The first time Natasha hears it, she's walking to Steve's room to check on him. Bucky's already there, standing outside his door. "Is he..." She waves her hand in question towards Steve's door. "Singing?"
"Yep."
"In the shower?"
"Yep."
Natasha's face slides into a wicked grin and she tries Steve's door handle. It's unlocked which is normal, he's always been too trusting, and now even more so. She and Bucky creep up to the cracked bathroom door where Steve's voice is pouring through loud and clear. They sit, cross legged on the floor, backs against the wall just listening.
"Can he hear us out here?" Natasha whispers.
"While he's singing and the water is going?" Bucky considers, "maybe if he knew to listen for us, but I doubt he is. He hasn't been on guard since he woke up." The last refrain of "You Belong With Me" by Dean Martin is being sung and they quietly creep back out of his hear the shower shut off and the two disappear down the hallway listening as the sound of Steve humming to himself fades.
—-
Clint is getting antsy waiting. Natasha said she'd been down to spar, but that was 10 minutes ago.
"Friday?"
"Yes, Agent Barton?"
"Where's Natasha?"
"In Captain Roger's quarters."
Clint's nerves go on alert and he's running.
—-
He hears it the second his foot steps out of the elevator. Suddenly what's happening clicks in his mind and he creeps towards Steve's door. But he's more surprised to see Bruce and Bucky there as well.
Bruce is sitting against the bed, his eyes closed and head leaned back against the mattress. Bucky is laying on his stomach next to Natasha who is laying on her back, arms behind her head.
Each one has their eyes closed, just listening as Steve, in the shower and unaware of their presence, alternates between singing out the words, humming, and sort of guessing the lyrics.
He slithers down to the floor, taking up residence on Natasha's other side and nudging her.
"How long has the impromptu concert been happening?" He whispers.
Natasha barely opens one eye, "this particular shower? I think we're on song three. As for how long we've been absolute menaces to Steve's privacy?" She looks at Bucky, nudging him.
He just nods, his eyes still closed, "the day you saw me outside his door was a first for me." Bucky whispers.
"So this is like day four?" She muses, waving her foot towards Bruce. "He joined us yesterday. We didn't even alert him today, he just came of his own accord. Same as you. Somehow we're drawn to Steve's happiness like he's the sun and we're all stupid little flowers."
Bucky snorts at that and it must be too loud because Steve's singing cuts off. Their eyes widen and they scatter from his room as quietly as possible.
—-
Tony makes his bi-hourly pilgrimage to the common room for a snack. He's shuffling through the items in the fridge when it hits him how unusually quiet it is.
He glances around and something tells him the complete absence of people is out of the norm. His eyes narrow and he steps into the elevator. "Friday?"
"Yes, boss?"
"Should I be worried about the team?"
"No, boss."
"Are they…" he feels the briefest insecurity about his question, "Are they all together?"
"In a sort of way." She responds cryptically.
"Friday, where are they?"
"In Captain Roger's quarters."
He feels a pang of something, jealousy? Worry? Annoyance that they're all there and he wasn't notified?
Friday must sense the increase in his heart rate as she speaks smoothly.
"Boss, I believe you will be welcome to join them."
He rolls his eyes and shoulders, for some reason needing to pretend non-chaplaincy to the AI he created. "Yeah, yeah. Take me to his floor."
—-
It takes everything in him to not to exclaim, "what the hell." When he steps into the unusual sight.
Bruce is in a chair, his phone in his hand, Tony can see some sort of puzzle game on the screen. Bucky is lying down on his back, a pillow behind his head. Natasha's head lays on his stomach, her phone in her hand, he can see she's recording something. And Clint's head lays on her stomach creating some sort of creepy assassin's arrangement on Steve's floor.
They glance up at his entrance and promptly ignore him, listening as Steve is humming some Glenn Miller tune that Tony remember's his dad liked.
"Um..." He starts.
"Shh." Bruce hisses. His finger at his lips. He taps something on his phone and Tony feels his watch buzz. He looks down and his mouth falls open in disbelief.
If you're here. You're quiet.
Then a text from Natasha pops through:
Do not disturb our singing sun. We will kill you.
Tony scoffs out loud and three pairs of eyes from the floor stare daggers at him.
