Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

You had just settled in for the night: comfy blanket, check. Glass of super expensive wine pilfered from Tony's collection, check. The softest long-sleeved t-shirt you've ever stolen from Steve, check. Sappy movie cued thanks to Friday on the television, check. You were all set.

This was the night usually reserved for team-building shenanigans--movie nights, bar hopping, karaoke catastrophes, d) all of the above. However, Nat and Clint were on a mission, and Tony and Pepper were off celebrating her birthday as only the monstrously rich could. On their private island, naturally. Everyone else decided to go drink upstairs in the common room. Thor was in town, and had brought the good stuff. 

It wasn't your scene, really. You could never keep up with the heavy-weight drinkers like Nat, nor could you keep up with the god and pratically-demi-god-super-soldier friends either. You weren't comfortable giving up control (like that anyway). A good drink, a glass of wine, a well-made cocktail, that was more your speed. You could understand why Steve and Bucky relished Thor's visits though. The Asgardian ale he brought with him had you almost drunk by the fumes alone before you'd opted to keep your own company. Steve and Buck could never let loose with regular, joe-schmoe alcohol. You figured they deserved to let loose however and whenever they could. Steve had really seemed to want you to stay, but a quiet night seemed to fit your mood.

You’d been a bit moody lately, if you were being honest. 

While you felt like you had a great home here at the Avengers Compound, it could get…intense. And it didn’t help being surrounded by so many amazing people. Amazing, gorgeous people. 

Your mutation was, in comparison to the Jean Grey’s of the world, pretty tame. You were a true polyglot—could understand and speak any language. It helped on missions more than you thought it would. Working with the Avengers was amazing. For only being here a year, you really felt welcome. Steve, especially, seemed to welcome you—with his teamwork attitude and penchant for cuddles. Immediately following him were Sam and Bucky, the former being that calm, easy-going presence that seemed to sort everyone out, and the latter being an odd sort of comic relief with his dry wit. Bucky also liked to surprise you by switching between various languages all the time. It kept you on your toes.

Of course, you fell in love with Steve almost immediately. 

Bucky and Sam were…amazing. Lovely. And yes, gorgeous. But they were like older brothers. Older, annoying brothers. At first, you tried to place your feelings for Steve in that category, but…yeah. It did not work.

Nothing happened though. Cuddles, sure. Cute nicknames, sure. But, an accidental kiss meant for his cheek aside, nothing other than friendly ever happened between the two of you.

Sighing, and clicking play on the remote, you braced yourself for romance and schmaltz.
You did not brace yourself for two drunk super-soldiers and one drunk Sam to start banging on your door.

'Peach?!' 

You heard slurred shouts of your name over the intercom at your door, while simultaneously Friday alerted you to their presence over the speakers. You paused your movie, and sat up a bit more.

'Miss--there are three drunken men at your door.'

You huffed a small laugh at the obvious-- as well as Friday's sass.

'I hear that, Friday. Is it who I think it is?'

'I believe so, Miss. Frosty-the-Snow-Cap; Manchurian Candidate; and Ladyhawk are waiting at your door.

Ah. So, Tony had messed with their names again.

'PEACH?' The intercom blared again, this time with all three of their voices and you couldn't help but laugh.

'Is she even in there?' You heard Bucky mutter and then some other bits of indecipherable conversation.

'No! She didn't have a date, asshole! She would have told me...tol' us.'

That was Steve. Lord. He sounded pretty wasted.

Sighing, you addressed Friday. 
'Ok Friday, would you please let the Terrible Three in?'

'Are you sure Miss? I could set the sprinklers on them.'

'Ha! Please let them know that if they don't behave, I might ask you to do that very thing.'

'As you wish, Miss.'
Sometimes you could swear you heard a smirk in Friday's voice.

Before you could muse on the awesomeness of the AI any longer, your door burst inwards, spewing forth your three drunk teammates.

'Tol'ya she was here, Sam...’n Buck. See?' Steve waved an outstretched arm at you and looked at his friends with a dopey grin.

'Yeah-- no date for Peach, just me and my wine and a sappy movie.'

All three men looked at you curiously, and you looked back. 

They were in various states of dishevelment. Sam looked the worst, and you winced thinking how he might have tried to keep up with everyone else. His eyes were already bloodshot (you could see from across the room even), and he, for some unfathomable reason, only had on one sock. Steve looked wild-eyed and his hair matched--sticking up all over the place as if his hands had been running through it all night. His bright-blue button down (a personal favorite of yours) was open all the way showing his white undershirt...and what an undershirt it was. You never understood how they held together but appreciated the tension. Bucky--well, Bucky looked absolutely normal save for a permanent smirk and very slightly glazed look in his eyes. 

