The Rules of Living with the Avengers

26. Don't try to follow your superhero boyfriend around.

I wake up with some nervousness. It's been a week since Valentine's Day and all I can think about is the girl Steve is maybe seeing. I've barely spoken to him this week so I'm kind of foggy on if we're still together or not...

Jane forgave Thor (obviously), Natasha and Clint are wary around each other and Pepper and Tony and Bruce and Betty aren't speaking. I can't get 234 Carver Street out of my head. It sounds familiar.

I'm getting changed into my usual jeans and a top (today it has Bruce's face on it because he hates the promotional shirts) when Steve walks in. "I'm meeting with a friend so I won't be home until tomorrow morning. He lives out of town," he says and I meet his gaze with wariness. "Promise it's not a woman."

"Okay, but about what Loki said..."

"Are you seriously going to listen to him? That jerk doesn't know anything. He doesn't understand. Just trying to stir trouble between us." Steve rants. He's cute when he's mad.

I smile and he kisses me. He starts to walk out then turns back towards me at the door. "Love you," he says softly.

"Yeah. You too...idiot," I wave him off and he leaves. I wait a second, thinking about what to do.

Before I know it, I'm lacing up my green Converse and calling Loki's name.

....
"So what are we doing?" Loki asks me as I drag him into the elevator. "Because it seems like we're following Rogers but surely you trust your boyfriend?"

"Shut up. It's complicated," I say and he must sense the tone of my voice because he mutters okay and leaves it at that. The elevator arrives on the ground floor of the tower at the same time as Steve walks out of the doors. He's sweating slightly so he must have walked down the stairs. Or he's nervous. Maybe he's nervous about being caught. Cheating on me. We walk out into the street and turn down a few side streets. Finally we're on carver street. That liar!

I bitterly laugh and Loki frowns at me. "What are you laughing at?"

"It's just I feel so-hide! Hide! Hide!"

"You feel so hide?"

I pull him behind a postbox as Steve glances back. The damn god is tall but anyone could have that dark hair...

"Loki?" Steve says. "What are you doing out here?"

"Captain!" Loki steps out but I remain hidden, glaring at Loki. "Just taking a stroll. It's not a crime, is it?" I risk a look and Steve is looking mad.

"Don't try to interfere with mine and Ellie's relationship, Loki," Steve says and I roll my eyes. Loki's trying to be a friend unlike my own boyfriend who is being an absolute-

Loki looks down at me. "We're safe. He went into that house."

"Which one? I bet it's that stupid one with turquoise walls. And a bird feeder. God. I bet she's some hipster."

"What's a hipster?"

"Someone who wears flower crowns-"

"Barton does that."

"-and ironic glasses-"

"Banner wears glasses."

"-and hang out in coffee shops-"

"As does Stark."

"-and they're ironic all the time and sarcastic-"

"Like Romanoff. Do they eat pop-tarts?" Loki grins and I can't help smiling back. We just stand there for a minute, outside Steve's secret's house. "Are we-"

"I don't know," I sigh and look up at the house. I know this address, I'm sure of it. And my boyfriend is in there. My loyal, gorgeous boyfriend who is Captain America! He wouldn't cheat on me with some random girl. So I know her.

"Do you want me to go in first?" Loki asks. I look at him and see something in his expression. Almost excitement. But what would you expect from the God of Mischief?

"No. You wait out here and I'll go in." I open the unlocked front door and go into the hallway before I can change my mind. There are photos from the wartime on the walls. There are a few of Steve, looking happier than I've ever seen him. Maybe I've got this all wrong. What if it's a wartime friend's grandson or something and Steve likes to visit.

Am I about to make a complete idiot of myself?
I push open another door that leads into the kitchen. Empty. Two half-full, still steaming, mugs of coffee on the table. No lipstick marks. I'm about to run out in embarrassment when I hear a moan.

I don't give myself time to think. I head straight for the source of the noise. Through a door, up some stairs, and....bedroom!

I crash into the room and stare at the mess of people on the bed. "Steve!" I yell and the blonde figure jumps up, grabbing his shirt. Of course he's shirtless. Of freaking course. He's having sex with- I look back at the bed, curiously and I freeze, Steve's stammering explanations fading into the background.

"Bucky?"