Broken For Now
At the request/order of Fury, each Avenger has moved into Stark Tower. All but their Captain. Where is Steve, and why is he ignoring orders?
Warning: Story will involve angst, slight OOC Steve, and slash content in later chapters
I own nothing.
Chapter 1
"Have you talked to him?" Natasha asked.
"Yesterday," Clint replied, "and he said he'll be here by Friday."
It was Thursday.
Natasha sighed, "Do you believe him?"
"Did I believe him last week?"
The two assassins were sitting in the common room at Stark Tower, Clint mindlessly flipping through the channels on the television, Natasha mindlessly flipping through a magazine. Both preoccupied, thinking about Steve.
Two months ago, each member of the team received a phone call from Fury, who all but ordered him or her back to New York, where he or she were to move into Stark Tower so they would all be readily available for when the time arose for their next mission.
Gradually over the course of the following three weeks, each member arrived at the Tower with their small amount of personal belongings. They now all call Stark Tower home.
All but one.
All but Steve.
"Did he say where he is?"
Clint shook his head, "I don't know what's going on with that guy. I've talked to him, you've threatened him-"
"Requested," she corrected.
"-and Stark told him, 'Get your ass here! I am not taking the brunt of Fury's wrath because you're off trying to find yourself or whatever the hell you're doing!'"
"I did not say that," Tony piped in, as he walked into the room.
"Excuse me," Clint responded, "but this is a private conversation. And yes you did, I was listening from outside the room!"
Natasha raised an eyebrow, "To his private conversation?"
"Who's side are you on," Clint muttered under his breath.
"Whatever, I don't care when the old man decides to grace us with his presence," Tony said, as he plopped down on the sofa, "as long as I'm not the one who takes the fall for it."
Clint glared at Tony for making himself comfortable and apparently planning on staying in the room.
"What are you even doing here?" he asks, "Don't you have a date with Pepper or something?"
"She's out of town," Tony pouted.
"Aww, muffin!" Which received Clint a glare. Clint smirked back, "You know, you're not a very good host if you're going to keep glaring at me."
"I don't need to be a good host since you're not a guest here, thanks to Fury. And Pepper, for saying yes to him before bringing it up to me! I didn't ask for you all to live here. Apparently and unfortunately, my Tower is now home of the Avengers."
"Which is exactly why we should change the name to-"
"This is Stark Tower, and the name will stay Stark Tower!"
Before Clint had a chance to respond with what is sure to be a smart-ass comment, Natasha intervened.
"Boys, please, grow up and focus. Does anyone know why Steve has yet to arrive?"
Both men shook their heads.
"I'm going to call him," she said as she stood up to leave. "Behave!"
She walked out the door to the sound of their bickering.
x
Surprisingly enough, Natasha and Steve had grown quite close since their first meeting. She didn't treat him like an imbecile from another world, and he didn't treat her like a fragile woman. They're similar in many ways, both fighting to fit in and be accepted in a world not designed for them. They respect each other; respect the other's gifts and talents. Steve only wants the best of the best on his team, and he knows Natasha falls into that category, regardless of gender. Which in turn is why she looks to Steve for leadership without question.
Because of this, they had a good relationship, a good comradery. And Natasha felt she had become quite astute to Steve and his mentality.
If Natasha didn't have this sort of relationship with Steve, she may not have called him; may have just let him come in his own time, on his own terms.
But she wasn't going to let him have his way this time.
She dialed his number.
"Hi Natasha," Steve said, as he picked up the phone.
"Clint tells me he spoke with you yesterday," she responded, while making herself comfortable on the chaise chair in her room.
She could hear Steve sigh on the other end of the line.
"Yeah, about that," he started, "something has come up. I don't think I will be able to make it there this weekend."
"You seem to have a lot of things that come up last minute."
"I'm sorry, Natasha, I'll be there when I can."
She waited a beat before asking, "Where are you?"
"Around."
"Steveā¦" She said it in her 'warning' tone. Quiet and deadly.
And she heard his sigh.
"I am in the state. It is just taking me a bit longer to get there than the timeline I originally planned."
"Fury isn't happy," Natasha told him. "You were supposed to be here over a month ago."
"I will call him and let him know where I am. Don't worry, if a mission comes up before I get a chance to move in, I'll be there."
"What is it?" Natasha suddenly asked.
"What is what?" Steve asked, confused.
"What came up?" she clarified.
After a moment, "Personal things."
But his pause was enough to confirm her suspicion. It was time for Steve to man up.
"Deal with your 'personal things' here. I'll see you tomorrow. Don't think about not showing. You're our leader, you have a responsibility to this team, and you're needed here." With that said, Natasha hung up the phone.
She shook her head with a sigh, and silently hoped Steve would listen to her.
x
After taking a moment to figure out how to hang up his mobile (it's been months and he still cound not figure out how to properly use this new gadget), Steve pocketed his phone. He took a brief second to wonder if Natasha's threat wa serious, but quickly dismissed that thought, because yes, of course she meant it. Natasha would never say anything she didn't mean.
And it is in that moment that an American Icon said something very un-Steve-like.
"Damn."
x
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