Tony steps back, holding up his hands in surrender before tossing himself onto Steve's bed. Steve switches mid-song to something else that sounds deceptively modern and Tony's ears perk up. He snatches his phone out of his pocket and creates a new group chat sans Steve
T: I didn't know Cap was a Michael Buble fan
Clint rolls his eyes and types back
C: He's literally a crooner in the modern world. Of course Steve would like him
N: His rendition yesterday of Buble's 'Home' was tear inducing. Clint actually cried.
C: I did. It's true.
Tony's eyebrows raise.
T: Yesterday? You guys listened to him sing yesterday?
N: And the day before that, and the 4 days before that.
T: How do you know when he's showering? Seems creepy.
N: Bucky hears him from the guest room and then texts me, and I text Clint and Bruce has a sixth sense and just shows up. How'd you find us?
T: Everything was too quiet. Got suspicious.
There's no response as they listen to Steve hum a few bars of "What a Helluva Way to Die", which instantly creates a somber mood.
—
Steve scratches at the back of his head, as the water runs down his back, his fingers tracing a small knotted line that is still present. A scar from the last mission he assumes, although after almost two weeks he's surprised he can still feel the scar.
He's not sure what but something makes the hairs on his neck stand up. He goes quiet and whatever it was stops because everything seems normal.
He starts humming again, one of his ma's favorites, "when you wish upon a star". But this time he keeps his ears at attention.
5 heartbeats become audible as he tunes into the sounds around him and he automatically feels his adrenaline spiking into battle mode, he leaves the water running, stepping out onto the mat. He continues humming, but he's grabbing his pants and slipping them on over his wet body. He's snatching the door handle and yanking it open, fists raised when he stops at the sight.
Natasha and Tony are staring at their phones angrily, as if arguing over text. Clint is staring over Natasha's shoulder and Bucky and Bruce are sitting back to back, their knees up to their chests looking annoyed.
Five pairs of eyes snap to him at his unannounced arrival and their eyes widen as he stares at them.
"Uh, guys?" He asks, "what the hell is going on?"
Clint doesn't hesitate a second before shouting "RUN!" And bolting out the door.
Natasha and Bucky are next to disappear before Tony and Bruce can scramble to their feet. Steve holds up his hands, "He- hey, wait. Wait!" But Tony is gone and Bruce is just patting his arm and then pulling it back at the water he feels on wet skin.
"Bruce—" Steve says as the man steps out of his room, leaving him dripping water on his carpet and incredibly confused.
—-
"Friday?" Steve asks after circling the compound a few times and coming up empty.
"Yes, Captain Rogers?"
"Are they avoiding me?"
"Indeed, Captain."
Steve sighs. Figures. He thinks for a minute before starting at the ceiling.
"How come you didn't tell me they were in my room?"
"My apologies Captain Rogers, I wasn't aware you didn't want them in there."
"No, no— that's not what I meant, I just… How long were they in there for?"
"Today or in total?"
Steve's eyes bulge, "In total? They've been in there multiple days?"
"Yes, Captain. Everyday for the past 15 days."
"Just when I'm showering?" He's confused, he sits on his bed, "Why?"
The AI's tone is soft when she responds. "I believe, Captain, that the appeal of hearing you sing has been a major factor."
"Um… Did I not sing in the shower before the last mission?"
"No." Friday responds, "I don't have any records of you singing at all before the last two weeks."
"Oh…" Something uncomfortable about that fact coils in his gut. It doesn't seem right. His ma, and Bucky's little sister, and other people always loved hearing him sing. He can't really imagine why he stopped. And according to Friday, he stopped long before this last mission. Not to mention the fact that his team has been acting like scared cats for the past two weeks and they still won't tell him why.
Maybe they were lying. Maybe he did screw up this last mission and they're keeping it from him to save his pride. He thinks back, his memory feeling a little iffy. It's an unusual feeling because ever since the serum his memory's been nearly perfect. It's annoying how much he's relied on the serum for things, and since this last head injury, which he still doesn't remember, he's starting to feel rattled about all the pieces that seem to be missing, not just the last mission.
I believe, Captain, that the appeal of hearing you sing has been a major factor.
He thinks about the AI's words. The team had been sitting together listening to him sing… and they didn't want him to know. Why that feels unusual he isn't sure. Steve sits on his bed, considering options of things he can do to make them feel more comfortable with him, because apparently that was something he hadn't been doing. As the captain it feels like a gross oversight on his part. He needs to work on their interpersonal relationships. He and the commandos worked best when they trusted each other as not only teammates but friends and brothers on the battlefield.
