Worship Her - Steve Rogers (AU)

Chapter 12

"You kissed me". The smugness to the statement was clear enough as Steve appeared to manifest, hungover, in the guesthouse the next morning.

"There's this thing called knocking, you should try it sometime". Maggie glared. "What the hell do you want anyway?"

Steve leant against the doorway. "You kissed me". He repeated.

"Yeah? And I also pushed your drunken ass in the pool". She reminded him. "The kiss was to shut you up, oh, and it wasn't exactly memorable".

Ouch.

It had been for him, much like the first - however Maggie didn't seem impressed. Maybe he was losing his touch? His charm? He'd already lost his sex drive and that wasn't looking to come back anytime soon - not unless she decided she wanted to spread her legs for him.

"Memorable or not - you kissed me". He still had the shit eating grin on his face but then realised that perhaps the teasing wasn't the way to go. "Look Mag, I'm sorry about last night, ok?"

"It's your house, but I didn't move in to hear you have sex with multiple groupies".

"I know, I know". He winced, head still paying dearly for last night. "Look, can I at least make it up to you?"

"How could you possibly make it up to me Steve? Send me more fucking funeral wreaths? Offer me drink or whatever kind of drugs you're on?"

"Hey, you loved that wreath". He quipped back and then ran a hand through his messy hair. "Forget it...anyway I gotta go do - whatever", and left.

Maggie ran her hands down her face. If he got off the booze and drugs then perhaps he'd be more appealing, but a lifestyle like this? His addictions? They would be hard to shake unless he was willing to go to rehab. Nat's words about her probably being the one to change him rang through her mind.

But could she though?

Steve was already on a slippery slope and even he'd admitted that. But was he willing to help himself?

Considering she had the night off (the first in a while), Maggie spent the rest of the day relaxing, catching up on sleep and even getting around to reading a few magazines she'd brought a few days prior.

But still she knew that she needed to speak to Steve. Something was still niggling at her to do so. Either he would be drinking or drunk yet again, but there was also the option that he could be surprisingly sober.

Only one way to find out...

Before she'd even gone through the gate to get to the backyard of the house, she could hear something. The gentle sound of fingers plucking at guitar strings, and...singing? Maggie halted for a moment, one hand on the latch of the gate and listened.

He was singing- not loud enough for anyone to hear, but she could. Opening the gate quietly she walked through and saw Steve sat on one of the loungers, guitar in his lap and occasionally stopping to take a swig from his beer bottle while muttering about what sounded shit or what could work.

Eventually, when he paused for a break she made her presence known. "That, er...sounded good". She admitted.

He glanced back over his shoulder before putting the guitar down. "It's not finished yet...wondering whether it will be or not".

"Why?"

"Because I wrote it for you". He now looked at her seriously. Probably the only time she had ever seen him like that.

She frowned at this, but at the same time felt a strange feeling. One that she knew she shouldn't feel in this circumstance- but then again no one had ever written a song for her. "You wrote me a song?"

"It's still in progress, but I started on it weeks back, probably right after I met you actually - but I just haven't had the time to work on it". He lit a cigarette and offered her one, which she took, accepting the light he held out to ignite it.  "Figured now I've got some time off I can actually finish it".

Exhaling some smoke, she looked at him. "I've gotta say, it's better than a funeral wreath, but I admit, I did find it a little funny".

"I'm a funny guy, just wish you'd have the chance to see it".

"We talking about your dick or..." she smirked to which he laughed.

"Nope. But you see me Mag. I can't say I can change but the least I can do is try if it would mean a chance with you". Then pausing for a moment. "Your probably the only one who could actually take me for who I am. In a way you already have - some people wouldn't have put up with this much shit already".

She shrugged and took a drag from her cigarette. "You know I'm not 'some people'".

"You're more than that, that's for sure. That's why I like you. You're not like the girls who I meet every night on tour. You're not wanting to be with me because of my name, or my money".

"Technically I'm not wanting to be with you at all". She mused.

"But could you ever be?" Another serious question - he was certainly coming out with them today.

Maggie flicked some ash onto the path and contemplated for a moment. "It would depend on how far you're willing to go to win me over".

"Is a song the right direction?"

She nodded at this. "It's a start".

"Good. I guess it's given me the drive to keep on writing it then".

"Steve". She now sat herself on the edge of the lounger that was across from his. "Your lifestyle? It's going to be the death of you if you carry on the way you are. Could you at least try giving up the drink and stuff? For me?".

He shook his head. "It's not that easy".

"No...but the song is a start - so the booze? Narcotics? They can be the next things to try and tackle. If you want so badly to have a chance with me? It's the only way".

"I'll try, but Magpie? Just know that I never promise anything to anyone".

"Why?"

He didn't look at her and stubbed out his cigarette "Because they always end up broken..."