Whoa, big guy. (For assembles)

[infligere]

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.

Comments

[assembles]

Steve had assumed that Rumlow had done the whole thing on purpose, but his behavior afterward indicated it had been a genuine accident. Never before had Steve somehow found someone else's mouth with his own without meaning to, so the whole thing was the exact kind of awkward he hadn't needed at a time like this. Right when he was starting to feel relaxed, too.

The blush that spread over Steve's face was completely legitimate in comparison, and he scooted back on the couch so that there was some space between them again. Rumlow had an explanation, and Steve did what he could to swallow it down, although he didn't really approve of being lumped in with "guys of his time."

The compliment was so direct that Steve had to avert his gaze for a moment, but when he gathered his composure and glanced back, it was with a small smirk on his lips. The easiest way to worm his way out of an uncomfortable situation was with humor and sass. "Is that why you decided to smack my ass in the showers?" Really, Rumlow had always struck Steve as straight as they come, but he realized he had to toss away the idea of people with certain sexual orientations looking or behaving a particular way. It didn't work like that.

[infligere]

He liked to think that this was just opening the door for new possibilities for them if he could work this just right to get what he wanted. Well, he was certain that Steve would eventually want it, since the guy was such a recluse and could do with a damn good hand-job at the very least. It might loosen up some of those morals, and he knew he would enjoy stroking a national monument. It was something to hold over the other men in his unit and then punch them for it too.

Steve, of course, blushed like a mad man, and it was amusing. He held his ground on the couch though, still rubbing at his lips with a slight air of contemplation. He stiffened at the mention of the showers, and it was his turn to avert his gaze and look uncomfortable. "Nah, that was because you have a nice ass," he replied with a shrug of his shoulders.

"You know that already though," he added as he rubbed a hand through his hair. "May I kiss you for real?" Strike while the iron was hot, right?

[assembles]

As far as Steve's concerned, having a nice ass and being a good-looking man are probably pretty likely to go hand-in-hand, although he understands that there isn't necessarily a correlation. It doesn't matter that much in the end, as Rumlow just went ahead and asked if they could try a real kiss, and Steve's at a loss for what to say.

Natasha has been tossing him names of girls he might want to date, and Steve has found ways to wriggle out of following up on each and every one, always producing some kind of excuse. Natasha's never given him a guy's name, and Steve's not sure if that's because she's made assumptions or because she thinks he'd cite his "not ready for that" reason.

He has found people to practice with, though only women so far. Steve can acknowledge that Rumlow is attractive -- that's really no secret. He eyes Rumlow's lips in quiet consideration and then lets out a breath.

He won't know how he feels about it unless he gives it a real try, right?

"All right." What the hell is he getting himself into? It's just a kiss, he reminds himself. It doesn't have to mean anything, it doesn't have to lead to anything. Maybe it would be easier if they both got this out of their systems. And maybe a part of him is just curious, simple as that.

[infligere]

Damn, there was never enough times where he left Steve speechless, and that was going to have to change in the near future. There was just something about the other man's expression when it happened that made him feel so damn good, though he didn't spend a lot of time considering the hows and the whys about it. He frankly didn't care enough to, but this... damn, this was gold right there.

He noted the fact that Steve was looking at his lips as if trying to assess something about them. Hmpt, he had practiced long and hard on being a good kisser, though few allowed him to really let loose on them. He was, unfortunately, the type of man who liked to mingle the pleasure and the pain together, which generally involved teeth. He kept those to a minimum for most.

Maybe today too. Maybe.

He smirked charmingly at Steve and reached out to slip a hand around the back of the blond's neck, his thumb brushing against the hairs at Steve's hairline as he shifted around and leaned in. He was not hesitant at all as he pressed his lips to Steve's, keeping it simple for a few seconds before he parted his lips and teased the tip of his tongue against the commissure invitingly.