So that's what he'll do. Or try to.
Steve lays back on his bed, his hair still a bit damp
—
"You said it couldn't be done."
"Yes, and?"
"You lied."
"And you're… surprised by this?"
"I shouldn't be. There's no code anymore."
"Code? Like when you two installed the tracker and didn't tell me? You are a government drone. I am someone trying to fix—"
"Oh, shut up. Don't try to act superior with me. This idiotic vendetta—"
"We are not the same."
"Damn right. If you know what's good for you, you'll disappear."
"If you know what's good for the world, you'll—"
"Lest we forget who is holding all the cards here."
"Hmm…" the calm response sends a shiver down Ross' spine. "Have you checked your deck lately?"
—-
Steve tries to not smile as he hears the door down the hall open. He can hear Bucky listening. But Steve doesn't stop, he continues half singing, half humming as he leaves his room and heads to the common floor kitchen.
Steve continues his rendition of "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" all the way through the elevator ride and into the kitchen. He's unsurprised to find Clint there, heart rate elevated as if he'd run from somewhere. Probably his room.
"Hey Clint." He calls jovially, smiling at the archer who's pretending he is reading a book on the couch. Clint doesn't even like to read that much and it makes Steve almost chuckle at his attempted ruse. But he doesn't. He just smiles and resumes singing a medley of Andrews Sisters' songs as he goes about making a large breakfast.
The two heartbeats arriving in the stairwell tell him that Bucky and Natasha are have joined the crowd and he finds himself humming quieter to try to get them to come out into the open.
It works.
The stairwell door next to the elevator opens and Natasha slips out, walking casually towards Clint like she has something to talk about with him.
"Hey Tasha." He says as she passes and the surprise flickering across her face at the nickname makes him smile wider.
"Hey Steve." She says, her eyes studying his face. Soon Bucky is next to him.
"You want some help?" Bucky asks quietly, eyeing the ingredients Steve has out. "Wait are you…" He looks up at Steve in surprise, "You're making orange french toast?"
Steve scrunches his nose up in a smile, grabbing Bucky and pulling him in for a hug, surprising the other super soldier. "Buck, you remember! I wasn't sure! We only got to have it a few times."
Bucky's hands tighten on Steve's back and he embraces him tightly before stepping back, "yeah, Stevie. I remember."
"What's orange french toast?" Steve and Bucky look up to see Bruce standing there, hands grasping each other nervously in front of him,
"When we could afford it on Christmas, my ma or Bucky's family would add orange juice to the french toast batter and it would be a really special treat." Steve says, mixing in eggs and milk with fresh squeezed orange juice. "Not to mention the Vitamin C was good for my immune system." He adds idly, his hands working as he starts to cut thick slices from a french bread loaf. "I just felt like making it." He looks at Bucky, "You know they figured it out in '45? How to get the frozen concentrate to stay good? We both missed out." He chuckles and goes back to working as You guys want some?"
They blink at him before Bruce pipes up, "Yeah, Steve. Of course we do."
"We do what?" Tony asks, stepping off the elevator.
"You want some breakfast?" Steve asks, smiling.
Tony glances around at the group and narrows his eyes. "Why, what's in it…?"
Steve laughs, "Nothing, Tony. I'm not going to try to poison you guys for invading my room and privacy." He says the last part humor, a smile splitting across his face as he watches them all stiffen. "I would like to say that I'm happy to sing in more public places so you don't have to resort to being creepy." He looks down, back at the counter, working the griddle and resumes humming, not letting them respond.
He does notice that they all stay, eyes surreptitiously glancing at him as they listen to him prepare breakfast.
—-
"So, Clint." Steve starts, wiping his hands with a napkin. "I've been really itching to shoot for some reason, you wanna be my teacher?"
The look on Clint's face is priceless as he stares at Steve in shock. "You— you wanna shoot?"
Steve nods, a little caught off guard by Clint's surprise, "Yeah, Clint. Why wouldn't I?"
"You've never wanted to before…" he says, his voice trailing off as he glances around at the others.
