Okay it was killing me, simply waiting for the fiction section of Captain America to come out and finally yay! This story will have multiple couples and if you don't like slash, don't read, thankyou. Howard/Steve, Johann/Bucky, Colonel Phillips/Erskine, Peggy/Maria. It was hard to find the slash in the film, but I'm an expert ;D Maria is the wife of Howard Stark, but she wants to play with Peggy first! I portrayed Howard as best I could and he meets Steve for the first time. I hope you guys enjoy this story, I've spent hours on it and it's been waiting for a month in my documants, please read and review! Future chapters will be from a different character's POV. Ch. 1 is Howard, 2 will be Steve's, then Bucky and after Johann's and Peggy's... etc. I'd love some input/critique is welcomed as well!
"Classified Project: 'Rebirth' Bc283-33" This was it… Project "Rebirth" was going onto full effect now.
Howard Stark stared at the files. The Super Soldier Serum was infinitely complete. He shuddered at the new technology; it was mature far beyond its time. He smiled at the finished product. Its blue sheen caught the light at the perfect angle. It was perfection in a bottle. He couldn't even fathom that it would actually work, let alone get the proper person to become the perfect legend to lead the nation into a battle of glory. Howard grimaced at the thought of giving the precious blue serum to any asshole jarhead that managed to beat through a test of time.
Will… that was what had caught Erskine's eye. He was looking for qualities beyond the physical.
Those words echoed on Howard's mind. Colonel Phillips had a few adversaries chosen to compete for the top dog position.
He scratched his head and let the hundreds of files fall around him. They didn't matter; it was obsolete compared to the new one that lay in front of him. All he wanted to do now was fly his plane at dangerous angles and heights that would cause Colonel Phillips not to hire him. It loosened him up after a stressful week when he was lucky enough to have the time. He cracked his knuckles and leaned back in the wooden chair.
What is he supposed to do now? He spent his whole life contributing to project, "Rebirth," He found himself at a loss. His next task, however, needed his appearance at the 1942 World Expedition of Tomorrow.
He had to admit, he was quite excited about his newest device that he could title after his name, Stark Industries. He'd seen quite a few faces in the audience that stared in awe of his newest technology. He'd gotten the 1942 Cadillac off the ground using the first form of gravatic-reversion he'd invented. He smiled at the crowd, even as it fell back down and shook the platform. He easily shook off the failure and kept the audience captivated about how it would improve with a few years. He'd seen a rather small-framed man walk away without enthusiasm. Howard was slightly curious, but he chose to ignore it… He had no idea how much more involved he'd be later on until he got back to the Strategic Scientific Reserve headquarters.
After a few weeks of denial about a new volunteer that was beyond eager to become the greatest soldier America would ever see. Howard snorted at the thought of anyone actually gaining the ability of perfection. He didn't really want anyone to have it, but he didn't want to inject himself with it either. He was comfortable at his five-foot five height.
He still didn't want to share it though, but that wasn't his decision to make, it was Dr. Erskine's.
He stopped and raised his face to the ceiling in awe of how amazing it felt to be done. He did what he always did when something was turning out good, he drank…
He almost ran out of the office and into the dirty paved streets of Brooklyn.
Howard shoved his hands deep in his pockets as he took in the scent of the streets and brothels. He was a ladies' man, and that's where he headed.
No one else much cared for the cheap sex, hell practically everyone in the office was happily married. It didn't seem to bother him that he'd hadn't found the one yet. He was used to having a beautiful woman hang on his arm, but they were just decorations that he couldn't play with unless he wanted to pay them in full, but they all claimed they weren't prostitutes…
But he loved them with all their sinewy grace.
The girl that caught his eye had soft brown hair with a tinge of blonde in it, but she had blue eyes that made her wicked profession seem innocent. He didn't come to the brothels often, but after this completion of project "Rebirth" he deemed it necessary.
Once he got her to the backroom where the dirty deeds were done he was on top of her. Nothing was said, just the strong scent of sex and sweat lingered in the air. Her breasts were small in his hands, but he liked them that way. Howard's body was wired as his hands found her sweet spot.
She moaned of course, it was part of the job, but he liked making it real.