[assembles]

Steve didn't intend to go into this like some kind of blushing virgin. He didn't have a lot of experience compared to most, but he still knew the steps and he wasn't going to let this interaction somehow warp Rumlow's view of him. So when Rumlow started to make the moves to kiss him, Steve also turned his body so that they were facing each other, his hands reaching out to grip at Rumlow's shoulders. It was a safe place to hold onto him, to make sure that he didn't come off as passive.

He leaned in too, so that they met in the middle, forcing his eyes closed this time as they kissed again. He could feel the stubble on Rumlow's chin rubbing up against his skin, and the hard edges of his shoulders under his palms. It was nothing like kissing a woman -- Rumlow tasted like beer and there was still the hint of gunsmoke on him from their op.

When Rumlow dared to try and press his tongue inside, Steve slowly opened his mouth to grant him access. He had figured that this wouldn't just be a chaste kiss, since Rumlow wasn't really the kind of guy to hold back. Rumlow's tongue slid in, warm and purposeful, and Steve tightened his grip on him as he pushed back, their teeth clacking against each other, which he ignored easily enough.

It wasn't bad. He didn't want to pull away in revulsion, anyway.

[infligere]

Rumlow admitted brief surprise when Rogers just went the whole-hog into the kiss, not that he was expecting shyness or anything. He couldn't say that he had been prepared for the hands on his shoulders, and how Steve seemed to prepare himself like they were about to go into combat, which was actually potentially accurate if they were going to intensify the kiss in the first place.

However, they met in the middle and he could briefly fool everyone that this was something completely mutual. There was no hesitation on his part to ease his tongue into Steve's mouth either, and the good Captain tasted like beer with an undertone of chip dip and something that was just all uniquely Cap. He immediately turned his face slightly, caressing the tip of his tongue against the roof of Steve's mouth before seeing if he could engage the other man's tongue in a little battle.

His hand crept up to the back of Steve's head, tangling his fingers in the blond hair there as he subtly began to apply more of his weight forward to urge Rogers backwards.

[assembles]

Steve wouldn't have been doing this if it wasn't mutual, and he also would have broken it off if something had felt wrong. But it felt a lot like kissing a girl. Not that there was anything that feminine about Rumlow, it wasn't that, but Steve seemed to get the same amount of enjoyment from it, which surprised him. He realized it was possible to like both women and men, sure, but he had never considered whether or not he fit into that category.

On the other hand, he didn't see why something as trivial as a person's sex should stop him from pursuing something he enjoyed.

As Rumlow's tongue explored his mouth, Steve made a small sound, half surprise and half intrigue. Rumlow definitely wasn't holding back, this was really not a first-date kind of kiss, and Steve found himself circling his tongue around Rumlow's, pressing back against it when he was offered resistance. Steve could also feel the way that Rumlow was trying to push him back, and while he could have easily ignored that, he let his body sink backward until he was leaned partly against the arm of the couch.

With his hands still on Rumlow's shoulders, it was easy enough to tug him along as they rode out the kiss, although eventually Steve did break away and laughed, all throaty and warm. "Do you get to scratch something off your bucket list now?"

[infligere]

Rumlow wasn't a first-date kind of guy; he was all or nothing in everything that he did, though he was firmly in control of himself at all times. He simply gave everything that he was once he had entered into a mission or event that had his attention or required some of his specialized skills.

He inhaled that sound, drinking it in and savouring the heat that pooled in his belly because of it. Like an achievement worth celebrating. Steve might not have a lot of experience, but the guy had heart and a willingness to just delve right in without fear. That was what made Cap so special, a force to be reconned with, a man to kiss the breath right out of.

He let Steve guide him forward, coming to half sprawl over the larger man as they broke apart. The laugh caused him to smirk as he lounged on Steve like the guy was just another part of his couch. "Damn rights, I do! Two things actually. Kissing a National Treasure and kissing a CO."

[assembles]

Rumlow's weight settled onto him, and despite the fact that he was a grown man with plenty of hard muscle on him, Steve barely felt it. He could support ten times this weight without really blinking. If anything, it was the physical contact that took some getting used to, the ways that their limbs brushed against one another, but he weathered that with a smile too.

