Avengers Preferences

Rogers ~ Begin Again

Name: Claire

Time: After Avengers 1

Powers: None

Relationship: Tony Stark assistant

Age: 27

--

Flattening out my dress in front of the mirror, I took a deep breath and exhaled, hoping it would relieve some anxiety. I glanced down to my heels which shimmered in it's reflection, radiating the small flecks of glitter randomly scattered on it's surface.

He never liked me in heels... I thought to myself, debating whether to take them off all together and wear simple Adidas.

But I like me in heels, I concluded.

I clicked my heels towards the door and turned the knob, before pausing quickly to grab my phone and earbuds on the nearby table.

As I walked down the hall, I plugged in my headphones and scrolling through Spotify mindlessly. I pressed shuffle, shoving my phone in the pocket of my jean skirt. The elevator doors opened and I stepped in, tapping my foot to the beat on the floor. Realizing what song it was, I shook my head at myself and felt a lump grow in my throat. He never got this song...

Lyrics resounded of feeling misunderstanding from a lover and the pain that it brings. But I do...

--

I pushed the door to the coffee shop and immediately went to find a table for us, assuming I'd be waiting an extra 10 minutes for him.

However, I was greatly surprised to see he was already there, standing up to greet me. I walked over to him and removed my earbuds rapidly.

"Hi Claire," Steve said with a bright smile. "Here, allow me," he offered as he pulled out my chair for me to sit. I looked up at him in confusion, I'm not used to this.

As I sat down and pushed the chair in lightly, then made his way around the table to his seat. "It's so nice to see you."

"It's... nice to see you too," I smiled hesitantly.

I picked up my purse and placed it next to me. A lady in an apron approached us, asking, "What can I get you two today?"

I remained silent for Steve to order first, except he motioned for me to give my order. "I'll take a cappuccino."

"A regular coffee is alright to me," Steve added. She smiled and walked off. "I still don't understand all these fancy types of coffee, cappuccinos weren't popular in my time," he giggled.

I laughed quietly at his comment. "I feel like coffee isn't the only thing you've had to adjust to."

"It definitely isn't"

The waitress delivered our coffee. I took a sip, scrunching my nose from the heat. "To be completely honest, everyone seems to know who you are, but I know barely anything about you."

"Is that my cue for a life story?"

I nodded and laughed.

"I was born on July 4th, 1918."

"You're kidding me," I chuckled. "Don't you find that kind of ironic?"

"Sure," he smiled at my amusement. "My dad was killed in World War I, never knew him. Was raised by my mom. She died of tuberculosis when I was 18. The closest thing I had to a family was Bucky. He... died too, the day I supposedly died as well."

My smile faded to sadness as he recounted all his trauma. "Were you any different back then?"

"I was probably about 4'5" and the width of a twig," he shook his head, thinking back to his prior appearance. "I had so many medical conditions, I was never eligible to enlist. Luckily, a scientist caught me a break and enlisted me for Project Rebirth. Hence forth I was a test subject, and became, well, not a stick."

Taking another sip of my coffee, I shook my head. "It sounds so surreal, it's hard to believe any of that actually happened."

"My life is pretty explanatory from there. Hydra, ice, wake up, now I'm an Avenger. But you can get this story from any SHIELD archive. I want to hear about you."

Really? Me? I'm as ordinary as it gets. Since when did someone want to hear about me?

"Well, my parents are still alive, I have three older brothers. When I was 17 I landed an internship with Stark Industries. 10 years later and I work for Tony's Iron Man initiative. That's really it, to be honest. Unless you call waiting on Tony's ridiculous orders 'interesting.'"

Nodded and giggling, he said, "I'm sure you have plenty of stories of working for Tony."

"One time he had me go across the city to get him a cheese burger, so I took the blasters from his Iron Man suit and flew there," I looked up guilty and sipped my coffee.

He threw his head back and laughed as if he was a little kid, "That's priceless."

"You thought that was funny?" I hesitated to ask, then instantly regretting saying so.

"Yes!" He exclaimed.

He never thought I was funny, I thought, thinking back to-

"It's so strange, I never thought of you as being shy," he stated.

I looked up at him in shock. "I- I'm sorry-"

"No, no," he interrupted. "You're completely fine. You're a very sweet woman, Claire. I really must thank you for allowing me to take you out on a date."

My eyes connected to his and I gave a small smile in return. "Thank you, Steve."

I sipped my coffee again, surprised to find it already empty. "Would you like some more coffee?" He asked, noticing I had already finished.

"No thanks, let's just... talk. It's nice."

He smiled at my comment and nodded.

--

We walked shoulder to shoulder along the sidewalk towards my apartment. "I think the coolest thing about this decade are all the Christmas movies."

I laughed heartily.

"I mean, they all take place around the time I grew up in! They're all about lover's going off to war and all the shenanigans that entail, they really are the best."

I looked down as we walked, a smile spread across my face. This is so new, do I tell him that?

"Claire, are you okay?" he asked, interrupting himself.

I looked up into his eyes, shaking my head and smiling. "Yes, for the first time in a while. Yes."

Pointing to my apartment complex, we walked inside and I led him to my room. Stopping in front of it, we stood across from each other, attempting to avoid awkward eye contact.

"Thanks-" we said in unison, then laughing at the situation.

We both put our hands up awkwardly to wave as I stepped into my apartment to close the door.

Leaning my back on the door, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I have to tell him.

I turned around and swung the door open, to see Steve still standing there, with his hand up to knock.

"Thank you," I said. "Eight months ago, a person I believed to be the love of my life left me for the better. You were the opposite of him. You were kind, chilvarous, and cared about what I had to say. I'm sorry I was shy, it just felt like everything was starting over again, and I don't want to screw it up."

"You're welcome, but I was going to say thank you as well. It was a nice date and I was wondering if you'd like to stay at the Avengers tower for the next week? I'm sure Tony wouldn't mind."

I smiled back at him, "I would absolutely love too."

On a Wednesday, in a cafe... I watched it begin again.