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

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"I'm not hungry, Steph." They're not having this fight again. He can't take it.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"Then get straight up juice or pop. Or water," came her sharp reply.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"My house, my rules," he retorted, eyes not leaving hers. "We've been through this. I need a break."

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

She didn't budge or back down. "Then have some pop and watch a movie with me."

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Just one drink won't kill me. Besides, it's seasonal." He didn't tell her he used to nurse stupid seasonal drinks all night long while suffering through kids' movies with Tony and Maria in the living room. He wasn't sure even he knew what the desire to have Stephanie, a movie and a light drink implied. Desperation? Loneliness? Insanity, maybe? Was he finally falling apart and trying to use Steph as a replacement for Maria?

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"And is watching a movie with me so bad you need a drink to sit through it?" she asked. They had become better friends now than before and she worried about him, never pushing as to why there were shadows still.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"I associate drinking with happy things, Steph. Including watching movies with my w- friend," he swaps words extremely quickly, breaking eye contact in favor of grabbing a few things virtually at random from the cabinet.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

She pulled him away from the cabinets and heels onto his wrists. Was that what that was? "I'm not your wife," she said, keeping her eyes on him. "So no drinking when watching movies."

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"...I didn't say you were. I don't think of you that way. We're friends. Friends drink together. It's called social drinking, you can Google it," he said quietly, not meeting her eyes still. He swore he could feel his heartbeat in his head, he was suddenly so nervous and ill at ease with this. "I'm a grown man, I'm allowed to have a drink without an intervention being called, especially since I've been dry all week."

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

Steph still held her g ground. "Then keep that record clean. Stay dry, come watch the movie," she insisted. "And social drinking doesn't count if one of then can't get drunk."

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"I just need something to take the edge off things," he promised firmly. "Just something to help me unwind."

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"I won't let you," she replied firmly. Outside the suit, she had the tactical advantage. She knew there was help but also knew that he needed to say he wanted help first.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"It's my house, my liquor, and my money. This isn't your decision."

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"But I'm your friend. And I'm worried about you." She remembered the past fight they had. She stole the bottles and had a shouting match.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"It'll be something light. You're overreacting." He rubs his eyes, yawning. "Just leave this alone, would you?"

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"No, I won't," she insisted. "I'm not above carrying you over."

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Oh, that will kill the rumor you're in love with me, no doubt." He snickered, despite the seriousness of the situation, defiantly picking up a bottle of Southern Comfort and reaching for a glass. "Nobody on the internet would giggle about that one." He pours it, reaches for the apple juice and rolls his eyes, determined to at least mix something festive. It was snowing outside, after all.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

She grabbed the soco out of his hand and held it away. "In love with you?" she sputtered. Steph set the bottle far away before picking him up and hauling him on her shoulder.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Wait, are you? Because I really think the bridal position might be a little more appropriate. And, you know, less likely to pull my pants off considering these are my work sweatpants, not something with a belt," he pointed out, mind reeling.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"Why does everyone think I'm in love with them?".She set him down in the couch.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"A guy can hope."

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"And are you hoping, Howard?" she asked, teasing him. As long as she can keep him away from the liquor, then things would be all right.

[au-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Well, what's a guy supposed to think when you drop him on a couch... in a dimly lit room... while it's just us in the building..." Howard could go on, if it got a blush out of her.

[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?"