#;steve & adam { bullsh1tterz }

[sioraiocht]

~ @bullsh1tterz || my date just made a scene in public and got arrested and now i’m stranded in a city without a ride home (( LET'S DO THIS >:) )) ~

It'd all happened in a blur. Steve had been collecting his takeout one minute and the next he's bundling a guy into the back of a cop car. They'd been weeks looking for him. He'd stolen some of Tony's tech and was selling it on the black market. The guy had practically disappeared, a real life ghost - and then Steve comes face to face with him whilst he's waiting to collect his Thai food.

It's only after the guy's hauled away that Steve realises who the other guy is. "Hey, it's the funny guy -" Hands drop to his pockets as he moves over to him. "You won Buck 'round with that photo. Me? Not so much." Eyes look back to the street, watching the disappearing police car. "Were you with that guy? We've been looking for him for weeks. He's been selling off Stark tech."

[sioraiocht]

Steve tries his best to focus on the wound, rather than any other thoughts that force their way to the surface. He also tries to ignore the knot of concern that'd immediately formed when he'd noticed Adam's injuries. He doesn't want to think about what it means. It opens up a can of worms that would only ruin the tentative friendship they've built up. The thing is - Steve knows that there's nothing there on Adam's side. He's fully aware that even if there is a universe out there where the other guy is interested in dating an Avenger, Steve's not even close to the top of that list. So, he has all the facts, he's not deluding himself. And yet, he can't help the softness with which he dresses the wounds and the lingering touch to his arm to make sure that he's okay.

"Are you drinking enough water? Might help the headache." He settles back, looking at Adam. He debates declining the offer, insisting that he'll be okay. But, for once, it would be really nice not to have to patch himself up. He nods, holding the kit out. "Thanks."

Breath comes to a halt at Steve's gentle touch, a chill going up the photographer's spine. This is bizarre. Everything about Steve is bizarre. From the way he looks at him to the complete and total calm with which he approaches him. It's annoying. It's cute. It's frustrating. He hates that it threatens to disarm him.

"Yeah. You got a problem with that?" he replies to the nurse comment, rigid. His body sways forward, leaning into the sting of his wound's cleansing. He's watching Steve's hand on his arm all the while, lower lip pressed slightly up against the upper. It's weird the way body temperatures work. His own, cold - the other's, warm. There's an equilibrium there which forces a comfort he wants to shake off.

"No blurred vision." he says, insinuating a headache. "And I've had the headache since morning." Insomnia mixed in with the remnants of another day's severe hangover will do that to the man. He gestures to the first aid kit with his other hand, those fiery eyes of his never skipping a beat as they look at Steve, even with his exhaustion. "Hand it over when you're done."

[sioraiocht]

~ @bullsh1tterz || “ the problem is you keep thinking i’m a good person. ” (( @ bucky, steve or billie! )) ~

"Oh - No, I think you're a dick." Bucky reclines back into his seat, kicking his feet up and making himself comfortable. "I think you're mouthy and need to learn when to shut up." Eyes fix on Adam. "I think you're funny though and you have moments where you're not the worst." Lips curl into the faintest half smile. It's not a conversation where he wants to just sit and attack Adam, he actually has good time for the guy. However, he does have a few points to make. "Look, you don't have to like Steve - I think you're wrong but that's beside the point." Hands clasp together. "D'you know he's spent his whole life having people judge him without getting to know him? They judged him when he was skinny kid getting his ass handed to him, they judged him when he got that serum and they're still judging him now." Bucky sits forward, forearms resting against his knees. "He's expected to be the perfect representation of America, he has to represent freedom and standing up for what you believe in - But not too much because he can't be seen to be taking too much of a stance in any political issues. He has to always look perfect, always play well with others, represent good faith, good morals, be nice to everyone he meets because at the end of the day that shield means that he's in service to his country and she needs him to be the perfect boy scout."

