First Entrance

[from_the_outside]

 The first thing she wants to do when she winks into existence is drop to a knee and snag the concealed SIG at her ankle, train it on whatever or whoever moves first, before seeking out the center of command for wherever she is, and demand they explain why they snatched her from her apartment in the middle of a totally normal evening, folding laundry on the couch while keeping one eye on the surveillance camera covering the door to the apartment building.

She doesn't.

Kate Newton wouldn't, because Kate Newton doesn't have an ankle holster or weapon in it. Kate Newton probably doesn't have the first idea of how to fire a gun, and Sharon's been Kate for so long now that her own instincts get swallowed the second they appear, in favor of Kate's more timid ones.

She does, however, take stock of her surroundings: dim lighting and a gleaming bar top -- a restaurant or club of some kind. Uniforms -- so she's surrounded by some sort of...military organization, or one nearly as organized.

And, stars.

Her eyes track to the the panoramic view offered by the windows, and while she'd never admit to fear, she has to say she's more than a little perturbed.

Fury is going to have her head if something happens to Rogers while she's lost in space.

Comments

[stark_spangled]

He exhales. It's meant to be a laugh, but it's too dry to carry much amusement with it.

"Yeah, actually. Haven't seen it, but I've heard of it," he says. Nat's been hounding him for months to catch up on everything he's missed in the world of science fiction, but at least it's a reprieve from her constant attempts to set him up on dates. He sobers up. "And what's the Enterprise like on the show? The crew, are they trustworthy?"

[from_the_outside]

Her mouth relaxes into a half a smile, that she aims at the table, before glancing up, amused. "I guess it's kind of turned into a punchline."

One finger taps idly on the tabletop. "Trustworthy? They're the good guys. They have these rules they have to follow -- and they usually try to solve problems through non-aggressive means -- but the show was also from their point of view. I don't know how much of it could actually be applicable."

[stark_spangled]

He nods carefully. "Rules are good."

Usually. Unless he doesn't agree with them. But, even when that happens, he's more than willing to hand himself over to whatever punishment those in charge feel is fit. Rules help keep order, and order helps keep people safe. He leans back again, and looks across the room. Maybe they're the good guys, or maybe they're rewriting history to reflect better on the things they've done. It wouldn't be the first time Steve's seen that happen.

"Well, we've already established this place is real," he says, facing her again. "Unless this is a really clever joint hallucination. Might not be the place you know of, but if that show's somehow based off of this, at least there's a fighting chance whoever's in charge isn't trying to hurt us."

He smiles reassuringly. He'll reserve all judgement himself, preferring to wait and see how the officers act throughout the crisis, but maybe it will ease Kate's mind.

[from_the_outside]

"Right."

His smile gets one of hers back, a little uncertain still and slightly shaky, but willing to grasp whatever reassurance he can offer.

Damn Fury and his secrecy -- it's idiotic to do anything but pool their talents and resources, work together to figure a way out of this. There are four S.H.I.E.L.D agents on this boat, and it makes no goddamn sense to put one of them out of commission in order to preserve a cover that's only going to get blown anyway the second this ship is in peril, but she got no choice.

Orders are orders. Duty is duty, and she knows it, is clear on that like she is on nothing else.

So she smiles back at Rogers, grateful. "Well, if I have to be stuck in a hallucination, or onboard a starship...I'm pretty glad you're here. I could be wrong, but you seem like a good person to have around in a crisis."

[stark_spangled]

He's watching her through his eyelashes, but when she says what she does he straightens up a little, casts his gaze back to the table, and feels his lips tic into a smile.

"Yeah," he says, even though he's shaking his head. "Well, I'm an army man. But I guess you've already figured that out."

He's not exactly subtle about it, and Ms. Newton seems too smart to miss something like that. He doesn't know if she's recognized him for being Captain America, but if she has she's never mentioned it, and Steve's happy to leave the suit and cowl out of this. "I've been in situations worse than this, so I don't think you have anything to worry about, ma'am. I plan on keeping a close eye on things, and, uh. You can feel free to stick close."

[from_the_outside]

"Call it a hunch."

She sits back in her chair a little, and gives the tabletop an embarrassed breath of a laugh. "Actually, I had no idea."

