national anthem → s . rogers ( 2 )

[25]

"Who's daddy's precious girl? Who's the second ray of sunshine in this apartment? Who... just spit up all over me... Hey, Blossom?" Steve called out. Blossom, who was in the kitchen, could hear everything, just laughed.

"And, you are officially a father. Congratulations, dear!" she clapped her hands together once before walking over to take Victoria from him.

"Who's mommy's precious girl? That's right, you are," Blossom rubbed their noses together, and Victoria giggled.

"Aw, why does she always take your side?" Steve asked, stripping off his shirt and taking it to the washing machine. Blossom smiled a bit and went to go put Victoria down in her crib, and her phone rang from the other room.

"Oh, hold on, il mio piccolo, I'll be right back," she kissed her daughter's forehead, and she left to go get her phone. She grabbed her phone and answered the call, biting her lip. She didn't see Steve, watching her from the doorway, as she listened.

"Uh huh, right. How long? Yeah, that's reasonable. Mhm. Okay, talk to you soon," Blossom said, hanging up her phone. She set it back on the table, and she turned around, jumping when she saw her husband in the doorway.

"How long have you been there?" she asked, tucking her hair back behind her ear gently.

"Long enough. Who were you on the phone with?" he asked, walking over to her with his arms crossed.

"No one important. Why were you spying on me?" 

"I wasn't spying, Blossom. I was just walking by, and I heard your voice. And, you don't sound like you're telling the truth. Who were you talking to?" he asked again.

"It was no one you need to worry about! You're just overreacting!" she sighed, then went to walk past him, but he grabbed her left arm and spun her to face him.

"Stop lying to me. Who were you talking to?" he asked, and she tried to pull her arm back from his grip. 

"It's none of your business, Steve. Let me go!" She winced when his grip tightened a bit, and he seemed to not notice. 

"Blossom, tell me, now," he growled, and she shook her head quickly, still trying to pry his hand from around her arm.

"S-Steve! You're hurting me! Stop it!" she whimpered, tears forming in her eyes.

"I'm not letting go until you tell me!" he shouted, and she started to cry. Blossom knew his grip would leave a bruise on her arm, hell, he could have broken it if he wanted to. Tears started to drip down her cheeks, and still, he wouldn't let go of her arm. Victoria started to cry in the other room, due to Steve's shouts, and still, he wouldn't release her arm.

"Steve! M-my arm! L-let me go!" she raised her right arm and socked him in the gut, making him let go of her arm and fall backwards. She pushed up her sleeve and saw a reddish mark appear, and she looked down at him through tear-filled eyes.

"H-how could you? How could you do this to me?" she whispered, tears streaming down her face. Steve looked up at her, realization clear on his face. Quickly, he got up and reached out for her, but she flinched back.

"How could you hurt me like that? I begged you to stop, and you ignored it," her voice cracked, and he felt a wave of guilt wash over him.

"Blossom.... I'm so sorry. Please, believe me," he whispered, and she took a step back. 

"I don't know if I can. And it was Maria. Maria fucking called me. We were going to plan a get together, and it really isn't any of your fucking business who I talk to," she whimpered, then ran from the room and hurried to Victoria's to try and calm her down. 

***

That night, Blossom had taken her dinner into their room and shut the door behind her, leaving Steve alone at the table. He hadn't bothered to turn on the light, so he sat in the dark, picking at his dinner. He could hear her sniffling in their room, and it made his heart drop and his stomach twist. He did that to her. He hurt her, and his grip only tightened when she begged him to stop. And for what? To find out who she was talking to on her phone. And he found out, but it cost him big time. Creamsicle was mewing at the door, so he stood and went over to let him into the room with his wife. As soon as he opened the door, her voice rang out.

"Fuck off."

The words stung like a slap to the face, and he winced. He looked at her arm, and he saw a bruise start to form, making his stomach flop.

"Blossom, I'm so sor-" he started, but she held up her hand.

"Save it. I don't want to talk to you right now. It's not healthy to go to bed angry, or sad, but so be it. I don't want to say anything I'll regret," her voice was soft, but it cracked when she spoke. Steve felt his heart break, knowing he hurt her, and he caused this. With a simple nod of his head, he turned and left the room, closing the door behind him. Tears filled his eyes, and he went to go sit on the couch.

"All my fault..." he whispered, covering his face with his hands. He looked to the door, then jumped up when he heard a crash, and the cat hiss.

"Blossom?" he called, going to the door. When she didn't answer, he opened the door and saw his wife, writhing in pain, on the floor, with a broken plate beside her.

"Blossom!" Steve rushed to her side, and she looked up at him weakly.

"D-don't touch it," she whimpered, and he knew she meant her bruise. He nodded and quickly cleaned up the plate bits, then took them to the kitchen. He tossed them out, and he grabbed one of the many ice packs that they kept in the freezer. He went back to their room, and he knelt beside Blossom. Gently, he set the ice pack over the bruised area, and he watched as she started to relax.

"Blossom, I am so sorry. I never meant to hurt you, and you know that. Please forgive me..." he whispered, and she looked up at him.

"Steve, you scared me today. The look in your eye... It's like it wasn't even you. I want to forgive you, but how do I know this won't happen again?" she whispered, and he sighed.

"I'll just have to remember who I'm talking with, and I'll try and stay out of your business, unless you want me there. It's not much, but..."

"It's good enough for me. Thank you for the ice pack," she said softly, and he nodded.

"Anything to make sure you're okay. I love you."

"I love you, too."