spaces_between | Whoa, big guy. (For assembles)

Who: Steve Rogers & Brock Rumlow
When: Pre-TWS
What: Because some sleeping dogs just need to be called 'big guy' with a wink and lewd suggestion. It may as well be Rumlow to do so.
Warnings: Rumlow being Rumlow. Shameless flirting. Maybe dirty sweaty man sex.

Rumlow was still flicking slugs off of his armour when they disembarked from the quinjet. If he ever had to go back to Loreta, Columbia, he was sleeping in the trees with the damn jaguars rather than in the tent with the slugs. Damn things made a mess of everything.

Of course, the next mess was juggling twenty-four guys in a confined locker room who all were intent on getting out of their disgusting body armour and uniforms and leaving after a quick shower. He was one of the last ones in the cramped quarters, but really, compared to the quinjet they just disembarked from, it was pretty much home sweet home. At least there was less chance of getting slugs up the trousers or leeches in ones boots. Actually... as he looked around, there was plenty of opportunity for both. Home sweet home, indeed.

He pushed members of STRIKE Echo out of his way, but he simply wiggled passed members of his own team. People were making their way to the showers, which thankfully left him room to get to his locker. Captains were on the far end, including Rogers apparently, and he had a clean line of sight as he jostled his way to his locker to start stripping off his gear. Of course, he had to go passed Captain Rogers, which was always a goddamn treat. Only man who looked that good in underwear.

"Out of the way, Jenkins," he ordered, elbowing the lesser from loitering too close to Rogers. Kid just wanted a picture every single time. "Showers because you stink," he added, sending the youngest member of his team off but without a playful shove from the other guy. Just as planned.

He stepped backwards and bumped into Steve, his right hand going backwards as if to catch himself but really, it was so he could set it right on Rogers' right ass cheek. Damn fine. He pushed off as if correcting his balance and pretended to glare at Jenkins who was now hurrying off, leaving this area relatively alone.

"Sorry about that," he said, though he didn't mean it one bit. "Nice ass, big guy," he said with a wink as he reached out to open his locker and started to shrug out of his gear.

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Rumlow knew that Cap was a man of his word, so he had no doubt that things were remain close to the chest between them. He doubted that Rogers actually wanted it out in the open too much that they had met under these kind of terms anyway, since the guy was painfully private at times. He suspected that this was also between them and in keeping it that way, Steve avoided a bombardment of invitations to go out with everyone else. Who knew, maybe things would develop the way that he wanted.

He raised an eyebrow at the reaction to his suggestion that they meet at Steve's place, and he held his hands up innocently. He didn't particularly care to placate Rogers, but it had to appear that way. He still wanted that nice gruff but interesting working relationship after all and that couldn't happen if he offended Cap here and now. No, he'd play his hand subtly.

"Yeah, just like I had to clean my place before you came over," he replied dryly but still winked. "You can bring your stuff over here instead. This can be our little secret meet-up place for as long as you want, Cap. Nothing wrong about it." He'd let Steve continued to illusion of privacy. He could better control the environment if it was his own after all.

It was a little unsettling to realize just how accommodating Rumlow had been this entire time. Then again, Steve also understood that he wasn't the easiest guy to befriend if it went past making jokes while on the job. He closed himself off in the way that people didn't notice at first, but he and Rumlow had been partnering up for a year now. It figured that he had his number at this point, and therefore knew what to say to keep Steve coming back.

Instead of trying to analyze every single part of this, though, Steve realized that he should just accept that maybe he had another friend in his life, even if it was an unexpected one. He never would have imagined becoming buddies with Rumlow before he entered the military, that much was for sure. Rumlow had a rough edge to him that probably would have rubbed Steve the wrong way back in the day.

Still, it had all worked out surprisingly well, if that kiss back there was anything to go by. Steve might just be able to let his guard down if they kept this up, and maybe that was what scared him most. "I appreciate it," he said eventually, as he started back for the door into the living area. "I mean, I know you don't have to do any of this. Offering up your place and all..."

