#something lost

fr0m-the-dust‌:

“Oh… uh… sorry.”

Lux rubbed the back of her neck a bit sheepishly. She felt bad for not remembering, but then again a lot had been going on at the time.

“it’s nice to meet you Pepper.”

Lux decided to let Pepper think that she went on adventures all the time, even though in reality, her life was kinda boring.

“It was just a bag full of some stuff I bought for friends. Souvenirs and all that. Think you could help me find it?”

Well, she hadn’t talked to Lux. She’d been to shy. So it made sense she didn’t remember Pepper. It’d probably be creepy if she kept repeating stories Ink had told her about Lux to Lux.

“Oh sure! I can help you look!”

"Don't worry about it, man," Steve says before he even knows what he's doing. "Someday you'll meet your special someone too."

Eddie gapes at him.

Gareth and Jeff immediately cackle in delight.

"Dude, Eddie would have to go looking under rocks to find the right girl for him," Jeff says, immediately earning himself a smack on his arm from Eddie.

"I would not, dude, what the fuck?"

Steve just laughs. He feels hysterical for several different reasons.

"You would so, dude. Might even have to grab a shovel. Dig 'em up like worms," Gareth pipes up.

"Guys. I'm fucking warning you," Eddie drawls.

"What are you even gonna do? You can't do shit right now, we're between campaigns," Gareth teases.

"Yeah, we might be right now, but I have a good fucking memory and I know how to hold a grudge. I'm warning you."

Jeff and Gareth keeps cackling.

Then Gareth, a little bolder now after two beers, leans into Steve and stage whispers — "He's just upset he's turning twenty two this year and still hasn't gotten his dick wet."

It's so unexpected it makes Steve howl with laughter.

The table erupts in chaos after that of course, and Steve watches it happen with a bright smile on his face.

When Eddie locks eyes with him after he's done trying to murder his friends, Steve raises his eyebrows at him. Gives him a look.

He lasts a day.

The breaking point is when Robin brings him out on the lake the next day.

They're going fishing. Robin’s fitted him out in a silly pair of boots and a lifejacket. She offered him a fisherman’s hat, but Steve just sneered in distaste. Robin ended up wearing it instead.

Steve’s kinda always wanted to row a boat, so he insisted in getting to do that instead of getting the motor up and running. Robin just shrugged and looked on in amusement.

When they’re finally at the right spot, Robin drops down the tiny anchor and helps him lift the oars back inside the boat.

Then she turns to Steve. “There we go. Now. Are you ready to learn?”

He makes a bit of a grimace.

“I don’t know. I'm not sure you can ever be ready for something like this."

Robin laughs at him, shaking her head.

"Oh, Steve, Steve, Steve. We'll make an honest fisherman out of you yet. You just have to get over that first step. Face your fears. Here." She reaches into the big supply bag she brought with them, most likely containing all the fishing supplies — hooks, bait, tools, extra line, you name it, the bag's got it.

Then she takes up a small plastic jar from it and pops the lid off.

"Take the rod." She instructs him.

He takes it, rests the handle on the floor of the boat and leans it towards himself, holding the end where the hook is secured into the bobber.

“Here. Hold your hand out,” Robin says.

He does, and she dumps a worm right into his palm.

Steve stares at it. Watches it wiggle around in his hand like it’s taunting him with its very existence.

He feels like he’s loosing his goddamn mind.

“Steve?” Robin prompts.

It's her tone of voice that does it, the softest bit of concern about him staring at a goddamn worm.

He can't help it. He starts laughing.

A full-blown, hysterical laughing fit.

Over a worm.

Robin stares at him, her large eyes wide and startled, and she slowly moves forward and kinda… scrapes the worm out of his hand back into the jar.

It only makes him laugh harder.

"Steve, you are freaking me out. Are you okay? Are you scared of worms? What's going on?"

He shakes his head in response, not wanting her to worry, but he's having a really difficult time collecting himself here.

"O-okay," Robin says, sounding very uncertain. "Just… get it out of your system. There there." She pats his knee, comforting him like he's crying. He loves her so much.

"I'm sorry," he says, still laughing. He even has to wipe his goddamn eyes. "I'm sorry. It's just… the fucking worm."

"What about the worm?" Robin asks patiently, though he can tell she's kind of freaking out too. It's very unlike him to lose his composure like this, especially over seemingly nothing.

Steve holds a hand up, gesturing for her to wait while he finishes wiping his face with his gross worm hands. Jesus fucking christ.

He finally lets out a deep sigh, laughter all out of his system like Robin encouraged. She's still patting his knee, like she thinks he's upset. Maybe he is, but it's hard to tell.

He meets her gaze. Almost starts laughing again when he sees the terrified look on her face, but he manages to keep it together.

"I'm sorry. Yesterday was… a very worm-themed day," he says.

"What?" Robin asks, sounding downright exasperated. He doesn't blame her.

Steve takes another deep inhale, snickering a little bit still.

"I kissed Eddie."

Robin just stares at him.