Tess (A Dark!SteveRogers AU)

Chapter 13

Tess was still asleep as Steve woke a few hours later and slipped out of bed, filling the basin so he could wash and start his day.
His body ached slightly from where his wife had literally drained him, but the fact that she was confident in being in control? It was somewhat of a turn on if he had to admit it.

Slipping on his pants and tunic, he made his way out of the room and out to the workshop to get a head start on the days work. He thought best to leave checking in on his mother for fear of disrupting her sleep.

She needed all the rest she could get.

An hour or so later, he noted Tess now come out with a plate of food and set it down on the workbench for him. "What's that?" he stopped and wiped his brow from where he'd been working over the fire.

"What does it look like?" She retorted and put her hands on her hips. "Didn't think you'd eaten so I saved some for ya".

"Oh...well, thanks". He nodded, now wiping his hands and coming over to eat what she'd brought out for him. "Is Ma awake?"

She nodded. "Yeah, still pissed that she's not allowed to get up though".

"Nothing new there, she likes being busy".

There was silence between them for a moment before Tess broke it. "I'd better go wash some clothes and head to the store to pick up some bits". She said and made her way out the workshop.

Steve watched her go and then finished his breakfast before getting back to work.

**

Later that evening, Steve sat at the usual table next to the bar with Sam in tow. Bucky was busy serving the usual punters but would chip in on the conversation whenever he had the time.

"So how's the wife? You keeping her on track?" Sam asked as he began to deal the cards for the game he and Steve were about to play.

"In some sense - she knows not to go up against me. She's a stubborn bitch, but we're keeping civil for Ma's sake".

Civil.

Last night was anything but 'civil'. Steve wasn't about to indulge his friends in the dirty details though. It was only one night and had been a last ditch attempt at helping them to get some sleep.

Nothing more.

This was Tess Rumlow for goodness sake. He'd married her as his part of the deal and that was done. All she had to do now was hers as a wife.

"Is Sarah feeling any better?" Bucky came over and leant against the bar as he watched the cards being dealt.

"She's pissed off, so yes". Steve smirked. "Banner's coming to see her in the morning so she'll be back on her feet in no time, y'know what she's like".

Bucky tutted, "never known her to be sat on her ass though, if she weren't taking care of you then she was taking care of me".

She was like a second mother to his best friend, who did indeed have his own, but considering the pair had all but spent every moment together as kids, she had kind of raised Bucky too. Now she still scolded him, asked whether he was eating right, getting enough sleep. She cared about the family she'd made, even if it hadn't been the life she had expected fate to deal her with.

Steve chuckled, she ain't gonna be on her ass for long, I bet as soon as Bruce gives her the ok to get up she's gonna be outta that bed and racing around getting shit done".

"Ain't Tess done anything to help her out?" Sam now asked, studying his cards in his hand.

"She has which is surprising, been washing clothes, making sure Ma keeps to her bed, even cooked too".

Sam snorted. "Did you check for poison first?"

"I'm still alive ain't I?" Steve grinned from over the top of his cards.

"Yeah but for how long- this is Tess Rumlow we're talking about".

Bucky shrugged, "I actually think for one of them, she's alright - she seemed genuinely concerned when Sarah collapsed and reasonable enough when I spoke to her. Guess you forget that she was made to marry Steve, be carted off to this place with no friends -not that I'm saying she had any on the first place".

"Well from a conversation we had where we weren't threatening to shoot one another, sounds like she's always been treated bad, been left to do as she pleases".

"Wow, you talked to her without an argument? I'm impressed".

"Don't get used to it, she hates me, I hate her".

The doors to the saloon flew open and they all turned, seeing Tess now standing there and looking around.

"Well, there goes my night of peace". Steve slammed the cards down on the table, watching his wife walk through to the bar.

The eyes of every man upon her...

"I'd stop staring boys. My husbands sat right there". She now shot a look from the men to where Steve was sitting looking unimpressed.

"Tess!" He growled and now stormed over. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Getting a drink, ain't I allowed to relax after a day of scrubbing your clothes and making you dinner?" She turned on her stool and glared at him. "Plus, Sarah told me to come here".

He sported the same expression as his wife. She wasn't about to best him in front of the whole damn town. "Go home Tessie, before I drag you there". He leant in and gave her a warning.

"So you're saying I can't drink here now? What am I supposed to do? Sit and twiddle my damn thumbs waiting for you to come home!"

"That's exactly what you do!" He hissed. "Wives don't belong in the saloon, now get your ass back to Ma".

Tess smirked and then looked challengingly at him. "I ain't going nowhere until I get my drink Rogers".

Steve was fully aware that every was watching them and then grabbed her arm, dragging her from the stool and out the doors, calling to his friend as he went, Tess fighting against him.

"Buck, pour me another drink, I'm gonna need it once I've dealt with my disobedient bitch of a wife".