Open Flame

Summary:

Steven starts to realize that in the new era being homosexual is more acceptable- He talks to a camera crew and then talks to the team of which one outs himself as a bisexual and Tony puts in his two cents about it.

Rated:

T

"So Mister Rodgers, how do you feel about open homosexuality?"

Why did it matter? Why ask me that, they could have asked anyone else I shifted, might as well answer the reporters question;

"Well these days are different from when I was growing up, different clothes, ideologies, and a more open mind to homosexuality."

The reporter nodded, her smile still plastic and uncaring;

"So you don't believe homosexuality is alright?"

I knew my face went a little red from the heat of it;

"I think that I can have an open mind, and its really not my business who some one loves."

She nodded and both her and her camera man took off to talk to some of the others. By the time I got back to the tower and showered I was fuming-Why had she asked me that question? Had I been staring at Clint? A image of the very man sprung to mind, His back had been turned to me, his focus on the person he'd aimed at. He pulled the arrow and bowstring back, the twang of the bow as he released the arrow. Lord, why did I have to be this way? Why did you allow me into a world where it was alright to be openly gay and people would get in trouble for messing with you? A world where I could never be open about my sexuality...I'd loved Peggy sure, but I'd never had sex with a woman, though men on the other hand... Then that thing with Howard who also loved women. A flash of heat made me shutter-that had been a long time ago, Howard was dead and gone. His son already well into his own life, would I have to watch Tony die of old age? I sighed, I was having morbid thoughts again. I hopped out and threw on some clothes, might as well see what everyone else was up to. I walked to the living room where most of us went when we hadn't been hurt. The moment I entered the room some one spoke out at me;

"That was an interesting interview cap."

I looked at Clint having realized it was him that had spoke, he was sprawled out on one of the living room loveseats;

"They surprised me okay?"

I wasn't pouting nope. I saw down on a couch, Tony was busy messing with one of his computer thing-a-bobs, Natasha was playing Mario cart with Thor and Bruce was reading a book, but occasionally talking to Thor about the game.

"Cap, next time ignore them."

Tony muttered, but that would be rude to ignore them.

"That or run off before they come around."

Natasha's two cents-exactly what her and Clint had done.

"I'll keep that in mind."

Clint snorted;

"I'll agree with you on the surprise though, I would have never thought they would dare ask you about homosexuals."

I felt that stupid heat rise in my cheeks, damn it why did I have to blush now?

"Yeah that really surprised me, every one knows I come from a time that thought it was immoral and that something was wrong with the person mentally."

Clint looked away for a moment;

"Do you think those things about?"

I blinked;

"I meant it in the interview that it isn't my business and no I don't think its immoral or their crazy."

Clint smiled;

"If someone told you they were gay or whatever?"

I shrugged;

"If it was a friend I'd still be friends-if it's a stranger, what do I care?"

Tony laughed;

"Go cap."

I scowled at him;

"That's a good answer all the same. I guess we'll put that to the test."

Alright what did that mean? Natasha actually had a look of surprise on her face-Thor passing her up. Tony sat a little straighter.

"What?"

Clint gave me a wicked little grin that sent heat down to my abdomen;

"I'm Bisexual."

What? He liked...both?

"He likes women and men cap, if you don't know what that meant and I'm bi as well."

Tony explained, Tony in a relationship with Pepper... Just like his father then in the respect that they loved women, but liked looking at men-I wondered if Tony knew his father had slept with at least one man?

"Oh. um, alright?"

Clint snorted;

"Well nice to know you didn't start reciting the bible at me or something."

I frowned;

"I don't think it's my place to judge people, just because they have feelings for people."

I thought that was a little stupid to say, but what could I say? That I really would like to jump his bones? That I'd been having sexual fantasies about him right along with my memories of Howard and I? No, I wouldn't say that. I wouldn't put myself in that position, No one needed to know that I liked men-Tony didn't need to find out that I'd kissed and touched Howard.

Clint nodded;

"Alrighty Cap."

Someone knocked on my door, who wanted me this late at night? It wasn't a mission because I'd get a call from Fury about one... I opened it to find Clint at my door.

"Hey, could we talk?"

I nodded and moved aside so that he could come in, he slipped pass me and went to sit at the table that I'd been playing solitary at.

"What do you want to talk about?"

He motioned for me to sit as well, I could only guess that he wanted to talk about the earlier conversation;

"A continuation if you will."

I nodded;

"You didn't seem surprised that Tony swung both ways."

I nodded;

"His father did too."

The puzzled expression on Clint's face was rather amusing, for once I had one up on the assassin.

"Howard had a um, thing with a man."

Clint was blown away;

"Really? Who?"

I shook my head;

"Oh, I thought you would have known…Your not prone to gossip."

I chortled;
"I knew who-I just don't think its really anyone's business."

There was another knock on the door before Clint could say anything;

"Boy I'm popular tonight."

He snorted and I went to open the door, Bruce stood there a little uncomfortable looking.

"Oh, hey Bruce."

He smiled sheepishly;

"Could we talk?"

I let him in and he froze at seeing Clint;

"Um…if this is-"

"Just come in, we were just talking."

Bruce plopped into another chair, thank god Tony had designed my room to accommodate the others if they wanted a visit.

"If you don't mind about what?"

I let out a breath;

"About Howard Stark."

Bruce turned a little red;

"About you and him?"
I froze, what?

"I…how did you find out?"

Clint whistled;

"You and Howard? Was it serious?"

I shook my head;

"It was a quick romp."

"Tony said as much, Apparently his father kept a journal-as much about his conquest as about science."

I blushed, seriously Howard?

"Wow, are you Gay?"

I shrugged;

"Bi at least since I loved a woman."

They nodded;

"I wanted to tell you, um. That Clint and Tony aren't the only one's who are Bi-Tony, Pepper, and I have been in a relationship for a few months now."

You could drop a pin and hear it we were so stunned;

"How do you-you know?"

Clint blurted out;

"We don't-or at least I don't. I'm not interested in hurting either of them."

I nodded, Tony would find a way to allow him to sleep with his partners.

"Do you have anyone special now?"

Bruce asked softly;

"I don't. But, well I've got a bit of a crush on someone right now."

Clint couldn't keep from his face falling, could he like me or was he planning on teasing me?

"Oh?"

I nodded;

"Their pretty important to me."

Bruce nodded with a little smile;

"I think I should let you two talk huh?"

I nodded and Bruce walked to the door;

"Goodnight."

And he was gone, Clint looked like a fish out of water for a moment;

"What did he mean? Why should we talk?"

I snorted;

"You know for some one so observant it's kind of funny that you never realized how much I stare at you."

He grinned;

"Oh? Tell me about it."