Rooftops and Invitations ❤️

Chapter 3

Steve waited in the dark living room of the compound. Charlotte had been living there for almost 6 months now and went out almost nightly when they weren't out on missions. She had certainly been able to prove herself useful out in the field, but she was acting like a teenager at the compound. She was always coming home drunk after dancing, or traipsing different men through after a date. Steve hears Charlotte trying to quietly walk through the living room after returning home from doing who knows what. She doesn't see Steve as she trips over the coffee table, but he reacts quickly and catches her before she falls. He helps her stand up and turns on the light.

Charlotte laughs, "Why thank you Captain Rogers." She steps closer to him, leaving almost no distance between their bodies. She couldn't deny her attraction to him and she enjoyed making him uncomfortable; and she knew her invading his personal space did just that. She watches him clench his jaw as he clears his throat; voicing his discontent.

Steve hated the fact that Charlotte did everything she could to bother him. She didn't care that her being this close to him made him uncomfortable; her perfume invading his nose. She smelled of lavender and sweat; he hated that it turned him on slightly. He certainly couldn't doubt her attractiveness; or the thoughts that sometimes interrupted his sleep.

Charlotte was wearing heels and still only barely grazed his shoulders. She closes the space between them and looks up at him, her eyes locking on his. "Do I make you uncomfortable Captain Rogers?" She knew she did. She saw his pupils were dilated. She could hear his breathing quicken ever so slightly.

The way she said 'Captain Rogers' always made a little shock of electricity flow through his body. She knew exactly what she was doing, but he didn't want to play her games. He wanted her, but not like this. "Just go to bed Stark."

Charlotte hesitates for a moment, bringing her mouth close to Steve's, "Yes sir." She winks at him and walks quietly to her room. She leaves her door open slightly as she undresses down to just her lace panties and corset she wore under her dress.

Steve walks to his bedroom noticing the light through the open door of Charlotte's. He pauses a moment noticing her standing in her undergarments. She walks to the door and bites her lip, "Oops, sorry Captain." She knew exactly what she was doing.

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Charlotte walks down to the kitchen for breakfast. She doesn't bother changing out of her pajamas; shorts and a lacy bralette. She enters as Steve stands up to place his dishes in the sink. He sees Charlotte and sighs, annoyed, "there should be a dress code for public spaces."

Charlotte laughs and steps close to Steve as he passes her, making sure her body grazes his. She smirks at him, "why? Do I make you uncomfortable Cap?" He doesn't say anything as he storms out.

Charlotte sits at the kitchen table with her breakfast across from Loki as she hears him speak up for her, "I like it Pet." He winks at her as she laughs.

Natasha sits next to Charlotte, "do you always have to antagonize him, Charlie?"

"It isn't my fault he makes it so easy! I don't know what I did to make him hate me so much. He is so uptight."

Charlotte sees Natasha share a look with Loki, "he doesn't hate you. And he is still your superior, whether you annoy each other or not."

Charlotte stands up, "fine! I'll go apologize."

She starts to walk out of the kitchen when she hears Loki shout behind her, "might want to put on a shirt first."

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Charlotte knocks on Steve's slightly open door, "Can I come in?" He looks up from the book he is reading in his chair. She enters and closes the door behind her, "Can we talk?" He doesn't say anything, just nods and puts down his book. She had never been in his room before. All the rooms looked the same, bed, desk, TV, chair or sofa. His was the same, but he had bookshelves upon bookshelves of books. "I just wanted to apologize Steve."

Steve stands up in front of Charlotte, "For what?"

He crosses his arms, and she knows he isn't going to let her get off easily. "I'm sorry for intentionally trying to irritate you." She has to look away suddenly finding his eye contact too intense.

Steve takes a step forward, just inches from Charlotte. "It's fine. I just don't know why you do it."

"Well I don't know why you hate me so much." Now she was the one crossing her arms as she looked away from Steve.

Steve reaches out and softly tucks a loose tendril of hair out of her face and behind her ear, "I don't hate you, Charlotte."

Before she even has time to think, she crashes her lips into Steve's. She feels his hand rest softly on her cheek, and she pulls away as quickly as she initiated it. "God, Steve, I'm so sorry. I don't know why I did that!" Before she embarrasses herself anymore, Charlotte runs out of the room to her own. She wanted him, but now he'd never take her seriously.

Steve stands there for a second, still shocked by the events of what just took place. He was more shocked at how his own body betrayed him and reacted to the kiss.

Steve knew he would find Charlotte on the roof. She was sitting there strumming her guitar, singing.

The anger swells in my guts
And I won't feel these slices and cuts
I want so much to open your eyes
'Cause I need you to look into mine

Steve stands in front of her as she finishes the song, never looking at him. "That's a nice song, what is it?"

Charlotte stands up, "it's uh, it's Snow Patrol."

She starts to walk away but Steve grabs her hand, "Charlotte. Charlie."

Charlotte turns back at Steve, "can we just please pretend I never kissed you? Please Steve."

Steve was more hurt by her words than he thought he should be. He wasn't sure he could forget about it, or that he wanted to. "Is that what you want Charlotte?"

She looks away to the ground, "Yes. Please. It was stupid. I'm sorry."

Steve lets go of her hand, "yeah, Sure Charlotte. Of course. Come on, we should prep for the next mission."

Steve had never called her Charlie before; it was always Agent Stark or Charlotte. She desperately just wanted to forget that she ever kissed him. It was stupid of her to ever think that he could want her back.