Nothing fake…
His hands moved in her, making her squirm, and the moans she was eliciting were real. He knew by the way her body would tremor against his touch, and her eyes would meet his dark mocha ones. Once she'd fight him, he knew she was coming.
He pushed in with a groan.
He could tell he was her favorite client because he liked getting her off even before he did, it made it all that more intense. He was pounding into her now. The nameless prostitute shouted as she climaxed, tightening around him. He bucked against her as he reached beyond his own limit.
"God…" he uttered as he went limp against her heaving chest.
It wasn't about timing for him; he just enjoyed that sweet release. Howard slipped soundlessly back into his grey pinstripe suit pants. He paid her three times as much as her boss allowed her to. Yet he was discreet about it. He stuffed it into her powder blue lacey garter so she wouldn't get it confiscated. He liked her, she was the only one he came for, the only one he'd lose himself in.
He left before long and loitered around the office. He didn't really have much of a home at the moment.
A few weeks later and word was on the rise that someone would soon be the tester for Erskine. Howard however, knew that the doctor would make the right choice for the perfect candidate.
Colonel Phillips was pacing angrily through the hallway and knocked the mug of coffee Howard had been holding askew. Stark just felt like sloshing the hot coffee in the Colonel's face but it laid in a puddle on the hardwood floor. Howard hissed through his teeth, but hid his dissatisfaction from the high ranking officer, he knew better.
"What's eating you?" He snorted.
The Colonel snapped something incoherent that probably included a few curse words.
"That kid Erskine wants is a little scrawny kid." He met eyes with Stark.
Howard hated when bigger men stared at him like that, simply because he was a good few inches shorter than he, so they would always be looking down at him, but he hid it well by biting the inside of his cheek. Howard glanced upward, "Really?"
His eyebrows rose, why on Earth wouldn't he pick one of the recruits?
Suppose the doctor was looking for someone beyond the physical capacity of human limitations… He suddenly remembered what the German doctor had said previously.
This amused Howard, he wanted to see that kid's file.
"Where's Dr. Erskine?" was his response.
He followed the Colonel down the hallway past the old chandeliers and down the steps to a well placed antique shop and an elderly woman led them through a bookshelf that widened its girth for them to enter the concealed SSR lab.
Phillips left him alone at the door. Howard went across the room and sat down next to Dr. Erskine.
"Who's the candidate you want for the project?" Howard wondered.
Erskine smiled, "He has a whole lot of heart, and his size won't matter once he gets injected with the serum."
Howard's brows raised in wonder as the doctor handed him the file.
The doctor turned around and continued cleaning up the older files that hadn't worked.
Howard opened the file and let out an audible gasp.
"I know he's thin, but he's quite promising." The doctor added.
But it wasn't the size of the young man that made him gasp, it was his eyes.
A brilliant azure blue, along with high cheekbones and sad looking eyebrows with fair hair that dusted over his forehead, he looked quite feminine. He'd also remembered that face from his previous engagement at last night's fair.
Howard's hands shook slightly as his mind took in the figure. He had similar eyes of Howard's favorite mistress at the brothel. But it went beyond that somehow. He wanted to meet the man in the photo, understand him and know him from the inside out. He didn't want any of the serum in anyone else's, or worse, in the wrong hands. Howard thought about this. He would have to weasel his way into the system to check out the young man himself.
"He's coming today actually." Erskine proclaimed.
"Really?" Howard's excitement rose in his voice, without him realizing it.
"Seems you're about as interested in this as much as I am." He smiled.
Howard's cheeks heated slightly as he turned away from him. He hadn't meant to let that much show, but at this point, he didn't really care.
"Expect to see him in twenty minutes." Erskine stated.
Howard grinned in response.
"And you'll be giving him the physical I require." The doctor added.
"Hmm?" Howard's eyes widened, he hadn't expected that at all.
"Wh… why?" He asked, mainly in disbelief.
"Because…" Erskine paused, "I do not trust anyone else with him." He eyed the industrialist.
"But… that's not in my field range… I deal with auto bodies, not human." He scoffed.
"Stop feigning interest Stark, unless you want me to pull your loan to a car wash station." It wasn't a threat, just a gentle warning that Howard was on loan to the SSR research facility.
