[ to call each other out, to say the things he should probably be thinking. since the beginning sam has always offered steve his thoughts, his ideas on strategy, his opinion on next steps. and whether or not they followed them, there had always been the feeling that steve listened. that steve took it into account. it was a kind of trust and respect that sam caught onto, that he likes returning, and maybe that's just one more reason why all this works. steve surrounds himself with people who will call him out, who will speak their mind, and he's not afraid to hear it. that's the kind of person sam wants to follow, and it's the kind he's willing to, for as long as it takes.
the snort from steve has sam smirking, just a bit, to himself. he does have a point. ] And don't think I won't fight her, too. The chicken is absolutely worth it, and I'm telling her you agree with me. [ which might be a stretch, but hey, sam has been given very little out here when it comes to the day to day, so he's starting to hyperfocus. which. might not be the best idea. but it's better than going completely crazy, right?
steve laughs, makes some comment about poker, and sam is already shaking his head and making a face, even before the words are fully out of him. ] Nope, absolutely not. Poker is outlawed after Nat kicked both of our asses last time. No more poker in the safe houses. I refuse to lose that badly ever again. [ sam is quite adamant in his reaction, which could probably be seen as a little overboard or dramatic, but if steve remembers the last poker night they tried too have, it would make sense. or at least makes sense to sam - natasha was absolutely cheating last time, and until he can prove how, he refuses. nope. no more.
which is why he goes out on a limb, speaks his mind even if it isn't an obvious choice on something to do with a free evening. sam offers it, but as he turns to see steve, part of him regrets bringing it up. the look in his eyes is distance, heavy and complicated, and immediately sam knows he's stepped...well. not on a land mine, necessarily, but out on the ice. it's the same look steve had at peggy carter's funeral, which is part of the reason sam can put two and two together. dancing. he missed a dance. god, there's a sudden feeling of guilt under all of this, and all the while sam tries to parse out if this is a 'apologize and change the subject' type of situation, or a 'push a little further'.
so sam takes something of a middle road, shrugging once, even if steve can't quite see it. ]
It was just a suggestion, but I'm a great teacher. If you did want to learn.
[ if steve does look back over to sam, then, it will be to a small smile. encouraging, in a way, for steve to talk if he wants to talk, but without pushing the matter too firmly. he doesn't even know where to begin when it comes to trying to understand what steve has gone through, or is going through, at any given moment. but if the last couple of years have taught sam anything, it generally helps to just be there. to not make it weird. and to keep the conversation going, if it's not the right time.
so if steve doesn't look like he wants to, or if the quiet does go on for a little too long, sam will gesture for them to head out to the living room. suggest that they check the cabinets to see if there might be any board games lying around. ]
no subject
the snort from steve has sam smirking, just a bit, to himself. he does have a point. ] And don't think I won't fight her, too. The chicken is absolutely worth it, and I'm telling her you agree with me. [ which might be a stretch, but hey, sam has been given very little out here when it comes to the day to day, so he's starting to hyperfocus. which. might not be the best idea. but it's better than going completely crazy, right?
steve laughs, makes some comment about poker, and sam is already shaking his head and making a face, even before the words are fully out of him. ] Nope, absolutely not. Poker is outlawed after Nat kicked both of our asses last time. No more poker in the safe houses. I refuse to lose that badly ever again. [ sam is quite adamant in his reaction, which could probably be seen as a little overboard or dramatic, but if steve remembers the last poker night they tried too have, it would make sense. or at least makes sense to sam - natasha was absolutely cheating last time, and until he can prove how, he refuses. nope. no more.
which is why he goes out on a limb, speaks his mind even if it isn't an obvious choice on something to do with a free evening. sam offers it, but as he turns to see steve, part of him regrets bringing it up. the look in his eyes is distance, heavy and complicated, and immediately sam knows he's stepped...well. not on a land mine, necessarily, but out on the ice. it's the same look steve had at peggy carter's funeral, which is part of the reason sam can put two and two together. dancing. he missed a dance. god, there's a sudden feeling of guilt under all of this, and all the while sam tries to parse out if this is a 'apologize and change the subject' type of situation, or a 'push a little further'.
so sam takes something of a middle road, shrugging once, even if steve can't quite see it. ]
It was just a suggestion, but I'm a great teacher. If you did want to learn.
[ if steve does look back over to sam, then, it will be to a small smile. encouraging, in a way, for steve to talk if he wants to talk, but without pushing the matter too firmly. he doesn't even know where to begin when it comes to trying to understand what steve has gone through, or is going through, at any given moment. but if the last couple of years have taught sam anything, it generally helps to just be there. to not make it weird. and to keep the conversation going, if it's not the right time.
so if steve doesn't look like he wants to, or if the quiet does go on for a little too long, sam will gesture for them to head out to the living room. suggest that they check the cabinets to see if there might be any board games lying around. ]