"Two for one special, huh?" Steve raised an eyebrow. He couldn't help but wonder if that was all this was about, some kind of notch for Rumlow to put on his belt. Plenty of people had to daydream about what it was like to kiss Captain America, and for some reason Rumlow was the one who'd actually dragged one out of him.

"I hope you're not the type to kiss and tell," Steve mumbled, and while he said it in a joking way, he was being somewhat serious. They didn't need to let this get out to the rest of the STRIKE Team. Steve lifted his arms up to rest them behind his head and looked Rumlow over. With their faces this close, it was even easier to admire just how attractive his teammate really was. Steve usually didn't let himself think about that kind of thing when they were on duty.

[infligere]

It was interesting that Steve didn't make motions to dislodge him from his comfortable lounging, which may or may not be actual interest or just an uncaring about what was going on. There was nothing in particular to give Steve away as being uncomfortable with the fact that he had spread himself against the other man's chest with his own.

"That's the way we do it in America," he said with a laugh. "It's how we get so many tourists in this part of the world." And he supposed that some of those tourists were hoping to catch a glimpse of the National Icon himself since the Battle of New York. Ah well, he wasn't going to squeal too much about their kiss, maybe just to STRIKE and Pierce.

"Pfft, I work for an agency that works in lies and national security. I think I can keep a secret like this from squirting out," he replied dryly, aware that it technically not an untruth. He shook his head a little and then pressed his forehead to Steve's in a faint soldierly gesture of affection. "I've got your back, Cap. No one's gonna know you're not that bad at kissing."

[assembles]

America really did seem to have a thing for specials and sales and giving the consumer what they wanted for the cheapest price, these days. Sometimes that meant outsourcing their productions, and the things Steve had read about the work conditions in East Asian countries was enough to get him all riled up if he thought on it too long.

Right now, though, he was actually pretty relaxed. Rumlow wouldn't blab about this to the rest of the team, and the knowledge that there was one thing in Steve's life that he could actually keep to himself was freeing. Even if it was something as simple as kissing one of his subordinates on the side. He didn't mean it as some kind of abuse of power, though -- after all, Rumlow was the one who'd asked for this. He also didn't know if it was going to be more than one-time thing yet. That was something he'd have to think about more.

When their foreheads pressed, Steve closed his eyes for a moment, pleasantly surprised by the affectionate gesture. He'd done this with other soldiers before, usually if they were injured and in fear of dying, so it was nice to do it in a less chaotic context. I've got your back, Rumlow said, and wasn't that a good feeling too? Avengers aside, Steve had never found anything like the Commandos here in the future, but maybe he could get there with someone like Rumlow.

"Not that bad? Well, I guess it could be worse." He sighed and opened his eyes, smiling up at Rumlow. "So what now?"

[infligere]

Rumlow wasn't particularly concerned with all that outsourcing in the world because it would soon enough be brought to heel with Insight. It seemed to him that the Middle East and Asia were in for a big surprise when the helicarriers came into range. He really hoped that he wasn't assigned to body detail over there, or it was going to take forever.

However, right now, here in this place, this was all still about planning and locking in the variables. Rogers was a variable, though he wasn't so certain that anything about the guy could be locked down completely. He still wasn't certain why Pierce wasn't knocking the guy down and bleeding him to get as much potential for the super-soldier program back up and running. No, Pierce was just being amused watching Rogers move and take missions like some old war hero.

Maybe just this once, he'd horde this experience to himself. He gave everything to the mission that just this one thing wouldn't hurt to keep as his own. He knew better than to rely too much on others, not even his own team, but Rogers... sometimes he could think that the guy might come through in most things. It was a bad way to think, especially here and now lounging on the guy.

Regardless, for now, they were comrades. "Yeah it could have been like licking a dead slug," he admitted with a smirk. "I might be able to find something to watch, since it's still early, or I guess I can let you go about your life again?" He made no effort to move and even boldly circled his arms around the back of Steve's neck. "Or I could teach you how to kiss properly."

