Tony's personal cell beeps while on the flight back to the compound.

He glances down and sees Peter's number and he smiles. The kid had taken to the compound like a fish takes to water and Tony couldn't be more thrilled.

While initially he'd been a tad green-eyed with how well Peter had fit in with Steve (something about the intense moral compass they both had drawn them together like flies) Tony had quickly realized he was grateful that Peter would have someone to guide him when…

Well… when Tony bit the dust. Steve would be around for much longer. Able to take care of the kid long past Tony's expiration date. And even though he felt sympathy for Steve and Barnes, he couldn't deny the relief he felt that Peter wouldn't be alone.

Tony had really tried to figure out the serum. He'd worked backwards and forwards and sideways to try to undo what his dad had done. But so far, Tony was unsurprised to discover that his dad's work was permanent. The man never did do anything in halves.

Tony had been initially wary of Barnes around Peter. But after the accident, where Steve had folded in half and… died. Geez, Tony will never get over saying that. He'd watched Steve die again. Just the thought made Tony's stomach turn.

Barnes had hands down refused to leave Steve's side. He'd scrubbed into the surgery, and stayed at Steve's side until his heart started beating again. They'd kept Steve isolated for longer than necessary so that Peter wouldn't figure out he'd caused Steve to die. Which apparently he'd found out anyways. Either way, Tony was worried Barnes would blame Peter. But Tony had been surprised to see a protective side of Barnes for the kid.

He'd asked Barnes about it, off-handed, trying to seem like it was no big deal. But Barnes had just looked at him with a wry smile.

"Peter is just like Steve was as a teenager. Some things are just ingrained in me. Gotta protect the self-sacrificing idiots with no self-preservation."

After that Tony had stopped worrying.

He clicks answer and speaker since his hands are tied up flying the jet. "Hey, kid. What's up?"

A shaky, scared, and brittle voice says one word, "Tony?" Before the line goes static and dies.

Tony's head snaps to Natasha and Clint, whose eyes are pinned on him.

He slams the accelerator down.

—-

The flight back is tense. They try calling both Barnes and Steve. No answer.

Tony tries to track Peter's suit, but it's pinging off a ton of towers and nothing consistent.

They finally land at the compound and find all the rooms empty.

Steve's bed is empty and that puts a pit in all of their stomachs.

Steve was walking again, but just barely. He was in no shape to fight.

A full cup of coffee sits on the coffee table near the seat where Barnes usually sat. It's cold.

Peter's backpack is near the couch and his textbook sits on the cushion.

"Shit." Clint whispers. "Tell me we're overreacting."

Tony doesn't speak. Clint looks at Natasha. "Did Steve take his shield?"

Natasha slides open Steve's closet. A full leather case tells them he left his signature weapon.

Her voice is calm when she speaks. "I don't think they had a choice. All three of them would do anything to keep the other safe."

The truth of that statement sits like acid at the bottom of their stomachs.

—-

Tony's running towards his lab. He's promised himself he'd never use it. But… Desperate times.

He slams through the door, startling DUM-E and causing the robot to chirp and whir away.

He can hear Natasha and Clint following him. He doesn't look at them as he says the words he hoped he'd never have to admit.

"I put a tracker in all of Barnes' new arms. Untraceable and only I have access to it."

It's a testament to how much their trust in Barnes has grown that Clint huffs, "Tony!"

"I know. I know." Tony snaps. "I'm an asshole. You can tell me that a million times after they're home safe."

He logs in and runs the tracer program. It takes a few minutes but a solid beep shows up and Tony takes a shaky breath.

"They're downtown." Tony says sharply, "I think they're in the sewers." He slaps a band on his wrist and one of his suits starts flying, enveloping him. "I'll meet you guys there." Natasha and Clint take off towards the jet and he slams his gauntlet down on the button that opens the window. He flies out with only one thing on his mind.

—

His boots crack the concrete as he lands. He checks the tracker and looks up to see the Quinjet roaring ahead. It lands on an apartment building roof and the assassins are at his side, quicker than should be possible for non-enhanced humans.

He lifts the grate and they disappear below.

—-

Natasha can feel the waves of anxiety rolling off Tony. He's leading them as they walk through the dark, damp sewage system.

She ignores the smell and the disgusting things that slide by her ankles.

