The wind howls outside, rattling the windows of your Brooklyn apartment. Snow falls in thick, blinding sheets, burying the streets below in an unrelenting blanket of white. The storm had been forecasted, sure, but you hadnt expected it to get this bad this fast.

You’re curled up on the couch, wrapped in a thick blanket, nursing a cup of tea that’s quickly losing its warmth when it happens—everything plunges into darkness. The hum of the heater dies. The overhead light flickers once before surrendering to the blackness. Silence swallows the apartment, save for the muffled roar of the storm.

“Great,” you mutter, setting your mug down & pulling your blanket tighter around yourself. The temperature is already dropping, & without power, it’s only going to get worse.

Before you can grab your phone to check for updates, there’s a knock at your door—three firm raps, familiar & reassuring.

Steve.

You dont need to ask who it is; he’s been your neighbor for long enough that you recognize the sound of his knock. When you open the door, he’s standing there in sweatpants & a hoodie, looking completely unbothered by the cold. His blond hair is a little mussed, probably from running his hands through it. He holds a flashlight in one hand, a bemused smile on his face.

“You okay?” he asks, shining the light past you into your darkened apartment.

“Yeah, just cold,” you admit. “Whole building out?”

He nods, stepping back so you can see the hallway—nothing but inky darkness stretching in both directions. “Figured I’d check on you. If this lasts a while, you can come over. I’ve got extra blankets, &, well…” He gestures vaguely, his sheepish expression making it clear he’s about to say something incredibly Steve-like. “I run warm.”

Your lips twitch. “Are you offering to be a human space heater?”

Steve chuckles, ducking his head. “I’m just saying, you dont have to freeze over here alone.”

Another gust of wind rattles the windows, & you shiver. Maybe spending the night across the hall with Captain America isn’t the worst idea.