Howard nodded in defeat, he wasn't sure about this at all. His cheeks burned as he turned his face away from the doctor.
Howard went out and paced restlessly around his office. He claimed the mouth of the liquor bottle with his own, something to take the edge off since he didn't have time to run back and forth to the dingy side of town where the brothels invaded.
"Sir?" A knock at his door. He pulled it open and ran past the secretary and made it to the steps outside. A familiar face, Peggy Carson, appeared with him behind her.
Howard placed his hands in his white coat pockets. His dark eyes raised and met the young man's.
He looked terrified…
"Come on." Howard stiffened as the Colonel pulled the young man towards the entrance of the science wing. Howard was stumbling behind them.
Howard slammed the security door to the lab once the young man and the Colonel were inside. His ears were ringing from all the tension, he let out a breath. He hadn't realized how loud he'd been until all eyes were on his back.
"Sorry." He muttered and reddened as he made his way down the white steps.
Erskine introduced everyone to the young man.
"Steven Rogers." He smiled shyly and held out his hand to the older industrialist.
"Stark, Howard Stark." A tinge of pink painted his cheeks and smiled broader than he had intended.
"Take him to your office and get busy with the projects ok?" Erskine directed.
Howard led him back up the stairs and held open the door for him. He enjoyed the delicate hint of pink that heated up Steven's face all because of Howard's courtesies.
"Bashful one aren't you?" Howard playfully teased him. He walked him down the familiar dark hall. He practically slammed the office door shut.
"So…" Howard clapped his hands together.
"You'll be mine for a while," He locked the door, "I need to run some tests on you." He smiled. Howard strode around Steve and took in all his features. He saw that Steve was rather small, but he liked that. For once Howard didn't have to look up to meet someone's eyes.
He liked that more than he should have…
He surveyed everything about him, all the while biting the inside of his cheek. His fair hair that tinged blonde at the tips, the way his body tilted slightly to the left, the pale ivory skin peeking beneath his worn shirt, and the most striking feature, those impossibly blue eyes. Howard fidgeted with the bottom of Steve's shirt.
"Remove your shirt please." Howard instructed. He watched as Steve flinched slightly as his thin fingers clasped the hem of his olive green shirt. Howard's posture stiffened as he watched the shirt rise from Steve's pale back. The elongated length of his back was defined and Howard could count each indent of the man's spinal cord. Instinctively he reached out and ran a gentle hand down his back and felt his fingertips go down and up against the soft flesh. Howard remained a stiff posture as he caught the scent of blood on him. Though he said nothing as the physical continued on.
"I know we've just met, but this requires that pants to be off as well." Howard joked to take the edge out of his voice, and attempt to relax Steve a little bit. He seemed nervous about this part of the exam, but Howard had faith, besides he was in the most capable trusting of hands. He turned around for Steve's benefit. Howard had no intentions to scare Steve so he was being courteous.
Once Howard turned around he refrained from staring at his lean frame. He didn't miss a single detail of pink that teased the edges of Steve's skin. It was flushed on his cheeks and his shoulders, elbows, knees, and between his legs. Howard tried not to notice, but there was a thin trail of gold hairs on his lower midsection.
He stared… open-mouthed.
Steve coughed and that broke Howard's focus.
"Right, I need you to hold your arms out to the sides for me please?" He tried his best to keep his voice professional.
Steve followed his orders and calmly let his arms outward.
Howard stepped up behind him and ran a strip of cloth tape measure around his waist. Steve sucked in a breath when Howard leaned against him and stringed it across his chest and looped it together and got the measurement of his chest. Howard continued his ministrations and got the measurements of Steve's legs and his thighs. Howard gritted his teeth as he pressed the thin fabric against Steve's rear. Howard's fingers pressed into the soft flesh along with the tape. Steven's skin tinged a darker pink. Howard sighed in satisfaction as Steve let out an audible gasp.
Suddenly Howard realized the intent of his actions and yanked the strip away.
"Sorry, I have to be thorough." He said through clenched teeth. Howard was pissed; he hadn't meant to lose it like that so easily.
What in the hell was Dr. Erskine doing when he made him do this…
"Ok… I think I have everything measured to get the difference of muscle mass gained after the procedure." Howard smirked and reviewed the charts.
