thequitecontrary

Entry tags:

steve trevor

Reunion

After Mary's engagement to Richard Carlisle officially ended, she and her family thought it would be best for her to spend some time in New York with Cora's family. They didn't know if Richard would print the story about Mary's scandal with Pamuk. Now that the engagement was off, he had every right to. At least in New York the news, if it got there, wouldn't cause such a sensation. She would weather any storm while in America and then return to Britain after it blew over. Mary was planning on it being the duration of the summer.

The only person from Downton that went with her was Anna, being Mary's most trusted companion. The trip across the Atlantic was long, but they finally arrived and were taken with all of Mary's luggage to her uncle Harold Levinson's mansion on 5th Avenue. She knew that spending a few months with her uncle and grandmother, who also lived in the house, would be entirely different than living at Downton. They were not nearly as formal, something that drove the Dowager crazy, but Mary thought she might find refreshing for once. She just hoped that Anna would be alright with it.

One night soon after her arrival, there was a charity benefit for American war vets hosted by one of the wealthy families of Manhattan. It was a chance for vets to hobnob with the rich and for the rich to make sizeable donations to veteran organizations. There were several heavy hitters there, people with last names like Vanderbilt and Astor. Martha, being the schemer that she was, saw this as a perfect opportunity to introduce her newly single granddaughter to some wealthy American men.

Mary was holding court with about three of them, two of them much older than her and one closer to her age. She didn't find any of them to be particularly spectacular, beyond being wealthy. Having just ended an engagement due to lack of love, she wasn't so ready to jump into another one with someone she merely tolerated. But she smiled and engaged in polite conversation at least. That would make Martha happy.

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She had no qualms about walking away from those men. In essence, Steve had saved her from what probably would have been a very boring evening. Mary didn't feel that she was missing out on anything.

Besides, she would much rather spend the time with Steve. Knowing that he was alive made her happier than she would have imagined.

"I am visiting my uncle. Mr. Harold Levinson, as well as my grandmother." Mary scanned the party for a moment, and then pointed her uncle out. "There." He was talking with a group of his colleagues. Mary tried to find Martha, but was unsuccessful.

[I probably should have, but it honestly doesn't bother me that much, haha]

He was happier to see her than he could put to words. He had always thought, even after the war had been over, that time would eventually make him forget the minor details about her, and that maybe that would've been for the best. But now that he got to see her smile again, and got to hear her voice, he was more relieved than he could put to words that he had been wrong.

"Ah," he looked over and nodded, not recognising the man. Not that that was much of a surprise. America may be more of a melting pot when it came to different social classes and upbringings, but still Steve didn't exactly belong to the same circles as the wealthier people at this party.

With a hint of apprehension, he went on to ask. "And... what about Richard? Is he here with you too?"

For the first time since they had reunited, Mary's smile faltered a bit. "Richard and I ended our engagement a few weeks ago," she said. She imagined he might be happy to hear that. While he had remained polite and had not said anything directly, she could tell during her last conversation with Steve that he disapproved of the idea of marrying without being in love. Over time, Mary had come to see his side.

"And you," she continued, "you are alive. You seemed so sure that you wouldn't make it through the war."

"You did?" Steve said with no small amount of surprise, unable to keep back the genuine smile that took over his features upon hearing that. He was happy, yes, and not only because it meant she wasn't trapped in a loveless marriage. Maybe it was a little selfish of him, but... well, he didn't care. He liked knowing that she was single after all, even if in her social circle he was probably as unsuitable a match as could be.

But then they weren't in Britain anymore, so.

"Guess there must've been a really good reason for me to be spared," he said, his gaze warm. "How long are you staying?"

His smile was lovely and it made her happy to see it. He definitely seemed more relaxed now that the war was over. "Nearly the whole summer," she replied. "I... needed to get away." There were reasons for that other than her breakup, but it wasn't appropriate to share right then. "Do you live in New York now?"

He was genuinely happy that peace had been achieved, no matter how brief it might end up being. For once things seemed to be quiet, even if Steve knew there was much of the world still devastated by the war, Europe especially. America almost felt like a small Heaven by comparison.

