Where reader is a superstar celebrity and this is the gown she wears. Thanks for the gif, Gossip Girl.

Words: 2.8K

Warnings: None? One or two curse words, I think. I can hardly remember smh.

The steps of the mansion are lit up by the flashes of the cameramen and paparazzi. They scramble to get the best shot of the celebrities and superheroes that will be at Tony Stark's annual charity ball. This year the proceeds will be going solely towards the Children's Miracle Network, so I'm eager to be involved. The tickets went for nearly $25,000 a piece, and I gladly donated twice as much for the cause.

The long train of my dress slithers up the staircase after me. I smile softly to the all the cameras that flash unreasonably bright. My body guard tries to block the shots, but I tell him not to worry. This dress was a gift from Chanel, I'd hate for no one to see it. I owe the designers as much as a photo on the cover of the Times.

The doors to the gala are opened when I step up. They don't even ask for ID. Being one of the most famous actresses of my generation certainly has its side effects—both good and bad.

The party has already begun. It's looks as if I'm late, yet again. I let out a sigh and then carry on. I turn slightly towards my guard in hopes he'll leave me be.

"Sorry, miss. I'm not to leave your side."

I want to roll my eyes, but I don't. He's just doing as he's been told.

A serving boy walks by with a silver tray. He offers me a tall flute of champagne which I gratefully take with a smile. He returns the gesture then hurries off once more.

The chandeliers are low and bright. They remind me of the Queen's diamonds as they shimmer overhead the full orchestra on their second set of songs. I think I recognize the tune, ready to put a name to the symphony, when someone taps on my shoulder. I turn with a grin to see the much shorter and heavily cologne-sprayed Tony Stark.

"Ms. Y/L/N," he purrs as a greeting. He takes my hand to plant a kiss to the back of it.

"Mr. Stark." I smile and gesture around the room once hand is back in my possession. "You've outdone yourself."

Tony smirks. "Don't I always?"

It's now that I realize he hasn't come to greet me alone. Standing beside him is a tall, beefy stranger. His blonde hair is flawlessly coiffed and his tux fitted to absolute perfection. His blue eyes are nearly neon in the warm ballroom lights.

"I've brought a friend for you to meet." Tony gestures to the man beside him. "Y/N, this is Captain America."

I quirk an eyebrow.

The blonde man blushes profusely. "Please, call me Steve." He shoots a warning glare to Tony before smiling back at me.

I can't help but laugh. "Pleasure to meet you, Steve." I hold my hand out towards him. He shakes it gently. His grasp is warm and tender.

Tony claps Steve on the high upper back. "Keep her company, Cap. Show her a good time if you still know how." Then he's turning to greet some more of his important guests.

The Captain is still blushing slightly. I chuckle and step a bit closer. "You don't have to babysit me, you know. As much as these guys think I need it, I'm certainly capable on my own." I point back to my bodyguard who lingers five steps behind at all times.

Steve smiles. "I know, I just thought—well, I was sort of hoping you'd like the company." He looks nervously to his feet. "I was hoping you didn't have a date."

My heart skips a beat. "I'm very alone."

Steve looks back to me. "Would you mind if I accompanied you, then?"

I nod—biting down on the inside of my cheek until it's near bleeding.

Steve holds out his arm towards me. "Can I have you for a dance?"

I lay my hand atop his. "I'd love that, Captain."

Steve's cheeks redden and he's chuckling nervously. "You don't have to call me that."

"And you don't have to look so nervous. I won't bite, you know."

He leads us to the crowded dance floor. Big puffy dresses fly out around, very different to the red silk of mine. "Sorry. It's been a long time since I've been around a woman like you."

I raise an eyebrow as we fit ourselves for a respectable slow dance. "Meaning?"

Steve swallows but looks a bit braver now as he goes on. "You're insanely talented and kind. I saw you spent the last year in Ghana with all those children..." he fades the sentence with a soft smile. "And you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. You're an absolute vision."

My mouth is parched and throat impossibly dry. I look ahead at Steve's collarbone. "Well, that's very kind of you to say." I bring my eyes back to his. "You're rather impressive yourself, mister Captain America."

He chuckles and stares again at our feet. He goes to say something more, but then we're bumped by the towering body of my guard. I let out a long grunt which Steve finds amusing. He chuckles and then gathers the attention of my bodyguard. "I think I've got it from here, sir."

My guard looks unamused.

"It's okay, Thomas. I think I'm plenty safe in Captain America's company." I smile to my dance partner and he does the same.

Thomas looks between the two of us unsurely. Then he must realize how foolish it'd be to protect me with the captain right there beside us. So he nods and then leaves my new date and I alone.

