unspoken thing |STEVE ROGERS 2|

8

"You look uncomfortable," Steve said as the people started to leave the Avengers Tower. I didn't speak, my mind still reeling with what he had said to me at the bar. He handed me what I assumed was his flannel and Natasha's sweatpants. "You can change in my room if you want. I couldn't find shoes, I hope that's alright." I took them from his arms and held the clothes tightly to my chest as I stepped past him.

"I'm sorry," he blurted out and I looked up at him. "I'm sorry for laying all that on you at the bar. It must've confused you and I-- I just feel everything rushing back, you know? This past week with you just brought everything back and I thought I was over it too but I just..." he trailed off and lifted one shoulder and gave me a heart-melting smile. "I feel pathetic for letting you go."

"Thank you," My voice broke as I spoke, reaching out and grabbing his hand. My visioned blurred and I tried to blink tears away. "Thank you, Steve, I needed to hear that." My vision cleared just enough to see that Steve wore the same expression as me.

"I just wanted to protect you, Mae." A tear slid down my cheek and I quickly wiped it away.

"I know, Rogers, I know."

✪ ✪ ✪

 I had stayed silent most of the night until the party was over and we all gathered in the commons, eating Chinese take out and drinking. Steve didn't interact with me as much as he usually did. I just kept to myself, squished between Natasha and Bruce.

I smiled as Thor passed me a beer and then gingerly caressed my cheek as he passed. Natasha and Bruce gave me a knowing look and I just looked down at my take out. Natasha leaned over and whispered into my ear.

"Rogers seems like he's going to explode, newbie." I glanced at Steve, and she was right. It might not look like that to an outsider, but if you knew Steve, you could pick up on his little cues. He has one vein that pops out in his neck because he clenching his jaw so tight and he won't cross his arms, because that's act of aggression, so he will grip his knee. "You know he loves you still."

"The real question is," I sighed, taking a swig of beer. "is our love something that should happen again?" I felt a lump in my throat start to form as Bruce leaned over.

"I think," he cast a meaningful glance at Natasha. "you should run with it."

"I mean, it's a trick!" Barton exclaimed, gesturing to Thor's hammer.

"Oh, no. It's much more than that." Thor said, his voice joyful. 

" Uh, 'whosoever be he worthy shall haveth the power!' Whatever man! It's a trick." Barton said, twirling drumsticks in his fingers.

"Well then, please," Thor gestured to the hammer which was sitting on the coffee table. "Be my guest." 

"Really?" He asked and Thor nodded while drinking. 

"Clint, you've had a tough week, we won't hold it against you if you can't get it up." Tony teased as all of us cheered him on as he walked up to the hammer. I just sipped on my beer, watching curiously. He tried to lift it, but failed. 

"I don't know how you do it," Barton exclaimed.

"Smell the silent judgement?" Tony remarked and Clint scoffed.

"Please, Stark, by all means." Tony got up with flare, undoing the button on his suit jacket and walking over to the hammer. I met Steve's gaze and rolled my eyes at the antics of the Avengers. He just smiled fondly back at me and lifted a shoulder.

I like the shirt. He mouthed and I blushed, fiddling with the flannel's sleeve as Tony and Rhodes tried lifting the hammer with machinery. It was Bruce next, who yelled in frustration, then pretended like he was going to Hulk out. I just snorted, continuing to drink. When Steve stepped up is when my interest peaked. 

"Let's go, Steve, no pressure." I called out, sending him a smirk. He tried to lift the hammer... and nothing happened. Thor laughed while taking a large drink.

"And?" Tony said and all eyes pointed to Natasha and I.

"Widow? Countessa?" Banner question and she scoffed.

"Oh, no no. That's not a question I need answered." She replied and looked at me. "But I bet Countessa here could." I held up my hands I stood up, Clint lead a drum-roll on the floor and everyone followed suit.

"Alright, alright," I said, stepping up to the plate. "Now listen, boys, you need to think outside the box." My hands glowed and vines of light tangled around the hammer and lifted it off the coffee table. There were shouts of disbelief, whoops of joy, and cheers from all the Avengers but Thor. I placed it in my hand, magic still tangled around it.

"Oh my god, someone get a picture!" Tony yelled. "Someone get a damn picture!"

"It's doesn't count!" Thor laughed loudly and I shrugged, placing it in his hands. "Now, Lady Maeve, if you can pick it up with no magic, the kingdom will be yours." I sat right back down in my seat.

"To me, I already picked up that hammer." I said, shrugging. "No need to prove my point again."

"All deference to the man who wouldn't be king, but it's rigged." Tony said.

"You bet your ass." Barton agreed, pointing at Thor.

"Steve, he said a bad language word," Maria Hill pointed at Barton, beer in her hand.

Steve turned to Tony. "Did you tell everyone that?" Our eyes met again and I smiled at him. I thought it was cute. I mouthed and he rolled his eyes, but his ears turned pink.

"The handle's imprinted, right? Like a security code. 'whosoever is carrying Thor's fingerprints' is, I think, the literal translation?" Tony inquired.

"Yes, well that's, uh, that's a very, very interesting theory. I have a simpler one." He gets up and lifts his hammer and flips it while frowning. "You're all not worthy." There was a chorus of disagreement and booing.

Then there was a high pitch ringing.