'Peach heard you in the hall, dipshit.' Bucky said smacking Steve upside the head...lovingly.
Steve's brow knit in confusion before he rounded towards you.

'Aw Peach, naw, I didn't mean you couldn't have a date, I jus' meant you'd tell me...tell us...right, Peachy girl?'

Sighing, you shook your head, trying to look for all the world like you were upset, deciding to mess with them a little bit. Inside you were laughing your ass off. You pouted up at Steve.

'No..no...I understand. I know I'm not...gorgeous or anything. I'm ok, I guess, but I'm no Nat...or Wanda...or Hill...this team is all gorgeous women...'

'Thas right,' Steve rumbled, his voice low, 'All gorgeous women on this team, and you're the gorgeous-s-is...' he sighed, pausing for a moment before looking you in the eyes again, 'Gorgesousest.'

You couldn't help it, his slurring paired with the mood made you bark out a laugh.

'That's not even a real word Steve!' 
You kept laughing, and his brow furrowed again.

'She's messing with you, man.' Sam slurred while moving towards the sofa. He aimed to sit and almost missed the couch.

'Come on, boys, why don't you all sit down before you fall down.'

Steve and Buck moved towards you. There was no more room on the couch, but there was a comfy chair. Buck got there first and shot Steve the finger, but Steve laughed and just laid down in the middle of the floor.
'S'all right...I'll jus' lay here at my lady's feet...'

'Je-sus, how much did you all drink?' you poked Sam's thigh, but he seemed out for the count, his head back and mouth open. 'Is he ok? Should we roll him over or something?'

'He's fine, doll-- let him sleep it off.'

You eyeballed Bucky. 

'You look remarkably held together, Buck. These two look like they had the whole distillery.'

'I will take that as a compliment, dollface.'

'Stahhhhhp...,' blurted Steve from the floor.

'Stop what, punk?'

'Stop callin' Peach, sweet names...notchur doll, Buck. S'Peach!'

'Oh boy...he's gone.' You laughed, popping your feet onto Steve’s chest. He put his hands over them and rubbed the tops a bit.

‘S’cold, Peach…need ta get ya some socks, baby.’ Steve muttered, his eyes falling shut. You looked up at Bucky and you both shared a smile looking at your drunk friend.

'Oh, he's been a goner for awhile now, sweetheart...,’ Bucky added, rather cryptically you thought, ‘Or should I say, babydoll...princess…schnookums.' Bucky said, smirking as he drank from a flask that had magically appeared in his hand.

Steve grabbed Bucky's ankle and pulled, making Bucky slip off the chair and land hard on his ass.

'I said sto-op.' Steve sing-songed.

'Oh you little shit...' Bucky grumbled, lurching towards Steve. The two of them tussled, and you had to pick your feet off the floor before your legs were accidently crushed. Sam's legs, however, were a casualty, and he snapped awake.

'S'goin' on!' Sam hoarsely shouted, and at seeing the two friends wrestling on the floor, he turned a hairy eyeball to you. 'Wassis Peach? What they doin'?'

'Fighting over who gets to call me nicknames.'

Sam nodded, as if that was a reasonable answer and turned back to the boys. Bucky was now on top of Steve, smacking him lightly all over his face, while Steve was trying to knock him over and laughing like crazy at the same time. Sam proceeded to kick Bucky in the ass and soon both soldiers were on the floor taking in great shaking breaths through their laughter.

'Not cool, assholes.' Sam muttered, glaring at them. It would have been menacing, you thought, if not for the fact that he seemed unable to focus on either one of his friends.

'Yeah, Steve, not cool.'

'Boys, boys...' you interjected, giggling yourself, 'You can BOTH call me nicknames, ok?'

'Ok.'

'No...no no no. Buck's a flirt.'

'This I know.'

Steve looked up at you with giant puppy eyes. 'Y'know? You like 'im flirtin'?'

You shrugged and Steve groaned and covered his eyes with his arm. Bucky huffed a laugh and kicked at Steve's thigh.

'You're an idiot, idiot.'

'Naw-- I jus'...I jus'...' Steve paused, and then smacked the floor with his other hand, 'I don't wancha DOIN' that, Buck! C'mon!'

'Aw, but my sugar sweet Peachy likes it, Stevie.'

'Shuddup, jerk. S'my girl you’re flirting with.'

There was a pause. Your eyes went wide. You looked at Steve, but his arm was now over his eyes. You looked at Bucky, and his ever-present smirk grew.

