Lessons in Rule Breaking and Other Reader-Inserts*Steve Rogers*Reader*

Surprise Me - Pt.2/2

You could goddammit, just get a fucking grip-

"That's not fair," you let out finally, his eyes watching you with concern as he was leaned to you. "You're so good to me, Captain Rogers and I-I-"

"I thought we were on the first name basis."

Right. But that had been before you ditched him. It was nice that he insisted anyway.

"S-sorry, Steve."

"And for your information, it was not your fault I didn't eat. Technically, you were the reason why I actually had an appetite for few minutes. So, if nothing else, you didn't make it worse," he reassured you, brushing your arm few times before he kept his hands to himself again.

The place he had touched you burned as much as your cheeks.

"That's not reassuring- Steve."

He made a face. "It was giving more sense in my head. The point is, it's okay. It's barely your fault you were doing your job."

The unexplainable weight fell off your shoulders, allowing you to settle. You charmed a tiny apologetic smile even, managing to look straight into his eyes, only to catch yourself drowning.

"I'm still sorry. Is there a way to make it up to you? I know all the coffee places here. I can get you the best coffee in the neighbourhood and I'm pretty sure I'll be able to snatch a piece of pie from Pratt. I mean, I did bring it to him."

Steve smiled widely when he detected the shift in your mood and crossed his arms on his chest.

"Nice try," he exclaimed, standing up straight, which meant he was towering over you now. "But... I'm afraid that's not gonna cut it, you know."

You blinked in surprise, confused by the sudden change in his behaviour. Also, you would swear you sense a bit of playfulness in his words, put you couldn't put your finger on why.

"W-what?"

The very same second, your pager went off again. Pratt needed you - no, Pratt wanted you back on the leash. You gulped under Steve's intense gaze, hesitant to react to the call. You had barely apologized to him and now you were about to head out again.

With a shaky inhale, you ignored the annoying beeping, earning a content grin from Steve.

"Let me take you to lunch tomorrow. Make up for missing an appointment by having another lunch with me," he suggested and this time you caught a hint of worry in his expression.

You felt your jaw fall on the floor as the words echoed in your head. What- what? Did he really just... ask you to have lunch with him? Why the hell did it sound as if he... that wasn't possible, right? You must have heard wrong.

"You... you're serious," you stated, absolutely taken aback.

As if he was asking you to a date. Ridiculous.

"Very."

Or not.

You gulped, the euphoria slowly igniting every cell in your body. He had asked you out. He wanted to have a lunch with you, tomor-

Oh FUCK. You couldn't even indulge the joy, because there was no way Pratt would let you have a lunch. You were lucky enough to pee for god's sake or have a tiny bite of your snack between his ordering around.

Lunch? As in at least an hour of time away from him? No way. Steve's job might have been done here, but yours...

"I- I'm not sure Pratt will let me-... uhm. I'm actually pretty sure he won't," you whispered, ashamed and utterly disappointed.