Where was he even going with this? Steve sighed and rubbed at the side of his neck, looking over his shoulder at Rumlow. "I guess what I'm trying to say is thanks."

If they got back the 'we only work together' part, Rumlow would be pleased and considered it a success to his job here. As long as Rogers was staying the course and no more aware of what was coming about, it would be fine and nothing would stand in their way. He had been assured that the pieces were moving well and as long as he did his job with STRIKE, the rest would just fall into place and keep going. It wouldn't be long now.

He just wanted a little bit more out of it because pushing some boundaries was very interesting in his mind. He had gotten a kiss, but he was willing to see if Steve would eventually give more if encouraged to do so.

The corner of his lip curled up in an amused smile. "You really need to get out more, Cap. I'm doing this because you're a good guy, and I want to get to know you better," he said simply, though it was only a partial truth. He still followed Steve out of the room and closed the door again.

"Your welcome, Rogers. I've got your back."

It wasn't such a strange concept, that someone might want to learn who Steve Rogers was outside of the confines of the mission. It was just that sometimes, even Steve didn't know the answer to that question. Where he fit into the world remained one big question mark a lot of the time. He had a place within SHIELD, but more and more it felt like he didn't belong there either. He couldn't always put his finger on why, but...

This might be a step in the right direction. Putting himself out there a little more wouldn't kill him, after all.

He nodded at Rumlow's last statement. He'd already seen how Rumlow supported him in the context of a mission, and now he wanted to do that outside of it too. If maybe in a less orthodox way than a simple friendship, but maybe it was time for Steve to branch out a little.

Steve turned to give the room another look, as if seeing it for the first time, and then headed over to grab his jacket from where he'd shrugged it off earlier. "I should probably head home, but this was... fun," he said, and when was the last time he'd called something fun and not been at least slightly sarcastic about it?

The best part of this was that Steve putting himself out there back towards him might get the guy killed. That was just one of those silent jokes that was being played out without Rogers being particularly wise to it. Once it happened, well, it was going to be too late and that was that. He'd be fine saluting a corpse.

He tucked his hands into his pockets and swaggered lazily towards the door with Steve, not about to force the guy to stay. It wasn't like anyone could technically force Rogers to do anything. It was more laying just enough of a trail to make the guy walk that path consciously, which was the real exciting challenge of all of this.

"Yeah, it was a good time," he agreed with a nod of his head. "May as well end it on a high note, yeah, big guy? You are welcome to stay longer, but otherwise, I'll see you at work tomorrow." He winked at Steve. "And we'll do this again."

Rumlow had made the point many times, that Steve could have stayed the night if he wanted, but that seemed like a huge commitment given that this was his first time even coming over. He had a sense of what was polite, and while that may have shifted in the modern age, Steve figured it was best to go with what he was comfortable with. He'd already pushed far enough out of his comfort zone for one day.

We'll do this again, Rumlow said, as if it was already decided. Steve might have something else to say about that, but being gently strong-armed into it might just be a fate he would have to accept.

He didn't think it would be right to correct Rumlow on it, either, so instead he just raised an eyebrow and nodded. "All right. Thanks for having me." Once he was sure that he had everything he'd brought with him, which wasn't much, he headed to the door, offered Rumlow a quick wave, and headed off.

On the way down to his bike, he couldn't help but admit to himself that he'd had a really good time. Who would have thought?

He gave Steve a mock salute in reply to the wave and let the man go without complaint. It was clear that Rogers was 'socialized out' at this point, and he knew better than to push too far beyond making it clear that he intended them to do this again. For Steve's own good, of course. Guy was like some workaholic hermit sometimes.

"No problem, big guy," he replied with a cocksure smirk as the door shut, and he was left alone in his place. He was still pleased as he walked over to the door and set the locks before padding back to the couch, intending to clean up.

Instead, he reached under the table and pulled the phone hidden up there in a secret compartment and seated himself. He pulled up Pierce's number and simply texted over the words:

Working a different angle. Will report any major progress.

Except when he wouldn't because there were some things that were for him and him alone. He just hadn't decided how shallow or deep that went.

Whoa, big guy. (For assembles)

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