Author's Note: Hey there guys! Yes, I know this story was marked complete and it's now been around 7 months since it was last update but I got a request for a new chapter about two weeks ago so I thought what the heck, why don't I pick this up again. The story originally had 15 planned chapters but I got tired of this story so I condensed like 3 of the into chapter 10. I dug up some of my old plans so hopefully we'll get to 15. If you have any requests, let me know.
The request was by my pal SavvySpirit asking for Captain America to get a reunion. The original plans had Cap go back in time and dance with Peggy Carter. The night I'm writing this AN, I watched the First Avenger for the first time (it's one of the like 3 MCU movies I missed) and I found out the dance was an actual thing. The more you know.
My writing style's changed since the last time I updated this story. It's noticeable but this is a casual story, not a serious one, so I don't really care about consistency. I wanted to have fun with the perspective and syntax. Here we go. Hope you enjoy it!
He didn't know what time it was.
He didn't know what year it was.
He didn't know where he was or if he could get home and that was terrifying. He could hear his blood roaring in his ears so loud he forgot to breathe. His vision tunneled as he stumbled through halls he was barely aware of. His mind was blank save for vague inklings that told him exactly what he just left behind mere moments ago and that was enough to send spikes of cold, paralyzing anxiety down his spine. He was panicking and he knew it. He tried to stay calm as he stepped through the last door frame but he was spiraling and there was nothing he could do about it.
Then he saw her and all of his fear melted away.
Unwelcome thoughts trickled through his head, stemming from the back of his mind. What if he really was in the wrong year? What if he was too late? Or worse, what if he was too early and she didn't recognize him? He didn't know if he could take a slap to the face right now.
But these were all background thoughts. His mind fell silent and his world became her.
She looked exactly as he remembered. That flawless skin, that beautifully curled hair, those deep eyes… It was her eyes that captivated him. His mother once told him eyes were the windows to a woman's soul and he had to say her soul was something gorgeous. Of course, everything about her was stunning but her eyes…
They were dark like nothing he'd ever seen but it lacked the aesthetic of, say, the night or shadow. No, these were dark like a vial of ink. Ink, he thought, was probably the only comparison that did her eyes justice. They had depths he couldn't quite see yet it didn't matter because they held so much potential. If her soul was a canvas, ink was the medium that showed its beauty.
His eyes were like ice, broken and layered, but they held warmth that only seemed to match hers. The world collapsed around him as icy blue met inky black and a wave of tranquility washed over him as he fell into her gaze.
Emotion soared in his chest and it was like he was falling in love all over again. It would be cliche to say that he fell for her the moment they met. He loved cliches but to say that this was the case would be a lie and he was no liar. No, his feelings had built up over time and he couldn't pinpoint the exact moment he knew he loved her but this certainly felt like that cliche he envisioned for himself as a child.
Entranced, he began walking toward her.
Shock was written clean across her face. His would be too if he was in her shoes. He was surprised she showed up at all but he was glad. It was clear she was too. She barely moved as he took her hand and slowly intertwined their fingers. He was so breathless he couldn't even smile. Faces still, they fell into a dance.
In together, in, step…
Out together, out, step…
One, two, three, four…
He knew this dance. Natasha taught him when- No, he couldn't think about the Avengers now. He couldn't think about everyone he'd left behind. He'd waited over seventy five years for this dance and he wasn't about to taint the moment with sorrow.
Spin, turn, hold…
Hands together, press, and sway…
This wasn't part of the dance but she made the move and he could improvise. He stood behind her, arms wrapped around her gently as they swayd with the silent music. Or maybe it wasn't silent. He couldn't tell. His ears were ringing like a thousand tiny, silver bells were following him. The world was invisible to him. His eyes and ears were all on her.
And break…
In together, in, step…
Out together, out, step…
One, two, three, four…
They slipped apart and their hands rejoined, resuming the dance. Slowly, the music began to trickle back. It was a slow song, like the two of them said they wanted back when the plane- No, don't think about that. Tonight was about her.
In, step…
Out, step…
Spin…
He was wearing gloves and most of her skin was covered but just touching her felt like heaven. He couldn't believe he was here. With her, he meant. He'd time traveled before. He just never thought he'd see her again.
In together, in, step…
Out together, out, step…
One, two, three, four…
And now, he would never have to leave again.
In, step…
Out, step…
Spin…
And he was happy with that.
Spin, turn, hold…
Hands together, press, and sway…
A smile tugged at the corners of his face and Steven Rogers let himself get lost in the dance and Peggy Carter.