On Writing Fanfic - Love Your Beta
This is a skip ahead in the scheduled posting. Sorry for any confusion! Next week will cover Shipping, but this week some things came together, and I think that it's important to talk about Beta Reading. (This is hard to put into a Tony/Steve context, so most of this is very general.)
Note: Adult content behind the cuts!
I've said it over and over on many different forums, but a beta can be one of the most important relationships an author has in hir writing career. A good beta reader can help you improve much more rapidly, and much more effectively, than just trial and error. If you've used a thorough beta before, you've almost definitely noticed a change in the quality of your work. (I know I have.) However, there's some different opinions about what a beta does and what a beta should do. Knowing where you stand, either as an author or a beta reader, makes the whole process much more effective.
Beta/Author OTP
A beta is not a cheerleader, a spell-check, or a grammar monster. Zie may also do that, but those are not a beta's primary function. If you need those, make sure you mention it when you enter the beta-author relationship. We all know that MS Office doesn't catch everything, but most typos and grammar can be handled by the author hirself. If the only thing a beta is doing is catching your typos, it's probably time to look for someone else.
What a beta is is a critical reader. A quality beta reader should not only be able to tell when something isn't working, but should also be able to articulate what might be the cause. This includes (but is not limited to): style, patterns of phrasing/words, Plot holes, characterization and atmosphere. A specialist beta may also tackle other things (fact-checking, etc). In short, a beta will pick apart a piece of writing and flay it to the bones. As the author, you know what you meant to say. The beta will tell you what you actually said.
As much as it hurts, this is a good thing. A really good beta will tell you what your readers are going to think, before they see it. That means that you have a chance to go in and fix any potential misunderstandings before they happen. Does the denouement fall flat? A beta will tell you. Is Tony OOC? A beta will tell you. Did you drop a plot thread? A beta will tell you.
The beta reader is your best friend, the one who drags you aside to tell you that shirt doesn't look good, and then helps you pick out another one before you go to the movies. It hurts, but it's better than showing up at the movies with a pink SUPERSTAR shirt that has a popped collar. (I'm never letting Tony live that down.)
Ms Manners on Contracts and Obligations
In addition to being your best friend, the beta is also in an informal contact with you. Just like any contract, there are rules and limitations. At any point, it's completely acceptable for either side to pull out. In addition to personal reasons or time considerations, not every beta works with every author. Trying to force it just causes headaches, and it can make both parties resentful.
If the beta isn't working out for you, be polite. This person just tried to do you a favor, and it's a good chance that it's not their fault. (Even if it is their fault, being rude just causes wank explosions.) Write an e-mail or a message (however you've been communicating) and tell hir that you think it would be best for you both if you find another beta reader. Go ahead and say why, if you're comfortable with it, but it's not strictly necessary. Just don't leave the beta hanging.
But this works both ways. If you get a note from your beta suggesting that you find someone else, try not to take it personally. Again, sometimes people just don't mesh. It's best and easiest just to let go and move on.
A couple of things a beta should never do is re-write your work for you, or attempt to force their opinion on you. The beta reader isn't a co-author, nor is zie a teacher. If you can justify your choices to yourself, even if that choice is that you just don't feel like changing it, that's where the beta's "contract" ends. The beta should only offer advice; executive orders are right out. This doesn't mean that a beta can't suggest a word change, or a phrasing difference, but the key is suggest.
Authorial style makes things difficult when it comes to beta reading. As the author, you're the one with the power, and also the responsibility. It's the height of crass to blame mistakes on the beta reader. Seriously, just don't do it. Zie is doing you a favor-if something got missed, you're the one who wrote it, so you're the one who gets to shoulder the responsibility.
Mission: Implausible
I beta read occasionally for people on my flist. I do not offer it openly, because I've had several bad experiences. There are things an author can do to make a beta's job easy, and there are things an author can do to make the beta's job ridiculously difficult, and also things that will just piss hir off. Here's a quick and easy list of the one's I've run across.
