"We won't go dancing, we won't have Christmas Eve together, you waited until after dinner on Valentine's Day to even speak to me," Elaine said. She shook her head. "Steve, this isn't how it's supposed to be. I can't be tiptoeing around everything." She looked down and carefully slipped out of his hold. "I'm going to go home. I think maybe a bit of distance is a good thing right now."

Steve frowned but didn't try to stop her. Maybe it would be a good thing. And, if nothing else, he had something to think about while she was gone.

"I'll see you in a few days, then?" he asked quietly.

Elaine was quiet for a few moments. Then she nodded a little.

"Yeah," she finally said. "In a few days." She hesitated a moment longer, fighting the urge to get back into his arms and kiss him, and then left the room.

Steve watched her go and sighed, heading down to the gym to take out some of his frustration.

Kae looked up when she saw Elaine. "Verdict?" she asked quietly.

"We... need space," Elaine replied quietly. She felt like she was on the verge of tears. "I'm going home for a few days."

"I'll drive," Kae said, getting up without another word, though she did take Bran with her. "Come on, my car's downstairs with all the others. Do you want to grab Smudge or leave her here?"

"I'll bring her with us," Elaine replied. "I don't trust Loki and Tony with both cats. We might come back and find them multiplied like rabbits or something." Looking around, she found a jingly cat toy and shook it. It took less than five seconds for Smudge to come barreling down the hall to find the jingly thing, and Elaine caught her. It didn't take long to get her into a carrier and gather what the kitten would need for a few days. Then she followed Kae to the car.

Kae was quiet as she led the way down to the car and drove most of the way home. "I'm stopping to get alcohol. Any requests?" Because she thought that alcohol was a very good idea tonight.

Elaine shook her head.

"Get what you want," she said. "I don't particularly care tonight."

Kae nodded and went inside to get a few things before she came back and drove the rest of the way to the house.

"Go ahead and get settled in, I'll mix drinks for us," Kae said, letting Bran down so he could go run around and explore.

Elaine nodded and took Smudge upstairs to her room. Best for the kitten to stay there for now. Once Smudge was busy exploring the new space, Elaine sat down on her bed, flopped over, and couldn't fight the tears anymore.

Kae gave Elaine a little while before she went upstairs to go fetch her and bring tidings of alcohol. Because they both needed it at the moment.

"Come on, Elaine," she said quietly. "Let's go get a little drunk and bitch and moan and then we'll feel better."

Elaine got up silently. At some point, she had turned off her eyes, and she didn't bother turning them back on when she followed Kae. She still didn't say anything when she sat down and accepted the drink Kae handed her. She just sipped at it quietly.

Kae turned on the TV for background noise, curling into her own chair and drinking silently.

Men were far too much trouble.

Meanwhile, Bruce was wandering as far from the living room as he could. He really, really didn't want to see what would happen when Tony decided ten ragefish were much better than just one. He found himself down near the gym, and peeked in curiously when he heard someone in there.

"Steve?" he asked from the doorway. "I thought you'd be with Elaine."

Steve shook his head, grabbing his towel and moving away from the remains of his latest punching bag.

"No, she decided to go home with Kae for a few days," Steve said, glancing over at him.

"I see," Bruce replied. He glanced from Steve to the destroyed punching bag. "What happened?"

Steve shrugged, moving to set up another bag. "Apparently there are some things that have been bothering her that she never said anything about," he said quietly. "And this is all still... new." He shrugged again, uncomfortable.

"Well, if you know about it now, she must have said something," Bruce said. "Communication and all is a good thing."

Steve snorted at that and grabbed a chair, pulling two over before he sat down.

"Yeah, it is," he agreed quietly. "I keep thinking about Peggy, and she said she doesn't want to deal with that. Basically. And then she left."

Bruce sat down in the other chair.

"Well, you kind of can't blame her," he pointed out. "I mean, think about it. Would you want to compete with another guy for her?"

"No, but she's not competing. Everyone seems to forget, it was only a little over a year ago for me that I was working to stop Hydra." Steve looked off to the side. "I'm still adjusting."

"You think maybe she feels like she's competing?" Bruce asked. "I mean, I know as much about women as the next guy, but still." Science was so much easier than dealing with women. Hence his doctorate.

Steve shrugged helplessly. "I have no idea," he said honestly. He was quiet for a few moments, leaning back in his seat.

"Is it just me or are women difficult?"

"It's not just you," Bruce assured him. "Women are impossible."