nextgenerationmarvel | Back in Town (Roxie)

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Back in Town (Roxie)

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Joe checked the building twice over before he pulled his bike into the garage and closed the door. The last couple of days had really taken a toll on his sanity. He was holding up well but being back home was good. He went to the fridge and pulled out a few things for making a sandwich because he hadn't eaten much while he and Sammy were on the way to Leavenworth. Now that he was back, he could relax and get his head in order before he went off after Jason Landon or before Landon came after him.

He also had to talk to Roxanne about things and that reminded him to be quiet in case she was sleeping. He sat down at the counter in the kitchen and dug into his sandwich, relishing having real food again.

His mind wandered to the idea of Roxanne sleeping and thinking she probably looked like an angel. Was she a morning person? Probably not.

Finishing his sandwich and finding himself with a bit extra energy, Joe went to his room and changed into some sweats and a t-shirt with running shoes. If nothing else, he might at least get a work-out in.

He dropped to the floor and began the first five-hundred push-ups.

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"Careful, handsome. Keep on telling me good things about myself and my ego might end up getting too unwieldy." Not that Roxie was the egotistical type.

"No, not cold," she said. She was just feeling particularly vulnerable that night and yearned for contact of some sort. But she wasn't about to admit that.

"I'm being serious, you know. I believe in you. No matter where you've been or what you've gone through...Joe. I won't ever lose that faith in you. You're -" the best man I've ever known? Yes, because that's not a cliche! "- I don't really know how to put it into words."

"Your ego has never been a problem. Your singing of karaoke music at the top of your lungs when we were kids? That was a little problem." he teased.

He reached out and took her hand when she said she wouldn't lose faith in him. He'd lost faith in himself so many times over the years that he wondered if he could still have any left.

"Careful, beautiful. Keep up that faith in me and I might forget you're the goddess around here." he said.

"But thank you, Roxanne. There are a million other things I'd like to say but I'm trying not to keep your awake all night. I don't really want tonight to end. It's the most relaxed I've felt in a long time." he told her.

"Hey, we each need a few flaws," Roxie replied. It was true, though. Her rendition of "We Got the Beat" proved that Roxie pretty much did not have the beat.

At all.

At least, not vocally.

Roxie squeezed Joe's hand, enjoying the fact that she could actually use her strength on him and not damage him. Physically, he was not so vulnerable. She was working on making him stronger elsewhere, too.

"You make this place feel like home," she said. "I can't thank you enough for that."

"And you'll never have to thank me, either. You're important to me, Roxanne. I want you to be happy no matter what happens between us. But I'd definitely like to be the guy that makes you happy." he grinned.

Joe took a deep breath and made a decision. What did he have to lose?

"How about one of those hugs like the one you gave me when I got back?" he asked, pulling her closer to him.

Lose? Absolutely nothing. Roxie had lost Joe once.

She was going to work very hard to make sure that she didn't lose him again.

She leaned into Joe, wrapping her arms around him and breathing in his fresh scent of soap and deodorant and, well, general Joe-ness.

"My apparent neediness tonight aside, I promise not to be one of those clingy girlfriends who turns into a whimpering wallflower whenever her boyfriend is around," she chuckled. "Not that I'm saying I'm your girlfriend, because time and patience and taking things slowly, but. You know. A promise for the future. Also, you know. I promise to give you your space and not get involved when you don't want me to." Like with the Landon thing. If Joe wanted to do that on his own, Roxie would respect it. She wasn't the type of woman who'd try to worm her way into every aspect of her life. Insecurity had never been something Roxie was altogether fond of.

"And in return, I promise, if I'm your boyfriend, that I won't be a jealous jackass that can't get past the fact that you dated other people before me." Joe said.

"You dated other guys and I know that. I'm not worried about that, Roxanne. As long as I know that our relationship is about you and me, and no one else, then I'm happy. I'll be there for you and I'll give you your space when you need it, too.

But in return, I need you to promise me that you'll let me in when things are bad. I don't mean that you have to tell me everything about everything but just don't push me away." he said.

"And I promise to always be honest with you, too."

