Love Behind the Masks (Steve Rogers One Shot)

Love Behind the Masks

This is dedicated to GrlThtLuvMoviesBooks for Imaginemarvel's little not-so-Secret-Santa. I hope you enjoy it, Tori! Merry Christmas!

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Steve Rogers doesn't have many friends outside of the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D., which is understandable since he's a 97-year-old trapped in a 27-year-old's body. On top of that, he's also Captain America — the fangirl-worthy living legend. With all his priorities, Steve has barely any time to breathe.

However, despite all the chaos that seems to follow him everywhere, Steve befriended a wonderful young woman by the name of Tori. She was kind, caring, and just absolutely wonderful to be around. She also didn't care that Steve was Captain America . . . but that's actually where things get a little complicated.

Tori doesn't know Captain America's alter ego.

Tori doesn't know why Steve doesn't have believable explanations for his absences on Friday movie nights.

Tori doesn't know why Steve sometimes comes to her apartment with bruised ribs and black eyes.

And you know what? Steve really hates lying to her.

"Steve," Nat had said back at the Tower, "I know you care about her, and I know that you want to protect her, but you need to tell her. It isn't fair for her not to know about such a large part of your life."

"I know. I've heard it all before," the super soldier replied grimly. "I just need some time to think about it. Friends shouldn't keep secrets from each other, no matter how dangerous they may be."

Little did he know, Tori was actually having an ironically similar problem.

Tori is the notorious, world-renowned super villain — Majesty. It sounds beautiful, but she's ruthlessly brutal in more ways than one. She earned her name for being the "Queen of Crime", and no one dares to cross her without having some kind of death wish.

With the exception of Captain America — a firm believer in freedom and justice for all — of course. The hero is set on putting an end to Majesty's villainous antics once and for all, even if it means giving his own life.

Tori knows Steve is a good person, and she knows that he would never accept her if he ever found out about her secret, so she decided to keep her mouth shut.

Or else Mr. America might come after him too.

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Steve and Tori walk around Central Park, licking their ice cream cones clean. They watch as people ice skate effortlessly (and not so effortlessly) while they laugh at each other's lame jokes.

"Can I ask you something?" Steve asks, and Tori nods. "Would you — would you like to come to my friends annual Christmas party with me?"

"You make it seem like such a big deal." The girl chuckles softly. "Who's this friend of yours? The President?"

He's actually an influential billionaire who goes by Tony Stark, but, you know, he's no one special.

"Um, he's just an old friend of mine from my job. He's no one you would know. He said I could bring a few friends, so I thought of you."

Tori doesn't know a single thing about Steve's job, but she doesn't mind at all. If it's keeping her from having to tell him about her own "occupation," she isn't going to say anything. The man is a complete gentleman, which is very rare these days, so she's almost positive that he isn't keeping anything big from her. Steve is probably just a private person, and she isn't going to force anything out of him.