Serum. 'Spressos. Steve Rogers.

23. Artist. Brooklyn. Bi. Walking health hazard. Probably allergic to whatever you're eating. Operation in 0 days.

[dontcallmestevie]

[text] Hey Steve. Long time no see. How are you?

[Text] Nat! Hey! Yeah, doing good, keeping busy. Great to hear from you. How’re you?

[coffeebeanscoffeeschemes-blog]

She saw his cheeks flush but didn’t say anything, she didn’t want to further embarrass him by pointing it out. “Busy is good.” She’d been trying to keep busy lately. But her mind kept going to her past and how it seemed to keep catching up to her, even here. She hadn’t realised she’d been silent for a bit, she blinked and looked at Steve. “Sorry…mind wandering a bit. Uhhhh exciting…no not really. I think.” She didn’t want to involve anyone. She probably could use the help but she was just afraid of what would happen if she did.

[dontcallmestevie]

"You think there's nothing exciting?" Steve repeated. "You know, I think the point of excitement is that it's pretty easily identified," he teased, but instantly regretted it. Natasha was quite obviously the type of person keen on keeping things to herself, and he didn't want her thinking he was prying. "Unless you're just that unsure," he added, giving her the out. "I'm sure it's bound to happen sometimes."

[hawksandjava-blog]

Right, he did have a busy schedule with school and all. “Right I almost forgot. Well, you know you always have a place here. I think your pretty face brings in all the ladies who have seen it. I actually get asked about you a lot…” He chuckled at the thought.

[dontcallmestevie]

Steve blinked hard at the comment. A second passed before he realized Clint was joking. "Hey, I'm taken!" he reminded him. "Or at least," he shrugged, "I try to be. But what are you talking about, bringing up all the ladies? You're not single either, remember?" Steve couldn't help but grin at the thought a little bit, at the idea that neither of them were checking the box marked single at the moment.

[dontcallmestevie]

"Yeah, I’ll second that." Steve lifted his empty mug, tipping it in agreement. He set it back down as Clint changed the topic. "Well, besides for those little commissions I pick up, I’m basically living off the scholarship money I’m collecting. I’m technically a student even if I’m a little old for it, so." He shrugged, spreading his arms wide.

[hawksandjava-blog]

"Bah, there’s no such thing as being too old for school, you know? I know there are old people who go to college too." he said. He really wasn’t sure how true that statement was but he really wouldn’t want his friend to feel some kind of way about going into college late. "Well, if you don’t and if you’d like to pick up some extra cash, you can always work here sometimes." he told him. 

[dontcallmestevie]

"Yeah, you have no idea. There's this one guy, named Dugan, in one of my classes. He says he's a world war two vet; he's one of the loudest guys in the class too, it's crazy." Steve shook his head, grinning as he remembered one of Dugan's particularly colorful comments.

"Thanks for the offer. I barely have the time to come in here as it is, but if my schedule magically opens up I'll let you know."

[dontcallmestevie]

[text] Hey Steve. Long time no see. How are you?

[Text] Nat! Hey! Yeah, doing good, keeping busy. Great to hear from you. How’re you?

[coffeebeanscoffeeschemes-blog]

Natasha smiled as she saw Steve and he sat beside her, “Hey there. Nah I got here a little early. Knew the quicker I got here the quicker I could warm up again.” She smiled. Looking at the bag, she looked up at Steve, “I didn’t pull you from anything did I?”

[dontcallmestevie]

"Good call," Steve agreed. Personally he wasn’t actually that cold because he’d just finished his workout, but also he’d noticed that his body in general was just more tolerant of the changing seasons. Or maybe this was normal for other people, and he just wasn’t cold all the time anymore.

“Nope, didn’t pull me from anything. I always finish up around this time. You just gave me some extra incentive to work harder than normal.” He grinned at her.

[coffeebeanscoffeeschemes-blog]

"Where were you…gym?" She looked him over. It would explain how he kept so physically fit. Steve was quite a guy.  She stopped herself from staring and sipped her drink, "So…how’ve you been?"