"That's funny…" Howard frowned.
"What is it?" Steve asked as he stumbled into one of the legs of his pants.
Howard quirked a brow and nervously scratched his head.
"I have to measure your…" Howard couldn't even get the word out.
Steve understood and reddened as he pulled his leg back out of his pants.
"What for?" Steve asked.
"Honestly I don't know Erskine's orders." He shrugged. Howard wasn't sure if he would be able to run that length of tape down into Steve's briefs.
"Does it have to be…erm…har.-"Steve was cut off by Howard.
"Yes…" Howard interrupted. Somehow Steve's face got pinker.
"Need some privacy." Howard pressed his fingers on the small of Steve's back and guided him to the closet. He clinked on the small yellow light against the wall.
"It's the only private place I have." He gestured.
Steve leaned in the small room that was stacked with books.
The door closed in front of Howard. This seemed ridiculous thing to be on the chart, but it was clearly written, black and white.
"What the fuck…" Howard whispered to himself, he swore Erskine did that on purpose. He heard a muffled moan from his closet. Howard felt a twitch down his spine. He couldn't resist, he pressed his ear to the door. The high gasp that came out of Steve's mouth caused Howard's palms to press against the door. He inhaled the scent of wood and heard another muffled cry. Howard's nails dug slightly into the embellished wood. He gasped in response against the door.
No fucking way… It seemed far too perfect for something like this to happen to him.
The handle turned with a click. Howard sucked in a gasp and tore away from the door and fixed his askew coat. He took the measuring tape and took in Steve's length without looking at him.
Howard's cheeks flushed as he wrote down the double-digit number…
Whoa…
He picked up Steve's pants and held them up at him with a fake smirk to ease the other kid's embarrassment.
"Sorry for embarrassing you." He whispered. Steve just nodded and stepped into his pants and picked up his shirt off the table.
"Okay…" Howard sat down in the chair and set the test results on his desk.
"So now that the hard part is over, all you need is a blood test and a few allergy tests, but I don't cover that field." He noted.
"They're also written on your chart, so the serum won't make you inhuman… I think."
"Want some lunch Steven?" He looked up at Steve, "My treat." It wasn't a question.
He wanted to get to know him better, but not on test result terms. He was eager to become his friend. He would probably torment himself for his odd behavior later tonight when no one was at the office. For now, was content with Steve's quietly drawn out yes.
Howard wanted to ease the stiffness in Steve's pants. He hadn't a slightest idea why, but he wanted to.
You're not gay…
He dug his blunt fingernails into his palm as he thought of excuses.
He's rather feminine for a man…
He raised a brow at that thought. Maybe he just needed some time alone, but he knew that that was the last thing that the kid needed.
"You'll have to get used to touching like that." He added.
Steve's large blue eyes widened and he paused, shirt in hand.
"Wh… what?" He stammered.
"Well…" Howard paused, "In the army they check you for things like that." He finished.
"What for?" Steve sounded slightly alarmed.
"Standard procedure… they check your prostate and such." He didn't want to frighten the kid, but he wanted to give him the straight up hard facts.
"It'll be good, that means that you will be able to help your country." Howard's smile brightened.
"Good… I guess." Steve smiled nervously. Howard did him the favor of pulling the shirt over his head for him.
"You know what?" Howard stared at Steve's olive toned worn shirt and frowned.
"Take it back off for a minute please?" Howard instructed.
Steve shrugged it back off without any protests and handed it to Howard.
He ripped it…
"What are you doing?" Steve's brows arched with sympathy for the destroyed shirt.
Howard's glare wandered across the room and back to his own closet and he reached in for a new shirt.
Steve gasped once Howard revealed a pastel blue shirt that looked rather expensive.
Yes, Steve liked the shirt but he was too chivalrous to accept, that's why Howard tore the old one up.
"You don't have any other options." Howard smiled once more.
Steve took the shirt with shaky hands and a nervous smile.
Howard watched as Steve's arms fitted through the sleeves. His fingers barely peeked through the cuffs.
"Do you want me to roll the sleeves for you before we head out?" He amber eyes never left Steve's.
"No," He said, "I like them this way." He said with a smile.
