Marie giggling made Steve grin. He wasn't sure he'd ever in his life made a grown woman giggle before. Not without being the unintended butt of the joke, anyway. He shrugged at her look. "I know Army coffee was the worst, but I've never drunk much of it in the first place. It always... well, it wasn't healthy for me when I was younger, and I don't─need the caffeine, really, so I just don't drink it that often."

He'd almost said he couldn't feel the effects anymore, but realized it might sound hinky. He may not be able to feel the caffeine rush, but at least now he could enjoy the social niceties of having coffee with someone. Even now, he was still surprised sometimes when he drank coffee and didn't feel his heart start pounding out of his chest.

"So long as you know you're not obligated to do anything, or buy me anything," he finished, deciding not to fret over what Marie might be planning for him. Contrary to what his friends had seemed to believe, he didn't have to worry over every little thing. Really, his biggest worry was always money, but slowly he was coming to grips with the fact that, while everything was so much more expensive, people could afford things now. And, if they so chose, they could afford to spend money on others without having to go without themselves.