Steve's brows furrow, "Well, that seems like a mistake on my part. I should always be working on learning new skills. It's weird because I feel like I remember you training me before…. Not sure why I'd remember that if I've never shot with you."
Tony cuts him off, "there's a new range built on the floor beneath the gym."
Clint's jaw drops, "you're kidding."
"I'm not."
Steve laughs, looking at Clint. "would you be willing now?"
Clint's on his feet, food forgotten, "yes. Yes. Absolutely, I'll be ready in 10 mi—no, 5 minutes." He's gone before Steve can agree. He chuckles and looks at the others.
"Anyone else I've avoided training with?"
Natasha scoffs at him. "Please, the only people you actually train with are Thor and Barnes. You're always too worried you'll hurt us." She rolls her eyes as if it's not even a possibility. "You always are fighting me like you have training wheels on."
Steve sighs, his protective side warring with his desire to build a team. "Okay, Romanoff. You and me, on the mat after my session with Clint. No holds barred."
Her mouth parts in surprise, something like excitement gleaming in them, "you're serious?"
"I look like a liar to you?" She actually laughs and slides out of her chair, grabbing her and Clint's plate, kissing Steve's cheek as she passes.
"You are on." She threatens good-naturedly, before disappearing down the stairwell.
—
Breakfast is cleaned up and Steve is heading down towards the archery range when Tony stops in his tracks. His eyes widen in realization and a grin catches Bucky and Bruce's attention.
"What is it, Tony?" Bruce asks, setting the last dish into the dishwasher.
"Oh. Oh ho ho, Barton has made a huge mistake."
Bucky's head tilts to the side. "What do you mean?"
Tony's texting something, "we gotta go down there. I'm not missing this." He's stepping into the elevator and gone as Bruce and Bucky look at each other with confused expressions.
—
"Okay, so." Clint starts, "You need to— yeah, just like that, good job." He watches as Steve puts the protective arm guard on correctly and the finger protectors. "Even with the serum, best to avoid bruises."
"Of course." Steve says seriously, listening intently to everything Clint is saying.
"Let's try out bow strengths." He leads Steve to the rack of bows. "You probably want one of these, with your enhanced strength you might break some of the weaker strings."
They try out a few, and Steve does accidentally snap one before settling on a very heavy duty bow. "I think this one was designed with you in mind." Clint jokes.
Steve laughs and brings it to the firing line, noticing the audience they've gained.
"We've got some onlookers." Steve mentions.
Clint glances, "don't worry about them, they're like vultures. They just want to watch you screw up."
Steve laughs, "well, that won't be hard to do, if you've said I've never shot before." He glances back at Bucky who is sitting in a stool watching Tony explain something to Natasha who has a look of absolute glee on her face. "Hey, Bucky?"
"Yeah?"
"Have I ever shot a bow and arrow?" Bucky frowns, thinking, then looking a bit nervously at the others before turning back to Steve.
"Not that I remember?"
"Yeah… I don't think I have either." He frowns at what feels like gaps in his memory but shakes it off.
"You'll do fine." Tony says with a knowing smile. The encouragement throws Steve for a moment before he decides to not question it.
"Thanks, Tony."
"Anytime, Cap." He says it, addressing Steve, but his eyes are trained on Clint with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
"Okay, Cap." Clint calls, drawing his attention back. "We'll start with just seeing how you do the first shot, and then I'll adjust your technique as needed."
Tony laughs, causing everyone to stare at him, "my bad, sorry. Don't mind me."
Steve and Clint turn back around slowly, giving each other confused shrugs before focusing back on the targets at the far end.
"Okay, give it your best shot, Cap." Clint says encouragingly.
Steve raises the bow, feeling some weird type of muscle memory take over, and within a second lets the arrow fly. A laugh has him looking back at Tony who is clapping his hands like a toddler, before looking at the target to see that he has shot a perfect bullseye.
Clint is looking at him with surprise and Steve ducks his head. "Beginners luck?" He suggests.
"Maybe." Clint says slowly, handing him another arrow, "try again."
He does, taking a deep breath and firing the arrow as quickly as the last one. The resounding crack echoing in silence as the second arrow splits the first one down the middle to hit dead center again.
"You're in deep shit, Barton." Tony calls, striding over.
"Cap," Clint asks, looking a little hurt, "you been holding out on me?"
