[the thing about steve that zemo is finding himself unable to stop hinging on in this moment is...the sense of earnestness that's hard to believe is anything other than genuine. he knows realistically that there must be some practiced veneer, a façade steve has learned after however many dates he's had like this. it's not that much unlike being on a real date, only one of them is getting paid for it. and yet - he can't fathom steve's easy smiles and the shy way he dips his chin to avert his gaze as anything other than authentic. it leaves him with the very distinct impression that steve has a certain innocence and joie de vivre within him - an easiness that just adds to bolstering the aura of confidence he seems to exude from every pore. it's terribly endearing, and zemo can't imagine what slew of broken hearts are strung behind him from clients that were a little too convinced and wanted more.
but he understands, quite vividly, just how easy that could be. steve is...something else, alright. so much more than he expected. maybe he went into this thinking someone with that many muscles had to have their faults somewhere, or that they'd just been so stupidly good-looking they never had to learn how to have a personality to go along with it.
maybe he's telling the truth about zemo's little guessing game, or maybe he's just humoring him. but he wants to believe it's true and that maybe he's seeing past the things others would ignore in the face of a blinding smile and a pretty face. zemo leans forward again, even as steve draws back, and there's something wholly sincere about the expression on his face and the inquisitiveness in his eyes.]
How often do you have to beat people away with a stick? Really. If anything, it's a crime how many pages I had to scroll through to find you - I'd nearly been about to give up.
[a small pause, and the way his lips bunch up into a lopsided smile at the corner of his mouth lacks the cat-like curve of teasing from before.]
You really are the whole package and then some.
[so what are you doing here?, he'd desperately like to ask, and maybe it even hangs unsaid between them, but he knows it's impolite and there are lines he has the respect not to cross right now. besides, it reeks a bit too much like he's judgmental or looking down on the profession somehow, when in fact he has that same utmost respect and gratitude towards what steve is doing too, especially given his own circumstances. he leans back finally, fingertips drumming lightly on the table as he shakes his head and pulls away his gaze before he gets lost in just how handsome steve is again.]
Well, let me get you breakfast then. What will it be - egg sandwich? [he tosses a boyish grin across the table with a bounce of his brow.] Or is today a treat?
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but he understands, quite vividly, just how easy that could be. steve is...something else, alright. so much more than he expected. maybe he went into this thinking someone with that many muscles had to have their faults somewhere, or that they'd just been so stupidly good-looking they never had to learn how to have a personality to go along with it.
maybe he's telling the truth about zemo's little guessing game, or maybe he's just humoring him. but he wants to believe it's true and that maybe he's seeing past the things others would ignore in the face of a blinding smile and a pretty face. zemo leans forward again, even as steve draws back, and there's something wholly sincere about the expression on his face and the inquisitiveness in his eyes.]
How often do you have to beat people away with a stick? Really. If anything, it's a crime how many pages I had to scroll through to find you - I'd nearly been about to give up.
[a small pause, and the way his lips bunch up into a lopsided smile at the corner of his mouth lacks the cat-like curve of teasing from before.]
You really are the whole package and then some.
[so what are you doing here?, he'd desperately like to ask, and maybe it even hangs unsaid between them, but he knows it's impolite and there are lines he has the respect not to cross right now. besides, it reeks a bit too much like he's judgmental or looking down on the profession somehow, when in fact he has that same utmost respect and gratitude towards what steve is doing too, especially given his own circumstances. he leans back finally, fingertips drumming lightly on the table as he shakes his head and pulls away his gaze before he gets lost in just how handsome steve is again.]
Well, let me get you breakfast then. What will it be - egg sandwich? [he tosses a boyish grin across the table with a bounce of his brow.] Or is today a treat?