It took Steve a while to get used to the fact that Natasha has a hard time with what he considers to be basic human kindnesses. It comes out in all sorts of ways, but it is worst when she's injured. Not the little injuries, because Steve remembers being fragile, thank you, he knows that sometimes it's easiest to ignore the stuff you can. But the big ones, those are the kinds that they have to come to a compromise on.
The whole situation comes to a head when she's hit by some kind of fire weapon and ends up on medical leave for at least a month with burns down the better part of her back. SHIELD has done everything they can for her, both as far as healing measures and pain management go, but she's still clearly in a lot of discomfort.
She tells him, "Look, I'm just going to sleep for a few days, so you should go and…do things."
He says, "You should definitely sleep."
She seems suspicious of this response, but also, too tired to argue. Steve allows himself a few hours of sketching when she drops off, content just to be near, feel certain she's safe and not needing anything. When he starts to feel restless he goes into her kitchen and takes stock.
He steeps a few cups of her favorite tea so as to have it on hand to warm up when she wakes. He doesn't know how to make any of her comfort foods, but Clint will know where they can be ordered. Steve texts Clint, who tells him he'll put in the orders.
She wakes in the afternoon and he brings her tea and cranberry almond muffins in the bed. She laughs, but it's uneasy. She says, "My legs work fine."
"I know," he tells her. "But I would really appreciate you letting me feel useful right now."
The injury wasn't his fault and they both know it. He can see her getting ready to tell him. Instead she says, "In that case, read to me, for a bit?"
Steve tucks a curl behind her ear. "As long as you want."
***
Sometimes, she does things to see if he'll notice. It's not a test. Pepper's long learned to take Tony-and love Tony-as he is, and a lot of times, that means he misses little things, things he perhaps shouldn't. But then sometimes he catches on, and, well, those moments are worth all the times he doesn’t.
For instance, sometimes she has JARVIS insert messages like "I miss you," into Tony's work notes while she's gone for long periods of time, or has his kitchen re-stocked with the stuff he always runs out of first.
She just likes surprising him, really. Making him remember someone loves him. He forgets too easily.
She brings home old-fashioned cheesecake from Carnegies one evening, topped with blueberries, because he likes them, and she can share them. It's a little out of the way between the office and the Tower, but cheesecake always makes his eyes light up for a moment, excited in a little-boy way.
She gets that moment of delight from him before he asks, "What, trying to fatten me up for the kill?"
"Maybe I just think you're going to need a lot of energy, Mr. Stark."
His grin is a little too soft and pleased and desperate-to-hold-on to be as feral as he probably wishes. She steals the first bite of cheesecake.
The whole situation comes to a head when she's hit by some kind of fire weapon and ends up on medical leave for at least a month with burns down the better part of her back. SHIELD has done everything they can for her, both as far as healing measures and pain management go, but she's still clearly in a lot of discomfort.
She tells him, "Look, I'm just going to sleep for a few days, so you should go and…do things."
He says, "You should definitely sleep."
She seems suspicious of this response, but also, too tired to argue. Steve allows himself a few hours of sketching when she drops off, content just to be near, feel certain she's safe and not needing anything. When he starts to feel restless he goes into her kitchen and takes stock.
He steeps a few cups of her favorite tea so as to have it on hand to warm up when she wakes. He doesn't know how to make any of her comfort foods, but Clint will know where they can be ordered. Steve texts Clint, who tells him he'll put in the orders.
She wakes in the afternoon and he brings her tea and cranberry almond muffins in the bed. She laughs, but it's uneasy. She says, "My legs work fine."
"I know," he tells her. "But I would really appreciate you letting me feel useful right now."
The injury wasn't his fault and they both know it. He can see her getting ready to tell him. Instead she says, "In that case, read to me, for a bit?"
Steve tucks a curl behind her ear. "As long as you want."
***
Sometimes, she does things to see if he'll notice. It's not a test. Pepper's long learned to take Tony-and love Tony-as he is, and a lot of times, that means he misses little things, things he perhaps shouldn't. But then sometimes he catches on, and, well, those moments are worth all the times he doesn’t.
For instance, sometimes she has JARVIS insert messages like "I miss you," into Tony's work notes while she's gone for long periods of time, or has his kitchen re-stocked with the stuff he always runs out of first.
She just likes surprising him, really. Making him remember someone loves him. He forgets too easily.
She brings home old-fashioned cheesecake from Carnegies one evening, topped with blueberries, because he likes them, and she can share them. It's a little out of the way between the office and the Tower, but cheesecake always makes his eyes light up for a moment, excited in a little-boy way.
She gets that moment of delight from him before he asks, "What, trying to fatten me up for the kill?"
"Maybe I just think you're going to need a lot of energy, Mr. Stark."
His grin is a little too soft and pleased and desperate-to-hold-on to be as feral as he probably wishes. She steals the first bite of cheesecake.
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He says, "You should definitely sleep."
Heee!
His grin is a little too soft and pleased and desperate-to-hold-on to be as feral as he probably wishes. She steals the first bite of cheesecake.
Awwwww.
This were delightful. Thank you for writing!
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