The Fiancé: Chapter Six
Characters: Steve Rogers x Female Plus-Size Reader
Rating: The whole series will be E, 18+ ONLY
Summary: A lie about your best friend at a Christmas party spirals into world news, but a previously unknown threat leaves you having to now live the lie of Steve Rogers being your fiancé.
Originally based on the prompt ‘Character A’s ex will be at the Christmas Party A is attending. Character B poses as A’s fiancé,’ by @alloftheprompts.
A/N: The whole series will include swearing, alcohol, threat, violence, apartment sharing, protected sex, and more tags to be added!
The title has been taken from the Ella Fitzgerald song of the same name.
The Fiancé Masterlist
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Please don’t copy or steal my work, and please don’t post it on any other sites; credit does not count.
It’s Only A Paper Moon
WEDNESDAY
“I am in heaven.”
“Doll’, this is Y/N’s wedding, not yours.”
“We have the whole place to ourselves, I can try on one thing, right?”
Well, the first part of that is true. Sitting on a couch not designed for sitting on, you play with your hands in your lap as your gaze travels the room. Nat had, she’d told you before you’d left that morning, bought the whole place out, for the sake of sensationalism, security and it just seemed like something a very famous person would do.
‘Sensationalism’ is so far so successful; there is a crowd of people similar in size to the one at the cake shop outside, trying to look through the French windows, though you’re located at the back of the shop. As for security, it means Nat doesn’t have to plant people inside and you won’t get crowded and overwhelmed by people coming up to you, and for seeming like something a famous person would do? Yeah, probably, you don’t know.
“Just have some fun,” Nat had said as you’d gone down in the elevator. “It’s just trying on some dresses and having a fun time with your friends.”
Fun.
You’d nearly laughed. But, you’d just smiled and nodded, because that’s what you do now, smile and nod and go along with things. If you don’t, that leads to conversations, and conversations lead to you having to admit to things, like the panic attack you’d had that morning as you’d dressed or the fact you have feelings for your best friend and every moment of this week is both wonderful and torturous.
Speaking of... you haven’t seen Steve today.
Last night, after you’d woken up from your nap, you’d showered, masturbated while in there, ‘cause, hey, things had only gotten more stressful, and changed and wandered downstairs, but Steve was nowhere to be seen. Then you’d heard sounds of machines in the gym room and realised he was working out. He’d left a note for you on the island, though, saying there were leftovers in the oven of what he’d cooked. You’d eaten alone, watching TV.
You did that for about two hours, and Steve didn’t emerge once, still working out. You hadn’t thought anything of it, though, he is super-human. So, you’d gone to bed, leaving him a note in return saying thank you, you hadn’t wanted to disturb him and that you were going to bed, with a little drawn smiley face.
There’d been no note when you’d come down after calming yourself and pulling your shoes on, not wanting to be caught out like yesterday morning, just Nat.
But space is good for you two.
Even if you never usually go this long without at least messaging each other.
But this isn’t a ‘usually’ time.
“Y/N?”
The Christmas jazz music filters back into your hearing as your head snaps up to look at Dolly, sat on a gorgeous pale pink shell chair, her big eyes wider than usual.
“Yeah, sorry?”
Her smile is wide and her eyes seem to be only getting wider. “I can try on one thing, right?”
You nod as you smile. “Uh, yeah. As bridesmaids, you probably actually should try something.”
She releases a sound akin to a squeal and claps her hands together. “Great! What colour do you want for us?”
“Uh...” Oh, you know this, you talked about it with Nat in the car... “... Red.”
Bridget looks at you, then exhales a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank God, I thought you were gonna carry on and say ‘white and blue’.”
Your lips twitch as you tilt your head. “Come on, we’re not gonna be that on the nose.”
Bridget raises their eyebrows but before they can retort a woman, Sally, appears with an ice bucket, a bottle of champagne inside, and three glasses. All three of you give some kind of very grateful sound before thanking her as she sets them down on the glass table before you. You also all cheer as she pops the champagne, (God, who are we... desperate for free alcohol, that’s who), and thank her again as she fills the glasses and hands one to you each.
Beaming, she stands back, her hands clasped together. “Can I get anything else for y’all?”
You hum as you quickly swallow your mouthful. “Mmh. Yes, please. Do you have any dresses in red, for these two?”
She glances at them, her gaze sweeping over them and you realise she’s expertly measuring them, and nods. “Absolutely. What style would you like?”
“Uh, any, we’ve got time.”
Her beam grows as she nods. “Wonderful, I’ll be five minutes.”
You take another sip as she trots off to the back room. Much like at the cake shop, you’d said to the shop attendants assisting you, all five of them now having nothing to do but assist you, that you will try everything and anything. Like Damilola, they’d looked delighted, probably used to, as you’d seen on reality shows, people coming in with very specific requests.
And, boy, do you all have the time to try every damn thing on. Dolly and Bridget have the day off, Yvette being very understanding at the short notice, officially, though unofficially she probably isn’t too pleased to not have her best receptionist and the Head of IT on the same day.
Who am I kidding, she never breaks a sweat. Probably a good time to get those interns trained up, too.
You also have the time as you were meant to be visiting two places today, though the first hadn’t exactly gone to plan. In other words, you’d walked out.
“Oh, our, uhm, our plus-size section isn’t very large.”
You fold your arms as Bridget raises their eyebrows and Dolly narrows her eyes.
“Oh? And why not?”
The woman, Candace, looks between you, her cheeks pink. “Oh, because we, uhm...”
You raise your eyebrows, placing your hands on the counter. “I’m about to blow your mind, Candace, but bigger people get married, too. And you’ve just lost my custom.”
You’d walked out seconds after, a smug smile hinting on your lips as Candace had called after you, practically begging for you to return, that they could order whatever you wanted in, but you’d just kept walking, Bridget telling Candace to save it as Dolly looped her arm through yours.
Nat had apologised profusely once you’d gotten into the SUV she was going to spend the day ferrying you three around in, saying it hadn’t occurred to her to check, as Dolly and Bridget had stared at her, still unused to being in her presence.
Of course it hadn’t occurred to her.
