It wasn't that Steve wouldn't flirt with Marie, if he thought he had a chance; it was more a matter of he had absolutely no idea how to do it, and never considered that it might work on anyone. He'd seen it in practice watching Bucky at the dance halls and parks plenty of times - but he'd never understood how it worked, because the few times he'd tried, it had fallen completely flat. Part of it had been his size and looks, but part of it, as Bucky had pointed out, was his technique. Of which he had nil, apparently.
The question really shouldn't have surprised him - and yet, it did. Steve wasn't used to anyone except Bucky, and later Peggy, asking him what was wrong, possibly even noticing something was bothering him. It was nice, but it hurt, because it made him miss his friends all the more, which he hadn't thought was even possible, at this point.
He squeezed his eyes shut and pushed the thumb and forefinger of one hand against them, making it look like he had a headache, and not pressing against the sting of tears starting. He wasn't going to cry, especially not in a kitchen nook at a community center, in front of an attractive woman. The humiliation alone would do him in. It wasn't that he thought there was anything wrong with crying; he just knew what an ugly cryer he was. An Irish complexion meant he couldn't hide blushes, which he did far too often, or the splotchiness of crying.
Getting ahold of himself, Steve shook his head, and gave her a self-deprecating smile. "Got a time-machine?" he asked, before shaking his head again, as if to dismiss the question. "Thank you, for the offer, but... right now, I'm not sure I could really talk about it." Not without breaking down completely, anyway, which he'd been studiously avoiding for... well, ever since about a week after waking up. And that was without taking into account it would mean having to explain exactly who he was to her. Steve Rogers might have no problem crying, but Captain America breaking down would send even the hardiest of souls fleeing, he was sure. "Sorry, guess I just don't have my head in the game right now, that's all." Steve set his jaw determinedly. He could push this aside; look at the situation like a mission, and ignore everything else until later.
Usually your mission teammates aren't quite so attractive, his inner-Bucky piped up, and Steve wondered what the world would think if they learned that Captain America had lost his mind and was hearing voices in his head. Particularly this voice, who'd had to be censored at the best of times.
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The question really shouldn't have surprised him - and yet, it did. Steve wasn't used to anyone except Bucky, and later Peggy, asking him what was wrong, possibly even noticing something was bothering him. It was nice, but it hurt, because it made him miss his friends all the more, which he hadn't thought was even possible, at this point.
He squeezed his eyes shut and pushed the thumb and forefinger of one hand against them, making it look like he had a headache, and not pressing against the sting of tears starting. He wasn't going to cry, especially not in a kitchen nook at a community center, in front of an attractive woman. The humiliation alone would do him in. It wasn't that he thought there was anything wrong with crying; he just knew what an ugly cryer he was. An Irish complexion meant he couldn't hide blushes, which he did far too often, or the splotchiness of crying.
Getting ahold of himself, Steve shook his head, and gave her a self-deprecating smile. "Got a time-machine?" he asked, before shaking his head again, as if to dismiss the question. "Thank you, for the offer, but... right now, I'm not sure I could really talk about it." Not without breaking down completely, anyway, which he'd been studiously avoiding for... well, ever since about a week after waking up. And that was without taking into account it would mean having to explain exactly who he was to her. Steve Rogers might have no problem crying, but Captain America breaking down would send even the hardiest of souls fleeing, he was sure. "Sorry, guess I just don't have my head in the game right now, that's all." Steve set his jaw determinedly. He could push this aside; look at the situation like a mission, and ignore everything else until later.
Usually your mission teammates aren't quite so attractive, his inner-Bucky piped up, and Steve wondered what the world would think if they learned that Captain America had lost his mind and was hearing voices in his head. Particularly this voice, who'd had to be censored at the best of times.