'Is that right?' he asked Steve, but making eye contact with you. 

You honestly weren't sure what to do with yourself. A big part of you was saying that this was just Steve being drunk and possessive, but...he had never said anything like that before. Sure, you'd been his 'friend', his 'Peach', but never...never his girl.
You sucked in a breath you hadn't realised you'd needed.

'Peach--,' Bucky broke you out of your little internal crisis, 'you Stevie's girl, Peach?' His tone was joking, but his eyes were clearer than you thought they could be given how drunk they all seemed. You tensed for a moment and could feel a blush rising against your will, and Bucky caught it. He smiled, a big toothy grin.

'Gimme a break, Buck,’ you finally breathed out, while tucking yourself into Sam, who smiled and threw his arm around you. 'He's not serious.' Bucky sucked a breath between his teeth and shook his head.

Steve moved his arm and peeked up at you. Noticing you were cuddled up with Sam, he groaned again. 
'Sammmmm....not you too.'  He sat up, wobbly, and grabbed at your legs. 'You wanna be cuddled up with...with someone who was in the Chair Force, Peach? Really?'

Sam scoffed and Bucky howled. 

'Now wait just a damn minute, GI Jackass...'

Sam dislodged you in his attempt to lunge at Steve, who had joined in Bucky's laughter. He ended up sliding to the floor and hitting Steve in the face with one of your throw pillows. Steve grabbed another one, and it was war. 

You screeched as pillows went flying. Sam and Steve pummelled one another, until, at some point, a pillow burst, and little bits of fluff were flying everywhere.
In the midst of it all, Bucky sat--cool as anything--sipping on his drink, as fluff fell around him like snow.

'No!' you yelled, but neither man was paying attention to you. 'Buck! Help!'

Bucky looked to you, and quicker than you could process, he was in front of you and pulling you up and lifting. The action had you yelping, but then giggling. Bucky swung you into his arms, bridal style.

He smiled at you, and you leaned in, kissing his cheek. 'My hero...' you said, nuzzling into his neck.

Suddenly, a pillow smacked Bucky right in the face, and someone took out Bucky's knees. You screamed as he fell, fully expecting hit the ground hard. But you didn't.
You were suddenly in another pair of arms.

'I gotcha, Peachy.' Steve said, hotly into the shell of your ear, while looking at you adoringly. You couldn't help but laugh, even though his antics were confusing as hell.

'Steve...seriously?'

His eyes focused on you, and his face went serious--almost as if he took your words as a directive.
'I'm ser--sereeeus.'
You smacked his massive pec.

'You shouldn't fight with Buck...or anybody...just for calling me nicknames. YOU call me nicknames.'

'Buh--'

You nuzzled into him a bit, unable to help yourself. 
‘He flirts, Steve, but he doesn’t mean anything. I don’t want him to mean anything.’

‘Ok, baby, I—’ 

'And you guys,' you looked between Steve and the other two gentlemen rolling around on the floor like badly behaved kids, ‘you could at least fit the pillow-fighting stereotype and get in your jammies...or underwear.'

'Darlin',’ Bucky purred, ‘if you wanna see me in my briefs you only hadta ask...’ His hands moved to his belt buckle.

'No!' you giggled, burying your face back into Steve's neck.

'Come on, man, its not that kinda party.'

'But, Sammy, she just said...' 

Sam growled and attempted to tackle Bucky, but he should have known that, even drunk, Bucky wouldn't be having it.

'Where did Peach come from anyway?' Sam asked, trying to change the subject, even though he was caught in a chokehold by Bucky.

'Her mama, I'm supposin',’ Bucky deadpanned.

'Ha ha, dick. I meant the nickname.'

Steve sat down, still holding you, so you were now sprawled over his lap. He smiled at you, and you sighed for the umpteenth time that night.

‘You weren’t there Sam, but it was Steve's birthday, and we were all at that giant mansion cabin of Tony's having a party. Nat made these crazy drinks for me with peaches in them...'

'An’ ya kissed me!' Steve crowed.

You laughed. 'Yeah, but I barely knew you and we were all wishing you a happy birthday. When it was my turn--'

'Ya kissed me.'

'Yes. But I was aiming for your cheek.'
Steve burst into laughter but pulled you closer to him.

'You tasted like peaches...' he murmured into your hair. He kept nuzzling you, and you squirmed a bit in his lap. 'I wondered if ya tasted like peaches ev'rywhere.'

'Steven!' You pushed at him, but he held on tight and laughed into your hair.

