Helios (Steve Rogers x Male!OC x Darkling)

XXII

If you'd been worried before of how different a person could be in front of cameras, you were outright scared of how quickly and exceedingly Steve had changed his personality and qualms as soon as Phil had opened the door to let you in. You hadn't talked at all on the ride from the tower, though Steve tried all he could to fill in the awkward silences with whatever it was that he'd done while you were gone. It was all trivial things, questions by the team he'd avoided of your absence and whatnot but you knew he was avoiding talking about the actual things and events that must've taken place while you were away. You'd had a strange, and quite frightening, feeling that he was saving it for later. That he wanted to talk instead of just dumping stuff on you and that alone scared you. 

Thankfully, once you'd gotten over the fact that Steve was in with you to fake everything for Phil, things had actually become much easier. Steve led most conversations and there were hardly any empty spaces left which could've invited any questions your way and that's how most of the dinner had gone. But, as you'd expected of Phil, he'd caught on to your calculated contributions in the conversation and preferred silences but you knew Phil as much as he knew you, or so you liked to think. Somehow, Steve agreed when Phil insisted on you two staying the night and you'd already prepared yourself for Phil's question. While Marumi had had to leave after dinner for the headquarters for work, Steve had gone upstairs to your room after coffee leaving you and Phil in the living room by yourself. 

You sat down on the sofa with a sigh after having shown Steve to your room and giving him an oversized T-shirt of yours. 

"Thanks, you know," You said as soon as Phil had handed you your second slice of cake. You knew Phil and how cunning he could be and the only possible way of getting your way with him in a conversation was to lead it. "For letting us stay, I mean," You said, taking a bite from the cake. "I really missed home."

"Are you kidding me? Where are these soap opera lines coming from?" Phil chuckled, taking a bite from your plate as well. "You can come around any time you want, Lios, you know that."

"Yeah," You said with a smile, "But you know what I mean."

"So..." Phil said, dragging out the 'o' dramatically as if to say 'cut this awkward crap right now' which made you laugh. "Did you like Marumi?"

"Isn't it her job to make people like her? But yeah, she's perfect for you. Of course I loved her." You said and saw him smile and nod.

"Thanks. And yeah, I still might not like the whole idea of this engagement and whatnot within weeks of meeting each other but I really do think Steve's perfect for you. You look great together."

"Yeah, it's getting awkward now." You said and got up to put the empty plate in the sink to which Phil laughed. "You going up now?" He asked, looking at you over his shoulder.

"Yeah, I feel like I should. I'm really tired."

"Yeah, I should too. Have a good one," he winked at you as he got up to go to his room to which you rolled your eyes but wishes him goodnight.

***

You saw Steve going over your bookshelf when you entered your room. He looked a little funny, how the biggest T-shirt you had was almost right for him as he stood there in his boxers. "Hey," You said.

"Hey," Steve saw you enter as he walked over and sat on the bed. "Everything okay?" He asked and you knew he meant with Phil.

"Yeah," You said. "You? Bet you're tired." You smiled, seeing Steve shake his head. You sat next to him with your legs crossed. 

"Not at all, I had fun." He said. "Phil's a really good man. What'd he think of me?" He asked, looking a little nervous. 

You chuckled, "Don't worry, you're safe. Honestly, you're the first guy he didn't shade within five minutes of meeting him."