He pauses. He knows he's a little too invested in Steve Rogers but he really wishes other people could see what he does. "You want to know what Steve is like? He has the shittiest diet in the world, he's stubborn, he's competitive. He draws pictures of people and places he finds interesting. He swears like a sailor. He donates anonymously to LGBT youth services because he remembers how shit it was back in the 30's and he never wants anyone to feel anything close to how he did. He's the worst cook in the world but he bakes these brownies that are the best things you'll ever taste. The guy can barely take a selfie but you put him in any cockpit and he'll be driving the thing in a half hour. He speaks like five languages and has lectured me in every single one." Bucky stops, expression faintly sheepish. "In case you hadn't noticed, I'm President of the Steve Rogers fan club. Point being, if you get to know him and still don't like him that's fine. But disliking him because PR and marketing have painted him a certain way? Don't do that."

[sioraiocht]

~ @bullsh1tterz || [ALLEYWAY] The sender pins the receiver against the wall in the dimly lit alley. (( @ steve! LISTEN IK THAT'S NOT EXACTLY THE MEME'S PURPOSE BUT, FIRST KISS??? )) ~

Steve's breath catches in his chest as Adam pins him against the wall. They'd cut through it to lose the paparazzi, determined to get a picture of Captain America and the new person he's been spending time with. In the dim light, Steve stares at Adam, unable to ignore the pounding feelings that come up every single time he looks at the other man. They're suffocating. On hand is on Adam's hips, gently drawing him close as the other slides up to rest at his neck. Before either can say anything, Steve's kissing him, thumb gently stroking across his jawline.

[sioraiocht]

~ @bullsh1tterz || "I'm so drunk right now, but I still know one thing… I'm lucky to have you in my life." (( @ STEVE OMG BRO IS HAMMERED BUT HE MEANS IT FS )) ~

The words catch Steve by surprise, his eyes looking to Adam as if searching to see whether or not he's serious. He has to be honest, half the time he doesn't know what the other guy thinks of him. Some days he feels like an almighty pain in Adam's ass but then other days there are moments where he thinks they actually get along pretty well. As a result, to hear Adam express any form of sentiment is catching him completely unawares. So much so that he's half expecting him to follow it up with a sarcastic comment.

But nothing comes.

Steve's head drops into a nod, hiding the soft smile that's formed on his lips. "Hell, I'm the lucky one. Haven't felt this like myself in a very long time and it's thanks to you." He lifts his beer, leaning over to cheers it against Adam's drink. "You've had an impact on my life. And I will 100% be reminding sober you that you said that about me." He grins, leaning back in his seat and resting his arm behind his head as he takes another drink. Figuring that Adam probably doesn't want to keep talking about it he changes the topic. "Want me to order us some food? I'd offer to cook but I'd probably poison you."

[sioraiocht]

~ @bullsh1tterz || would you relax for a second? i'm just checking on you. (( For Steve. Yes he's yelling it ofc he is. 🥺✊)) ~

Steve flinches, dazed as he stares up at Adam. Every inch of him hurts, there's a pounding in his head and he's fairly certain a lot of him is fractured and bleeding but they won. It's over. All he wants to do is sleep. But he can't, because Captain America can't stay down and he knows people are watching. Hand grips at the shield, using it to push himself upright, face contorted from the pain. "Did you get some good photos?" Hand grasped at his side to ease pressure on his ribs. "Reckon you'll get good money for pictures of me getting my ass handed to me."

[sioraiocht]

Adam, after digging through old records and stumbling upon this, mails this picture to Steve and captions it "this u? -adam," cackling to himself. (( I HAD TO I'M SORRY I'M CRYING ))

Steve tears the envelope open, a grimace immediately forming. He tosses the photo onto the table as he grabs his phone. Bucky leans across with a grin, humming the 'Star Spangled Man' as he grabs it. "Kid's got jokes - I like him"

[text;] You know, back in my day people went wild for that costume. [text;][delayed] Ignore how old that made me sound.

[sioraiocht]

"True, you'd have to go through Bucky and I don't know what your odds are for him picking up the phone." Steve laughs, hand coming up to rub the back of his neck as he tries to avoid looking at Adam's torso. He really should get out and date more.