'Damn, man...' Sam muttered from the floor, 'You’re freaky. Thas cool though, man, I get it.'

'Samuel!'

'And this is not the story I was told...' 

'Shuddup, Buck!'

'The story I heard wasn't about how you tasted...’ He smirked, ‘but about a certain par-‘

Before Buck could finish, another pillow was flung at him. Steve had pulled it from god-knows-where. Bucky caught it, smooth as anything, and continued.
'—part of her anatomy. Namely--her ass.'

You sat up, Steve's grip having eased, and glared at the man.

'You nicknamed me Peach because...because of my ass?!'

Steve winced and flopped his head onto the sofa back. Bucky and Sam were lost in a fit of laughter.

'And everyone knew?!'

Your heart kind of went wonky— plummeting but beating really fast all of sudden. This…was embarrassing.

He finally looked to you, and opened his mouth to speak, but was cut-off by Sam.

'Well, I didn't know, but...again, I get it.'

Before anyone could say anything else, you pushed yourself off of Steve’s lap and stood.  You glared at your friends, hands on your hips.
'You guys are assholes and I'm going to bed.'

'Aw, Pe--sweetheart, don'be mad at me...' Steve looked at you pleadingly.

'Its embarrassing! Especially if everyone talks about--'

'The only one who talks about your ass is Stevie...'

'Come on, Buck...don'throw me under the bus like that...'

'You—,' you stood before Steve, angry, and pointing a finger in his face, while he looked up at you with wide puppy-dog eyes, 'are you making fun of me?'

'No...no no no...I swear its not a joke…’

‘Yeah, Peach, it’s a compliment…he just…really likes your—’

‘Nope! No.’ You said firmly, crossing your arms over your chest. ‘You guys don’t get to come in here and…’ you honestly weren’t sure why you were so upset. I mean, yeah, you didn’t want people talking about you or making fun. And you didn’t really want to be objectified…but still, there was a part of you that loved knowing Steve looked at you like that. And for some reason that made you even more flustered and embarrassed.

‘Baby—I only tol' Buck that--I swear--'

‘But why?’

Steve looked at you with an expression that was half apologetic and half…steamy.

‘It’s a nice ass, sweetheart.’ 
You scoffed, while your other two friends hummed their agreement.

'Guys! Not cool!’

‘I didn’t mean anything bad by it, I swear—’ Steve protested, but you’d had enough.

‘Fuck you, Steve!' 
You stomped off down the hallway, unsure if you were even angry or not.

'I wish ya would, Peach, I mean--,' you heard, though the rest was cut off by Bucky howling and Sam dissing Steve.

'Oh, man, Steve, you have no game. NONE.'

You slammed the door to your room and flopped onto your bed.
You took a minute to huff frustrated breaths into the duvet before flipping onto your back and addressing Friday.

'Friday?'

'Sprinklers, miss?'

'It would ruin my things...' you whined.

'This is true, miss.'

You sighed and ran your hands over your face. 'Would you tell the Three Amigos out there that they can sleep out there or in the spare room, if they want, but if any of them--any of them--comes near me again tonight I will call Thor and ask him to take me to Asgard. Please?'

'Of course, miss. I will alert Lightning McQueen to your plans as well.'

'Lightning-- ah, Thor. Yeah, sure, why not.'

You heard Friday alert the boys to your wishes and heard Steve groan long and loud. 
After that, it was relatively quiet for about 10 minutes or so, and you assumed they were either sorting out sleeping arrangements or had passed out completely. 
But, no.

'My fellow warriors!,' boomed a voice.

You immediately sat up and glared at the ceiling.
'Friday?'

'Lightening McQueen is here, miss. I assumed he was allowed entry based on your evening's possible plans.'

You growled and scooted to the end of the bed. You got up and threw open your door. As you marched down the hallway you could hear Bucky catching Thor up.

'...and then Steve stuck his foot in his mouth and made Peach angry.'

'You did! You tol'her all about what I tol'YOU in...in...confi--in secret.'

'Well, I will certainly take her with me to Asgard if that is her wish.'

'No! You’re not takin' 'er anywhere!'
Steve hadn't noticed you enter the living room, but Thor did and smiled at you from where he leaned against the breakfast bar.

'Calm down, Steven. I will only escort her there. I am very much in love with my Jane.' Thor nodded at you, still smiling, and you couldn't help but smile back. 
Bucky looked at you and rolled his eyes and nodded towards Steve, who seemed to be fuming.

'Did you know he nicknamed me Peach because of my ass, and they’ve been objectifying me all night?'

