New Neighbor
Dec. 5th, 2017 05:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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It started with scuffles and faint thumping through the walls. It was a nice apartment, but Steve had pretty good hearing (understatement, that), and he knew the apartment beside his was empty, so it was—
Unusual.
Curious.
No one had ever blamed Steve of not being curious. The opposite had been said plenty of times, though, along with the requisite saying about cats.
Steve swept his pencil along his paper a couple more times, lips pursed, until there was an almost-audible-to-normal-ears thunk from the hallway.
Okay, he had to know. Setting his sketchbook and pencil down on the coffee table, Steve stood, absently brushing his hands down his legs to smooth out any wrinkles - despite currently wearing his 'around home' jogging pants, which didn't really do wrinkles. Force of habit.
Moving over to the door, he hesitated. Was it really any of his business? He'd lived in the 21st century for almost 2 years now, he understood that things were different. People kept to themselves more; yeah, you might greet your neighbor if you saw them, know them by name, but you didn't really stick your nose in anybody's business, unless they invited you to, first.
Still. He could go over and see if they needed help, whatever was going on.
Slowly, Steve pulled his door open, then stuck just his head out, before moving until half his body was out in the hall - if he was spotted, he didn't want to look like some disapproving asshole.
Unusual.
Curious.
No one had ever blamed Steve of not being curious. The opposite had been said plenty of times, though, along with the requisite saying about cats.
Steve swept his pencil along his paper a couple more times, lips pursed, until there was an almost-audible-to-normal-ears thunk from the hallway.
Okay, he had to know. Setting his sketchbook and pencil down on the coffee table, Steve stood, absently brushing his hands down his legs to smooth out any wrinkles - despite currently wearing his 'around home' jogging pants, which didn't really do wrinkles. Force of habit.
Moving over to the door, he hesitated. Was it really any of his business? He'd lived in the 21st century for almost 2 years now, he understood that things were different. People kept to themselves more; yeah, you might greet your neighbor if you saw them, know them by name, but you didn't really stick your nose in anybody's business, unless they invited you to, first.
Still. He could go over and see if they needed help, whatever was going on.
Slowly, Steve pulled his door open, then stuck just his head out, before moving until half his body was out in the hall - if he was spotted, he didn't want to look like some disapproving asshole.
no subject
Date: 2017-12-27 05:14 am (UTC)"I'm just fine, sugar. Thanks to you."
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Date: 2017-12-27 05:47 am (UTC)"Let me help you move some of this stuff inside," he says, pulling his arm away from her once he's sure she's got a secure grip on the box and has her balance back - and if his hand happens to slide along her back more than is probably strictly necessary... well, he could just say he didn't want to startle her by abruptly letting go. "More hands make quick work, and all that," he justifies.
Steve doesn't lie to himself, though, and he knows it's because he's attracted to her. Which is... Well. Probably not the best idea. It's not really a bad idea, per sé, but the few forays into dating that he's taken so far have shown him that it's notoriously hard to find someone he can connect with emotionally, regardless of physical attraction. So.
no subject
Date: 2017-12-27 06:10 am (UTC)She's getting there, though. Another few looks like that, and she might actually put two and two together. For now, though, she simply takes pleasure in the feeling of his hand on her back, savoring each second as she rights herself again.
"That's real nice of you," she replies with a smile still in place, a hint of shyness around the edges of her expression, "and I'd really appreciate it, thank you."
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Date: 2017-12-27 06:34 am (UTC)"Sure, no problem," he replies with a smile. Crossing his arms, Steve pretends to seriously consider the boxes littering the hallway. "So, the real question is... which of these is the heaviest?" He pauses, before grinning slyly. "I won't ask which is the most fragile, although maybe I should," he adds, tossing her a teasing wink.
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Date: 2017-12-27 06:49 am (UTC)Giggling in response to that adorable wink, she just shakes her head for a moment before pointing out a few boxes in particular. "Those probably count for both, since they're full of things for the kitchen. I already hauled all the books inside myself."
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Date: 2017-12-27 07:09 am (UTC)They're not particularly large boxes, so he stacks one on top of another before easily lifting them, careful to keep them held close to his torso. He can tell at least one is full of plates, the other probably more dishware and glasses, and for anyone else just one of the boxes would probably be at least semi-heavy, but he has no problem with them.
...he's pretty sure Dr. Erskine didn't give him the serum with 'glorified mover' in mind. But he's helping someone who needs it, and he's able to, which really kind of was why he got the serum, so he's okay with it.
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Date: 2017-12-27 07:32 am (UTC)Shaking off those feelings, she quickly grabs her own box and hurries past the rest of the pile to lead the way through the open door to her very bare apartment - save for the additional stacks of boxes and sheet-wrapped furniture. "Come on in, you can set those down anywhere."
Her own box is deposited on top of the small kitchen table.
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Date: 2018-01-09 03:22 pm (UTC)Placing the boxes on the counter, he carefully unstacked them to be set side by side, less likely to fall over and shatter their contents that way. "You need any help setting up your furniture?" he asked. "Not-- I don't mean to be nosy, or butt in where I'm not wanted. Just... offering, if you want it, later."
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Date: 2018-01-09 04:03 pm (UTC)"No, that'd be great actually, thank you," she responded with a smile and a shake of her head. "I was a bit worried about it actually - the last time I put together my bed, I almost pulled a muscle."