[assembles]

With no outward sign of the thoughts circling through Rumlow's head, Steve took everything that was going on here at face value. If there was any ulterior motive here, then he figured it was something relatively harmless. Maybe Rumlow had asked him here because of some other dare he'd made with another member of the STRIKE team, or maybe he had just been curious to see what Steve Rogers was like when off duty.

Or maybe he was legitimately interested. Steve had learned a long time ago that plenty of people were more attracted to his title and what it meant than they were to him as a person, but he didn't think that would be the case with Rumlow. Rumlow had seen Steve in the middle of a mission, covered in dirt and barking out orders. He had seen a lot more than most, who were usually only exposed to the shining, polished part of him. The images shown on screens, him grinning with his pearly whites.

Which was why when Rumlow pushed the issue, suggesting that they pick up where they left off, Steve didn't immediately balk at the idea. He did raise an eyebrow, though, his mouth curling up at one side.

"How to kiss properly? If I didn't know better, I'd think you were saying that I didn't know what I was doing." Which was only somewhat true. Steve hadn't gotten much practice when he'd been younger, since he hadn't had anyone he could practice with, but he'd had plenty of opportunities lately. He cushioned his head on Rumlow's arms and fixed him with a challenging smirk. "But by all means, enlighten me."

Maybe he was enjoying this a little more than he wanted to admit.

[infligere]

He was definitely interested for his own brief selfish reasons because he had grown up with this icon of a man, and it seemed a small worthwhile endeavor to explore all that Cap was just for a moment. He knew it wouldn't last, didn't want it to, but perhaps there was a small mutual benefit to them both just having a little fun here with no strings attached. It wasn't like he had to report it; he'd kept one or two secrets from HYDRA before. No harm, no foul.

It was the nitty gritty that he liked about Rogers, not afraid to get covered in mud, blood and rain like the rest of them. He knew that was true, but those kinds of commanders were men he respected, and the kind of commander he himself wanted to be like. He put his men into no situation where he himself wouldn't be willing to go. Hell, he'd had a few good dressing downs because he had taken the most dangerous part of the mission personally and not handed it off to his men.

And Rogers? He'd seen Rogers do the exact same thing. There was a part of him beyond the mission that did lust after the man. It was only now that he was exposing it at all.

"You don't, but I'll teach you," he said with a cock-sure smirk before he lifted a hand to shove it through Steve's hair to mess it up. He liked the rough helmet hair look far better than this polished one. "Oh, so the great golden Rogers does want to learn, huh? Well... since you insisted."

He pushed himself up from lounging on Steve's chest and leaned in, nudging their noses together once before he pressed their lips together again. Almost immediately, he moved to seize Roger's lower lip and sucked and nibbled on it, watching the other man's reaction with a raised eyebrow and a half-smirk still.

[assembles]

This wasn't the first time that someone had taken the approach of wanting to teach him how to kiss, but no one had ever been this bold about it. Most people remained in awe of him even when they were up close and personal like this, and so it was nice to have someone he felt more or less on equal footing with pressing his lips against his mouth instead.

That part of it -- that it was a man and not a woman sprawled out on top of him -- really didn't seem to make much of a difference. Steve wouldn't have been able to reconcile something like this if it had happened back during the war, but he'd pretty much only had eyes for Peggy then anyway. Here in the modern age, there had been so much progress made when it came to sexuality and what was acceptable. Liking men and women wasn't outside the realm of possibility.

This was Steve's business and his alone. Something he could keep to himself, away from the watchful eye of the media. That alone spurred him on.

When Rumlow worked on his lower lip, even getting slightly rough with it, Steve made a small surprised noise, but didn't pull away. He closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation of sharp teeth pressing against the softness of his lip, that slight spark of pain that really only made the whole thing better. His hands reached out for Rumlow's shoulders and then slid around to the back of his neck, nudging him closer as he opened his mouth for him.

[infligere]

This was their business. It was between them. As far as he was concerned, it wasn't the kind of skill training that he needed to report to anyone. In fact, the more secret it was, the better for them both. He would hate to have to change this from a pleasurable venture to something akin to business.

