nextgenerationmarvel | Moving In (Roxie)

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Moving In (Roxie)

The night after their discussion, Joe followed Roxie's instructions to get into the building and headed upstairs to the apartment to check it out. He politely declined the doorman's offer of assistance as he didn't want to frighten the poor guy with the weight of his bags or their contents. Between all the clothing and weapons, Joe knew Uncomfortable Questions might be asked so he avoid the whole situation by carrying his own things.

Once he got through the door, Joe turned on some lights and checked the place out. Roxie had really good taste; the place was furnished much better than the places he'd been in the last few years. He didn't even see any rats scurrying once the lights were on. The cleanliness of the place made him realize just what kind of dumps he'd been inflicting on himself since he left Colorado Springs.

He sought the nearest empty bedroom and found it, sitting his bags down and taking off his coat. He was about to figure out what he'd sleep on when he remembered something about a rooftop garden. Now, he had to see it.

He found the access to the rooftop and stepped out, looking around at the place. Whatever he'd expected this place to be, this was so much more. Joe simply walked around a bit, getting an idea of the space. He could put a heavy bag right over there, in the corner, if Roxie didn't mind...

for a moment, Joe let all of his worries and trepidations about the world fall away and he stood near the edge of the building with his head titled back, eyes closed and just enjoyed the sounds of New York by night.

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"You're probably right, Roxanne. But I'm glad I'm here now, with you. You've really helped tonight. I'm serious about that." Joe said.

There was so much more that Joe wanted to tell Roxie, to talk about, and things he wanted to know but he didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

"Is there anything else you want to know, Roxanne?" he asked, composing himself after all of the heavy discussion.

"Good," she smiled. "That makes me glad. Everyone needs someone to listen, someone who won't judge them for the things they've done or who they've been." If anything, Roxie, who had so been judged by others, understood that better than most.

Living up to the name that Carol Danvers was hard enough, but having to struggle with being Captain America's kid would be even worse, she felt.

"Everything else there is to know, but I feel as though there's time enough to discover more about you, Joe." She shrugged lightly and added, "I've never really taken the time to have a discussion with a guy before, you know? A guy that I was inter - intrigued by, I mean." Intrigued was more ambiguous than interested, right? "Usually - and this was true even with Vincent - we did other things before getting to know each other. This was a nice change of pace."

"Well, I hope I keep intriguing you enough to ask more questions. Personally, I've only dated one woman. All the other women I know are either my friends or my mother." Joe said, smiling at her.

"I really don't know much about women, socially. It took road signs for me to recognize that Melissa was interested so I could use some female input and advice for future reference. I figure my new housemate could help with that." he said.

"And if you need help decoding guy signals, I could try to help you there, too." he said.

He cleared his throat at Roxie's mention of doing other things--with Vincent--before getting to know each other.

"I understand how that works. I haven't engaged in that sort of discussion in a long time. I have some basic rules before I do...that." Joe said. It took him a few seconds to realize that he'd just started a whole new topic of conversation, though he wasn't sure if Roxie would follow, after what she'd been through.

Oh, she followed. When it came to all things men-related, Roxie tended to follow really well.

"And what might those rules be?" she asked, perking up perhaps a bit too visibly.

Well now that Joe had stuck his foot into his mouth, he wondered how to remove it. But Roxie seemed interested so Joe thought it best to continue.

"Well, I'm a pretty old-fashioned guy. I go by a lot of the old rules. No kissing on the first date. No movies or anything. Stuff like dinner and dancing first before I invite someone to my home." Joe said.

"I want to know someone really well before I consider sex. I don't do casual sex or one-night stands. I want to be in a relationship with someone I care about." he said.

Oh.

Oh god.

Oh gods.

He was such an old-fashioned gentleman. And Roxie was...Roxie was...

1) His housemate (which made moot the whole no inviting someone into his home thing).
2) The Whore of Babylon.

(Okay, maybe that last one was a bit of an overexaggeration, but given her dating history...)

Roxie squeezed her eyes shut for a moment.

"There aren't many guys like you anymore," she finally managed to say. "That's...well. Something." Roxie? At a loss for words? Noooo.

Okay, yes.

Edited 2012-11-23 07:29 (UTC)

The longer Joe spoke, the more he became aware of a strange sound in the room between them. The sound became somewhat audible as Roxie's expression changed and seemed to grow louder as she spoke.