Which would be untrue even if Kate were a real person without access to the files Sharon's studied for months and years, but it doesn't matter. It's just a little white lie, the kind Captain America's kind neighbor would tell to make him feel a little less like an outsider. "You just seem like a handy kind of guy. I bet you know how to fix dripping faucets and everything."

[stark_spangled]

It works on him, but then she's good at her job. She's not too forceful with compliments, but not too distant either; she hits that perfect balance that boosts his ego and still makes him think he needs to work for her attention. So the way he reacts is probably what she would have expected: he laughs, eyes crinkling, fingers nervously drumming the table.

"Next time your faucet is leaking, ask me to take a look at it and we'll find out together," he jokes, before he can stop and think about the words, wonder if they're too presumptuous, and clear his throat from embarrassment.

[from_the_outside]

It's...easy, with him. This back and forth between them, because it turns out Rogers is quick on the ball and he's sort of charming without meaning to be, when he second-guesses himself, or just relaxes and is...himself. Just Steve, her neighbor.

Just Steve, the sweet, lion-hearted boy from Brooklyn Aunt Peggy used to talk about with a singular smile she reserved just for him. Who is offering to fix her faucet, like he's just any normal neighbor.

It's times like this she feels a little bad about having every room in his apartment bugged.

"If my faucet starts leaking, you'll be the first one I call," she promises, smiling back, a curve of her lips and a flash of white teeth. "I think you'll be off the hook, here."

[stark_spangled]

There's something in the way she flashes those teeth when she grins that reminds him of a girl he knows. That irreverent joy and confidence that's somehow sweet and sharp in the same space, reminding him she's got teeth, but she won't use them unless she has to. If Steve's smile turns a little wistful he doesn't realize it, but it does take him a few seconds to return to the now.

"Deal," he laughs, eyes back on the table. It's almost easy to pretend things are normal here. Like they're just out for coffee, and in a few minutes they'll be heading back to those adjacent apartments in Washington, D.C. Steve takes a breath and looks around, shaking his head. "This place has to have a handyman, right?"

Let's just hope it's as harmless as they want everybody to think it is. Steve's done with traps and lies, and is teetering ever closer to being done with SHIELD and missions, too. It would be nice if there was something good he could believe in. "Uh. Can I get you anything?"

[from_the_outside]

"God, I hope so. I don't want to think about what happens if this thing breaks down."

That accompanies an uncomfortable glance at the window -- the stars aren't moving, so they're not moving -- before she looks back at him, and then down at the table top, lips pressing together. "You're probably fresh out of doors back home, huh?"

[stark_spangled]

He doesn't have the heart to tell her this thing has already broken down, from the way things sound. But it's still liveable, even comfortable for the time being, so it's the sort of thing he can tell her later.

The look she gets on her face before she asks about home is too sweet. He smiles, shy all over again, and drops his gaze to the table as well. "Sorry. Wish I had one on me," he says with a grimace.

[from_the_outside]

"And here I thought you were handy."

She waits until he looks back up to give him a small smile. "But thanks. I mean, for the offer. I don't think I need anything right now. Or that I could focus long enough to drink anything. The last thing I need here is caffeine jitters."

[stark_spangled]

"I never said I was a carpenter," he jokes, turning his grimace into a teasing smirk. It ends up looking half-apologetic, and half-unsure, but it warms considerably when she smiles.

"Yeah, probably for the best," he says. "Until we know more about what's going on. I've, uh. I've been keeping an eye on this little kid since I got here. I should probably get back to her."

He gestures to the table he vacated earlier, where Sinthia is waiting. "Long story, but you can join us if you want."

[from_the_outside]

She follows his gesture to see the little girl sitting, waiting by herself, and nods back at him.

"Thanks, Steve. I'd...I'd like that."

It's a good way to keep an eye on him, knowing who he's keeping an eye on, but this situation is fucked up and a half and she's pretty pissed at the whole thing, beneath Kate's simple smiles and sweetness.

It'll be a miracle if everything comes through this without a scratch.

[stark_spangled]

He doesn't know why just yet, but he's relieved when she says yes.

"OK." He stands up a little quick, knocking his chair back. He makes a grab for it before it can get too far away from him, but it looks every bit as awkward as if he'd fallen on his face. He clears his throat, and rubs the back of his neck. "Right. Follow me."

He smiles at her, careful not to knock anything else over or step on his own ears like a basset hound puppy. It's going to be hard convincing her he's a handy guy now, but Steve likes a challenge.