Chapter Text
Steve's POV:
Steve's walking down to the Avengers Tower, taking in how the leaves are starting to fall and the trees look so colorful. He's startled to notice a young woman up on a very high branch. How did she even get up there?!
"Ma'am? Are you alright?"
The brightest pair of green eyes looked down at him, only to roll annoyedly.
"I'm fine, Hercules. You can go off and find another damsel in distress to save."
Steve didn't quite get the reference, he guessed this must be another pop-culture thing he's missed while he was on ice. Despite being a little flustered by his confusion and how pretty the lady was, he pushed through.
"Steve Rogers, ma'am. I'd be happy to help you get down from there, you are quite far up"
"I am aware" she drawled "Wait, you said Steve Rogers? As in, Captain America?"
"Well... Yes." Steve replied shyly, he still wasn't used to being recognized and the effect that had on people.
"Hm. Thought you'd be taller" she finally smiled and Steve was floored. He might have even blushed, but quickly recovered.
"Maybe if you were on the ground you'd have a different perspective"
She laughed and it was like hearing a favorite song he'd forgotten about.
"Sassy. Who would have known?" the woman asked, but Steve felt it was rhetorical and more of a praise than a question.
Suddenly the tree's branches started to move, he was initially startled but that shifted to shock once he saw her lazily be carried down by the tree itself, as if the branches were arms cradling her and carefully setting her down.
"I... What? How?"
"Are you always this articulate? Come on Cap, I imagine you're here to see Stark and I also gotta talk to him, so I'll walk with you"
"Uhm... Ma'am?"
"You are 100 years old, Rogers. Don't 'ma'am' me."
"I'm just being respectful..."
"Well, you can feel free to disrespect me anytime, Captain" she winks at him
This time Steve definitely blushed, and silently followed the woman to Tony's lab, not trusting his voice at the moment.
"Cass! Are you collecting antiques now?" Tony's voice sounded from across the room
"Soldier-boy tried to rescue me from atop of a tree, like I was a kitten or something"
"I..." Steve cleared his throat, get a hold of yourself Steven "Is your name Cass, or is that short for something?"
"Cassandra Thorne, forest witch extraordinaire and newest Stark-Industries intern" Tony announced proudly
"Intern slash lab rat, but that's the gist" Cassandra added. Cassandra, what a beautiful name, Steve thought.
"Also single and staying on the third-floor, second door to your right" she added with a wink, returning Steve to the bright shade of red he was sporting outside.
"Slow down, Tinkerbell. You're gonna give Capsicle a heart attack" Tony laughed, while Steve thought she might really cause his heart some damage.
"It's alright, I know CPR" her eyes twinkled mischievously.
Steve wondered what she really meant by CPR and held his breath, secretly wishing to find out.