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crack_van2013-03-25 12:32 pm
stars-inthe-sky.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2013-03-25 12:32 pm
Entry tags:
"Breathe" by Ishyko (PG)
Fandom: The Avengers (movieverse)
Pairing: Gen
Length: 4486 words
Author on LJ:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ishyko
Author Website: AO3
Why this must be read: "Breathe" treads a lot of the same ground as other "Steve adjusts to modern life" stories, but it does so in new and unexpected ways, mainly by acknowledging his flaws and angst beyond the usual. There's also some lovely team bonding moments!
“You look like hell.”
Steve cracked an eye open and saw Natasha standing over his bed, a cup of coffee in her hand.
“What? Nat? What are you doing in here?” he asked, scrambling to a seated position and yanking the top sheet up to cover himself. He wasn’t sure whose modesty he was trying to salvage. “Uh, this isn’t really appropriate, right?”
Natasha’s gaze lazily roamed from the hastily covered pecs up, up, until stopping to look him full in the eye at which point she arched one graceful eyebrow. Steve felt a wealth of teasing commentary but manly chose to keep his mouth shut in case he said even more stupid stuff.
“Oh, I don’t know,” she said in a soft breathy voice. She sat on the edge of the bed and leaned closer. “It could be all kinds of appropriate…if we were two different people,” she finished in a lighter tone and grinned. “God, you’re an easy mark.” She handed him the cup of coffee and tucked her feet under her. “Scoot over.”
“Uh, if you give me a moment I’ll-“
“Scoot!”
Steve moved. He took a sip and tried to gain some composure. Natasha settled against his leg, seemingly unconcerned about the effect she was having on him. When was the last time a beautiful woman was in his bed?
Try never? Although Agent Carter did walk in on you in the showers that –“
Shut up, Bucky.
I think it was on purpose. I will swear to that on a stack of bibles.
Steve decided he’d go for team leader normal. “So, what brings you in here? I’m assuming it’s team business.”
“Yes.” She looked straight into his eyes. “I’m worried about you.”
“Me?” he almost squeaked. He cleared his throat and spoke more naturally. “Me? Why?”
The gig is up. She knows you’re crazy.
Shut it, Bucky. Can’t you see you’re upsetting Steve?
Steve felt an almost insane urge to giggle at the fight carrying on in his head. Giggle or burst into tears.
Natasha cocked her head to the side, noting the quick flash of emotions across his face. He quickly took another sip of coffee.
“You’re…well…you look tired.”
Ha! Woman’s intuition and all.
Steve was indignant. “I do not.”
Natasha smiled. “Ok. Granted it would be hard for you to look tired in a physical sense like the rest of us but you do. What is it? Do you want to talk about it?”
“With you?” Steve blurted.
Natasha’s smile slipped a bit and Steve could have kicked himself.
Still doesn’t know a bloody thing about women.
It’s not like dames ever gave him the time of day, Peggy. Er. Agent Carter.
Steve closed his eyes and prayed for a moment of sanity. He opened them and looked down at his hands. “Sorry. Sorry. I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”
“Of course.”
Steve sighed and raked his hands through his hair, unaware of Natasha’s eyes widening briefly at the sight of his biceps flexing. “Thank you for-“
Natasha patted his leg and abruptly stood up. “Team meeting in 30.”
And then she was out the door.
Breathe
Pairing: Gen
Length: 4486 words
Author on LJ:
ishykoAuthor Website: AO3
Why this must be read: "Breathe" treads a lot of the same ground as other "Steve adjusts to modern life" stories, but it does so in new and unexpected ways, mainly by acknowledging his flaws and angst beyond the usual. There's also some lovely team bonding moments!
“You look like hell.”
Steve cracked an eye open and saw Natasha standing over his bed, a cup of coffee in her hand.
“What? Nat? What are you doing in here?” he asked, scrambling to a seated position and yanking the top sheet up to cover himself. He wasn’t sure whose modesty he was trying to salvage. “Uh, this isn’t really appropriate, right?”
Natasha’s gaze lazily roamed from the hastily covered pecs up, up, until stopping to look him full in the eye at which point she arched one graceful eyebrow. Steve felt a wealth of teasing commentary but manly chose to keep his mouth shut in case he said even more stupid stuff.
“Oh, I don’t know,” she said in a soft breathy voice. She sat on the edge of the bed and leaned closer. “It could be all kinds of appropriate…if we were two different people,” she finished in a lighter tone and grinned. “God, you’re an easy mark.” She handed him the cup of coffee and tucked her feet under her. “Scoot over.”
“Uh, if you give me a moment I’ll-“
“Scoot!”
Steve moved. He took a sip and tried to gain some composure. Natasha settled against his leg, seemingly unconcerned about the effect she was having on him. When was the last time a beautiful woman was in his bed?
Try never? Although Agent Carter did walk in on you in the showers that –“
Shut up, Bucky.
I think it was on purpose. I will swear to that on a stack of bibles.
Steve decided he’d go for team leader normal. “So, what brings you in here? I’m assuming it’s team business.”
“Yes.” She looked straight into his eyes. “I’m worried about you.”
“Me?” he almost squeaked. He cleared his throat and spoke more naturally. “Me? Why?”
The gig is up. She knows you’re crazy.
Shut it, Bucky. Can’t you see you’re upsetting Steve?
Steve felt an almost insane urge to giggle at the fight carrying on in his head. Giggle or burst into tears.
Natasha cocked her head to the side, noting the quick flash of emotions across his face. He quickly took another sip of coffee.
“You’re…well…you look tired.”
Ha! Woman’s intuition and all.
Steve was indignant. “I do not.”
Natasha smiled. “Ok. Granted it would be hard for you to look tired in a physical sense like the rest of us but you do. What is it? Do you want to talk about it?”
“With you?” Steve blurted.
Natasha’s smile slipped a bit and Steve could have kicked himself.
Still doesn’t know a bloody thing about women.
It’s not like dames ever gave him the time of day, Peggy. Er. Agent Carter.
Steve closed his eyes and prayed for a moment of sanity. He opened them and looked down at his hands. “Sorry. Sorry. I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”
“Of course.”
Steve sighed and raked his hands through his hair, unaware of Natasha’s eyes widening briefly at the sight of his biceps flexing. “Thank you for-“
Natasha patted his leg and abruptly stood up. “Team meeting in 30.”
And then she was out the door.
Breathe