Re-read the piece before submitting it. Clean up the obvious issues.
Note parts that you're uncertain about, and why you're uncertain about them, so your beta can pay extra attention to them.
Tell the beta what your plot is, even if it's chapter 1 of 100. The beta can't keep an eye out for plot holes if zie doesn't know what the plot is.
Accept criticism gracefully.
Be willing to talk about it. If you are attempting something specific, make sure the beta knows.
Be upfront about what you want. If you only want a quick glance through and you don't tell your beta, don't whine if the piece comes back dipped in red ink.
Be upfront about deadlines. If you need a fast job, say so at the start, rather than the night before it's due.
Be aware of your limitations, and convey them to the beta. When shopping around, it's not a bad thing to have a list of your own weaknesses to present.
Back up your position. If your beta says 'but WWII didn't have Lear Jets', and the reason for the anachronism is a massive alien time travel conspiracy, say so.
Leave your pretention at the door. We're all artistes, but the beta is the person keeping your pants up in public.
Write ahead. If you post in chapters, it's wonderful to have the next chapter ready and waiting for beta, because it means the transitions will be smoother.
Be polite-please and thank you until your face turns blue. Remember, the beta is doing you a favor.
Credit. Even if the beta only suggested one change and you didn't go with it, put zir name in the header.
Accept when a fic just isn't working. Sometimes a whole premise needs changing. It hurts, but it doesn't do any good to force it, and your beta will likely throw up hir hands in despair.
Don't send a piece for beta immediately after you wrote it; especially not if you wrote it at 4AM on a massive sugar/caffeine high after three days without sleep.
Don't wait to see if the beta notices the dodgy parts to see if you can squeak by without fixing them.
Don't keep the massive, story-changing plot twist to yourself.
Don't lash out if the beta's criticism stings.
Don't send something experimental and potentially dodgy without first making sure your beta is in on it.
Don't expect the beta to read your mind. If something's bugging you, or you want something specific, say so!
Don't spring a deadline, or rush to post before the beta's done. If you send something off to beta and then "can't wait", don't expect that beta to work for you again. (Unless zie is much nicer than I am.)
Don't pretend your writing is perfect. If you don't think you need a beta, save both of you some time and don't bother asking.
Don't argue. If the beta says X and you say Y, just explain that you think Y is best for the story, and go with it.
Don't be too self-effacing. You have strengths. Learn to own them; it is very hard for a beta to work with someone who thinks it's all terrible.
Don't ask for beta work in bite-sized, partial-chapter chunks, unless it's an entire piece or you're trying something experimental that will affect the whole chapter.
Don't be an ass. No one is entitled to a beta.
Don't ignore your beta's hard work. You may have written it, but zie helped make it was it is. Acknowledge that.
Don't try to force a fic on someone who says it doesn't work for them. Find a new beta if you want to press on, or work with the beta to fix what's broken.
A Couple Examples
Note: Adult content in the examples below!
muccamukk and I teamed up to create the following. Huge thanks to her for going out of her way to produce this. We both wrote short Steve/Tony pieces (about 700 words each), and then traded them for beta work. Below are both the before and after results, with beta notes still inside. My notes are highlighted green and hers are highlighted blue. This is meant as an example of author-beta relations in action, as well as the differences in beta styles. You can see how
muccamukk has a much more sparse form, and tends to focus on mechanics. By contrast, I abuse my notes and spend a lot of time on blocking and setting. The changes are also telling-there are several places where suggested changes were simply ignored.
muccamukk's is a piece in a larger work, which affected the alterations based on what zie has planned (for the record, IDK). Mine is self-contained, so I took the suggestions almost wholesale, since there were no mitigating factors.
