"You will have to do better than that, Midgardian." Thor boomed from above me. He had me pinned to the crash mat in the gym. The force of him pushing me onto the mat had knocked the breath out of me, and now I was struggling to get back up.

Thor's weight was slowly starting to crush me, and, starting to panic, I threw my knee into his stomach, shifting his weight and making him roll into a ball. I was tempted to just get up and end the training there, but we'd only been going at this for about ten minutes. I flipped myself over so I was straddling his waist and pinned his wrists.

"Like that?" I grinned, and a line appeared between his eyebrows. He looked past me, and began to squirm slightly underneath me.

"Captain... Rogers..." He muttered, and I turned around to look for Steve, kneeling up. No-one was there though, although I did earn a kick in the stomach from Thor when he somehow managed to get his foot underneath me. I went flying across the gym floor, landing in a crumpled heap with my ankle worryingly close to my face.

"You are alright?" Thor got up and lumbered towards me, dropping to his hands and knees in front of me, his eyes filled with concern.

"Yeah... I'll be OK." I struggled to pull myself into a sitting position and bring my legs back to where they were supposed to be. "You kick like a horse though."

He shrugged, "You left me with no other choice."

"I'm one tiny person, Thor!" I cried, massaging my hip, which felt like it had been dislocated, "you could have pushed me off gently or asked me to get off."

The Go'd's blue eyes clouded with confusion. "Had that been a real fight, would you have simply removed yourself?"

I stared at him incredulously for a few seconds before shaking my head. "You know what, never mind."

He stood up, dusting himself down. "I must leave, but I will be back soon, and we can begin your training with Denearmul."

"I've managed to get by up until now."

His eyes hardened. "You must learn how to wield it properly."

"Okay, okay. Whatever. I'll see you next week." I pushed myself up to my feet and watched him leave, before hobbling back over to my bag of stuff and collapsing by the boxing ring.

I let out a long groan, before speaking. "JARVIS?"

"Yes, Miss Reynolds?"

I yawned, "Tell Steve I've done training."

"Captain Rogers is already on his way to the gymnasium, Miss Reynolds."

I opened one eye, "Really?"

"Yep." I heard Steve's voice from the other end of the gym.

"Is there anything else you require, Miss Reynolds, Captain Rogers?"

"No, we're good, JARVIS." Steve said, walking towards me, a smile on his face. I was sitting down with my back pressed against the boxing ring, my arms draped across my knees, exhausted from fighting with Thor. No matter how playful the fighting was, that man was like a puppy who hadn't quite grown into his paws yet. A freaking massive puppy, but a puppy albeit.

"So, how've you been today?" I asked as he sank to his knees in front of me, blonde hair flopping in front of his eyes, just how I liked it.

"Pretty good." He leaned forwards, placing his hands either side of me on the base of the boxing ring and tipping his head to one side. "I remembered something that I haven't done in a while though."

"What's that?"

"Taken you out to dinner."

A smile crossed my lips, and I looked at him. It was true; the last date we'd been on had been about two months ago, to a pretty fancy restaurant downtown. The date had gone spectacularly downhill after a couple of reporters wiled their way into the restaurant and the two of us had been forced to sneak out of the back, cutting our dinner short.

"Perhaps this time somewhere a little quieter?" I suggested.

"I found the perfect place," He leaned further forward, invading my personal space (not that I minded), "It's quiet, quaint, and the reviews are fantastic."

"Sounds great," I shifted slightly, moving my head just ever so slightly closer to his, "Just one thing."

"Name it." he said softly.

"You are not paying for dinner again."

His jaw tightened, and he raised his eyebrows. "Claire..."

"Steve, you've paid for every date we've been on!"

"That's not true, you paid for the milkshakes on Saturday." he began nuzzling my neck gently; his trademark distraction technique.

"Great, so I get all the small stuff."

"This dinner is my treat." he stopped nuzzling and began kissing my neck instead.

"The dinners are always your treat," I protested, my fingers subconsciously winding their way into his blonde locks, "When we went out for your birthday you made me split the bill with you."

He shrugged, his voice slightly muffled, "I'm a gentleman."

"Let me pay."

He raised his head, and then shook it. "And if I see you bring a purse I'm taking you straight back home, and you'll have to eat my cooking instead."

I shuddered, deciding to quit while I was (slightly) ahead. "Deal."

"Good." he stood up, and pulled me with him, grabbing my bag with one hand, walking me out of the gym and towards the elevator.

"Just let me pay the tip." I urged.

"Claire..." he rolled his eyes, pushing the fifth floor button.

"C'mon Steve, that's going to be like ten bucks."

"Ten bucks? That it?" he grinned down at me wolfishly, "Well I guess I can pay that on top of the meal."

I shoved his shoulder as the doors opened on the fifth floor. "You're such a Jack-Ass."

He laughed, leading me up to our room. "I believe this is where your clothes are?"

I looked up at him, confused. "Yeah, and yours."

He shook his head. "We're getting changed in separate rooms Ma'am."

"Steve-"

He put two fingers to my lips, opened my door, threw my bag inside, and kissed me on my cheek, giving me a gentle shove inside my room, before wandering off down the corridor.

I switched on the light, shaking my head. I had no idea what was going through that guy's head sometimes.

---

I I inspected myself in the mirror, a smile hooking my lips. It was a dark purple, floor length, satin dress, with one strap made of a silvery material. What I hadn't realized before I'd bought it was the fact that there was a slit in the material, running up my right leg, to mid thigh. This was the first time I'd worn the dress, and I'd been surprised to find it. A grin stretched across my features when I imagined Steve's reaction.

"Perfect." I muttered, checking my hair. My hair had been pinned up loosely, with curly tendrils falling around my face. A knock at the door made me jump, and I opened it slowly.

Steve was wearing a sharp black suit, with a black skinny tie. I'd introduced him to them a few months ago and he'd bought about four of them, so I think they were a hit. I opened the door fully, and his eyes widened as he took my outfit in.

"You look..." he began, blinking rapidly, searching for a word. I blushed under his gaze and waiting patiently.

"Stunning." He finally said, smiling warmly. "Even more stunning than normal."

"Shame my date can't quite keep up with that." I teased, linking my hand with his, closing the door behind me. "And look, no purse! You can pay."

"I knew you'd see it my way, eventually." he murmured, dropping a lingering kiss on my lips.