This place, though, The Pearl... It’s gorgeous. Despite not having felt offended at the last place, just angry and exasperated, you couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated. What if this was going to be your whole day? Going from place to place just because they were dumb and exclusionary? You’d felt welcomed the moment you walked in, though, all five assistants and Sally smiling as they greeted each of you in turn, and all Sally, obviously the senior member from how she led the conversation, had done was ask you your usual dress size and that had been it.
You look at the interior again, taking in the pale pink and white walls, framed photos on them of dresses or models in them, or real people on their wedding days in them, the plush cream carpet, the crystal chandeliers, the gorgeously decorated Christmas trees in each corner, the fairy lights adorning the counter by the front door.
Yeah... I can have fun here. And why the fuck not? Trying on dresses is always fun, no matter what, and there’s free champagne and I’m here with Dolly and Bridge’.
Sitting back on the pale pink couch, the tightening in your chest easing, you sip your champagne with a smile.
Am I a champagne person now? This week’s telling me yes.
Bridget stretches their legs out as they sigh contentedly. Looking at you, they smile softly. “How are you feeling about the interview?”
You pull a face as you hold the glass between both hands. “You know about that?”
“Uh, it’s been trending on Twitter for the last two days is all anyone’s talking about.”
You groan as you take another, longer sip.
“So how do you feel?” Dolly gently repeats the question.
You smile lightly, looking between them with raised brows. “How do you think?”
She smiles softly, endearing assurance in her tone. “You’re gonna be fine, Y/N.”
You open your mouth, then close it. Then again... you can talk about it freely with these two, they’ll understand without feeling guilty or worrying too much or treating you like a breakable vase.
You exhale a breath, one you feel like you’ve been holding for days. “I don’t know, it’s live and we haven’t been able to get an idea of what they’re gonna ask yet and... I just don’t want to think about it too much, really.”
Bridget rests their arm on the back of the couch, turning their body to you. “That’s not like you. I’ve watched you spend months preparing for one meeting.”
“That’s different.”
“No, it’s not.” They point a finger at you. “This is a meeting, and you’re pitching your marriage.”
You have no idea how close to the truth that is.
You take a breath. “Can I practise on you two, then?”
Both of them perk up, smiles wide.
“Absolutely!” Dolly enthuses. “We’ve been dying for you to tell us all the details, we’ve been so patient.”
“And a little bit offended,” Bridget adds good-naturedly with an arched brow.
“I know, I know,” you smile, even as your chest twinges.
“It’s fine, two birds, one stone, you can make up for it now and practise,” Bridget says, holding their glass on their knee and fixing you with an expectant gaze and adopting a stereotypical news reader voice. “So, how did this happen, when was the first kiss, the first fondle, the engagement, I want every dirty detail, and the romantic details, too.”
“Okay,” you say through your laughter as Dolly giggles. “All right, all right... God, I’m gonna need more champagne.”
—
He could see the headline now; Cap Goes To Seek Former Flame’s Approval!
At least it would be better than the one’s that had been written when he’d gone on two dates with Sharon. Had that been why they’d both ended it? The media pressure, the questions, the constant hounding? No, but maybe that had been a factor in it. Sharon is great, but... He hadn’t felt a real connection, and neither had she.
He’d only felt that connection a few times in his life, so he knew when something was worth fighting for.
"Engaged, hm?” Peggy Carter fixes him with her gaze, an eyebrow arched, and, God, nothing ever passes her by, not even now.
A smile pulling at his lips, he raises his own eyebrows a little. “Peg—”
She exhales a laugh. “You can’t tell me, I understand.” Lacing her fingers together on her stomach, she smiles. “I do like her.”
“You’ve never met her,” he reminds her gently.
“I know,” she adjusts her head on her pillow, “but the way you talk about her makes me like her. How is she doing with all of this?”
He nods, his own hands clasped together. “Okay, I think. She’s tough.”
Peggy looks at him, her jaw moving minutely. “Hm.”
“What?”
Her lips lift a little, her features soft. “People called me tough. Said I handled things okay. But I can’t tell you how many times I cried in my office, then pulled myself together. I don’t mind crying, it’s very therapeutic, but I would have hated them to see me do it, hated what they would have twisted it into. Or even some of my friends, how they might have gently told me to maybe cut back my hours or something like that, to take on less. But just because I cried it didn’t mean I couldn’t handle matters.”
Steve opens his mouth when she continues, “Did you know that after you went into the ice our relationship is all anyone wanted to talk to me about? Interview me about? Even when I became Director of SHIELD the same questions followed me around, ‘What do you think Steve would think? Would he be proud? Do you still miss him?’”
Something in him twists as he looks at her. “I’m sorry, Peg.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “Lord, I’m not saying it to make you feel bad, Steve, still so dramatic...” Her features soften again, but her gaze fixes on his. “I’m just trying to give a little perspective, having been in the position she is. It’s not easy.”
He exhales a long breath, his shoulders dropping a little. “That’s what I’m afraid of, actually.”
Her brow dips. “What do you mean?”
“Like you just said, it’s not easy being with me.”
“Steve Rogers...” His gaze, having lowered, meets hers again, and he finds it faintly incredulous. “... It’s the easiest thing in the world being with you. You are easy to be with. It’s the rest of the world that’s the problem.”
A corner of his mouth lifts. “I liked where that was goin’ but that last part doesn’t make me feel any better.”
She huffs out a laugh, tilting her head. “But the rest of the world doesn’t matter, though, does it? Not if you’re with someone you love, hm?”
He looks at her, his lips lifting a little higher. “No, it doesn’t.”
—
“... So, it was only a couple of weeks ago... We were out at the park we like to walk in, you know the one, I go on about it all the time, the trees are always on my Instagram ‘cause it’s just so pretty, ‘nd it’s quiet, y’know, we’re in the middle of winter, and it’s dark, no one wants to really be out walking, except us...”
You’ve had a bit more champagne than you probably should, but, hey, go away, morals, this is a nice story.
“... so we’re walking, and we’re just talking, and then we stop, and we’re looking up at the stars...”
Dolly, Bridget, Sally, and the other five shop assistants, Donna, Nicole, Max, Jamie and Priya all sigh together at the imagery, and your eyebrows raise and you nod in an expression of, ‘I know’.