Muccamukk's Fic
Un-beta'd
Beta'd
Steve let go of their softening cocks and, thank Christ, rolled off of Tony, flopping onto his back. "That was great," he said, after a moment. "We should do that again." Where are they? Tony’s room? Steve’s room? Jarvis’ room? (Please not Jarvis’ room. I will be scarred.)
Steve let go of their softening cocks and, thank Christ, rolled off of Tony, sprawling across Tony's king-sized bed. "That was great," he said, after a moment. "We should do that again."
Tony thought vaguely about getting up and washing off the mingled come that had ended up covering his chest. Why didn’t he? He put his remaining energy into turning a little to look at Steve, instead. "Now?" He could not A lack of contractions is pretty formal. Did you want that? believe that he managed to sound vaguely appalled by the prospect of having sex with the pinnacle of human perfection. Then again, he hadn't quite imagined that even a super soldier would have quite that much stamina. This whole paragraph has a lot of Tony thinking that he’s tired. It could use some showing of his physical condition.
Tony thought vaguely about getting up and washing off the mingled come that had ended up covering his chest. He worked an elbow under himself and pushed up, fully intending to crawl across the tangled sheets to the edge of the bed and the bathroom beyond. No good. Half his muscles ached from Steve's enthusiastic affections, and the other half seemed to have turned to goo. He gave up propping himself up, and instead put his energy into turning his head enough to look at Steve. "Now?" He couldn't believe that he managed to sound appalled by the prospect of having sex with the pinnacle of human perfection. Then again, he hadn't quite imagined that even a super soldier would have quite that much stamina.
"Well..." Steve drew out the word, folding his arms behind his head. "Maybe not now. Later. In the shower, say."
"Well..." Steve drew out the word, folding his arms behind his head. "Maybe not now. Later. In the shower, say."
A very clear image came with that idea An image that causes that sharp a turn around could use some showing? :D? (hopeful), and suddenly Tony didn't feel like getting it up again this week was so impossible. "We definitely need to shower. We could try something else, even, where we're less likely to fall over." He made his fingers into a ring and moved it back and forth in the air. "Like a blow job." I’m kind of torn on this sentence. It doesn’t flow smoothly with the rest of the paragraph, but there’s not precisely a graceful way of describing an imaginary handjob.
A very clear image came with that idea, one involving Steve flattening him against the black marble of his walk-in shower, grinding their hips together. Suddenly, Tony didn't feel like getting it up again this week was so impossible. "We definitely need to shower. We could try something else, even, where we're less likely to fall over." He made his fingers into a ring and moved it back and forth in the air. "Like a blow job."
"Oh." Steve looked like his "he"? Also, how does Steve look like he’s frowning? How are they laying here? was frowning. Tony Not necessarily something to change, but it’s worth noticing that you start the sentences with their names a lot. turned the rest of the way onto his side and pushed himself up a little. He was frowning. "What's the matter?" Tony ran through what he'd just said This sounds as though Tony’s referring to "what’s the matter". Maybe "ran through the conversation", or something else more encompassing., and could only come up with, "Do you not like getting head?" "Do you not like" is clunky when said aloud. "Don’t you like", maybe?
"Oh." He couldn't tell from this angle, but he thought that Steve's lips turned down into a frown. Tony rolled the rest of the way onto his side and propped himself up on one elbow. Steve was frowning. "What's the matter?" Tony ran through the conversation and could only come up with, "Don't you like getting head?"
Steve smiled up at Tony, but it seemed just a tad uncertain. What makes it seem uncertain? You may also want to remove "just a tad". It weakens the sentence. "Well, I don't really know."
Steve smiled up at Tony, but it seemed uncertain, as if he were pulling his lips back in an attempt to reassure him. "Well, I don't really know."
"You...?" Tony started, then blinked and shook his head. "What, you've never had one before?"
"You...?" Tony started, then blinked and shook his head. "What, you've never had one before?"
"I don't even know what you're talking about."
"I don't even know what you're talking about."
"Are you serious?"
