Sunflower

50

On my way down to the kitchen, Steve walked up next to me, calm and unbothered. Slowly I turned my head to him as we walked down the stairs. "Can you give me a lift to my apartment?" I asked, feeling like digging my own nails into my skin.

Steve smiled. "Of course. But what about your bike?" he asked, giving a light frown.

I sighed. "I really don't feel like driving alone," I sighed.

Without any interruption Steve and I drove to my apartment where I grabbed some clothes and vanished off into the bathroom. Steve stayed in the kitchen, noticing a basket of clothes on the table. He knew they were Bucky's, and as much as he tried to ignore it, he could help but puzzle together what had happened.

After a few minutes I came out of the bathroom, feeling fresh with new clothes on. Steve smiled at me as I placed some clothes into a laundry basket.

"Where do you want to go?" Steve asked as I returned to the kitchen.

I sighed. "Anywhere but here."

Steve took me down to the car and we drove off into the streets again. I didn't want to go back to the compound, and he understood why. We drove up and down the streets in silence, not even listening to music. Steve looked at me, seeing me still look at passing cars. He pulled the car to the side of the road, making me look at him. He got out the car and walked around it, opening my car door. Confused I looked at him, still seated.

"Come on," he said, gesturing me to get out. I did so, getting out and onto the sidewalk. "Let's go," he said, looking at me and gesturing down the sidewalk with his shoulder.

I walked next to him, down the quiet street. We walked around the corner, where Steve stopped at an ice cream parlour. He stepped in through the doors, and confused I followed him. He stepped up to the counter, smiling at the waiter.

"One double scoop mint ice cream and one double scoop raspberry ice cream, both in cups. And can you please add small marshmallows to the raspberry ice cream and small choc chips to the mint ice cream, thanks."

He put down some money and took a step back, looking as the waiter made the ice creams. I looked at Steve and tilted my head in confusion.

"What are you doing?" I asked, forcing him to look at me. He smiled, looking back at the waiter. "Steve? Hey?" He didn't glance my way, rather he kept looking in front of him. I frowned.

The waiter placed both cups down, gesturing for Steve that it was ours. Steve stepped forward, taking both and handing me the raspberry one, with extra little marshmallows on top. He walked out the parlour and I followed him down the street into the park. He sat down on a bench, gesturing me to sit down next to him. I did so, looking over the little fountain.

Steve turned to me and sighed. "I know it's been hard, very hard, and I haven't been very supportive," he said calmly, looking at me look up at him. "I wasn't there when you needed me, and I was maybe-"

"At least you actually cared," I said, interrupting him. He frowned, confused of what I ment. "James let me down, every time I let him in again he let me down. But you. You were always there. You waited. You cared. I didn't know what happened the day after you and I, after we slept together. But the next thing I knew I was drunk and dancing on a karaoke stage, and then back at my apartment with James."

Steve sighed, knowing that I didn't have any intention to sleep with Bucky. And he knew that I did in fact not sleep with him.

"I was broken when I found out about Brooke. Even if Bucky and I weren't dating, it hurt me just as much. Yes, James did help care for me, but not the way you did."

Steve looked at me, realizing I was really trying to puzzle my words together.

"I just want to say thank you for everything..." I smiled at him, before taking a bite out of my ice cream.

Steve laughed, looking at me. "Would you really have gone back to Bucky?" Steve asked, looking down at me.

I sighed. "It doesn't matter anymore."

Steve asked curiously, "didn't you love him?"

I sighed. "I did." I looked at him, seeing his shocked eyes looking down at me.

I looked back down, immediately taking another bite of my ice cream. I kept my eyes on my feet, trying to avoid my eyes from Steve. He looked at me, not really expecting my answer.

"You told Natasha you loved someone right before you vanished," Steve said after a few minutes of silence. "If you loved Bucky, does it mean you still do?"

I looked up at Steve, looking straight into his eyes. I looked him in his eyes, saying nothing. My eyes said everything, dazzling in response of his question. He realized what my silence ment, which filled up his heart.

As soon as he realized, he bent down, crashing his lips into mine. He lifted his one hand to my cheek, making sure I was in his control. Gently he placed his ice cream next to him on the bench, before moving his other hand around my waist. I moved my entire body to sit on top of his lap, as I sat my ice cream down next to us. He pulled my waist closer to him as he looked up, kissing me passionately. I slid my hands to his cheeks, keeping him in my grip.

As time interrupted us, Steve's phone and my phone rang on the exact same time, surprising us both. I grabbed my phone and jumped off his lap, answering it. He pulled his phone out of his pocket, answering it.

"Natasha?" I said, hearing her voice.

"Tony?" Steve asked surprised.

"What?!"
"What happened?"
"Are you sure?"
"You must be joking right now?"
"Don't fuck with me now."
"Yeah, okay."
"Fuck!"
"Sure thing Tony."

Steve and I both turned to each other at the same time as we ended the calls. We froze, looking at each other's eyes.

"Steve there's-"