phasing_cat: (facepalm)
Kitty Pryde ([personal profile] phasing_cat) wrote2022-09-16 02:35 pm

Oops I Overdid It Again - for @americanass

Kitty struggled out of the taxi, nearly falling to one knee when she stepped up onto the sidewalk. Every part of her felt like it was filled with lead, and her clothes and hair smelled like smoke. She assumed that she looked as disheveled as she felt, but that wasn't important at the moment. Looking up, she was greeted by a small miracle. Since the last time she'd been there, a shelter had been built over the bench at the bus stop just a few feet away. She shuffled over to it, planted her feet, locked her knees, and leaned back against it. Immediate threat of collapse handled. 

It was late, after midnight, and the street was deserted though the sounds of traffic from the main thoroughfare a couple blocks away floated in the air. This was a good neighborhood, on the nicer side without being obvious about it, and the building was very secure. She didn't have the key fob or code to get in on her own. So she pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed Steve's number. If she weren't so utterly exhausted it would have occurred to her to call while still in the cab, so that if he wasn't home she could have chosen a different destination. But she was committed now, for better or worse.  Glancing up at the darkened windows she knew looked into his bedroom and living room, she prayed that he was there. And awake. Or at least had left his phone ringer on.

Please pick up, please pick up, please pick up...
americanass: (pic#15106027)

[personal profile] americanass 2022-10-09 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
The average person, Steve Rogers was not. There wasn't even a beat of hesitation behind his answer.

"I've got this," he insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument. Not that he expected one. The woman on the phone was giving him information and giving him the chance to back out gracefully, but she didn't know him. Didn't know that he couldn't back out. Kate had chosen him for safety and he couldn't let her down. Even if he hadn't cared for her the way he did, he wouldn't have run from that. His feelings for her just meant he was that much more determined to take care of her.

Knowing just how much she had to have done to be so exhausted just made the feeling stronger. She'd done the right thing and she deserved safety after all that. He could give that. Any urgent rush toward the end of the world that required him to step in again aside, but that sort of thing had seemed to die down in the last several years, leaving Steve a lot more reliable. He'd never been so glad of it as he was the second Kate had needed his help.

"I appreciate the offer, though," he added as diplomatically as he could. "I'll get in touch if there's a need, or keep you updated if that'd be better, but otherwise I'll let her know to call when she's up to it." And not a minute sooner. "
americanass: (pic#15106019)

[personal profile] americanass 2022-10-11 03:10 am (UTC)(link)
Her instructions were helpful, more than they were an irritating implication that he wasn't up to the task, and Steve filed each bit of it away. She needed more than just sleep, but sleep the most for the moment, and it very well could take days. It wouldn't be easy but Steve didn't run from hard.

And he couldn't help but smile, just a little, to himself at the knowledge that Kate liked blueberry pancakes. That was news to him, unsurprisingly, they were still very firmly in the stage of getting to know each other, but he found it endearing. Steve absolutely could not cook, but if he had a couple of days? Maybe he could figure that much out. It would be the thought that counted regardless.

"I will," he promised. "She's safe with me." No matter what happened, she would be safe and protected and cared for. He'd let her rest as long as she needed, do whatever he needed to do for her until she got her strength back. Make as many questionable blueberry pancakes as it took, or attempt it at least.

Steve didn't think he even had anything to make blueberry pancakes with.

Those were not immediate problems, though. Immediate problems included the fact that Kate was unconscious on his sofa and in clothes that he hadn't noticed smelled of smoke, but they probably did, and her shoes, that wasn't exactly keeping her comfortable.
americanass: (pic#15105259)

[personal profile] americanass 2022-10-13 03:31 am (UTC)(link)
Steve looked down at the phone in his hand for a moment and just shook his head. Really not the ideal way to meet, in some way, Kate’s friends, her family as far as Steve could tell, but it was what it was and what it was, was sort of nice to know that there were people like that looking out for his girl. He knew he wouldn’t always be so close by, near enough to call for help. He’d never doubted she had plenty of people who cared about her, but knowing it and experiencing it were different things. 

He moved quietly back to the living room, Kate’s phone placed quietly on the table again, paused only a second to just look at her. It might be smarter to have someone who knew her abilities better to take care of her, but the very thought of letting anyone else take over squeezed his chest. He’d just take every piece of advice Ororo had given him and layer it all with his good intentions and affections. 
He’d let her rest for now and worry about the rest as it came. 