[dontcallmestevie]

"Yup." He gave the gym bag a little nudge with his foot. "Good times." He hoped that if he pretended that his cheeks hadn't started pinking at her once-over, it wouldn't actually happen. "Been good. Busy, but that's a good thing. What about you? Anything exciting happen lately?" He tucked his foot up under him on the couch, taking a sip from his mug.

[dontcallmestevie]

"Glad to hear it." Steve could vaguely remember Barney sporting the ghost of a black eye when he was last in the shop. Steve was no stranger to black eyes.

"Sucks, man. I’m sorry," Steve responded quietly. He didn’t know much about Clint’s past, always felt kind of bad for that. But he figured there was a reason for that. Certain memories are hard to think about, and even harder to talk of.

[hawksandjava-blog]

He waved a hand at that, “Nah nah, don’t apologize. I don’t want any pity, right? Shit happens.” he mumbled. He didn’t really enjoy talking about his parents, much less his alcoholic and abusive father. “Say, Steve? DO you have a job?” he asked suddenly to change the subject.

[dontcallmestevie]

"Yeah, I'll second that." Steve lifted his empty mug, tipping it in agreement. He set it back down as Clint changed the topic. "Well, besides for those little commissions I pick up, I'm basically living off the scholarship money I'm collecting. I'm technically a student even if I'm a little old for it, so." He shrugged, spreading his arms wide.

[dontcallmestevie]

[text] Hey Steve. Long time no see. How are you?

[Text] Nat! Hey! Yeah, doing good, keeping busy. Great to hear from you. How’re you?

[coffeebeanscoffeeschemes-blog]

[text] Same pretty much. But I found myself a little bored today. Wana meet down in the coffee shop in a bit? Need a hot chocolate or something

[dontcallmestevie]

[text] yeah, for sure. Actually in the area right now, I’ll meet you there in two hours?

[coffeebeanscoffeeschemes-blog]

[text] Awesome. See you then.

Two hours later Natasha sat in the corner of the coffee shop with a double mocha in front of her. The weather outside was miserable and cold and she was glad to be sitting inside somewhere warm and welcoming. She people watched both inside and outside the coffee shop as she waited for Steve to arrive.

[dontcallmestevie]

Steve was still breathing pretty hard when he walked into the coffee shop, but while he waited for his drink he forced himself to slow it while he looked around for Natasha. He spotted her sitting in the far corner of the shop, nestled into the couch. Steve really liked that couch.

He dropped his gym bag on the floor and sank into the couch beside Natasha, carefully setting his drink down. “Hope I didn’t keep you waiting,” he greeted.

[coffeebeanscoffeeschemes-blog]

Natasha smiled as she saw Steve and he sat beside her, “Hey there. Nah I got here a little early. Knew the quicker I got here the quicker I could warm up again.” She smiled. Looking at the bag, she looked up at Steve, “I didn’t pull you from anything did I?”

[dontcallmestevie]

"Good call," Steve agreed. Personally he wasn't actually that cold because he'd just finished his workout, but also he'd noticed that his body in general was just more tolerant of the changing seasons. Or maybe this was normal for other people, and he just wasn't cold all the time anymore.

"Nope, didn't pull me from anything. I always finish up around this time. You just gave me some extra incentive to work harder than normal." He grinned at her.

[dontcallmestevie]

[text] Hey Steve. Long time no see. How are you?

[Text] Nat! Hey! Yeah, doing good, keeping busy. Great to hear from you. How’re you?

[coffeebeanscoffeeschemes-blog]

[text] Same pretty much. But I found myself a little bored today. Wana meet down in the coffee shop in a bit? Need a hot chocolate or something

[dontcallmestevie]

[text] yeah, for sure. Actually in the area right now, I’ll meet you there in two hours?

[coffeebeanscoffeeschemes-blog]

[text] Awesome. See you then.

Two hours later Natasha sat in the corner of the coffee shop with a double mocha in front of her. The weather outside was miserable and cold and she was glad to be sitting inside somewhere warm and welcoming. She people watched both inside and outside the coffee shop as she waited for Steve to arrive.

