𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬

new traditions- steve

Steve was always a big fan of the holidays, it was one of the few good things he associated with his family before his parents passed and though the war and the ice put a pause to his holiday cheer, it didn't change the fact that he was a little menace around Christmas time. He'd stayed up late after a mission to decorate the whole of the Avengers tower, very strategically placing mistletoe in places he'd definitely come across you and he'd very insistently made every room a different theme. Even though the rest of the Avengers weren't as eager as the super soldier, they'd happily obliged him after a stern talk from you which is how the whole lot of them ended up spread around a large table, plates empty now as they talked among themselves.

"I for one didn't know we had a chef in the tower," Tony mused, drink in hand as he raised a teasing brow at Steve, who had already shifted your chair to have you pushed up against him, practically sharing a seat with him as he hummed at Tony's comment. "How about you? Did you know your man could cook?" the question was aimed at you, a few separate conversations coming to an end just in time to hear what you said.

"Please, like you haven't seen the two of them all over each other in the kitchen on Fridays," Natasha was ever quick with her comment, giving you a knowing look as the table laughed softly, comfort around the table as you talked senselessly, no worries, no troubles, for the rest of the night at least.

"I have," Tony agreed and you could tell there was more, there was always more, Steve knew too, hence the small squeeze to your hand where it rested in his, a sort of apology for his friends messing with you. "Never really knew how much cooking was getting done in there compared to all the kissing." another round of laughs, a sweet smile dipping into your lips as your free hand fiddled with the place card with your name on.

"You jealous, Tony?" you demanded lightly and he was happy you bit back, shrugging in faux guilt as he took another sip from his wine glass.

"Guilty as charged. You know I like a man who cooks," he wasn't serious but Steve blushed, all the same, leaning in to steal a cheeky kiss on your neck while he hid the red that tinted his cheeks. "You embarrassed, Cap? All spoiled for choice?"

"Shut it, Stark," Steve sighed, arms tightening, lips smiling, he was quite used to the teasing by now, your little relationship being in the center of it all but he couldn't care less about the mocking and the jokes, because at the end of the day he had you and he had no shame for how much of a lovesick fool he was for you. "You lot going to keep messing around or are you going to help clean up?" Steve offered after a second and it was like a bullet from a gun, everyone making silly excuses as they left the table a mess, the pair of you feigning treachery as you watched them go.

"This was all very lovely, Steve," you breathed, your tiredness catching up with you as you lazily drew your gaze over the remnants of the night, it looking quite like a scene from a screen in its overly cheerful, sickeningly holiday aesthetic. "Our first Christmas together," you hummed and leaned back against him even more, just barely catching a glance of those drowning blue eyes as you tilted your head back slightly.

"First of many, I hope," Steve quipped and you were eager in your reply, nodding softly but your smile grew to twice its size, always falling even more mercilessly in love with him when he talked so casually about a future with you. "I can't wait to host one of these in our own place, with our own family," he paused, picturing it, so did you, and what a lovely sight it was, perfect, just like him. "Speaking of family," he began and you groaned lightly in objection when he softly guided you away from him, back against your chair now as you watched him with curious eyes. He was pulling a velvet box from under his chair before you had a chance to react, a guilty smile on his face as he took in your surprise. "I know we said we won't give each other presents but..." the box opened almost too slowly, the white peals of a lovely necklace instantly catching the light as you looked at them in awe. "Merry Christmas,"

"Steve," you tried to scorn him but you were already in love with the gift, gentle fingers lifting to trace over them, biting your lip as you looked back up at him. "They're gorgeous," you breathed and he felt almost relieved, he thought you would, of course, knew how much you loved things that looked like they belonged in a different decade, a different world and that was exactly why he wanted to give them to you.

"They're my mother's" he began and his hands were shaking as he took them from the box, leaning forward to slip them around your neck, suspiciously good at fastening them from behind. "Well, I had them made to look like hers, to be precise. She loved pearls, had a necklace like this one that she wore every Sunday for church- she promised to keep them safe for me, well for you actually, for the girl I fall in love with - the one I'm going to marry, so it seemed only fitting that I could give you what belonged to you," he was nervous, he'd no idea why, you knew his heart, knew that you were it for him, the one person he'd dreamed about finding, the love he'd only read about and you were sitting right in front of him, but he didn't realize how big the gesture would feel, not until right this second.

"I love it, Steve, truly, I'll cherish it forever," you promised and it wasn't long before you tucked yourself into his chest, one hand still on the necklace, reminding yourself that it was real as he tightened his arms around you. "I love you," you added, the notion feeling rather small compared to what he said, what he'd done but Steve smiled, kissed the side of your head then your shoulder, nuzzling into your neck as he sighed lightly.

"Merry Christmas, sweetheart."

"Merry Christmas, Steve."