Steve, May, & Pepper Thread WHO: Steve, May, Pepper WHAT: Checking on Steve WHERE: His room WHEN: Backdated to a few days ago. RATING: Low STATUS: Completed via gdoc.
“No one can resist brownies,” May assured Pepper as they walked to the captain’s room. Both women were worried about their friend since Natasha, Bucky, and James disappeared. Pepper, knowing Nat, Diana, and James, was shaken as well, but she was putting on a brave face for everyone else. She’d grieve in private.
“Or you,” Pepper teased as they rounded on Steve’s door. “Steve?” Pepper knocked lightly. “It is May and Pepper. Let us in, would you?”
“We have brownies,” May added. She was worried about Diana and the others so baking helped her cope.
It’s been days now, and it felt like they were no closer to getting back his family. Steve was beside himself. Like Pepper, he was trying his best to put on a brave face, but anyone who knew him more than superficially knew that Steve was hurting. It was obvious. He wasn’t eating well, he wasn’t sleeping well, and he was spending a lot of time hiding. A lot of time alone.
Today he was in his room trying to distract himself with books. Fiction was always a distraction, right? Except today he couldn’t get through a paragraph before his thoughts went back to his best friends, his son who he’d only just had the chance to meet and start getting to know. He realized he’d read and re-read the same page several times, and still had no idea what it was about.
He looked up at the sound of the knock and cleared his throat. “Come in.”
Pepper opened the door and let May, with her brownie tray, go first. “Hey, big guy.” May set the brownies down on his desk and turned back to Steve with a smile as Pepper closed the door behind them. She walked over to Steve and brushed her lips against his forehead. “You are going to eat a brownie,” she told him before going back to cut one.
Pepper chuckled at May and shrugged her shoulders toward Steve. “She’s relentless, Cap. You should know that by now.” She didn’t bother asking how he was. She knew he wasn’t fine.
Steve slipped the bookmark into his book and closed it, thankful for the distraction from his distraction. He bounced to his feet the moment the women came in and nodded in greeting to each of them. His eyes fell closed at the kiss to his forehead, a traitorous blush creeping along his cheeks. He swallowed.
“...it’s all right. I’ll eat one.” He gave May a smile that was only mostly forced (something of an improvement) and then turned hopefully to Pepper. “Is there any news?”
Pepper shot him an apologetic look. “No, Steve, I am sorry. Not yet.” She patted his arm. “But we have the best minds working on it. We’ll get them back.”
May handed Steve and Pepper brownies before helping herself to a chunk. “They’re working round the clock,” she chimed in. “I know because I keep bringing them snacks.” She gave Steve an encouraging smile. “Nat and the rest will be back in no time.” She believed it too. The portal spit people out all the time.
Steve nodded, trying not to look as disappointed as he felt. It was probably written all over his face. He gave a gentle, “oh.” Tony could do anything, though. Steve had to place his faith in Tony--what else could he do?
Almost mindlessly, Steve accepted a brownie from May and lifted it to his mouth to take a bite. Without May and Sam bringing him food, Steve might not have eaten anything. He had no appetite, and food didn’t taste…
He chewed and swallowed, then lifted a hand to gently place it on May’s back, by her shoulder blade. It was a gesture of thanks, as well as an obvious need for comfort. “Thank you, May.”
May immediately reached up and wrapped an arm around his back in return. “You are welcome,” she said softly, while wishing there was more she could offer him.
Pepper swallowed her own brownie bite before trying to distract Steve. “You should go to one of those game nights Sam is organizing. It will be good to get your mind off things for a bit.”
May nodded her agreement. “And I know you’ll say no, but I bet Peter will be there and you don’t want to disappoint him, do you?” She gave him a cheeky grin, the one she used when she wanted her own way.
Steve was developing a warm, soft spot for May. He couldn’t help it--there was something so friendly and welcoming about her. She wrapped an arm around him and he felt comforted. He moved a little closer, tightening his arm around her shoulders.
