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Steve could never understand the music taste of the current generation. When he was younger, jazz and swing music were the pinnacle of the record industry. Granted, he could understand why records weren’t around and instead, people would listen to music through their “headphones”. Times were changing and music was now portable and personal.
The first time Steve knew he was in it for the long haul was when he heard multiple songs by the same band being spewed from the speakers in Tony’s lab. Steve would later come to find out, ironically from his own research, that the band was AC/DC. A cult classic and one of Tony’s favorite bands.
Steve figured he would be able to stomach the aggressive tone coming from the electric guitar and attempted to push through listening to both AC/DC and Nirvana. If the rest of the world could do it, then so could he! Both attempts, as it turned out, were all in vain. Where was the soft and smooth melody? The belt of a saxophone paired with a bass? How was he supposed to catch up with the world around him when he couldn’t even stand the music it released?
But, when he met you, his cryptic view of the world’s most beloved music was flipped 180 degrees. He knew Tony used the music to keep himself entertained while working but you… the music seemed to add an effect to the way you carried yourself.
Walking into the gym, he heard a song booming through the speakers that he had only ever heard being sung by Wanda before. But here you were, demolishing a punching bag with a look of fierce determination.
Despite your differing personalities, the two of you had become quite close after spending a few weeks together and being partnered up for missions. So much so, that the rest of the team was quite confused.
Natasha, being the ever-observant spy that she was trained to be, kept a close watch on you and Steve as you quietly laughed at an inside joke. Cocking her head to the side, Natasha softly smiled with genuine happiness. “You two are the strangest pair I’ve ever seen in my life.” She loudly stated as the rest of the team looked up as well.
It was true. Where Steve was modest and reserved, making way for other people, you were a true women of the modern times. As you’ve quoted before, you didn’t “give a flying fuck about what other people think and if they don’t like the way I look or the way I act, then that’s too damn fucking bad”.
“Now that you mention it…” Clint began with a smirk on his face.
“I know what you mean. Queenie over there is way cooler than Capsicle”. Tony added to the conversation as everyone laughed while Steve rolled his eyes and frowned.
“You have to admit Steve, he is right. It was pretty lame when you yelled out ‘language’ in the middle of a fight.” You admitted as the team roared with continuous laughter.
“You weren’t even on the team then, how did you…” It only took one glance at Tony’s infamous smug smirk for Steve to piece the puzzle together. “Of course you told her” Steve sighed while rubbing his face with his hand. “It was one time!”
“One time was all I needed” Tony cackled as you reached over to high five him.
Smiling at the fond memory, Steve walked ever closer to you and set down his workout bag. Resetting the punching bag in its normal position, you had only then seemed to notice Steve’s presence in the otherwise empty training area.
“Whoops! Sorry Stevie, didn’t see you there. Got lost in Blondie, I guess” you laughed your statement off while lowering the volume.
“Blondie?” He said aloud in confusion.
“The band? You should add them to your list! I think you’ll get a kick out of their songs.” Steve pulled out his notebook at your words and scribbled down the band’s name, making a mental note to get right to researching. “This one is named ‘Call Me’ actually, in case you get curious.”
He appreciated your subtle attempts at slowly immersing him into the music, knowing he had a hard time digesting the amplified noises of the guitar and drums. “I’ll be sure to check them out later” he smiled politely as you lifted your own bag, ready to exit the gym.
“You better! You have yet to learn why Tony calls me Queenie” you roll your eyes with a fond chuckle. “In my opinion, that’s the best and only thing you need to learn about modern pop culture.”
Steve was well aware of why Tony referred to you as Queenie. Upon your arrival to the tower, Tony had learned, by some unknown means, that you were a big fan of the now broken up band, Queen. The nickname had stuck from that day on. Steve could very well listen to the band on his own time but you had sworn him to an unbreakable vow that he would listen to their songs with you at his side.
After witnessing the confidence you radiated while listening to songs created by other artist’s of the 70s and 80s, he was quite curious as to how this so called Queen would affect you.
“You know doll, we could just listen to your favorite band at any time instead of waiting for me to catch up to a list that’s 3 miles long” Steve said with a grin. Spending time with you was always an easy fix to his bad days and a way of ensuring he had a good day.
“You make quite a point there, Rogers” you supplied a goofy grin that made Steve’s heart soar straight into his throat. He would give anything to see that smile rest permanently upon your face. “If you’re not busy tonight, we can meet in my room?”
Steve nodded eagerly and looked at his watch. “7? I’ll bring some snacks over too.” You both agreed on the time set and went off in different directions. You towards the locker room and him towards the weight machines.
If there was one thing Steve enjoyed the most after spending his time in the ice, it was having a relaxing day with you and watching movies. Movies that he would show you from the 40s and ones that you would show him that he had missed. Or it was the deep conversations you two would have at an ungodly hour in the morning. You had become his best friend and despite your differences, you uplifted him and made him feel, in some unexplainable matter, stronger than ever before.
