Worlds Collided (a Steve Rogers love story)

Chapter 1 - Hard Bargain

To anyone else, light streaming in through an open window would have been a welcome display of nature's serenity and beauty. And on any other day, it would have been the same for Hannah, but not today. And certainly not at 6am.

"Jarvis, put the blinds back down," Hannah grumbled as she rolled over to plunge her face into the pillow.
"Not gonna happen, Han," replied a deep, American voice.
Hannah slowly rolled over, opening one eye and squinting.
"You're not Jarvis," Hannah groaned at the silhouetted figure.
"Good observation, glad to see you're awake. C'mon, time to go."
"I'm not going anywhere at 6am on my day off except back into my dream, where none of this was happening," Hannah retaliated as she rolled back over and pulled the covers over her head.
"C'mon, Han. You promised after you missed the veteran's charity marathon that you'd come for a run with me, and this is the only day this week I can do."
"Then we'll do next week," Hannah mumbled into the pillow.
"You know our schedules don't make it that easy, Han. There's a beautiful sunrise if we make it to the park by 6:30."
"Not gonna work, Steve."
"I've got a surprise for you after," Steve cooed in a last ditch attempt.
"What is it?" Hannah questioned, face still in the pillow.
"Nope, that's not how surprises work. You've gotta come or you can't have it."
There was a moment of silence as Hannah paused to consider her options.
"Ugh, fine, I'm up, I'm up. You drive a hard bargain, Rogers," Hannah moaned as she forced herself out of bed.
"Thought that might work," Steve said with a smirk as he bent over and gave Hannah a kiss on the head. "I'll meet you downstairs in 5 minutes," he called as he jogged out of the room.
"You're luck I love you!" Hannah called after him.
"I love you too!" Steve called back, with a wide smile.

...

A little over 5 minutes later, Hannah arrived in the compound's garage, which was located on the ground floor. Around 4 months ago, after everything that had happened with Ultron in Sokovia, Tony had had the Avengers' base of operations moved from Avengers Tower, over to a new, high-tech facility on the edge of New York. This meant new rooms, new equipment, and, thankfully for Hannah, less floors for the elevator to go to. Not that she hadn't missed Tony's floor labelling stickers, at least for the first 2 days, before the label maker came back out, and they returned to their rightful place next to their corresponding buttons.

As Hannah made her way over to Steve, he straightened back up, having just been attaching Blue's lead to his collar, and flashed Hannah a wide smile.
"Ready to go?" He asked, with one eye squinted slightly, as if expecting a sassy response.
"Not at this time in the morning. But I suppose I'll have to be, for you. It's only this once though! And only because you guilt tripped me and promised me a suprise! No other reason! Got it?" Hannah said firmly, a sarcastic smile creeping across her lips.
"Got it, Han. Whatever you say. C'mon, let's get going. I wanna get to the park before sunrise."
Steve grilled Blue's leaf tightly, and the pair gently jogged out of the compound's large garage door together, with Blue trotting along to the side of them.

...

By the time Hannah and Steve made it to Central Park, the sun was just creating over the hill, it's light illuminating the sky in rich shades of pink and orange.
"Okay, I'll admit, a view like this is definitely worth the early wake up call. Thank you, Steve," Hannah reflected as she turned her head to smile at Steve, the corners of her eyes scrunching in contentment.
"You're welcome, Han. Thank you for coming with me. I can't think of anyone I'd rather share a sunrise with."
Hannah let out a chuckle, "God, that was cheesy! But I'll allow it."
She reached up and kissed him gently on the lips. Since their run in with Jason Meyers, Hannah's and Steve had grown even closer. Around 2 months before the team moved into the new compound, Hannah had officially moved into Steve's room at the tower, and the move had meant they could have a new, bespoke room that worked for both of them. They were getting on great, and enjoyed each other's company, as well as the new, shared space.

Once the sun had risen a little more in the sky, Steve took Hannah's hand in his and turned towards her.
"Breakfast?"
"Breakfast."
With that, the couple continued through Central Park, walking this time, in the hopes that their favourite cafe would be open when they got there.

Woohoo! Finally started writing the sequel to 'Different Worlds'! I really hope you guys enjoy the first chapter, and I can't wait to keep writing this book! Happy Reading! Sophie xx