“... and then he just gets down on one knee and asks me to marry him.”
They all sigh again, a couple of them putting their hands to their chests and ‘aww’ing and you nod as you sip your champagne because, yeah, that is very cute.
Good one, me.
“What did he say? How did he ask you?” Max asks, all the assistants bunched together on a long couch they’d dragged over.
You take another, longer sip of champagne because what did he say...
“... Oh, well, that’s just between me and him,” you say with a coy smile and they all boo good-naturedly.
Nice one.
“That’s such a lovely story,” Sally smiles warmly and you return it before raising your eyebrows.
“Shall we carry on trying these gorgeous dresses?”
They all cheer and the assistants get to their feet and scurry off to the back to find more for you and Dolly and Bridget. You look at your two friends, Dolly in a yellow ballgown, Bridget in a multi-coloured floral suit, and beam. You are wearing an ivory lace number that hugs your figure and then flows out just below your hips, and are trying very hard not to spill champagne on it.
The session had quickly escalated into Dolly and Bridget trying on whatever they wanted between red dresses, and you just putting on whatever was brought out. You’d told Sally you were here to get an idea of what you wanted, but that you’d be returning very soon. Nat has scheduled in another dress shopping day for Friday and you’d quickly messaged her about half an hour ago while you were changing to cancel wherever that was and make it here. She hadn’t argued.
You’re also giving little bits of details here and there to practise for the interview, your first kiss (at your place after watching a film), when you’d said I love you, (at his place after having dinner and watching a film together), and the story of how he proposed. You’re going to have to remember all this to tell Steve, though, so you keep making notes on your phone as you get changed.
You’ve also sent him a message because you still haven’t spoken.
You know he’s with Peggy, though, so he absolutely won’t be checking his phone, but...
It just feels strange.
“Right...” Your attention comes back into the room as Sally and Jamie appear with an armful of dresses each, “... We have a vintage style one here that we think y’all are gonna love.”
Dolly claps her hands together as Bridget gasps dramatically.
“Vintage? Oh, he’s absolutely gonna love that.”
You don’t know why that makes you feel warm. It’s not like he’s actually going to see you in it... Unless...
—
“... Thank you so much! ... We will! We’ll see you Friday!”
You have to practically drag Dolly out of the back doors of The Pearl, the three of you giggling as you wave at the assistants. Who knew you could become such firm friends with people in the space of in five hours? Well, two bottles of champagne will do that.
You’re on the higher end of tipsy, in a lovely, warm, chatty way, and you have lined your stomach and soaked some of it up, Sally having ordered you all food so you wouldn’t have to leave and 1) Face the crowd, and 2) You couldn’t be bothered to leave, really.
The crowd is also the reason you’re leaving out the back doors, none of you wanting to face the horde outside. It has grown throughout the day, people desperate to get even the tiniest glimpse of you and what you’re wearing. Priya had closed the curtains after an hour, though, and they’d had two of their security guards stationed outside the front doors and it was just bliss. You’d had the chance to forget all about the outside world and just have some fun. Moving across the staff parking lot for The Pearl and a couple of surrounding shops, people haven’t had the chance to get in because it’s guarded, and the man whose job that is looks up from his newspaper in his little station, then looks back down.
Bliss.
Nat waits for you in the SUV, those sunglasses on, one hand leaning against the steering wheel.
“Such a ‘top’ pose,” Bridget stage-whispers and you’re all falling into giggles again.
You’re still gigging as you climb into the car, you in the passenger seat, Dolly and Bridget behind you. Nat’s lips twitch as she raises an eyebrow.
“Did we all have a fun time?”
“So fun.” Dolly, who is usually the most intimidated by Nat, which isn’t surprising considering she has a crush on her and they’ve both only met her three times before, including today, launches into a glowing review of the shop and day, “Everyone was so nice and the dresses and suits and jumpsuits and shoes are gorgeous, I can’t wait until we go back, oh my God, it’s all I’m gonna think about tomorrow...”
Nat’s smile lingers on her lips as she heads towards Dolly’s apartment, Dolly carrying on for the whole journey with Bridget occasionally butting in to add a comment. You laugh the whole way, your cheeks almost hurting from how much you’ve been grinning.
Nat parks up outside Dolly’s building, and turns in her seat, pushing her sunglasses up onto her head and meeting Dolly’s gaze, which provokes a pink blush to rise on her cheeks.
“Sounds like a really good day, then.”
Dolly just nods now, swallowing lightly. “Yep.”
Glancing from her to Bridget, Nat smiles and you think you hear Bridget let out the quietest of sounds. Wanting to save them both, or maybe they don’t want to be saved, they could be loving gazing into her eyes, who knows at this point, you turn to them, too.
“Oke doke, we’ll see you later, Doll’, I’ll text you when Sam and I are on the way.”
Bridget’s eyes whip to you, their mouth dropping open. “Sam’s picking us up?!”
You can’t stop your smile from widening, your eyebrows rising. “Yeah.”
“Oh my God, right, I need to go home and get ready now, Doll’ get out, I only have three hours, oh my God...”
Dolly is laughing so hard she nearly trips out of the SUV, and one hand is on your chest as the other wipes at your eyes as you laugh. Dolly waves from the pavement as she grins before she trots into the building, and all feelings of intimidation have left Bridget as they point ahead.
“Step on it, Nat, this is a national emergency, go...”
Nat just shakes her head as she turns back around, but she’s still smiling and you’re still laughing. “All right, all right, don’t worry, hold on...”
And, boy, does she mean it.
How does she drive this fast and this safely.
—
There’s just something about getting ready for a night-out while you’re tipsy.
Sometimes, if you haven’t had a chance to pre-drink, you have a few moments of ‘ugh, do I really want to go out, I can’t be bothered, there’s that new show out, I’m so tired, oh my God, what if I do something embarrassing...’ but now, the champagne having only worn off a little from what you made yourself for dinner, and, okay, it probably didn’t help that you also made yourself an alcoholic beverage to have with it, you’re still quite buzzed.