He turns, looking around and spotting the group of women. "Oh - Wait here a second, I'll be right back. Please - Don't go anywhere -" Sometimes Steve feels like he can't say no to the photos. Almost like he's constantly on call, can't take a day off when you're Captain America, have to be at the beck and call of the American people. He takes some photos with them and signs their t-shirts before quickly escaping back to Adam. "Sorry - Want to go get a smoothie? There's a food truck just outside the park that does a really good mango one."

At Steve's words, he waves a dismissive hand, opting to ignore what he could've sworn was Steve's eyes wandering downwards. "I wouldn't have blocked you." he admits, but soon enough musters up an excuse. "How am I supposed to haggle you for photos if I do?" he shakes his head, noticing then something behind them.

"... speakin' o' photos, though, should ya be out in public like this?" he nods forward, tapping Steve's shoulder and gesturing beyond him. "I'm pretty sure those chicks over there are dyin' ta ask ya for a pic - bound to be more where they're comin' from considerin' you look like that in the sunlight." A little squint as he throws the shirt over his shoulder, something akin to irritation in it. Steve looks fresher than a new harvest and here he is sweating his tits off.

[sioraiocht]

"Alright, okay - Give me a minute to think about it." Steve relaxes back in the chair, pursing his lips.

"Oh! What is the best way to drown a hipster?" He grins. "Throw him in the mainstream."

₊🎞️❜ |[ @sioraiocht said ]|   :

❛ i don’t think i’ve ever seen you smile. ❜ { from steve }

His nose scrunches up as he looks over to Steve, not quite certain why that's come up. "You wanna?" he asks, turning back to fiddle around with his camera.

"Say somethin' worth smilin' at 'n bob's your uncle, Rogers."

[sioraiocht]

Adam's the last person Steve had expected to see walking into the Avengers compound. He'd been even more surprised when it was revealed that he was there to help. Eyes look down to the photos, hand reaching out to spread them across the table. "These are really great, Adam - We haven't been able to get a proper picture of him so this -" He holds up a photo which frames the face perfectly. "Invaluable. I really appreciate it."

"One act of kindness is better than none." Steve shrugs, hands dropping to his pockets. His gaze studies Adam for a moment. There's a comfort that he feels around the other man - Now, he knows that if he says that he'll be laughed out of the room, so he keeps his mouth shut. But it's there. It's sorta nice to be around someone who doesn't ask to see the shield and hasn't commented on how his ass looks in the suit. "Want a drink? Tony's got this cocktail robot that makes whatever you want."

₊🎞️❜ |[ @sioraiocht said ]|   :

❛ ah, so you're not heartless after all. ❜ { From steve }

Adam clicks his tongue, not quite liking the implications of what's being said. So, he fussed a little over him when he saw him fighting some big-shot villain and then followed and snapped a few shots of the guy when he escaped. So, he's here to hand them in for free. That doesn't mean he's got a heart! He's just doing his due diligence so the cops will leave him alone. He does have some 'petty theft' and a couple 'possession of illegal substances' waiting to happen if he doesn't buckle up and take suspicion off of himself. That's what this is.

"Oh, don't let one act o' kindness fool ya, Rogers. I left that thing back in the womb." he tells him, placing the pictures on the table. "There's one there of you fightin' 'im. Couldn't resist snappin' there cuz the angle was just right." he then says, finally meeting his gaze. "All yours. Memorabilia or whatever."

[sioraiocht]

Steve doesn't fully know how to get Adam to like him. Being himself sure isn't working. The guy's got whole opinions about him that're hard to overturn. "I don't think anyone deserves that type of treatment." He takes back the phone, looking down at the address. "It's okay." It's the other side of the city but he doesn't mind too much. Nothing calms Steve down more than a drive and a chance to collect his thoughts. On the bike no-one can stop him and ask him questions or try to take photos with him.

