Chance meetings? ( for thats_neat)

[undeserved_protector]

Flying from place to place became the normal for her. The acquisition of artifacts and maintaining relations with other museums was just the two main points of her job. Well, the job that kept her in touch with the world around her and not secluded to the other persona. The real her that protected humanity and kept them safe. Not that she disliked this job or living as Diana Prince. In fact, she loved it as much as the Amazon from Themyscira because he gave her that name and started her life in this world.

But she didn't wish to think of him right in that moment. Not while she stood perusing the displays of weapons from Ancient Greece that Emily Attwater insisted that Diana fly over to see and give her expert opinion on. Not that Ms. Attwater seemed to be so keen to keep her appointment at this rate. Normally the bubbly blonde that wanted so desperately to 'one-up' Diana would be there immediately the moment she walked into the entrance of the Smithsonian. Today, she was asked to wait by the reception.

A task she chose to do with notebook in hand, notes being taken as she went through each. She had only been sketching and noting details in her book for about twenty minutes, but it still caused a frown to furrow her brow. Perhaps her fellow curator had something else in mind today?

Whatever it was, she at least found it easy to continue her cataloging and notations of the items around her. It felt a little like glimpsing home in so many ways. It was one of the few things that did give her that chance to pretend she was nearer to her mother and friends back on the island by doing this work. And well, it gave her time to drift off and write notes in other languages about the page. Sometimes quotes from great philosophers of the time period and sometimes notations on who might've been the metal worker that forged the weapon. Regardless of what she inked on the page, she really wouldn't have even noticed if Ms. Attwater entered the room at that moment or not she was so engrossed in her work.

Comments

[thats_neat]

It did help to know that she didn't believe he was crazy. He knew that his research bordered obsession, but Steve always made sure he didn't cross that line. If it did, then he really would mentally ill and probably should give up the broken sword. As long as he could keep some distance and view it from an academic standpoint, he was sure that he was safe.

Giving her a curious look, he wondered what he had said that had effected her so much. Even the resemblance to someone she knew didn't really explain her reactions. The sadness, yes, but not the rest. Reminding her of someone from the past didn't explain the way she kept glancing at him or her promises to help him. The offers could be kindness, but it felt like there was something else behind them. Although he knew that she had promised Attwater to help, he knew that she would now be helping because of him, not his supervisor.

"I appreciate that." Even though he didn't understand all the reasons for her assistance or why she was helping only because of him. "Maybe you'll find the same errors I have." Attwater wouldn't acknowledge that he was right, but if Ms. Prince pointed them out, she would have to believe that the mistakes were there.

"That is the best way to be remembered, even if it brings those left behind pain." As they neared the exhibit, Steve gestured toward the antiquities that surrounded them. He began to say more, and then realized that it might hurt her to discuss those she had lost. Instead, he turned the gesture into a welcome of sorts. "I'm sure you've seen more elaborate displays but we're proud of what we have."

Before he realized what he was doing, Steve stepped closer, wanting to gently pull her hand away so he could see the delicate color spreading across her cheeks, but knowing that would be improper and that a hand on his arm didn't mean he could touch in more intimate ways. He did smile, mischief brightening his blue eyes. "They were genuine." Stepping away, he let her compose herself while promising himself that he'd try to make her blush again, if she allowed it. "And deserved."

Glancing away as she composed herself, Steve pulled a pencil from his pocket and offered it to her. He was tempted to tell her his own findings, but it was better to see if she saw the same things he did without his suggestions. "Is there anything else that you'll need, Ms. Prince?"

[undeserved_protector]

Nodding once to his words of appreciation, she started to open her notebook again. Flipping past the pages from her previous notes, she angled her head a little. "It is a possibility. Some were listed incorrectly for date and the make was wrong." Not to mention some of the projected 'smiths' listed for the work wasn't right either. Still, she didn't want to cause too much of a fuss and would just simply write a report of for Attwater to look over later.

Angling her head at his comment about remembering the dead, she couldn't bring herself to look at him as she saw the explosion of the plane in her mind again. Closing her eyes for a moment, she finally cleared her throat and brushed past it to the idea of the exhibits. "It's not how decorative or elaborate it is, it's how fitting it is. The Smithsonian does a good job with it's displays." That really wasn't the issue.

Then he had to add that to his statement. She pressed her lips into a thin line as she felt the heat in her cheeks increase. A soft line furrowed her brow as she lifted her notebook almost like a child to cover her face. Even though she kept her eyes over the top at the displays, she couldn't bring herself to be such a child about a simple, yet genuine compliment. "Thank you. I-- It's appreciated."

Clearing her throat, she took the pencil gently from his hand and and finally lowered her hand and notebook to get to work. Not that the blush was gone completely, but maybe if she started to work it would fade quickly. Pausing as she wrote the room down at the top of the page, she glanced over at him and considered the question. Generally she did this work alone. She did much of her work alone. But the idea of him leaving seemed like a loss in and of itself. "I shouldn't keep you from your work. I'm sure I've already been a bit of an inconvenience as it is."

Sometimes, she hated that she chose to be morally right and unselfish.

[thats_neat]

"That's what I thought. I found those errors months ago, but Ms. Attwater said I was incorrect. She didn't think someone with my limited experience would be able to make those types of claims." Later she'd suggested a few other things, which had put them at odds for awhile. Now he just expected the flirting and kept their discussions as professional as possible.

Looking over the displays, he smiled at the compliment. Steve might not be the one that had set them up, but he was proud of the knowledge the museum preserved and how accessible it was to the world. But that didn't mean he wouldn't tease her to see how she would react. "Better than the Louvre?"

Deciding not to comment more on the blushes, he moved to one of the displays so that she could begin to work, knowing it well but still curious to see if there was some detail he hadn't noticed before. Looking over his shoulder, Steve knew she was right. He'd have to go back and deal with his supervisor. "I doubt that you'd ever be an inconvenience, but you're right. Ms. Attwater will be looking for me soon."

As he left to get the files he had been ordered to fetch, he glanced over at her one more time after he'd said his goodbyes, hoping that she really would be a interested in his work as she seemed.