Steve took a glance at her boots, decided those definitely weren’t helping anything, and moved to kneel on the floor beside her to take them off. 
americanass: (pic#15010332)

[personal profile] americanass 2022-10-16 03:28 am (UTC)(link)
It really was unfortunate she wasn’t conscious enough to tell him what was okay. Because no matter how Steve wanted to make her comfortable, he wasn’t about to do much more than get her out of her boots.

He did, though, after another moment of consideration, move to gently pick her up from the couch, carry her through to his bedroom and tuck her, smokey clothes and all, into his bed. He’d wash it all later, that was no issue. He did worry about whether or not Kate would mind any of it, all of it, but it was worth her minding if she woke up as comfortable as he could make her.

He wound up taking her phone in as well, leaving it on the bedside table along with a glass of water, just in case, and left the door open a crack while he went back to the drawing he’d abandoned in the kitchen. He’d just keep himself quietly busy, check in on her every now and then until she woke up or something changed.
americanass: (pic#15108195)

[personal profile] americanass 2022-10-17 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
For the whole day and a half, give or take, that passed, Steve checked on Kate every hour, almost like clockwork. He dozed on the couch in between, kept quiet and alert for any sign she was in distress, did a little reading and had a few things delivered so he could attempt those pancakes when she did wake up. But mostly he just waited quietly. Mostly in the other room with the bedroom door cracked, sometimes perched on the edge of the bed beside her for a few minutes.

More than a day of quiet meant the crash in the bedroom cut sharply through the air and Steve was up, moving quickly in his surprise, not knowing what he was expecting but ready to do whatever needed doing to protect Kate. It wouldn't be the first time his apartment had been attacked, though it was hardly a common occurrence, and he was ready for a fight. But, of course, wound up stopping short when instead of someone unexpected he found Kate on the floor, broken glass sprayed out in every direction.

"Kate?" Ignoring the mess, and the sharp sting of an errant shard in one of his feet, Steve crossed immediately to kneel beside her, hands on her arms gently to straighten her up. "You okay?" First things first, before he let himself be relieved that she'd come around, that he could do more than just wait and see, he was checking her for new injuries, making sure she hadn't hit her head or cut her hands.
americanass: (pic#15105660)

[personal profile] americanass 2022-10-21 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
No significant injuries he could see, and however weak she seemed, however rocky her voice sounded to his ears, relief washed over him. She was alright, all things considered, and she was awake at least for a moment. That was a good sign. He was pretty sure of that.

"Bathroom," Steve echoed, the faintest hint of amusement behind the understanding in his voice. "Right. Come on. I've got you."

Carefully, he eased her up, supporting her weight, steadying her. She might not be strong enough to stand on her own after so long unconscious, but Steve was strong enough to do all the work if he needed to. It was no hardship for him to haul her a few steps further down the hall to his small and tidy bathroom.
americanass: (pic#15010332)

[personal profile] americanass 2022-10-24 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
He’d absolutely would have helped her if she needed it, but since she seemed stable enough on her feet by the time they reached the bathroom to at least not go crashing to the floor again, Steve let her be, waited in the hallway for long minutes. Ready to sweep back in and help her again once she was done. He heard the water running, and didn’t hear it stop. For a lot longer than it should be. On and on until he couldn’t just wait anymore. 

Steve knocked first, of course, called out to her with no response. Gave it a few more seconds before deciding it was worth embarrassing her if she did need help, before letting himself in with half-hearted apologies that he knew fell on deaf ears before he saw her. 

Curled up on the floor like a sleepy child. 

Steve laughed to himself, shaking his head, moving without hesitation to scoop her right up off the floor, murmuring about it being no place to sleep. More for his own sake than hers, just because saying the words made him feel better. It was only a handful of steps to take her right back to the bed, leaving her pants behind, though her added weight, slight as it was, reminded him of the shard of glass in his bare foot. He ignored it the best he could all the same, picked his way carefully around the shattered glass on the floor to place her gingerly beneath the covers again. Not without a little hiss of pain when doing so put pressure on just the wrong spot. 

Only once he’d made sure Kate was comfortable again did Steve go for the broom to clean up the mess first, careful to get every shred of glass from the floor in case she got out of bed while he wasn’t looking again. And only then did he return to the bathroom to deal with his own foot. Which turned into him first picking up her pants and folding them neatly. 

