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

The Line between Respectful and Stupid - Pt.3/5

"You remember that conversation? You seemed a bit out."

"It's fuzzy, but I do remember that... I'm sorry for putting my foot in my mouth," you apologized, feeling a blush creeping up your neck and cheeks.

Steve had been very kind to you, treating you as if you were a friend and while he seemed to like to be treated the same way, thinking about it, you might have crossed a line. Blame it on the pain-meds. Speaking of pain-meds...

This time, Steve laughed, not bothering to hide his amusement at your practically drunken ass. Once again, you didn't catch a single malicious note in that sound, because of course he wouldn't laugh at you in a degrading way.

"Don't be, it was refreshing. Don't stop on my account. And I promise to keep that out of the mission report," he assured you with a playful wink, making your face straightforward crimson. You didn't hold back either though.

"'Kay. Very kind of you, again. Should I keep that information out of my report? Do you have a reputation you'd like to maintain?"

"I leave that up to you. Now, food and liquids," he ordered, letting a serious note in his voice for the first time.

"Yes, Sir. Can I get you anything?" you asked lamely, but his smile in return seemed genuine as he shook his head, gesturing toward his coffee as if he was saying he had all he needed.

"No, thank you. Actually, I've got something for you." You looked at him curiously. "I left you some clothes in the bathroom, it's Natasha's, so it should be about your size." Like Natasha Romanov?! You gulped at the idea, ignoring the flutter in your stomach at Steve's care once again. "And clean towel, supplies, hopefully all you need."

You opened your mouth uselessly, only to close it again, which made Steve's lips twitch. Good to know I'm funny.... You tried your best to charm a grateful smile, deciding that the shower was definitely number two, right after the food.

"Thank you, Steve. I really appreciate that. You're sure— uhm, sure that Agent Romanov won't mind?"

The corners of his mouth rose higher. Oh great. "I'm sure she'll live."

Yeah. But if you don't stop smirking and smiling like that, I might not. Captain.

---

You nestled in a chair with a bowl of soup in your hands, shamelessly savouring its heat in your palms. Steve gave you a brief smile over the screen before returning to the report he was writing.

You ate you food in silence, trying to pay attention to your doing instead of staring at Steve's face. Needless to say you weren't doing a very good job and your commander caught your eyes few times, after which you always lowered your gaze to the bowl very quickly. He didn't call you out on it though and you would actually swear he found it amusing if the crinkle in his irises was anything to go by.

You didn't know how much time passed when he finished with a sigh, massaging the bridge of his nose – the gesture screamed 'tired'. It occurred to you how much the mission's outcome must have been lying or perhaps raging in his thoughts. With another pang of shame, you realized you were so tangled in your own little world that you almost forgot how you had got in here in the first place.

You cleared your throat awkwardly. "Any news?"

Steve's hand dropped at instant and he charmed a professional smile for you. You didn't like that. It didn't reach his eyes and it was his close-off. You weren't asking Captain America, you wanted to keep talking to Steve.

"Oh, the extraction team should be here in about eight hours."

That caught you by surprise. You expected them to be faster. Then again, they had a lot of work... potentially. With the others...?