“I’ll think about it,” he offered. It was all he could do to offer. He wasn’t sure he could focus on a game when Nat and Bucky and James were gone. Gone who knew where.
A little chuckle escaped him at the mention of Peter. He nodded, smiling very faintly, eyes on the floor. “I can’t let Peter down, can I? All right. I’ll come out for the next game night.”
Pepper shot May a grateful look before saying, “Good, I’ll even make sure to put it on my calendar so I’m there.” Pepper always tried to make time for the residents, but it was hard to keep up with everything on top of her job and the portal situation sometimes.
“And I’m cooking for the game nights,” May added. “Any special requests, Steve?”
Steve was a physical guy. He found comfort in May’s arm around him, a warmth that he was not expecting. It confused him a little. His arm slackened just a bit as he tried to push those feelings away.
“I’ll eat anything you make, May.” His voice was soft. Kind. A little shy. He turned his attention to Pepper. “I don’t want to take up too much of your time, Pepper. I know you’re busy.”
May sensed the shift and rescinded her arm, but her expression remained warm as she waited for Pepper to respond.
Pepper dismissed his comment with a wave. “Nonsense. I can’t get on Tony’s butt if I don’t take a breather now and again.” She chuckled. “I’d be a hypocrite. Oh, and speaking of the little devil, I still want to celebrate his birthday this weekend so help me tear him away for a few hours, would you?”
May laughed. “I’ll do my best. Steve, you in?” It was obvious the women were trying to engage him and May only hoped their ploy worked.
Now Steve was conflicted, and was mad at himself. He had some weird feelings swirling around in his stomach. On top of the fear and the loss for his family, he was also feeling warmth and gratitude (possibly attraction?) toward May. (And appreciation toward Pepper, obviously.) It was confusing, and focusing on those feelings was a lot easier than focusing on the loss, even as confusing as it was.
He lowered his arm. His fingertips tingled where they’d been touching her shirt. He cleared his throat gently, trying to refocus. “Anything to celebrate the anniversary of the day the world was blessed with Tony Stark.” There was a hint of the real Steve shining through, even though it was faint. He smirked softly.
“How else can I help?”
Pepper snickered. “You are in charge of getting him there,” she announced. “I already rented the vans and the catering is taken care of.” She was not letting the day go by without appreciating Tony no matter how many bad things recently happened.
“You know he is going to whine about it,” May kidded. “But Pepper did promise to wear a skimpy bathing suit for the occasion.”
Steve nodded. Thinking about Tony was easier than thinking about his lost loved ones, and a lot easier than thinking about his confusing feelings. He was pointedly not looking over at May. Either Pepper, or the floor, or the door.
“I’ll drag him out.” Steve was looking forward to this, actually. It would be a good distraction. But at the mention of Pepper’s bathing suit, Steve’s cheeks went incredibly pink and he chuckled, shaking his head. “That’s a little more information than I needed!”
Pepper laughed and swatted him on the arm. “Oh, don’t think too hard about it!”
May blushed on realizing she made Steve uncomfortable. “‘I’m sorry,” she quickly said. “Think about winter coats and sweaters instead!”
It was a good distraction. Steve felt his cheeks grow hot as Pepper reached forward and swatted him. He lifted a hand to rub the spot as if the swat hurt him, chuckling bashfully. “Winter coats and sweaters. Got it.” He glanced at May, but tore his eyes away quickly. “You’re planning on attending, too? In your winter coat?”
Pepper rolled her eyes at Steve, but it was all in good fun.
“I’ll be there,” May replied. “It is a little hot for a winter coat though,” she teased.
“Thanks, Steve,” Pepper added, taking pity on the poor guy. “I hope the party is a good distraction for everyone.”
The flush was fading from Steve’s cheeks. He nodded, looking forward to spending some celebratory time with May and Pepper and Tony, and all the other guests at the party. They needed it after all they’d been through lately.
“All right, no winter coats,” he said, smiling softly. It was a little less forced than earlier. “I do, too. I’m sure it will be.”