It was comical the way Steve tried to spin around while still sitting on the couch. It was even more comical that he ended up falling on his ass instead.

'Really? I did not know this.' He looked to Steve, ‘That is most ungentlemanly, Captain,’ Thor reproached and Steve hung his head a little. Thor looked at you, critically, 'Do you wish me to defend your honor?,’ you huffed in surprise, and Thor hummed, ‘You’ve seemed to handle it well, and given your mutual feelings for one another—’

‘What?!’ You interrupted, but Thor just kept talking, seemingly unaware of your distress. You looked at Steve and his brow was furrowed.

‘I think you do not need my help in this matter,’ Thor continued, and then looked to you, ‘Is that right? I confess, I would hate to harm my shield brother, but I would for your honor, Peach.’

‘Aw Thor, that’s sweet, but really unnecessary…’

‘And, if I may,’ He added, ‘I have often thought, objectively, that your posterior was rather lovely.'

'Yes.' Sam agreed from somewhere you couldn't see. 'Thas all we’re saying—s'nice ass, Peach.'

'Guys!,' you shouted.

'Babydoll-- you have a nice ass, what do you want us to do?' Bucky drawled from the chair, biting his lip as if trying not to laugh.

You narrowed your eyes at him.
'I'm done. Everyone out!'

'Awwww....Peach....'

'No! I mean it! All I wanted was to curl up and watch a movie and you assholes decide to crash in and make comments about my ass!'

'Oh,’ Thor straightened up and moved towards you, ’does this mean we're going to Asgard?'

'NO!'

'Right. I'll just--'

'OUT!' You screamed, as Bucky picked Sam up from the floor, and heaved him into a fireman's lift. 'OUT NOW!'
Bucky moved with Sam to the door, and gave you a smirk and a cheeky salute. 

'Night, pretty girl.'

'Fuck off, Buck.'
He chuckled and jostled Sam.

'Say goodnight to the angry lady, Sam.'

Sam lifted his head from where it hung behind Bucky. 'Night, baby girl.' 

Thor held the door open for them while you scowled, and Sam, well Sam seemed to be pondering his view of Bucky. 
'Hey...you gotta pretty nice ass too, Buck...' Sam pondered, slapping the super soldier on a cheek with a weak bat of his hand.

'A blessing and a curse, Sam.' Buck muttered, out the door already, not even waiting for Steve.

Thor turned to you and bowed slightly. 'Thank you for your hospitality, milady, and I apologise for any offense I may have caused this evening.'

'Aw Thor, you're fine. You've been lovely. I just need these jokers to leave me in peace.'

'Understood,' he said, smiling at you. 'I shall make sure the good Captain gets to his quarters safely.

'Thank you, Thor.'

You turned to glare at Steve, who was looking from Thor to you with a scowl.
'Come, Captain! The lady wishes to be alone.'

Steve looked back to you and the scowl was soon replaced by a hangdog expression.

'Peach?'

'Leave--get a good night's sleep. You probably won't remember any of this in the morning.'

'Buh---' Thor had grabbed hold of Steve's arm and had begun manoeuvring him towards the door. 'Peach...I'm sorry.'

'Good night, Steve.'

He hung his head dramatically and allowed Thor to lead him out. You hung by the door, watching them meander down the hallway, as Thor continued trying to console Steve.

'There, there, Captain. You can make things right in the morning.'

'No...no...lost m'girl Thor.'

'I assure you; the morning will make things clearer. Peach is wonderful and will forgive you, I'm sure.'

'Ya think?'

'Yes—you’re already in her heart, and that’s most of the battle won…'

'Yes. Her heart. S'beautiful. She's so beautiful, Thor. S'best thing I've ever seen.'

You closed the door, in a bit of shock. 
Now, this whole night had been weird and confusing. You really were trying to chalk everything up to drunken shenanigans, but this last part...what you'd overheard...

You shook your head. It didn't make sense to you. Steve had never, ever come on to you. Never. But...
He liked your heart… and your ass apparently.

He said you were his girl.

Chapter Text

You awoke to sunshine filtering through the blinds and a nagging feeling that this day was going to be rough.
Not a great start.

The thing was…you were cozy. As cozified as you could get. But. That feeling. You knew you were going to see Steve today, and that it was going to be weird. Even IF he didn't remember everything he said, you would.
You should have been able to sleep in, but no, here you were at whatever-time-it-was fretting about Steven Grant Rogers.

