Steve sleeps like a soldier. I mean, she shouldn't be surprised...he is a soldier. She just hadn't expected the rigidity with which he slept. Ramrod straight, arms either at his side or semi-crossed over his chest, and he didn't move-ever. And she's a cuddlier. She likes to be snuggled up close to the person she's in bed with. Steve makes snuggling almost impossible. She tries to curl up next to him; his elbow is digging into her stomach. She tries to wrap legs with him; her leg is at an awkward angle.

So she tries to find time in between missions to discuss this with Steve. She brings it up and he has no idea what she's talking about. This is the way he's always slept. So she sighs and decides not to push it.

At night sometimes, she just really wants to be held in his arms. So she pokes his side, whispers 'Steve', nudges him gently. And nothing rouses him. So she raises her voice, 'Steve. Captain Rodgers. Captain America the damn world needs you' the last one wakes him. He doesn't get disoriented like most people being woken up at 2 am. Instead he sits up and sees her.

'What happened? Are you okay?' he gathers her into his arms and this is all she wanted.

'M'okay Steve. Just...' and she looks at him, this lovely man who risks his life to save the world, literally, and her problem seems stupid. 'It's nothing. Never mind. Go back to sleep.' she gives a small smile and gently untangles Steve's arms and rolls onto her side. Steve feels lost. He has absolutely no idea what's going on. So he goes back to bed, soldier style.

Surprisingly, it is Natasha who helps them. She begins to notice the slight distance between the two. Steve tries, but truly has no idea what is bothering his better half as she feels her desire to curl up against him is silly in light of the danger the Avengers put themselves in. So Natasha, the next time they're on the Quinjet, leaving Pepper and Mrs. America, as Tony is so fond of calling Steve's girlfriend, behind, pulls the Captain away from the other men for a moment. She sits him down and explains the distance she sees. And while she doesn't know the true cause of the split, Natasha urges Steve to make her feel needed and loved.

So the day they return, bloodied and weary, Steve envelops her in a hug, doesn't leave her side and finally realizes, when she turns away from him at night, that he has to hold her close. So Steve pulls his girlfriend close, wraps an arm around her and lets her tuck her head into the space between his neck and shoulders. Their legs intertwine and when she lets out a contented sigh, Steve realizes that this is what's been missing; this is what's been causing the space between them.

And soon enough, Steve finds that sleeping like a soldier is a miserable way to sleep.

A/N: Random drabble I wrote on my phone. Dunno how I feel about this. Constructive criticism is appreciated.