To his own amusement, Howard preferred the long cuffs too…
They made it to a small hole-in-the-wall diner, Steve's choice.
Howard smiled politely as Steve eyed the menu.
"Do you like fondue?" Howard asked with a smile.
Steve's eyes narrowed at the word.
"What's that?" His blue eyes widened with curiosity.
"Just cheese and bread." He answered.
Howard folded his napkin across his lap and waved the waiter over.
"Your best wine please." Howard insisted at Steve's apprehensive no's.
Steve's ears went pink as the man in front of him spent over a hundred dollars for a wine that Steve wouldn't be able to drink much of to begin with.
Why was he spoiling him like this?
Steve's hands found the edge of the table and he'd clenched it with white fingers.
Howard smiled at him as the wine came to the table.
"Perfect." Howard said and waved him away with his food order.
Steve watched the man spend hundreds on him and he wasn't even a woman. He thought about it for a moment an asked,
"Is this a date?" He eyed Howard suspiciously.
Howard stiffened slightly and was taken aback.
"Umm… no, I just want to play nice and be friends." He shrugged, "Honest."
"How often would you splurge on a stranger you just met?" Steve asked.
Howard shifted in his chair as he poured the most expensive wine in the restaurant into Steve's glass.
"Well… I've seen you naked." Howard joked in a quiet whisper. "But I'd like to call us friends, now that you are the one that Dr. Erskine chose." His eyes lit up as the fondue made its way to the table.
"Cheese and bread." Howard handed Steve one of the fondue forks, and his glass of wine.
"Thank you." Steve humbly took both.
They crossed sticks as they dipped the bread pieces into the cheese.
"Wow, this is good!" Steve said through a mouthful.
Howard laughed as he took a large gulp of the dark wine and eyed Steve through the instant haze that came from the alcohol.
"That good huh?" Howard grinned, "Have some more." He fed his stick into Steve's mouth.
He watched as the blonde blushed when the cheese went down his lower lip.
Howard laughed harder when Steve almost wiped the cuff of his new shirt before pulling the sleeve away.
"Ahh… sorry!" He looked around for his napkin that Howard held up to his face.
The brunette grinned once Steve's lip was clean again.
"Have mine." Howard handed him a clean napkin.
"Thank you." Steve blushed some more.
Howard frowned, the kid needed to lighten up some more.
"A toast…" Howard brought his half-empty glass to Steve's full one.
"To friends." He clinked his glass to Steve's and finished his off while Steve gingerly took a sip.
"Is it that bad?" Howard dipped his fork in the cheese again.
"N… no, I've just really never drank this before." Steve replied.
"You can trust me." Howard gave a real genuine smile. With that statement, Steve took a bigger drink.
"Whew." He muttered.
Howard felt the buzz get to him and he laughed, then accidentally dipped his fork in Steve's wineglass and brought it to his lips.
"Hmm," He sucked on it in his mouth for a bit, "tastes like Lent."
Steve laughed, and contagiously Howard laughed too, along with a snort. That caused Steve to tear up from laughter.
Once the men calmed down, Howard clapped a hand gently on Steve's shoulder and congratulated him on getting drunk.
By the bottom of the bottle, they were hammered. Howard waved the waiter over and asked him something Steve didn't catch.
"I hope you like chocolate." Howard mused.
"Oh yes… who doesn't" Steve said excitedly.
"Exactly." Howard leaned in a little closer, but not enough to break the personal space between the pair. He saw Steve's bag pooled at his feet, he reached for it. A leather-bound brown book slipped into his grasp when Steve removed it from Howard's hands.
Howard leafed through it and took in the drawings.
"They're beautiful." He stared down at the book in his lap.
"Oh…" Steve muttered shyly, he wasn't used to compliments.
Howard flipped through a few pages with models on them, but they looked busy and a lot of the drawings seemed rushed. There were a few on train cars, while others had berets and newsboy caps veiling their eyes and masking their emotions. But the skills this kid had with a pencil were raw and beautiful. Howard just stared down, marveling in the indescribable talent that came from Steve's fingers.
"Our dessert…" Steve broke Howard's focus from the drawings,
"Oh sorry." His head snapped up and he aimlessly reached for a clean fondue fork and placed his hand over Steve's on purpose. Howard bit his lip and claimed the fork beneath the hand. To his surprise Steve ended up laughing.