"Good," Roxie smiled. "Because there are more guys on that list than I currently care to admit." She pressed in close to him. "But if I didn't still - if you didn't matter, then this wouldn't be, well, this."

She tilted her head up to look at him. "Don't worry. I won't lock you out or run off into space for six months without telling you or anything. You'll be in the know." She paused and thought about something for a moment. "But being with a woman who has, you know, my powers and abilities. That wouldn't be a problem for you, right? Because I know for some guys...well. I've never much cared to be the damsel in distress, you know."

"As long as you, you know, give me a heads-up before you throw me down and have your way with me, we're okay." Joe said, trying on a bit of flirting.

Did that sound as corny as he thought? Yeah, probably.

"Seriously, though...you're stronger and faster than me. You can take a lot more punishment and you can fly. A lot of guys can't handle that but I'm not one of them. In fact...I was hoping that maybe we could train together a bit. I need to know what it's like to go up against someone like you in case it ever happens in the field so I'm not at a disadvantage.

I'll leave out the obvious part about seeing you in workout gear as being a plus to that." he said, feeling a bit more comfortable as he held Roxanne. He leaned back into the couch so he could recline a little, too.

Roxie laughed. "Someone's getting comfortable," she said. "I like it!"

She shifted a little, allowing Joe to get comfortable. "I'm not saying no to getting sweaty and physical with you, regardless of what the context might be," Roxie grinned. "If you want to start training tomorrow morning, I'm all for it. Whenever you want."

He'd like the workout gear. Long-sleeved, midriff-baring t-shirts and shorts that showed off all of Roxie's long, lean, toned legs.

Joe had to restart his brain for a moment at the idea of Roxie being in workout gear. He could only imagine what she liked to wear when working out. Or when sleeping. Or when...

"Yeah. Training tomorrow morning. Bring those ancient weapons, too. I think I should learn to use something other than a gun in case the person I end up across from can shrug off bullets, like most people I know." he smiled.

Laying there with Roxie felt natural, like he was meant to do it, or had been doing it forever. He had to stifle a yawn, though. Falling asleep on her wouldn't be polite because she was great company.

"You know, if you're feeling sleepy, you have every right to tell me to detach myself from you," Roxie said, catching that yawn. Not that she would have minded falling asleep like this, because it would've been great, but she didn't want to push things.

All good things came to those who waited, and though Roxie had unconsciously waited for Joe for a long time, she could still wait awhile longer.

Especially now because she knew that it was a definite possibility.

"I don't want to be the reason you don't get a good night's sleep." She winked. "Well, for now, anyway."

"Yes, because the smart idea is to tell the beautiful woman in your arms that you /don't/ want to hold her until sunrise." Joe laughed. "I think you might be the reason I sleep a full night for the first time in years." he said.

Joe usually needed a bottle of scotch to crash, but Roxie made the scotch a non-issue. Not because she was boring, which she wasn't, but because she relaxed him so.

"I must be getting loopy. My inhibitions are lowering." he said.

"Then if you're that comfortable, I suggest that we stay as we are until morning," Roxie said. Maybe for the first night in awhile she'd sleep without any nightmares.

"It's okay," she added. "I promise, no naughty business."

"I agree with your plan. Get some sleep, Super-Woman. I'll be here when you wake up." Joe said.

"And no naughty business. I'm as pure as the driver snow." he said, trying to suppress a laugh.

Although the idea of naughty business with Roxie is...appealing to say the least.

"At least one of us is," Roxie laughed. She leaned up then and kissed him lightly on his jaw, surprised that she was content with simply falling asleep in his arms. With other men, she'd always needed more. With Joe, taking it slow felt natural. Perfect, even. "Sleep sweet, Joe."

Every hair on Joe's skin stood as she kissed his jaw, the light touch feeling as though he'd just been plugged into an electrical socket while soaking wet. It was a rush.

"Yeah, I think I will. You too, Roxanne." he said, reaching out gently to tangle his fingers softly in her hair as he closed his eyes. He stroked the silken strands lightly for several seconds as his eyelids grew heavier. He didn't even want a drink right now.

Yes, this was worth it and then some.

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Back in Town (Roxie)

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