Now that the war's over

[stephrogers]

Steph had taken to hanging out at Howard's workshop these days. Usually with her sketchbook or with whatever assignments her class had saddled her with that week. Really, she just liked idly sketching him in graphite, almost feeling like a schoolgirl with a crush again. But no. Howard was the brilliant mechanical engineer she knew during those days of trenches and jumping into the fray. They had spent countless nights and days huddled over this or that new invention that would keep her team safe.

But lately, she's noticed a pattern to her sketches and studies. He was looking worn. Talking of Maria or Tony, whenever she could get two words out of him, hurt him deeply. As did other things.

"There's a marathon of movies by Ginger Rogers on tonight. Wash up and we could catch Shall We Dance," she offered.

Comments

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"But we're friends! It's not the same!" That got her flustered and she kept her attention on him. "Now come on, Ginger Rogers waits for no one."

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Have you not seen any romance movies lately? I'm the dark and swarthy best friend you realize was there for you all along after your current boyfriend doesn't pay proper attention to you." He pauses. "And the man you've spent the most time with besides me is probably Fury, so. I guess you don't like dark chocolate?"

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"No, I'm not interested in director fury. And I've seen plenty of men at SHIELD. Like Phil," she scowled.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"You do know Phil's taken, right? Or is that your thing?"

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"No! I'm not interested in Phil!"

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"So who are you interested in?"

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

Steph decided to busy herself with the blue ray player instead. "I don't see why that's so important."

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Well, you meet nine out of ten criteria for being my live-in girlfriend, at this point. Color me curious on whether it's accidental or..."

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"There's ten whole qualities?" she asked.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"According to the Internet, yes." Because that's where he does his research on the subject.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"Does one of those qualities require being an asthmatic?" she asked.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Might help you swoon into my arms better."

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

Steph shook her head as the movie started up. "You want swooning gals, I'm sure the city's chock full of them."

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"But I don't want them," he replies quietly.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

It was strange to hear him say that. But then, it was strange to hear most things these days. "Oh yeah? What or who do you want then?"

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

He looks over at her, amazed at how oblivious she is. "Someone a little more permanent."

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

When the movie started up, she sat down beside him, giving him room as she always did and easily tucked herself on the couch, ready to spring up if he made any move toward the booze. "A little more permanent?"

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"By my calculations the serum I created had expanded my life expectancy to at least two hundred years old, maybe more. I need someone who's going to be permanent." He leans his head on her shoulder. No one could be dense enough not to pick up on this.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

She relaxed as the film began to roll. Steph chuckled a little. "Well maybe you'll find her some day. Don't know what the life span is like now..."

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Lifespan for non-metahumans is averaging around eighty to ninety." Hint. He mentioned metahumans. Don't make him just try and say it; he was never good at that.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

Steph never was all that great at picking up hints. Even now, it took her running what he said twice in her mind before the puzzle pieces fit. "Oh." A blush colored along her cheeks and she settled closer to him, moving so they could be comfortable.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

He smiles and presses a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I'm counting on you making a move by then."

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"I think you just made the first move there, slick," she chuckled as they watched Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers move across the screen.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"By last century's standards, maybe."

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"Hey," she jabbed at his side with her finger. "Don't start with that, we're practically the same age."