"Are you serious?"
"Yes." Steve's eyes were wide and unbelievably blue in the afternoon light. This is the first time you mention the time of day. They were not the eyes of a man who was having Tony on.
"Yes." Steve's eyes were wide and unbelievably blue in the afternoon light. They were not the eyes of a man who was having Tony on.
"Oh." This could be stronger if you used described Tony’s reaction.
"Oh," was the only thing Tony could think to say.
"Honestly, Tony, I've kind of been wondering what those things Plural? Has this sort of confusion happened before? meant." Steve had unfolded his arms, and now rolled to match Tony's position. His face didn't quite come in easy kissing distance, but it was close. "I mean, I've heard the terms, and I figured out from context that they had something to so with sex, but..." He shrugged one shoulder, brows creased in frustration. They were both still so flushed from two hours Plural? Has this sort of confusion happened before? of making out "Making out" sounds a bit young, especially when that included manual sex. (Or maybe I’m just old.) that Tony couldn't tell if Steve was blushing or not. He probably was. On one hand, this makes for a little "lol". On the other hand, I’m not sure if that’s what you’re going for. If not, I’d suggest removing this.
"Honestly, Tony, I've kind of been wondering what a lot of those things meant: 'blow jobs' and 'getting head' and what not." Steve had unfolded his arms, and now turned to match Tony's position. His face didn't quite come in easy kissing distance, but it was close. "I mean, I've heard the terms, and I figured out from context that they had something to so with sex, but..." He shrugged one shoulder, brows creased in frustration. They were both still so flushed from two hours of writhing across the bed -- and, briefly, the floor -- that Tony couldn't tell if Steve was blushing or not. He probably was.
Reaching over, Tony rested a hand on Steve's hip What does Steve’s skin feel like? Sweaty, warm, clammy..? and rubbed his thumb along the outline of the bone. "I guess you didn't really want to look up sex stuff on the Internet, huh?"
Reaching over, Tony rested a hand on Steve's hip and rubbed his thumb across his damp skin. Beads of perspiration collected and and dripped onto the sheets as he traced the outline of the bone. "I guess you didn't really want to look up sex stuff on the Internet, huh?"
Steve shook his head. "Nick said I should, but then Dum Dum told me never, under any circumstances, to ever do that." Wise words. Never do what Nick suggests. Ever.
Steve shook his head. "Nick said I should, but then Dum Dum told me never, under any circumstances, to ever do that."
After a moment's consideration, Tony decided that he didn’t want to know what that conversation had sounded like. "But I normally would not suggest ellipses, but this wants for a brain-pause after "but" Nick Fury? You fought alongside the Howling Commandos. For years." This would flow better if it were part of the sentence preceding it.
After a moment's consideration, Tony decided that he didn't want to know what that conversation had sounded like. "But... Nick Fury? You fought alongside the Howling Commandos. For years."
"I developed strong mental filters." This line has a lot of potential to be memorable. Punch it up a bit. Make it snap. Frowning, Steve rolled away a little, colour had clearly crept into his his face I thought he was flushed from sex/blushing?, and his expression tighten "Tightened"? from embarrassed to irritated. "Look, my mother explained how these things work, and what good boys should do. And what kinds of things they should talk about." Add something else in here; three examples make a line more memorable than just two.
"I developed strong mental filters, okay?"
"I guess you did!" It occurred to Tony the moment after the words left his mouth that he probably should not be making light of Steve's sexual experience. Especially not when he'd just been so generous with what he did know.
Frowning, Steve rolled away a little and his expression tightened from embarrassed to irritated. Now Tony could see "Look, my mother explained how these things work, physically, I mean. Then she told me what good boys should do, and what kinds of things they should talk about."
