It wouldn't be til a week later when JUNGLE struck and the battle over the Dresden Slate began. The tension between HOMRA, Scepter 4, the Avengers and the White Rice Party was high. Everyone knew that JUNGLE knew that Silver and Red were aligned. Everyone hoped that JUNGLE hadn't figured out that Scepter 4 was aligned with them as well and that the rest of the Avengers had joined the fray. The Avengers spent most of their time with HOMRA since Scepter 4 would be busy doing their usual jobs and outside of Shiro teaching Steve Japanese, it seemed like the White Rice Party would just disappear randomly.
Steve was learning Japanese surprisingly quick much to his delight. A lot of HOMRA helped out in teaching Steve Japanese since the blonde super soldier is one of them. Steve also made it a habit to speak in Japanese when speaking with any of HOMRA, White Rice or Scepter 4 so he could get the practice in and have practical Japanese speaking. This way, once this whole thing was over, he wouldn't need the translator or accidentally offended one of Japan's citizens. Speaking of citizens, he needed to get a citizenship for Japan since he didn't have one yet. But that could wait til after the fight for the Dresden Slate. Currently, Steve was hanging out at the bar with Izumo, Anna and Mikoto, no one else was in the bar as the other Avengers had decided to go walk around Shizume City. Some HOMRA members followed the group at a distance in case they got lost. The rest of HOMRA was doing their normal business.
A glass slides smoothly across the bar to Steve, and another to Mikoto. Steve looks at the glass and recognized it to be one of Izumo's favorite brands of whiskey. He nods his thanks to Izumo and takes a sip of the surprisingly smooth liquid. Steve closes his eyes to savor the taste as it washes down his throat. He opens his eyes and finds that Mikoto, Anna and Izumo were looking at him, as if expecting something from him.
"You look like you have a question," Steve states, his Japanese still a little rough. It was an improvement than from when he started however.
"You're anxious," Anna says, scooching her stool closer to Steve. Once in range, she sets a small and pale hand on Steve's much larger hand.
"And since it's just us four, we figured you would be more comfortable talking about what's causing you to be anxious," Izumo says, gesturing to each of them with his glass before taking a sip of his own whiskey.
"So, what's on your mind Steve?" Mikoto asks, being as blunt as ever. Something that Steve found rather refreshing. However he sighs.
"Well, it's been almost a week since that mission happened and since Tony told us about the plans with the Gold King. I know Shiro has been visiting him and from what Shiro is saying, it sounds like that battle will be happening soon," Steve admits.
"Ah, yes, that is indeed on everyone's mind. But that doesn't sound like all of it," Izumo comments. Both Anna and Mikoto just look at Steve, expecting him to continue. Steve looks down at the glass in his hands, swirling the amber colored liquid in the glass gently. He was thinking about how he would voice his concerns. He knew that these guys cared about him and they were essentially a family now, he didn't want to overstep with his protective feelings. After a few more moments of thinking, Steve decides that the best way to voice his concerns would be to just voice them. He was probably just overthinking with the overstepping part was what he told himself. Steve looks back up and at Mikoto and Anna.
"I'm primarily concerned about you two. I'm concerned about Anna since the Greens want something to do with her and that doesn't sit well with me at all. And I'm concerned about Mikoto because of your Sword of Damocles. It's not in as pristine shape as the others. Shiro explained to me what that meant," Steve says. He did not back his gaze down from Mikoto's piercing yellow gaze.
"So, you found out about that. I had a feeling you would," Mikoto sighs. He runs a hand through his red hair before knocking back the rest of his whiskey. "So, what are you going to do about those two things?"
"What?" Steve asks, taken by surprise of Mikoto's question.
"What are you going to do?" Mikoto says. He keeps Steve's eyes locked with him. Izumo knew what was happening. It was a common tactic that Mikoto pulled whenever someone showed a lot of concern about him. Izumo and Anna watch the two have a stare down. Izumo couldn't help but smile knowingly as he could see that the amount of care between Steve and Mikoto that was there and knew it could blossom into something more. But that would only be possible if Steve didn't back down and actually went through with his answer.
"I'm going to talk to Bruce and Shiro to see if they could work anything out with the Sword of Damocles. With Anna, we're going to keep her safe so the Greens don't get their hands on her. And you? I don't care if I'm overstepping my ranking or whatever, but I'll be damned if I let you sacrifice yourself to kill the Green King," Steve says, folding his arms across his chest. He kept his eyes locked with Mikoto. Steve could feel his old self starting to return to him. He was the guy that stood up for what HE believed in. He was the guy who did what was RIGHT, not what as easy. The reason why Erskine chose HIM to be the first test subject for the super soldier serum. The reason why he became Captain America in the first place.
"I'll hold you to that then Steve," Mikoto says, a small but amused smile on his face.
"I won't let you down," Steve says, determination flashing across his eyes. Anna smiles and she hops off her bar stool and climbs up the side of Steve's bar stool. Steve sees this and picks Anna up, knowing what the albino Strain was going to do. Anna then hugs Steve around his neck.
"Thank you Steve. Especially for trying to save Mikoto," Anna whispers in Steve's ear. Steve nods to Anna's statement, acknowledging her thanks. With some help from Steve, Anna climbs down and back into her chair.
"I'm going to call Bruce and Shiro to see if we can start figuring out a way to fix the Sword of Damocles," Steve says, excusing himself. He hops off his bar stool and goes outside to first call Shiro to see if the First King could get him and Bruce in to see the Dresden Slate. Upon hearing that Shiro would try and most likely would be able to get them in, Steve then calls up Bruce to make sure that the good doctor would be up to doing such a thing without Tony being there. Steve was relieved upon hearing a chuckle out of Bruce saying he would be more than relieved in a joking tone. The super soldier walks back into HOMRA and nods to the three, signifying that his plan was on the move.