Combustion ✦ STEVE ROGERS² [✓]

14 | THE NOT-DATE

𝚃𝚆𝙾 𝚆𝙴𝙴𝙺𝚂 𝙻𝙰𝚃𝙴𝚁

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KATO WAS SITTING IN HER APARTMENT, SIPPING SOME TEA AS SHE SAT ON THE COUCH, WHEN SHE HEARD A KNOCK ON HER DOOR.

It'd been a couple weeks since the battle in Sokovia. Life for Kato had returned to normal - or as normal as things could get for her. After the battle, she had promptly returned to her apartment, where she resumed her somewhat normal way of life. She spent as much time with Cherry as she could, and if she wasn't with Cherry, she was with Luca, Paz, and Ailith, hanging out with them and learning more about Haxodonian culture. Though it had only been a few weeks, Kato had been enjoying her "free time", and she had been making sure to make the most of it. She never knew when it might end.

So now, Kato perked up in surprise when she heard the knock. She wasn't expecting Luca and the other Survivors to be coming over for another few days or so, and no one else usually visited her. So who was at the door?

Kato got up, putting down her cup and walking over to the door. Ailith had insisted that she start keeping it locked when necessary, so she quickly unlocked the series of five different locks on the door before swinging it open. And her surprise and confusion turned into a warm smile when she saw who it was.

"Steve!" Kato exclaimed, giving him a warm hug.

"Hey, Kato," Steve said with a smile, hugging her back. "Good to see you, too."

Kato released him from the hug, then stepped back and gestured towards her apartment. "Well, don't just stand there, come in, come in!"

Steve followed Kato into the apartment. Almost immediately Cherry sprang off the couch and darted over to Steve. Then, the small feline began rubbing against Steve's legs, purring and meowing loudly.

Kato chuckled, watching as Steve bent down to pet Cherry's head. "Nice to see you too, Cherry," Steve said to the dark ginger cat.

"So what are you doing here?" Kato asked, crossing her arms as Cherry trotted off and Steve straightened up. "I thought I told you guys I'm on my break."

"You did," Steve said. "But I'm not here for a mission." He smiled. "I'm here because I want to take you out for a little bit, show you around New York."

Kato furrowed her brows. "Steve, I've been living in New York for four years now. I think I'm pretty familiar with the city."

"Yeah, but you don't know the city like I do," Steve said with a wider grin. "And I take it you haven't taken the time to explore, right?" Kato was silent, and Steve's smile went even wider before he nodded in satisfaction. "That's what I thought."

Kato huffed. "What's your point, Steve?"

"It's like I said, I want to take you out for a little bit," Steve said. "I want to show you all the best parts of New York, places that you wouldn't think to go." He gave her a hopeful smile. "So... are you up for it?"

Kato was silent for a few moments. True, she would love to go out and see New York with Steve, but the last thing she wanted was for anyone she knew to see them and think they were out on a date. Kato was having enough trouble trying to shut down the existing rumors about Steve having feelings for her. She didn't want to give anyone that satisfaction after seeing her with Steve.

"Just to be clear, it wouldn't be a date, right?" Kato asked him.

Steve immediately shook his head. "No, no, no. Of course not." He smiled. "We would just be hanging out as friends."

After a moment, Kato smiled. That was enough for her. "Alright," she said with a nod. "I'll come." She motioned to her room. "Lemme just get my jacket."