Influence

Chapter Ten-Discovery

"Rea." Steve's voice drifts over to me and I straighten up, hand slipping off the wall. "She's fine. Resting." He tells me with soft assurance, eyebrows furrowed over clear blue eyes. I nod with relief and begin walking down the hall with him at my side.

"No need to be afraid. I won't be doing that again." I promise, glancing at his firmly set mouth for a moment before looking back down at the tiled floor.

"The only person afraid is you, Rea." Steve returns bluntly and I sigh.

"Wanda isn't? You saw her in there. Blank. Jesus." Those eyes will haunt me for sure. Steve moves in front of me with a hand on my upper arm so I don't slip past him.

Bright blue looks into my soft brown. "She isn't afraid of you."

"Only that her powers affected people like mine. Much better." I reply and he sighs.

"You're making it hard for me to work with you here, Rea."

Smiling softly, I shrug. "Sometimes there's no way to win, Steve." My answer is quiet and although the words seem sad, there's a comfort to being understood and treated honestly. "I'm getting coffee. Care to join me?" I offer and he sighs but moves aside so we may walk beside one another.

"Wish you didn't see yourself in such a harsh light." He comments, still unwilling to let it go. I reach over and allow my hand to skim the inside of his arm affectionately.

"Seems you see me through rose-colored glasses, Steve. Even in the dark, I believe you'd paint me with a halo." I shoot back, reveling in his bright smile.

"You forget I've seen you in the dark." He teases and I shake my head, letting that one go.

"Maybe we balance each other out, hm?" Steve nods once, allowing this. We come to the gathering room and Steve kindly takes over making the coffee while I search for cups. Smirking, I slide two over. One with red, white, and blue stripes on it and the other tall and dark green. The moment Steve glances at the two he sighs and shakes his head slightly. As soon as he fills both I steal the green away so he's stuck with the other. Keeping my laughter within my mouth, I add sugar and milk as I like while feeling Steve's eyes on me all the way.

"Is this your way of saying you like Bruce more than me?" He asks as we head to the empty couch. My eyes follow his to the cup in my hand and I chuckle.

"Yes. I've also slept with Bruce. Didn't want you to find out this way, but..." I reply teasingly and grin when he laughs. I sit on the far side of the couch, allowing him the choice of sitting near or far from me. He sits in the middle of the couch next to me and my smile brightens at the choice. "Mind if I turn the news on? Been a while since I've watched television." Steve nods and I turn it on, lips popping open at the pictures on the screen. "Oh shit." The picture of Steve and I on his motorcycle appears, our bodies pressed snugly together as if we'd known each other all our lives. I'm laughing and Steve is grinning widely back at me, must be from the people at that stoplight. Immediately, I look to Steve apologetically. Before I even speak, he beats me to it.

"Don't start. I should apologize. Didn't think they'd catch up that fast." He sighs, watching question marks and hearts pop-up around the photo on the flatscreen. Not sure how to feel about this, I lean back against the couch as they question whether we're in a relationship or not. Scoffing, I turn the television off.

"Well. This can only help your public image, right?" I question, hiding a smirk behind the rim of my coffee cup. Steve's baby blues turn to me. "Being seen with a hot girl," I explain and let my smile shine when he releases a laugh. He relaxes on the couch as well and shrugs.

"No, it couldn't hurt." My eyes return to him in surprise. I was expecting a smart remark, not for him to agree with me. Both our eyes are regrettably drawn to the door when Tony and Bruce walk in.