When she said that there weren't many guys like him anymore, the sound was finally audible enough for Joe to make out what it was:

His chances with Roxie (wait, was he considering it?) or any other woman, for that matter, going down the drain.

Still, he wouldn't apologize for his beliefs. He believed in the old-school way of doing things. Men like his father, Mr. Wilson and the other men on the Avengers taught him to respect women which was a very much lacking skill in this day and age. He'd been to bars and seen how men operated and it just wasn't his style.

Melissa thought something was off with him back then, too.

"I guess there aren't. I figure there's a huge lack of respect between both genders because of sex and all of the double-standards. I see this as doing my part to change that. If it means I don't date nearly as much because people think I'm weird, then so be it. At the end of the day, I want what my parents have. They're two people who love each other in spite of their pasts and mistakes along the way. I just hope I'm smart enough to recognize it when that woman shows up." Joe said.

"Besides, if you like can enjoy someone while their clothes are /on/ then any problems when the clothes come off are easily remedied. I knew a guy who went home with a different girl every night, and sometimes different girls in the same night. He said it made him feel good in the beginning, but over time, it just made him feel empty. Then it just became a habit. Sex and love should never be 'habits' like leaving your coat on the couch." he said.

"Wow. I sound like a guidance counselor. I'll get off my soapbox now." he laughed, finishing his drink.

"You okay, Roxanne?" he asked, noting she wasn't speaking.

Edited 2012-11-24 00:41 (UTC)

"I'm fine," she said quickly. "I'm just...thinking over what you said." And how different their life philosophies had been. "I'm sure that my mother would have loved for me to be with someone like you," she added, paling as soon as the words were out of her mouth. "I mean. I meant, to be someone like you." All kind and decent and chivalrous instead of a crazy, tabloid-beloved party girl.

"I like that you're, you know, like that. Because most of the guys I've dated...well," she shrugged. She'd been pampered, but being pampered and being treated like a lady were two distinctly different things.

Not that Roxie had ever professed to being a lady. Her old frienemy Brooke was lady enough for both of them on most days.

Pause.

Sip.

Blink.

Deep breath.

"One more question," she said, matching his gaze evenly. Because she needed to be looking at him when she asked this. "Given my dating history, and what you've seen of me in the tabloids..." Another deep breath. She wasn't usually this shy or pensive when asking a question, but this was different. "Would I ever have had a chance at dating you? Being housemates and everything aside, I mean." Pause. "Hypothetically."

"Like I said, any guy or group that can't see that you're amazing is an idiot." Joe said.

Her last question surprised him as he didn't think Roxanne had ever thought of something like that. Still, she'd gathered up the wherewithal to ask him so he owed her an honest answer.

"You know that the tabloids never had anything to with how I see you, right?" Joe asked. He used to read them all the time to check on her. It drove Tommy nuts.

"When we were kids, I thought it was my job to watch out for you, like a big brother, the same way I did for Sammy. Over the years, that changed. Sammy is my kid sister and I love her like one." he said.

"But I knew you before the tabloids. Yeah, I'd have dated you once I got past the whole thing about your dad and your brother." Joe smiled.

"Good answer," Roxie laughed. "And I'm sorry. For getting so intense for a moment there. I just...well. You know how it is. Sometimes you carry a torch for so long that you forget it's there, because of how it's always burning...and then something happens to bring all of that heat rushing back and this sentence is going a little sexier than I intended for it to, I'm so sorry."

"You're not gonna get any complaints out of me, so don't apologize." Joe said, smiling.

"But I know what you mean about torches. They burn even after you think they're out or that they shouldn't be burning anymore." he told her.

"So you liked me when we were kids?" he asked, a little bit surprised. He'd never picked up on that so it was new to him.

"I love that you used the past tense," Roxie said. "But yes. I did then." And she still does now.

She used to like him. Joe smiled to cover the disappointment that he didn't even realize he'd feel.

"Well, I was a different guy back then. Might even have been worthy of it. But we're still friends, right? Things work out the way their supposed to in the end, I guess. And we're housemates, now. Speaking of which...I should probably take you home." he said.

"If we weren't friends, Joe, I wouldn't have given you the keys to our apartment." Because he lived there now, too, and so it wasn't simply her apartment anymore. She didn't want him to feel as though it wasn't his space too.

"Or you could take me out on patrol," she said, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Either or."

