delicious women."

"Soon, friend, soon."

Pepper slid up to his side and spoke low in his ear, "I can't wait to meet her. Tony's smitten. I'd be worried, but he said she's a midget. Are you ready for all hell to break loose when they find out? I can't believe no one knows. Not even Nat. She's going to be pissed." 

"I wasn't expecting them to find out like this, on someone else's schedule, but I suppose if there were ever a time to accept and move on..."

"You're a changing man, Steve, and I like it. Just let me know when you're ready to go shopping. I know people in the diamond district."

"Shopping for diamonds? I already gave her the earrings."

"Not for her ears, silly..." She waved her left hand in front of him, flashing a nearly flawless ten-carat stone.

"Oh, well, let's talk later, here's Tony".

Motioning everyone else to sit, Tony remained standing, leaning back against a dining table. He explained that recently a young woman with a remarkable gift had come to his attention. Using words like psychic and empath, he described her talents and how he thought they might benefit the team and the world at large.

They would all be spending ten minutes with her tomorrow, answering any questions she might ask or just having conversation. After ten minutes she would share some observations with them. They would follow up by reporting to the doctors if she had been correct. Tony guaranteed her ironclad discretion and hoped that everyone would be forthright.

"Who is this mind reading woman?" asked Thor.

"I think Steve should take it from here."

Standing at ease, feet apart and hands clasped behind his back, Steve cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Last September, I did a school appearance in a small town in Maryland, near Aprillia. As I was leaving, a woman asked me a very surprising and thoughtful question about my friendship with Bucky, who I had been thinking about as I passed her in a hallway before going on stage. We spoke for a while and she told me she was the school counselor."

The team were beginning to look at one another questioningly.

"As the months passed, I saw her do it over and over again. Knowing exactly what a person was feeling without even speaking to them. And just a few days ago she walked into the bedroom and read me, precisely, without even looking at my face. It's uncanny. So I thought I should call Tony, and here we are."

Dead silence. Nat looked hurt, and angry. Bruce looked slightly smug. Pepper and Happy looked like they were in on it, and Clint and Jim nodded their heads sagely.

Thor, of course, spoke, "The bedroom! Steve, can it be true? Have you breeched the honeyed halls to finally become a man among we great men? Have you plowed her nether fields?"

Jim turned to him, saying, "Seriously? Tact, dude."

"Ellie is extremely intelligent, kind, funny, and not a midget - Tony. She even swears like a sailor from time to time. Please treat her and speak about her with respect - Thor. And don't think less of her because she's small and blonde and cute. She's stronger than she looks and very resilient."

Tony stepped back to the table, "She doesn't know she'll be meeting you tomorrow, which is very important to the testing, so she may be a bit uneasy at first. I can tell you from my own experience, however, that she's likely to be giving you shit in no time. Now, I need you all downstairs by nine am, so she doesn't run into anyone before we start. Let's get some rest."

Clint gave Steve a pat on the back as he walked by, and Jim said a quiet, "Happy for you, Captain." Pepper winked at him as she and Tony left. Bruce and Happy were deep in conversation as they headed toward the dorm. He looked at Nat, sitting with arms crossed and a scowl on her face.

"If you make that face for too long, it'll freeze that way."

"I'm hurt, Steve, honestly hurt. When were you going to tell me?"

"Soon. I wanted to make sure it was serious."

"Like you're a play the field, one night stand kind of guy in general? Right. And Tony knew? What about Happy?"

He nodded.

"And Pepper?"

Another nod.

"Wow."

"Will you let me explain, or are you going to hurt me?"

She sighed and the scowl melted away. "Of course I'm not going to hurt you. I suppose this explains your mysterious absences lately. Tell me everything."

Some time later, they walked arm in arm back to their rooms. He placed his palm on Ellie's door and Nat eyebrows raised. "A sleepover at work? Steve, you really have changed."

"She's out cold from something Tony gave her. She asked me to stay with her. I've got a mattress on the floor next to her bed."

"So, you stay at her place?"

He nodded.

"In the same room?"

He nodded.

"In the same bed?"

"Yes Nat."

"Have you...?"

"Yes. Once. Night before last."

Nat was the only person on the team he would ever be able to talk to like this. She might tease a bit, but she would never judge or shame him. She also had a wealth of information about sex.

Now she just smiled and squeezed his hand. "I'm happy for you. I can't wait to meet her. Hey, let me peek?"

He slid the door open and she looked in. Ellie was on her side, one hand under the pillow and the other holding Steve's sweater to her cheek. Her hair spread across the bed behind her, one foot peeking out from beneath the blanket.

"She is tiny. How old is she?"

"Twenty-eight. She only looks so young because she's sleeping."

"Mmm mmm. She's like a doll."

"Don't ever call her that, ok? Never."

"Roger that. Ok, my friend, sleep well and I'll see you in the morning."

"Good night Natasha."