[dontcallmestevie]

Steve was still breathing pretty hard when he walked into the coffee shop, but while he waited for his drink he forced himself to slow it while he looked around for Natasha. He spotted her sitting in the far corner of the shop, nestled into the couch. Steve really liked that couch.

He dropped his gym bag on the floor and sank into the couch beside Natasha, carefully setting his drink down. "Hope I didn't keep you waiting," he greeted.

[dontcallmestevie]

"Yeah,well, when the schedule is sitting in front of you, you’ve got to get used to imagining it pretty fast." Steve was just relieved to have made some headway. "Yeah, I remember your brother. He swang by here a few times. Barney, right? How’s he doing?" He frowned down at the table at Clint’s mention of his mom. "How long ago’d you lose her?" he asked quietly, tentatively.

[hawksandjava-blog]

He nodded at the mention of his brother. The used to have such an aggressive relationship, but it has really come a long way. “Yeah, that’s Barney. He’s doing fine. Staying out the hospital, heh.” His brother was quite the street fighter.  He raised a brow as he asked about his mom, “Mom? The beautiful Edith Barton?” he laughed softly. “Car accident. With our drunken dad. We were only kids…”

[dontcallmestevie]

"Glad to hear it." Steve could vaguely remember Barney sporting the ghost of a black eye when he was last in the shop. Steve was no stranger to black eyes.

"Sucks, man. I'm sorry," Steve responded quietly. He didn't know much about Clint's past, always felt kind of bad for that. But he figured there was a reason for that. Certain memories are hard to think about, and even harder to talk of.

[dontcallmestevie]

[text] Hey Steve. Long time no see. How are you?

[Text] Nat! Hey! Yeah, doing good, keeping busy. Great to hear from you. How’re you?

[coffeebeanscoffeeschemes-blog]

[text] Same pretty much. But I found myself a little bored today. Wana meet down in the coffee shop in a bit? Need a hot chocolate or something

[dontcallmestevie]

[text] yeah, for sure. Actually in the area right now, I'll meet you there in two hours?

[hawksandjava-blog]

He snorted at the image that came to his head. He still envisioned tiny Steve buried behind a pile of books so high that nobody could find him. “I could’t imagine having the amount of classes to take at all…” he said, shaking his head. “Christmas and New Years…well its just me and brother really. We may get each other a few things and buy a bunch of beer. Sometimes we’ll reminisce about mom….” It really was just them both.

[dontcallmestevie]

"Yeah,well, when the schedule is sitting in front of you, you've got to get used to imagining it pretty fast." Steve was just relieved to have made some headway. "Yeah, I remember your brother. He swang by here a few times. Barney, right? How's he doing?" He frowned down at the table at Clint's mention of his mom. "How long ago'd you lose her?" he asked quietly, tentatively.

[dontcallmestevie]

[text] Hey Steve. Long time no see. How are you?

[Text] Nat! Hey! Yeah, doing good, keeping busy. Great to hear from you. How're you?

[dontcallmestevie]

"Nah, don’t apologize." Steve flapped his hand as though he could wave away the comment. "Everybody’s got one one of those sides, and it’s not your fault it exists. You’re only to blame if you act on it, let it grow bigger."

[hawksandjava-blog]

Steve really was an understanding guy, He was thankful for his friendship because god knows the man needed friends. He waved to someone as they headed out the door, “What did you do for your holiday, man?”

[dontcallmestevie]

"Holiday. ha." Steve shook his head. "I'm cramming in six classes next semester, so I was neck-deep in the reading. And I started doing some art commissions to pull in some extra cash, quick sketches for a few extra bucks, so I was pretty much busy all vacation."

He didn't mention the six hours he'd spet on the couch watching-but-not-actually-watching all of the Christmas movies, ranging from Charlie Brown to Nightmare Before Christmas, and thinking about his mom. He usually tried not to be too morose, but holidays were always hard.

"I did have a Christmas dinner though, don't worry. Bucky sat across from me and played dreidel  while saying he wholeheartedly disapproved and picked at the turkey." He smiled, and hoped it looked fond, not sad. "How about yourself?"

