"Woah. Woah. Woah."
"Careful there."
"You alright?"
Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, and Tony Stark all jump to attention to the wobbling boy with new leg braces.
"I'm fine." The small boy assures his audience. Howard looks to his father, Steve Rogers. "I've got this."
"I know you do, Son." Steve releases his son's sides to let him balance on his feet, then pulls the crutches from the path.
All eyes lock as Howard sets determination to make his new 'legs' work. This has been an everyday issue for the first six years of his life. Much like the early life of Steve, Howey has a lacking in the physical department; and being born two months premature did not help.
Honestly, Steven had wished he was fighting aliens that were trying to take over the universe than waiting outside that delivery room that day. Of course, Tony and Bruce immediately started making new machines and devices designed to prolong the life of Howard James Rogers. It was a miracle that he made it. Unfortunately, all the miracle was used on Howard, there wasn't enough left to save his mother.
"Take your time. There's so rush." Steve gently encourages.
Howey takes a step, while everyone holds their breath. He takes another step. And another. And another, another, another.
"I'm doing it! Look, I'm walking!"
"I see you!"
It takes all that Steve has in him to not to grab up his son and hug him, it's just the fact that his son is walking on his own without crutches and if he can continue to improve with the braces, he won't ever have to use the wheelchair again. Not that it wasn't cool. Who else has a wheelchair with spinning rims, an auxiliary port, and speakers?
"Keep it going. That's it." Bruce steps to the side to let little Howey continue across the way.
On the other end of the couch, Steve's sits with eyes that could not glow any brighter. You'd think that his son is receiving a Nobel Peace Prize award for curing cancer.
"Run, Forrest, run." Tony jests, which earns him a backhanded slap on the arm from Bruce. "What was that for?"
No one takes offense to it. He's called Howey that ever since he's started making the 'legs' for the tiny tyke. They've only been in the works for the past 2 years. He always had friends around the neighborhood, but once he started school; he wanted to play with the other kids.
With each step, Howey's confidence gains, and it looks great on him. But, just like everyone who learns to walk, they had to fall. However, it's not as okay with the frustrated six year old as it would be with a toddler. And to see his face as he catches himself halfway across the couch, that was enough to vanquish any sign of that glowing light that was in Steven Rogers eyes moments earlier.
"Hey, Buddy, that was great. Really."
"Thanks, Mr. Banner." Howey slumps his shoulders as he sets himself on the couch.
"Don't take it so hard on yourself. You're having to learn with an extra 5 pounds on each leg. All you gotta do is get used to the weight then with ample practice; you should be a natural, Kid."
"Thank you, Mr. Stark."
There's no denying that Howey also inherited Steve's good manners, even when he wants to scream and be rude. He has every right to be.
"Alright. I think I better get dinner started." Steve says to break the tension. "Are you men staying?"
"I'm starving, and if I go home I'm just going to find a million messages from Pepper about how many things that need done. I swear, I wouldn't notice the difference if I was married to her. All she does is tell me what to do."
"She's your assistant. That's what you hired her to do."
"Why would I hire someone to boss me? I own my own business." Stark and Banner converse as they walk into the kitchen.
For a moment, Steven and Howey are left alone.
"I'm sorry to be a disappointment, Dad."
"Excuse me?" Steve guffaws for a second. "You are not a disappointment. Why in the world would you say that? Who gave you that idea?"
"No one. It's just that you can save the world and I can't even walk."
"You think that makes you any less of a person? Of course not. Let me tell you something, I never want to hear those words from your mouth again. You are a great person. And, so smart too. No matter what; you're my son. No one will love you like I do. I don't care if you end up selling peanut butter sandwiches on the street corner, if that what makes you happy I'll be there to support you. If you think you're expected to be some sort of hero; well let me tell you that you're not. Whoever you wanna be, that what all of us want for you."
"But, everyone likes you and you're good at everything. It's easy for you to say that. Everyone likes superheroes."
"Is that really what this is about?" Steve runs a hand over his son's hair as he crouches down. "Superheroes are nothing but what protects them. If you take away Jarvis from Tony; he's just a smart man. You take away Mjolnir from Thor; he's just a guy with muscles. Even me; take away my shield and I'm just a kid from Brooklyn."
"But, you're strong."
"Not because I worked for it. You know that. Everything that everyone 'likes' about me came from a lab. But, I started out just like you."
"You wanted to be strong and you got strong."
"If you wanna be strong, we can make that happen. No problem. You heard Tony, with practice you'll be on your feet in no time. You get your legs strong, then we'll work on everything else. Please. Never let what others think or say about you affect the way you feel about yourself. I know it's hard right now, but it gets better."
"Promise?"
"Promise. Come on. Let's go thank Mr. Stark and Mr. Banner for helping you with your 'legs'. And make something to eat."
"Okay."
"Come on. Let's stand."
Once again, the father and son begin working on taking life one step at a time.