Clint's at her back, his bow at the ready. Her widow bites are lit and her fists are tightly clenched.

Tony's suit makes a whirring sound and she glances around him. The light from his gauntlet catches on something metal and Clint breathes a word from behind her. "Barnes."

They rush forward, finding the super soldier unconscious and slumped over.

"Barnes!" Tony shouts, hauling the man up, and holding his weight, "Barnes!"

A groan escapes the soldiers lips and Natasha watches as Tony shakes him. "Where is Peter! and BARNES! Where is Steve!"

The soldier groans again and the dim light from the sewer shows a gash on the man's forehead. "Gone." Barnes rasps out. "That way." His finger raises shakily in a direction off to the left. Tony says nothing. His faceplate slams down and he hauls Barnes over his shoulder and takes off. Natasha and Clint race after him.

—

Not even two minutes later, Natasha shouts a warning as her eyes catch something in a smaller offshoot tunnel. Tony turns his gauntlet towards it and the light catches a shoe.

A sneaker.

Peter.

Natasha watches as Tony sets Barnes down gently and races forward scooping the teen up.

He seems unharmed except he's unconscious, and a bit pale.

"Peter!" Tony shouts, "Peter can you hear me!?"

There's no response at first and Tony's face and voice is panicked. "Peter, please wake up!"

Something wraps around Natasha's ankle and she yelps as she is pulled harshly off balance. She slams into the ground, rolling down the ledge and into the foot of sewage water.

She splutters and flips up, wary of another attack.

Tony's watching with wide eyes and Clint, who is holding up Barnes, is staring at her in confusion. "What was that!" She snaps.

Clint looks at Peter with furrowed brows, "it looked like—"

But just then Peter flutters his eyelashes and takes a deep gasping breath. "Tony?" He croaks out, his eyes squinting against the bright light of Tony's chest plate. Then he seems to come alive, "Tony! Tony, did you get Steve! They have Steve! Please! You have to get him! He can barely walk!" The kid is scrambling and flailing in Tony's arms.

"Kid!" Tony shouts, "calm down! Where did they take him!"

Peter's arm is shaky as he points up. A rusty ladder and a manhole cover show up under Tony's gauntlet.

Natasha and Clint step forward. "Let's go." She snaps. Striding forward and ascending the ladder. She hears the others follow her as they emerge above ground.

It's dark. Purposefully dark, Natasha can tell as they slip out into what looks like a mechanical garage of some sort. She can hear machinery whirring as she passes by it on silent feet.

She doesn't use her sight as it's too dark, she uses her sense of her surroundings and her hearing as she guides the haggard group towards a door.

Light seeps in around the corners and she pulls out her gun. It's wet with sewer water but she knows it will still work. Her widow bites hum, ready to take down anyone who so much as touches a hair on Steve's head.

She glances back, Tony holds Peter up, as the teen stumbles next to him.

Clint looks very wary as he hobbles under Barnes' weight.

"You guys ready?" She asks quietly. They nod and she turns back towards the door.

She slips against it, trying the handle. It's unlocked. She gently depresses the handle, unlatching it. Then she throws it open and surges through, her gun at the ready and eyes searching the field.

Her brain stutters to a halt.

Field.

A blast of brass and drum beats startle her as music assaults her ears.

She hears Tony let out a choked gasp as her eyes find what he's looking at.

Steve, standing there, a wide grin plastered on his face as he leans on a cane. In the middle of a sea of… Natasha's face grows red and realization hits her.

A sea of football players.

She whips back towards Peter and Bucky who are now standing perfectly fine on their own. Smiling like wildcats while Tony and Clint stare on in confusion.

A loud booming voice takes over the speaker.

Welcome! Welcome Avengers! And the New York Giants' biggest fan, the Black Widow!

Cheers and screaming and more music is heard as Natasha takes a sweeping look around. A full crowd stares back at her. She sees her face on the Jumbotron and she grimaces. She's covered in sewage water and dripping on the field.

She turns and stabs a finger at Steve. "You!"

His grin widens and he takes a limping step forward. Barnes and Peter are at his side in an instant and begin to help him but he waves them off.

"I'm fine." He chuckles. He finally manages the 20ft between him and her and he looks at her, a relaxed and amused expression on his face. "How are you, Nat?"