"You...wanna go on patrol with me? Tonight?" Joe asked. He thought she might be tired from her earlier patrol but the idea of company tonight sounded like fun. Better than going out alone.

"Patrol it is. Let me take care of the bill and we can go." Joe said, flagging down the owner. She came right over and smiled.

"There is no charge tonight. My husband and I couldn't help but notice how happy you two are. We were reminded ourselves when we were young. We only had eyes for each other, as well." she said, smiling at him and Roxie.

"Oh. Oh, I'm sorry. We're not..." Joe tried to say, but the owner cut him off.

"I'll hear nothing of it. You two have a wonderful evening." she said and turned to go.

Joe left the price of the meal as a tip, plus a little extra, for the service.

"I did not know they would do that. I swear." he said to Roxie, by way of apology.

"Why not? I don't have anything waiting for me at home, and I figure that it might be fun to watch you in action," she said. "I promise not to interfere unless you expressly want me to."

She was blushing faintly after what the owner said, but she managed to keep up a bright, carefree expression as they excited the restaurant.

She couldn't help but lean into Joe a little bit, though. "I believe you," she laughed. "But you have to admit, for a moment, the idea of us felt pretty wonderful."

His arm immediately slipped around her waist for a moment, pulling her a little closer.

"Yeah, it did feel wonderful. I haven't felt like that in a long time." Joe told her.

"Oh, and you can get involved. I wouldn't mind watching you work, too." he said, leading her outside to his bike.

"Do you want to ride back home with me? I still have to get dressed." he said.

Okay, that? That felt good.

Roxie wanted more of that.

She closed her eyes again and pushed those thoughts away.

"Like you have to ask," she said, pulling her hair up into a loose bun. She slipped her helmet back on and lifted the visor up, winking at Joe. "I could probably pick up a couple of non-Olympian friendly weapons while we're at it."

Joe grinned and let her go so that he could slide onto his bike. He put on his helmet and kicked the bike to life. He waited for Roxie to get settled.

"You got any knives? I've grown fond of those in my travels." he said, smiling and ignoring the weakening in his knees at that wink.

"A collection of ancient Greek ones, yes," Roxie nodded. "Did you want to borrow them for the evening, because you're more than welcome to." For her part, Roxie was probably going to choose a lasso. The easier to rope and throw them with.

"Yeah, a knife for the evening oughta to do it." he said. Once she was seated and secure, Joe would take off toward their brownstone. They'd head back in through the garage and Joe would turn off the engine in the slightly darkened area and smile.

"This is the place." he said, waiting for her to get off the bike the first. Then he'd rise and head for the door leading into their apartment.

It took her a moment. Roxie was starting to realize that sitting there, on the back, her arms wrapped around his waist, was probably the closest she was ever going to get to him.

Finally, she slid off the back, tugged the helmet off, and nodded at Joe. "I have to admit, I'm excited. Besides the Avengers, I've never really patrolled with anyone before."

Did he imagine that she didn't get up right away, that she was avoiding letting go as much as he was hoping she wouldn't? He sighed slightly. He wanted her, but there were so many reasons in his head that they couldn't be close like that.

"I'm really looking forward to this, too. I haven't had a partner in a long time. I've gotten so used to solo work that I'd forgotten what it's like." Joe said.

"Roxanne..." Joe said, feeling his mouth go dry. He wanted to ask her if what she said earlier about carrying a torch was only talk about the past. Then he remembered everything she'd been through and that she was still hurting, deep down. She needed more time.

Joe was trying to respect what she needed.

"It shouldn't take me long to get dressed. I'll be back in a few." he said, heading inside to change and get his gear.

Roxie paused and watched Joe head inside. A light frown crossed her face. The way he had said her name there for a moment...what had he been about to say?

She set the helmet down on the bike and then followed Joe up to her penthouse suite, lost in thought and hope.

Edited 2012-11-24 22:23 (UTC)

Joe went to his room and closed the door, stripping down quickly and getting his SHIELD-issued gear together. He put on his uniform and boots, followed by his black trenchcoat. He put on his shoulder holster, equipped with his Glock and grabbed his combat knife, strapping it to his belt.

When he emerged from his room, he looked for Roxie.

"Hey, you." he smiled. "Can I still borrow that knife?"

There was at knock on the door just then.

Edited 2012-11-24 22:39 (UTC)

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