Saving Steve (Steve Rogers x Reader)

Chapter 14 - A Bag of Flour

Instead, you reach into the bag on the counter and grab a fistful, tossing it at him and covering his t-shirt.

"There. Now we're even," you smirk.

Steve stands before you, shocked as he glances down at the mess. You're both quiet for a moment, and your smile starts to fade as your humor is replaced by worry.

As Steve's face remains neutral, staring down at his own shirt, your worry turns to fear, and your heart begins to race.

Maybe you had crossed a line. Maybe you had overstepped.

Oh God, maybe he'll get angry. Maybe he'll-

But suddenly Steve looks back up to you, an amused glimmer in his eye.

"I guess I deserved that."

You let out a relieved laugh, mentally scolding yourself for falling so quickly back into old habits. You're about to reach out and dust off the flour you just coated him with when you notice Steve's gaze darts back to the bag of flour on the counter.

Yours follow.

His eyes leap back to yours, and your brow furrows.

Is he...?

Steve's gaze flits over to the bag once more, and on instinct you lunge for the flour bag at the same time he does. Somehow you get there a fraction of a second before him.

"I knew it!" you shout, squealing in delight as you pull the bag into your chest, keeping it away from the pesky man-child. You try to shove your fist inside to grab another handful, but find yourself suddenly lifted a few inches off the ground.

"Oh no you don't," he growls playfully, wrapping his arms around you and holding you tightly as you laugh, preventing you from actually reaching inside to grab more ammunition.

You wriggle against his iron grip for a moment, but it's no use.

"Do you surrender?" he leans down and asks in your ear, his lips tickling the outer edge and sending a shiver down your spine.

"Never!" you shout.

"I can do this all day, little lady!"

"Me too, muscles!"

Steve laughs and you twist slightly, nearly making it back into the bag. But Steve compensates, grabbing your wrist and holding you tightly, your back now to his chest.

"Okay!" you giggle throwing your head back on his shoulder as he holds you completely immobilized. "I surrender! But only because the biscuits are going to burn. I would have gotten out eventually."

Steve laughs and you feel his grip on you loosen, but not release. You take the opportunity to try and wiggle away from his grasp, but he keeps a tight hold on your arms that still hold the flour bag.

You manage to turn yourself around, the two of you now chest to chest.

Steve looks down at the bag of flour you cling to stubbornly, arching one commanding brow. You lift your chin defiantly.

"Drop it," he says firmly, a smirk playing on his lips.

You let out a sarcastically burdened sigh, dropping the bag on the ground and raising both hands in mock defeat with an innocent smile.

"Good girl," he says, his bright blue eyes finding yours.

His unexpected praise causes your lips part as a chill runs down your spine. You're suddenly very warm as Steve stares deeply into your eyes, holding you flush to his chest. His teasing smile from only moments ago slowly fades as his eyes flit between your own, and a conflicted look crosses his face - a strange and intense mixture of happiness, longing, confusion and guilt.

Your heart stumbles as his eyes dart to your lips, the same way they had last night. Butterflies erupt in your stomach as a hand lands on your back, pulling you in tighter, bringing your flour-streaked faces closer together and his sweet breath hits your cheeks in warm waves. His nose brushes yours, your lips but a whisper apart.

"Y/n...I-"

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

The shriek of the fire alarm causes you both to jump and look towards the oven, where tendrils of grey smoke are curling out and rising to the ceiling. Steve immediately lets you go and runs over to the oven, pulling open the door as a massive cloud of smoke billows out.

Steve grabs an oven mitt from the counter and pulls out the tray of completely blackened biscuits dropping it in the sink.

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

"How do we turn it off?" you yell over the loud beeping of the fire alarm.

"I don't know!" Steve laughs.

You descend into giggles as well, running over to the back window and throwing it open, a small breeze already sucking out the smoke.

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

You walk over to Steve who shakes his head, his face bright red as you both laugh.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*

Your laughs immediately cease, caught in your throats as you both fall quiet at the harsh pounding at the door. You toss a worried glance towards Steve, whose usual tense demeanor is back, his jaw tight and shoulders rigid.

You take a step towards the door, but a strong arm wraps around your waist, pulling you back. Steve looks down at you and shakes his head, raising a single finger to his lips in a silencing gesture before pushing you behind him, caging you in his arms as he steps protectively in front.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*

As another round of fierce knocking causes your door to shake, the deadbolt rattling. In determination, you duck under Steve's arm and step around him, placing a reassuring hand on his chest. You have a feeling you know who it is, and if you don't answer the door, it won't stay on its hinges for very long.

Besides, you made your decision last night. You're not going to be bullied anymore.

Steve seems to debate with himself for a moment but unwillingly lets you go, watching vigilantly as you take small steps towards the door, all sound drowned out by the obnoxious shriek of the fire alarm.

As you peek through the peep hole, you feel a cold dread course through your body. You look over to Steve, who by your expression doesn't need to ask to know just who it is.

Ross.