The crowd is still cheering and she glances around, taking in just how thoroughly she'd been duped.

"That was a really shitty trick to play, Steve." She hisses at him quietly. In that din, it would be hard for anyone to hear. But she knows with his hearing that he hears her just fine.

He leans forward and gets closer than she expects which makes her lean back. "What's the matter, Natasha? You look… a little embarrassed."

She seethes silently. Even as she knows the entire stadium is watching them. She glares at him. "After everything last year?" She snaps, "you're surprised we acted this way?"

And the look that crosses his face is so amused and almost smug that she thinks she's never seen Steve look that way before. "I counted on it." He replies easily. "That's what's so embarrassing." He says with a knowing grin. "Black Widow, with all her smarts and skills and she played right into old, out of date, too honest for his own good, Captain America's hands."

Barnes snorts off to her side and she throws a glare at him. He doesn't even bat an eye but Peter shrinks a bit under her gaze. "You're in on this too?"

Clint laughs, "I thought I saw your webbing pull her foot!" Peter blushes, half proud, half waiting for Natasha's reaction.

"You'll regret this." She says in annoyance towards Steve while eyeing an oncoming woman with a PA headset.

Steve grins, "I'm sure I will. But for right now, I get to watch you, dripping in sewage, play your least favorite sport. Unless… you're planning on disappointing 50,000 of New York's finest?"

Her head snaps up and she suddenly takes in the audience. Policemen and women, firemen and women… Even some soldiers. Uniforms, first responders, and their families fill the crowd.

"You're a bastard." She growls at Steve, clenching her jaw as the lady comes to stand in front of her. He just grins and steps back as the woman begins to speak.

"Welcome!" The lady chirps, "we're so happy to have all of you! Captain Rogers here told us you'd love to hold a game against the Giants for the charity of your choice! So we set that up! Sorry about the unusual entrance. Captain Rogers informed us of your desire to have a dramatic entrance for the kids and we loved that idea! Hope it was what you wanted!"

She looks back to see Barnes wiping blood off his forehead. Without a scratch beneath.

Makeup.

She wants to scream. But she doesn't. She takes a deep breath and smiles. "I'd love to." She says politely, "I always love honoring the men and women who serve our city."

The woman smiles and gestures for them to follow her.

—

Clint stares on in shock as Natasha and Steve speak. Tony and he gape at each other before it settles into their brains that they just got played.

Like.

Really played.

Tony turns to Peter. "How could you do this to me kid? I was freaking out!"

Peter has the good sense to look sheepish for a second before he's smiling and looking at Steve like he's the sun. "Steve asked me to help out, and I mean, come on, Sir, how am I supposed to turn Captain America down? He needed my help! And he even let me do the fun part! How did I sound over the phone? Should I have cried more?"

Barnes steps forward, "no, no, you did great. A perfect scared and in shock voice. I was impressed!"

Peter lights up at the compliment and Clint watches as Peter and Barnes beam at each other.

"Well shit." Clint huffs out a laugh, "you got me good." He smiles and lets out a laugh. The tension of the last few hours draining out of him immediately "I'm ready to play some football."

Tony huffs. "I'm not happy about this. This is some 'boy who cried wolf' crap." He says, glaring at Peter and Barnes.

But Barnes just grabs at his metal bicep. Twisting and catching the release. The arm detaches with a hiss of the hydraulics and he holds the limb out to Tony. "Oh. You're not happy about this. Hmm. Would you like your tracker back now? Or after you tell me about it? Cuz I wasn't so happy about that either."

Clint watches as Tony's mouth parts in surprise and then he grimaces. "Okay." Tony replies quietly, "that's fair. When did you figure out it was there?"

Barnes rolls his eyes. "I ran a diagnostic with some equipment I had for my old arm from Hydra and it popped up. Maybe a week after you gave it to me. I wanted to know what kind of mechanics were inside. I told Steve and he said to just leave it. That it would probably come in handy one day. I don't think he meant for it to be used like this. But I'll admit, watching you three have your asses handed to you by some geriatrics and an infant makes the lack of trust worth it."

"Hey!" Peter huffs, "I'm not an infant!"

