Helios (Steve Rogers x Male!OC x Darkling)

VII

The rest of the night had actually gone really well. You mostly talked about your interests. What had surprised you more was that some of your interests had actually been similar. He had talked about his past and had asked some questions about your relationship with Phil, and it was clear that he was asking about how he came to become your guardian but when you just answered around the question without mentioning your past, he got the hint and didn't push again.

The wine had actually helped you relax as well but the atmosphere still felt too tight for you. The tables were set really far apart but you still felt people eyeing Steve every now and then. Thankfully, nobody came for any pictures though. When it came to desserts, you said no.

"I know a place," You said, having warmed up to Steve a little. He still talked in that stuck-up manner but it actually started to grow on you. After a little while, you kind of figured that he was really just trying to make you like him. It was a fail, but once you had figured it out, you had to give in for the effort. "Do you like ice cream?"

Steve looked at you questioningly but just nodded. He asked the manager for the cheque and gave him his credit card. You got out once the bill was paid and the valet brought around Steve's car and you gave him directions once you two had gotten in.

He parked in the parking lot of an ice cream parlour. "What do you want?" You asked him. "I'll get it," You said, knowing the place clearly wasn't as posh as the restaurant had been. People would be on Steve in an instant, wanting a picture or an autograph. Steve seemed to get it and just told you the flavour he liked. He was handing you his credit card when you just refused and got out. You came back with the ice creams and Steve got out to open the door for you before getting back in.

"It's really good, thank you," Steve said as he took a taste.

"Yeah, Phil and I used to come here until they stopped selling his favourite flavour." You chuckled.

"Have you told him?" He finally asked. "You seem close,"

You shook your head, "I'd rather not you tell him either," You said. You didn't know if they were on talking terms. "He's out for a mission right now,"

"Do you plan on telling him when he's back?"

You took a deep breath and sighed. You licked your ice cream as you sat back, "I don't know," You said, bringing back this whole thing had kind of killed your mood. He was still talking about it as if the wedding was confirmed and you had said yes already.

There was a moment of silence as you two ate your ice creams when Steve spoke up again, "You didn't like the restaurant," He said.

You looked at him to see if he was offended but he didn't seem to have been. "No, it was great," You said, "I'm just not used to places like that," You admitted. Steve smiled and nodded at your honesty. "Seriously, how much did it even cost?"

Now that seemed to have offended Steve a bit, "You needn't worry about it," He said.

"But I do," you replied. "I'd rather go somewhere I can afford and have the bill split."

"Why?" He asked, "I can-"

"Nevermind," You sighed, knowing it wasn't worth it to argue with him.

After an awkward gap of silence during which Steve seemed to be thinking, "What kind of restaurants do you like then?"He asked.

"I don't know, someplace local and small. Rustic, with people who genuinely need the customers and the money. Not some useless building with useless chandeliers serving food I could've done without," You said to which Steve laughed. "I mean, it's not classy but again, neither am I." You responded, thinking he was laughing at you.

"No, I get it." He said as he stopped laughing and looked at you with a smile. "Honestly, there are only a few places around the city that take care of paparazzi and where people don't just jump at you, you know?" He said. "I never liked those places at first either, but that's just how it's become, I guess."

You looked at him and saw that his smile had died out. He was looking through the windshield. "Do you not like being Captain America?" You asked.

He shook his head and it was back again, his composed demeanour. He still had that vulnerable tone in his voice but he maintained his posture. "I do. But not always, you know?" He said and finished the last bit of his ice cream. "I wanted to be a soldier, not a celebrity,"

You looked at him and honestly didn't know how to respond. You looked at his cup and saw that he was finished while you were only halfway through and the ice cream hadn't even melted that much. How did he not get a brain freeze? You put your cup in front of him. He looked at you before he took a spoonful from your cup with a smile.

"Look," You finally said, "I really appreciate it, man. Everything. But it's just..."

"You don't like me?" He asked and you couldn't help but think about last night when he had asked the same question but with an amused tone as if he had only meant it as a rhetoric taunt. But this had a bit of vulnerability to it, almost as if he was insecure.

You chuckled, "Trust me, I do," you finally admitted, though you didn't really know if it was the wine talking. You didn't exactly feel drunk but the buzz was still there. "You just don't know me that well, Steve. I have issues too. Trust me, we both might just end up regretting it."

When you didn't flinch when he put his hand on your thigh, you knew the wine had done its job. His hand was big and it felt warm too, and a part of you wondered if you did want to flinch in the beginning at all. "I won't," He said, looking at you earnestly. You didn't say anything to that as you finished your ice cream. Steve's hand was on your thigh all the while. You took Steve's empty cup from the cup holder and got out, throwing both the cups in the trash can.

You saw Steve's face through the windows as you walked back. He looked thoughtful. You sat back down and Steve looked at you again as if he was thinking about saying something that he wasn't sure he wanted to say.

"Should we head back?" You asked, seeing that it was half-past ten.

Steve nodded and started the engine as the windows pulled up. But he didn't put his belt on yet. You looked at him and saw that he was looking at you. "Have I earned a kiss?" He asked, throwing you off a little. It honestly seemed a dedicated question. When you didn't reply, Steve leaned in slowly as if asking for permission again. You look at him and took a deep breath before leaning forward and meeting his lips with yours.

It was weird, you thought, that it felt like just any other kiss. You didn't know what you were expecting but the idea of kissing Captain America had just seemed so grand. But that was the thing perhaps, he wasn't Captain America at this moment. He was just Steve Rogers. The change was subtle but it was there. He had been blushing when he had leaned towards you and a smile was forming with his lips as he kissed you. You could taste the flavour of his ice cream on his tongue, and a slight touch of the wine that he had drunk more than you had even though it clearly didn't have much effect on him. He brought his hands up to cup your face as he moved a bit towards you.

He seemed warm, almost feverish, but it was nice. You could tell he wasn't exactly a pro at kissing but he sure was taking his time to explore. When you pulled back, a bit breathless and totally flushed, you looked at Steve who wasn't at all winded though he had a bit of blush on him as well. He smiled and sat back down, biting his lips lightly. "Did you like it?" He asked and you nodded.

Steve smiled brighter and nodded back before pulling the car out of the parking lot. He drove back to the tower and was glad to have spent the night with you. The wedding had seemed like a brilliant solution but getting to know you was better. This was much better, and this was the pace would've originally wanted. He wanted to take you out on more dinners, you had grown on him. But he also knew the clock was ticking. If conversations about handing the charge to Tony were already being passed around in SHIELD, then he really didn't know how much longer he had. Not to mention that the wedding wasn't a guarantee either. But the night hadn't gone entirely unproductive. He had eyed the paparazzi just when you had gone out to throw the cups away. He had actually intended to kiss you but didn't want to step over boundaries on the first date. But that hidden camera had changed it all. He knew it would be bold, but it would also be something. The kiss had been great, but he couldn't wait to see where that picture would end up.