The other thing was…this wasn't the first time you fretted over the man. Scratch that. It wasn't the tenth or, hell, even twentieth time.
Of course you wanted it all to be real. Your brain couldn’t help imagining all sorts of delicious scenarios where Steve and you confessed your love and you rode him into the sunset. Your mind couldn’t help but remember that time, at his birthday party, when you'd accidentally kissed his lips instead of his mouth. Whoo...Lord. Lot of fretting about that.
The sad thing was that it happened to be the best kiss you'd ever had. 

But.
Facts were facts…but were drunk facts true facts?
Ok. 

You shook yourself and kicked the blankets off of your legs. 

'Get it together, you weirdo.' You said to yourself as you sat up and brushed your hair away from your face. 'He was just drunk...'
You repeated this to yourself, as a mantra, while getting showered, while brushing your teeth, while getting dressed...

'Friday?'

'Yes, miss?'

'If I go to the common room for breakfast will I see anyone who was here last night?'

'Yes, miss. All excepting Lightning McQueen. He went to see Jane-who-won't-accept-my-job-offer.

Jesus, Tony.

'Ok...better...gird my loins I guess.'

'Yes, miss. Gird on.'

Sighing, you drifted through your apartment, slid on some slippers and walked out your door. 

The common room held a sorry sight.

Sam was at the table, his head in his arms, with a hot coffee in front of him. Steve looked a bit better off but seemed to be nursing a headache given his occasional wince at noises, and in addition to the coffee was a giant plate of half-eaten toast. And Bucky--well, Bucky was whistling in the kitchen wearing an apron and flipping pancakes, looking for all the world like he hadn't had a drop to drink last night. You took in the scene and stood there with your arms crossed over your chest.

'Pitiful.' 

Steve's head shot up at your voice and he immediately groaned. Sam didn't lift his head but groaned, seemingly, in sympathy.

'Mornin' pretty girl,’ shouted Bucky, making the hungover duo wince, 'you in the mood for some flapjacks, or are you still mad at me?'

'Still mad.'

'Aw, come on Peach...I made pancakes--your favorite. I even got the special maple syrup that Tony gets flown in from Vermont.'

You side-eyed him and moved your arms to your sides. 'I thought he kept that under lock-and-key in his apartment.'

Bucky narrowed his eyes at you. 'Who do you think you're talking to right now?'
You shook your head and couldn't help but smile. 'Ah, there she is. Shoot that smile Steve's way--he needs it, sweetheart, he's had a rough morning.'

You looked over at Steve who was attempting to sip his coffee, but who's eyes were taking you in.

'I'm real sorry, Peach,’ he muttered.

He looked so miserable, and you shook your head again.

'Pitiful.' 

You moved towards the kitchen and made a bee-line for the pancakes. As you drew nearer, Bucky pulled you fully inside and towards the pantry.

'What are you--'

'Peach--gimme a minute...' He craned his head and watched Steve watch the two of you. You scowled up at him.

‘I gotta say something.' He said, but in Romanian, which he knew Steve didn't understand, but you did.

'What--did something happen?'

Bucky wobbled his head, 'Yes and no. Steve shouldn't have been like that last night, but it might've been the best thing to ever happen to him.'

'What does that mean?'

He sighed, 'I know how you feel about him, doll.'

You shook yourself from his grasp and wrapped your arms around yourself again. 'What do you mean?'

He tried to move your arms. You knew if he really wanted to, he could have, but he just sighed when you wouldn't release them and stroked your upper arms instead.
'He's not as quick on the uptake as me, don't worry.'

'He was drunk, Buck.' You said, quietly, repeating your mantra of the morning.

'In vino veritas,' he whispered, so quietly, you weren't 100% sure he meant you to hear it.

Your head snapped up though, and you saw Bucky's little smile--a sweet one instead of a cheeky smirk.

'Is everything ok in here?'

Bucky immediately dropped his hands from you, and you blinked up at Steve, who now stood in the kitchen, his gaze flicking between you and Bucky.

'Yeah...don't get your panties in a bunch, punk. Everything's fine.' Bucky looked at you and gave you a nod, 'Just wanted to apologise to Peachy girl--you accept my apology?'

It took you a second. The whole room felt so much more tense suddenly. But you nodded and gave Bucky a small smile.
'If I still get the pancakes with the good syrup.'

'Only the best for you, babydoll.'

He handed you a plate full of pancakes and the flask of syrup. 'Now don't be letting these two reprobates get hold of any of this syrup, Peach--I stole this fair and square just for you.'

You huffed out a laugh and manoeuvred to peck his cheek.

'Thanks, Buck.'

You turned to go to the table, and saw that Steve had beaten you to it, and was holding out a chair for you.

