Chapter Text
October 2012
The training had gone well. Work with Strike Team Alpha nowhere near Commando level yet but they were getting there. Rumlow's invitation to lunch had been a pleasant surprise. The unseasonably warm fall day allowing them to dine outside... The meal flying by... Rumlow laughing, eyes a light... Steve feeling like he could breathe for the first time since Bucky died... Since he woke up in the 70 years in future...
"You seen Game of Thrones? My nephew tells me I need to see it but no time ya know." Rumlow shrugs.
Steve does know. He also knows he likes it like that. "Nat's put it on my list."
"You want you can come over this weekend. We could binge it...? Think that's what the kids call it."
"Hell should I know?" Steve asked.
Rumlow grinned, "Never gonna get tired of hearing you curse Rogers."
Steve smiled back, sipping his water and willing away his blush. It spread down his neck.
"Never gonna get tired of that either," Rumlow whispered, eyes on the collar of Steve's shirt.
Steve nearly choked on his water. Rumlow blinked, and took a quick swig of his beer looking away. "So yeah... Free Saturday?"
“Brock!”
“Suzy!” Rumlow rose, greeting a tall woman clad in a suit, dark hair in a complicated braid bun contraption and the sharpest near black eyes Steve had ever seen. “Cap, meet my sister, Susanna Watson.”
“Captain Rogers.” Those sharp eyes swept him up and now Steve blushed and fought not to fidget. He’d seen that look in Rebecca Barnes eyes whenever she caught him and Bucky looking at each other. 'And just what are your intentions with my brother Steven Grant Rogers?' If Rumlow’s sister was giving him that look maybe this was actually a date and Steve hadn’t been reading the whole thing wrong and well wasn’t that just something… Susanna was speaking… You’re swell at first impressions Rogers…
“Captain Rogers. I’m an Attorney, when the government inevitably decides that you’re their property, give me a call.” Susanna Watson handed him a business card.
“Uh…” Foot out of mouth now, Rogers. “Thank you.”
It is a relief. Because the ones who’d initially wanted him in a lab are long dead but that doesn’t mean those with similar aspirations aren’t.
“You have received your back pay, Captain Rogers.”
“It’s… still processing they said…”
Susanna hummed, rather ominously. “Got any cash?”
Steve does. “You need singles? How many?”
“Dollar will do just fine.”
Steve handed her a dollar.
“Thank you, Captain Rogers. I am now your lawyer. You’ll receive your back pay within two days, plus a twenty percent late fee. Five percent of that is my retainer. You boys enjoy your lunch, it’s on me.”