"What?" Steve frets, "I wouldn't- I don't know— I've never—"
"This is all on you, Barton." Tony crows, slapping the archer on the shoulder, "you created this monster."
"Stark," Clint gripes, "What the hell are you on about?"
"You told us what you…" he pauses, looking at Steve briefly, trying to think of the right word. "Remember when you were… showing Steve about your past? You showed him your training. Every detail of it, every detail. You showed a person who has eidetic memory your entire training arsenal." Tony smiles again, and looks at Steve. "You just became the resident top archer, Cap. Not only do you now have the skills, but you're faster and stronger too." He points at Clint, "You just became outdated." He says it jokingly, but something about it makes Clint's face fall and Steve hates it. He drops the bow and steps back.
"No." He feels his heart rate raising and his brain goes fuzzy. "No, that's not—" His head starts to ache, and he clutches at it briefly, eliciting a groan. His fingers grip his temples as a memory surfaces unbidden.
"You're a good shot, Cap." Jones comments off-handed. "You took out that whole squad without any of our boots touching the ground. You're almost as good as Barnes."
His eyes trail over to Bucky. Who still looks like he's on the table that Zola strapped him too. Pale and bruised and a bit twitchy. Bucky's pretending not to listen. But Steve can hear the erratic tic of his heart. His face is calm but his eyes are crinkled in the way Steve has only seen when he's upset.
"Nah." Steve says quickly. "Everyone's got their own skills. I'm no sharpshooter. Barnes is the best of the best, I couldn't compare." His voice carries over the commandos and settles the argument. Steve makes a vow that if it can be helped, he'd never do something that would make one of his guys feel obsolete.
He sucks in a deep breath, the ache settling into a dull throb and then disappearing. He looks up to find 5 worried faces staring at him within arms reach.
"You okay, Steve?" Bruce asks, "What happened?"
He glances around, his fists are clenched and he feels a drop of sweat fall down his collar. He relaxes his hands and wipes at his neck, brushing the sheen of sweat off.
"No, I'm good. I'm fine. Sorry about that." He straightens up and steps back, raising his hands in an "I'm fine" gesture.
"Cap?" Tony asks, "You sure?"
"Yep." He smiles and looks at Clint. "Thanks for the lesson. I think I'll stick to my shield." Steve glances at his watch, then at Natasha. "Maybe we'll spar another day, okay? We should do something else. You guys want to go into the city?"
The abrupt turn around has them pausing. Bucky's eyes are dark, his face set in a flat expression. But Natasha speaks up first, "sure Steve. We'll go out to eat, sound good?"
"Yeah." He takes the offer quickly, stepping back and heading towards the elevator not waiting for them. "Let's say we'll leave at 5:30?" He doesn't wait. He's in the elevator and gone.
"What just happened?" Bruce asks, looking at them helplessly and gesturing towards the elevator.
"What the hell." Natasha snaps. "Tony, did you have to be such a jackass?"
"What!" Tony huffs, "I was just having some fun!"
Clint rolls his eyes. "It's fine Natasha, Tony was just mouthing off, I'm not surprised Steve's better at it than me—"
"Yeah, you may not care. But Steve would! He dropped that bow like it was made of fire when you" she stabs at Tony, "called him" she points to Clint, "obsolete!"
"Why would he—"
Bucky's voice cuts through Tony's. "He's remembering." They turn to him, his face still blank but his eyes stormy. "That quick headache he seemed to have? His brain's healing. It's starting to fill in the gaps. He stopped practicing sharpshooting in front of the guys when Jones once told him he'd be better than me." He turns to Clint. "That's why he's never shot with you before. He knew if he learned the skill…" He sighs. "I don't know really, he hates displacing people. Even though he can't be everywhere at once.." Bucky rolls his eyes. "He's always been incredibly protective of his teams. Making sure everyone felt they were necessary."
Tony sighs, "Well, shit." He glares at the archery range. "Why can't I seem to enjoy Steve being this happy without screwing it up?"
Natasha's face softens and she picks up the bow Steve dropped. "I get it. It's hard to see him this way knowing it's the Steve that could have been if he hadn't had to go through all the crap he did…"
"We're going to need to start memories again soon." Bruce says quietly, "If we want to prevent what Barnes' said. I don't want him remembering the manipulated ones.
There's silence before Bucky speaks up, his voice brittle, his eyes only dart at them briefly before falling to the floor and staying there. "Maybe we can let him be for just a few more days…"
They don't argue.