"I can't tell you how strange it is to watch him walk away," I laugh lightly. Steve's eyes are trained on my face as I go on. "I don't think there's been a moment in the last five years of my life that I've been allowed out without a guard."

"Really? On who's order?" Steve asks.

"My parents. My managers. My directors. Everyone," I explain with a sigh. "I can't exactly say that I blame them with the stalker I had, but it's been years. I keep telling them to move on: I may be in the limelight, but I still should be able to have a semi-normal life." I stop myself with rosy cheeks almost as red as the dress I wear. "I'm sorry. I'm rambling."

Steve holds my waist a little tighter. "No, it's nice to hear you talk. And I was wondering if we could go back to that stalker subject you brought up?" He delicately raises an eyebrow. "What happened there?"

"Nothing, really. A lot of empty threats. All celebrities deal with them. Only mine was a bit more... extensive." I shake my head. "Doesn't matter now though. He got what he wanted from me. He got to see my life turned upside down."

"Besides that, do you enjoy your life?"

I smile. "Yes. Do you yours?"

Steve looks around us. After a thoughtful moment, he smiles and brings his pretty blue eyes back to me. "More and more every day." His gaze stays on me for a long while until I coyly glance away.

The most recent symphonic set ends. People separate from their dance partners to clap. Begrudgingly I do the same—stepping out of Steve's warm embrace to politely applaud. Steve does the same, eyes glittering as he looks over at me.

"Steve," I grab his elbow before his attention can be drawn elsewhere.

"Yes?" he patiently dotes.

"Do you think we could find something to eat? I've spent the last seven hours in hair and makeup with not a scrap to nibble on." I give him my best doe-eyed smile.

Steve laughs, taking me by the hand and by surprise. "Of course."

I look all around the food tables. Steve lingers just beside me. He laughs and asks what's wrong when he sees my frown.

"You'd think that after all these damn parties I'd grow more fond of fancy food." I poke a spoon that resides in a bowl of cold shrimp. "But I just want a burger."

Steve's smile makes my heart beat faster. He's suddenly sprouted a grin that makes me want to leap. "Don't worry, doll. I know just the place."

Captain America takes me through the back of the venue through a dark alley. Normally I'd be frightened by this, but I trust him more than I can explain. With his hand in mine I'm safe. But our journey isn't long, anyway. Just across the alley in a back door parallel to this one is the kitchen entrance to a burger place. When Steve knocks, someone lets us right in.

"Oh Captain! You're back!" a little old guy squeals. He hugs my date with a toothless grin. "Come in, come in!"

"Hello Mr. Dunphy. I'm here to cash in on that offer you gave me before. You think you can get us something to go?" His voice is so sweet I want to pour it on my pancakes.

The diner owner does just that. He bags up a bunch of fries and a couple burgers for me and Steve to take back. Apparently the Avenger's saved this guy's restaurant a few weeks before. He gladly serves us after hours.

Steve and I sit on the back stoop of the diner while the stars flicker above us in the sky. In the darkness and seclusion of the New York night we laugh and talk—teasing one another while tossing extra French fries to the late night birds.

Before long it's time to go back in. I'm the one to reach for Steve's hand this time as he leads us back to the party.

"Cap!" a voice I've never heard before beckons for the man when we step onto the dance floor. A man with dark skin and a bald head is softly shoving his friend Steve. "Where the hell did you go? You've been gone for hours!"

"Hours? Really?" Steve repeats. He looks to me with a lopsided smile. "I didn't even notice."

Steve's friend notices me for the first time. His eyes go wide. "Oh my god—you're Y/N—that's—that's you..."

"Yes, that would be me." I smile kindly. "And your name?"

The man tries to push Steve away from me, but Steve's not having it. He keeps our arms interlocked. "Sam. Sam Wilson. The Falcon. Captain America's best friend. No big deal."

I grin and let him shake my hand. "Pleasure to meet you. Any friend of Steve's is a friend of mine, and any Avenger is someone I'm thrilled to have had the honor to meet."

"Damn. You really are as charming as everyone says," Sam laughs. He elbows Steve. "I see why you keep making sexy eyes at her."

I throw my head back with a laugh all while Steve grits his teeth. "Get outta here, Sam."

"Okay, okay, okay..."

After Sam's gone, Steve asks me again to dance. We walk to the middle of the dancefloor where no one else waltzes. There we seem to be alone, but never as blissfully alone as we'd been outside with those deliciously soggy burgers.

"I must say," Steve goes on above the music. "I never pegged you as a burger and fries kinda girl." He grins at me. "That was a pleasant surprise."