Which probably hadn’t included either jerking off, jerking someone else off, or frottage, but Tony was not going to talk about Sarah Rogers’ sexual mores while naked in bed with her son. This is a pretty long sentence. You may want to chop it up. "Well, um..." Maybe a physical tie to his hesitence here? Okay, how the hell was he feeling embarrassed about this of all things? Is Tony embarrassed? Show us please? "Are you still not talking about it? Because I could show you, if you want." This almost begs for a line about "showing" now being the same thing, or something else pervy.
Which probably hadn't included either jerking off, jerking someone else off, or frottage. However, Tony was not going to talk about Sarah Rogers' sexual mores while naked in bed with her son. "Well, um..." Tony bit the inside of his lip, and realised that the heat in his cheeks wasn't just left over from exertion. Okay, how the hell was he feeling embarrassed about this of all things? "Are you still not talking about it? Because I could show you, if you want." He arched an eyebrow. "And by 'show you,' I mean a hands on demonstration. And by 'hands on' I mean something else entirely."
"Really?" Steve's grin looked completely genuine this time. "Gee, Tony, that would be great!" I heard this in the voice of the kid from the Andy Griffith show. It’s a bit too enthusiastic for a Steve who was just >:[ all over. He rolled back closer and slid and arm around Tony’s waist. They really needed a shower. "I always appreciate how you take the time to to help an old dinosaur like me out with all these modern things. This doesn’t scan very much like Steve; the gratitude is good, but oral sex is not that modern. It’s really good of you."
"Really?" Steve's grin looked completely genuine this time. "Thanks, Tony, that'd be great." He rolled back closer and slid and arm around Tony's waist. They really needed a shower. "I always appreciate how you take the time to to help me a friend out. It's really good of you." This is probably the one paragraph that doesn’t translate well to the snippet. The tone shift really only makes sense in the context of the rest of the story.
Tony told himself that he’d knownThis ending sort of drifts off. We’ve been following Tony closely; the end should be something definitive and affirmative. Something that shows Tony has accepted the task of Steve’s education for a while now that he’d probably end up in hell, so he might as well enjoy the ride.
"I'm pretty sure that this won't be an immense hardship on my part." Rolling onto his back again, Tony told himself that he'd known for a while now that he'd probably end up in hell. He might as well enjoy the ride.
Beta's end note: This is adorable. It’s easy to believe that Steve never got much by way of sex ed, and especially not for gay sex. You’re really strong on your interior monologue for Tony, and I kind of love Tony’s attitude of "oh thank God that’s done" at the beginning; especially when it’s given a quick u-turn. Oh, Tony. Never change, BB. ♥
Tsukinofaerii's Fic
Un-beta'd
Beta'd
The mansion was quiet when Steve finally got home. It was nearly three in the morning, and everyone else had long since either gone to their own homes or gone "returned" may be better here. You use "gone" again next clause to bed. Just in case, Steve didn't turn on any extra lights as he walked through the building. The leather of his uniform squeaked when he moved, but that was unavoidable. It was a wet night outside, and leather didn't wear well in the damp.
When Steve finally got home, the mansion was heavy with that specific sort of silence that came only so late that it was morning. Everyone else had long since either returned to their own homes or gone to bed. Just in case, Steve didn't turn on any extra lights as he walked through the building. The leather of his uniform squeaked when he moved, but that was unavoidable. A week of rain drizzled outside, and leather didn't wear well in the damp.
Bad weather or not, there were three different muggers in jail because he'd been out on the streets. Taken that way, it was far better than staying home and fighting nightmares about the War. The first two paragraphs of set up are needed for info, but I find the still somewhat passive, a lot of "this was this and that was that." Could you make it more active?
Bad weather or not, he’d put three muggers in jail. Taken that way, it was far better than staying home and fighting nightmares about the War.
As it turned out, Steve wasn't the only one up late. A lamp was on in the kitchen, casing a cool blue glow over the breakfast table. Steve paused as he passed it.
As it turned out, Steve wasn't the only one up late. A lamp was on in the kitchen, casting a cool blue glow over the breakfast table. Steve paused as he passed it.