He figured he probably had at least another couple hours, another day, before she woke again so he wasn’t in too much of a rush, just tidied up and tended to the glass sliver, went so far as to replaced the broken glass of water despite the risk of it winding up in the same state and went back to waiting just like he’d done before. 
americanass: (pic#15105257)

[personal profile] americanass 2022-10-28 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
The waiting was probably one of the most stressful things Steve had done. He wasn’t very patient and not being able to do anything to fix it was hard. But he filled the time by checking in on her regularly, making sure she was comfortable and not getting any worse, reassuring himself that as long as it went on she was just sleeping, and rather peacefully by the looks of it. 

He almost didn’t register her voice calling out for him, half dozing on the sofa while a cup of coffee went cold at his elbow. 

But Steve was waiting for her to wake up, so hearing what he’d been anxious for had him on his feet and down the short hall in no more than a moment, the concern on his face immediately shifting to relief to see Kate not only awake, but sitting. 

“Hey.” His voice was soft, soothing, and he moved to perch on the edge of the bed beside her. “How’re you feeling?” She looked better than the last time she’d woken, that was for sure, if a little drawn. 
americanass: (pic#15106020)

[personal profile] americanass 2022-10-31 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
Steve didn't point out he didn't need apologies, that yes he'd been scared, what sane person wouldn't have been? But that what he'd felt so much more of was relief that she was alright, that as long as she was just asleep she was still whole and safe. For as long as she had been, of course he'd worried, but exhaustion took time to come around from, he understood that, and so he'd been patient.

He felt much better seeing her awake and smiling, though.

Turning his hand in hers, Steve squeezed gently. "Couple of days." Long enough he'd been concerned, not so long that he'd panicked or felt he'd needed help caring for her. Close, but not quite. "It was a hell of a wait."

Not being able to act had been hard. But Kate was worth it. He cared about her, and she'd put her trust in him by showing up, by calling for his help. Steve wasn't about to let her down. The small things he'd been able to do had been enough. Making sure she was warm enough, making sure she had what she needed when she did wake up, little bits of fussing over her that he was glad she hadn't seen, had filled the time.
americanass: (pic#15105257)

[personal profile] americanass 2022-11-04 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
“I think I can manage some juice,” he said, taking the glass with a nod, giving her hand another squeeze before letting go. “Just give me a shout when you’re done your call.” He would give her privacy for that, or as much as his small apartment could provide anyway. Which would be enough that he at least wasn’t listening in unintentionally, though he’d probably know when she was finished just because the quiet murmur of conversation was gone. 

He would still wait until she called for him. And would under no circumstances suggest she just get up out of bed. At all. Until she was good and ready. She needed to rest and Steve didn’t want a repeat of her falling because her legs couldn’t carry her. He didn’t want to risk her actually hurting herself. 

But as long as she stayed exactly where she was, now that she was awake, he wasn’t all that worried. She’d be just fine, and he’d keep her fed and hydrated. 

With a gentle smile he rose and excused himself from the room, left the door open just a crack to give her that privacy to talk, and went to get her a fresh drink. 
americanass: (pic#15105657)

[personal profile] americanass 2022-11-06 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
A lecture probably was deserved, she really shouldn’t be up and about given how bad of shape she’d been in the last time, but it didn’t come. Steve wasn’t really in any position to give lectures about being a good patient when he was about as bad as they came. Even before the serum, when every doctor had told him he wasn’t healthy enough for war, he’d stubbornly pushed through it all. Now, if he could move, no matter what power it took to get there, he was going to do it. 

So he wound up just meeting her smile with one of his own, gentle and understanding, and offered her a hand. 

“Back to bed until I’m confident you’re not going to wind up on the floor.” 

No matter how quiet she’d tried to be, his apartment wasn’t big enough that he wouldn’t hear, but her getting up and going about her business under her own power was more reassuring than anything. It was surest sign that she was on her way to recovered. 

“Not that I’m not glad you’re feeling better,” he added teasingly. If they could just ensure she didn’t wind up injuring herself on his watch, that’d be great.
americanass: (pic#15010327)

[personal profile] americanass 2022-11-07 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
“I'm insulted you’d even ask,” Steve joked, his smile making it clear there was no actual insult to be had. It was ab understandable question, given how she’d gone to sleep. He was surprised she didn’t remember losing them, though, chalked it up to her being only half awake at the time. “You did that yourself. Right after you tried getting up and forgot how to use your feet.” 

With an easy smile, he settled on the edge of the bed beside her again, one leg tucked up beneath himself. 

“Guess you weren’t awake enough to realize what was going on, huh?” Probably for the best. She wouldn’t remember the shattered glass that had sliced his foot open, or him carrying her back and forth down the hall. There was nothing to be embarrassed about but not remembering took away the chance for it entirely. 

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