Lavender Haze (Actor!Steve Rogers AU)

20

Steve hadn't seen Arizona until she had walked her mother down the aisle to give her away. The ceremony itself had been nice, watching as Phil and Donna exchanged vows and then were pronounced man and wife in front of the guests. After the photos, they'd sat down for dinner and to listen to the speeches, Arizona having prepared one that could only be described as a comedy show.

She was actually quite funny, something which he'd only just realised.

Now as the evening guests arrived and the reception well and truly began, he found her at the bar knocking back flutes of champagne. "How many you had?"

"They're complimentary". She smirked. "I can have however many I want - you enjoying yourself?"

"I am, but are you?" He eyed her.

She nodded. "It's nice to just feel like me for once, I don't have people coming over to me, asking me for pictures, whispering about me. I'm surrounded with people who know who I am and aren't hassling me, it's just nice to have a day off from being 'Arizona Allen - the popstar' and instead just being 'Ari, Donna's kid'". She admitted. "They haven't been hassling you have they?"

He shook his head. "No, like you they know who I am, but have just been welcoming. It's hard when you go to these kinda things and they're not your family or friends".

"Has it happened before?"

"Kinda, but it was expected". He said, now feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket and taking it out to read the message.

Sharon.

He quickly text her back as Arizona watched him. "Does she know you're here?" She asked.

He nodded. "She knows, she's cool with it".

Sure that hadn't been the best thing to explain, but Sharon still knew they were friends, and had accepted that. She hadn't been too happy knowing Steve was going to be at the wedding, asking a few questions about Arizona, but after a rather serious talk (serious for him - he found he was becoming exactly that lately) she'd said to him that she trusted him.

"I hope so, would be awkward if she wasn't". Arizona replied, sipping form her champagne flute.

"She knows we're friends". Steve told her. "Thankfully she's understanding and isn't put out by it".

Probably coz she knows that she's the one you're going home to. Arizona thought to herself, downing the rest of the champagne in one.

Now it would be Sharon who he'd tell everything to, who would be waiting for him under the sheets.

She suddenly felt a little lightheaded and put the glass down, reaching for the jug of water and another glass that was set nearby. "I need to pace myself tonight, maybe I should give up drinking and smoking..."

"Ok, now I know you're on the verge of being drunk". He told her, "You sure you're gonna last the rest of the night?"

"Probably not, but the not knowing is the fun part".

At this rate it would take him and Phil to probably carry her back to her room.

"Time to slow it down". He said, telling the barman not to give her any more champagne.

"Whatever, smoke?" She suggested, plucking the pack of cigarettes from her bag. "And before you ask. I do have my lighter and yes it does work".

Steve shrugged. "Well if you're offering". He said, both of them making their way outside and lighting up. "So...what's in store for the rest of the year for you?"

"I'm dropping an album that no one knows about next week". She admitted, blowing the smoke out. "Something I've been working on for a while but no one knows that I have - just Phil really. No promo, no release date for people to know about - Nothing".

"Is it a same shit different melody situation?" He asked.

Arizona looked at him and then laughed. "I don't know...perhaps you'll just have to listen and find out".

"Next week eh? What day?"

"Monday, get people started for the week". She told him.

He took a drag, "Any particular song I need to look out for".

"Track one". She eyed him knowingly. "Don't worry, it has no slander, it could be written about anyone". There was a playfulness to her tone.

Finishing his cigarette, he stubbed it out, Arizona having finished hers some minutes before. "Well..." he began. "If I hate it? Just know you're getting sued".

Arizona knew by now that he was joking. "Hey, I have a good lawyer, if I were you then I wouldn't waste your money". She told him as they headed back inside.

The rest of the evening passed by fairly quickly before it was over and the guests began to head home or to their rooms that they were staying in. Thankfully Arizona had sobered up and walked to hers with Steve in tow, stopping as they came to the door and she unlocked it.

"What time are you leaving tomorrow?" She asked.

"I need head off early, probably 6am". He told her.

She nodded. "Well, thanks for not letting me be resorted to sitting at the kids table. I guess I'll be seeing you".

"Yeah...I guess you will". He also nodded, not knowing what to do with himself now. "You take care Ari, I'll let you know next week whether to call your lawyer".

"I'll be ready for whatever's thrown at me". She smirked and opened the door, "Night Steve, and good luck with everything".

"You too". He told her, watching her go inside before making his way to his room.

Tomorrow things would be different. Perhaps it would mark the start of the growth that they both needed.