Iron Man had taken over the table. One of his gauntlets was spread all over the surface Construction of this sentence seems awkward. Maybe lose the "all"?, from simple screws that were easy to recognize to strange pieces of metal that looked like they belonged in a puzzle. Again, this seems awkward, maybe restructure the paragraph and combine the first half of sentence with the first one, and split this off into it’s own thing, maybe more strongly from Steve’s PoV. The table wasn't placed anywhere close to an electrical outlet, but he had solved that problem by plugging the lamp into himself. Hee! Awesome. That’s very SA Tony
Iron Man had taken over the table. Pieces of a gauntlet were scattered over the surface. Steve recognized the screws, but most of it was a mystery. Some pieces looked more like they belonged to a puzzle than anything else. The table wasn't placed anywhere close to an electrical outlet, but Iron Man had solved that problem by plugging the lamp into himself.
Without looking up from his work, Iron Man said, "You're home late."
Without looking up from his work, Iron Man said, "You're home late."
"Muggers are easiest to find after midnight." Steve glanced down the hall, but stepped into the kitchen and took a seat. There was something more than a little surreal about watching Iron Man work on electronics in his armor. The hand that was bare of olive-skinned I’m confused by this, and covered with nicks and calluses from his work- Semicolon here maybe? it was the only thing even remotely human about him. They were long-fingered and shapely, with nails that were obviously taken care of. Steve never considered hands a particularly attractive body part, but he'd learned to take what he could get. "Why aren't you fixing that in the workshop?"
"Muggers are easiest to find after midnight." Steve glanced down the hall, but stepped into the kitchen and took a seat. There was something more than a little surreal about watching Iron Man work on electronics in his armor. The hand Steve could see had olive-skinned, and was covered with nicks and calluses from Iron Man’s work; it was the only thing even remotely human about him. It was long-fingered and shapely, with nails that were obviously taken care of. Steve never considered hands a particularly attractive body part, but he'd learned to take what he could get. "Why aren't you fixing that in the workshop?"
"It's just a quick repair." Even with the faceplate down, Iron Man's tone gave the impression of someone's Just "someone" I think poking out his tongue as he worked. "Mr. Stark is working on a new set of armor. I don't want to disturb his work." "Work" is repeated.
"It's just a quick repair." Even with the faceplate down, Iron Man's tone gave the impression of someone poking out his tongue as he worked. "Mr. Stark is making a new set of armor. I don't want to disturb his work."
When it seemed obvious that Iron Man considered the conversation over with, Steve reached out and picked one of his hands up, turning it over to look at the calluses. His red gloves looked Looked what? "You have nice hands."
When it seemed obvious that Iron Man considered the conversation over with, Steve reached out and picked one of his hands up, turning it over to look at the calluses. His red gloves looked garish next to Iron Man’s skin. It was usually red on red. "You have nice hands."
"Cap..." Iron Man's fingers curled around his. "You know I can't. My identity..."
"Cap..." Iron Man's fingers curled around his. "You know I can't. My identity..."
"I know." Steve frowned, and traced the lifeline on Iron Man's palm. Instead of being one smooth crease, it had a lot of breaks. Cute, but why? Maybe spark burns, or is it naturally like that. He wondered what that meant. "I wouldn't tell anyway. You can trust me."
"I know." Steve frowned, and traced the lifeline on Iron Man's palm. Instead of being one smooth crease, it had a lot of natural breaks. He wondered what that meant. "I wouldn't tell anyway. You can trust me." Sort of a Me Joke. In palmistry (palm reading) a broken lifeline can mean some sort of trauma. It’s more complicated than that, but for a fic it’ll do. *g*
"It's not about trust. You don't even know what I look like. I could be hideous under this helmet."
"It's not about trust. You don't even know what I look like. I could be hideous under this helmet."