"Yeah, well - Believe me, it'd be more fun for me too if it was with someone who didn't outwardly dislike me." Steve couldn't help the words muttering out. He'd often thought about how he'd love to take dates out on his bike, drive down along the coast, and pack a picnic. Instead, he's turned into a glorified Avengers Uber service. He kicks up the stand before looking out into the street and taking off. Traffic, thankfully, isn't too busy, meaning that he zips towards Adam's address without too much hassle. "You good back there?"

Adam doesn't argue much considering Steve's already gone in with the money, but he secretly plots to stash the dying bills somewhere on the motorbike. His pride would never let him take a superhero's handouts. Normal people's, maybe, but he's a firm believer in not letting the so-called benevolent 'win'. By the time the other gets back, he's already shoved the money into a little opening at the side of the bike's seat.

There's a little grunt leaving him as he mounts behind Steve and takes hold of the phone, clicks aggressively rattling over the screen from the sheer intensity of his frustration. He doesn't say anything at all until Steve talks - trying to console him out of courtesy, Adam assumes. Fucking good-natured people; always trying to do the right thing and not realizing it makes him hate himself even more.

"How do you know I don't?" he scoffs. "Whatever. I'm just pissed cuz he didn't pay his share 'n left me stranded. That's all there is to it." He hopes this explanation's convincing enough. "Here." He extends the phone back ahead. "Might be too far." he says, but doesn't tack on the 'sorry about that' he'd ventured to add.

"I'm bettin' this is someone's fantasy right now." he comments with a certain crudeness as he wraps his arms around Steve's figure, sighing. It feels humiliating - even with the abs. "Too bad it's bein' wasted on me, ey?" a pause. "Don't answer that."

[sioraiocht]

Steve doesn't say much, figuring there aren't really any words that'll make the situation better. Plus, not that it's hard to tell, but he doesn't think he's Adam's favourite person. Advice would undoubtedly be ill-received. Brow lifts slightly, gaze dropping to the wrinkled-up money. "It's on me. Consider it government compensation for a bad date." He doesn't wait to hear anything else, heading inside and paying for the food as he picks up his order.

Once outside he puts the takeout into the bag at the back of his bike. "I've no helmet for you so you're gonna have to hang on." He slings his leg over the saddle, settling onto the bike and gesturing for Adam to join him. "Here - Key your address into my phone." He reaches back, holding the phone out to him. He pauses for a moment, silent. "And - For what it's worth, I'm sorry your date went so badly. You didn't deserve that."

Deep breaths, Stanheight. Deep breaths. He tries to soothe himself with a few huffs and puffs but the look on his face is enough of a tell that he's pissed off and... perhaps maybe even a little hurt. He's doing a good enough job letting the former overtake the latter, though.

"I ate. I'm good. I just-" and then he realizes something, nose scrunching up as it often does when he is disdained. "I've just gotta pay for two now. Bitch couldn't throw me his half of the tab before he- ughhh. That's so sexy of him. I'm feeling so turned on right now. My nipples are so hard that they're gonna leave a dent in my shirt." Sarcasm might as well be seeping out of him as he rambles and grumbles, fishing wrinkled-up money out of his pockets and holding them in a sad little bundle. "Pick your food up, I'll pay for mine, 'n then I'm takin' you up on that offer, Rogers, so ya better have enough fuel in there for the ride." Is he being shameless? Absolutely, yeah. But he wants to go home and Steve's a good enough guy to be trusted in a moving vehicle - even if Adam's not exactly his number one fanboy.

[sioraiocht]

"Hell, don't overdo it with the warm welcome." Steve comes to a stop beside Adam, looking far too fresh for a man who's spent the past hour doing laps of the park. "I just -" He's momentarily distracted, eyes flicking down to Adam's abs. It causes heat to rise along his neck, jaw tensing as he forces his gaze back up.

"Saw you running past and thought I'd say hi. Plus, I wanted to tell you that I watched that Psycho movie - I really liked it." He nods, lips splitting into a grin. "I was going to text you but I half assumed you'd blocked my number after you got the photos."

: : @sioraiocht : : GETS SOMETHING VERY NECESSARY FOR SCIENCE.

