Saving Steve (Steve Rogers x Reader)

Chapter 41 - Making The Call

Steve supports your weight as you lean against him, sitting on top of the bathroom counter your body is still pleasantly worn as you wrap your arms around his neck with a sigh. Steve's damp head finds a place on your shoulder, and he utters a matching sigh - soft and sated.

As you rest together, you peer at your wrist. The brown twine bracelet resting gently on your skin, the two tiny knots Steve had tied sitting so near each other on the line they nearly touch. And suddenly all the gems in the world lose their luster when compared to it.

*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*

You lift your chin from Steve's shoulder as he turns slightly. Two sets of eyes find Steve's discarded pants across the bathroom floor.

"Is it...?" you ask.

"Has to be," Steve mumbles, kissing your cheek and stepping back, leaving you on the counter of the bathroom sink. You shiver slightly as your bare skin loses the warmth of Steve pressed against you. But on his way to grab the phone from his pocket, Steve tosses you his shirt - his clean shirt. The one he had changed into after his shower. 

You throw it on over your head and grab a handful of the material, burying your nose in how sweet it smells as Steve rummages through his pocket, finally pulling the flip phone out and holding it up to his ear.

"Identification?" he states gruffly. 

You can't hear the voice on the other end, but apparently Steve is satisfied with the answer as you see his shoulders relax, and he raises his shoulder to hold the phone in place without his hands as he moves about the bathroom to dress.

"Any word?" Steve asks. Suddenly his eyes flit to you and his brow furrows. "Why?"

You swallow nervously as you watch Steve's facial expressions shift.

"I don't think...Maria, listen, she...because she doesn't know him, Hill...fine. Fine!"

With a huff, Steve walks over to you and hands out the phone. You arch one brow and cross your arms and tucking your hands away as you shake your head furiously. You hadn't particularly enjoyed your last encounter with Maria Hill. 

"She wants to talk to you," Steve says softly.

"Why?" you ask skeptically.

"Says Tony told her to."

"Tony?" you gasp. "Tony Stark?"

Steve nods somberly and you swallow the nervous lump in your throat, extending one slightly shaky hand to take the phone from Steve. He notices your trembles and takes your other hand, holding it snugly between his two massive paws as you keep your eyes on him.

"H-hello?" your voice trembles.

"Tony Stark said I can trust him. Can I?"

You're taken aback by Maria's no-nonsense and straightforward question. 

"I-I-I...I don't...w-what?" you stammer.

There's a brief silence followed by a long sigh on the other end of the line.

"Listen, Y/n, we got off on the wrong foot."

Your brows skyrocket as your eyes lock on to Steve's, who gives you reassuring smile. He opens his mouth to speak but you hold up a finger as Maria's voice comes through once more, this time infinitely warmer. Exasperated, but patient.

"My life is devoted to keeping people just like you safe and ignorant, and you're no longer safe nor ignorant. And as much as I wish I could do something about it, I can't. You can thank Rogers for that."

"I'll make sure to," you laugh. Steve grins and you lean forward, placing a barely-there kiss softly on his lips.

"Pulling a civ into this mess wouldn't have been my game plan but...he's never been a long-game kind of guy. I mean, he coulda jumped out of that damn plane. The man had a parachute on board."

You gasp, looking up at Steve and smacking him on the shoulder. He frowns, rolling his eyes.

"So it shouldn't come as a surprise that occasionally I need someone else's judgment. And right now I need yours."

"How can I help?" you ask, your voice much more steady.

"Good. I need to know what you know about Tony Stark. He said I could trust him and I said fat chance. He told me to ask you. So, what do you know? And is Tony Stark working for Thaddeus Ross like I think he is?"

You furrow your brow and think for a moment before answering.

"Maria I...I really don't know the man. I've met him two or three times. And not exactly in a casual setting."

"I need a yes or no answer here. Make the call."

You let out a breath and look back up at Steve, who's watching you intently. And you can feel Maria's apprehension through the phone. You know what's at stake here. If you're wrong...

"Yes," you say firmly.

"Now tell me why."

"Tony Stark went out of his way to help me. And to cover for Steve," you say. "And he undermined Ross in interrogation. More than once."

"Not enough. We can't be sure he's not playing both sides here."

"Maria, listen," you urge. "I don't know what all of this is about. Steve hasn't done me the favor of looping me in," you say pointedly looking up at Steve who tenses slightly. "But what I've figured out is that Tony has information you need. That can help you with whatever it is you're trying to do. I think he's being genuine and I think you should trust him. You wanted my opinion, there it is. That's my call."

You fall silent, as does the other end of the line. 

And you wait.

"Put Steve on."

You pull the phone from your ear to put it in Steve's open palm. 

"Yeah," he says.

You can no longer hear Maria as you watch Steve's face. But he remains expressionless for a few seconds.

"Standing by," Steve says, snapping shut the phone.

You let out a breath as Steve pockets it.  He then looks up at you and takes your face between two soft palms. "I'm so proud of you," he says quietly, leaning in and placing a soft, tender kiss on your lips. 

He holds you like that for a long moment before pulling away. 

"So...she's going to talk to him then?" you ask.

"She is. In fact, she's talking to him now in her chat box. We should be hearing back-"

*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*

"Right now," Steve grins, pulling out the burner phone once more.

"Identification," he states once more. 

You lean forward, trying to hear. But it's no use. So you follow every one of Steve's words as he speaks into the receiver.

"I'll send Buck...no...no I'm staying...because I won't do that...don't talk to me about compromise, Maria...yes...thank you, I appreciate it...no, no we don't. Fury took care of us...we're running low but I'll make something work. I don't need a handout. Thank you, Maria."

Steve hangs up and lets out a breath, then looks to you.

"Well?" you ask expectantly.

"Looks like we're getting those coordinates," Steve says with a smile, bending down and handing you your jeans from the floor. "Come on, let's go find Buck."