Steve hadn’t been home yet and Nat had left a few minutes after making sure you were inside the penthouse so you’d been able to play your music and yell along to it. You’d been able to take your time getting ready, trying on a few outfits before settling on a true classic number that makes a lot of appearances on nights out because 1) you look amazing in it, and 2) you look really damn amazing in it.
You’d even, Nat having requested it, taken a selfie once you were ready and uploaded it to your Instagram story, along with a few gifs of glasses clinking together and someone dancing.
Job done, you’d returned to the group chat you have with Dolly and Bridget and sent them the picture, accompanied with, ‘time to fuckin party’. You could send them a picture of you in a bin bag and they’d still reply with the same thing they do for every photo, and you would for them.
Bridge’ 🌟: Y E S
Dolly ✨: WHO IS SHE???
Bridge’ 🌟: INCREDIBLE, SHOW STOPPING, AMAZING, ICONIC, LIFE CHANGING
Dolly ✨: I LOVE IT
They swiftly send their own photos.
You: LOOK AT US
Bridge’ 🌟: WHO ARE WE
God, they’re great.
You ignored the slight, unpleasant flip in your stomach at seeing Steve’s message, that he sent an hour ago and you haven’t replied to yet.
I hope you had a good day, have fun tonight x
You message each other every day so you never send ‘kisses’, so this just makes you think he’s done it to soften the blow of a slightly blunt message. Is it blunt? Or are you reading too much in to it? He has had a busy day based on what Nat told you when she’d driven you to the penthouse. He was seeing Peggy all day and then going over to Bucky’s to see him, and then they are going to have their own night out.
That’s busy, right.
Whatever, he doesn’t have to reply all the time, it’s fine.
You reply:
Thanks, you too! :-) x
Which is the kind of reply you’d give to someone at work.
You’d ignored your phone vibrating as people, strangers, react to your Instagram story, slipped it into your bag and headed downstairs.
If you were an ego-maniac, Sam’s reaction on top of your friends would just make your head explode.
“Well, hello, ma’am!”
“Oh, stop it.”
“Nu-uh, let me look at you... Wo-ow. You look amazing.”
“Stop it... but thank you, I know.”
The moment you got into his SUV, (does everyone get one the moment they join SHIELD?) he has music playing that you can both sing along and dance in your seats to. Bridget had told you to pick them up last to give them more time so you swing by Dolly’s place first and she looks gorgeous as always in a short, glittery pink dress with matching eyeshadow and lipstick, her blonde hair curled and bouncing.
You give little squeals as you see each other, despite having only seen each other a few hours ago, and she’s definitely still buzzed, too. Sam gives her the same reaction he gave you and, God, you love him.
As you pull up outside Bridget’s building, you can’t stop meeting Dolly’s gaze in the rear-view mirror, your lips twitching. She’s doing a worst job than you at hiding her smile, her hand in front of her mouth, and you’re both trying so hard to stop a laugh.
It escapes when he gets out of the car and closes the door and you’re both turning in your seats to stare at Bridget as they walk out, gorgeous as always in a buttoned up, black blazer with no shirt underneath and matching black shorts, one side of their head freshly shaved. Dolly’s hand darts out and grips your arm as Sam approaches them and kisses their cheek and they’re both smiling but you can’t hear what they’re saying and you hate SUVs, are these things sound-proof, I’ll ask Nat...
As they climb into the car, you and Dolly are staring at Bridget, smiling. They just raise their eyebrows, grinning and say, “Hey, girls.”
“Well, hello.”
“Hi.”
You have to once again stop a laugh as Sam starts to drive, turning the music up, and you were all soon yelling along to the songs.
Now here you are, at a roof-top bar, being escorted to a table that had been reserved for you. Usually, you’d go to your favourite bar opposite work but Sam had gently insisted that you move it to another place he was more familiar with and where he could have better access to an exit and eyes on you. For a place simply titled The Venue, it’s very nice up here; it’s large, fire pits and heaters dotted around so you can’t feel the cold, a stunning view of the city, low, sultry tunes playing, a dance-floor in one corner, everything either purple, red, or gold. There’s even table service, and you recognise a few people dotted around.
“Is that—”
“Oh my God, yes...” Bridget whispers back to Dolly’s question as they stare at a table a little way away.
Your lips twitch as you each take a seat at a wooden table with a candle on it, the chairs red and plush. Your server informs you that a tab has already been set up for you, so you each grab a menu and debate for a good few minutes about what to get, the server standing patiently. Settling on cocktails, the server leaves with a beam, promising to be back in a few minutes.
“God, this place is fancy,” Bridget says, turning in their seat to get another look at everything.
“And we actually have a table!” Dolly sighs delightedly.
“Perks of being Mrs America, huh?” Bridget turns back around to look at you, their eyebrows raising with a smirk.
You snort, your cheeks heating. “Not quite yet.”
Bridget opens their mouth but Dolly gets in first, gasping suddenly. “Did you see the news by the way?”
You pull a slight face. “No, I don’t tend to look at it anymore.”
She beams, her eyes sparkling. “Well, what happened at the dress shop, at the first place, everyone’s talking about it. People are so happy you said something and brought attention to it, there’s so many discussions being had about the wedding dress industry and the fashion industry in general when it comes to plus size clothing.”
The server returns before you can reply, and as she sets your drinks down you feel heat rise on your face again as you bite at your lower lip, pride spreading through you.
Well... Great power, great responsibility... I could get all kinds of stuff to be talked about... Note to self, change world tomorrow.
The three of you take long sips of your chosen drinks, humming in delight at the taste. As you lick your lips and set your glass down, Bridget places their arms on the table and leans forward.
“Now, come on, Y/N...”
Your eyebrows raise. “... What?”
Bridget tilts their head. “What’s he like in bed.”
You give your best scandalised gasp as Dolly laughs and Bridget smirks, continuing, “He’s kinky, isn’t he? It’s always the quiet ones...”
“Bridget Sanderson,” you gasp again, even as you grin, Dolly’s laugh infectious, “A lady never tells.”
“Well, you ain’t no lady so spill.”
You take a long sip of your drink to buy some time.
Could you? Should you?
Well, I’m in this far... And they won’t let it slide...