'Well, thanks, Steve. What a gentleman. I mighta just sat on the counter and kept Buck company.' He pushed your chair in and moved towards his own. You settled yourself and loaded your pancakes with delicious stolen maple syrup, 'Wouldn't want my peach of an ass to get bruised though.'

You bit into your pancakes as Steve groaned, Bucky laughed, and Sam whined.

'Stop makin' so much noise!' Sam groaned out from under this arms.

Bucky, seemingly finished in the kitchen, brought the last of the pancakes to the table, and patted Sam on the back. 'Aw Sam, why don't we get you back into bed, huh? I'll even put a bucket next to it.'

'You're a shitty nurse, Buck.'

'Naw, I'm the best nurse-- took care of Steve half his life-- you're just ungrateful.'

'I'll throw up on your shoes, I swear to god, Barnes.'

'Besides, wait ‘til you see me in my nurse’s uniform. Could cure all sorts of ills.'

You almost choked on your pancakes—the immediate mental image was that hot.

'Save it for the bedroom, jerk…' Steve said, tsking at his friend.

'Ok, ok...but seriously, come on Sam. You need to rest, and these two need to talk.'

'But I wanna see Peach yell at Steve some more...'

'It might get loud...'

'Aw....' and with some help from Bucky, Sam was up and moving towards the elevator.

'Bye Sam...’ you said quietly, ‘take good care of him Buck.'
Bucky turned and smirked at you, then cocked his head at Steve.

'Hear him out, ok doll?'

And then they were gone. And it was just you and Steve.
Steve who looked much more clear-eyed and present. Steve who had his arms wrapped around his chest and was worriedly staring at you. Steve who broke the silence first.

'Can I know what he just said?'

You finished swallowing a mouthful of pancake before answering. 'He said to hear you out.'
Steve nodded.

'Can I apologise?'

'I don't know, can you?'

He rolled his head back, exasperated, 'Peach...'

'You have apologised, Steve. I understand, ok-- you were drunk. You didn't do anything that bad. Well--', you paused to steal a sip of his coffee, grabbing the mug as he watched, 'you all ruined about 48 throw pillows.'

Steve huffed out a small laugh and shook his head. 'Apparently so. I'll get on that.'

'So... apology accepted I guess.'

'Yeah...I still feel like I need to explain some things, here, Peach.'

'Go on then…’ There was barely a pause, before Steve confidently and succinctly said:

'I'm in love with you.'

Your brain...did not process that. Your brow scrunched in confusion though, and you shook your head.

'What? That's not...you're not...' you floundered with your words, sounding, oddly, a bit like Steve did in his drunken state.

'I assure you, I am.'

'Buh--' Your pancakes were all but forgotten, and you weren’t sure where to look—certainly not into Steve’s blue blue eyes that seemed to know exactly what you were feeling.

Steve unfolded himself from his chair and knelt before yours, grabbing your chair and turning you away from the table and towards him. You didn't know what to do with your hands and they fluttered in your lap, until Steve put them into his large ones and started caressing your knuckles, your fingers.

He looked up at you. And...oh. Oh.

He'd never looked at you like that before. 
If he had, you'd never seen it.
His eyes were so blue, but so deep, and burning into yours.

'I meant every goddamn thing I said last night, Peach.'

You might have hiccupped, or squeaked, you weren't sure, but Steve continued, caressing you and staring into your eyes.

'You're the prettiest, Peach. The kindest. The most wonderful person I've ever met.' His head tucked down, and you felt his lips graze your knuckles. 'In my heart, you're my girl. I've wanted you to be for so long, and last night, yes, I was drunk, and the words in my head...in my heart...blurted outta me. But...,' and he looked back up at you, 'I meant the hell out of them, Peach.'
Silence.

You couldn't think. You felt like you couldn't breathe. 
This was...new information.
You had hoped--god had you hoped, but you never really thought...

'You didn't say you loved me last night...' you whispered.

Steve chuckled softly and moved his hands to your knees, making you tense a little.

'But I did...'

He moved closer to you, so that his body was against your legs, pressing into them. Instinctively, you opened them, and he slipped forward still, and moved his hands up your thighs and up, up, until they settled on your waist. He looked up at you again, and he was close...so terribly, wonderfully, close. 

'And I still love you this morning. And I will tomorrow morning...'

'Jesus...' you whispered, relishing the feeling of his warm hands on your waist and his breath against your lips.

'You're everything, fucking everything, Peach.'

And you were gone. 

Your arms moved, almost of their own accord, to wrap around his neck, and you pulled him even closer, until your mouth met his. If he was surprised, it didn't last long, as his lips pushed against yours--sweetly at first--as if waiting to see if you were sure. But once that moment passed, it was a wholly different sort of kiss.
He devoured you.