That little noise was heartening. He had always suspected that Rogers was an adrenaline junkie, maybe with just a small touch of masochistic tendencies. It seemed that they would get along just fine in their mannerisms towards each other, and he turned his mouth slightly so that their noses could brush as Steve's lips parted more. He immediately took advantage of the offer to flick his tongue against the roof of the blond's mouth.

His hands were not inactive either, sliding down Steve's muscled sides to gain an all new and person appreciation of that body under his own. His legs shifted to settle on either side of one of Steve's, gripping it with his knee as he sounded a soft pleased noise into their locked lips.

[assembles]

It wouldn't be the first time that Steve had been accused of having masochistic tendencies. Bucky had always demanded to know why he went out of his way to get the tar kicked out of him back in the day, for instance. This wasn't the same thing, not even close, with far more pleasure than pain, but mixing the two together seemed to really do it for Steve.

As Rumlow shifted, Steve slid his hands down from his neck, resting them at the small of his back, just a few inches above his ass, and held him in place. With the way that Rumlow was straddling one of Steve's legs, his crotch was close to brushing up against his thigh, though Steve didn't go so far as to force that friction.

He didn't know if he was ready for that yet. Besides, making out was pretty good all on its own.

When Rumlow's tongue pressed its way into Steve's mouth, he sucked at it, then circled his own tongue around it, his hands gripping a little tighter as he got more into it and some of those inhibitions melted away.

[infligere]

He rolled his shoulders as Steve's hands slid over them, and then arched his back as those same hands passed down further and further to rest pleasantly against the dip of his back, so close but so far from being bold. It was more than he had expected, since he had been all about kissing Steve and thinking the man would ice him out of anything more than that.

Certainly, it had factored into his mind that his own boldness might earn him a good old fashioned dump on the floor. It didn't happen and he remained as relaxed as if he was just lounging on the couch and little else.

He moaned a soft of approval to the sucking on his tongue, squirming the muscle to dart at the tongue that came in close in return. His eyes closed like he was settling in for the long haul as he pressed his lips more aggressively against Steve's and battled the other man's tongue, though tasting and exploring everything possible without choking the guy.

[assembles]

It actually left Steve feeling a little unsettled, to realize how easily he'd taken to all this. Maybe Natasha was right and he'd just needed the chance to unwind -- not that he was necessarily going to tell her about this. He didn't know if he should, given that it wasn't very professional. On the other hand, if he told her as a friend, it might be all right. She might just be glad to hear that he'd finally taken the plunge.

Of course he couldn't turn his brain off even when he was in the middle of a make out session. Steve sighed into Rumlow's mouth and tried to blank out everything else and focus on nothing more than sensation. Rumlow's taste, the roughness of his stubble against Steve's chin, and the way that his own lips were starting to get swollen from all the kissing.

He kept at it for a while, slow and languid, simply enjoying this for the sake of it with as little strings attached as he could manage. Steve wasn't the sort of person to get deeply involved with someone without those strings appearing, but a little making out didn't hurt anyone, right?

[infligere]

His lips were also swelling with their kiss, but he liked it rough and fast and hard. There was no other way to go, and Steve responded so well, better than he had ever expected. The guy tested like a fresh breath of air if that was at all possible with just the right undertone of chip dip, beer and freedom. Damn if he didn't have to catch his thoughts from straying too far down that road.

Slowly, still sliding against Steve's tongue once, twice and then flicking his tongue against the roof of the super-soldier's mouth, he withdrew and broke the kiss. He sighed contently and shifted his legs as if trying to sit back but instead just sat down more on Steve's thigh and ran his hands down the full length of Rogers' chest.

"You are a fast-learner at everything," he said cheekily. "We can just call this personal continuing education."

[assembles]

It's good that Rumlow broke it off when he did, as Steve had been starting to feel a little breathless, and he laid there in the aftermath of the kiss, hair mussed and eyes blown and kind of stunned. It was only now that it all sank in completely, especially when Rumlow settled on his leg and he was pretty sure he could feel his dick even through all those layers of clothing.