Barnes laughs, and in a move that surprises everyone, he ruffles Peter's hair. "Compared to me you are." Clint watches as Barnes finally registers what he's doing out of habit and Barnes slowly takes his hand back. "Sorry." He says softly, "used to do that to Steve when he was smaller." His eyes are far away and it's a look they are familiar with. A memory is playing in Barnes' mind.

They wait till he blinks back looking guilty but Peter just smiles softly, "I don't mind. Kind of honored actually." He gently shoves Barnes' arm and they laugh.

And just like that Tony and Clint are on board.

Tony looks at Barnes and Peter and in an amused but serious tone says, "no more false alarms though. This is your freebie. My anxiety can't take it."

Barnes laughs while Peter ducks his head. "Don't worry, Steve knew this was a one time thing. He just wanted to get Natasha, which, I'd say, I think he was successful. He won't pull this again."

They all chuckle and start walking towards a smiling Steve while a deadly calm Natasha stands listening as the lady describes what they're going to do.

—

Peter sits by Steve's side as they watch the chaos enfold.

When asked if he was going to participate, he'd bowed out, saying he's just a Stark Internship attendee and had helped Captain Rogers set the team up. No one knew who he was, and he wasn't about to blow it by accidentally showing off as Spider-Man.

When Barnes had tried to bow out, Steve had placed a firm hand on his shoulder and said seriously, "you need new happy memories too, Buck."

The man had caved instantly under Steve's hopeful smile and was now playing on the field, laughing as he blew past the team's fastest runners.

But Peter could see he was metering his abilities. Only barely knocking players over and hardly utilizing his enhanced strength.

Steve leans over and smiles, "Buck was always real fast when we were kids. He would box a bit and would always win. Well, almost. He was real good."

Peter nods eagerly, happy to hear any anecdote about the two. "He seems like it." He responds happily. "I'm sorry you can't play." Peter adds, guilt coloring his voice.

"You kidding me?" Steve says, "I'm thrilled." His voice drops so low only Peter with his enhanced hearing can hear, "I really don't like this sport. Baseball is where it's at."

Peter chuckles, relief flooding through him. "Okay, good. I'll have to go to a game sometime."

Steve's eyebrows raise, "you've never been to a baseball game?"

Peter ducks his head. "No."

Steve laughs, "I haven't since I woke up. We should go sometime."

Peter looks at him in awe and nods. "For sure. I'd love that."

Steve nods and turns back towards the game.

—-

Natasha looks up from where she's just watched Clint score a touchdown by launching the ball in perfect arc to Bucky's outstretched hand. She eyes Steve who is sitting on the sidelines, one of his legs propped up and saying something to Peter who is laughing.

She still hates football.

But…

Maybe this isn't so bad. Tony seems more relaxed than he has the last three weeks. Clint can't stop smiling and taking pictures with the players that he is sending to his kids. And she'd be lying if she wasn't enjoying the football players' faces of surprise when she sprints past them, or knocks them over with a well placed move.

Sometimes seeing the avengers in action was different than experiencing it yourself. And these players were learning not to underestimate them.

The fans and audience members were going wild each time they scored and it was kind of infectious.

She hears Barnes laugh loud and full at some ridiculous stunt Clint has just pulled. But instead of looking over at him, she trails her eyes back to Steve who is watching his best friend have fun, enraptured and lit up like a Christmas tree.

Fine. This was fine. She ignored the fact that she still smells and walks over to Tony.

"You ready to kill him yet?" Tony asks with a raised eyebrow as the opposing team walks back to the center line.

She sighs a long exasperated sigh and looks at him. "I mean. I want to. Because I'm pissed about the stunt he pulled. And then… on the flip side… it kinda reminds me of sunshine Steve and I just lose my ability to be angry at the guy who is shining like the sun every time his best friend laughs."

Tony nods as if he understands. "Back when you were talking with Steve and the PR lady? Barnes ruffled Peter's hair. Like… accidentally. Without thinking about it. Barnes then shared that he'd used to do that to kid Steve and Peter lit up like he'd won the lottery."

Natasha scowls. "See, it's shit like that that makes it impossible to stay mad at them! 'Oh, I was frozen in ice for 70 years and everyone I know and love is dead except my brainwashed assassin best friend who causes me to smile like the sun when he's happy'." She says in a mocking tone.

Tony raises an eyebrow. "Bitter much?"

