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The sound of honking cars and people talking to each other on the streets were relaxing to (Y/N)'s ears. Some people found these noises rather disruptive to their routines, but after all she had gone through in the last few days, it gave her a sense of tranquility. It gave her something else to concentrate on besides the confrontation with Howard the night before.

She was on her way back to the office after picking everybody's lunch orders, this time purchasing from a small Chinese restaurant. She clutched the brown paper bag in her hands as she walked, pretending not to notice how a figure she recognized settled behind her.

"Did you know?" she asked with her eyes still set in front of her, not daring to look back.

"I truly regret the way this matter was handled," Mr. Jarvis answered with a guilt-ridden tone.

"So, you did," she sighed in disappointment. Out of all people, she didn't believe that he would keep a secret like this from her. "You're a terrible liar. You rub your ear when you do so."

"Mr. Stark respects you, Miss Dewitt, as do I," Mr. Jarvis ignored that comment and trailed after her as they walked down the sidewalk. "Is there anyone else alive who holds you in such high esteem?"

(Y/N) let out a quiet scoff at those words, but that didn't mean they didn't sting any less.

"At least I know not to expect anything less from men who don't respect me than with those who don't," she spoke in a calm tone. "They are rude face to face, they don't stab you in the back. When they ask for something, they mean it."

She didn't wait for Mr. Jarvis's response and sped up her step, not wanting to think about this subject any more in fear that she might explode again. Luckily, Mr. Jarvis was smart enough to not chase her down, and instead stayed back in his own thoughts. She switched the paper bag from one hand to the other, checking on both sides of the street before crossing it.

(Y/N) was waiting to cross the street and watched in a short glance how a fully stocked farm truck passed by before adverting her gaze somewhere else. In the small moment where she got distracted, she didn't notice how one of the many apples the truck was carrying in crates fell out due to a bump. When she turned back around, fully prepared to cross the street, she caught a glimpse of the round fruit bouncing up and down on the street before rolling to a stop, and all of her senses turned into red alert.

(Y/N) froze just as she was about to take a step forward, her eyes not leaving the object in the middle of the road. She subconsciously turned around and used her free hand to cover her ear and shut her eyes, bracing herself for a loud boom that never came. When she didn't hear a single sound, she opened her eyes and her surroundings, noticing that people who were walking past her gave her weird looks because of her reaction.

She felt her body grow hot in embarrassment, removing the hand from her ear and brushing it off as if she was adjusting something in her hair. She turned back around to face the street and saw how the object she thought to be a grenade was in fact, an apple.

(Y/N) didn't want to stay outside for much longer, especially since she felt thousands of eyes on her, critiquing her every move. Everything felt suffocating — the street, her clothes, the crowds. She got tired of feeling like everyone was watching her and nearly bolted all the way back to the Bell Company, almost dropping the food in the process.

She delivered every single meal as instructed and knocked on the Chief's office, who had just arrived back from his trip in Germany. He didn't seem to care as much for her excuse to leave early, and she was thankful for the first time ever that he didn't.

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(Y/N) made it back to her apartment after avoiding Peggy's constant concern over last night's events, begging to know how she felt. She had shrugged her off by saying she needed some time for herself, and that's what she was doing. She sat in her dining table, reading today's paper.

"Ow!"

The cry coming from the hallway was faint but still loud enough for her to hear. She could recognize the voice anywhere, and, despite not being in the best of moods, she decided to get up and swing her door open.

"Everything okay?" she asked.

"Sort of," Louis grinned sheepishly. "Cut my finger with the kitchen knife."

"Let me have a look."

"Oh, (Y/N), I don't think –"

"Come on," she waved him inside, but he was still shaking his head.

She let out a laugh at his actions and grabbed his uninjured hand to lead him inside her apartment, closing the door once they were both inside. When she dropped his hand from hers, he cradled the bleeding one with the other and stood there perplexed in the middle of the room. (Y/N) gave him a questioning look as to why he hadn't moved an inch, and she gestured toward her dining table.

"Make yourself comfortable," she told him. "I'll grab the first aid kit."

(Y/N) turned her back to him and left for the bathroom, searching through the large cabinet hidden behind the mirror in search of the kit. Once she had it in her hands, she grabbed her roll of toilet paper and made her way back to the table where he was already waiting for her.  The blood had trickled down his fingers, the small droplets of the red substance staining the table.

