Someone to Have

Steve could feel the embarrassment pouring off of him as he all but ran out of the library. He could hear Natasha behind him trying to keep up. Why did she have to go to the library with him? Now she saw him first hand trying to talk to Sami and what a disaster it was.

“Steve!” He slowed, bracing himself for whatever mocking Natasha was about to unleash. “What happened in there?”

“Natasha, I don't need your input.”

She was surprised at his almost aggressive tone. “Clearly you do.”

“No, we’re done here.” He started back to his car. He wanted to erase the memory of the interaction with Sami, not be reminded of it by Natasha.

“She wanted to keep talking to you.” She wasn't going to give up. “Ask her to dinner or something. I’m sure she’d say yes.”

He didn't remember the walk from his car being this far. “Stop worrying about my love life.”

“I think she likes you. Just ask her out, what's the worst that could happen? She says no?”

Steve stopped, turning quickly. Natasha almost crashed into his chest. “Do you know how old I am?”

The question caught her off guard. “Do I . . . Steve, what does that-”

“I’m ninety eight years old, Natasha.”

It still fascinated her when she heard his age aloud. “You don't look like you're ninety eight.”

“Exactly. I am eternally this age,” he gestured to his body. Tall, strong, not a wrinkle on his face.

“I don't understand how your age has anything to do with asking someone on a date.”

Of course she didn't understand, he didn't expect her to. He didn't expect anyone to.

“I was frozen for seventy years. If I hadn't of been do you know how many funerals I would have gone to? Ninety eight years of never aging, but watching everyone I love age. And die.” His mouth set into a hard line as his jaw clench. He swallowed down the lump in his throat. “Sometimes I wish I hadn't of been in that plane when it went down, but more often than not I’m thankful I was. So I didn't have to sit around and watch them all die with no end in sight.”

Natasha blinked away the tears in her eyes. She could relate to Steve. She knew the despair that came with knowing your friends, the people you loved, would die. She knew the pain of being the hands that took the life.

Her past was not a fond memory, and more and more she was beginning to see that neither was Steve’s. Maybe it was the thing that held them together, the feeling of loss. Natasha never thought about losing him, but now she wondered if Steve worried about losing her.

Steve’s day was pretty much shot to hell now. Memories were brought up. Some good, but they still pained him. Lately his days were spent alone in his apartment lost in his thoughts. He thought about getting help, but what psychiatrist would know what to do for a man trapped, suspended in time?

Books were his only solace. He could read all day, taking his thoughts away to another place. Anywhere but his tormented reality.

And that's where he met her, Sami. So kind and soft. She brought a comfort to him he didn't know he was missing. The battle inside raged. One part wanting to know more, know everything about her. The other was yelling to keep away. Usually he had pretty good self control, but for some reason the brunette wasn't easy to ignore. And it made Steve want her all the more.

Natasha’s hand on his arm brought him back to reality. “You can't hide away, Steve.” Her blue eyes shone with a love that Steve had almost forgotten about. She showed him that it was okay to let people in, even if she didn't realize it. She was his friend.

“I’ll think about it.” But his mind was made up. Friends was something he could consider, but he knew being friends with Sami would not be enough for him.

Natasha backed off. She knew Steve was lying, but she’d give him a few days. And if nothing changed she would talk to Sami herself.

She shook her head at him. “If you say so, Rogers.” Looking at the time she realized she had somewhere to be. “I gotta go.”

Steve watched her get into her corvette. “Have a date?”

Natasha smirked as she pulled up next to him. “Let me know what your answer to Fury is. Before you tell him.”

Steve nodded. “Yes ma’am.”

“Don’t break a hip getting into your car, old man.”

Steve rolled his eyes but gave her a playful smile. “Get out of here, Romanoff.”

She returned the gesture. “Later, Cap.”

Steve watched as she drove out of the parking lot. Turning, he made his way to his car. His night was pretty much planned. He had a new book; now he just had to figure out what to eat for dinner.

The clicking of heels caught his attention and upon looking up he saw Sami. His heart leapt at the sight. Her grey skirt clung tightly to her, stopping mid thigh and showing her curves. Tucked in was a black, quarter sleeve shirt. Her long legs covered by black stockings. Long, dark hair hung down her back and flowed around her face. She had a small bag strapped across her body and balanced at least four books in her arms.

As she got closer to her car she struggled to hold the books as she searched inside of her bag.

“Need a hand?” Steve called out as he approached her.

A soft gasp left her mouth, she thought she was alone. “Steve,” a warmth filled her at the sight.

“Do you need help?” he asked again, concern etched on his face.

“Please,” she handed off the books to him and dug in her purse until she pulled out her keys. “My bag isn't even that big. I don't know why it's so hard to find things inside of it.”

Steve chuckled. She was cute even when frazzled. “Just glad I could help out. Stealing all the books?” She had six.

“Oh no,” she reached out to take them back, but Steve shook his head. “I’ve been wanting to check them out for ages, but they're always gone. They all happened to be in at the same time, so I snagged them while I could.”

“A book hoarding librarian,” Steve laughed. “Seems a bit contradictory.”

“I never like to fit the mold.” The glint in her eye made Steve’s insides clench.

“You don't have a tablet to put all of your books on?” If Natasha could hear him now…

“I prefer the real deal. I find comfort in being able to turn the page.” Steve could relate. He felt himself fall for her a little bit more.

“Can I help you to your car?”

“I’d appreciate that. It’s right over here,” she pointed to the small, red S.U.V. a few spaces down.

Steve felt almost proud of himself. They were talking and he wasn't embarrassing himself. In fact, he didn't feel nervous at all.

Sami opened the door to her backseat and he set the books down.

“Not going to buckle them in?” he teased as she closed the door.

“Not this bunch. It's not like any of them are Harry Potter.”

Harry Potter. One of the things on his list to check out.

“Will I see you at the library tomorrow?” she asked him. This was the most they had talked, she wanted to keep it going. “It usually only takes you a day or two to finish a book.”

“I might take my time with this one. Really enjoy the story.”

“I hope you do.” Her soft smile shot straight to his gut.

“I’ll be sure to check you out when I come back though.” He cringed at his words. “No, not check you out-”

Her giggle was soft. “I know what you meant, Steve.”

His embarrassment began taking over. “Alright, well I see you in a couple days.” He turned his back to her and began walking away. Sami watched him, biting her lip nervously.

It was now or never.

“Steve!” He immediately stopped. “I, um, wanted to ask if you’d want to go to lunch sometime?”

The air left his lungs. Did she just ask him...on a date?

When he didn't respond she got nervous. “I figured I’d ask because we work close by and there are tons of places to eat, and I think we both enjoy eating lunch.”

It was refreshing to see her cheeks turn pink. He wasn't the only one that got nervous.

“I’d like that.” Her smile lit up her face in a way Steve had never seen before.

“How about tomorrow? My lunch break is at one.”

“That works. I’ll wait outside the library for you.”

“Great,” her smile was infectious. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Steve.”

“See you tomorrow, Sami.” He waved as she drove off.

With a little more pep to his step, he walked to his car. A smile on his face his entire drive home.

Part of him wondered if this was a smart idea. He already had strong feelings for the woman. What if they got stronger? Deciding to worry about it later, he reveled in the happy feeling he had been missing.

Maybe this was a good thing. Maybe Sami could help him find that happiness again. In this moment, the feeling he felt was worth it.

Notes

To anyone interested, I also have a Chris Evans fic you can read
http://www.mibba.com/Stories/Read/608345/Under-Contract/