—-
At 5:30 on the dot Steve opens the door to the parking garage and they file into one of Tony's custom cars that fits all of them.
"Any ideas of where to go?" Tony asks. They've all agreed to do their damndest to not screw up tonight. To just let Steve be Steve and enjoy his relaxed disposition while they can.
"What sounds good to everyone?" Bruce muses.
They look at Steve who smiles, "I chose tacos last time, it's Bucky's turn."
Bucky baulks, "Why me?"
"Because a brainwashed assassin deserves to be allowed to choose food after not having the choice after 70 years." Tony says without a moment's hesitation, looking at his phone. "Ow!" He cries at Natasha's punch to his arm. He looks up and notices that Steve has stiffened at his words and Bruce, Clint, Bucky, and Natasha are glaring at him. Oh, right. Not using sarcasm to deflect tragic moments is a hard habit to break, "I mean…" he says weakly, trying to recover, "didn't the history books say that you liked Italian food a lot?"
Bucky eyes Tony and then relaxes, eyeing Steve with an amused grin. "I swear that reporter would not get off our asses until we answered every one of his inane questions."
"I just remember the strongly worded letter that your mom sent you when she read that news article and you hadn't said her food was your favorite." Steve's eyes crinkle with a smile and Bucky smiles in return.
"Yeah, she was pissed. I didn't know that was an option though. I'd do anything for one of her jell-o cakes right now."
Steve's eyes widen and he leans back, mouth open. "I completely forgot about those. Oh man, you would look forward to your birthday just for that!"
"So would you!" Bucky accuses, and Steve laughs.
"Of course I would!" He sighs, content for a moment before laughing, "man, remember when we had jell-o for the first time ever? Becca almost swallowed the cube whole and then I think I choked on a piece and then so did your dad?"
Bucky's eyes close, letting the memory wash over him. He lets out a soft chuckle, "I mocked you guys for that for years."
Steve's smile doesn't diminish as he nods, "that you did." He nudges Bucky's shoulder, "but you still gotta choose a place to eat."
Bucky frowns but then ponders, "I've heard Vietnamese is good. When I was fighting there I never got to try it."
Steve looks at Bucky funny, "You fought in Vietnam?"
Bucky just sighs, not upset, "well the Winter Soldier did."
"Oh… yeah."
"Yep."
"Geez." Tony gripes. "Can you take us to the Vietnamese restaurant over on Jerome Ave?" The driver nods and the car rolls out of the compound smoothly.
—
"Tony?"
"Yeah, Steve, what's up?"
"You think…" Tony looks up at the hesitancy in Steve's voice. Steve is standing there looking sheepish. "I hate to ask. I wasn't going to and then bucky brought it up, and he was mad I hadn't said anything, but I didn't want to bother, and then— it's just not that big of a deal, but—"
"Steve." Tony says, cutting him off. Something Steve never did before, but they noticed he did now, was ramble when he was nervous. "What is it? Whatever it is, I don't mind."
The sigh of resignation from Steve is heavy. "I was just wondering… If you could make me some portable dampeners? I don't want to rip open the helmets of the new suits you made me, I shouldn't have done it last time, I know you were mad. And I'm sorry-"
Steve's still rambling but Tony's frozen. Steve had been back with them for almost 3 weeks and he hadn't even thought about Steve's hearing.
"Yes." He says, cutting Steve off. "Absolutely. I'll have them for you tomorrow."
Steve's startles at the response. "Oh, I mean… no rush, it's not priority."
Tony surprises himself when the next words slip out of his mouth unbidden. "You are a priority, Steve."
The shy duck of Steve's shoulders confirms that feeling in Tony's mind.
—
Natasha finally gets Steve to agree to spar with her.
"Come on," she pleads, after watching him pull a punch and shift his weight so he would take the fall. "You are holding back and it's driving me nuts!"
"Natasha, you don't even understand what you're asking!" He huffs and disentangles his legs from hers, pushing himself up on his elbows. "I don't want to hurt you. And if I didn't have the serum, you would wipe the floor with me, no question. Your skills are incredible. It's not fair that I can move faster or have this strength, and I won't use it against you—"
"What do you mean it's not fair?" She asks, cutting him off. He looks at her. Her jaw gets tight, "what do you mean it's not fair that you can move faster?"