"I'm sorry, I – "

"It's okay," she flashed him a smile and grabbed some of the toilet paper to clean the blood that had spilled into the table. "I don't mind."

He let out a sound similar to a laugh. (Y/N) pulled the chair next to him and set the first aid kit down before opening it. She grabbed the antiseptic bottle and poured some of it into a leftover piece of gauze, pausing her movements when she was about to bring the soaked gauze up to the cut in Louis's hand.

"This is going to sting," she warned him. She looked up to him and saw how he nodded firmly in approval.

(Y/N) placed the gauze over the cut and Louis let out a string of curses under his breath. She felt bad for causing him that much pain, but her brain calmed her down by reminding her that she was helping him. She looked back up at him, warning him once again, and this time, he didn't have that big of a reaction. His eyes were still shut and his jaw was clenched, but other than that, no curses poured from his tongue.

After that, (Y/N) cleaned the already dried off blood that had trickled down Louis's hand and placed a bandage over the cut. Luckily, it wasn't too deep, and he'd tear off that bandage in no time.

"Did I tell you I already visited Central Park?" Louis blurted out of nowhere, breaking the long period of silence between the two.

"No, you hadn't," she responded, closing the lid of the first aid kit. "What was it like?"

"Big," he commented with a far off look, as if he were remembering it. "Nearly fell onto the lake at some point."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," she laughed at his words. "Have you gone anywhere else?"

She stood up from the table and headed toward the bathroom to place the first aid kit back in its place as she heard his response. She wasn't able to see it, but Louis's eyes followed over her figure as if she was going to disappear in thin air if he looked away.

"No. I was planning on visiting the Empire State Building tomorrow, probably the Statue of Liberty too." He smirked when he caught (Y/N)'s eyes once she sat back down on the table. "What do you think?"

She pressed her lips together, pretending she was thinking deeply about what to say before responding, "Have you gone to any other places that aren't tourist traps?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you haven't seen New York until you see it from up close," she explained, moving her hands expressively as she talked. "Like, have you talked to anyone out there?"

"That man who sold me that one hot dog was really nice."

She laughed. "Anyone else?"

"Do you count?"

"Nope."

"Then, no."

"I recommend you to start with Brooklyn," she tapped the table with her fingers. "That's where I'm from."

"Really?" His smirk transformed into a curious grin, his shoulders rising in interest. "I read somewhere that Captain America was born there too. What a coincidence, don't you think?"

"Indeed."

"Well, it's decided," he held his head high. "Brooklyn's my next destination."

He stood up from the table, the chair making a noise because of how abruptly he got up. (Y/N) copied his movements, pushing her chair back into the table and followed Louis back to the door. She saw him inspecting the pictures on the wall, but didn't say a single comment to any of them.

He paused once he was close to the door. "Thanks, for the, uh, you know."

"It's no problem," she shrugged him off with a smile. She unlocked the door and gripped the handle to open it. "Don't be afraid to knock on my door to tell me how your trip went."

"It's a date."

She opened the door before registering his words fully. Louis had already stepped outside into the hallway with a charming smile on his features, one that was driving her mad. (Y/N) had no idea how she allowed for him to have such an effect on her, but he had cast the spell on her ever since their first meeting.

"Louis," she called out for him before it was too late.

He turned around almost in a whiplash, as if he was expecting this. (Y/N) stood by her doorframe, debating whether or not it was a good idea — her head screaming at her to do something before he got impatient. In a bold move, she stepped forward and grabbed a hold of the white tank top he was wearing, pulling him close to her, to the point where she could feel his hot breath fanning her face. She stood there, flickering her gaze between his eyes and his lips, and Louis did what she was stalling to do and closed the distance between them.

She deepened the kiss in an instant and removed her hand from his shirt to wrap it around his neck, just as she felt his hands snake around her waist. His lips tasted sickly sweet, like he had eaten a candy beforehand. She felt a knot twist in her stomach and — for the first time in months — it wasn't one of anxiety.

When they felt the need for air, they pulled away from one another. There, stood (Y/N), out of breath and completely wide eyed, staring up at Louis. He, on the other hand, was grinning from ear to ear, like he had been waiting for this moment.

"See you tomorrow, (Y/N)," he whispered, before pulling away.

sort of a filler chapter for now, next update is episode 5, which i've been excited about writing this entire time ngl.

i know that last part caught some of you off guard ;) what are your thoughts on louis? 

- see you soon, bex <3