The Winter Soldier and the Blue Phoenix (complete)

The Stay

You recall seeing a red star on his metal arm.

~~~

You get released about a month later. You and Steve drive you to Steve's apartment. He unlocks the door and invites you in. You walk in and see a large oak bookshelf as soon as you walk in. You walk past the shelf and see a living room with one tan leather chair, an oak table with a record player on it, and then the kitchen and a door to your left, which you assume is the bathroom or bedroom.

"So, where will I sleep?" You ask.

"Um, that's the thing, I only have one bed and I don't have a couch. I was thinking you on my bed and me on the floor. If you're okay with that, that is." He states.

"You don't have to sleep on the ground, I don't want to make you sleep on the floor in your own home." You explain.

"No, don't worry about it. It'll bring me back to the 40s." He chuckles.

"Okay, if you insist."

You really didn't want to come here and stay but with your breakup, you had to. Natasha didn't necessarily live close by, and you couldn't go back to Markus's after he tried to kill you, and you couldn't go home to your parents as they disowned you after learning you were a spy. Steve was the only option and you intruded in his personal life, feeling bad about it.

You walk into his room and see a bed with deep blue satin sheets and a white barred bed frame, with black pillows and an oak dresser that matches the bookshelf and table in the living room. You sit on the bed and sink right in. You feel as though you're going to fall right to the floor. This is more comfortable than my last bed. You think.

Steve walks in.

"Need anything, like blankets, any more pillows, anything to eat or drink?"

"No, I'm fine, thanks, oh did you want anything from in here? I kinda feel bad for taking your bed." You say.

"I don't think so, if I do, I'll knock." He smirks.

He walks out and you lay down, and relax for the first time in months. You can finally sleep, with both eyes closed instead of being on guard constantly. You're free. Free of Markus. Free of his bullshit. Free of pretending.

You walk out to the main room to see Steve sitting on his chair with a record playing.

"Can I borrow a t-shirt please?" You ask.

"Oh yeah! Of course! Do you care which one?"

"No, any one is fine." You say.

"Okay." He pulls a white t-shirt out of the dresser in 'your' room, "Here you go. I hope this one is alright."

"Perfect. Thank you!"

Steve leaves and closes the door behind him. You strip off your pleather suit. You look down and see your wounds. You whimper, remembering how you got them. You quickly tug the t-shirt over your black laced bra, not thinking about how it'll show through the shirt. You pull a blanket over yourself and quickly fall asleep.

You wake up to the smell of pancakes and bacon. You get up, forgetting you were in Steve's shirt. You tug it down over your backside. You walk out of your room and see Steve in black pajama pants, no shirt on. You catch yourself scanning him up and down and stop yourself before he notices.

"Morning y/n." He says.

"Morning." You yawn.