"You've said that before. I don't care." They'd had the same exact conversation, more than once. Iron Man was adamant about keeping his identity secret. Attraction and friendship wasn't enough, he said. Steve begged to differ. "Kiss me."
"You've said that before. I don't care." They'd had the same exact conversation, more than once. Iron Man was adamant about keeping his identity secret. Attraction and friendship wasn't enough, he said. Steve begged to differ. "Kiss me."
Iron Man pulled his hand away. "We're not doing this."
Iron Man pulled his hand away. "We're not doing this."
"I'll close my eyes," Steve insisted. "Please. Just one kiss, and then I won't ask again until you tell me your name."
"I'll close my eyes," Steve insisted. "Please. Just one kiss, and then I won't ask again until you tell me your name."
There was no way to tell, but the angle of Iron Man's helmet made it seem like he was staring at the table. Steve held his breath while he thought it over. Maybe it was pathetic, but he wanted just one kiss. It would hold him until Iron Man did reveal himself. I feel like I need more about why Steve is so into IM in here somewhere. Like what about IM makes Steve so into him that he’s willing to wait?
I mean, this is the man who proposed marriage to Sharon before he knew her name. However, it seems like we (your readers) shouldn’t just assume the ship.
Besides, SA Steve loves to monologue about IM’s virtues -g-
There was no way to tell, but the angle of Iron Man's helmet made it seem like he was staring at the table. Steve held his breath while he thought it over. Maybe it was pathetic, but he wanted just one kiss. It would hold him until Iron Man did reveal himself.
Without evidence, there was no telling what he looked like under that faceplate. He could have been anyone. Steve had figured out early that something was physically wrong with him, something that made him afraid to show his face or take off the armor. Strangely, that had make it easier to be friends with him. He could respect someone who took a tragedy and used it to help others.
After they’d become friends-after finding out how noble and strong Iron Man was, after watching his willingness to sacrifice himself for others, it was a short fall. Learning that this sort of thing was acceptable between two men had just clinched the deal for Steve.
The answer came with the click of Iron Man's faceplate unlatching. "Close your eyes."
The answer came with the click of Iron Man's faceplate unlatching. "Close your eyes."
Obediently, Steve closed Maybe "squeezed" here his eyes tight. He heard the squeak of hinges as the faceplate was lifted, and felt the table shift when Iron Man leaned over it. Cold metal brushed his cheek, and then soft lips pressed against his. Some sort of facial hair scratched him lightly, and there was a small shock of static that tasted like metal under his tongue.
Obediently, Steve squeezed his eyes tight. Hinges squeaked as the faceplate lifted, and he felt the table shift when Iron Man leaned over it. Cold metal brushed Steve’s cheek, and then soft lips pressed against his. Some sort of facial hair scratched lightly at his cheek, and a shock of static tasted like metal under his tongue.
The kiss lasted only a few moments before Iron Man pulled away. Steve waited for the sound of the faceplate closing before he opened his eyes. "Thank you."
The kiss lasted only a few moments before Iron Man pulled away. Steve waited for the sound of the faceplate closing before he opened his eyes. "Thank you."
Iron Man was back in his seat, toying with a screwdriver. "You'll really wait until I tell you my name?"
Iron Man was back in his seat, toying with a screwdriver. "You'll really wait until I tell you my name?"
Steve nodded, and reached out to take Iron Man's hand again. It wasn't much, but it would do. "Yeah. I will."
Steve nodded, and reached out to take Iron Man's hand again. It wasn't much, but it would do. "Yeah. I will."
Nice riff on Avengers 170, with Cap just willing to trust and go with it.
I did not actually mean to riff. (sweatdrop) But I shall go with it. <3
Beta reading is hard work, and betas are sometimes the unsung heroes of fanfic. Cuddle them. Love them. Appreciate them. Do not let them escape their cages!
Next week will have Shipping. Cross my heart. (crosses it)