Those of you that have read this already, I've put the chapters in order for how I see them playing out. Nothing's changed within the chapters, so you don't have to reread them if you don't want to. Like I said, they're just in order, and it flows better this way, I think.
Disclaimer: I don't own it. Don't sue me, please. I'm a poor college student with no money unless you want to take the busted iPod I found the other day.
Steve buried his head in his hands again. He has no idea what he's doing anymore. Everything was much simpler before. He has come to referring to time in terms of before he was frozen and after. It's the only way he can keep himself sane.
He sighs and wonders if anyone actually cares anymore. It's all so fast paced and "time is money". No one takes time to appreciate the little things anymore.
Steve wonders if that's the battle hardened soldier in him looking for justification for the things he's done, or if it's the sickly kid from Brooklyn. He doesn't know. But maybe it's a bit of both. Maybe the kid from Brooklyn survived in more than Steve thought.
He hates it here. There's nothing for him. The team split after the alien invasion of New York. Steve still can't believe that actually happened and that he played a major role in the fighting.
Natasha and Clint took off for parts unknown doing something for SHIELD. Thor took Loki back to Asgard. Another thing Steve can't comprehend. An actual god, or demigod, Steve's not sure what to call him other than a tentative teammate. Bruce left to some unknown destination to keep everyone from being hurt by Hulk.
And Tony, Howard's son. Howard's grown son. Come to think of it every one of his teammates has something Steve could have never dreamed of before. Tony is Howard, but not. In so many ways he's not, and is better for it. Steve sees that now.
Steve pulls out a sketch pad and pencil he swiped from Stark's tower before everyone scattered, and begins to draw. He lets everything pour onto the page, not thinking, just letting his hand flow over the page.
The Avengers drift through his mind. He can't believe how they went from grudge match of the century to near flawless teamwork when it mattered. Maybe that would be how they would always operate, but Steve doesn't want that.
Because for a moment if felt like they could become a family.
Steve shook his head and continued to draw.
Stark, Tony, had offered everyone a place at his tower, and Steve had wanted to accept, he really did. But with everyone scattering, Steve was worried Tony and himself would never get past the fights they had. Steve didn't think he could deal with living in the same place as Tony, if only for the fact that he was so wrong about the billionaire and doesn't know how to make it up to him.
Tony really knew more than Steve could ever hope to. He knew how to handle Bruce and the Hulk. Walking on eggshells around the guy only made things worse. Tony was able to set Bruce at ease almost effortlessly, and Steve envied Tony for that.
The more Steve thought about it, the more he realized there was no place in this world for an outdated war hero with no other skills. Tony had his company, Bruce ran, Thor was a prince and Natasha and Clint returned to SHIELD. Steve had nothing. Except his art.
Looking at the nearly finished work, Steve was both surprised and not to see an image of the Avengers. Not surprised because they're what he's been dwelling on for a while, and surprised because of the image shown.
It's Stark's tower, still in ruins, but all the Avengers are present. Clint is sitting on top of what looks to be an old bookcase, while Natasha looks at him in fond exasperation. How Steve was able to draw that on the stoic assassin's face is a mystery, and Steve resolves to never let anyone see the picture due to that alone.
Thor is eating something square (probably pop tarts, as the Avengers found he had an unhealthy love for the confection) while lounging on what's left of the couch. Steve is in the middle of Bruce and Tony while they try to explain something to him. Tony is half out of his suit while a robot is following him trying to get the rest off.
It's Bruce that shocks Steve the most. Bruce is laughing at something, and Steve wonders if he got it right. But the outline of a grinning Hulk is what catches his attention. And Steve realizes that sometime in the battle Hulk went from a mindless beast to a valuable teammate. One that they could rely on to watch their backs.
And Steve misses them.
They made him feel like he belonged somewhere. Like he wasn't alone, even if he didn't understand this century. But that's okay, because Thor is in the same boat. They explained things to him and didn't expect him to understand immediately, even if Tony made a show of how lucky Steve is that Tony took the time to explain it to him.
The soft metallic thud behind Steve startles him. And Steve knows it's Tony and is unsurprised when he sees the metal suit in his periphery. He is surprised when Tony sits on the ground beside him.
"Hey Cap." Tony says.
"Stark." Steve nods back.
"Nice picture. Didn't know you could draw." Tony isn't making fun of him, Steve realizes this. It's a defense, against what, Steve can only guess.
"I don't usually show people, besides I'm not that good." Steve hides the picture to his chest.
"C'mon let me see it Cap. I can be a very good art critic when I want to be." Steve sees something in Tony's eyes, and can't figure it out.
"What are you doing here, Stark?" Another flash of something before Tony masks it again.
"Oh, just checking on everyone's favorite Capsicle." Steve notices for the first time how forced the easy grin on Tony's face is.
"Stark."
"Okay, Pep was bugging me about something with the company and I may or may not have taken off and am now using you as an excuse." Tony looks away from him.
Steve relaxes and sees Tony. Just Tony, not the billionaire, genius, playboy, philanthropist he portrays all the time In that moment, Tony snatches the pad out of his hands.
"Hey! No! It's not done." Steve is scrambling to get it back, but somehow Tony holds him off. And Steve can't help but be amazed again at the suit Tony built. It holds up to his strength when Steve forgets and tackles Tony trying to get the pad back, and manages.
Steve goes to say something, but the look on Tony's face stops him. "What?"
"How did you manage to draw that? You better never show anyone that or..." Tony's half threat trails off as his face lights up in comprehension. "Cap. Why did you not stay at the tower?"
"Tony. Don't." Steve doesn't even notice he has stopped referring to Tony as Stark.
"Cap. Come on. Let's go back to the tower. We'll hang that picture somewhere once everyone is home."
Steve lets Tony lead him away, wondering why he didn't go to the tower in the first place.
He can't come up with a reason.
Eventually everyone is at the tower, with Bruce being the last found. It's just like Steve's picture. Without the rubble. And Natasha's fond exasperation is a fleeting expression, but becoming more frequent and is directed to more than just Clint.
Something goes boom and smoke billows up from where Tony and Bruce have hid themselves doing "science", personally Steve thinks Tony likes to scare the resident assassins.
Bruce runs up from the stairs laughing, followed by Tony, who looks like the cartoons that have something blow up in their face. Tony chases Bruce around the room as everyone dodges the two scientists and when Hulk comes out to play it turns into a big dog pile with Hulk on the bottom. And somehow Steve ends up on top of Clint and under Tony, and elbows and feet are everywhere as everyone laughs trying to untangle themselves from each other, but it's not working too well. Steve doesn't care anymore.
Because this is his family and he wouldn't trade them for anything.