Adam halts his run on instinct, turning behind him and preparing to yell at whoever's there. "Okay, wh-" a pause, mouth shut for a second. "Oh. Rogers." He runs a hand through dampened locks. Damn it. These runs are supposed to diffuse his stress, not add to it!

"What is it?" he asks, breath not yet stable as his hands draw down the seams of his shirt, pulling it off entirely so as to rinse the sweat off of it. He's assuming this encounter's not going to be a swift 'hi'-'goodbye' exchange, so might as well get a breather out of it.

[sioraiocht]

The reaction - Well, it catches Steve by surprise. He holds Adam back as he yells at the guy in the car, letting him get it out of his system. Sometimes it's what's needed. Steve's much more a 'process things in silence' type of guy but he can see the appeal of roaring. "I feel like you shouldn't be dating anyone who outwardly admits to illegal activity but then again, I'm actively called uptight so what do I know."

"You've no way home?" He contemplates ordering him a taxi, but it's rush hour and it'll cost a fortune. The guy's already having a bad enough evening as is. "If you want I can give you a ride." Head tilts, gesturing to his bike, parked up to the side. "I just have to collect my food -" He moves back towards the restaurant. "Did you get a chance to eat anything? Want me to order something for you?"

Whoopty-fucking-doo. Adam Faulkner-Stenheight, perpetual relationship-wrecker and commitment-fearing dickhead, figured what the hell, maybe - just maybe, in all of his idiocy and delusion, he now realizes - that he could just dip the tip of his foot into the dating pool and see what it was like. He wasn't looking for anything serious, so he's not exactly the world's most heartbroken man right now, but he figured he might've had some fun today. Especially since he and the dude currently being hurled into the back of a police car seemed to click right away.

But no, nope. Not him! He can't have fun! The universe has to consistently piss him off. And now he's in the middle of bum fuck whatever-town without a ride home. And, to boot, Mr. Goodie-two-shoes had to be on the scene. Thanks, universe. Adam groans, head buried into his hands in an attempt not to implode.

"God fucking damn this shit." he yells before yanking his head up to perceive Steve, not quite letting himself comment on the 'funny guy' title in this current predicament. "When he said he was a crook I figured he meant petty theft, damn it! Stark tech? Who does that? Is he an actual lunatic?" he gets up, body lurched a little forward to try and be within the cop car's view as one hand instinctively presses on Steve's shoulder. "ARE YOU AN ACTUAL LUNATIC!? STEAL FROM SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE ' PART O' THE AVENGERS' ON HIS GOD DAMN RESUME!!! " he shouts at the man, huffing soon after and mumbling to himself as he lets the poor Avenger's shoulder go. "Moron." He turns back to Steve. "Now how the hell am I supposed to go home? This-" he turns back up to the car and shouts again. "ASSHOLE!" and back to Steve again, much calmer. "drove me here."

[sioraiocht]

"Okay, okay -" Steve drops down beside Adam, laying out the first aid kit. Hand gently reaches for him, taking his forearm and letting his thumb stroke reassuringly across his skin as he opens the antiseptic. Lips lift into a half smile as he hears the mumble. "What, are you going to be my nurse?"

He dabs the wound, trying to get it clean as quickly as he possibly can. He keeps hold of Adam's arm as he reaches for the bandages. "Any headaches? Blurred vision?"

🎞️❜ |[ @sioraiocht said ]|   :

❛ hold still. this might sting a little. ❜ { from steve }

"I'm holdin' still already!" Adam protests, hand still quivering in the other's hold, however. He can't help it - he's pretty sure there's some sort of nerve damage there but he's too much of a prideful moron to admit it. "Just." voice goes lower as though holding something back. "Get it done with, okay? You hold it still." he pauses, looking at Steve and letting his nose scrunch up at the sight of him. He, too, appears to have about him the marks of the previous altercation. Not quite as harmed as the civilian that Adam is, but enough to warrant medical attention.

"... then it's gonna be your turn." he decides, mumbling it softly yet loud enough for the other to hear.