He took control and his tongue swept into your mouth, tasting you. You groaned and your right hand dove into his hair, clutching it, while your legs tried to clamp shut around his body.

When you needed air, you pulled away slightly, and he immediately moved his hot mouth down the column of your neck only stopping once he reached where it joined your shoulder. He stopped, and breathed you in.

'Smell so fucking good, Peach. Every time we'd cuddle together, afterwards, I could still smell you. On my clothes, on my skin. Drove me crazy, sweetheart. You drive me outta my goddamn mind.'

'Steve...' you whined, melting into his arms. He seemed to feel your surrender.

'That's right...lemme love on you a bit, Peach...'

You whimpered again as he claimed your mouth back. You couldn’t seem to help but wrap your legs around his waist, and his hands roamed up and down your back, one settling low, and the other making its way to cradle the back of your head. The kiss was all encompassing, something you'd never felt before.

Steve-- you trusted him completely. You admired him, cared for him. He was your friend, and now--now, he was becoming so much more.

Suddenly, Steve stood and an arm went under your ass to brace you. Your legs clenched even tighter around him as he started walking you to the elevator.

You broke away, panting heavily. 'Wh--where are we going?'

His eyes, dark, a stormy blue, met yours and he hummed, 'I'd like to take you back to bed, if that's alright.'

'R-really?'

He moved you both forward, until your back pressed against the wall. He jostled you a bit in his arms, until you were nestling right against him and could feel all of him.
'Oh...,' you sighed.

'Tell me to stop, Peach, and I will. But I really wanna get my hands all over you...taste you...make you mine...'

Holy shit.
Your brain felt like it was going to explode along with the rest of you.

'Steve...I hoped, I really did....'

His mouth pressed into yours, hard, claiming. He nipped at your bottom lip and then soothed it with his tongue. 

'Tell me...' he sucked a mark onto your neck, and you moaned and clutched his head to you, 'say it, Peach, I needta hear it.'

'Steve...'

'Come on, sweetheart…my Peach,' his hands grabbed your ass rather roughly and your breath hitched as you arched against him, 'I need to hear it...'

'Steve...I love you, I love you...'

'Mmm...you’re mine, Peach.' You nodded and Steve kissed your lips and your flushed cheeks, before meeting your eyes again. 'And I'm yours...all yours, sweetheart. Body and soul.'

Your arms were still wrapped around his neck and he tried to duck his head down to kiss your neck again, but you tugged his hair, pulling him back up to look at you. You brought your lips right up again his and stated what your heart and mind were screaming.

'Mine,' you growled.

'I've been waiting a long time for you, sweetheart...a long, long time.' His kissed you sweetly and put his forehead to yours.

'Take me to bed, Steve...please.' 
His breath hitched a little and you could just make out his smile.

'There's my girl...' He whispered, moving you both away from the wall and into the elevator.

----------------------

'So wait-- all the cameras are miraculously blank for the 22 minutes after we left the common room?'

'That's what I said, Manchurian Candidate.'

'Fuckin' Tony...can't you let me change my name Friday? It is my goddamn name.'

'Sorry sir, it is locked in by the Boss.'

'Why do you want to see what they were doing anyway?,' asked Sam from the bed, where he was slightly more recovered.

'Because--I want to know if Steve finally grew some balls and confessed his undying love for Peach.'

'His what?!'

'Come on...even you aren't that dense, birdbrain.'

'I knew he liked her, maybe wanted to sleep with her, but I didn't know it was that deep, ok?'

'Steve doesn't do things by halves-- he's been lost on her for ages.'

'Well, good for them, then. But I still don't understand why you want to peep on them.'

Bucky growled but sat next to Sam on the bed.
'I don't wanna peep, Sam, I just want to make sure--'

'Sir? I have information on the whereabouts of Frosty-the--'

'Go on Friday, let’s hear it.'

'The parties you were interested in seem to be in Miss's bedroom.'

Sam's eyes and mouth went wide as he turned to Bucky.
'They're together?'

'Yes, sir. They arrived at 9.33 am and haven't left since.'
Bucky turned to the clock at Sam's bedside.

12.52...

'Damn...'

'That means what I think it means, right?'

'I sure as hell hope so.'

Sam nodded and flopped his head back onto his pillow. He reached out and took Bucky's hand.

'Well, good for them.'

Bucky squeezed his hand, and turned, smiling. He turned himself about, and then lay next to Sam, kissing him on the cheek.