The smell a teenager, even a normal teenager, could give off was astonishing. But make it a highly active, enhanced teenager and somehow it just got worse. It had been just under a week of her being here and Steve doubted whether she had taken a shower yet or not.
The last week had been… surprising. Surprising in the sense that nothing had happened. No meltdowns. No leaving. No power struggles. The others had respected their request to let her settle without them barging in. Nothing. Just peace.
They had her order her own clothes on the online catalog they offered her and they were due to come in today. There had been chatter over some of the Hydra channels they'd infiltrated and it had been deemed best Nadia not go out in public yet.
She was permitted to continue training and that was most of what she did with her day. It was like living with a mostly silent roommate.
And it was infuriating. Not towards her but himself. His inability to connect with her or even hold much of a conversation with her was beyond frustrating. He had to get some advice on the matter. Clint was a dad. Maybe him? He was supposed to be coming over from the farm soon.
Steve sighed as he brought his head to his hands. This was so much different than he thought it would be. But that wasn't going to stop him from trying.
"Friday?" He asked, looking to the ceiling.
"Yes, sir?"
"Where's Nadia?"
"At the gym area, sir."
As expected. Not that he could blame her. There wasn't much else to do in the tower. He'd have to talk to Nat about that when she came back from her current mission. The kid needed something to do.
"Thank you."
--
"One hundred, one hundred one, one hundred two…" Nadia counted in German as she sat up on the bar she was hanging from. Only another hundred to go.
This week had been mostly physical training. They already knew about her enhanced strength so it didn't matter to give that away.
The motions were repetitive and mind numbing. Strength building that she didn't particularly need. Not the training she wanted or needed. But it wasn't the time or the proper strategy to train in the other ways available to her.
She had stayed strictly to the gym and her living quarters, eaten only when instructed, and only did the necessary functions beyond training. Sleep had been a question she never asked. It seemed they were fine with her sleeping, however. So no need to wait until instructed on that.
120, 121, 123, 124…
Footsteps sounded in the distance. It was Rogers. She couldn't figure out a name for him yet. The Big One was too long and nothing had set right. Maybe she'd call him Dad, she thought wryly.
A short laugh escaped her before she could stop it and the fear that followed soured any humor she had. Training was not meant to be fun. Enjoyment during training would result in distraction. Distraction resulted in failures. Failures -
"Can't say I'm not glad to hear that." Rogers' voice came from behind.
--
Nadia flipped down from the bar she had been hanging from and kept her eyes averted from him. Better to find something more to say or do before it got too awkward.
"Do you like competitions?" He found himself asking, not exactly sure why. It would be something to do if she did.
Her eyes didn't light up in the affirmative as he had hoped but rather clouded, "What sort of competition?" She looked towards the sparring mat with something in her face he couldn't read, "To the death?" Those bright green eyes swung back to him creased with suspicion. Natasha's eyes.
"No! No!" Steve shook his head, trying not to react to her assumption, "Competition like who can do the most pull ups, or the fastest run through an obstacle course."
Now her eyes did light up as a querulous eyebrow was raised, "I wouldn't know, sir, I haven't had one since -" She stopped, looked down and cleared her throat, "Since I was a child." Since when? What was the real answer?
"Want to find out if you do?" He grinned to hide the concern. He had so many questions but he wasn't going to force her. "Let's see who can do the most push ups." It had been fun with the commandos back in the day. Maybe this could be fun as well.
Her eyes narrow, "What is the cost?"
Steve thought, it couldn't be anything too serious, "Loser… wears their clothing inside out all day tomorrow." No not high enough stakes, "And has to cook dinner tonight."
Nadia just nodded and got into the push-up position, "Yes, sir."
"Nadia," Steve said as he mirrored himself across from her, "I'm not saying you have to call me dad or anything like that." He grinned, "But you could at least call me Steve."
"Okay, Steve." Nadia tilted her head, a smile in her eyes if not on her face, "Ready to make dinner?"
"Not if I can help it!" He laughed even though all he wanted to do was jump and shout with joy.
--
Natasha came into the silent apartment, a small box on her hip. Nadia's clothes had come in and, by the weight of it, there wasn't much in it. Probably would have been a good idea to check just how much was ordered.
But more to the point. Where was everyone? There was usually at least the sounds of Steve puttering around even if the girl rarely made so much as a peep.
"Friday?" Natasha called, placing the box in Nadia's spartan room. Not that every other room here wasn't much different. Maybe some plants would be a good idea. Succulents. Or a cactus. Not as easy to kill.
"Yes, Miss Romanoff?"
"Where's Steve and Nadia?"
"They are currently in the gym having a push-up contest."
Natasha snapped her head up. What? Before she could think about it she was already headed towards the gym. Could it be? The girl had either avoided them or treated every interaction with them as if they were her… her what? It was as if she expected them to be like her superiors. Someone with complete control over her.
Now there was this. What magic had Steve worked on her? Probably finally decided to use that charm that seemed to work on just about anybody.
Rounding the corner from out of the elevator, Natasha stopped at the door of the gym. There it was. Steve had broken a sweat but there was still a smile on his face as he mirrored the push-ups to his daughter's. She seemed to be waning despite the determined look in her eyes as she kept them locked with her father's.
Eventually, Steve was slowing as well, his smile had slipped off as he concentrated. Nadia's arms were shaking nearly imperceptibly and her head had gone down. Finally, she dropped to her stomach and rolled herself over onto her back.
Steve merely heaved a sigh and joined her in the flop, his head lined up beside hers as they looked up at the ceiling, saying between gasps, "Remind me not to take a pushup competition with you lightly again."
Nadia was silent a moment, "Sir," She closed her eyes, "I have to confess something."
"Mmm?" Steve hummed with half closed eyes, hands resting on his stomach.
"I have no knowledge in cooking."
A/N ~ A nice fluff piece for y'all before some fun begins! ;)
