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fateandfortune2016-03-28 11:23 pm
theycalledmeacurse) wrote in fateandfortune2016-03-28 11:23 pm
Just a kid from Brooklyn. [For Steve Rogers]
Three months. That's all the longer Rogue had been in this world that wasn't hers, trying to scrape together a life out of nothing. She'd barely made a decent start of it when the world had tried to end on her with the Battle of New York. The city had been in chaos, was still trying to pick up the pieces two months later, and Rogue did all she could to help in her own way. In a small way.
Sure, there had been a few times she'd been tempted during the battle to run out into the thick of things and become her old self. Join the superheroes who had taken charge of the situation. But in the end she'd stayed back, because the reality was that without someone to borrow an active power from, she was just another normal person, and normal people just got others killed in fights like that.
In the weeks that followed the Battle, she'd taken to volunteering whenever she wasn't working. She'd joined an organization that worked with the elderly in various capacities, and they sent her where she was needed. Sometimes it was a nursing home to visit with the ones who didn't have families or who had simply been forgotten, sometimes to the retirement communities that put on events and could always use a few extra hands. Those were her big plans that Sunday - a party at a residential community, complete with cake, punch, music, and streamers. Lots of streamers. They'd really done the place up for the 4th of July holiday, which wasn't technically until Wednesday, with red, white, and blue all over the common room. It had taken hours for Rogue and a few others to get the decorations up and everything ready, but the smiles on the residents' faces as they were shepherded in by a fresh set of volunteers made every second worth it.
Laughing as goofy Mr. Samuels swept Mrs. Hawkins into something almost resembling a waltz, Rogue continued spooning out strawberries onto the whipped cream on top of the line of shortcakes. It felt strange to not be wearing gloves, even after months of having decent control over her mutation, but she'd still chosen a blue dress with long sleeves for the occasion. A simple dress, with sensible heels, so the sticker nametag reading "Marie" didn't look too terribly out of place.
Sure, there had been a few times she'd been tempted during the battle to run out into the thick of things and become her old self. Join the superheroes who had taken charge of the situation. But in the end she'd stayed back, because the reality was that without someone to borrow an active power from, she was just another normal person, and normal people just got others killed in fights like that.
In the weeks that followed the Battle, she'd taken to volunteering whenever she wasn't working. She'd joined an organization that worked with the elderly in various capacities, and they sent her where she was needed. Sometimes it was a nursing home to visit with the ones who didn't have families or who had simply been forgotten, sometimes to the retirement communities that put on events and could always use a few extra hands. Those were her big plans that Sunday - a party at a residential community, complete with cake, punch, music, and streamers. Lots of streamers. They'd really done the place up for the 4th of July holiday, which wasn't technically until Wednesday, with red, white, and blue all over the common room. It had taken hours for Rogue and a few others to get the decorations up and everything ready, but the smiles on the residents' faces as they were shepherded in by a fresh set of volunteers made every second worth it.
Laughing as goofy Mr. Samuels swept Mrs. Hawkins into something almost resembling a waltz, Rogue continued spooning out strawberries onto the whipped cream on top of the line of shortcakes. It felt strange to not be wearing gloves, even after months of having decent control over her mutation, but she'd still chosen a blue dress with long sleeves for the occasion. A simple dress, with sensible heels, so the sticker nametag reading "Marie" didn't look too terribly out of place.
Because who would these characters be without their drama?
Secret identities always made things more complicated, but not everyone could be Tony Stark and throw themselves into the spotlight.
"Okay," she agreed quietly, giving him a fond smile in return, though she knew there was worry etched into her expression. With him standing so close, she could have sworn he was moving toward her ever so slightly, and in that moment she didn't care who might see - she leaned in and up to press a soft kiss to his cheek, anchoring herself with a hand on his shoulder. It only lasted a second, and then she was settling back on her heels, letting her fingers trail down his arm before dropping away again.
"So you don't forget me," she explained, and if he looked, he might see very clearly painted on her face that she'd like nothing more than to kiss him properly right at that moment. But she couldn't bring herself to do it, not with all those people watching. Kissing was something extremely personal and intimitately special for Rogue, the one thing she'd always longed to be able to do in her world. And even though she'd touched him a few times that day, including that brush of her lips on his cheek, there was something in her that was somewhat terrified of her lips meeting his. She'd get over it before long, but there was nothing to do for it now.
no subject
Don't get your hopes up too high, a cynical part of him warned. You still don't know if she knows you're really Captain America. And if she does, she might just be looking for a good story to sell the rags.
He was pretty sure that was ridiculous. She was too kind and understanding to do something like that. But even kind people could be curious, and if curiosity about getting together with Captain America was her driving motivation... He'd met girls like that during the war. (He'd gotten friendly fire because of one, too.)
Drawing in a deep breath and holding it for a second, Steve decided he was being an absolute idiot. Regardless of her motivations, he was taken with Marie, and at this point he should just let the chips fall where they may. He gave her another smile, warm and heartfelt, and told her gently, "Definitely not forgetting anything about today." He reached up and pressed his hand to her bicep, giving it a soft squeeze, hoping it conveyed that they were okay, and he meant what he said.
Then he turned and started to walk away. Because if he didn't go now, he wasn't sure he'd be able to.
[Seriously. I was starting to worry they were just gonna keep dancing around each other while everyone
watchedcleaned up around them.]no subject
And if anyone ever even suggested that she was just interested in him to get a story to sell, she would punch them right in the face - Steve included. Besides being the furthest thing from that sort of person, notoriety was the very last thing she wanted in this world. But beyond that, she would physically fight anyone who tried to see Steve like that, consequences be damned.
That touch of his hand was perfect, and it made everything better. She was still smiling like an idiot when he turned away, and he'd made it only a few feet before she was calling after him, "I'll see you soon!" Definitely an idiot, an infatuated idiot.
But the 4th couldn't come soon enough.
[They are adorable in their dancing, but it really is very "Oh come on already."]