Chapter 6
Mark
Mark was up and ready for the day. He put on his jeans, a black button-down shirt, and his blue converse. Mark felt this would keep attention away from him while he was out. Then he remembered, no one in the city would recognize him. Mark went to the bathroom and gave himself one look over. He brushed his hand through his hair to get it out of his eyes. He kept his hair long on top and short on the sides. He wondered if it was time for a change. "I think there have been enough changes lately," he said to himself and decided on no haircut for now. He left his room, not even looking at Steve's door. We walked into Andrea's room, not even knocking.
"Time to get up!" He said. He heard a growl from what looked to be a mound of comforters and pillows. He searched for his friend in the pile. "Time to get up sleeping beauty." He found Andrea and was welcomed with her glaring at him with one eye. "What time is it?" She asked in a hoarse voice.
"Late night? It's about 6:18." Mark greeted his friend.
"IN THE MORNING? You're funny, goodnight." Andrea attempted to cover herself with the comforter and roll back to sleep, but Mark stopped her. "You have to get up you have tasks to complete. I got the papers you wanted for the costume." Mark held up a folder. Andrea sat up and took the folder while continuing to glare at Mark. She opened it to see one sheet of paper. "Jacket, Shirt, Pants, Boots, Sunglasses," She read, "This is the detailed list for the costume? What do you want it made out of? What are the design colors, What do you want it to be?" She asked anger growing in her voice for being woken up to one line on a paper.
"You decide. Make it out of the same material as yours I suppose. And make it black. I doubt a design will matter," Mark responded.
Andrea raised an eyebrow. "And if I decide to make my costume out of pink sequins you will be okay with yours being black sequins?" She asked.
"We will look assholes, but we will match," Mark said with a smile.
"UH FINE!" Andrea replied. "But do I need to do it now. I am not functional yet."
"You can do it later. And like I asked late night?" Mark asked with a curious face.
"For your information, Tony and I went to bed in our separate rooms about fifteen minutes after Steve left," Andrea said in her defense.
"And when did Steve leave?" Mark asked thinking he still had grounds to catch her.
"About thirty seconds after he was an asshole to you," Andrea stated.
"Oh," was Mark's only reply. "So you guys saw that?"
"The whole world saw that, Mark. Steve realized it too. He couldn't even look Tony or me in the face. He ran like a dog with his tail between his legs."
"I guess he deserved to feel that way. I don't feel sorry for him." Mark said. Andrea grabbed his arm.
"Give him a chance. He is going through a rough time. I never have seen you be that way with someone. I only get to see that side of you; maybe you need to listen to Fury's words. You said last night being an assassin was your job, not who you are, remember?"
Mark regretted saying those words when he did. It was easier to deal with his past alone and away from everyone else. He let out a sigh. "Fine I will, for both of our sanities."
"Good," Andrea said as she rolled over and got comfortable. "Now leave. I am getting more sleep."
"Since when did you become the older sibling here? I thought I was the older brother." Mark asked poking fun at Andrea.
"You will forever be the older one," Andrea said under the comforter. "Now let me sleep."
"Okay," Mark said, and he made his way to the door. He closed it quietly for his friend. She was right he thought. I should give him another chance. Mark made his way down the stairs he was heading for the door when he heard "Mark!"
Mark froze in his footsteps and saw Steve in the kitchen drinking a glass of orange juice. Mark walked over to Steve.
"I am surprised you trust that orange juice with how many expired things I saw in the fridge," Mark said as he walked to the counter.
Steve eyed his orange juice and put it down slowly. "You didn't check the expiration date did you?" Mark asked. Steve shook his head.
Mark let out a laugh at Steve's expression. "I am joking. The juice is fine. Besides, I am sure the super soldier serum gives you an iron stomach."
Steve glared at Mark for his cruel joke. Steve did not like anyone messing with his morning juice. "What has you up so early? I never see anyone up at this time. It is usually me until around noon."
Mark quieted his laughter and looked at Steve when he responded, "I decided to go into the city and enjoy the sites. Well some of them. It has been some time since I have been in New York and I need to get things for dinner. As we saw, the Avenger fridge is sad. Plus Cola is required in this household."
Steve laughed as he recalled Andrea's reaction to there being no cola in the house. He took another sip of his Orange juice finishing it. "Want company?"
