Trouble
Pairing: John Walker x Reader
Word count: 1,3k
Warnings: kissing?? (not sure if I’m even able to write smut)
A/N: this is a very first EVER fanfic I wrote, so be kind. English is not my first language so there might be some mistakes. I hope you like it ♥
The new avengers tower was extremely quiet and empty at this time of the night. The only sound echoing was a silent patter of rain outside and a kettle warming up in the kitchen. You simply couldn’t fall asleep and you had no idea who or what to blame. Maybe it was because of the mission you just completed, high possibility because of the pain in your ribs, or perhaps of a certain someone who decided that hitting you square in the chest with a shield will definitely make you get down and save you from crossfire. You shake your head at the memory and tap the kettle a couple of times as it boils.
“Probably just mercury in retrograde” the exhaustion makes you blame it on astrology. Funny, you think, making yourself laugh as you pour the boiling water in the cup you prepared earlier with tea.
A sudden sound makes you flinch and almost spill the water on yourself.
“Shit.” you curse and quickly grab a paper towel to clean up.
“How smooth” the voice you know way too well breaks the silence, forcing you to sigh, already annoyed.
“What are you doing, Walker?”
“Tch, I was just thirsty.” he walks closer to you “But better question is what are you doing up… It’s 2AM, you know” a raspy chuckle escapes Walker while he sleepily opens a fridge and grabs a bottle of water. Your eyes sneakily follow his slow movements. The way he brushes a hand against his hair, down to the way his adams apple moves as he swallows that damn water, how much the muscles in his arms flex… The lack of a shirt on his body lets your imagination loose, providing of mental images of what could you possibly do if you removed his gray sweatpants.
You quickly look away and chose to pay attention to the cup of tea you have placed on the counter. You hate to admit it, it even makes you frustrated to even think about it, but John Walker is ridiculously hot. Just as much as he is annoying, actually.
“I couldn’t fall asleep” you finally manage to answer him “Probably because of my ribs.” a teaspoon clinks against the edge of your tea cup as you stir it in circles.
“You’re still on that?” Walker puts away the bottle and leans against the counter next to you with his arms crossed.
“Yes, because it still hurts.”
“Oh, come on, it was a tactical decision. I was protecting you”
“Well good for you” you turn to face him as your roll your eyes in response “I didn’t ask you to, though” your eyes meet his and it already feels like a mistake. He looks like sin.
“Your welcome, miss sunshine” he smirks. Is he serious? A smirk?
“I did not say thank you” anger overtakes you since it’s easier to do that than admitting very complicating feelings to yourself.
“Your welcome, again”
“Ugh, you infuriate me… I have no desire to argue with you right now” you look away sighing in frustration. You are tired and sleep deprived, and for sure in no mood for more banters with a certain soldier. Your quick change of emotions startled Walker and wiped that smirk off his face.
“You okay?” his confused voice sounded weirdly soft. You were used to his sarcastic comments and insults, so this confused you more than you already were.
“I’m fine…” the forgotten cup of tea found comfort in your hands while you took a sip out of it, trying to ignore the man next to you. But fate is not on your side tonight, it never really was. Walker moved right in front of you and gently took the cup out of your hands, placing it to the side.
“I don’t believe you. Is it because I got you hurt on that last mission?”
“Yes – no…” you’re not sure how to answer, your brain buffers momentarily “...I don’t know, okay” a sigh escapes your lips. Neither of you speak for a while. The rain is still pouring outside, a single light far in the corner somewhere barely illuminates the space you both share.
There was always tension between you two and you always put it away as the bad kind of tension, because of your need to punch him in the throat as soon as he annoyed you, but now… It feels different.
“Hey. Look at me” he turns his head to the side, trying to catch your gaze, which you keep down so persistently.
“Tsk, Stop that” you look up to the ceiling while your hands grip the edge of the counter you are leaning on “Why are you acting so…” you pause in search for words “...So concerned. You don’t do that. Ever.”
“I’m not.” Walker clears his throat “I’m curious”
“Of course you are” you huff in response and finally meet his eyes that were on you all this time.
“I’m sorry.” maybe it’s the late hours of the night or the lack of sleep making Walker so open, but those two words are not said in a mocking way.
“What?” a genuine confusion crosses your face.
“Don’t make me repeat myself” Walker takes one step closer, practically caging you between the counter and himself. “It wasn’t my intention to hurt you, okay”
“What was it then?” the question hangs in the air while your heart hammers in your chest, ready to jump out any minute and do a flip.
“I was – um, I was trying to keep you safe” there. The confession he dreaded. Walker breaks the eye contact briefly, swallowing hard as if trying to push down something else he wants to say badly. You don’t have an answer either. All you can manage to say is:
“Oh.” one word that could mean so little and yet – so much.
The silence stretches even longer this time, all you can hear is your heart pounding in your ears, not calming down for a second, a clock ticking somehow even louder and sharp breaths the man in front of you is taking. Unfortunately, both of you decide to look up, meeting your eyes at the same time. His eyes hold conviction, yours – vulnerability. And yet, both hide helpless surrender. Space between you gets smaller. Warmer. Less easy to ignore the lack of it. Walker’s hands drop to his sides before they move next to yours, gripping the same edge you anchor yourself on.
“This is very confusing… You are confusing” his voice barely a whisper.
“These are confusing times, John…” His name on your lips feels forbidden, rolling off of your tongue dangerously.
“Don’t do that” he swallows hard, lowering his head and closing his eyes for a short moment before he looks up at you again. His face even closer than before.
“Don’t do what?” you let out a shuddered breath.
“Don’t say my name like that, miss sunshine” a faint but dangerous smirk curls at the corner of his lips, from which you have a hard time to look away.
“Like what, John?” at your question, Walker grips the edge of the counter until his knuckles turn white. It’s surprising that he doesn’t break the marble under his palms.
“Stop asking stupid questions” he sighs once more, lifts his right hand and lifts your chin with two fingers with tenderness that shocks both of you “You talk too much” and with these last four words he closes the remaining distance and presses your lips together. You don’t move, neither does he, but it lasts only a few seconds. You move your lips matching his in a slow pace. Your grip on the marble loosens and slowly your hands lift to the back of his neck, holding him close and deepening the kiss. John’s hands wrap around your waist, exploring the curve of your back. The kiss is gentle, but full of yearning and unsaid feelings.
“You are trouble” Walker confesses the moment he breaks the kiss for some air.
“You flatter me, Walker” your lips brush his as breathy whispered words escape you.
