Dark Arrow

Chapter Thirty Seven

I all but ran from the compound to the restaurant where I was supposed to be meeting Steve for dinner. I was late as usual, thankfully I'd chosen flat shoes meaning I could at least run comfortably.

Steve was waiting on the steps outside, the restaurant clearly already closed. He shook his head with a smile as I came around the corner.

"Don't look at me like that, you know I'm always late." I smiled as he stood up to meet me.

"Yeah I know." Steve pulled me in for a quick chaste kiss. "It's why I made back up plans."

"You did?"

"Yeah I did." He took my hand in his. "Come on."

We walked further down the road until we came across a few food carts. The last thing I expected was for Steve to walk up to one of them. I looked up at him in disbelief.

He gave me a wink, my knees threatening to give out underneath me. He went up to one cart getting us both a hot dog and fries, the second stop was for a milkshake. Once we were loaded up with the food we needed he led me over to a small courtyard, both of us settling on some concrete steps.

"This wasn't what I thought you meant by back up plans." I chuckled.

"You always get excited when we go past street food carts." He smiled, showing me that he noticed more than I realised.

I stuffed some fries into my mouth, shrugging my shoulders at him. "What can I say? I like actual food rather than rabbit food."

"Yeah and then you like to moan about the extra cardio."

He was right, but I didn't need him to know just how much. It was as comforting as it was unsettling just how well he knew me.

"Not lately." I smirked. "You're now my favourite form of cardio."

He let out a full blown belly laugh, something you didn't see from him often. The sound was like music to my ears. He could make me feel so carefree at times, taking the stress of what our lives entailed away. It was nice to know I could do the same for him.

"So that's what the kids are calling it these days." Steve laughed, wiping his face with a napkin.

"Refer to me as a kid again and I'll rethink this whole thing." I teased back, knowing that would never happen.

"Well I am 98 years old..."

"Then maybe I need to find someone my own age."

Steve pretended to think my suggestion over, a small smile gracing his lips. "I mean you could, but he wouldn't put up with you like I do."

He was right. I was hardly the easiest woman to deal with at times, yet he did it like it was second nature to him. Like it's what we should've been doing all along.

"Nicely played Rogers. How about we get out of here?"

Picking up our empty food cartons, Steve took them to put in the trash. The lack of his attention gave me time to try and tighten the support bandage around my ribs. The painkillers were starting to wear off and it was going to take everything I had to hide the pain as we made our way back to the compound.

The walk back was spent with us making small talk about how our days had gone, deliberately glossing over the mission Nat and I had. I didn't want to talk about it because he had this annoying habit of seeing through me when I lied to him.

"So you never did tell me how the mission went today." Steve casually brought it up just as we got close to the compound.

"Nothing to tell." I shrugged immediately regretting it when pain radiated through me. "We got in and out pretty quickly."

Steve shook his head with a smile. "Now do you want to try the truth? Because you've held onto your ribs four times while we've been walking."

Damn him and his observant nature. While it was sweet and I genuinely loved it, right now it was the last thing I needed. He looked down at me expectantly waiting for me to answer him. I could try another lie but chances were he'd see through that one too.

"Fine." I relented. "There may have been a slight complication."

"There always is with you." He teased.

Just as we walked onto the grounds of the compound, he stopped to look at me. Taking my hands in his. "Are you okay?" There was no flirting or teasing in his words, just genuine concern.

"I'll survive but if Nat asks you have no idea what happened." I didn't want to think what I'd endure if she found out I'd spilled our secret.

Steve stepped closer to me, carefully wrapping his arms around me. "I'll keep your secret on one condition."

"And what might that be?"

"Kiss me." He smiled, knowing I wouldn't say no to that.

I rested my hands on his chest, knowing the stretch to his neck would result in pain. "Lose the smug smile Captain."

Leaning up, I kissed him softly. It wasn't that I didn't want to kiss him, it was that I didn't trust myself not to beg him to take me there and then. Our teasing and banter had only made me realise just how much I loved the man in front of me. The way he would always put what I wanted and needed before himself. Once upon a time that sickened me to my stomach, now it was the most endearing thing I'd ever experienced. I wasn't sure if it was the action itself or the man behind it, either way I never wanted it to end.

"Come on sweetheart, let's get you to bed so I can take a look at that injury."

"You going to take care of me Nurse Rogers?" I teased.

Steve pulled me gently to his side as he walked us inside. "Depends if you behave or not."

My stomach fluttered with excitement. He knew what he was doing, the subtle smirk on his face giving him away.

The second we reached my room he picked me up, carrying me to my bed where he set me down extra gently. He pressed his lips softly against mine before pulling my top up over my head. His hands gently unwrapped the bandage.

"Rain, have you had Bruce check this out?" He asked, his Captain voice well in effect.

"It's fine Steve, I know the difference between bruised and broken ribs." I reassured him.

Steve hated that I knew the difference. That he couldn't take that pain away. "Your Mom?"

I nodded my head. "Yeah." I wasn't willing to talk about it, at least not yet. One day I'd tell him everything, but that day wasn't today.

"Stay there, I'm going to get an ice pack for that and re-strap it. Then we'll watch a movie." He kissed me on the forehead.

I had to admit it was nice being cared for, having someone that just wanted to make sure I was okay.

Steve headed down towards the medical bay, bumping into Bucky as he walked out with an ice pack of his own. Clearly the girls' plan to hide what had happened backfired for both of them.

"Hey Buck. How's Nat doing?" Steve asked, as he slipped past him to get what he needed.

Bucky lingered by the doorway, letting out a small chuckle. "She's bruised and a terrible actress. What about Rain?"

"Her ribs are purple but she's insisting nothing's broken." Steve was still worried, but he knew not to push it when it came to Rain.

"How long did it take you to figure it out?"

They both walked back to the elevator together once Steve had everything he needed. "She was okay until she started walking. Think the painkillers had worn off by then. You?"

"She wouldn't lay on my chest like she usually does. Took me the whole of two seconds to realise her shoulder was the reason why."

They both chuckled slightly as they walked towards their rooms.

"You know I'm starting to think we've bitten off more than we can chew here Buck." Steve joked, pulling a laugh from Bucky.

"Yeah but would you have her any other way?

Steve smiled. "Not even a little bit."