Mark looked at Steve and tilted his head like a curious dog. Steve smiled when Mark did this. "Don't you have your routine you do? I don't want to take you away from it."
"Nah, I can go for a run later in the day. That is if you want me to join?" Steve added.
"Not sure, I was planning on going alone so I could be in my darkness and pain, but hey you said I know nothing of that so why not join me." Mark made a jab.
Steve's face went somber, and he looked down at his empty cup. "Sorry," He said. "I don't know what you have been through, and I know you were trying to help. I'm not used to opening up to people. I didn't mean to push you away."
Mark regretted making Steve feel bad. He reached out and touched Steve's arm. "Hey," Steve looked up to meet Mark's eyes, "apology accepted. But tell me, did you arrive at this conclusion on your own or was it Tony and Andre's death stare that did it?"
Steve smiled. "Bit of both to be honest."
Mark smiled back at Steve. "Well, I can't fault you for something I understand. So again apology accepted. So are you ready?"
Steve was dressed in jogger pants, a tee-shirt, and running shoes. Mark was making a point Steve may want to change. "I think so," Steve replied.
Mark sighed. "Steve, do you think you want to not look like you are about to run a marathon. I mean we will be just hanging out in the city and getting food for the mansion."
Steve let the realization his him, and he smiled. "You're right. I should change." And Steve walked past Mark grabbing him by the arm dragging him to the stairs.
"I'm sorry but what is happening right now?" Mark asked as he was walking backward.
"Well I am not good at this stuff, so I thought you would help me," Steve asked.
"And you felt dragging my by the arm was more efficient than asking and me following you?"
Steve smiled at the question. "Yup and a bit of payback for your jab earlier."
Mark knew he would not live that jab down for a while. "Fine you win. Lead the way. But I don't think it will be too tough."
Steve entered his room, and Mark waited in the hallway. Steve returned to his door. "Are you coming in?"
Mark gave a sharp look. "Sorry, being a vampire I need to be invited in before I can enter. No, I am not going in while you change."
Steve looked confused, "Why not."
"Cause I do not think a taken man should strip in front of another man, just saying."
Steve's face went bright red. "I was going to change in the closet, and I wasn't going to strip in front of you. My God, I see why you thought that, though. No, I am sorry I didn't mean to imply that." Steve's face grew a darker shade of red as he continued. Mark began to laugh.
"Calm down it is okay. No one will know your attempt to strip in front of me." Mark said through his laughter. He does look cute when he gets like this, though. He thought to himself.
Steve was able to calm himself before he replied, "Who told you?"
"Tony did. Last night, while we were getting the wine. He said you and Bucky had been a thing for a while. That's why I asked about your pain remember?"
Steve nodded his head as he remembered. "I am still sorry for that."
"Again forgiven! And also you should change, this awkward exchange is fun especially to see you turn 50 shades of red, but we need to head out soon."
Steve blushed again and said, "Okay I will change quickly," and left to the closet.
Mark waited for about five minutes when Steve returned wearing almost the same thing he did. "So you couldn't decide on what to wear, and since I am good at this, you wear the same thing I am," Mark replied.
Steve looked at his clothes and laughed. "I did not even realize I put on the same thing as you. I'm sorry I will be…"
"No time," Mark grabbed Steve by the arm and pulled out of his room and down the hall. "What you have on is fine. But we should find you a hat to hide your face more." Mark remembered seeing a hat in the living room. He pulled Steve all the way down the stairs and into the living room. "Here we are."
"I can't wear that hat," Steve said.
"And why not? Does it have lice in it or something?" Mark looked at the hat for any critters.
"It's a Yankees hat. I am a Dodgers fan." Steve said in a stern voice.
Instead of arguing Mark just threw the hat behind him. "I feel I would not win this fight so let's just go." Steve smiled at Mark's response. "Did you just admit you lost a fight with me?" Steve's smile went bigger as he poked fun at Mark.
"Everyone gets one Rogers. Now let's go." They both headed to the door.
It was a beautiful summer day. It wasn't as hot as it had been over the last few weeks from a heatwave, or some villain is trying to melt the city again, it's hard to keep track of what causes what anymore. Mark walked to the street and was about to go down the sidewalk when Steve asked, "Aren't we going to take a car?"
"You can if you wish," Mark replied, "But I wanted to walk. It's not far about a mile to the subway station. And what? Is Steve Rogers afraid of a little walking?" Mark smiled as he continued. Mark heard the footsteps of someone running as Steve caught up to him. "You are stubborn you know that?" Steve said when he met up with Mark.
