[IC] [SELF-INDULGENT MUSEBOXING]

[senior_citizen]

because Sabra AUs are fun and games until someone loses an eye

Comments

[midgardener]

I don't think so. I think you're different.

[senior_citizen]

Someone different ...

[ a flicker of recognition ]

Was I Captain America?

[midgardener]

[ nods ]

[senior_citizen]

[ his shoulders droop a bit ]

The alternate universe. The one Dr. Banner knows.

[midgardener]

But also . . . the one where you grew up in the slums, where no one thought you were worth it as a person. Where you just wanted to be someone who could protect people.

[senior_citizen]

[ bows his head ]

That's all the same.

[midgardener]

Well, I'm a slum rat too. And, more than anything else, I want to see people happy and safe.


So, if that's the same, then you can be my team mate too.

[senior_citizen]

... Even though I'm not him? Even though I'm hers?

[midgardener]

[ "He's probably say something idiotic, like... " ]


Steve is Steve.

[senior_citizen]

[ flushes a little, hanging his head ]

This is a bad choice.

[midgardener]

Letting someone help you?

[senior_citizen]

[ he nods ]

Eventually I'm going to lose it. Your whole team might die.

[midgardener]

Have it today.

[senior_citizen]

[ he looks up at her, searching her face ... ]

... Just today.

[midgardener]

[ she looks pretty different than she did when he first saw her- stretched thin, tired, much more like someone who's come from the caves ]


Today. However- however long I can give it to you.

[senior_citizen]

[ that's ... almost comforting. he recognizes that. he knows that.

he very carefully wipes his hands one more time, to make sure they're clean. then he reaches out for hers. ]

[midgardener]

[ she'll take his hand no matter what kind of clean it is ]

[senior_citizen]

[ thanks, Aeris.

after a moment, he leans forward a bit. just resting his forehead against her shoulder. ]

[midgardener]

[ she's still for a moment, then wraps her free hand around his back carefully ]

[senior_citizen]

[ that's okay. we're okay. he's so skinny, skinnier than he ever was with just the serum turned off. but he relaxes incrementally. ]

[midgardener]

[ holding, hoooolding, she's shaking too now herself ]


You're so thin.

[senior_citizen]

[ murmuring against her shoulder ]

You know how it is. There's never enough to go around. And then our diet got really focused...

[midgardener]

How much do you need?

[senior_citizen]

To feel satisfied? What I just had, twice a day. I'm the smallest, though, and my curse is the lightest. Everyone else needs more.

[midgardener]

Do you need more now?