Licking your lips, you lean forward and lower your voice. “All the details?”
Dolly giggles and claps her hands together as Bridget grins. “All of them, you saucy bitch.”
—
Who knew you were so imaginative. Who knew you could remember every detail of every fantasy you have ever had about your best friend. Who knew you could think up such filthy, delightful things. Who knew you’d start comparing these imaginings with actual things you’ve done in your life, and that Dolly and Bridget have done with their sexual partners.
Who knew all three of you could drink so much.
Sorry to whoever’s paying the tab. The government? Shit, sorry, government, no wait, no I’m not, another round!
As the server, Melanie, you found out is her name while ordering the second drink, brings you your fourth drinks, you’re currently in the middle of laughing so hard it hurts at a story Dolly is telling of a sexual encounter, tears streaming from your eyes.
“... and then...” She dissolves into laughter herself, leaning over. “... and then her cat came in and it just, it just sat on the bedside table and made eye contact with me and...” God, you bloody love her laugh. “... she was doin’ such great things and sayin’ such good dirty talk but all I could do was stare at this cat and I just felt like apologising to it... and then it just started licking itself!”
Bridget is practically curled up in their chair as they laugh and you’re having to wipe at your cheeks, practically crying. Once you’ve all calmed down, you blow out a breath and massage your stomach.
“Oh my God, Doll’, I can’t believe you never told us that story...”
“I’m gonna wanna hear it again every day,” Bridget says, running a hand through their hair as they grin.
Dolly beams, sipping her drink. “I’d forgotten ‘bout it, think I repressed it.”
“So Steve’s into dirty talk, too, huh?” Bridget asks, sipping their own drink.
You nod several times, because part of you had always just thought, with him being such a great commander and leader, that he would be... and you’ve already told them that he is. “Mmhm, he’s made me come by jus’ his words alone.”
“No.”
“Get th’ fuck outta here.”
You nod smugly, your tongue catching your straw and you take a long sip. Not a total lie, you’ve imagined his voice in your ear several times... with a vibrator helping you along. And, hey, you won’t feel guilty about any of this ‘cause this is boosting his image... to your friends.
Dolly’s eye are wide and she and Bridget lean in, wanting more sordid details. You grin, happy to oblige and divulge more of your fantasies.
“So, it was when he was away one time ‘nd he called me ‘nd—”
“Excuse me?”
All three of you pause and turn to look at a woman, close to your age, smiling as she pushes her brown straight hair over her shoulder.
“Hi.”
“H’llo.”
“Hiya.”
“Hey,” she says, holding a phone in her hands as she looks at you. “I’m sorry to bother you, but can my friends and I get a photo with you?”
You blink, and look at her. Did... Yeah, you heard it right. Photo? With you?
You nod quickly, realising you’re just staring and silent. “Oh, yeah, sure, absolutely.”
What the fuck is happening. I hope I don’t sound as drunk as I feel. Or look it, oh my God, are my eyes open properly?
You push yourself up and, oh, fuck, yep, you’re drunk, and step around your chair as the woman beams and beckons her five friends over.
“Thank you so much!”
Bridget offers to take the photo, the woman very grateful, and she and her friends introduce themselves, a little tipsy and giddy with nerves and being with a celebrity, oh my God, I’m a celebrity, this is hilarious...
You stand in the middle, your arms around the girls either side of you, and you smile, making sure your eyes are open properly, as they pose. Bridget takes a few photos before smiling and handing the phone back to the first woman as they break away from you.
“Oh my God, thank you so much!”
“You’re so pretty!”
“We’re so jealous of you!”
You just smile and nod, trying to appear a little more sober.
“Thank you, have a nice night!” you call as they wander off, still giddy with excitement and all wanting to look at the photo.
Sitting back down, blinking, you look at Bridget and Dolly. They’re looking at you, blinking, too. It’s Bridget who finally speaks.
“... So, as you were sayin’ ‘bout gettin’ absolutely railed by America’s Finest?”
The three of you dissolve into giggles again, Dolly throwing her head back as Bridget leans over the table and your hands cover your mouth.
“Hey!”
Oh my God, I really am a celebrity.
Your wide smile lingering, you lower your hands and look up at the woman. You hear a chair scrape back on the stone floor somewhere as you pause. Hang on, you know this woman—
“You worthless bitch!”
Dolly screams as the woman throws some kind of small can at you and you’re suddenly drenched in a thick, liquid, your eyes closing just in time. Someone else screams as you hear Bridget shove their chair back and yell obscenities at the woman, lunging for her, but suddenly other voices are there, and they must be pulling the woman away because her own screams are coming from further and further away.
You’re frozen in your seat, hands half-raised. People are shouting around you but you barely listen. Dazed, your hands continue moving up, as they had been doing to protect yourself, and you wipe the liquid away from your eyes, and slowly open them.
You can feel the cold now, the heaters and fire-pits worthless, the liquid sticking to your skin and clothes. Or maybe you’re just shaking because you’re in shock.
You suddenly realise someone has been talking to you. Your head moving, you meet Sam’s gaze, suddenly feeling his hand on your back. His features are soft and his voice is gentle, but you can see the rage in his eyes.
“I got you, it’s all right. Can you get up? And we’ll get you out of here?”
You nod and lower your gaze, going to reach for your bag.
“It’s all right, I got it,” he says and your eyes move to his other hand, confirming that he does.
Getting to your feet, Sam’s arm goes around your shoulders and your feet are moving. People are still shouting, some trying to take photos, but there are people pushing them away, giving you and Sam space to head towards a door he’s leading you to.
It’s paint, you realise suddenly. Blue paint. You look back down at yourself again, watching it stain your skin and clothes.
“Where’s Bridge’ and Dolly?” you hear yourself ask.
“Another agent’s got ‘em, don’t worry, she’s gonna take ‘em home.”
Sam shoves the door open and you step into a stairwell, two men stood inside it. One of them moves to your left and you see an elevator, which the man opens by typing in a code on a keypad. Sam’s hand is still on your back, gently guiding you into it. The doors shut as the man types in another code, and Sam drops his hand from you and presses a button marked ‘B’. The elevator starts to descend and you stare at the doors.