"I have been told that, yes," Mark said with a smile. Steve smiled back at Mark, and they walked into the city together. They opted to go past the subway line and keep walking. Mark was able to see Steve in the sunlight. He didn't notice Steve was as tall as he was. Mark had been around Andrea so much he is used to people shorter than him. He was 6'2" after all. Even the targets they had were shorter than him.
About half way on their walk Mark pulled out his music and headphones. Steve gave Mark a confused look.
"Sorry, I take these everywhere. Andrea sometimes says I wish my life had theme music always playing. She is right."
Steve laughed at Mark's comment. Mark took the headphone and put on in his ear and gave the other to Steve. "Here, it is only fair you get to enjoy my theme music too. Don't worry, it is a long cord."
Steve took the headphone and put it in his ear. He laughed at the music. "Songs about New York? Really?" He said between laughs.
"We are walking in New York, and I did not know I would be judged for my music. Just enjoy it. It will be nice." Mark replied.
"Okay," Steve said, and they continued walking. They stopped at a coffee shop for something to drink. Mark got an iced coffee with mocha. Steve settled on Green Tea but felt wary about the hot tea when he got it. Mark watched as Steve slowly sipped the hot tea and looked to be in pain drinking something hot during the summer. Mark handed his iced coffee to him. "Here."
"But that is yours. I am fine with my tea." Mark did not believe Steve. "It is a summer day, and you get hot tea. Drink my coffee for now, and I will get you something cold with green tea in it." Steve gave into Mark's request, and Mark got him something cold, iced and tasting like green tea.
Mark handed Steve the beverage. Steve took it and took a sip. "Better?" Mark asked. Steve nodded. Steve handed Mark back his drink, and Mark just eyed his half gone ice coffee. He glared at Steve. "I hope you plan on sharing." Steve smiled and shook his head no. Mark shoved him. "You are greedy."
"Sorry, yours was good too. I guess I like both."
Mark smiled at Steve. "Just tell me next time when you don't like something. It isn't a big deal to get you something else."
Steve looked down. "Sorry." Steve had paused for a moment before he continued. "I guess I am used to dealing with things as they are and never speaking up. I will let you know from now on, I promise."
"You better," Mark said as he handed his headphone again to Steve. Steve put it in his ear, and they both continued their walk. Steve did offer half of his drink to Mark. "Nah you have it. It is nice to see you enjoy it. It's cute."
Steve blushed as he took another sip of his drink.
You just called him cute Mark. What are you thinking? He is taken. And now bad life choices will begin. Great this is all you need. What have you gotten yourself into? Blame Andrea. She said to give him another chance. None of this would have happened if you gave him the cold shoulder and went on your own.
Mark felt a light shove from a shoulder. He turned to Steve smiling at him.
Remember to thank Andrea for telling me to give him another chance.
They arrived at the grocery store. "I feel like this store is closer than the walk we took?" Steve asked.
"That's cause we zig-zagged through the neighborhoods. I said I wanted to see the sites." Mark admitted.
"I thought you meant the landmarks and other stuff," Steve said confused.
"Nah I always enjoy going through the neighborhoods and seeing the shops around and the people. You would know didn't you grow up in New York? You feel more of the city when doing that."
"I grew up in Brooklyn," Steve said.
"Then we should see the neighborhoods there sometime. It could be fun to find the locally known pizza shop or the best greasy Chinese food place." Mark said.
Steve smiled at the idea. "Fine but I lead next time. I can't let a non-Broklyner lead the way."
"Deal," Mark said. And they entered the grocery store.
It had taken about five minutes before someone recognized Steve, which meant a crowd of people would surround them. Mark hated this. He just wanted to get groceries and leave, but Steve greeted each person and signed autographs for everyone. "Sorry for this, if you want to get everything, I think I will finish soon and find you," Steve said to Mark. "Okay," Mark responded.
Mark went through the grocery store gathering all he needed for dinner and grabbing three cases of cola. He would have some, but most likely Andrea would drink most of it. He went over to where Steve was. The crowd didn't look like it got smaller. It looked like it got bigger. Steve still greeted everyone and signed everything. "At least, he is making sure he is greeting everyone and treating them special," Mark said to himself. Mark decided to walk around the store again to buy some time. He thought it would be better for Steve to think he was still finding things rather than he had been waiting for him to finish.