She groans as they take their positions. They had extra teammates from the Giants since there were only 4 of them, but they were playing the important positions. "I have a crappy backstory too." She half whines.

Tony laughs. "Then use it against them!"

She looks at him in surprise, "how'd you mean?"

"Well, you're an internationally trained assassin. You're telling me you can't think of anything that would get under the collar of a goody-two-shoes from the 40's?"

She looks at him and the realization of what he was saying seeps into her mind. She frowns, "Tony. I'm not going to seduce Steve just to get back at him."

"Your loss." Tony quips, leaning down to adjust his cleat. She shoves him and he laughs as he stumbles and rights himself.

They quiet down as Bucky walks over.

"So." Bucky says, leaning over towards Nat. "How much are you going to kill him?"

She looks at Tony who raises a questioning eyebrow at her. She looks at Barnes and an idea forms. "I may not kill him, but I definitely want to get back at him. You willing to help me?"

The grim that crosses Bucky's face is wicked. "Oh, hell yeah."

—

After several hours they're finally finished and they head back, above ground, to the Quinjet. Steve walks stiffly and almost stumbles, but Peter is there and grabs his arm, righting him.

The strength beneath the grip surprises Steve and he glances down. "Queens. One day, when I'm back at full strength, we should spar, for real."

Peter's eyes go wide and Clint jumps in front of them both, "what! Hold on! I've been begging for ages for you to spar me! That's not fair!"

Steve raises an eyebrow at Clint. "Were you bitten by a radioactive spider that made you super strong and heal really fast?"

Clint pouts. "No."

The group laughs. "We'll that's why. I think the kid might beat me."

Bucky snorts and they all look at him. He rolls his eyes and raises his hands in surrender. "I keep forgetting that you guys think Steve uses his full force. No offense Queens, but your only chance of winning is staying out of arm's length."

Steve feels his face go red, "Buck, you're overestimating me."

"Sure." Is Bucky's only response. But it's said flatly which causes a strange silence to fall over the group. They'd learned today a little bit more about what lengths Steve might go to address a challenge..

Clint makes a joke about how he'll be sore from that much running and the tension cracks. The fly home, joking amicably about the experience and Steve smiles as Bucky easily joins in on the conversation.

—-

Natasha sets her plan with Barnes and then settles in her room to wait.

—-

Around 2am, she dawns her outfit and walks quietly towards Steve's room. She opens the door silently.

The room is darker than usual, thanks to Barnes' help, and she slowly slips inside. She walks forward and just the sound of her footfalls makes the figure on the bed stir.

Even though she can't really see, she walks towards the bed, knowing where it is, and sits on the edge, her outfit is short enough that it doesn't hamper her movement, and she slithers towards the body.

It radiates heat and she smiles in fondness. Steve's body temp always runs way too hot. She manages to slide down into the covers as the man starts to sit up.

"Shh.." Natasha whispers in a soft and deep tone, "Steve, I just wanted to thank you for today." Her hand reaches out and rests on his warm chest, which.. is bare. That's.. unusual, isn't it? Steve usually sleeps with a shirt on.

"Some thanks." An amused voice says from across the room.

She sits up immediately and a laugh sounds from the man next to her. A lamp clicks on and her eyes blink at the sudden light. She looks at her bed companion to find Barnes lying there, bare chested and smug while Steve sits, dressed in pajamas on the couch on the far side of the room.

Natasha scoffs and shoves Barnes. "You traitor!"

He laughs and sits up, grabbing a shirt and slipping it on. "Oh please, Steve was ten steps ahead of you. He knew after the football thing you'd be furious and try to get back at him. He had a plan for every single member of the team depending on which one you decided to ask. Truthfully, we were surprised you picked me."

She throws her legs out of the bed and stands up, glaring at the two. "Ugh!" She groans, "I'll find a way to embarrass you somehow." She says to Steve.

Steve laughs and stands, wobbling a bit, before steadying himself on the couch, "honestly, Nat, I'm just curious what your plan actually was?"

She growls at Barnes, "I just wanted to make you blush! To embarrass you! To get you all twitterpated like you do anytime a girl comes onto you."

"And if I'd been a willing participant?" Steve asks, with way too much ease and a raised eyebrow.

Her mouth parts in surprise and both soldiers laugh. "I told you not to challenge him." Barnes says haughtily, "all Steve Rogers' bumbling goes out the window when he needs to win a challenge."

