Everything you know...
"Hey..."
... and love...
"Scott?"
... gone forever.
"Scott!"
Scott jolted awake. He was breathing hard and shaking. He wiped some sweat off his face. A second later he noticed someone next to his bed. He blinked a few times trying to focus better on them.
"You ok...?" The familiar voice of Clint broke in, heavy with worry.
"... What are you doing here?" Scott avoided the question.
"... I came to apologize for earlier." Clint mumbled.
"What? What for? I'm the one who... Whatever. It's really fine, Clint." Scott shrugged it off.
"What's wrong?" Clint asked sternly.
"Nothing! Everything's fine. All's forgiven. Goodnight." Scott sighed.
"... Can we just be honest right now?" Clint crossed his arms.
"Arent we always?" Scott rolled his eyes.
"What were you dreaming about?"
"... Subatomic..." Scott said under his breath.
"... You need anything...?" Clint offered, knowing what he meant.
"Just to calm down and get my mind off it." Scott huffed.
"I'm still here for you Scott." Clint sat on the edge of the bed.
"... So I got a date with Cap." Scott attempted to change his own train of thought.
"... Oh... Really...? Wow, yeah. Hey, that's awesome! Really. When?" Clint cleared his throat.
"Tomorrow night. Movie. Guess we'll see what we can find here to watch." Scott smiled a bit.
"... Ya know, he," Clint gave the motion for 'so-so,' "kinda was sorta with Tony. He likes to think no one knows but we all do." Clint chuckled.
"Really? I never would've thought..."
"I mean, it was pretty low key and all that. I don't know how serious it was." Barton shrugged.
"So you're saying they just dragged us into their break up fight?" Scott smirked.
"You said it. Not me." Clint grinned.
They both laughed. It didn't last long though. It quickly grew quiet. Both of them looked at each other. It easily made the atmosphere unbearably heavy.
"Hey Clint...?" Scott finally spoke up.
"Yeah?"
"... Do me a favor and cover your eyes real quick because I'm not wearing any pants and it's a little weird."
"Are you serious?" Clint laughed.
"Yeah. 100% naked at the moment..." Scott failed trying not to smile.
"You don't usually sleep naked. Should I ask?"
"Up to you if you want to ask."
"Right, well..." Clint leaned in, "Scott Lang, why the hell are you naked?"
"Oh, you wouldn't believe it... Here I was trying to get some sleep but all I could think about... Was how fucking hot it was." Scott said as flirtatious as he could.
"The moment things get hot you strip. Is that it?"
"Oh, no. If that was true I'd have to strip every time you walked in the room." Scott smirked.
"I wouldn't stop you."
"I'd kinda hope you would. I'd prefer to have you take em off for me."
"Shame you're already naked." Clint chuckled.
"Just means you can skip to the real fun stuff."
"Right. Well, I'll let you go get something on." Clint rolled his eyes before covering them with his hand.
"Don't take any peeks, Barton." Scott playfully warned.
"Since when do you call me Barton?"
"I call you that all the time." Scott chuckled and got up to get dressed.
"Not to me."
"Really? Maybe you just don't pay attention."
"Maybe you talk about me behind my back a lot." Clint said half jokingly.
"All good things. I swear."
"Little liar." Clint chuckled.
"No... I only talk shit about you to you."
"Lie lie lie."
"Shut up. You can look now." Scott sighed.
"Finally," Clint uncovered his eyes, "wait, whoa whoa... Those are definitely not yours." Clint pointed to Scott's underwear.
"Proof?" Scott placed his hands on his hips.
"When did you go through my fucking clothes?" Clint crossed his arms.
"Still haven't proven they're yours." Scott smirked.
"There's a target on your ass."
"See? Can't be yours. Can't put the target on the archer. Well, actually," Scott chuckled and easily slid his way onto Clint's lap, "guess you can."
"You're seriously terrible." Clint smiled up at the man before sliding a hand up Scotts leg. He made his way to Scott's lower back before stopping.
"Well, I try." Scott leaned in.
"... What the hell are you doing Scott?"
"... I don't know..." Scott buried his face in the archers shoulder.
"You can't do better than 'I don't know?'" Clint said quietly.
"Being an idiot."
"Thats more accurate. My fault too though. I'm more an idiot than you." Clint chuckled.
"I know you are." Scott sighed and moved to sit next to him.
"... I'm gunna head back to my room, ok?" Clint said after a moment.
"Right. I'm gunna go... Do something." Scott ran a hand through his hair.
"Be careful, ok? And if ya need anything let me know. I mean it, Scott." Clint stood up.
"Yeah, I know. Thanks." Scott gave a small smile.
"Scott?"
"Mm."
"What are you doing?"
"Mm." Scott shrugged.
