fossilised | For Steve

That's-- really nice of you, but he has me. We've got another two sisters as well, but they live out of state with our Dad and they're a bit younger.

[The way she says their 'dad' sounds a bit like she's describing something that tastes bad, but it passes fast.]

And yes, he said you were cute. He also said you were charming, smart, sweet, and way out of his league. I can kind of see what he means, I thought he was just being down on himself, but wow. If you weren't interested in guys, I might be asking for your number.

[Give Steve a second here he's positively over the moon at finding out Bucky described him that way. Except the 'out of his league' part. Steve would argue that's the other way around.]

Also socially awkward, a chronic meddler, and have been on maybe ... two dates... ever... I'm really really thankful your brother is giving me a chance. I just feel like... like I know we just met but it already feels like I've known him my whole life.

S-sorry, this is probably an awkward thing to hear from the guy your sibling is dating. Going to date. We haven't actually had a real date yet.

What if I screw it up what can I do to make sure I don't screw this up does he have any allergies I should know about?

[Becca stares at him for a moment, before she simply bursts into laughter. Oh my God, he's actually adorable, and he seems so utterly sincere about wanting to impress her dumb brother. She feels a rush of affection for him.]

Okay, okay-- chill out, Steve.

[Steve now, not Mr. Rogers.]

I guess if you buy me a slice of that fudge cake to go after my bagel, I might see my way to being your official conspirator in wooing my brother. What do you say? Fair terms?

[if there was a world record for speed at obtaining and presenting a slice of fudge cake? Steve just broke it.]

[Okay, she is officially on his side now, taking the plate with a mock-solemn nod.]

The deal is done.

[She thinks for a moment.]

Okay, no allergies, but he really hates fish. I don't know why, he's just weird, so don't make anything fishy. Before-- he used to like dancing, he was a boxer, uh--

No fish, got it.

[Steve nods along with Becca's instructions. He's inexperienced with romance outside of stories and daydreams and watching his friends, so Steve thinks it's perfectly fair to get help from her. He can see Bucky being a dancer and a boxer, with what Steve could figure of the physique he had.

Steve has never been dancing, himself. It continues to baffle him that Bucky isn't swarmed with waves of admirers.]

Any particular kind of dancing?

[Maybe Steve should learn.]

Pretty old fashioned dancing.

[Her face softens into a fond look.]

We're the closest in age of the four of us, and when Mom died, he tried to look out for me. I'd always wanted to learn how to do old dancing, ballroom or swing or Latin, so he signed me up for classes and came along as my partner. He got better than me, especially in those forties dances like the Lindy-Hop or a proper jive.

[She doesn't know how well that would work out with only one arm, but she kind of wishes he'd give it a go again.]

So how about you? What special skills are you hiding?

Ah, not really anything... I did some track and field in college and try to keep up with working out for my health and all, but other than that... Art? Mostly? Graphite is probably my favorite but I dabble in a little of everything if I can get the supplies for it. I'm hoping to be able to do a gallery showing soon, but I try to just focus on doing it because I love it more than anything.

That's so cool, if you manage to get a gallery showing then you need to tell me.

[Finally having finished her bagel, she starts in on her slice of cake.]

You, uh, maybe shouldn't mention that I came to see you, though. Make it seem like all of these ideas are yours and impress him.

[Steve picks at the remainder of his bagel, looking a little uncomfortable. Lying never sit well with him. Moreover, he doesn't want to violate Bucky's trust.]

Are you sure? I don't want him to find out and thing that - that I was lying to him or something. I want him to know he can trust me.

[Wow, he really is a boy scout, isn't he? Somehow it's still endearing even though he's probably going to get her into trouble with Bucky.]

You do whatever you're comfortable with, but just know that he'll murder me when he finds out I came to see you.

[She huffs a sigh.]

Are you sure you want to be an accessory to sister-cide?

[A fair point, and Steve cringes a bit at that. He doesn't want to get anyone in trouble here, either.]

What if I vouched for you?

