Steve and Red

The First Time They Saw Her

Steve surveyed the crowded cocktail party, glancing across the sea of glittering dresses and matte tuxedos that shone beneath colored lights. Disappointed he didn't find what he was looking for, he glanced down into the flute of champagne he was holding.

"Looking for something?" a soft voice purred at his elbow. Startled, he jerked away to see Natasha Romanoff standing near him. She grinned.

"Someone," he muttered, shrugging. She elbowed him.

"Oh?" she whispered playfully, intending to grill him. Before she could fire off any questions, however, Bruce Banner appeared. He gave Steve a nod, said "Hey, Cap" and then in short order led Natasha off towards the bar, where the Avengers were gathered. Steve watched with a smile; it was good to see Banner with a real happy face, he decided.

A soft cough interrupted his thoughts.

"Hi...?" a familiar voice said nervously from behind him. He spun, and caught his breath. Red was standing in the doorway, the light from the elevator spilling out onto the floor and silhouetting her floor length periwinkle gown. Her ginger hair was pulled out of its usual French braid and curled around her shoulders, cascading down almost to her hips; free whisps framed her ice blue eyes and made them pop even more than usual, giving her a commanding air. Immediately he felt himself grow flushed.

"H-hi," he stammered. She blushed and looked at the ground.

"I look stupid," she muttered.

"No," he jumped to correct her, moving closer. "You look absolutely gorgeous." She glanced up at him, the corner of her mouth pulling up slightly.

"Is that why you're shaking?" she teased; Steve looked down and noticed that the champagne was vibrating. Hastily he handed it to her.

"No," he lied unconvincingly. She accepted the liquor, but didn't drink it. Instead, she gazed around the party.

"Big crowd," she said. He shrugged.

"Well, it is the Avengers," he laughed. "Anyone would jump at the opportunity to come to one of their parties, if only to rub shoulders with heroes." She grinned.

"Do you think that's why I'm here?" she murmured coyly. He took her free hand and laced her arm through his, retaining a grip on her fingers.

"I hope not," he replied quietly. "Come on." He led her through the swaying crowd, smiling widly, until he found the other Avengers arguing loudly over the finer points of the battle with Ultron. Tony Stark and Pepper Potts were seated on the couch, Tony loudly swearing at Thor, who had his arm draped over his fiancée Jane. Banner and Natasha were leaning up against the bar behind the chair where Vision sat with Wanda perched on his knees, and Clint Barton was sitting beside the glass table on the floor, smothering his laughter as Thor began to reply to Tony's rant in Asgardian.

Wanda's eyes lit up as she caught sight of Steve and Red.

"Oh, she's gorgeous!" she giggled to Vision; he patted her hair with a smile and nodded. The rest of the Avengers turned to stare. Red blushed and looked at the floor, her hair falling to cover her face. Steve smiled and then hesitatingly reached out to push her hair behind her ear. She blushed an even deeper red, refusing to look at him, but her fingers tightened on his arm.

"Hello, Steve's girlfriend," Banner called. Natasha shushed him. Red curtsied, and Thor roared, "A lady as proper as any! A good match for the lovely Captain Rogers." Tony sniffed.