courtings | open post (steve rogers)

[ It's not as if Steve is practiced at espionage like this either, although he's picked up a few things from people like Natasha and Clint. He knows how to trail after Angela without making it obvious that's what he's doing, and while he spots her stepping into the tea house, he wanders the outside area for about five minutes before following her inside.

The woman who runs the place is polite and warm, and if she has any idea who he is, she does a good job of hiding it. She invites him to seat himself, and Steve nods in thanks before circling around to the back of the room where Angela's waiting.

He takes a seat across from her, and the situation is surreal enough that all he can do is take in her well-known features. Angela Zeigler, member of Overwatch and renowned doctor, responsible for any number of medical breakthroughs. The Avengers had even made use of her biotic technology.

The urge to look around them and make sure they're not being watched is strong, but he squashes it down. Instead he leans forward, resting his arms on the table and lacing his fingers together.

He keeps his voice low. ] I don't want to put you in danger.

( In the minutes passing between her arrival and Steve's Angela had gotten herself a drink, a tea that would have made Ana proud -- giving herself a visible reason to being there just in case Steve didn't come in.

Her head lifts slightly when Steve enters, one hand that had been warming on the cup moving to rest on the table. Angela can't help but give a small smile at Steve's words -- his earnest thought for her )

I had hoped to take you from it.

( There were many other things that she could have said, and much regarding danger. Though Angela didn't seek it out she's managed still to be no stranger to it, with her activities in Overwatch, and efforts in war torn areas since, placing her in it with every caring move that she makes.

But that isn't the statement that Angela wishes to make. It's one of care again, and hope -- a hope to help him, rather than attempt to assure him that she isn't afraid. He may not believe her anyway, and Angela wouldn't believe him if she did -- she may see danger but combating it is something else. She isn't a soldier, and she doesn't wish for him to have to protect her.

She gives a few seconds pause, drinking a small mouthful of her tea before continuing )

I know that there may be danger, but if I can do something for you I wish to try. I think that I can.

[ Taking people out of danger is what someone like Angela does, right? In that signature suit of hers, flying around on golden wings and to bring her healing nature to anyone who needed it. It's not like Steve hasn't been in his fair share of situations where her presence would have made a difference, but they'd always run in different circles. Overwatch had fallen just as the Avengers were coming into the light.

Some had even theorized that the Avengers would succeed where Overwatch had failed, but Steve's team had imploded on itself even faster than Overwatch did. And that's all on him.

He suspects that they'll talk about it eventually, but not here and not now. Without a cup of tea of his own to fiddle with, Steve ends up shifting in his seat instead. He doesn't do a very good job of hiding his discomfort. It's not with Angela, though, but the situation. ]

What did you have in mind?

[ He continues to speak low enough that no one else in the room with them could hear them unless they were enhanced somehow, which he doubts. Not in a town this small. Then again, who would have thought he'd run into Angela Zeigler here? ]

( She's pleased when, rather than questioning her efforts he simply asks her plan, and the slight relax in her shoulders will tell him as much )

There are a few choice places I've visited before.

( Her words match his in volume and she places her cup back down on the saucer, resting hands on her lap. Angela's ponytail bobs as her head tilts a fraction upwards, eyes checking behind him for a few seconds before returning to his face. Her smile is all she uses to communicate that everything's safe, and she's quickly back to her explanation )

It would grant enough time to assess the situation, make more formal arrangements. Does anyone know that you're here?

[ It's understandable that Angela would be vague now, when they have no idea who could be listening in or watching them, and so Steve doesn't think anything of it. He's guessing that by "choice places," she means a safehouse of sorts. Then again, it could be anything. A woman like her must have plenty of tricks up her sleeve.

As far as Steve can tell from Angela's demeanor, the coast is still clear. They probably won't stay here long, although leaving too quickly would also send the wrong message. Natasha's advice over the years they'd worked together are certainly coming in handy now.

At Angela's question, Steve shakes his head. ] No. At least not exactly. I've got a few people I'm keeping in contact with, we check in every few days when we can. [ Sam, Clint, Wanda. They'd all scattered after the prison break, agreeing that they'd have less of a chance of getting caught if they split up and if they never knew each other's exact locations. It seems to be working out so far. ]

That's good.

( That he still had friends, people that he could rely on, but also that no one had his exact location. She would believe him if he claimed they would never reveal it, just as her former team could trust the same from Angela, but it was safer still if the details were entirely secret.

She reaches a hand across the table to him, a gesture perhaps for reassurance but also one to make the conversation look a little friendlier, or intimate, to any onlookers. It wouldn't help them to look as if they were two strangers who'd just met )

Hopefully they're relatively secure themselves.

As far as I know? They are.

[ Steve likes to think that if someone was intercepting their messages, or pretending to be one of them, he would know. They've been exceedingly careful and he's going to take the optimistic route here and assume that if he continues to hear from them, that means that they're okay.

Of course it would be easier if they could meet up from time to time, if he could lay his eyes on them for that peace of mind, but not yet.

He stares at Angela's hand on the table and realizes what it's there for. Even then, there's some hesitation before he slides his own hand forward, far enough that his fingertips brush over hers.

Make it convincing, Rogers. Natasha's voice in his head. He curls his fingers in, intertwines them with Angela's, drawing their hands closer together. ]

( angela smiles when steve recognises the gesture, head dipping slightly when his hand slips around hers. it's been a while since angela's had any hands in hers that weren't in a professional capacity )

I'm glad they're alright.