Steve looked over the other man's shoulder. Scott had been busy writing in his notebook. Just before he was about to look away he noticed the quality of the writing. He'd be amazed if even Scott could read what he wrote himself. It just looked like squiggles. Scott was currently etching a hole in the corner of the paper.
"Scott," Steve easily grabbed the pencil away from him, "you ok?"
"Hm?" Scott sleepily looked up at the man.
"Why don't you go to bed? You know what time it is?" Steve placed the pencil on the notebook.
"What? No, no. I'm good. Sorry. What's up?" Scott smiled before grabbing his mug of coffee and taking a drink.
"It's 5 in the morning. You're never up this early. Something wrong?" Steve sat next to him.
"Only 5? Thought it'd be like 7 at least." Scott rubbed his eyes.
"Scott."
"You ever have any bad dreams?" Scott mumbled as he rested his head in his hands.
"Who doesn't?" Steve flashed that polite smile of his. A frown tugged at the corner of Scott's lips. Why did that answer bother him? He didn't know, but it did.
"Yeah right. Nothing can scare Captain America." Scott chuckled lightly.
"You'd be suprised. You want to talk about it?" Cap offered.
"Works best if I don't, honestly. I appreciate the offer though. Really. I just wanna stay up for a while." Scott said even though his yawn said quite the opposite.
"Think you'll be able too?" Cap gave him a worried look.
"With enough coffee, I can do anything Cap." Scott grinned.
"It's not healthy though. I know that."
"How? Who told ya?" Scott narrowed his eyes at the super soldier.
"Because Tony would do that all the time. Made him a wreck." Steve tried to fight back a smile.
"Dont compare-" Scott quickly stopped himself. He couldn't be rude like that to him! He ran a hand down his tired face before finishing off his cup of coffee. "Sorry. Guess you're right." He glanced over to him. Cap looked concerned at him.
"You really don't like Stark, huh?" Steve mused. He carefully picked up the pencil and inched the notebook over. Scott didn't stop him, curious as to what the man had in mind to do with it. He could read it if he wanted. Nothing there would probably be suprising to the man. Nothing Scott could think of in his sleepy state at least.
"Well, I'm not a huge fan, really. Most people I hang out with usually only say bad things about him." Scott stretched his arms out. He watched as Steve began to move the pencil across the blank space of the page. Nice and smooth. A rather perfect circle drawn lightly on. He heard that the man was a good artist. He got excited that he was going to see it first hand.
"He's not as terrible as most people say. He himself is a rather nice guy. Well, nice might be the wrong word." Steve smiled. Scott could immediately tell it wasn't a simple amused smile. There was a fondness there. Rather deep caring. Scott had seen that look only once before on him. When he was talking with Bucky just before the battle at the airport. God, that look was beautiful on him. Those two better know how lucky they are.
"Pym said he takes a lot after his dad." Scott said to try to keep the conversation going. He noticed Steve's hand stop for a moment on the rough sketch he was working on. A look of thought on his face. It took a second for Scott to realize what he'd done. He opened his mouth to apologize but Cap barely managed to cut him off.
"He does in some ways. Tony is more... I guess caring would be the closest word I can think off. It's not quite it but..." Steve shrugged and continued on his sketch. He seemed to focus more on it now. Scott studied the other man's face, looking to make sure he hadn't offended him. He didn't detect anything. Good. That's good. He finally pryed his eyes away and down to the paper. Looked like he was drawing hair. Long hair. So a person. A woman perhaps?
"Am I allowed to ask what you're drawing?" Scott laied his head on the table.
"Ask away." Steve smiled, more to himself than to Scott.
"What are you drawing?"
"It's a suprise." Cap stopped for a moment to smile at him. Scott felt his heart beat faster. Probably just that second coffee kicking in. That's all. No, ok, that's a lie. It was that gorgeous smile on that gorgeous face that was directed at him.
"I never took you for a surprises kind of guy." Scott straighted up.
"Well, I heard it's a good way to get people's attention." Cap returned to the picture. Scott faked an offened look.
"Who the hell said you didn't have my attention. They're a liar whoever it is. All you gotta do is walk in the room and you've got my attention." Scott smiled playfully.
"That sounds like I'm distracting you." There was fake concern in his voice. Wonderful, he plays along! Scott (poorly) attempted not to laugh.