“We’re gonna get you home, all right?” Sam says quietly, and you just nod, not caring to ask if he means home home, or the penthouse.
You hear him unzip his jacket. Yeah, it is hot in here. Your skin is warm all over and your throat feels tight, and you can’t quite take in a deep enough breath. Then you hear the sound of something ripping. Your gaze darting to Sam, he holds a section of his polo shirt in his hand and offers it to you. You stare at it, your brain putting the pieces together, and then you take it. You wipe at your eyes, mouth and face, and Sam zips his jacket back up and looks at you.
“You okay?” His voice is quiet again and you’re grateful for it because even the sound of his shirt tearing has made your heart beat faster.
“That was the woman from my work, who got in, wasn’t it?” you ask blankly, your volume matching his.
He shifts a little, scratching at his jaw as you hear him release a breath. “Yeah.”
You nod, swallowing hard and you wish the lump in your throat would go away. “Right.” He opens his mouth when you continue, finally meeting his gaze, “Why did you do that, Sam? You’ve blown your cover, surely, or they’ll know I’m being watched.”
He gives a light smile. “People will expect you to be watched, it would’ve been suspicious if no one stepped in.”
“Ah.” You start to wipe at your hands.
Sam tilts his head slightly, his smile softening. “And I wanted to get you out of there.”
You meet his gaze again, but you don’t have the energy to smile, despite the sentiment being touching, and just nod. His eyes linger on you as you look back down at your hands, concern swiftly replacing his smile.
The elevator slows then comes to a halt, the doors sliding open a moment later, and the cold night air washes over you as you both step out into the underground parking garage, yet another one, Sam’s hand returning to your back. The place is silent, and you spot Sam’s SUV amongst a few other cars, both of you heading towards it. He gestures to someone in another car but you don’t care to look, assuming it’s another agent.
He moves a step ahead of you to open the passenger side door and you stop abruptly.
“What?” he says instantly, tensing.
“The paint. It’s gonna ruin the seat.”
He looks at you for a moment, his features relaxing into a smile. “Ah, that’s all right. That can be taken care of.”
You get in after he nods, and he places your bag on your lap. Closing the door, he jogs around to the driver’s side as you buckle your seatbelt then settle your hands over your bag, gripping it along with the piece of his shirt. Your eyes focus and stay on the dashboard as he secures his own seatbelt and puts the car into ‘drive’.
The barrier is more guarded than the other parking garages you’d been in this week but that hasn’t stopped paparazzi and occupants of the building from gathering, assuming that’s how you’d leave the area. You keep your eyes on the dashboard as lights flash and people shout.
Shouting, always shouting.
Sam doesn’t drive as fast as Nat, but he’s goes at some speed when you’re out on the main road. “Steve’s gonna meet us at the apartment,” he says after a couple of minutes, keeping his eyes on the road, “He was out with Barnes.”
“Okay.” Your voice sounds small to your own ears, distant.
Neither of you talk.
You look at your hands, the paint dry and barely having come off from when you’d rubbed at them in the elevator.
You start rubbing at them again, then use your nail, trying to scrape what you can off.
“Shit...” Sam murmurs suddenly.
Glancing up at him, you find him looking in the rear-view mirror every few moments.
“What is it?”
“Someone’s followin’ us.”
Your stomach drops, and exhaustion hits you like a fucking freight train. From his reaction, you guess it’s not a news van.
Sam presses a button on the steering wheel and the sound of dialling fills the interior.
Nat answers on the first ring.
"Where are you?”
“Nat, we’re bein’ followed.”
“Shit. All right, there’s a car on the way. Change your route.”
“Okay.” He takes the next left, and you know your heart should be pounding but you’re just so tired.
“How far away are you?”
“About fifteen minutes,” Sam replies, glancing up at the rear-view mirror. “We’re definitely bein’ followed, Nat.”
“The car will be there in three minutes. Keep taking turns, it’ll follow behind them.”
“Don’t worry, Y/N, nearly home,” Sam murmurs.
“Mhm.”
“Are you okay, Y/N?” Nat asks, her voice a little softer.
“Mhm.”
Sam glances at you as he pulls up at a red light, his lips pressing together. “Not long now.”
“Mhm—”
The sound twists into a gasp as you’re thrown forward slightly, the seatbelt catching you. Sucking in a breath through your teeth, you lift your head and look in the wing mirror as Sam spits out a curse.
A car, its bonnet dented, is reversing... then it speeds towards you again.
“Sam—”
“I see it.”
“Sam, what’s going on?” Nat demands to know as Sam pushes his foot down on the accelerator, the SUV lurching forward.
“We just got hit, they’re tryna ram us.”
“Are you both okay?”
Sam’s expertly weaving through the traffic, leaving horns blaring in your wake, but he just keeps going.
“Y/N, you okay?” he asks.
“Yeah, yeah, fine.” It’s an automatic response, but you think you are. Physically, at least. Whiplash will properly rear its head soon, though.
A faint memory comes to you, however, of Sam telling you all the SHIELD cars have been built to absorb the impact of things like this, it having happened a fair few times, leaving the occupants with minimal damage, if none, so maybe not.
“Are they still following?”
“Nah, I don’t think so. Think we lost ‘em.” He only slows his speed a little, though.
“You’re right, the agents are following them now, just get back here as quick as you can.”
“All right.”
The call ends and Sam glances at you.
“Y/N, you gotta tell me if you’re not okay, are you hu—”
“I’m fine, Sam, thank you.” You swallow hard, the lump still in your throat.
He falls silent, leaving you be, and you’re grateful for it because you’re so fucking tired.
Several minutes later, he pulls up at the penthouse building and he makes you wait, sliding out of his seat and jogging round to open your door. People stare as he ushers you across the main foyer to the elevator that’ll take you up to your floor but you just look ahead. Thankfully, Sam doesn’t say a word as the elevator ascends and you just look at the doors. When they slide open at the penthouse floor and you step out into the tiny circular foyer, you let Sam get his keycard out, opening the door.
And then the noise washes over you.
People talking, to each other, over each other, on phones, demanding, ordering, snapping. You hear the door close and feel Sam behind you as you slowly walk down the short hallway, then into the living room area.