It was for this reason that he had come to the obvious conclusion that he was in love with you. He loved your laugh, your smile, all the perfections that you claimed were insecurities, the way you interacted with the team. It was plain and simple and unlike everything else in Steve’s life, his love for you made perfect and complete sense. But… it also scared him more than anything else.
Being your best friend was the best experience he’s had post and even pre-ice. So, the thought of ruining that over his feelings was terrifying. His mind would run at night with the constant fear of loving you for all his life and not being able to let go and move on when you would admit to him that you didn’t feel the same way. Your friendship would obviously become awkward with each passing moment, up until the point where you would both likely cease all contact and never mention Steve’s unrequited feelings.
However, there was always one nagging thought in the back of Steve’s head that kept his hope alive. What if you felt the same way? What if he could finally feel your soft lips beneath his? Hold you until the sun comes up and stay in bed, tangled together, well into the afternoon? To finally call you his and himself yours? He could only wish for these things to happen in his crazed life, but it seemed like too much for the universe to grant. For most of his life, Steve had gotten the short-end of the stick but had persevered through it all.
It was this perseverance that had him knocking on your room door, albeit slightly nervous, at approximately 6:50 with a handful of chip bags and his notebook, filled to the brim with pop culture that he needed to catch up on. When you opened the door and beamed that genuine smile that was reserved for him, his confidence had soared to new heights and he stepped in while you closed the door behind him.
Sitting on the floor of your room, you immediately delved into starting the songs while grabbing a bag of chips. Beginning the listening session with, as you called it, “a timeless bop” named ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, Steve had to admit that although the operatics were a strange addition, they meshed fantastically into the song. Shortly after, you played a song by the name of ‘I Want to Break Free’ and had paused almost immediately after.
“This is the song. The reason I fell in love with Queen.” You sobered up and sat facing him. “It taught me that you shouldn’t live under the constrains of life that you never even asked for. At least that’s the way I interpret it. No one ever really figured it out but it’s better that way, in my opinion. It speaks to everyone in its own way.” You grinned and huffed out a breath of air, as if laughing at your own statement.
“Is that why you always look so self-assured when you have your headphones in?” Steve asked suddenly, poking you in the stomach to show he’s teasing.
“Huh. I never really noticed that but I guess you’re right Stevie” you smiled with a hint of understanding and a light shone in your eye. “I guess there’s something about rock songs from the 80s and 90s that give you a boost of confidence.” You reached for your phone suddenly that was connected wirelessly to the speaker (Steve still couldn’t understand how that worked) and typed in a new song name. “Listen closely to this one. I think you’ll especially like it.” With a wink, you clicked play and Steve heard what sounded like a choir singing.
Can anybody find me somebody to love?
Suddenly, that playful look in your eye was registered in Steve’s mind and his eyes widened. His glance was constantly maneuvering from the speaker to your face and back again. Were you trying to tell him something? Or was he thinking too much into it?
Oh, Lord
Ooh somebody, ooh somebody
Can anybody find me somebody to love?
This was meant to be his own personal boost of confidence. With all these thoughts whirring in his mind, he was trying simultaneously to listen to the words that were being sung but suddenly, they began repeating themselves.
I just gotta get out of this prison cell
One day I'm gonna be free, Lord!
Find me somebody to love
Find me somebody to love
Find me somebody to love
The boost of confidence had come and he knew very well what he had to do. Sitting up on his knees, he shimmied over to you as he vaguely saw you moving closer to him as well. Placing one hand over your cheek, Steve slightly leaned in before stopping halfway and looking at you for confirmation. You nodded your head with determination and met him the rest of the way.
Steve had always imagined what kissing you would feel like but it had never, not once, come close to the feeling he was experiencing at that very moment. There was no clash of teeth or awkward and unsure movements. All Steve felt was the emotions that you were conveying using just your lips and the sense of longing you must have felt based on the grip you kept on the back of his neck near the nape of his hair. He, in turn, reached out and wrapped his arm around you lower back, pulling you in closer. Now that he had a chance to experience this moment he had been thinking about for so long, he wouldn’t give it up so easily. And that was perfectly fine by you. You finally broke for air when Freddie Mercury had sung his solo bit and the operatics kicked back in.
“I love you, doll” Steve had slipped out as he was still gasping for air. Your face lit up with joy and you rested your forehead agains his own.
“I love you too, Stevie” you sighed contently as he attached his lips to yours once more and you melted like butter in his arms. Thank God you were already sitting on the floor or else you felt you would’ve ended up a large love-sick puddle to be cleaned up. The happiness you felt was almost too good to be true but you wanted to revel in it all the same.
Having to pull away once more, you looked up to see Steve with a mischievous glint in his eye. “You were right, you know?” You cocked your eyebrow at his statement in confusion and waited for him to supply the explanation of what exactly you were right about.
“I did especially like this song.” He emphasized with a huff and pressed another loving kiss on your lips that were now pulled up into a seemingly permanent smile.