could you do like the fluffy alternative? that steve is a really handy boyfriend too, and you ask him to do projects all the time? and he just adores reader? just something with handyman steve being sweet!
It takes Steve Harrington exactly once to right his wrongs.
He's a quick study, adaptable, and despite what some may say about his intelligence, he's great on instinct. If suddenly you briefly mention how much you love lilies when he brought you daisies home, the next day, he comes home with a whole new arrangement of lilies. If you casually mention your preferred pizza spot, he's filing that away for later. It's something inherently domestic about him; the desire to provide for his partner and go above and beyond.
That didn't mean he was immune to slipping up occasionally. You had been asking him to mount your hanging pot in the kitchen for the past three days. But he was busy between the radio station and chasing after the kids that it slipped his mind.
You figured that you were handy enough fighting the Upside Down; how hard could it be to hang by yourself? The answer was apparently very difficult.
Somewhere between opening the basket and sliding the plant in, it all had come tumbling down while Steve entered the kitchen. Dirt was smeared all down your front as the basket twisted in its own netting.
Steve dropped whatever was in his hands and rushed over to you, "Honey, are you alright?"
His large hands cupped your jaw while his eyes flitted about your face and head for injuries. His thumbs wiped away the dirt that speckled your cheeks. He did not care for the poor plant beneath his feet, the frayed edges of the once pristine basket, or the slightly striped hole in your kitchen ceiling. He just needs to make sure you are okay before anything else.
From that day on, he does things almost as soon as he's asked. His conscience doesn't need to fret about the alternative of you just doing things without his help.
"Hey, babe, can you come hold the ladder?" You called out to him, "It's a little wobbly."
Steve's gliding into the room, not even a half second later, "What did I say about getting on the ladder without me in sight?"
"I call for your help, I only climbed the first two steps," You shrugged as his hands grasped at the bars.
"You should've mentioned that these lights were out. I would've handled it," He says, as if you've forgotten that he wants to be your handyman.
You descend the ladder and press a kiss to his cheek, "Then who would hold the ladder?"
Summary: You want to celebrate Steve’s actual birthday, none of that 4th of July bs
Word count: 920
Content/warnings: essentially straight-up fluff, kissing, lotsa happy smiles, friend Bucky, time switching between past and present
A/N: This is thanks to the discussion of Steve’s actual birthday from @thezombieprostitute and @peyton-warren. I just love the thought of him having to keep it a secret because of a contract he signed a lifetime ago, only letting his closest family and friends in on it.
I’d love to hear what you think. More than happy to gush with you in response to comments, reblogs, or asks💗 thank you for reading
Dividers by @firefly-graphics
Main Masterlist
The lights were off and there were guards around the perimeter, ready to relocate any possible onlookers or overly curious paparazzi. Surely the abundance of cars parked outside the complex could’ve drawn attention, but no more than any other gathering, you were hoping. The curtains were drawn shut, tight as can be so no light could make it through, although there wasn’t much besides the flickering flames that lit up your face.
You were crouched over in the corner of the kitchen counter in your small apartment, further cozied by the dozen or so people who crammed into the small space, all here to celebrate your wonderful boyfriend, Steve Rogers as you used your lighter in a frenzy so the first candle wouldn’t melt before you finally reached the last one.
Once you first found out about it, you couldn’t help but bust out into laughter. Steve did his best to keep a straight face, telling you the story as you were leaning against him on the small couch in your apartment a few months after the two of you started dating.
“Steve, why? Just…why? Why did you agree, why did they make you do it in the first place?”
Steve let out a chuckle and threw his hands up in a shrug as he continued his explanation.
“It was in the contract! I just wanted to serve my country. I guess they thought it would drum up more patriotism? I had no problem faking it until the war was over, but I had no idea I’d be around this long. There’s no end to it. I’ve just gotta hide my real birthday from the public forever, however long that ends up being.”
You snuggled into his chest and giggled.
“Yeah, you have been around for awhile. But I’m so happy it led you here. Now you just get to have two celebrations. One that’s small and special, private, shared with friends, and the other that you share with the people.”
Steve smiled as he pressed a kiss to the top of your head and squeezed around your waist, pulling you closer as you shuffled back into him.
“I’m gonna try and let it slide that you called me old because I love you, and I love the idea of my day being just for us.”
Bucky had come over earlier in the day to help you set up for the small party you were surprising Steve with. Tony and Nat had taken him out for a day in the city doing who knows what, but it gave the two of you plenty of time to decorate and prepare.
Just before guests started arriving, you were putting candles on the cake, only up to seventy-five.
“Buck, how the heck am I supposed to fit any more candles on this cake? I’m not even three-quarters of the way finished and I’m running out of room!”
Bucky looked over at you from his spot on the ladder where he was hanging streamers and smiled when he saw the cake. He was happy his friend had found someone amazing. And he’d be lying if he said he didn’t get along with you almost as well as Steve. He’d become a good friend over the year or so you’d been dating.
“Um…put the candles closer together? It’s definitely gonna mess up that frosting you worked so hard on, but I guess that’s the cost of celebrating old men like us.”
You smiled and shrugged as you continued on. “Yeah, that’s what it’s looking like it’s gonna be. You think he’ll be okay with that?”
Bucky nodded. “More than okay. He’ll love it.”
The combined flame from the hundred or so candles smushed side-by-side was hot on your smiling cheeks as you walked towards the grin being mirrored on Steve. Everyone around you was singing as you set the cake down in front of him on the counter, watching him finally take a deep breath and blow out the mound of wax that sat atop a cake specially baked in his favorite flavor. There was no red, white, and blue. No patriotism in sight. Just the pure celebration of a man who affected all of you as a person. An individual with an amazing, beautiful, selfless personality, separate from what everyone else in the world saw him as.
Steve wrapped an arm around your hip as smoke faintly rose from the extinguished candle lump and pulled you tight to his side. Your hand went to his hair, idly stroking through it as the friends surrounding you cheered.
“Wish for anything good, Stevie?”
He titled his head up to look at you, beaming with love and satisfaction.
“I know I’ll get made fun of for saying I have everything I could ever want right here, so yes. But I will also say, it’s not that far off.”
You playfully rolled your eyes at him. He always knew just what to say. You leaned down to give him a peck before you heard a groan from behind you. It was Tony.
“Okay, love birds. We get it. Happy secret birthday, Rogers. Now hurry up and get your thousand candles outta here. It’s time for cake!”
You helped Steve to pull the candles off the cake, holding one out here and there for him to lick the frosting off. He hummed at the flavor, happy you knew him so well and that he knew there were many more special celebrations, just like this, to come.
Bonus A/N: hehehe, happy birthday Steve. Let the man be happy in the modern day. Cake actually sounds so good rn
