Talking and Coping
"I need your help."
Astrid's eyes lit up as Steve said it, because he had let his guard down and she had a free pass to throw the ball over his shoulder, into the hoop, which she did effortlessly. She smirked triumphantly, but he didn't seem to notice, instead staring at her intently.
"I need your help," he said again, his eyes pleading. "I volunteered to babysit tomorrow night and now I have other plans."
Astrid picked up the ball and tossed it behind her shoulder, smirking as she heard it hit the ring and raising a brow. "Got a hot date, Harrington?"
Steve snorted, walking over to the bleachers to wipe his face with a towel. "Oh, yeah. A hot date called grounded."
She frowned, putting her hand on her hip. "What for?"
He mumbled something under his breath that she didn't quite catch, before saying out loud, "I didn't get a good grade on Lebowski's test."
Astrid sighed, pretty sure that grounding meant no car privileges, which meant that if he was caught sneaking out then he'd be in more trouble than he already was. And that was...upsetting. Lately she had been enjoying having him laying down next to her and talking about the most random crap while she did her homework. It didn't distract her, not really - in fact, it kinda helped to get used to multitasking. (Studying was a different case, but Steve was normally content to get some spicy chips from her cupboard and slide his arms around her waist as he ate and read over her shoulder.) It was a rare occurrence, but she'd been getting annoyed whenever her parents were home.
"You know I could tutor you." She reached for her braid to untie it but self-consciously pulled her hand back, not wanting to have loose hair in front of him. "You're telling your parents that basketball practice is taking longer because I come here right after I leave the station, so if we're lying to them anyway, why not use the time to study?"
He bit his lip - in a kind of attractive way - but shook his head. "I like playing with you. We don't get that much time, might as well spend it wisely."
Well, this was going to be hard.
Astrid crossed her arms. "Then on the days we play, you don't come over."
Steve looked up at her with a hurt look, but this time, she willed herself to hold her ground - after all, she was doing it because she wanted to hang out with him. "If we study instead of playing, you can come. But if not, stay at home and study. You can't have both."
"Christ, you're not my mom," he said, a frown on his face, "I'm already grounded, Hofferson, I don't need you to boss me around."
"Hey, I'm just setting boundaries on myself and my house. They just happen to revolve around your actions. You're the one who said you needed my help."
He stood up, running a hand through his hair. "I meant I wanted to ask you to babysit instead of me. It's at the Wheelers' house, I don't want the kids to have to reschedule because of me." He turned around and walked towards the locker room. "But if you want to lecture me instead -"
"Hey!" Astrid ran after him and grabbed his hand, turning him around. "Steve, come on, you are such a drama queen. You know you need to study."
He clicked his tongue, locking his eyes on the floor. "I need to play basketball with you too. I need to come to your house. I - I can't…"
She leaned down and tilted his chin up. "Can't what?"
"Can't…" He cursed quietly and looked her straight in the eyes. "The days your parents are home...and I can't see you at night...I have trouble sleeping."
"What?" Astrid asked in astonishment, her mouth agape. "But...but I don't help you sleep. We just talk."
"Yeah, but those talks are important." He swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I'm sorry, alright? But...Jesus, with you, I can start off with how I got pranked once in seventh grade, and end with how I had a nightmare about the demogorgon last night. We have a nice range. And talking to you helps me got to sleep when I go back home, it's much better than talking to myself."
Oh, for Thor's sake. She was trying to be stern. S-T-E-R-N. He really should try and let her remain cross with him for more than a few minutes.
"Steve."
"Astrid."
She rolled her eyes and slid her arms around his neck, pulling him in as he repeated the action around her waist. "I get attached way too easily, don't I?"
"I don't mind," she murmured in his ear, "but you have to sleep without visiting me, Steve. You being dependent on me? Maybe that sounds sweet, but it's really not healthy in any way. I'll babysit for you tomorrow - might as well finally meet these kids - but we're also going to study. How long are you grounded?"
"Until next week."
"Then we don't play basketball until next week." When he began to protest, she put a finger over his lips. "We study. You don't come to my house, but...maybe we can make a recording or a video for you to watch. Heads up, I don't sing. And when you're off the hook from your parents, then you choose. We can either study instead of playing, or you bring your things when you come to my house and study while I do. If my parents are home you study at your house. Okay? That way you can still come by at night and talk to me. Deal?"
At first, he didn't say anything and Astrid was thinking about how to sweeten the deal (while considering how whipped she was), when he finally said, "I don't know why you called yourself the asshole in a relationship." He pulled back from the hug but stayed close, scanning over her face. "I don't think you're an asshole."
"I don't quite think you're an asshole either," she murmured, leaning close enough for his hair to be touching her forehead.
Steve leaned down a little more and their lips barely brushed before they both simultaneously pulled away, his cheeks tinted light pink. "We're not doing that."
"No, we're not," he agreed, holding her hand. "You're - you're right. Deal. I accept."
"Thank you."
Astrid intertwined their fingers and kissed him incredibly close to his lips, but not quite on them, before taking a deep breath and smiling at him.
"So, about these kids...what are they like?"
PLEASE send me in story prompts, guys! Pretty please?