About the fifth circle of the store, Steve found Mark. "Sorry about that, There were a lot of them. I didn't keep you waiting long did I?"
"Not too long I just finished getting the last of everything." Mark lied.
Steve looked at his watch, "We have been in this store and hour and a half. I made you wait didn't I?"
"I am a slow shopper Steve, I forgot a lot of things and needed to go back to other aisles multiple times, what can I say." Mark looked at the kids waving their Autographs as a hello to Steve. "Least you made a few people happy. It's all that matters." Mark finished.
Steve grabbed the basket from Mark. "So to the register?"
"You know I have been holding that basket for an hour and a half, I don't think I am too weak to take it to the cashier."
"I thought you said you just finished filling it?" Steve said.
"Uh… to the register." Mark tried to hide his guilty face. He felt Steve shove him with a smile.
They paid for the groceries and left the store. Both carried two bags, and Mark handed his headphone to Steve for the walk home.
They both walked in silence until Steve broke it. "You know I am surprised you didn't say anything to me when you finished getting everything."
"What do you mean? I told you I finished when you found me." Steve gave Mark a serious look at his reply.
"Okay, you caught me. I finished in about fifteen minutes. I may have walked around the store a few times to let you enjoy your time."
Steve paused, and Mark stopped to look back at him. "What?" Mark said.
"Why did you do that?" Steve looked almost stunned when he found out the truth.
"Is it a big deal?" Mark asked
"No, but I want to know," Steve said almost pleading.
"Well," Mark began as he looked away, "you looked happy. All those kids wanting your autograph and you gave them high fives and signed everything. You were happy doing it. I couldn't take that from you just cause I was waiting. You looked like you were truly enjoying yourself. I wanted you to enjoy yourself. So I walked around a few times, big deal. I think I probably would have walked ten more times if needed. UGHFF…" Mark felt a hug at the end of his sentence. Steve had run into him and given him a big hug. Now Mark was confused, enjoying this but confused. He pulled Steve off of him.
"Not that it wasn't nice but what was that for?" Mark asked.
Steve looked at him. "It's not a big deal don't worry about it," and smiled at Mark.
Mark could see what looked like a tear falling down Steve's cheek. He wiped it away for him. "Not to sound mean, but this," He held up his finger with the tear, "shows me it is a big deal for you. So spill, I didn't do something that amazing."
Steve looked down when he responded. "No one put their needs aside for me before. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is to me. You let me have a moment. You waited, said nothing just cause I was happy. You didn't care if you had to wait. It means a lot that you did that for me."
Mark looked even more confused at Steve. "I am not sure if I should speak since I will ruin this moment for the both of us."
"Then don't," Steve said.
Mark should have been mad at Steve for being blunt, but he picked up the fallen headphone and handed it back to Steve smiling. "Okay."
Steve put back the headphone and continued walking with Mark. Mark noticed Steve walking closer to him than he did before.
Self, this is a strange one. He looked at Steve, who was still smiling. But he is a good one. Better listen to him and not ruin this. Let's see how long this smile will last. Mark said to himself.
Steve smiled the whole way back to the Avenger's Mansion. Mark noticed him getting closer and closer to him on the walk. Mark knew he should have put some distance between them, but he opted not to. They went into the kitchen and put everything on the counter to sort it and put it away. They heard someone walking downstairs.
"Morning sleeping Beauty," Mark said to Andrea. She was still wrapped in her comforter, and her hair was a mess. "Now you see why I call her a dirty little hamster," Mark said to Steve. Steve laughed.
Andrea said no words. She walked over to them. She glared at Mark and grabbed the case of Cola, clutching it to her chest. "No jokes until I had this." She walked over to the table and opened the case. She pulled out a can, tapped the top of it before opening it. She sipped it. "Ahh, that's the right stuff." She looked at Mark then at Steve, then back to Mark again.
"So?" Andrea looked at Steve again. "Should I ask?" looking back at Mark. "What?" she ended the sentence.
Mark laughed. "Your brain cannot process full sentences yet. Maybe wait until you are three Colas in then ask."
"You might be right with that friend." And Andrea downed her Cola. She opened another and took a sip before spitting it out. "Wait? Why would my brain need to process something unless it was significant?" she said looking at Mark.
