Elaine let Steve escort her to the car, and she couldn't stop him from opening the door for her, so she just slid into her seat silently.

"How are you feeling?" Steve asked quietly, settling into the car and starting to drive.

"I'm not sure," Elaine replied softly. "It's getting hard to tell what's me and what's not."

Steve frowned. "Maybe it'll wear off in time," he said, glancing over at her. "Or you'll be able to differentiate soon. I can ask Thor, but I don't know if there's any way to reverse what they did."

"According to mythology, Cupid has a cure," Elaine said. Mythology was a comfortable enough subject to talk about. "Dove feather arrows to create love, owl feather arrows to dissolve love." She was quiet for a moment. "I don't remember if there was any other sort of cure, though."

"Ah." Steve was quiet for a moment. "I don't know if we'll be able to get his cooperation, though." He was quiet for a few moments.

"I'm sorry, Elaine."

"What are you sorry for?" Elaine asked. "I wanted to help, remember?"

"Yes, but I let you get hit." Steve's hands tightened on the wheel. "I told you I'd protect you and I didn't."

"You couldn't have known they would actually take a shot," Elaine protested. "And I'm not hurt." Reaching over, she groped in the darkness for a moment before her hand found his arm. "It's okay."

Steve shook his head. "That's no excuse," he said quietly. "I should have found a way to keep you safe."

"Steve, I don't think even you can find a way around a pair of gods," Elaine replied. "I knew this might happen when I signed up for it. I'm a big girl, I can handle it."

Steve sighed quietly but didn't say anything else. He parked in the driveway, and went to go open her door.

"Still, I'm sorry this happened."

"Don't be," Elaine said as she got out of the car. "If it helps any... I did have a good time with you."

Steve smiled. "Yeah. It helps, some. I'm glad that you enjoyed yourself, at least." He led her up to the door.

"Did you?" Elaine asked, blushing just slightly.

"Apart from you getting shot?" Steve smiled a little. "Yes. I did." Then he paused, aware of what exactly he was saying and how close he'd moved to her. He took a little step back. It was wrong to get close to her like this, especially since he feelings weren't her own. "I'm sorry, I should let you get inside and rest."

"Right," Elaine said softly, trying to hide her disappointment when she felt him step back. She turned to face him and half-raised a hand. "May I...?" She paused, shook her head, and lowered her hand. "Never mind. You're right, I should go inside."

Steve paused for a moment, just watching her. "Get some rest, Elaine," he said quietly. "I'll see you tomorrow." Because he was sure they'd be back at the library looking for more answers.

Elaine nodded.

"Good-bye, then," she said softly. With that, she turned and went into the house, closing the door softly behind her.

Steve took the car back to Tony's before he headed home for the night, still reminding himself that it was a very bad idea to get attached to Elaine.

Elaine went inside to see if Kae was home. Even if she wasn't Elaine was glad to be back. She needed time somewhere familiar so she could sort out everything going on in her head at the moment.

Because she wasn't sure if her attraction to Steve was entirely the work of Cupid.

"Hey," Kae called from the kitchen. "Dinner's almost ready. How did things go?" She glanced back at Elaine. "Everything okay?"

"We were right," Elaine said as she went to sit down on the counter. "Venus and Cupid. Solid fact now."

"Ah. Okay." Kae was quiet for a moment. "So someone caught up to them?" She blinked back at Elaine.

"Thor, I think," Elaine replied. "He didn't catch up to them in time, though."