"I do. For the foreseeable future, anyway." He didn't really have missions he got assigned to, now that the war was over. In many ways he was still trying to find out what to do with his life, but he was and would always be an Air Force officer, so. Guess he'd be doing something related to that.

"If you're staying that long, we... could spend some time together. If you'd like to."

"I would love that, Steve," Mary said without hesitation. "I never imagined that I would know someone here other than my family and Anna." They may have been from different social classes. but she knew that it was more fluid in America. Besides, as mentioned, she knew hardly anyone here. No one would judge who she was spending her time with. Well. Martha might have a few things to say, but she was much more liberal than Mary's family back home. "Perhaps you can give me a tour of the city. Are you working, now that the war has finished?"

He was honestly surprised that she agreed to it so promptly, but also found himself especially excited about the times ahead, now that he had something to look forward to.

"I'm a flight instructor. It's nothing too exciting, but I like that." And he was still an Air Force officer, after all. They didn't just stop recruiting because the war was over. There had been talks about him going to West Point but for now, the city was where he'd be. "Oh, I'm a Lieutenant Colonel now. Still feels pretty much the same, but... thought I should mention it."

"Oh, look at you and your fancy promotion," Mary teased with a smile. She wanted to ask him about the war, about where he had been, but the orchestra had just started a waltz and now was not the time.

"The last time I saw you, I recall you mentioning how good of a dancer you are," she said with a raised eyebrow.

He let out a soft chuckle, ducking his head a little. He wasn't bragging exactly, but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't proud of it anyway. He had done his best in that war, he had tried to make the right choices too, and he was glad to see that rewarded to some degree. Not everyone had had the same luck.

Looking up as the waltz began, he shook his head, looking slightly more nervous now. "Ah— I was joking, mostly," he cleared up. "I mean I don't— the steps and everything, I don't know that. I'd make you look bad."

Not that he minded making it up as they went along, but he also knew that it would inevitably end up with people looking their way. He wasn't really sure Mary would welcome that kind of attention.

Mary gave him a look, chiding him for his exaggeration. He was right that she did not wish to attract a lot of attention, particularly the embarrassing kind. However, she did want to dance with him. She debated a solution.

There was a set of French doors that opened onto a balcony where much fewer people were mingling. Mary was sure that they would still be able to hear the orchestra out there. She gave a tug on his arm.

"Come with me."

Steve wasn't really the kind to get easily embarrassed, as was any modern American man's wont. But it was another thing entirely for her to experience that same kind of attention. He knew she was a lot more private and sensible to what other people might think of her. Of them, for that matter.

So when she seemed to think of an alternative, he was all too happy to follow her, smiling as he willingly stepped outside. It was a warm summer evening and the light breeze didn't bother him much, and he turned to her once they were in a quieter area, offering a hand out to her. "At your own peril."

"You can't possibly be that bad," Mary said as she turned to him. She helped him get into dance frame with one of his hands on her back and the other clasped in hers.

"Now, if you wish for me to lead for a bit, I can, and then you can take over once you get the hang of it." The balcony was bathed in dim light, the few couples standing outside paying them no attention. "All waltzes are in three, so you simply have to count in your head as you do the steps. Follow me. One, two, three, one, two, three..."

She counted quietly to him as she showed him how to move in time with the music.

[Sorry for disappearing tonight. Family shit happened and I ended up on the phone for 2 and a half hours. -__________-]

"You won't be saying that after I nearly step on your toes," he teased. Nearly, of course, because he still had quick enough reflexes to avoid her feet or, worse came to worst, lift her up from the ground. Though he would avoid that solution, at least in the middle of this party.

He knew how waltzes worked, at least, even if it had been a very long time since he'd danced one. He stepped closer and followed her steps, a little behind on pace at first, but slowly catching on until they were moving more or less easily with each other, keeping to the pace of the music.

[ no worries <3 I should be asleep but my brain won't shut down for some reason haha. sneaking in a tag and hoping that'll help. ]

"There we are," she said. "You haven't stepped on my toes yet."