Then you just might go down with me. No, it's fine, save yourself, I'll cope.

[She puts on a long suffering expression, spoiled a bit by her enjoyment of the cake that she hasn't stopped eating.]

Look-- joking aside, if there's anything you want to know about him and... well, what happened, then ask me. Because he doesn't talk about it, I don't want you to step on landmines, and if anything's a dealbreaker then it's best you know now so you can find a way to gently extricate yourself.

[Oh no, Steve is absolutely throwing himself on that landmine. He's already trying to come up with how to phrase it so if Bucky gets mad at anyone he gets mad at Steve.

The last question gives him pause, though. It's true, he was curious. Deeply curious. He wanted to make sure he didn't say or do anything that hit bad memories for Bucky, but it was a bit like walking blindfolded through a minefield. Sure Steve had a lot of training and experience doing just that, but the danger remained the same.

He was okay catching that blast himself, but he didn't want to make Bucky go through that. So he asks, quietly and gently as possible,]

Just... what happened, I guess. I don't think there's anything that could make it a dealbreaker for me, but I don't want to like... make popcorn for a movie night and have him start thinkin' it's gunfire.

[If she knew that he plans on throwing himself on the grenade to protect her, she might well ask him to marry her there and then and forget Bucky altogether. Men this sweet just don't exist outside of the movies.

But all joviality dies out pretty quick. There's a deep grief in her eyes, not just for what happened, but an echo of the months she spent thinking he might never come back home again. Missing in action; those horrible words that had been all she had to cling to for so long.]

Even I don't know all of it, some bits are classified and most of it he just won't talk about. But I know that he was out on a mission with a few others and they were ambushed, most were killed, and a few were captured. He spent four months as a prisoner in an extremist camp. I know they tortured him, but I don't know any details, and I only know that because of the medical records when he was flown back Stateside.

[She goes silent for a moment, hands gripping the coffee mug a bit too hard.]

I know he escaped by cutting his own hand off at the wrist, and he still managed to help get the other two survivors out, but the surgeons had to take the rest of it because it got infected. He has memory issues sometimes, and... yeah, he can get triggered by loud noises, crowds. Sometimes he's fine, and sometimes something really small sets him off. He got a bunch of medals and a discharge, it's not something he's coped with very well.

[Her voice is a bit husky now, but she's keeping her composure as she looks at him fiercely.]

He's a hero to me, even if he's a bit broken, and that's why I had to make sure you weren't going to hurt him. It's a lot to deal with, I know, so just... if it's too much, I don't blame you, but let him down gently.

[Steve's face remains concerned and worried while he listens. Again, he thinks that Bucky is so resiliant, considering what he went through. What they know of what they went through.

He smiles a little at Rebecca's last comment, taking a sip of the last of his coffee that's left.]

Did he say how we met? I volunteer to teach art classes at the rec center. He was in the Emotional Wellness and Therapy Through the Arts class. I knew what I was getting into when I asked him out. Not a lot scares me, and I don't think anything about him ever could.

[Steve is already deeply smitten, here.]

[She's pretty surprised that he's so calm about it, so assured. This isn't light stuff and she even has trouble dealing with it sometimes, and she's a family member. But she thinks he's sincere, she really hopes that he is for Bucky's sake.]

Yeah, he told me. I had him round for dinner last night and I'm picking him up in about an hour to go and fetch his support dog, and all he could talk about was you.

[Steve absolutely goes a little red at that, stupidly pleased to hear it. He's pretty sure Natasha would say the same to Bucky - assuming she wasn't asking invasive questions about a theoretical sex life.

Well, okay, she probably wouldn't be that crass to Bucky. Natasha is very good at reading people, she only pushes buttons if that's her intention to do so, and she knows how far she can push Steve out of his comfort zone before real damage is caused and is careful to keep on the better side of that line.]

I'd say to say hello for me but I guess if you want to keep this a secret you can't exactly pass that on. I'll have to pick up some dog treats on my way home from work today so I can be prepared for the extra guest on our date.