There are agents everywhere, maybe about twenty, all stood around, talking. Loudly.
They don’t look up at you as they continue on with whatever they’re doing, typing on tablets, staring at tablets, standing over a hologram of what you realise is the floor-plan of the penthouse.
“Y/N.” Your eyes dart up to Nat as she approaches, striding across the carpet. “Are you okay? How are you feeling?”
“Fine. Tired.”
“Okay.” Her gaze scans you, assessing, and you’re too drained to care that she knows you’re lying. Her hand settles on your arm gently and she holds your gaze, her voice lowering. “We analysed what this is, okay, we got the can of it from the woman, and it’s just paint—”
“Who is she?”
Nat pauses at your abrupt question, and you know she’s weighing up what to tell you. Her hand doesn’t move from your arm as she speaks, “Her name’s Marise Daniels. She’s one of Steve’s stalkers, we’ve been aware of her for a while.”
Stalkers. One of.
“Oh.”
“She...” Sam starts to say, choosing his own words carefully. “... She isn’t meant to be out, especially after what happened at your work.”
“Apparently there was a system error. Someone’s seriously fucked up,” Nat continues, the information new to you both considering Sam’s hissed release of a breath.
“Is that why these people are all here.” You don’t think you’ve ever heard your own voice sound so lifeless.
Nat pauses again, weighing her words again and, God, just tell me. “Someone tried to break in. They got into the elevator and overrode it, got up here but they couldn’t get in. The tampering alerted our systems but by the time we got here they’d gone. We’re checking CCTV footage now and asking people if they saw anything.”
You look at her, her words barely feeling like they reach you. “So why are all these people in here.”
Her hand is gently rubbing your arm now, and it’s faintly starting to ground you. “They’re checking the security systems in place here, making sure they’re secure or reinforced.”
“Okay.”
“They’ll be gone in thirty minutes, I promise.”
“Okay.”
She takes in a breath and smiles lightly. “How about we—”
“Agent Romanoff?”
A muscle in her jaw ticks slightly but she turns to the agent, her eyebrows raising. “Yeah?”
The agent lowers her phone from her ear. “Captain Rogers has helped to apprehend the suspect. He’s on his way over. Agents Moore and Lane are taking the suspect back to HQ.”
“All right, tell them to...”
Nat’s voice drops out of your hearing, and your gaze drifts to the stairs. Sam’s hand settles on your back, rubbing gently, and you remember that he’s there.
“I’m gonna... gonna go upstairs and wash this off,” you mumble to him, and you don’t hear if he replies as you move forward.
People don’t look at you, continuing with their business, talking, talking, talking. You reach the top of the stairs before you know it, opening your bedroom door. You close it behind you, muffling the sounds of the people downstairs.
Removing your shoes, you drop your bag to join them on the floor as you head to the bathroom. You pull your outfit off, letting it drop to the floor, too, you can deal with it later, hopefully the washing machine will get it out.
You turn the shower on and step under the water. Head down, you watch some of the blue paint start to wash off, swirling and whirling in the water and disappearing down the drain. Only a little, though.
You have to use your hands and the body-wash to get it off. Scrubbing at your skin. Scraping at it.
You’re in there for twenty minutes. Scrubbing. Scraping.
When you finally make yourself get out your skin feels raw. There’s still a faint stain in some parts, though. You grab a towel and use it to continue rubbing at your skin, blue now staining the cream softness of it. The rest of your skin is dry by the time you make yourself stop and you pull the robe on.
Then you look at yourself in the mirror.
The lump returns to your throat and tears fill your eyes. You look... drained. And you fucking feel it. You’re exhausted. So exhausted, in every single way. You’ve spent all week fighting so hard to stay up-beat, to stay positive, to make this work, to see the good sides, but the world isn’t allowing that. You’d just wanted to yell at the woman, Marise, that you are doing this to keep him safe, that he is in danger, and you are just doing this to keep your fucking best friend safe.
The fact there’s still some blue paint staining your cheeks and neck is what makes the tears finally spill down your face. Sniffing, you swallow hard and grab a hand towel, wetting it and scrubbing at your skin once more.
It’s not moving.
You inhale a quiet, shuddering breath, almost a sob, as you stare at your reflection, scrubbing, scrubbing, scrubbing.
Three gentle knocks sound on your bedroom door.
“Come in,” you say automatically, your voice cracking, and you wipe at your eyes.
You look up as the door opens and see in the reflection... Steve.
He pauses, the door nearly closed behind him. You sniff again as you look at him, his eyes assessing you.
“Hey,” he says softly.
“Hey,” you answer. You shrug then, your features crumbling. “... It’s not coming off.”
The door closes and he’s moving towards you.
“Come here, it’s okay...”
As you turn from the mirror, you’re then enveloped in his embrace, your cheek pressed against his chest as he holds you. A jagged sob escapes you as your arms go around him, holding onto his shirt, gripping it.
“It’s okay...” he murmurs again, and you feel his voice rumbling in his chest, his chin resting on your head.
You’ve tried so hard to stave off tears all week that now that you can, now you don’t care anymore, now that you’re so tired, they’re not stopping. The front of his grey shirt must be damp, now, and your throat hurts and your chest is heaving but you just let the tears come and come, and he doesn’t stop you, doesn’t say anything, just holds you, his hands occasionally stroking your back and arms gently.
It’s not until you start to draw back that he does, guiding you to the sit on the rim of the bath.
“I’m sorry,” you mumble, wiping at your cheeks with one hand. “Still a bit drunk, I think.”
A corner of his mouth lifts a little as he crouches down before you and takes the hand towel. “You don’t need to apologise. You can cry as much as you like.”
Your own lips lift for a moment as you sniff, and then you want to cry all over again as he starts to gently dab at the stains on your face and neck. You watch him, your eyes tracing his nose and mouth, the small, concerned lines on his forehead. If he got into a fight with the suspect earlier, there’s no sign of it. His hair doesn’t even look tussled.
Your eyes continue moving and meet his. He lowers his hand and inhales a quiet breath.
“I’m sorry, about all of this, Y/N.”
You’re shaking your head before he’s even finished his sentence. “Steve, it’s not your fault.”
