Trust Me (Steve Rogers Fanfiction)

Chapter 12

STEVE'S POV

After America leaves in a rush, an uncomfortable silence fills the living room until I can't stand it. I retreat to my own room, to the comfort of quiet and a pencil. I chew the eraser in thought before slowly starting my sketch.

I can't believe I blew it. I must have, or else she wouldn't have run out like that. Things were actually going well between the two of us. I think she was finally starting to trust me. There's something different about her, I think as I let the pencil fly across the page. It's not how I felt with Peggy all those years ago, either. It's different. This is more of an... understanding. A connection. Both of us lost part of our lives, and we're different for it.

I almost kissed her. We were so close. So close I could smell her perfume and see my reflection in her irises. I wanted to so badly, but I didn't want to rush into anything. I'm willing to take it slow for her, especially after she trusted me with bits and pieces of her story. I'm willing to do anything for her, when it comes down to it. 

I become so absorbed in my drawing that I don't notice the hours passing. Time doesn't matter. I'm determined to get all of those simple details right: hair that isn't quite red, brown, or blonde, how it curls at the ends; that little half-smile she gives me when she thinks something's funny; and those beautiful chocolate eyes that distract me from anything.

"Hey, Steve?" Nat pokes her head in, and I quickly stash my sketchbook under the couch. "Are you busy?"

"No, not really. What's up, Nat?"

"You missed dinner," she replies, coming into the room. She sits on the bed and I join her.

"Oh." It's crazy how time flies. Now that I glance out the window, it's dark. "I was just focused on something else. It slipped my mind."

"It's no problem, we were just wondering where you were. Have you seen America?"

I shake my head. "No, I've been in here alone. Why?"

"No one's seen her all afternoon. I've texted her a few times, but she hasn't picked up."

"Let me try." I dial her number, holding my breath. Someone picks up, and immediately I sigh with relief. "Hey. Where are you?"

"In the living room, on Lady America's phone," Thor responds cheerfully. I hang up without another word.

"Found the phone, but not her," I say. Nat rolls her eyes. I'm a bit worried. "Do you think we should do anything?"

"I'm not sure," Nat says, shrugging. "She seemed pretty steamed when she left."

"I know. I'm not sure why."

Nat raises her eyebrows. "Nothing happened between you two before I came in, right?"

"No, of course not," I reply. I would never do anything like that.

"Rogers, you can be so dense sometimes."

"What are you talking about?"

She facepalms. "Steve, she wanted you to kiss her!"

"What?" I'm actually shocked.

"And you wanted to kiss her, too!"

"How do you know?"

"Well, let's see." She starts listing things on her fingers. "She left as soon as you said that nothing was going on between you two. For the last month, you two have been inseparable. You both have an attraction for each other, but it's more obvious in you."

"Me? What makes you think I like her?" I'm not stupid: she knows. I can't hide anything from her.

"You're extremely protective of her, you went easy on her in the fight, you get jealous every single time she's around Thor- Steve, last week I heard you call her doll!"

"Okay, you may have a point!" I say, throwing my hands up in defeat. "But we need to find out where she is."

Nat smirks when I admit she's right, but frowns as I finish my thoughts. "No, we don't. Not yet. I'd say we wait a little while. It's late. If she's not back in the morning, we could start looking around. Right now, though, she might not want to be found."

"Okay." It feels wrong, not doing anything. "Are you sure?" I'm usually the one giving orders, but in this situation, I'm lost.

"Yes." Her voice is as uncertain as mine, but I trust her and I trust America. Nothing happened to her. The girl can run at the speed of light, for Pete's sake.

"Okay."

"Okay. Well, good night."

"Night, Nat." She leaves, giving me a quick wave. I nod.

As soon as she's gone, I start to pace the floor. Where could she be? Is she okay? I don't think she would just disappear, but I also think it would be extremely difficult for someone to do anything to her. She took Nat, a trained assassin, down within a minute. She's the fastest person on Earth. And she doesn't trust anyone. Maybe she just doesn't want to be found right now. Maybe she just wants to be alone. She's been around us all for a month. That might be stifling. I know it was odd when I first moved in.

"JARVIS? Is there any way you can track America?"

"I'm sorry, sir, but Miss Evans had nothing on her I am able to track when she left earlier this evening."

I sigh. There's nothing I can do tonight. At this point, the best thing to do is give her space and hope for the best.

That's not as reassuring as it should be. As I change my clothes and get into bed, I say a quick prayer, asking the Man Upstairs to get her back to me safely. One thing war and the modern world never stomped out of me was my solid faith. I close my eyes, knowing that sleep will probably not come.

I love Steve so much, you have no idea.

Question: do the gifs at the beginning of my chapters actually move? They haven't been working correctly for me.

Anyone have a favorite part so far?