She straightens her outfit, a cleverly arranged 1940's style silk nightgown. "I hate both of you." She snaps.

Steve scoffs, "I play a harmless prank about football and you think trying to seduce me is the way to answer that?" He laughs, "you've been around Tony too long."

She winces at the accusation, especially since it's accurate and then glares at the two. "I wasn't trying to seduce you!" She insists, then she rounds on Barnes, "I can't believe you betrayed me!"

"I can't believe you expected me to betray him." He says with raised eyebrows.

"Lesson learned." She sniffs brushing her hair back from her face. "I don't know how, but I'll get you back one day." She says firmly, a smile starting to tug on her lips. "It's a bit ridiculous how deeply my pride feels attached to this."

They laugh and Steve's nodding in agreement, "trust me. I was nervous thinking you guys wouldn't be back from the mission in time and I would have had to rework my whole plan. I didn't expect you to try to get me back so quickly though. Strike while the iron's hot I suppose. Nice nightgown, where'd you get that so quick?"

His suggestive tone makes her roll her eyes, "I have my sources. If you hadn't had any forewarning would I have been successful?"

Barnes barks out a laugh as Steve stares at his bed, "you mean if I'd woken up to being groped without my consent after everything I've been through? Yeah, I would have been surprised and probably pushed you off the bed."

Suddenly all the memories he'd shared about being taken advantage of click back into her memory and she feels her stomach drop. She'd been trained to use whatever she could to get what she wanted, and even though she doesn't do that particular line of work anymore, she'd been quick to utilize it when she wanted to beat him at his own game. But… she'd forgotten his past..

"Steve," she says quickly, "I'm so sorry, I should have thought of that! I just was so mad at myself for letting you get the drop on me today and I just… well I acted without thinking—" she looks up from her rambling to find Steve smiling smugly at her. She frowns at his expression as it hits her. "You're guilt tripping me aren't you."

He smiles bigger, "yep! And it's working like a charm. I'm a little surprised how easy it's been to mess with you."

She scoffs, her pride rankling, "excuse me for thinking you were a nice guy!" She barbs.

He shows a mock afront, "you wound me!" He cries dramatically, "and don't let anyone tell you that nice guys can't get a job done."

"Oh." Barnes huffs out, "oh hell, I haven't heard that line in a long time! Geez, who was it you said that too last?"

Steve shrugs, "I dunno."

Natasha waves her hand, "well, not that this hasn't been fun, but I'm going back to bed." She says grouchily.

"Good night." They both chirp back as she exits.

She stomps her way back to her room where she shoves open the door and strides inside only to stop short at the three men sitting in her common room.

"Nat?" Clint asks in confusion. "What's going on? What the hell are you wearing?"

"What the hell are you guys doing in my room!" Bruce looks tired and sleepy and he points to his phone.

"Got a text to come here. And emergency alert from—"

"Steve." She blurts out cutting him off. "That bastard!" She shouts, crossing her arms over her chest angrily.

Tony is looking at her in shock, when realization starts to dawn, "oh my— oh you didn't! You actually tried! You tried to seduce him!"

She growls and rips her fingers through her victory curls, pulling them out, "I didn't." She seethes, "And I wouldn't. I just wanted to embarrass him." She sits down heavily on one of her living room chairs and simmers, "obviously, I did not anticipate the variables."

"Such as?"

"Barnes being a traitor."

Clint is grinning like mad, "I've never seen you get so riled up over a prank. I'm shocked at Cap, honestly. And calling us here to witness your walk of shame? Iconic."

Natasha picks up the book next to her and chucks it at his head. Unfortunately his reflexes save him and the book lands with a thud in the floor.

"Okay." She snaps, "we've all had our laughs. You can go back to bed now."

They leave, smiles on their faces and she rolls her eyes as she wipes off her makeup. Perhaps it had been silly to let his prank get to her. She had to admit she was a bit surprised and shocked at his ability to see her coming. But… then again maybe she wasn't. He did all the team planning, knew all her moves.

He knew how to wield their team like a scalpel, so it would make sense he would know how to counteract it as well.

As she slips into bed, she lets her mind wander on new possibilities to catch Steve off guard. But then she settles into maybe, just maybe letting him have this one.

—-