"I grew up in Brooklyn, not the Hamptons. I'd take a burger over caviar any day."

Steve's eyes light up. "Brooklyn?"

"Yeah. Born and raised. Why?"

Steve says, "I'm from Brooklyn, too."

I smile, and smile wider as I notice his eyes darting down to my ruby red lips. "It feels a bit like fate, doesn't it Cap?" My voice is soft and velvety like the fabric of my ruffled dress skirt.

Steve's leaning closer. I know his intentions. They're unmasked and proud. Captain America is going to kiss me.

But, before he can get the wondrous chance, someone tugs us apart.

"It's time to go, Miss."

I scowl at Thomas who's just pulled me away from the most beautiful fantasy. My eyebrows wrinkle as Steve stands there looking confused and embarrassed in his black tux and tie.

"No. I'm staying." I turn towards Steve again.

Thomas' hand on my elbow stops me. "You have the spot on Jimmy Fallon, Miss. You cannot miss it. It starts in less than an hour. We're already late: I couldn't find you."

I let out an exasperated groan. Of course: Fallon. How could I forget? I'd been looking forward to it all week. Now that it's here, I'd much rather stay in Steve's company. But a job is a job, and this is mine.

"Alright. I suppose you're right. We should leave." I turn to give Steve my regards and to say goodbye. I open my mouth to maybe say something romantic or wistful, but I find it hard to use my voice with Thomas lingering so near. I close my eyes with a sigh. "I'm sorry, Steve. I really do wish I could stay."

"It's alright. I understand. Duty calls," he offers me that same dazzling grin from before as he speaks. "Can I walk you out?"

Of course I'm not going to tell him no. So Steve escorts me out of the building, just to where the staircase ends. I stand at the top and look down at all the paparazzi who are blissfully unaware of us lingering in the shadows.

"It was nice meeting you."

I sigh. "And you, Steve. I wish it could've been longer." I don't hide my frown.

Steve does the same thing I did before: opens his mouth to say something sweet before realizing Thomas is glaring at us. He changes his course. "I had a great time. I hope we meet again soon."

"Very soon," I mimic.

The loud voices mean that the paps have noticed me. "You should get inside," I tell him. "Before they catch sight of you, too."

Steve nods and slinks back into the shadows. He stuffs his hands in his pockets. "Goodnight, Y/N."

"Goodnight, Captain."

Thomas escorts me down the staircase. With each heavy step I take my heart grows sadder. I risk a glance back once. Amidst the bright white flashes and streetlights I manage to see Steve's blond head of hair still there by the door. It's a wonder no one has noticed him. Maybe my red dress and shining celebrity title have blinded them all from noticing the normal looking man up there. Oh, but if they only knew. That's no normal man. I just spent the entire evening with him and dare I say that it feels more like love than I've ever known with any other man before.

"Miss?"

We've reached my car. Thomas is holding the door open for me while the paps scream my name. I glance into the vehicle, how dark and lonely it looks, and then back up at Steve.

That's when I decide I can't leave him—not yet.

(A/N: Cue gif scene)

Picking up my heavy skirt, I turn away from the car. I start running back towards the stairs—the paps going wild. I don't care what pictures they take. I don't even care if I trip here and fall and the film ends up all over TV. I don't care that people have started watching from the shops across the street as the famous Hollywood actress pants and huffs all the way back to the building.

Luckily, I don't have to run nearly that far. Steve's jogged halfway down, looking very concerned to say the least.

"Y/N? Is everything okay...?"

Before he can utter anything more, I'm grabbing his face in both hands. His skin is so soft and smooth under my fingers. I lose track of all time and space when I hurriedly press my lips to his: kissing him hard with hardly any doubt. It doesn't take him any time to reciprocate; just enough to wrap an arm around my waist and pick me up. The flashes of light behind my eyelids are partially from the cameras, but mainly from the warmth of his lips.

...

"And that's how it happened," you finish with a big smile. You're still in your red dress from the gala with the same uncomfortable shoes and heavy diamond necklace.

Jimmy Fallon stares at you wide-eyed. Yes, this is the craziest story he's ever been told on live TV—the story about how the world's most famous actress became late to her interview slot because she thinks she fell in love with the world's most lovable, first Avenger.

"That's—that's the best tardy excuse I've ever heard!" Jimmy roars. The crowd all claps, all while you smile into the camera.

"Well, I just thought I better get ahead of it while I can. The pictures will be everywhere by morning." You shoot a grin to the star-spangled man who lingers partially backstage. "And honestly, I hope the whole world sees them."