Helios (Steve Rogers x Male!OC x Darkling)

III

You got down to the main floor when Jarvis alerted you that it was time for the team dinner. Tony had told you that the team didn't always dine together, just on special occasions but the kitchen on the main floor was the biggest and most people used it. But if you wanted to, you could just order whatever you wanted, whenever, and the bill would automatically be paid by Stark. Since this was your first night at the tower, they decided on a team dinner. 

Not everyone lived in the tower, apparently. Only those who were either needed there or chose to stay there did. That turned out to be Clint, Natasha, Steve, Bruce, Tony, Thor, Peter Quill when he was on Earth, and though Peter Parker didn't live there, he spent most of his vacations or days off in the tower. Most of the later additions lived on their own and only came when they were assigned a mission with the team. 

You didn't really want to eat with the team, especially being so intimidated by them in the first meeting, not to mention your more than awkward exchange with Steve Rogers. But eating takeout three meals in your room scared you even more. Phil had insisted that you talked to the rest of the team, and you hadn't exactly told him of your conversation with Steve when you had called him earlier. You kind of did agree with Phil though. If you were to spend so much time here, it would just be better with a few friends. 

That thought, though, was shattered once more when you got to the dining table and saw them taking their seats. They all looked so... old. Steve and Natasha were setting the table, apparently. 

"Hey, guys." You said awkwardly as you walked in, though it took every bit of your energy to even say that. A part of you just wanted to sit, eat, and leave. They all looked up and Thor waved first.

"Helios." He said and though it was the name of a god, the way he said it actually made you feel like a god. It made you cringe nonetheless. Nobody had called you Helios, it was only for official work. "You can sit here," he said, gesturing to the chair next to him with a bright smile. 

"Thanks," you replied with a smile and sat down. "It's just Lios, by the way." You said and Thor nodded, though with a little discontent.

"What's with Midgardians and shortening names?" He said which made everyone chuckle. It confused Thor a bit at first since it was a genuine question but he joined in the laughter later.

"How've you been?" Clint was the next to ask you.

"Since this morning when we met?" You asked, "Splendid." You smiled. Clint laughed and asked you a couple more questions as Steve and Natasha sat down. You couldn't help but notice Steve's eyes on you. Well in his defence, everyone's eyes were on you since you were the new guy but somehow Steve's gaze just didn't sit right.

"How are you finding the tower? Have you explored yet?" Tony asked and you saw that he was really proud of the tower as he spoke of it.

"Frankly, I'd need more than a lifetime to go through the whole thing, it's so big." You said and noticed a tinge of mischief in his eyes. You knew it at once and beat him to it, "That's what she said." You said and laughed as Clint grunted in agony.

"That was going to be my joke!" He groaned and everyone laughed. It was your first laugh that had actually been original. Not bad for gods and superheroes, you thought to yourself. That was the turning point, you figured, as the conversation became more frank and light. Gradually, everyone continued with their own conversations and you were thankful for not being the centre of it for the whole dinner. 

As most of them took leave after dinner, Thor was settling in front of the TV, "Do you play video games?" You nodded and followed him. "Rogers?" He asked Steve who was still at the table and was reading a book now. 

"I'll watch," he said and joined in. What kind of a creep watches people play video games? You thought but shut yourself up, remembering hours spent on YouTube watching gameplay. It was just a regular conversation, don't think too much of it. You finally said to yourself as Clint brought ice-cream for everyone, holding stacks of bowls in one hand like a circus trick. 

"And this one for the gentleman," Clint said with a formal bow as he handed the bowl to you. You chuckled and sat down on the couch with everyone as Thor gave you your controller. Steve was on the couch, still reading his book and casually watching your game in between. 

***

"What book are you reading?" You asked Steve as Thor and Clint left after Clint had dozed off a couple of times during the game and Thor had to "talk through the computer" with someone. Steve and you were the only ones left on the floor now and though you considered just leaving for your room, you wanted to not leave anything bitter about him in your mind so you chose to talk to him.

"Beloved by Toni Morrison," Steve said, showing you the cover. "A lot has happened," He said and you figured he meant after he was frozen.

"Great book," you said.

"Have you read it?"

You nodded, "I had it for my American Literature paper." you said and he nodded. "Do you like it?"

"Yep," He said and you regretted starting the conversation. Now you just sat there with Steve with an awkward silence between you. "I talked to Fury," Steve said finally. 

"Man, why don't you just let this go?" You sighed.

Steve eyed you for a second, "Are you always this defensive?"

"Are you always this nosy?" You retorted.

He held somewhat a satisfactory expression on his face. Is he actually finding this amusing? 

"Nosy?"

"Interrogative."

"I know what nosy means," Steve said as if talking to a kid. "Anyway, what I had meant to say before you cut me off was that I talked to Fury and he told me that you're some sort of a last option for the Avengers if things do ever go south. It clearly means you do have something in your arsenal, and that's all that I needed to know. I won't ask any more questions."

You felt your ears heat up. Why couldn't you have just shut up? "I'm sorry," You said.

"It's alright," Steve said and you hated that look on his face. That satisfactory I-just-won look. You knew it was childish but you just couldn't seem to stand him. "Have a goodnight, Helios." He said and left.

"It's Lios," You groaned when Steve had already left. Something about him just didn't sit right with you. You felt weird with him. Deciding that the others, especially Thor and Clint were amazing and two friends in the Tower were more than enough for you, you chose to steer clear of Steve from then on. You looked at your phone as a calendar notification turned up. Apparently, you had a meeting tomorrow with Fury at the headquarters. A car was to be sent to escort you to and fro.