It was a bit strange to be leading the dance, as she most often did not. Formal dancing was something that all young people of her social status learned. It hadn't really occurred to her that Steve might never have been taught.

Being this close to him was nice though. Mary would much rather dance with Steve than with any of the other men at the party. Out here it was like they were in their own little world.

"Only because you're going easy on me," he huffed. He had a feeling that Mary likely could dance the waltz a lot faster and more fluidly than this, still he welcomed that she was taking her time and easing him into it.

Once he felt a little surer of the steps, he shifted into a leading stance, but for the most part she was still carrying the rhythm. He did pull her closer, though he didn't quite press their bodies flush together, even if he wanted to. Maybe some other time, when there weren't quite as many people around.

He was doing well enough, honestly. She welcomed both his taking the lead and pulling her a bit closer.

Mary looked out over his shoulder at the skyscrapers of the city, lit up for the evening with a thousand lights. "I've always liked New York," she told him. "It's second to London, of course, but it seems like such an exciting city. It felt like we were on an adventure when I used to visit as a girl."

Coming from the quiet peacefulness of the English countryside, large cities were places of wonder.

Moving them about so he could look over the city as well, he stole a glance at the skyscrapers, smiling at the remark. He also slowed down their pace, because as much as he enjoyed dancing with Mary, he also wanted to be able to talk to her.

"It can still be an adventure now, can't it?" He asked as he tipped his head at her. "We're never too old for that, you know."

"I suppose it can," she replied. "You haven't had enough adventure in your life?" Mary smiled at him. There were a lot of things that she wanted to see and do on her trip to New York, and she was glad that she might have a companion to do them with now. She wasn't sure what her uncle and grandmother would think about that person being Steve, but she could worry about that later.

"Are you happy here?"

"Should I?" He shrugged, pursing his lips. "Plenty of adventures I haven't experienced yet, so I don't see why I wouldn't want to." Adventure didn't always have to mean danger or potential death, after all. That he had had enough of, yes.

He considered her question for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I'm... at peace. That's all I could ask for."

"I'm glad to hear that," she said. There was a moment of silence between them as Mary simply enjoyed being with him, standing close and feeling the gentle breeze in the air. She could smell his cologne or aftershave, a heady intoxicating scent.

"I thought about you after you were gone."

Mary missed him, even though they hadn't spent all that much time together in the grand scheme of things. It was not seeing him everyday, not enjoying the way he smiled at her. He'd become so familiar.

It was true that they hadn't spent a lot of time together, but Steve felt that, when it came to some people, it wasn't only about the amount of time they got to have. He may not have known Mary for long or shared too many moments with her, but the precious few had been enough for him to know she was special, that he cared for her, and that he could come to care even more, given the opportunity.

This felt like that opportunity, now. And Steve planned to seize it and not let go.

"I thought about you too," he said honestly, moving her hand and pressing it to his chest. They weren't dancing so much as just swaying now, and Steve held her a little closer, feeling like it was an embrace more than anything. "You were often on my mind."

"I was?" In some ways, she was surprised that she had made that kind of impression on him, though she remembered the kiss he had given her before he had departed. It was relatively chaste, as far as kisses went, but quite personal for two people who had only spent so much time together.

She smoothed her hand out over his chest, feeling his heart beating beneath it.

"Yes," he answered, honest and unashamed. He didn't think there was anything wrong with admitting he cared, no matter how strange it might seem when they hadn't gotten to know each other too well. Besides, they had more time for that now. More freedom, too— especially Mary.

"I'd very much like to be able to kiss you right now." It wasn't a request by any means, not here of all places. Simply an admission of sorts, though he didn't look all that shy or embarrassed about it.

"Steve..." Her voice was quiet, though her eyes were on his lips. "Are you sure that is a good idea?"

Part of her wanted him to kiss her, and part of her thought that it was a terrible idea. They were from two different worlds. Mary knew that she was supposed to marry a man from her own social class, one who could take of her financially in the manner that she was used to. It would be difficult though, given her past. Most men did not want to marry a woman who was not a virgin.

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