Prompt: repent for the luxury
Steve was overwhelmed. Not that it took much, nowadays. No, but this was different. The casual wealth that Howard had thrown around was still tempered by the fact that they were at war; and on the front lines. He would dine with the soldiers (when he remembered) and was never sparing with cash, often fronting the alcohol for the men when their pay went back home to help feed their families.
Tony Stark was in no way his father. He had, after a few weeks recuperation, announced a celebratory dinner and dance, charging an exorbitant amount of money per plate and hosting it in Washington. Anybody who was somebody wanted in. Allegedly it was to proclaim their victory over the 'savage' aliens that decimated New York, and Stark wanted them all to show up. In full regalia of course. Bruce had escaped back to India (or wherever, Steve was sure that they had seen the last of him but Stark seemed fine letting him leave) and Hawkeye and the Widow had already left on another Top Secret mission for Fury.
That left him. He was unhappy, and even worse was when Fury endorsed it. "It would be good to see some of the Avengers out in public – other than Stark. You know how he gets in front of the camera."
Thanks to some interns at SHIELD and a crash course in pop culture over the past seventy years, he did. The dossier on Stark was also quite thorough, including videos and eye witness accounts of drunken debauchery and Stark throwing money away on expensive booze and jewelry. He strode into Stark's building (still under reconstruction) the day of the event. He would explain why he couldn't be seen at such an event, and leave. Even though Stark got under his skin, Steve would be calm and controlled. He wouldn't – oh who was he kidding. For all their camaraderie in battle, Steve and Tony butted heads continually off-team.
He politely thanked JARVIS for bringing him to the penthouse and walked down the hallway. He paused outside the door, hearing a woman's voice.
"Alright Tony, we've set up the reconstruct New York fund with the money given by each plate. The caterers have been paid for and everything looks good to go in the silent auction. How much did you say you wanted to start off with?"
A heavy sigh. "I don't know Pep. How much did it cost to rebuild this place?"
A pause. The woman (Pep… Pepper Potts? She had featured heavily in the report on Stark's life) spoke again, gentler. "After all that damage that was done? It's going to be a few million at the very least."
"Double it. And put it in the fund. Hopefully some of the old blood will feel inclined to follow."
"It's done. Are you sure about the flower arr –"
Steve silently turned around. He had heard enough. Maybe it was Tony's way to avoid the spotlight (even though it seemed wildly against character, although maybe he had gotten Tony's character all wrong). He hadn't heard anything about a charity when the function had been announced.
He would be showing up tonight in his stars and stripes, without complaint.