The stars were obscured from light pollution and the air was crisp and cool. Even when Steve couldn't hear the music, he could feel the bass pulsating through the entire building.
He clamped a pillow down over his ears, but that did little. He knew this party was in his honor, at least a sixth of it, but he wanted no part. It wasn't like he could go home, people would follow him. The price of your face being a familiar feature in news since the 1940s.

So now he was, essentially, trapped, in the quietest room he could find in Stark Tower. The door clicking open startled him.

"I'm a little offended," Tony said. "This is for you, too, you know."

"It really doesn't feel that way."

Tony clicked on the light and folded his arms. "Look. I know this isn't your preferred type of soirée, but it's going to look just a bit funny if every Avenger is seen at Tony Stark's party except for his best-his own father's best friend."
Steve stared up at Tony, looking about to ask why he should care.

"One hour. Please?" Tony bargained, expression unchanged.

"Tony, I've always been awkward at parties..."

"For me? And the others, if you like, but really only my feelings count here."

Steve sighed, not moving from the sofa.

"My house, I get to be the diva. Go eat, drink and be merry and make out with your various fangirls."

That one almost made Steve smile, and he followed Tony out the door. Almost immediately he wished he hadn't, suddenly thrust into a dark hall lit occasionally by the flashing lights reflecting off the floor in another room, and flooded with girls in sequined dresses "dancing" with their statues of dates. This wasn't exactly one of Tony's classiest parties.

"So when did this fine establishment become a club?" Steve asked, barely able to hear himself over the music. It took him a moment to realize Tony had disappeared.
It took him about three minutes to realize none of the Avengers were inside, so he went for the balcony. The music pulsed softer out here, and Steve was pleased to find actual women, dressed in slightly-less-revealing clothing and conversing with smartly dressed men. "Well that makes more sense."

He kind of stood there, biting his lip and growing increasingly awkward, until a voice from behind him chirped, "Oh my god it's Captain America!" A few from the balcony looked in his direction and he turned around to see a blonde girl who looked too young to be there.

Steve smiled, about to offer his hand with a "Pleasure to meet you," but was cut off by "Can I have a hug?"

Steve winced, the request sounding a bit more like a demand, but obliged. She wouldn't let him get a word in before she pulled out an iPhone from the top of her dress and took a picture. "My name's Madison. I'm like such a huge fan...you're personally my favorite of all the Avengers. My grandpa is a huge fan, too! He's told me stories about back during the War..."

Suddenly the repetitive music sounded a lot more appealing to Steve as she rambled on and he idly greeted a few of the others out on the balcony.
"Mhm. Oh, thank you. Oh, really, just my duty," he mumbled in response to their adoration.

That's when he saw her. On the other side of the balcony, dark brown curls disturbed by a subtle breeze to show just a flash of her white smile. Steve's heart skipped. "Peggy," he breathed, the name laden with the taste of nostalgia. He had to get to her.
Without so much as a goodbye he left his circle of admirers, brushing past a couple slowdancing and was three feet away when he was accosted by Thor. He looked up, panicked, into the Asgardian's face. "Look, big guy, can you make it quick? I need-"
"My dear friend, are you feeling in good health this evening?"

Steve let out a short, exasperated sigh. "I appreciate your concern, but I'm a supersoldier, remember? I can't really get sick."

Thor smiled and clapped Steve on the shoulder. "It is good to hear, my friend. Are you enjoying the night?"

Steve nodded shortly, peeking around Thor for a glimpse of the girl. "I'm...yes. Please excuse me." He stepped around Thor, brisk-walking to the other side of the balcony, but she was gone.

He blinked, as though she would be there when he opened his eyes, and only briefly did he let himself wonder if he had imagined her. Glancing around, he took in the crowd, spotting Thor again and Clint. He headed toward Clint, who, if not as uncomfortable as Steve, was at least a familiar face.

He barely took a step before he saw her again, inside, trough the glass. Quite forgetting himself, he bolted inside, perhaps knocking a few guests to the side in the wake of his enhanced speed. And once he had made it inside, she was nowhere in sight.

A controlled breath. He couldn't lose his head in front of this many people, he wouldn't do that to Tony...part of why he had isolated himself before. He felt a bit childish thinking like that the minute he saw Bruce.

The outside air had a calming effect as he walked back out to locate Clint. It was easier than he had anticipated; the man was waiting for him. "You alright, Cap?"

"I think I'm losing it, Clint," he breathed, tugging a hand through his hair.

Clint raised an eyebrow, tipping his head forward a bit. "Losing it like how?"

"I..." He wasn't sure of his decision to bring it up. "I keep seeing..."

"Hey, guys, let me introduce you to my personal friend Steve!" came a familiar voice, accompanied by an arm audaciously placed around his waist.

"Excuse me!" Steve said, incredulous. "Wait...you're-"
Madison was already naming off a bunch of other underaged friends, all gazing in adoration. He rolled his eyes. "Mad-Madeline, right? No, Madison!" She looked up as he stepped out of her arm. "Look, it's very nice to meet all of you, but-"

Another song began, which Steve wouldn't have noticed but for Madison's high-pitched squeal. She bounced around to face Steve, taking him by the hands. "Oh my god I love this song! Will you dance with me? Oh my god it would mean the world to me to dance with Cap-"

"I don't dance," he said curtly, taking his hands back and turning to talk to Clint-who had vanished.

"Aw, why not? I think you'd be a great dancer!"

