[It warms her heart to see that smile -- a glimpse of the Steve Rogers she knew so well. This Steve was him, no doubt, but the baggage he carried..It hurt her heart to see the pain he had been through. He had told her some of what had happen all those years later, but not everything. Not that she would expect him to immediately. Just like she hadn't share everything, either.
This was going to be a process for both of them. Neither was the same, years had passed. But she was glad some things never changed, and that was evident by the way he still was so awkward around her.]
Yes, I am-- thank you. [She glances back at the room in question, but then gestures out to the hall.] I would invite you in, but my roommate seems to have a liking for cigarettes, alcohol, and not picking up after himself.
[aka it's a mess and stinks. But it's exactly like New York, so she basically feels right at home.]
[ Everything will take time, too much of it probably, but they are already steps ahead of where they might have been if he hadn't crashed into the ocean. Steve still owes her a dance, and he'll give it to her once things aren't so chaotic, once he finds the courage to actually ask her. But for now, this is okay too. His smile settles into a more genuine and happier look as she speaks. It's not entirely lifted of the weight he carries, but it's easier to be with her like this.
Steve's expression shifts into something a bit more humorous at the mention of her roommate. He's glad Niko isn't at all like that. ]
You'll have to meet mine. I think you'd like him. [ But he lifts a shoulder, stepping back into the hall. ] Do you wanna walk for a while? There's plenty of places to go. [ And honestly, he doesn't know how comfortable he would be in that private space that's supposed to be hers. At least, not until they work things out more, and he explains some things to her. ]
[She won't let him forget about that dance he owes her, don't worry. But now doesn't seem like the right time to bring it up. Maybe once she settles in and gets used to...well, everything. She doesn't like feeling so overwhelmed as she does, but at least she has the best support anyone could ask for.]
Well, if he meets your standards, I suppose he couldn't be all bad. You'll have to introduce us. [It's amazing how easily she slips right back into a gentle tease with him. She had always felt comfortable and easy around him. She's still a little withheld, just given the nature of everything, but it's a work in progress.]
That sounds lovely, actually. It will be nice to tour it with someone that actually knows where they're going. [She saw a lot of the ship already, sure, but she got so turned around. Unfortunately without a full comprehension of working the MID, she couldn't pull up the map to learn her way around.]
[ At least, that's what he's come to believe. Then again, he's also ran laps around every open area of the ship in the last three months he's been there, so it's probably a little unfair to give that impression when she's only just gotten there. It's something he honestly can't believe, still. Looking at her, listening to her, being able to reach out and touch her... Steve curls his fingers and squeezes once to resist the urge, and his smile is soft, taking another step back to invite her out into the hall with him.
He lifts his wrist to show the band around it and then carefully offers his hand to her. Maybe it's strange to think he could hold onto her after all this time, but he would try. ] I can show you how that works too - if you want. It helps if you get lost. [ Which is bound to happen sooner or later, and Steve wants to give her every advantage to protect herself when he couldn't be there to save her. ]
That's easy for you to say, Captain. [He does have three months on her, not to mention a top-notch memory. She's good, but even she can't compete with that. Her lips curl as she says his title, before she steps out into the hall and closes the door behind her.
And then he offers his hand. Her heart skips a beat as she takes it without question, because she wants to hold onto him just as much as he to her.]
You have no idea how much I would love that. I've tried, obviously, but this is more complicated than anything Howard's made. [and she's really glad he offered, too. It saved her from having to put aside her pride and ask him herself.]
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This was going to be a process for both of them. Neither was the same, years had passed. But she was glad some things never changed, and that was evident by the way he still was so awkward around her.]
Yes, I am-- thank you. [She glances back at the room in question, but then gestures out to the hall.] I would invite you in, but my roommate seems to have a liking for cigarettes, alcohol, and not picking up after himself.
[aka it's a mess and stinks. But it's exactly like New York, so she basically feels right at home.]
no subject
Steve's expression shifts into something a bit more humorous at the mention of her roommate. He's glad Niko isn't at all like that. ]
You'll have to meet mine. I think you'd like him. [ But he lifts a shoulder, stepping back into the hall. ] Do you wanna walk for a while? There's plenty of places to go. [ And honestly, he doesn't know how comfortable he would be in that private space that's supposed to be hers. At least, not until they work things out more, and he explains some things to her. ]
no subject
Well, if he meets your standards, I suppose he couldn't be all bad. You'll have to introduce us. [It's amazing how easily she slips right back into a gentle tease with him. She had always felt comfortable and easy around him. She's still a little withheld, just given the nature of everything, but it's a work in progress.]
That sounds lovely, actually. It will be nice to tour it with someone that actually knows where they're going. [She saw a lot of the ship already, sure, but she got so turned around. Unfortunately without a full comprehension of working the MID, she couldn't pull up the map to learn her way around.]
no subject
[ At least, that's what he's come to believe. Then again, he's also ran laps around every open area of the ship in the last three months he's been there, so it's probably a little unfair to give that impression when she's only just gotten there. It's something he honestly can't believe, still. Looking at her, listening to her, being able to reach out and touch her... Steve curls his fingers and squeezes once to resist the urge, and his smile is soft, taking another step back to invite her out into the hall with him.
He lifts his wrist to show the band around it and then carefully offers his hand to her. Maybe it's strange to think he could hold onto her after all this time, but he would try. ] I can show you how that works too - if you want. It helps if you get lost. [ Which is bound to happen sooner or later, and Steve wants to give her every advantage to protect herself when he couldn't be there to save her. ]
no subject
And then he offers his hand. Her heart skips a beat as she takes it without question, because she wants to hold onto him just as much as he to her.]
You have no idea how much I would love that. I've tried, obviously, but this is more complicated than anything Howard's made. [and she's really glad he offered, too. It saved her from having to put aside her pride and ask him herself.]