He listens, waiting to see if what he’s imagined matches with the type of training she’s getting, and sure enough, there it is. If someone his size came after her, she wouldn’t be able to take them down.

“You don’t have to be.” Fucked, that is. But that word isn’t coming out of Steve Roger’s mouth.

Still, his response is said without any change in tone, and his eyes are looking at her with only the slightest hesitation — once he teaches something like this, it can’t be untaught. And yet, if he can help her, Steve thinks, if he can arm her with this, she might feel a little safer.

“Give me your hand?” he asks, as he puts his own hand out, palm up.