Chapter Text
Month One:
It was a beautiful day in early May, the sun shining, birds chirping. One of the days that had all the businessmen and women eating outside. I smiled to myself as I stepped out of my apartment and put in my earphones. I'd stretched inside and was ready to go for my run. My route was through Central Park, and since I was new to the city I was still enjoying all the sites. New York City had become my home after I got a new job editing for a publishing company.
As I ran through the park, I got lost in thought. I was nervous about starting this new job later in the week, but I was also so excited. I wanted to open my own publishing company one day, but for now this was what I needed. And I was living in the city I'd dream of living in since I was a little girl! I was so lost in thought that I managed to trip over a slight raise in the sidewalk and lose my footing, falling right into another jogger going the other direction.
"I'm so sorry, oh my gosh!" I gasped. My earphones had fallen out upon impact, but the man had managed to catch me before either of us could fall to the ground.
"It's alright, Ma'am, are you okay?" he asked gently. I finally gathered myself and looked up into the bluest eyes I'd ever seen.
I blinked once and cleared my throat as I straightened myself. "Uh, fine. Are you? I hope I didn't manage to hurt you in my moment of clumsy."
He chuckled and shook his head. "No, Ma'am. It takes more than that to knock me down."
I smiled and held out my hand. "My name's Y/N. You know, so you don't have to keep calling me 'Ma'am'."
His smile continued as he shook my hand. "Steve Rogers."
I nodded. "I thought you looked familiar, but I didn't want to assume. So, Mr. Rogers, since I rudely crashed into you, do you think I could buy you a coffee as payment for your pain and suffering?"
The tall man laughed and shook his head. "No, I couldn't allow you to pay for it. Actually, I have to get back to the Tower soon, but if you'd like to meet for lunch tomorrow?"
I nodded, and shifted my weight as I flicked a strand of Y/H/C out of my face. "Where should we meet and what time?"
Steve pursed his lips and glanced at a man passing by. "How about you come to Avengers Tower at noon, and we can decide from there? You can just tell the gate your name and you're there to see me, and I'll come out unless I'm already outside."
"Tell the gate?" I chuckled, shaking my head. "Okay, sounds like a plan, Mr. Rogers."
"Steve," he laughed. "It's a date."
I laughed and said goodbye before continuing on my run.
I woke early the next day, as usual, and got ready for my daily run. I wanted to start the day quickly so I'd be on time for lunch. I threw my hair up in a ponytail and set off on my usual route, music blasting through my earphones. I paid more attention to my surroundings today and didn't trip over anything, so I called it a successful run, and headed back home to shower and get ready for the day.
I wore a pair of black skinny jeans and a purple t-shirt with black flats with my hair down. After I grabbed my purse I headed out the door and flagged down a taxi to Avengers Tower. I knew I'd be early, but I always was.
I paid the driver and looked up at the Tower, completely in awe. This was where the Avenger's lived. And I was about to have lunch with one of them. I couldn't wait to tell my friends back home that I'd become acquainted with Captain America! I took a deep breath and adjusted my purse and straightened my shirt before approaching the gate. "Umm....hello?" I asked timidly.
"Greetings miss, I ask that you identify yourself and state the reason for your visit," a feminine voice sounded.
"Y/N. I'm here for my lunch with Mr., er, Steve Rogers? I know I'm early.." I trailed off, not sure I should say more. The gate suddenly opened and I jumped, startled.
"You may enter, Miss. Captain Rogers has been alerted to your presence and someone will be down to guide you up," the voice came again.
"Oh, uh, thank you," I said, and walked slowly to the door, biting my lip before entering the building. I looked around at the room, which appeared to be a lobby, and moved to a chair nearby, smiling at the woman at the desk as I passed.
"FRIDAY already told me you were here for Captain Rogers. He's on his way down now," she said.
"Oh, thank you. Um, FRIDAY?" I asked.
"The voice you heard outside. She's Mr. Stark's AI. She runs through the building here, and his own home."
"Oh! Wow," I breathed.
"It's different, isn't it?" a masculine voice asked. I turned to see my new friend coming out of an elevator.
"It is. It's amazing!" I smiled. "Sorry I'm early, I can never help it."
Steve smiled. "I'm a fan of punctuality myself. Sam told me about this great place a couple blocks away, if you want to see how that is?"
I nodded. "Everything in this city is new to me, so I'm up for anything."
"Alright. Let's go," he gestured for me to lead the way and held the door for me on the way out.
-Time skip-
Month 3
Since that day, we'd had a weekly lunch and after learning that he was catching up on everything he'd missed since being frozen, we even had movie nights every week, sometimes at the Tower, and sometimes at my apartment. The only times he missed the lunches or movie nights were because he was on a mission. And we always rescheduled. He'd always call when he could to let me know if he was alright; we'd become quite close, and I worried.
I'd tell him how I was doing at work-I was doing well, and I loved every minute of it.
My friends and family back home were all envious that I'd managed to become close friends with Captain America, and even acquaintances with the other Avengers. Clint was hilarious and always joked about Steve being nervous around me, which totally wasn't true. Steve's best friend Bucky even cracked a few jokes, though he was mostly quiet abut everything. Steve had told me all about how he'd searched for Bucky after finding out he was alive decades after thinking the man was dead. It was terrible that they'd both had to go through so much.
Tonight was one of our movie nights, another at Avengers Tower. The tower was mostly empty since everyone was either out for personal reasons or on a mission. It was just some staff, Steve, Bucky, the twins, and I for the night. Bucky mostly kept to himself, though he peeked in once to greet me. Wanda mostly wandered around the tower but did follow her brother in once when he came in to see what we were watching (tonight was an 80s night with Say Anything, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink). He made some comment about Steve and I that I didn't really hear because John Cusack was pushing glass out of the way of Ione Skye's path. I heard Wanda mutter something along the lines of 'she has no idea', but was engrossed in the movie as it was one of my favorites.
We were both affectionate people it seemed, and though I wasn't overly touchy feely, I still liked to show I cared through touch every once in a while. Which is why we were curled up on the couch, my legs draped over his lap. He absentmindedly traced patterns over my legs, watching the movie intently.
Once the movie was over, I turned to him and grinned. "Did you love it?"
He smiled. "It was good. It's sad that she ignored him outside her window like that though."
I nodded excitedly. "I know! I'd never have ignored him. Those things are so heavy too! She should have at least let him down easy if she didn't want to see him."
He nodded. "Ready for the next one? The Breakfast Club? What is it about? Do they just....meet up and eat pancakes?"
I laughed. "You'll see."
"FRIDAY, please play the next movie."
Our weekly hangouts were much like that, and we'd talk on the phone when he was on missions and had down time. He was my best friend. It was so great to have a man treat me so well without expecting anything in return.