He looks almost pained at that, shaking his own head. “I could’ve prevented you being in this situation, though, I knew the risks of—”
“Don’t,” you interrupt sharply, surprising you both, but you continue on, “I already know what you’re going to say, and I will take it all, all of this, if it means I get to be your friend. Like we’ve said, we’re a team in this. I really wouldn’t want anyone else as my fake fiancé or as my friend.”
A smile pulls at his lips, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “You shouldn’t have to take all this, though, you shouldn’t—”
“No, I shouldn’t. But I will.” Your hand has found his free one, and grips it gently.
He turns his hand over instantly, curling his fingers around your hand, his thumb brushing over your knuckles. His smile softens.
“I think the world’s finally gonna see the stubborn pain in the ass I have to deal with.”
You exhale a laugh, and his smile widens at seeing yours.
“Well, it’s only fair others should have to suffer,” you say, shrugging a shoulder.
“You’re right there.” He resumes dabbing at your skin as you look at him.
“How was your day?” you ask quietly after a few silent moments, knowing he’ll just ask how you are if it stretches any longer.
“It was okay.” He’s dabbing at your chin now. “Peg says hi, and that she understands what you’re going through.”
God, you just want to cry all over again.
Your chest warms as you smile. “Really? Maybe I should go on your next visit.”
“I think she’d really like that.” His thumb is still brushing over your knuckles, and you wonder if he realises he’s still doing it. “She knows this isn’t real, though, think she figured it out.”
“Well, I wouldn’t expect anything less. How was Bucky?”
“Fine. He says hello, too.”
“Wow, everyone’s being so kind to me today.”
He arches an eyebrow at you as you laugh, trying to stop himself from doing the same. “I don’t know whether it’s a good sign or not that you’re already joking about this.”
“Humour’s a great coping mechanism, you know that.”
He’s still smiling, but you can see the concern returning, so you quickly continue, taking your hand from his so you can raise a finger, raising your eyebrows, “Well, Doll’ and Bridge’ told me to tell you, by the way, well done, on having me as a fiancée.”
The corners of his mouth lift higher, now reaching his eyes. "Yeah, I know how lucky I am.”
“Oh, and, you proposed to me in our park, by the way.”
He tilts his head as you smile somewhat smugly. “Did I, now?”
“Yeah, under the stars.”
His eyebrows raise as he smiles widely. “Wow, you’re also very lucky, then.”
You wave your hand slightly. “I said a lot of stuff today, I’ll have to fill you in. I made notes.”
He chuckles as he lowers the towel from your face and rises to his feet. “You can show me my homework tomorrow.”
You watch him as he moves to the sink, dropping the towel into it, then raise your hand suddenly. “Oh, there was a dress I actually really liked there, too.”
“The one you sent me a picture of?”
You freeze, staring at him as he turns to you.
“... What?”
Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he moves back towards you, unlocking it, then taps on a couple of things before turning it towards you.
Ohp.
And there you are.
In the vintage style dress, cascading flutter sleeves stopping just below your elbows, tight on your breasts and with a v-neckline, satin gold, your hand on your waist, beaming at your reflection in the gold mirror at The Pearl.
Ah, now you remember sending it...
“... Yeah, that’s the one.”
“It’s really nice,” he says, sliding his phone back into his pocket as he offers you a hand to get to your feet. “You look great in it.”
Your face heats as you take his hand and get up, shrugging a shoulder and smiling. “Oh, well, thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Your hands drop, yours going to your side, his going into the pocket of his jeans. Looking up at him, you give a light smile, which he returns.
“You okay?” he asks softly, and you nod after a moment.
“Yeah. Just so fucking tired,” you say with a slight laugh. “Think I’m just gonna sleep now.”
He nods, his teeth grazing over his lower lip. “That sounds like a good idea. What a fuckin’ day, huh?”
You snort, your eyebrows raising. “Yeah, for both of us.”
He sighs, as if remembering that, oh, yeah, someone had tried to break in, too. “The agents have all gone, now. The place is even more secure, it’s like a fortress.”
“Well, that’s good.”
You head into the bedroom, and he follows you out, moving to the door. He opens it, turning to you, and you share another smile.
“Sure you’re okay?” he asks again, and you bite at your lower lip.
Stay.
You widen your smile. “Yeah. Just very ready for sleep.”
He nods, taps his fingers against the door and smiles. “All right. Goodnight. I’m just down the hall if you need me.”
“Yeah. Goodnight.”
Your smile lingers for a moment as the door closes, then fades as you hear him walk away.
—
Halfway down the stairs, Steve pauses, his hand on the railing.
He considers turning around.
Going back up the stairs.
Opening your door.
Taking you in his arms again.
After a minute, he carries on down.
—
In your pyjamas, phone in your hand, you climb into bed, sinking into the soft safeness of it.
You unlock it, finding several messages in the group chat from Dolly and Bridget, asking how you are, saying they’re home safe, that Sam had filled Bridget in and they’d filled Dolly in, that they both hope you’re okay.
You send a message back saying that you are okay, you’re tired, and that you’ll speak to them tomorrow, and you hope they’re okay.
There’s a message from someone else, too.
I’ve just seen what happened on the news, I really hope you’re okay x
I’d have a normal life with Aaron.
Where the fuck did that come from?
But you can’t help thinking it.
He’d slipped into your mind when you’d masturbated that morning. You hadn’t wanted to think about it. You’d just imagined him, out of curiosity at first, as he’d posted a photo on Instagram of him at the gym again, just to imagine what he’d be like, you do it with most people to pass the time... and then he’d stayed in your mind.
It had seemed... more real than when you’d imagine Steve. Probably because Steve is your best friend and you shouldn’t be thinking of him that way and you don’t want to ruin what you have, you really don’t, and Aaron... Aaron is the kind of person you could take a chance on.
You feel tears start to prick at your eyes because this is fucked, this is all so fucked, and you love your best friend and you can only think that in it’s entirety without your brain shutting down when you’re drunk or tipsy because it’s the only time your mind is free and you love him, you love him, you love him, you love him...
But there is no fucking way you will ever risk losing him as a friend.
—
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