[dontcallmestevie]

"Careful Clint, you almost sound jealous." Steve pulled his face away from the empty shop, looking over at Clint and raising an eyebrow, his eyes glinting with humor. "I thought you and Stark were pretty okay." Not that Steve payed much attention to who Stark did and didn’t talk to. He didn’t care to waste his time on the mechanic.

[hawksandjava-blog]

He sighed. He probably did sound jealous. That’s the last thing he wanted to come off as. “We are okay. We’re fine I’m just a petty guy sometimes really…” he said, leaning against the bar. He gave him a grin though, “Sorry about that. Nobody needs to see that side.”

[dontcallmestevie]

"Nah, don't apologize." Steve flapped his hand as though he could wave away the comment. "Everybody's got one one of those sides, and it's not your fault it exists. You're only to blame if you act on it, let it grow bigger."

[dontcallmestevie]

Steve glanced through the window at the shop across the stree . He hadn’t been around much lately, but “I bet Stark’s got an education of sorts. He seems like the type who’s been, taught some, even if he didn’t learn much.” Plus Steve had briefly met who he had assumed were some distant relatives of his, Howard and Maria. They didn’t seem like the type of family who didn’t get a solid education.

[hawksandjava-blog]

"Tch, Stark is so privileged. I’m willing to bet his family paid for him to go to the top schools and all. Of course he’s gotten an education. Damn genius he is…" he mumbled. Not that he was jealous or anything really. 

[dontcallmestevie]

"Careful Clint, you almost sound jealous." Steve pulled his face away from the empty shop, looking over at Clint and raising an eyebrow, his eyes glinting with humor. "I thought you and Stark were pretty okay." Not that Steve payed much attention to who Stark did and didn't talk to. He didn't care to waste his time on the mechanic.

[dontcallmestevie]

Steve nodded along. “Yeah, that’s good at least. Good on her that she’s trying to finish up with school now. Take it from me, it’s significantly harder to get back into it after taking a year or two off.” Steve was smack in middle of finals, and the first semester back, taking four classes instead of the one or two he’d been until now, had been rough. He hadn’t

[hawksandjava-blog]

"Yeah…I figured it would be better if someone around her at least had some kind of education, you know?" he said, leaning against the bar. He himself never attended school, having had gotten a GED recently. Wasn’t a diploma but at least ti was something. 

[dontcallmestevie]

Steve glanced through the window at the shop across the stree . He hadn't been around much lately, but "I bet Stark's got an education of sorts. He seems like the type who's been, taught some, even if he didn't learn much." Plus Steve had briefly met who he had assumed were some distant relatives of his, Howard and Maria. They didn't seem like the type of family who didn't get a solid education.

[dontcallmestevie]

He grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” Not that it was one, or anything. At last, Steve didn’t think so, coming from Clint. “What’s Kate think of all his? You haven’t been trying to keep secrets from her again, have you?”

[hawksandjava-blog]

"To be honest, I haven’t been talking to her much as of late. She’s been keeping herself busy with school and stuff…not that it’s a bad thing though! I’m proud of her of course."

[dontcallmestevie]

Steve nodded along. "Yeah, that's good at least. Good on her that she's trying to finish up with school now. Take it from me, it's significantly harder to get back into it after taking a year or two off." Steve was smack in middle of finals, and the first semester back, taking four classes instead of the one or two he'd been until now, had been rough. He hadn't

[dontcallmestevie]

"Yeah, whatever." Steve flapped his hand at him. "You can say that now as much as you want. Won’t be long before you’re head over heels and all that denial’s melted away." Not like Steve had any personal experience or anything, but that’s the way it worked, right? And honestly, Natasha struck Steve as the kind of girl who would be easy to fall in love with from a distance. Not that Steve had any interest or anything. These days the only girl on his mind was Lorraine.

[hawksandjava-blog]

He waved a hand at the notion. Surely it wasn’t that easy to fully fall for a person. He still barely knew the girl anyway, right? “You sound like Phil right now…” he mumbled. The older man would probably picking on Clint about the same thing at this moment. 

[dontcallmestevie]

He grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment." Not that it was one, or anything. At last, Steve didn't think so, coming from Clint. "What's Kate think of all his? You haven't been trying to keep secrets from her again, have you?"