Mark looked at Steve. "Her brain slows in the morning, be prepared for delayed reactions."
"Shut it I said no jokes!" Andrea scorned.
"Until you had one cola, You did, so it's open season on jokes. And you have nothing to process." Mark went to get a towel to clean Andrea's mess. "We went to the grocery store. We just got back. Anymore to process?"
Andrea raised an eyebrow at the questions. "Is that all?" She asked.
"And we got coffee and some green tea drink that was really good," Steve added.
"Well, you got coffee and that green tea drink. Steve got a hot tea I asked him if he wanted something else. I let him hold my iced coffee while I got him a cold blended green tea. When I came back, my coffee was half gone."
Andrea looked at Mark. "And what did you learn?"
Mark smiled, "Never leave your iced mocha with Steve. Apparently, he likes sweets." Mark and Andrea looked at Steve, who was a light shade of pink at this time.
Mark went over to Andrea to clean the mess. Andrea leaned in and whispered, "Is that all?"
Mark looked at her and said, "Yes he is a taken man remember. That's all." Mark felt it would be best to save the conversation about the hug for when he and Andrea are not in front of Steve.
"Shame," Andrea said as she sipped her drink. Mark glared at her and grabbed a cola from the case. She hissed at him.
"So did you get your recording device ready for the day?" Mark asked Andrea.
"You mean my camera which can pinpoint a person's abilities in strength, agility, and fight patterns. The camera you had me spend weeks on? Yes, it is done." She said with a tone of pride at the end.
"Good I am gonna use it for a bit," Mark said.
"What is it for and what are you going to use it on?" Steve asked.
"It records a person's abilities based on an average human's potential. I calibrated it to fit those of us who have surpassed average human potential in speed, strength, and fighting style. It measures these areas and shows where a person can improve." Andrea explained.
"And I am gonna use it in the training room to see where my agility is at. Like I said before I need to see where that skill is since I don't use it often." Mark said to Steve.
"Oh well, I offered to spare if you needed," Steve added. Andrea raised another eyebrow at Steve's comment. Mark just glared at her. "Thanks, Steve, but I am not going to work on strength or fighting style. I am just working on agility. Another time."
Steve looked a little disappointed in the rejection.
"Shame," Andrea commented. Mark threw the towel in her face.
"Besides were you going to go for a run. You passed that up to help me out." Mark added.
"Yeah I could go on that run," Steve looked at the time, "It still is early enough."
"I don't know how you two function so early in the morning," Andrea said.
The three of them heard someone on the stairs. They saw Tony slowly sulking in for the morning.
"This, this is my fellow non-morning person!" Andrea shouted holding a can of cola for Tony.
"Caffeine," Tony said. "Glorious caffeine." He opened the can and sipped from it. Mark turned to Steve, who was laughing at Tony. "So you are as used to this as I am?" Mark said to Steve.
"Yup, I told you I am only one up at that time," Steve said.
"Well, I am going to get ready for the training. The camera is in your room?" Mark asked Andrea.
"The second bag on the side nearest to the bed. It is the only camera in there so you should find it no problem."
"Thanks," Mark said, and he headed for the stairs.
"Wait up." Mark heard, and he saw Steve following him. "I am heading up too to get ready for my run."
"And you are hoping to wear the same training outfit as me to keep up our twins look?" Mark asked Steve.
Steve blushed. "I forgot about that," He said looking at himself and Mark.
"I needed to remind you one more time." Mark began to walk up the stairs.
"I just wanted to thank you for being so kind to me today. You didn't need to be especially after last night." Mark froze at Steve's words.
"Need to be kind? Steve I wasn't trying to be kind. I was just myself to you. That's all."
"Oh," Steve said as he walked next to Mark. "Well if that is how you are then I liked getting to know that person." And Steve grabbed Marks arm and squeezed it. "Still Thanks. I am going to get ready." Steve went up the stairs and to his room. Mark just stood there frozen. He saw Andrea walk over to see him.
"So? What happened?" She asked him.
"I AM SO FUCKED," Mark confessed.
Andrea nodded her head in agreeance and walked back to the kitchen. Mark slowly walked up the stairs just realizing how fucked he was. He got to his room and just collapsed on the bed. "Living as an assassin was safer," He said.
If that is how you are, then I liked getting to know that person.
"I am so fucked," He said to himself again ad he covered his head with a pillow.
