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

If You Stumble... Pt.1/3

It was Tony's cocky voice you heard first. "Look, just because you said-"

He was interrupted by an alarm beeping and everyone's head snapped Steve's direction, while he straightened and slipped his hand to his pocket, pulling out his phone and silencing it.

Your breath hitched for two reasons; firstly, did he really set an alarm to... what, tell him it was time to get ready for a date? That was incredibly sweet. Secondly: fear. Was he about to get in trouble for that?

"Oh, that's nothing. Wait for it," the agent uttered, a knowing smile in his voice.

"What the hell was that?" the 'eye-patch' man demanded, sounding more annoyed than exasperated.

Steve rose to his feet. "I gotta go."

Your hand shot up to your mouth. Oh. Oh, Steve.

"I beg your pardon?" one of the suited men hissed.

"Excuse me, I need to go."

"You have a hot date or what?" the black man asked and... did you see a smirk on his face? No, must have been your imagination, there was no way you could see their facial expressions, the screen was too small for that.

Tony in the video snorted.

"As a matter of fact, sir, I do."

"Oh my god," you muttered into your palm, hearing real-life chuckle from the driver's seat.

"Gets better."

What?!

One of the intimidating white men in expensive suit rose from his seat, leaning onto the table as if he wanted to intimidate Steve. Ha, he wished. But worries twisted your gut. Was Steve getting into trouble for this? It didn't look like it, judging by Agent Morales' amusement, but still.

"This is a matter of national security! It holds the greatest importance!" he sputtered, his face getting a shade of red.

"With due all respect, Senator Brendon, so does she," Steve announced evenly.

Your jaw fell into your lap, your eyes going wide and filling with tears under the wave of emotions hitting you. You gasped, staring at the device in your hand, blinking.

Did he... did he really just say that? To Senator's face?!

Clearly, the men in the room were equally shocked – and not nearly as moved as you were.

"You're not leaving this meeting just so you can meet your girl-toy and get la-"

The Senator never got to finish the sentence that immediately struck you with humiliation and indignation. You only blinked, wondering when exactly Steve had moved to have the man pinned against the table, hand twisted behind his back, hissing furious words, voice like venom.

"Do not talk about her like that!"

Despite the horrifying situation, the picture was almost funny. Why? Because Tony was calmly examining his nails as if they were holding great importance, the other senator's face was terrified as he jumped back, the black man only had his eyebrow raised and... Agent Morales stood by the door, seemingly unfazed as well.

You paused the video, unsure you wanted to see the rest, your mind racing.

"Weren't... weren't you supposed to... I don't know, draw a weapon at that point?" you asked, overwhelmed.

That would make sense, right? Make sure the senator didn't get hurt by an angry soldier? Supersoldier, but whatever.

"Probably. Honestly though? He deserved that and a punch to his face on top. Please, finish it, madam. It's just few more seconds."

The respectful 'madam' sounded incredibly out of place as he was being brutally and possibly unprofessionally honest. You obediently resumed the video, eyes still wide.

"Well. Now that we established that Senator Brendon is an obnoxious ass," Tony hummed, his voice carrying a surprisingly sharp edge, making your jaw fell lower.

What the hell was he doing speaking like that to a senator?! Also, was he defending you? Tony Stark, who seemed to never run out of double entendre when you were around, always poking your intimate relationship with Steve? Colour you impressed and shocked once more.

"Can we send Agent Morales to drive Captain Rogers' very respectable woman for their date and then finish the meeting real quick so we can go separate ways? Cap, let go of him, please. He needs that hand to sign a lot useless papers."

Tony Stark just became your best friend. And you started hating politician more than you had until now, but that was beside the point.

"Good plan, Stark," the eye patch man stated calmly, eyeing Steve who was still literally breathing to Senator Brendon's neck. "Captain?"

Steve reluctantly released the man, watching him like a hawk. You tried to hold back the smile at him defending your honour, but it was really hard.

"Let's get this over with. Agent Morales?"

"At your service, Captain."

Steve wrote down something for him then – your address, you presumed, as well as the point of meeting – and told him to show you his driving licence. You looked up and met the agent's smile at that.

The last words before the video ended were from Tony.

"Agent Morales? Jarvis will send something to your phone to entertain Cap's lady when you're driving her. Be so kind and treat her with respect unlike some people in this room who didn't seem to move on from pre-historic view on female population. She's a good and brilliant woman."

The agent in the footage nodded as Tony did something on his phone and then the screen went black.

You had to fight tears now, silently staring at the phone.

"Sorry about hearing Senator Brendon. But I think the rest was quite spectacular, wouldn't you say, madam?"

You choked on a laugh, too many emotions swirling in you.

"Yeah. I'd say."

You wondered what you should give Tony for being such an incredibly kind advocate for you; given the fact he could have everything in the world with the billions he had on his account, you decided you would just had to settle for a hug.

As for Steve.... well. You weren't sure if it was wise to bring it up in the first place. You decided to act after you would see his mood. You definitely wanted to show gratitude though.

The rest of the drive was spent in silent awe.

----Notes:
This was supposed to be 'the First Time' fic, mostly plotless smut. Somehow it's growing into a full story...? There are like... things happening? Oops.

Still, the fic is spectacularly self-indulgent. You're welcome? :D

P.S. – Feedback always appreciated.

Love, AAM