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꧁꧂
WE MADE IT to the Bahamas. Like Sam requested, we stopped by here after we completed our last mission. Steve, Sam, Nat and I had stopped Lillian, putting her in a jail where she'll never get out.
"So, what are we going to do here?" Natasha questions, sipping her tropical beverage.
"I'm up for jet skis," Sam suggests. I had been on one before, on a mission in Alabama. It was really fun, if I remember correctly. I didn't really play around on it though.
"Jet skis?" Steve questions, head tilting the way it does when he's confused.
I had continued to stay silent through it all. I was never one to really speak up if we were in a public area. Right now we were at a outdoor restaurant, the beach only feet away.
"Sounds fun. We'll rent two of them and play around. Maybe go look at some coves." Natasha downs the rest of her drink, standing up from her chair. "I'm going to the restroom, we can leave when I get back."
Sam stared after Nat as she leaves. Steve, who sits in the chair beside me, sneaks a hand to rest it on my thigh. The touch halts my leg bouncing.
I look from my untouched drink to him, eyes brightening. He smiles at me, the golden boy shining through it.
Moving my hand to my dog tags, I start to drag them across the chain nervously. I wasn't nervous of Steve. I was nervous by how many people were around us. Anyone could recognize any of the four of us and we'd be blown.
Steve squeezes my thigh, eyebrows scrunching in concern. "Hey Sam, we're going to go ahead and head out. Meet you over by the rentals."
Steve stands from his chair, dragging me along with him. "Oh, uh, okay. Yeah, see you there." Sam waves us a goodbye as us two walk off the wooded flooring and onto the warm sand. I take off my shoes, holding them in one hand.
Steve and I hold hands, swinging them loosely in between us.
"You alright?" He keeps his eyes forward.
"Mhmm," I hum. The answer wasn't good enough for Steve. He stops me by my hand, making us face each other.
"You know you're safe, right? With me, you're safe." Steve reassured, raising a hand to place on the side of my face. I flinch slightly, involuntarily. His face falls as he notices the reaction. "I would never hurt you," he whispers, bringing ourselves closer.
"I know. I do, I know," I say confidently. "It's just instincts by now. I had another memory last night, not the pleasant kind. I'm just getting over that, and I'll be good as new."
He nods slowly, taking in what I had told him. "You promise?"
"Always."
Steve nods once more, this time for sure. He takes off his dog tags, unhooking the hook to slide one off.
"Steve, what are you doing?" I ask inquisitively.
"Just trust me. Take off your chain." I'm hesitant for only a few seconds before taking off my dog tags. He detached the hook, sliding off one of my dog tags. He slides one of his own on my chain, taking one of mine and doing the same to his. "So we'll always be with each other. One of you and one of me." He brings the tags up to his lips before putting them behind his shirt.
I stare amazed at the man in front of me.
I'm left speechless, not knowing what to say or how to respond. "Thank you," I say finally.
"No need to thank me, Charlie-girl. Now, where's that rental stand?" He turns away from me, searching for it.
——————————————
Sam hoots in excitement, pushing down the throttle to make the jet ski go faster. Natasha was on the back, holding her arms tightly around Sam to make sure she didn't fall off by the erratic driving.
I was behind Steve, us taking the other jet ski. He followed behind Sam more calmly, but still keeping up with the man.
I smile, having my own excitement. The adrenaline was coursing through my veins as we zoomed at a close 60 mph. I squeeze Steve tighter. He was wearing a life jacket, just like the rest of us. A shame, the jacket covered up his rock-hard abs.
I shake my head from the thoughts, trying to get the image of a shirtless Steve out of my head.
"If you squeeze any tighter, I'm going to pass out." Steve teases from in front of me, talking loudly over the wind.
I blush feverishly, hiding it behind his back. Unfortunately for me, he caught it.
"Are you... blushing?"
"What, no." I wave off, making the idea sound ridiculous.
"Did I get the ever-stoic, hardcore, total badbooty Charlie Barnes to blush?"
"No... it's the cold." I make the lie off the top of my head.
"Huh. It's the cold. In the Bahamas."
"The wind," I correct.
"So it's not because I told you that your face is freaking adorable and I bet the rest of you is too?"
I blush harder. Steve was getting bolder. My voice cracks, "n-no."
"Right," he drags the word out. "Did you also know that I love you?" I freeze up, a memory surfacing my mind.
"Can life be like this forever? How long do you think this will last?"
I takea moment to answer. I turn myself from my spot on the couch. "I think that we should live in this now. We shouldn't worry about later. I've spent these past few months worrying; worrying that HYDRA will find, worry that I'll turn back into her. But I've decided from now on I'm going to live my life, not worrying."
Steve stands from his spot, moving in front of me. I lookup at his large figure, smiling softly.
"I love you."
I come back into reality. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I know you're not ready and-"
"I-I love you too," I cut him off. Steve let's go of the throttle, jolting us forward as the jet ski slows down to three miles per hour.
"You what?"
"I think... I can love you too," I say more confidently this time.
It was true. After a lot of mind convincing–telling myself I was capable of feeling love– I realize that it is possible. I do love him.
I love Steve Rogers.
• • • Author's Note: freaking finally. not like it took 74 chapters or anything. - J.S.
