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]

Steph shook her head and cuddled him once more, stretching out on the couch, as the fellas went about explaining how things blew up.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"I love this show. These guys have my dream job." Even Howard has idols.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"Oh yeah? Why am I not surprised?" she chuckled as she made herself very comfortable and laid her head down by the reactor.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Science is always better with explosions. Always." He paused, wondering if the reactor's faint whirling could be heard with her super senses. But he didn't want to ask. Really, he didn't want to know.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"Maybe only to you and these fellas," she laughed. The faint whirring was a comforting white noise to her senses. Something that had let her know that Howard was still alive.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"They blew up a car once when a kid asked them to. He seemed onboard with it." Howard does not see the holes in this logic.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

She just poked him in the side and watched the episode.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

This episode involves fear and their urban legend cures. Howard chuckles as Kari squeals in discomfort as a tarantula is allowed to be in the lab.

"How can she not be afraid of getting into the water with sharks before, but this is somehow cringe worthy?"

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

She wrinkled her nose. "Howard. Spiders. Especially one that creepy?"

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"It's adorable and fuzzy," he argued, looking at her with shock. "And this woman handles explosives on a daily basis. She could blow it up. All it can do is look at her from behind a pane of glass."

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

She turned her gaze right back at him. "Howard. They're spiders. Allow the poor gal her own fears. I'm sure if a snake or something came through, you'd jump right up onto a chair."

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"I had a pet snake in college, actually." No, Howard's fears are much stupider but have thankfully yet to come up. "Besides, they're going to cure her of it. Or try to, anyway. One time they just gave up scientific cures and had Adam stick his hand in a box full of bees. Maybe they'll have it crawl on her. It might work."

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

She gave him a look, trying to figure it out. Best ot ask. "You mean you had an actual pet snake?"

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. Luanne. She was a sweet little thing. Never did get as big as her species normally would, but she did learn how to hiss on command. She was pretty adorable. I'm a sucker for anything with big eyes." Fond memories.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

Steph went right back to her cuddle spot. "There was a stray Bucky and I fed sometimes that lived in the alley by our apartment."

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"I had a cat when I was a kid. Professor Whiskers. My father brought it home one night after he got smashed and we just never got rid of it." Fond...ish, memories, slightly tainted by the alcohol aspect of the story.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"You just have that habit of picking up strays, don't you, slick?" she teased. Steph closed her eyes and just let the moment happen as she curled against him. Before everything got hectic again.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"It runs in the family. Even Tony brought home a puppy. And by puppy I mean fully grown Great Dane." He smiles, but his face quickly falls. It's a common moment whenever he accidentally lets himself think about his son.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

Steph held him when his demeanor changed. She laced their fingers together as if to silently tell him she's there for him. She wasn't sure what to say in these situations, to assure Howard that Tony would've been a super kid? For now, she simply nuzzled him and kissed right over his actual heart.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

He can't help it. His first reaction to being kissed there is a flinch. Not helping, Steph. Really, really not helping.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

She noticed the flinch and let go, sitting up and stretching. "Maybe it's time to turn in for the night. Big morning tomorrow."

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"...right. Um. I'm just going to go wrap some things up in the lab..." God, he felt awkward. He really needed to get over this newfound sensitivity in his chest before it killed his love life.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"Right and I gotta...grab my...things and--" She awkwardly got up and hesitated. Quickly, Steph planted a kiss on his cheek. "Goodnight, Howard." With that, she scuttled off to gather her things and head back to her apartment.