Words: 1912

Pairing: Steve Rogers X Reader

Prompt: "Dread it. Run from it. Destiny arrives all the same." 

The first time you bumped into Steve Rogers you did just that, bumped into him. You were carrying an overflowing basket of laundry to the basement of your apartment building, so that it could be washed. When out of nowhere someone else came charging up the stairs. The two of you collided causing the basket to fall and your clothing to tumble downward. You would have rolled down the stairs yourself if a strong pair of hands hadn't braced your fall.

"I'm so sorry ma'am." The owner of the hands apologized immediately. Bewildered, you looked upwards at your attacker. He was not what you expected at all. Standing probably six feet tall and decorated in muscles the man looked down at you with his ice blue eyes. His eyebrows were drawn together with concern. "Are you alright? I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"No." You groaned at last. "Not unless you count my dignity." You added, looking at your dirty shirts, socks and underwear that had been spilled down the flights below. The man followed your gaze and his cheeks flushed.

"I'm so sorry!" He apologized. "Here let me help you." He jogged down and collected your now empty laundry basket. He started collecting safe items like pants or shirts and tossing them into the basket.

"No, no." You began gathering any clothing items near you, working your way towards the stranger. "I'll get them, just hold the basket." He stopped reaching for a nearby pair of shorts at your order and instead held the basket out to you.

"What were you doing running up the steps anyway?" You demanded.

"Cardio." He admitted, almost embarrassed.

"Ever heard of the gym?" You huffed.

"Yes ma'am. Problem is I'm new to the area. I just moved in last week. Third floor." He explained pointing up the stairs.

"That's no good." You shook your head. "I live on the third floor." By now you'd collected the last of the laundry and deposited it into the basket. "[Y/N] [Y/L/N], 3C." You offered out a hand for him to shake.

"I'm right across the hall from you." He smiled. "3A, Steve Rogers. I'd shake your hand but..." He indicated the full basket in his hands.

"Here, let me take that." You attempted to unload the basket from Steve's arms but he waved you off.

"Please, it's the least I can do." He insisted. "Besides, what kind of a man would I be if I let a gal carry her laundry and the way to the basement when she can barely see over the top of it?"

"Well you should ask my boyfriend if you ever see him." You shrugged. "He's upstairs sleeping."

"Sleeping? It's two PM on a Wednesday." Steve pointed out.

"Well that's Nick for ya." You sighed. "It's 2011 and chivalry is dead."

"Not for everyone, Ma'am." Steve disagreed. You'd reached the basement now and he placed your laundry basket on top of a vacant washing machine.

"I guess not." You said, recognizing the fact that he'd very kindly carried your laundry for you. "Thanks for the help. It was nice to meet you, Steve."

"It was no trouble." He insisted with a smile. "Well, I suppose I'll leave you to your chores, but I'll see you around, [Y/N]."

"See you around." You agreed.

At the time you really thought that you'd see Steve again. After all he only lived across the hall. As it turned out your new neighbor was rather elusive. He was an early riser. You knew this because he was almost always gone before you left for work at eight AM every day. You would catch a glimpse of him here or there on the weekends but being your only days off you needed that time to run errands.

As fate would have it you wouldn't live in that apartment building much longer anyway. You started to realize, after that initial meeting with Steve, just how lazy your boyfriend Nick was. Not only was he lazy but he was a total slob. He worked a part time job, which normally wouldn't bother you except for the fact that he didn't contribute anything to your living together. He flat out refused to cook, clean or contribute financially in any way.

When you broached the subject of Nick's laziness it unsurprisingly didn't go well. So you packed your things and moved to a new apartment across town. While you packed the last of the boxes into your car, you couldn't help but wonder about the kind man across the hall who'd once seen your dirty laundry scattered down the main staircase.

Two years passed and you all but forgot about your former Neighbor. You were doing well. You were single but you didn't mind. You were taking time to get to know yourself again. Plus, your hectic work schedule didn't exactly leave a lot of time for dating.

"Ah." You sighed with satisfaction as you sipped your tea from a travel mug. You were visiting Washington D.C. for the week on a business trip, but you were taking advantage of some down time to see the sights. It was a crisp fall day. There was a slight breeze twisting through the air, but the temperature was mild. It was the kind of morning that poets wrote about, until a certain super solider ruined it.

You'd been strolling around near the reflection pond, taking in the nation's capital, when you were suddenly alerted to the sound of shoes aggressively slamming against the pavement. You turned wildly trying to identify the source of the noise. You found it. Two men, charging close to you at a dangerously fast pace.

