The Rose and Dagger

Old friends and new part 1

Steve gave Rain a tour of the house, "Through here is the kitchen."
Rain was very impressed with the size. A small round woman came around the kitchen island, "We're almost cleaned up Steve do you have requests for tomorrow?"
Steve grinned, "Rain this is the head chef Gloria Johnson. Gloria this is Rain Creek she'll be staying with us awhile."
Gloria smiled, "Bout time Steve. Nice to meet you Rain."
Rain blushed, "It's not like-"
Steve cut her off, "Gloria what did I say about your nose..."
Gloria pffft, "Boy I changed your butt more times than I or you care to remember."
Rain chuckled as Steve shook his head, "Gloria was my mother's best friend growing up."
Gloria patted Steve's cheek, "I promised your mother to look after you."
Steve rolled his eyes, "She's touring Europe with Bucky's mom not dead."
Gloria grinned, "I do the household shopping as well as cook breakfast for him and little Bucket. If you need anything just add it to the list on the fridge." The woman leaned in, "It's Stark tech so good luck getting it to work with out attitude."
Rain looked confused, "Who's Bucket?"
Bucky walked in, "That's me..."
Gloria hugged him, "First time I met this one he was running around with a bucket on his  head."
Rain giggled, "Why did you have a bucket on your head?"
Bucky grinned, "I was 5 and it was a helmut. I was slaying dragons."
Steve laughed, "Come on I'll show you the rest of the house."
Rain nodded, "It was very nice to meet you Gloria."
Gloria smiled, "And you as well. If these boys give you trouble let me know. I'll set 'em straight."
Bucky wrapped an arm around both Rain and Steve, "Glory we're angels."
Gloria snorted and returned to her team to finish clean, "If I was 40 yrs younger and didn't particularly raise you both..."
Both men chuckled. Bucky smiled, "I have some emails to answer before we head to the Stark meeting so I'll have to let Steve have you to himself for the tour."
Bucky gently kissed Rain's cheek, "I'll see you later."
Rain blinked feeling her heart beat faster.
Steve placed Rain's arm around his waist, "When Nat and Sam get here let me know."
Bucky smiled enjoying the pink blush and confused looked on Rain's face, "Aye aye Cap."
Steve shook his head as his friend walked away, "This way leads to the basement where the laundry room and gym are."
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The laundry room was the size of a small bedroom and the gym? Holy moley! It had everything including a sauna, locker-room with a shower. Rain was impressed, "Wow! You must spend a lot of time here."
Steve shrugged as he lead her up the back stairs, "I just like the privacy of working out at home."
The back stairs lead to a formal dining room with an ornately carved oak table, "Oh my God! This is gorgeous!"
Steve smiled, "We don't use this room a lot; just at holiday time."
Rain smiled, "Yeah the little kitchen knook seems more you, but this room is nifty."
Steve loved seeing her explore the room and when she turned and smiled at him his heart pittered pattered. She was beautiful even the bruises on her skin couldn't hide it, "Ah thanks...any way..."
He showed her the supply closet and again told her she didn't have to be a house keeper.
Rain shook her head, "It's no trouble for me and like I said I want earn my keep. Despite being raised with an army of staff I actually like domestic chores."
Rain laughed, "Uncle hated that I'd helped the maids; "It's not proper Rain Lynn." Rain did an impression of her uncle giggling, "So where to next?"
Steve smiled, "You're not like anyone I have ever met."
Rain curtsied, "Why thank you."
Steve wanted to kiss her and caught himself leaning into her, but stopped, "This way."
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Was Steve about to kiss her? Rain brushed it off. She decided that Bucky was just flirty. He didn't really find her attractive. Steve was just being a nice guy. She was letting her imagination run away.
The next room was huge, "This is the den study library movie game room." Steve lead her in.
"This is massive!" Rain spun around.
Steve's brain logged that phrase for a late night daydream[😉], "I like big spaces and never understood why the need for so many different tiny rooms."
Rain chuckled, "Well you certainly have a big one."
Rain paled, "ROOM! You have a big room... Oh God I did not just..."
Too late Steve added that phrase as well as her big wide look when she realized it, "Well I have been told that before."
He teased, "Come on I'll show you upstairs."
He extended his hand and Rain took it as they walked up the stairs.
It felt good to hold hands.
Steve pointed out his room along with two guest rooms before hers, "Of course this one is yours."
Rain turned and quietly said, "Thanks for checking on me when I yelled and uh... Staying till I fell back asleep."
Rain kept her eyes downward.
Steve tilted her chin up and brushed a lock of hair from her face. He only meant to tell her it was ok, but the sad look in her eyes broke him.
He bent his head and softly kissed her.
Rain felt as if she was in a weird fairy story. Steve Rogers was kissing her; he was gentle careful of her hurt lip.
Steve parted from her his crystal blue eyes darkened, "Rain..."
His voice was soft and husky saying her name.
Rain wasn't sure what he would have done next because Bucky came out of a room next to where Steve's room was.
Bucky looked between them and grinned, "Well... Ah sorry to interrupt, but Nat and Sam just pulled up."
Rain stepped back, "I..."
Steve sighed mentally making a note to kill Bucky later.
Bucky grinned, "That's my room by the way."
Rain tried to chase the fog in her brain, "You live here?"
Steve muttered, "Not for much longer."
Bucky ignored him, "I keep an apartment too, but most nights I am here."
Rain nodded, "Oh cool. Kinda like adult sleep overs."
Steve and Bucky both gave her a look as she realized what she said, "Oh fuck! I didn't mean it like that! Not that I wouldn't ya' know... wait what I meant was... Oh Christ!"
Both men couldn't help the smile on their faces.
Bucky licked his lips, "We can have an adult sleep over anytime you want doll."
Steve elbowed him, "You do not have to ever do anything you don't want to. You are safe here. I promise."
Rain smiled, "Thanks."
A voice from down stairs called out, "Yo! Boss you decent?"