( it wasn't a certainty that they were but if steve believed it, and had had intelligence enough to give that impression, then angela would take his word for it. she wanted to believe that they were safe, that they would be able to focus on rescuing steve without anything (or anyone) to worry about and distract them )

How long has it been since you've seen them?

[ "Alright" might be taking it a little too far, but Steve doesn't see the point of dragging the mood down when it's already tense enough. They're meeting in secret, neither of them really wanting to be recognized. No need to make things worse. ]

A few months, now.

[ He sort of had to break them out of prison. Not that he's going to say that in such a public place. ]

How about you? Met up with any old friends lately?

[ Overwatch. He's talking about Overwatch. It may have disbanded in a pretty ugly way, but Steve liked to believe that at least some of the members had remained in contact all the same. ]

( there's a gentle squeeze of his hand when steve mentions how long it's been. she knows the worries that form over such periods of time, and how hard it can be not being there for the people that you cared about.

at his own question angela gives a small shake of her head )

We've written, though meeting personally carries too many risks.

( some of her friends weren't particularly subtle, or really knew (or remembered) how to just be a civilian )

The letters tell me enough to keep my mind at rest.

( not enough sometimes, but she at least knew that they were alive. that was more than she had for some others )

[ They're strangers, yet here Angela is, trying to comfort him all the same. He glances down at their clasped hands and squeezes back briefly before pulling away.

He's not sure if it makes him feel better or worse to hear that Angela's situation isn't so different from his own. She hasn't been able to meet up with her old friends, and that's likely something that's been going on for years, so is he in any position to complain?

All the same, he nods in understanding, face pinching apologetically. ]

I know this is risky too, so... thank you, for being willing to help me.

[ He sends what he hopes is a casual look over his shoulder. ]

Should we get outta here?

( his thanks is received with a smile because for angela there's no question about it. if someone is in need she doesn't think about it, and she'd recognised steve's expression from her own friends before.

when steve turns to look angela tips her gaze in that direction for a few seconds, giving him a nod when he turns back around )

That may be a good idea.

( no one was there but there was only so long they could sit in public together. she stands slowly, waiting for him before moving to leave. it was risky to be together and yet even more suspicious to leave without him now )

It isn't far.

[ Payment already done, all Steve does is give the person running the cafe a quick nod as they slip back out into the bright day. It isn't far, Angela says, and Steve can only assume she has a safe place to house him somewhere around here.

There's still the chance that he's going to bring trouble down on her by accepting her help, but at this point he doesn't think he could refuse her either. She wouldn't take no for an answer.

Steve reminds himself that Angela's been keeping her head down like this for years, that she's got experience, and he gestures for her to walk ahead. ]

Lead the way.

( 'a safe place'. home is safe to her and whilst it isn't tactically the best location, jack would definitely yell over this, it's a place of comfort. it would also be only temporary, somewhere to talk, work out a plan in privacy before getting him to a real location. she didn't have one of those but maybe he knew something.

it's only a short walk through the city before they arrive at an apartment complex. she takes them up to the third floor, only speaking again as she opens the door )

We'll be safe here.

( she hoped. angela didn't know how closely he was being watched, or if she was, but she had to assume that it was similar to how they'd tried tracking the rest of overwatch. they'd move again but they needed to talk first )

Can I get you anything?

( her apartment is simple, and pretty sparse considering how often angela is here. even so she's made it comfortable for the times when she does come home. it's small, clean, and a little bit cute )

[ It's not uncommon for a safehouse to be in an apartment building. The idea is to blend in, after all, and so Steve doesn't think much of where Angela is taking them, not until they get inside.

While the place is neat and orderly, there are enough personal touches that Steve can tell that this is Angela's own apartment. His stomach bottoms out, regret the primary thing he's feeling as he gives her a weary look.

She shouldn't have brought him here. If she ends up in trouble because of him, he won't be able to forgive himself. ]

No, I'm fine. We shouldn't stay here long.

[ To that end, he remains standing, not wanting to let himself get too comfortable. ]

Not long, but there is still a conversation we need to have.

( which, with her gesture, is a hint for him to at least sit down. he might not want to get comfortable but it will be easier to talk if he at least is sat.

angela gives him the room to decide, going to another to find her map and a notepad, placing the items on the table before getting herself a glass of water )

Where were you before Switzerland?

[ Given that Angela is going out of her way to help him, Steve doesn't feel like he can begrudge her hospitality. He still isn't happy about this, but he reluctantly takes a seat at the table, looking at the map specifically. What's this about?

She seems to be mapping out people's locations when the explosion happened, the one that put the final nail in Overwatch's coffin. Steve frowns, staring at the map for a few seconds before he looks up to meet her gaze. ]

Can I ask why you need to know?

You're being followed.

( it was obvious and not solely because of who he was or the situation that he was in but with his body language. looking over his shoulder, trying to blend in )

Knowing your path may help find the best place for you to go.

[ There's another few long seconds of hesitation, and then Steve grabs for a paper, drawing out a path on the map to show his movements since everything went to shit in Siberia. It's a zigzag, mainly through Europe. Getting to another continent or across an ocean would be a tricky thing for him to pull off right now.

Once done, he leans back and looks back up at Angela. ]

I just make sure to not stay in one place for too long. So far, it's worked.

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