Toxic | Steve Rogers

Chapter Forty-Two: A Silver Pair of Eyes.

Steve was enjoying himself. He liked to see his friends getting along, laughing and teasing each other. He also thought it was incredibly funny how riled up Adora could get Sam. These were the memories he would look back on when times were hard.  Very rarely did he notice that he was making memories that he would always look back on with a smile.

Steve also knew it would not last forever.

He could sense it in Adora, the way she had that sad looking her eyes when she smiled. It was like she knew what was going to happen next, and that is wasn’t something she would enjoy.

“You okay there, love?” Adora’s soft voice interrupts him, and he blinks his vision into focus. He nods, forcing a quick smile. Her eyes drift over him suspiciously, but she only turns back to undressing.

Steve was shirtless, waiting to get in the shower after Adora. He offered to join her, trying to hold back a blush, but she declined. That was how he knew something was wrong. He wanted to talk to Natasha about it while she showered, but Adora seemed to be stalling. His eyes traveled over her slender figure, over the curve of her back, and her shoulder blades. The water sputtered out of the shower head, and Adora stepped in. Steve waited for her to be out of view before walking out of the room.

Natasha is waiting outside his door, her arms crossed over her chest.

“Thought you’d never show” she said, a small smile playing on her lips.

“She’s acting weird” he says, cutting right to the chase. She raises her eyebrows, stepping away from the door.

“How so?” she asked, and Steve blushed.

“I offered to join her in the shower, but she said no” he mumbled, and she laughed.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that, you’ll have to repeat it louder” she teased, and Steve let out a huff.

“I’m being serious. I know when somethings wrong with her. And I know you two probably share everything. I know you know, Nat” Natasha frowned, her piercing eyes watching him.

“She always takes showers when somethings bothering her, or when she needs to come up with a plan. She takes showers when she’s stumped, and can’t figure something out” Natasha says thoughtfully, her eyes distant as she spoke. Steve watched her, his eyes curious.

“Thanks” he said quietly, and she gave him a small smile. Steve heard the shower cut off, and he walked back to the room. He noticed that the blinds were open, showing the darkness of the night. He walked over to close them, and let out a gasp.

A sliver set of eyes were staring back at him.

He leaped backwards, shutting the curtains, and rushing away from the window. Were his eyes deceiving him?

“Steve?” Adora was standing behind him, drying her hair. Steve regained his composure, turning around to meet her eyes. Adora stepped forward, her head tilted slightly, her eyes watching him carefully.

“Did something startle you?” she asked, her blue-green eyes staring right through him. He shook his head, quickly brushing past her, and closed the bathroom door behind him. He was breathing hard, and he didn’t know why. The fact that there was someone staring at him right outside the window scared him.

And Adora was alone in the room next to it. Moving fast, Steve swung open the door, to find Adora mid-undress, a surprised look on her face. Pink dusted his cheeks, and he closed the door again. He must be seeing things. Trying to distract himself, he started to undress, and hopped into the shower.

The hot water was the only thing he let himself think about. His heart was pounding in his chest, and he couldn’t get over the fact of how much fear and adrenaline was coursing through his veins. Why the hell was he so scared? What was wrong with him? Steve shook his head, trying to concentrate on the task at hand.