Howard clenched the fork beneath the table.
Fuck… just fuck…
He stared across toward Steve as he watched him prod at a strawberry and swirling it in the chocolate and then bring it to his lips.
Howard inhaled sharply as the strawberry disappeared behind those lips… He didn't even like strawberries…
Fondue with Steve was definitely worth it.
He shook his head and placed Steve's sketchbook on the table.
"So… do you have any plans for this evening?" Howard asked.
"No, nothing in particular." Steve answered.
"Really?" Howard leaned in over the table.
"Could you draw me?" He asked. Steve shrugged,
"Sure, definitely." He smiled shyly once more.
Howard smiled as he stabbed a strawberry with his fork and plunged it into the warm chocolate and bite ferociously into it.
"You've got something… on your face." Steve pointed.
"Oh…" Howard ran his tongue over the side of his mouth, rather enticingly.
"Did I get it?" He asked innocently.
"Still some just a bit there." Steve reached with the clean napkin.
Howard almost choked on the remaining strawberry.
Steve gasped, he though Howard was choking.
"F…fine." Howard rasped, he hadn't expected Steve to lean in as close as he had. Howard felt a throb pulse between his thighs.
He grimaced.
Howard bit down on his empty fork for some kind of comfort while Steve wore a curious look at why Howard had suddenly acted strange.
"You okay?" Steve asked.
"Yeah… you almost done?" Howard looked over to Steve.
He nodded and hesitantly took the remaining strawberry.
"It's yours." Howard smiled.
Steve shoved the last chocolate covered one in his mouth with a huge smile that made his teeth checkered looking.
Howard snorted another laugh.
Once they made it out of the restaurant the sky was darkening.
"Oh my, we've really lost track of time haven't we?" Howard clapped his hands together as he called a cab.
Steve got in first, and Howard took the opportunity to scoot him up against the door, not crushing him or anything. He felt the heat of Steve's thigh against his own against the fabric of his pants. Howard ran his hands heavily through his hair. Once he looked over towards Steve's end of the cab, his mind was lost in thoughts of possessing the man. His head was foggy with heated heavy thoughts he could barely suppress.
Howard's voice went thick as his speech slurred a bit.
"Ssstill gonna draw me?" He leaned into Steve.
"Yeah." Steve responded, clutching his bag rather tightly, Howard clearly hadn't noticed.
"Charcoal?" Howard asked.
"Yes please, if you have any." Steve smiled.
Howard's gaze traveled out the window, trying to distract himself from inhaling the scent of Steve along with the mixture of the fine wine. He took a deep breath and it was purely of the slightly cinnamon scent of Steve. Howard groaned longingly out the window and then rolled it down with the hand crank.
"Mmm" Howard smiled, eyes closed out the window, if he breathed in Steve one more time then he may not have stopped himself from doing something stupid that he'd regret later. He ended up crossing one leg over the other and leaned his hand away from his thigh and met it with his chin instead.
"We're here." Steve told him. Howard sucked in a breath as he suddenly realized that the car had come to a stop in front of the antique shop.
"Thanks." Steve told the driver as he pulled out some money.
"Hell no!" Howard turned with his eyebrows furrowed towards Steve. He watched as the younger man drew slightly back once Howard almost threw his money at the cab driver.
Howard took Steve's hand and gently pulled him out of the cab's backseat. He felt him gasp as he pulled Steve up to his feet.
Whoa… he could've easily carried Steve away…
"Heh… well come on, we have business!" Howard laughed, still on a high from their lunch/dinner, whatever that ended up being.
Once inside he mentioned the code saying about always carrying an umbrella and they were down the halls of the SSR labs. Howard trailed his hand against the wooden panels that were on the left wing where his office was.
He smiled and held the door open for Steve and then closed it behind him and clicked the lock.
He wanted no interruptions tonight.
"Let me get changed, there's graphing pencils, charcoal, everything you need on the back table." He nodded.
Steve went rummaging through Howard's personal items as he searched. After around ten minutes Howard appeared behind him clad in nothing but his brown wool coat.
"Where do you want me?" Howard said, his hooded eyes were glazed over.