"Like I said," Steve's eyes are calm as he responds, "I shouldn't have this strength. It's not mine. It was given to me. So I didn't earn it. You worked for every skill you have."
She's on her feet, arms crossed, glaring at him. "Who said that you didn't earn it? Who told you that?" Tony's initial argument with Steve on the helicarrier in 2012 crosses her mind.
"What?" He asks, "No one, I just know."
"You deserve every benefit that the serum gives you, Steve. Every single one."
He just shrugs and his nonchalance about his own worth is infuriating.
After he heads up, Natasha pulls out her phone.
N: Anyone noticing that Steve is starting to act more like Steve?
—-
Steve is looking for a notebook, something to keep some notes about the last memory he just had, when he finds a folded paper.
He pulls it out and discovers it is two pieces of paper. One is a partially finished sketch. His team, he can see it was done in a sort of rush, but there's a fondness attached to the picture. He smiles and sets it on the desk. He lifts the second paper up and is greeted with his own handwriting.
Dear Tony,
Thank you so much for Building 74. I never have had the opportunity to have
my own art space, and the fact that you are thoughtful enough to think of me is
incredibly appreciated.
I can't wait
The note ends there and Steve is left feeling confused. What is Building 74?
"Friday?"
"Yes, Captain Rogers?"
"Where's Building 74?"
There's an unusual pause, before the AI speaks. "If you proceed to the hangar, and turn left, walk down the path past the outside luncheon area and in about 330 feet you will find a small building, Passcode: 07041918 for your convenience."
"Thank you."
He steps out the door and follows the path past the hangar.
—-
A text comes through:
Bruce: Guys, come look.
He sends a ping of his location for them to find him.
There's no response but soon he hears footsteps and the rest of the group arrives one at a time. Bruce is standing far enough to the side of the large glass windows that it would be difficult for Steve to notice him at the angle he was standing.
"What's he doing?" Natasha asks.
"He's painting." Bucky says, his eyes are sharper than theirs. "I see paint on his arms. And in his hair. He always gets paint in his hair. I have no idea how he manages it."
"What is this place?" Clint asks, his eyes turn to Tony. "This has you all over it, first a new archery range? Now Steve has an…" he pauses, gesturing questioningly, his eyebrows raising.
"Art studio." Tony says uncharacteristically quietly, his feet shifting. Bucky steps forward, surprising everyone when he pulls Tony into a hug. It's a tight embrace that has Tony's eyes turning to saucers and the rest gaping their mouths. But Bucky is just holding on, his face crammed into Tony's shoulder.
"Thank you." He says, his voice thick, "thank you."
—
It takes two days for Steve to show them some artwork.
S: Hey, can you guys come on down to Building 74? Tony can show you where it is!
—
They knock on the door and Steve opens it, a smile on his face. "Come in, come in!"
He waves them inside and they take a look around.
"Tony, you really outdid yourself." Steve says, his hands on his hips. "I could never in my wildest dreams have thought I'd ever have a space like this!" He turns serious. "You have to let me pay for the art supplies though." He doesn't let Tony protest, just turning around and gesturing to them to come closer.
"So," he starts, "I couldn't find any artwork in my rooms, and I felt like that was strange, so I wanted to start working on some pieces. But I think I had started one before we left for the mission." He reaches into a folio and pulls out a sketch. "I redid it, on proper paper with proper supplies, and I'm going to make a painting of it, but I wanted to show you guys."
He holds up the sketch. The one they found in his room after he'd been taken. It's finished and the final product has Clint reaching out to grab it and hold onto it. They gather around and look, smiling as they see their own personalities come through the sketches of themselves in the picture.
Bruce looks up and smiles at Steve. "It's perfect."
Steve blushes and smiles, looking at the picture. "I'm going to paint a really good one and then have it professionally copied, if you guys would want that?" He sounds genuinely unsure if they'd be interested but the rousing response of 'of course' and absolutely' puts him at ease.
The rest are staring at the sketch but Bucky's eyes are on Steve and they narrow as he watches Steve wince for a second before smoothing his face back into a smile.
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A/N - Thank you to those who comment/message! Your comments and thoughts on the chapters always bring me joy! Hope you enjoyed this small snippet of Happy Steve before we start back down the rabbit hole :|