phasing_cat: (facepalm)
[personal profile] phasing_cat
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...

Date: 2023-03-12 04:43 am (UTC)
americanass: (pic#15408310)
From: [personal profile] americanass
“You can always just put on something of mine until your stuff turns up,” he offered without missing a beat, tucking into the eggs pushed toward him. It would be a waste not to, and he could always eat. “I don’t mind.” 

More than not minding, he thought he might just like it if she did. His clothes would be absolutely enormous on her much smaller frame, but it there was something in the idea of a part of him wrapped around her that pulled at the right things in him. 

Which wasn’t surprising. He’d been affectionate toward her, protective of her in ways that he’d never act on, knew she didn’t actually need protecting. It seemed only natural to want her in his space and in his things. 

Date: 2023-04-06 03:56 am (UTC)
americanass: (pic#15106027)
From: [personal profile] americanass
Steve was on his feet even as she asked, knowing there was no chance of her making it before her phone just sent it to voicemail. Even on two good legs, he could be too late. But he was the few steps down the hall quickly, grabbing her phone and, without a thought, hitting answer on the screen.

He at least had the sense to just tell whoever it was to hang on one second while he returned to the kitchen table to hand it over.

Without a word he moved to start tidying up, giving her some sense of privacy for the call while still being nearby if she needed him for anything. Exactly as he’d done for her earlier. Steve was setting a trend, an expectation, and it was exactly what he’d want to set.

He wanted her to know he was nearby, available, if she needed anything. But he trusted her to take care of herself.

Date: 2023-04-16 01:10 am (UTC)
americanass: (pic#15010331)
From: [personal profile] americanass
Steve glances over from where he was washing up, a frown of curiosity creasing his forehead. “The roof,” he repeated, decided quickly he didn’t really need the explanation to make it happen. It wasn’t like the roof was that difficult to get to. There was a door. He shrugged and dried off his hands. “Sure. That’s no problem. Hang tight.”

He didn’t trust that she’d be alright trying to wander around the apartment without him nearby in case she toppled, but he did trust she knew herself well enough not to push too hard too soon. His instinct was to hover and to care, but he didn’t know her recovery. He just had to keep trusting in the fact that she’d let him know what she needed.

So he snagged his keys from their dish by the door and made the quick trip up to the roof, to find the bag left very obviously in the open. A quick glance around, the whole thing really felt a little like some kind of top secret hand off, and he just scooped it up and brought it back downstairs to hand it over to her.

“Your people do quick work, getting all the way down here in as long as it takes to have breakfast,” he noted, clearly impressed with the efficiency.

Date: 2023-05-05 08:23 am (UTC)
americanass: (pic#15010293)
From: [personal profile] americanass
Steve, generous as he was, didn’t immediately swoop in to just pick up her bag when her strength failed her. He was being enough of a mother hen without drawing attention to her weakness any more than necessary. She had her pride, and he of anyone could understand that. So he left the bag for a moment.

And instead his face crinkled slightly, more at the idea that someone had a satellite pointed at his building than anything else. He wasn’t surprised, not really, knew rationally that any organization that did what they did had to have access to imaging, but the knowledge that there was something looking right at his private life? Didn’t sit well.

“Gotta admit, that’s pretty handy,” was all he said though, an equal part impressed with the teleporting. He really could see how it would be useful. “Especially when it means getting you a change of clothes.”

He did still like the idea of her in his, no matter how ridiculously big they might be on her, but with her own things she could be more comfortable and hopefully relax enough to rest and recover.

Date: 2023-05-31 03:19 am (UTC)
americanass: (pic#15105661)
From: [personal profile] americanass
“Sure,” Steve agreed easily. He was okay with whatever she needed to do to recover, though, felt like his presence was just to make sure she got whatever that was. He was there to help. To take care of her. She was in charge of her own recovery. 

The only thing he wouldn’t budge on was not letting her leave until she was able to comfortably do it under her own power. 

“I’m not going to rush you into anything. Take some time, do it when you feel up to it.” He wasn’t even going to complain if she didn’t want to shower at all for another day or two. “Why don’t you go ahead and get comfortable instead?” 

There was a question in his gaze that he didn’t voice. He’d of course help her to the couch or back to bed if she wanted it, but Kate was independent. She might not want. 

Date: 2023-06-24 03:45 am (UTC)
americanass: (pic#15105260)
From: [personal profile] americanass
He was watching her when she looked to him, sure, but it wasn’t concern coloring his features. It was caution, yes, and readiness to catch her if she did topple over, but much more than that it was affection. It was pride. He looked at her and still saw exhaustion and the weakness that came with it, but he also saw her pushing through it and recovering more quickly than he’d thought she would. 

A bit of food in her had apparently made a big difference. 

“Whatever you call it, it looks alive,” he said with a hint of joking in his voice, holding out a hand to her. “C’mon. You can make yourself at home on the couch until you’re up to anything more.” 

He would even put on a movie or something for her. Steve wasn’t much of a television watcher but he did have one. 

Date: 2023-07-30 03:58 am (UTC)
americanass: (pic#15105261)
From: [personal profile] americanass
Steve knew a thing or two about pride and absolutes, and if their positions were reversed he didn’t know that he’d accept the help he offered, but when it came to his girl he saw things in more grays. Really, if it was anyone but himself he could be a little more flexible.

He noted that she didn’t let go when she sat, and so Steve joined her easily, settling himself in next to her. “Sure,” the agreement was just as easy. There was nothing going on today that needed his attention and nothing he was in a hurry to do. He could spend a while just relaxing if it meant he was making sure Kate rested. “I like that one.”

TV as a whole, at least in any meaningful way, was a little after his time, but the older shows were close enough that they still felt a little familiar even while being new to him. Steve enjoyed the glimpse into the things he would’ve known.

Most of the time. Sometimes it just made him sad.

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Kitty Pryde

May 2025

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