"You? Distracting? No! Not at all! Why would the most perfect man ever be distracting? I don't see it. I just don't see it." Scott couldn't possibly speak more sarcastically. He could see an amused smile on the super soldier's face along with a small shake in his shoulders of a suppressed laugh. That felt like such an accomplishment. He couldn't hear it, yet he felt like it was genuine. The feeling almost immediately faded as Scott's insecurities began to creep in. Now had to be the worst time for it. Why was he here, of all people? How the hell did he get to a point in life where he is casually talking with Captain America? This wasn't right. Wasn't him. Wasn't real. Just some joke. Cap must have thought he was some kind of idiot. That's why he's laughing. He's laughing because what a fucking fool Scott Lang is. He tried to ignore the thoughts and keep his smile. It turned to a more sad one instead. Why can't he just stay caught up in this moment?
"I'm gunna get some more coffee. You want some?" Scott asked as he stood up.
"Yeah, sure thanks. You know-"
"I know how you like it. Not in a weird way or anything. I know how everyone takes their morning drinks. It's totally not weird. I promise." Scott quickly explained. He just happened to watch everyone idly in the kitchen when he did wake up early. He'd sometimes get bored and make a couple of them drinks for when they came in. Well, Wanda and Clint. He felt it'd be too weird if he did for the others because he didn't think they trusted him as much and would make some big deal about it or make it weird. He went and looked in the cabinet for a mug for Cap. He slid the one with the target on it out of the way and grabbed the one behind it. He turned it around. Yep, it was the one Cap uses. It had his shield on the bottom. Cute. He poured the coffee in each mug with a yawn. The last of the pot he had prepared not long ago. How much coffee does a Scott need to be fully awake, he wondered.
"More than 3 I bet." He mumbled his answer to himself. He'd like to think he was more awake than he originally was. That had to be some kind of plus. Not to mention Cap was entertaining him. That sure helped. He yawned once again and stretched before grabbing both the mugs and going back. He peeked over Steve's shoulder at the drawing. It was a woman alright. No, wait a girl. A cute precious little girl. His little girl. Cassie. Oh god, it was beautiful. He quickly set the cups down, drawing Steve's attention. Steve noticed where Scott's eyes were locked on to. He fought the urge to smile.
"It's not quite done, but it's getting there. Just needs some shading." Steve looked up at the stunned man who only tore his eyes away from the drawing for half a second to acknowledge Steve had spoken. His mouth was hanging open is shock. He had drawn such an accurate and beautiful picture of the most important person to him. He's glad Steve had kept it a suprise. He felt his emotions building up. This was one of the best suprises he'd received in a good while.
"I... Uh... Thank..." Scott attempted before closing his mouth finally. He quickly sat down next to him before wrapping his arms around the other man's neck.
"Thank you so much. It's awesome. I love it." Scott said, his words muffled a tad by Steve's chest. Steve chuckled and hugged the man back.
"I'm glad you like it. I hope I got it right."
"It's perfect. I mean it... Thank you." Scott hesitantly pulled away to look the picture over again. It really was stunning.
"What can you not do?" Scott chuckled.
"Lots of things." Steve smiled and began to work on the drawing again. Like it wasn't already amazing. Scott scoffed and took a drink of his coffee.
"Like?" Scott finally asked.
"I'm not great with technology." Steve glanced over to Scott who had an unimpressed look.
"I'm sure if ya tried you'd be amazing. You put your mind to it and you master whatever you want. It's crazy." Scott chuckled and rested his head in his hands. Of course he knew that wasn't quite how it worked, but he's yet to be disappointed by the man. He would never admit it but he wanted to see something Cap was bad at. See the guy get frustrated because he couldn't do some useless task. Hell, even something like folding napkins into pretty shapes. Just something. He snapped out of his thoughts at the audible sound of the pencil being put down. He hesitantly looked to the other man's face. Steve was staring him down. That immediately filled him with anxiety. He'd done something completely stupid or wrong. He'd made the other man mad. He quickly straighted up and swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. This was very not good.
"I didn't... I'm sorry...?" Scott attempted, even though he didn't know what he'd done wrong. That's when Cap leaned in. Scott tensed up, but immediately noticed that Steve's eyes were fixed somewhere behind him. So he hadn't done anything wrong? That's good... No, he still didn't know what Cap was so fixed on. Alarms started blaring in his head. He had to focus.
"It's ok. I'll be right back." Steve whispered to him. He apparently missed the panic in Scott's eyes. He had no idea what was going on.
*is everything ok?* Scott mouthed, just incase whatever was behind him could hear.
"Hm? Yeah! It's fine. It's ok. Sorry. I'll just be right back." Steve gave him a confident smile. No immediate danger. He slowly relaxed, but it didn't last long. Cap moved in closer and easily placed a small kiss on Scott's cheek. Scott sat looking amazed as Cap stood up. He could feel his face redden. That was... Weirdly awesome. He finally turned around just in time to see Cap disappear out the door. What the he'll had caught his attention? He didn't want to snoop to find out. That'd just be strange. He huffed out a breath. He'd just have to be left not knowing.