[Another thing Steve is clearly stupidly pleased over. Who doesn't like dogs?]

[Becca finishes up the last of her cake and stands up, leaning over to give him a quick peck on the cheek. So sue her, she thinks her brother might have landed a jackpot winner here.]

Don't make me regret helping you out, or you really won't like our next conversation.

[She grins suddenly.]

Good luck tomorrow, okay? If you need any advice, my number's on the napkin.

If I screw up I don't think anything you can do to me will be as bad as knowing I hurt him, but I'll deserve it as well.

[He holds up the napkin to show he got it and pockets it - he left his cellphone in his desk but he's going to add her number and send a "This is Steve's number" text as soon as he gets back to it. He stands as well, grabbing any leftover trays or cups to clean the table for them both.]

Thanks for the tips. Truly. Have fun with the dog. I can't wait to meet it myself. Do you need me to walk you to your car or bus stop...?

No, I've got it, you go back to work. My car's parked near your apartment building, I'm just going to walk around there and pick Bucky up. Goodbye, Steve, I hope this isn't the last time we meet.

[She gives him one last smile and then darts out of the little store and down the street, leaving Steve to head back to work alone.]

[ooc: I thought I'd leave it open for you in case you wanted him to see Nat before the date or just skip to the date or whatever <3]

[OOC: Ahahaha yes okay Nat help the hot mess express. Okay let me know if this is good!]

[Steve does indeed head back to work, saving Becca's phone number and sending her a 'This is Steve's cellphone number!' when he gets a chance as well, so she doesn't get a text or call from him out of the blue and wonder who it is. He mostly manages to focus for the rest of the day aside from one or two key space out moments, and of course it comes out then with some needling that he's got a date coming up and so he gets told cheerfully to start his weekend early.

He's got to get dog treats, but he's already got enough pancake making stuff to feed a small army and had his little 'studio' area set up since, well, the day after making plans with Bucky.

What he does need though is clothes. Steve takes care of what he has, but he also tends to not throw things out until they literally are falling apart at the seams. Even then, he's got a sewing kit for patching things up. So he hits the gym early, showers, then texts Natasha that he's free earlier for their shopping trip. Just some nicer jeans and a nice t shirt that 'doesn't show off all that cleavage, a guy will get the wrong idea' -- thanks, Tony. Steve can't help it if the shirts even if tight do technically still fit and haven't fallen apart yet. And like maybe some nice soap or something for a shower tomorrow morning before said date?? He's not sure and he's kind of low-key panicking the more he thinks about it.

Okay so it's mainly for Nat to keep him from freaking out as he paces his little apartment while he waits for her and triple checks the placement of his desk and art supplies and the like.]

[Nat thinks this is adorable. She doesn't really get the nerves over a date; but then, she's always been stunning and self confident, and she's been with Clint forever even if they both drag their heels about commitment. She knows Steve as one of the most genuinely amazing people, that rare blend of honest and kind without being preachy, and she really hopes this works out for him.

He deserves it.

She's come straight from rehearsal, she's currently working with the New York Ballet, and so she's in tight leggings and a loose top with her red hair up in a bun. She doesn't bother to knock, only comes right in and grins at him.]

If it isn't Don Juan in the flesh!

[She glances mischievously up at the ceiling.]

Do you think he's up there now?

[Steve is alternating between red with excitement and wondering at potential and white with fear and a little green at the edges with nerves. He's at the third when Natasha comes in, because of course if anyone has a key she does.]

I don't think so. He's getting his service dog today and I think they're still out taking care of that. His sister is with him. Or they got back before I did and it's a very quiet dog.

Oh good, I was wondering if you'd just developed a really weird snacking habit.

[She flicks the bag of dog treats on the counter, before coming to look him up and down.]

Are you ready? We're going to beautify you today. Hair, clothes, the works. Have you thought about what you're going to serve as well as pancakes? What you're going to do while he models and you draw - because let me tell you, that can get boring. Maybe... a movie? Music? Tell me you have some game plan already. You've already bought protection, right? Do you need new bedsheets?

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