"On your left!" One of them called out to you, but it was too late. One of the runners collided with you, knocking you off your feet. You fell to the ground hard and the oxygen was forcibly exhaled from your lungs. You laid quietly on the ground, saturated in warm tea, trying to catch your breath.

"Hello, 911, I'd like to report a murder." One of the runners joked.

"Knock it off, Sam!" The man who bumped into you insisted. "She could be seriously injured." He crouched down beside you. "Miss are you alright?" A few seconds had passed, and you were almost able to breath normally, so you turned your head in his direction.

"You look familiar." You said with certainty.

"You know, so you do. I'm sorry I can't place the face." He apologized. The man helped you sit up. "I'm Steve." He supplied.

"Steve?" You repeated. The suddenly it clicked. "Steve Rogers?"

"Yeah." He smirked. "That'd be me. Any chance you remember how we know each other?"

"Sure." You nodded. Steve and Sam helped you to your feet. "We met a few years ago. You lived across the hall from me and my boyfriend at the time. [Y/N] [Y/L/N], apartment 3C."

"Oh yeah!" He nodded, now also remembering. "It was right after I'd come out of the ice."

"The ice?" You remarked with concern.

"Wait, you don't know who he is?" Sam seemed surprise. "Shoot I thought everyone did after what happened in New York."

"It never really came up." Steve explained, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably.

"He's just being modest!" Sam insisted. "This man right here is Captain America! You might have heard of a little thing called the battle of New York."

"Captain America, like The Avengers, Captain America?" You asked. Steve didn't say anything, but you got your answer as a sleek dark car pulled up to the curb a few feet away. An intimidating redhead stepped out of the vehicle, calling out to your group as she did so.

"Hey, can any of you point in me the direction of the Smithsonian? I'm here to pick up a fossil." She smirked.

"Ha ha, very funny." Steve rolled his eyes. "[Y/N] it was nice to see you again. Sam, I'll catch you later." Steve said his goodbyes before getting into the car with the red head.

"Tell me you have his number." Sam said, now that the two of you were alone.

"Uh, no." You confessed. "We only met the one time, so..."

"So nothing! Where's your cellphone?" He demanded. You nervously fished your phone out of your pocket as Sam insisted that you add Steve Rogers to your contacts. You were glad to see that Steve had upgraded his cardio routine from running up and down his apartment building stairs, to at least running outside. And as much as you wanted to know what he was doing in Washington D.C., you decided against calling him. It didn't seem right since Sam was technically the one who'd given you his phone number.

The third time you bumped into Steve was a summer afternoon. You'd decided to dig your old roller skates out and give them a whirl in Central Park. You hadn't worn them since college, so you were slightly surprised that they still fit. Of course, you couldn't have picked a worse day to dredge them out. It was the first day of good weather in weeks and it felt like all of New York was out in the park that day. For the most part you'd been able to maneuver around the tourist and locals alike, but you couldn't believe your eyes when you saw two familiar face in the crowd.

"Steve Rogers?" You excitedly skated over to a group of three guys for confirmation, but as you neared Steve, Sam and their friend you began to lose your balance. Luckily someone caught you by the elbows in time to stop you from falling. You looked up at the ever-smiling face of Captain America.

"We've got to stop meeting like this." He insisted with a smile.

"It is you!" You smiled back. "Sam nice to see you again." You nodded at the man you'd met on your chance encounter in D.C.

"[Y/N]!" Sam surprised you by remembering your name. "Have you met metal man yet?" He patted his friend on the back. Luckily Steve was kind enough to give you a proper introduction.

"[Y/N], this is Bucky." He said. "Buck this is, [Y/N]. The gal I keep telling you about."

"So, you're Rogers' mystery woman. I was convinced that you didn't exist." Bucky chuckled. "I'm honored to finally meet you. Now, please, do Wilson and I a favor and take this guy on a date will ya?"

This time Bucky was patting Steve on the back. At the mention of a date you and Steve were suddenly acutely aware that he was still holding you by the elbows. You separated immediately, both of your faces flushing red.

"Destiny does seem to have a way of pulling us back together." You said.

"Dread it, run from it. Destiny arrived all the same." Steve agreed. "We were about to have lunch, would you like to join us?"

"Well, I mean I wouldn't want to intrude..."

"You know, Cap. I just remembered Bucky and I have that thing we have to get going to." Sam chimed in.

"What...Oh right. The thing." Bucky nodded. "Yeah, we'll catch you later, Rogers. Nice to meet you, [Y/N]."

"Your friends are very subtle." You laughed as Sam and Bucky walked away.

"Yeah, it's not one of their finer skill sets." He supposed. "But the lunch invitation still stands. I think it's about time we get to know each other better."