Chapter Text
The chilled champagne in your glass bubbled happily as you brought it to your lips, crinkling your nose as the liquid fizzed down your throat. You hated the stuff, but at least it was complementary, and you’d much rather get drunk for free than have to repeatedly pay $5 at the bar. With a grimace you finished your drink, humming as warmth flooded your chest, contrasting with the cool wall you leant against. Perfect.
People swarmed around you, a mass of buzzing bees easily ignoring you in favor of each other. Not that you minded. You didn’t even want to be at the stupid party to begin with, but your boss demanded it. When you went into journalism, you didn’t expect to be forced to go to black tie events. If that had been in the job description, you quickly would’ve found another career.
A waiter carrying a tray passed by you and you placed your empty flute on it, picking up a full one in its place. You were wallowing in your bitterness when you saw Him. Across the room, he fidgeted with his cufflinks as he listened with interest to a woman tell him something quite animatedly. You couldn’t help but stare at him, his blond hair neatly parted in thick waves that made you want to run your hands through it, his suit jacket fitting his shoulders in a way that was downright sinful. You didn’t know who tailored for the Avengers, but you’d have to hunt them down and praise them, because holy shit.
His eyes flicked around and landed on you, startling blue staying on you for more than a moment. It made your heart start to race. Or maybe that was the alcohol. Speaking of which, you knocked back the full flute in your hand, letting out a satisfied sigh.
You kept your eyes trained on him, feeling a swelling in your chest you knew wasn’t alcohol. You recognized him, of course. It’d be near impossible not to. Steve Rogers, Captain America. An icon and a hero. Apparently also ridiculously good looking.
His eyes caught yours again and he excused himself from his conversation. He was coming towards you. Wait, what? You shifted and fiddled with your dress, trying to make yourself look presentable. You set the empty flute on a passing tray and tried not to stare as he came ever closer, forcing yourself to look as bored and disinterested as you had before you locked eyes with him.
When he stood in front of you, you felt the full impact of your nerves hit you as you stared up at him, a little starstruck, even though you often found yourself dealing with the Avengers.
He spoke first, saving you the trouble. What a gentleman. “Have we met?” He seemed genuine enough with his question.
You struggled to get out the words, so instead you just shook your head meekly, wishing your cheeks weren’t heating up under his gaze. “N-no,” you almost choked before clearing your throat. Jesus, what was this guy doing to you? “No, um, I usually just work with your PR department,” you said with an airy laugh.
The smile he gave you lit up his whole face, the whiteness of his teeth practically blinding you. You wanted to punch his stupid, perfect mouth in.
“Oh, are you a reporter?” Steve took a step closer to you, his body language showing he was, surprise surprise, genuinely curious.
You nodded, unable to help the shy smile that spread on your face. “Yes, I work for the Source as one of the editors. Occasionally I do field work, but that’s rare these days.”
“Well then, let me formally introduce myself.” He stuck his hand out. “Steve Rogers.”
You had to laugh. “Of course, I’m very familiar with your work, Captain,” you mused as you took his hand, a little surprised by how warm and firm his grip was.
He flushed a little, his smile turning embarrassed. “Please. Just call me Steve.” Oh, he was absolutely adorable.
“Steve it is,” you amended. He was still holding your hand, not that you particularly minded. It dawned on you that you hadn’t yet introduced yourself, so you told him your first and last name as well.
“(Y/N),” he said, rolling your name in his mouth in a way that made your knees waver slightly. “What a beautiful name. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He brought your hand to his lips in a terrifically old fashioned gesture that both made you want to cringe and swoon at the same time.
“The pleasure is all mine, Steve,” you managed, delicately extracting your hand from his grip.
“I’m guessing you don’t come to these often? I would’ve remembered.” While his words may have sounded cheesy, his tone was nothing but authentic, to the point it made your heart ache because he was just too sweet for his own good.
“Oh, um, no,” you laughed, “This is my first time. My boss asked me to come, and y’know, hard to refuse a direct order. I’m not much of a social kind of girl.”
“Coulda fooled me,” he said with a sweet smile. “I know what you mean though. I try to avoid parties like the plague, but Tony was adamant we all be here tonight.”
Hearing Iron Man being referred to by his first name was startling, but you supposed not as startling as being on a first name basis with the First Avenger. “Well, if it’s any consolation, your presence has made my night at least twenty-five percent better,” you teased lightly.
“Ow, only twenty-five?” He placed his hand over his heart and gave you his best faux-puppy dog eyes. “You wound me, (Y/N).”
He drew a giggle out of you and you covered your mouth to hide it, and the blush that was ever growing on your cheeks. He was so cute. Oh my god. “My sincerest apologies, Steve, I hope I haven’t dampened our budding friendship.”
He laughed as well and shook his head, grinning at you. “Not to worry, you get a free pass this time. Maybe I can even try to raise that percentage, huh?”
“Be my guest.” He seemed like he was about to take you up on that offer when his name was called from somewhere to your left, both of your heads snapping up to figure out who had interrupted your moment.
“Ah shoot, I’m sorry, (Y/N), I’ve got to go,” he said with a tinge of actual sadness in his voice. He met your eyes and gave you a smile, reaching for your hand so he could press another kiss to your knuckles. “I hope I get to see you again.”
“Me too,” you agreed. Steve gave you another quick smile before he parted, pushing into the crowd and vanishing from your sight.
A sigh left you and you let yourself slump against the wall again. You were absolutely wonderstruck. Thoughts began to race through your head as you attempted to process the interaction you just had with the leader of the Avengers. You raked your hand through your hair. There was no way that actually happened, right? The scenario was improbable. Just the idea of meeting eyes with someone at a party and clicking with them was romantic nonsense, let alone that person being Steve Fucking Rogers. Another sigh left you.
The rest of the party was uneventful, though you did make connections with some of the other famous party goers, which you supposed was the point of your presence there to begin with. Still, everything paled in comparison to your conversation with Captain Dreamy.
As you stood in front of the elevator, about to leave, you heard your name being called. Your eyes were drawn to Steve as he lightly jogged over to you, a big smile on his face. “Are you about to leave?” You nodded mutely, mystified that he had come to talk to you for a second. “Glad I could catch you then,” he said, gesturing for you to get into the now open elevator.
You stepped in and he stepped in next to you, pressing the button for the first floor. “Did you… need something?” you asked, shifting nervously.
He shook his head. “No, I just wanted to make sure you got to a cab okay.” The earnestness of his statement made your heart melt.
Once again, you felt a blush creep over your cheeks and you averted your eyes from his kind face. “You’re such a gentleman.”
He chuckled. “Well, I suppose I also had an ulterior motive.” You looked up at him confused as he handed you a sheet of paper. “It would mean a lot to me if you came to Tony’s next shindig. Here’s the info for it.”
You blinked at him. “Steve, I don’t know what to say.” You really were at a loss for words, your eyes trained on his honest, hopeful baby blues. The elevator dinged as it settled to the ground floor. He took your hand and closed it around the paper.
“Say yes?”
You broke into a grin. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” you found yourself saying, much to your utter surprise. His eyes practically sparkled as he stepped away, making sure the elevator stayed open so you could exit, ever the gentleman.
“See you later, then.”
“Not if I see you first,” you replied in an effort to regain your cool and control of the situation. Mostly it just made you sound like a lame nerd. Steve didn’t mind though, obviously, since the smile he gave you was blinding right before the doors shut, cutting off the dazzle in a simple swoop of metal.
You blushed all the way to the cab, and all the way to your apartment. You were 75% sure that Steve Rogers just invited you on a date. Shit, that meant you’d need to buy another dress. Curse you, Captain Dreamy.