"I figure I have a lot to catch up on with this stuff, I'd better be a fast learner." Then again, this was a different set of rules than if he was with a woman. Not so different that he thought it would be a problem, but...

He scrubbed his hand over his face and through his hair. "That's probably enough for one day, though, right?" Steve wasn't interested in moving too fast here. He had to figure out if he even wanted this to become routine, and he wasn't sure he was in the right state of mind to decide now.

[infligere]

He chuckled at the look on Steve's face and the rumpled look of the living legend, amused as much as he found it a huge turn-on. He managed to keep a reaction from showing more than a twitch because he was certain that would send Rogers right out the nearest window. That might be amusing, but he was now thinking he could convince the guy for a few more times of careful exploration of one another.

"Too true, but you're pretty good once you get the hang of it," he agreed affably. He idly wondered if Rogers still had that v-card to hand over. Either way, it'd be very entertaining to see this guy in the sack.

He leaned up and pecked Steve on the lips, offering the super-soldier a wink as he sat up on Steve's leg. He stretched his arms and made a soft groaning sound, looking a bit too much like a contented cat. "Sure thing, Cap, but if you ever want more practice, my door is open for you. I can be whatever you need."

[assembles]

As far as compliments went, "pretty good" often fell into the backhanded category, but in this instance Steve would take it. It was better than some of the reactions he'd received after kissing someone, especially those first few times when he'd still been figuring everything out. He had disappointed at least a few girls, not living up to what they expected Captain America to be like.

Well, that was bound to happen, and not just with kissing.

He had learned a thing or two since then, and while it wouldn't have been the end of the world if a teammate thought that he was a lousy kisser, Steve found that he wasn't opposed to the idea of maybe doing this again. He had to think it over when he wasn't in the moment, but he found his eyes traveling over Rumlow's body as he stretched. He did slide his leg out from under Rumlow and push himself up so that he was sitting properly again, though.

I can be whatever you need. It was quite the statement, and Steve didn't know how to feel about it. "Like what?" he asked as he smoothed out his shirt and put his hair back into place.

[infligere]

Well, in his compliments, he was generally honest. He didn't play at making someone feel good because it was expected; he did it because he thought they were deserving of the praise. He wasn't in this to butter up someone's feelings after all, though he kept that gruff nature off of the grid when it was more important to the mission to either say nothing or just let someone assume what he was going to say about them.

He finished his stretching and lifted his weight so it wasn't quite so difficult for Steve to shift away and sit up again. He had noticed the look, and that pleased him more than anything except the kisses themselves. He expected that meant some interest in things happening again.

He flopped onto the couch and stretched his legs out under the coffee table, folding his hands behind his head. "Anything you want, Cap," he said and reached over to set some of the hair at the back of Steve's head with his fingers. "Someone to practice on, someone to talk to, someone to just shoot the shit with, someone to have drinks with." He shrugged his shoulders. "Anything or nothing. I just think you should get out more; you're a good guy, and it's a shame to think you're stuck in your apartment living in memories." Not that he actually knew entirely what happened in that place.

[assembles]

Stuck in his apartment, living in memories? Is that was people thought of when they imagined what he did in his off time? Steve wanted to believe that he got out more than that, and he did, mainly for rides on his motorcycle. Still, he also couldn't deny that part of him was still trapped in the past, despite all the progress he'd made here in the future. He didn't know if that would ever change.

Still, the offer was generous, with Rumlow willing to put up with as few or as many strings as Steve wanted. He would have to make sure he knew what he hoped to get out of this and be positive on that so that he could lay it all out for Rumlow before they delved too deep. That was the fair way to do it.

"I appreciate it. I mean, all of it. The offer alone is more than you owe me," Steve said, closing his eyes as Rumlow's fingers worked through the short hairs at the back of his neck. "Can I take a raincheck on making my mind up? I need to think this over." Steve didn't hesitate to take the plunge into any sort of dangerous situation on a mission, but this required a lot more care and consideration.

Natasha would have said he was scared. But Natasha didn't know about this, at least not yet, and there was some relief in knowing that it was his secret for now.