Bet | Steve Rogers
Masterlist here.
Word count: ~1160
Requested: no
A/N: google chrome crashed just as I was about to upload this so I’m lowkey pissed but I hope you enjoy! Please like and reblog and comment, it really means a lot to me! As usual, requests and submissions are always open!
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The first time you heard about the bet, you had shaken your head in disbelief. Natasha was the one to tell you.
Of course she had been the one to tell you.
It was during one of Stark’s ridiculous parties, when the redhead sidled up to you. You’d been unconsciously staring in Steve’s direction when Natasha bumped your hips together.
“You know, we have a bet running.”
“A what?” You turned to her, snapping yourself out of your thoughts.
“A bet.” She shrugged casually, her leather jacket bouncing up and down on her shoulders. “Half the team thinks that you and Cap will be sleeping together within the next few months. The other half says it won’t happen for another year.” You stared at the assassin, your mouth agape. Was the whole crush really that obvious?
“What side are you on?” You sputtered. “How much did you bet?”
Nat smirked, hooking her thumbs in the pockets of her jacket. “I said a few months, and I’m not saying how much, but I know that Stark has a thousand dollars riding on this.”
You rolled your eyes. Of course Stark was in on this too.
“He doesn’t like me that way.” You insisted, taking a sip of your beer. At Nat’s suspicious glance, you insisted even more. “Really, he doesn’t.”
“Where’s your evidence?” Nat raised an eyebrow and you groaned. Nothing could get past her, no matter how hard you tried.
She laughed at your frustrated expression, and patted your shoulder sympathetically. “Good luck, then.”
A similar conversation took place a month later between Bruce and Steve. Steve had been in the lab, keeping Bruce company as he looked into the possibilities of stones that carried the same abilities as the tesseract.
“So, uh, Steve, have you been talking to anyone lately?” Bruce joked, a small smile appearing on his face as he overlooked his research. “Nat says you can’t walk down the street without someone coming on to you.”
This was true; Steve couldn’t go anywhere without being ogled. He’d tried everything: wearing a disguise, baggy clothes, keeping his head low. Despite his efforts, he was always found out eventually. It was getting harder and harder to be polite.
One of the things Steve had learned quickly was that being in the twenty first century with his body type meant that he would be objectified. While his teammates did it jokingly, the people on the street practically undressed him with their eyes.
You never participated in the joking, even though you were always around when it happened. That was one of the qualities Steve liked about you.
“I haven’t… I’m not… No.” Steve said finally, thrown off by the question. He’d expected it from Tony, but Doctor Banner?
The former must be rubbing off on Bruce, Steve thought to himself.
“Really? Not even (Y/N)?” Bruce asked, his smile growing more apparent.
Steve thought about it for a second. He did enjoy talking to you, and while his heart still longed for Peggy, he knew he was “beating a dead horse”, as Tony had phrased it. You had a certain kind of softness that rounded out the team. Unlike the others, you didn’t have too many emotional scars, and you fought purely for the good of your heart. The first time they all asked about your powers, you’d said that if you had the abilities, you might as well use them.
He decided then and there that he wanted you as a friend.
But more?
Maybe.
Kind of.
Okay, yes.
“Um..” Generally Steve didn’t vocalize his nervousness, but Bruce picked up on it immediately. The scientist turned around, a sheepish expression taking over his face.
“Well, I can’t give you advice, since I’m pretty bad with feelings,” Bruce waved his hand in the air, “but we may have bet on you two.”
“What do you mean?” Steve’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
Bruce turned back to his work. “Oh, you know, Stark. He and Natasha have this bet that you and (Y/N) will get together.” He shrugged. “Nat bet a couple of months, Stark said over a year. I may have joined in on the bet.”
Steve blinked, processing the information. Even if you returned his feelings, would you really date a team member? You didn’t seem like the person who did that sort of thing.
He headed out, wanting to go to the gym downstairs to clear his thoughts.
“Oh, and Steve? You weren’t supposed to know, so don’t say anything.” Banner pleaded, and the team leader nodded, walking out without an audible response.
A month later, you found yourself on the couch on the common floor, calmly filling out reports (for who, you weren’t sure - maybe for history’s sake at this point), when Steve sat next to you.
“Oh, hey Steve.” You said, looking up to figure out who was walking to you. “Sorry, I’m filling out reports right now. Did you need something?” You placed your hands in your lap, away from the computer that you had set down on the coffee table.
“I wanted to talk to you about this.. Thing. A month ago, Bruce said something involving you and me. Apparently, the rest of the team is betting that we end up together.” You raised an eyebrow, trying not to laugh. Steve looked so awkward, but he maintained eye contact, however uncomfortable he seemed. For a guy with a body like his, it always surprised you that inside he was still the little, sickly kid from Brooklyn.
“Yeah, I know.” You tried to hide your smile, bowing your head for a second before straightening up. “Nat kindly told me at Stark’s party a while back.”
“What do you think about it?” God, this must be the first time you’d seen him so shy. On the field, he practically radiated confidence, but now, it seemed all that had gone.
“I think it’s a little ridiculous, but, it depends on how you feel about it. Would you - and I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but - would you be open to being in a romantic relationship with me, Mr. Rogers?” You asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes.” His answer seemed so sure, so definite. “Would you?”
You nodded shyly. “Can I be honest?”
“Go ahead.”
“I don’t have a lot of experience with this sort of thing.”
“I don’t either, but we can learn together?” He proposed, and you nodded.
“May I?” Steve leaned closer, reaching out to brush a small strand of hair out of your face. You didn’t need to give him much of an answer as you leaned closer, meeting him in the middle to give him a sweet kiss.
When you pulled apart, you gave him a wide grin.
“Hey, JARVIS? Let Nat know that she won the bet.” You announced, and somewhere in Stark Tower, Tony screamed in frustration as Nat grinned a cheshire cat like smile.