"Maybe," he said, looking around for his deserter. His eyes settled on a better sight. "But not with you. I'm sorry, miss."

He motioned her to move aside, making a beeline for the brunette. "Peggy!" he shouted, gaining speed despite his efforts to keep calm. "Peggy!"

She went inside and this time he didn't take his eyes off her, occasionally stumbling into people but pressing on. "It's me!" he called. "Peggy, it's me!"

Through rooms and halls, turning every which way in the darkness, crossing through lighted rooms and people staring, he kept his pursuit of the woman, her brown hair and red dress, her slender figure, her-crash!

He froze, hands up as though in surrender as a man in front of him leaned down to pick up the broken bits of glass. "I am so sorry! Did I get you? Did-"

Panicked, Steve stepped impatiently around the mess on the floor. He was pretty sure he had seen her turn right so he headed that way. "Peggy!" She wasn't there. He turned around, heading the other way, nearly hyperventilating, tugging his hands through his hair and calling out her name and there she had been, the promise of a dance, the hope that all he once had was not lost and he was so close, so close to holding her again and "Where are you?" he cried hoarsely, answered by only a shallow echo.

Tony stepped out of a room, dress shoes clicking slowly on the floor toward Steve. "Well I'm right here," he said, voice calm, concerned eyes trained on Steve. "Where are you?"

Still, breathing through his mouth, Steve focused on relaxing, first the muscles in his face and then his fists, shoulders slumping, falling with his face, and he wilted with his eyes, looking at Tony with desperation.

"What are you looking for, Captain?" he asked casually.

"I..." He faltered.

"Earth to Captain?"

Steve stared right past the man. No, right through him, taking those brown eyes with his thoughts. "The right...the right partner..." His voice was quiet, distant. Separate.

It broke in the middle, deflated as his posture.

Tony's confusion did nothing to mar his sympathy as he just stood, waiting for Steve's breathing to quiet down.

Steve's eyebrows finally relaxed, and he looked down at Tony's feet.

"Cap-Steve..."

"I just wanted one dance," he whispered, completely to himself.

Slowly, the other turned toward a door. "Come with me," he said, and Steve complied, dully, lifeless.

The lights came on in an empty room that looked like an outdated (by Stark's standard) entertainment center. "Stereo should still work...J.A.R.V.I.S. Now. And no snark, please."

The music began without hesitation nor a word from J.A.R.V.I.S. Steve stood looking at Tony, emotion growing from idly confused to somewhat startled when the smaller man stepped right up close to him, taking one of his wrists.

"What are-"

"Just shut up and enjoy the moment." He placed Steve's hand on his waist and his other hand on Steve's shoulder, grimacing a little; he hadn't ever had need to assume the woman's position.

Steve stiffened. "Tony..."

"Shh!" he hissed, giving Steve a stern look as he began to sway. A moment of silence but for the music. "You know, you should be the one leading."

It took Steve a moment, as his heart sped and his head went dizzy, but he led the dance, slow and simple.

Neither one talked for a good, long while, and Steve tried not to look at Tony. He got bored of only taking in the room, and closed his eyes..."I saw Peggy."

"Steve..." Tony said simply, "You didn't see Peggy."

Steve's eyes snapped open. "I saw her, Tony, I...her hair, her smile..."

"You know that's impossible."

"Her eyes..." Steve stopped. He hadn't seen the woman's eyes. Glancing down into Tony's, he pondered. "She had...the most amazing brown eyes. The way they sparkled, it was enchanting." Like yours. "The way they...smiled when she smiled. If that...makes sense..."

Tony dropped his eyes away from Steve's. "Look...I get that you miss her. But you didn't see her, Steve, you know that."

Steve focused on his steps, looking at anything but Tony, idly squeezing his hand. A head on his shoulder startled him, but still he didn't look, instead closing his eyes again. For the moment.

He pictured her, clear as day, her pale skin and cherry red lips, her soft, dark hair, her steady breath and confident step and his-her brown eyes...

"She's gone, Steve."

A breath. "I know."

"This is your present now, Steve...this is the moment you're living in. I understand you loved her," Tony's voice mumbled softly against Steve's soldier, "but you can't hold on to something you can't get back."

A pause. "I know."

"Look at what you have now," Tony continued. "You've got me. Us. You have the team. But I'm the most important part, of course, screw the others."

Steve chucked.

"Except Banner. He's cool."

All the tension in Steve's body left with a sigh, and the music slowed, and they were more swaying than dancing at this point. "I wouldn't want to lose this. Us. The team, that is."

Screw the team.

"You." Steve half-wished he hadn't just added that. It felt weird on his lips, but at the same time..."If anyone took you away from me I'd kill them."

Tony scoffed. "Liked my father that much?"

The thought first pained, and then confused Steve. "I...wasn't even thinking about him. It's not about him, you're not Howard. I hold onto him with my shield..." He sighed. "I meant you. Specifically. You're...you're a good friend to me. That's what it is."

"Mhm." Tony's warmth left Steve's shoulder and Steve opened his eyes. "So, as much as I love slow dancing," Tony groaned sarcastically, "Know any moves?"

A light smile tugged at Steve's lips. "I'm afraid anything I have to offer is a little outdated."

"You're probably right. Plus, there are a lot of cameras out there that need to see my pretty face."

"You also have a few underaged party crashers-"

"Try tons," Tony smirked, hand still in Steve's. "Who cares, I won't be the one to kick him out. It's a special night."

"You know, it kind of is."

Tony tried not to beam. "Glad to see you finally enjoying yourself."