More violence and homophobic language in this one.
Tony makes a second appearance, which will be his last, but I would like to make mention that it is not Tony Stark, though he will appear later on as will all of the Avengers.
Finally, this is set in a time when the Avengers have formed, but Steve is still not used to the 21st century like at all. He's in the process of it but he's not very far along. The public know of the Avengers but the events of "Marvel's The Avengers" have not happened yet.
I know that Steve doesn't speak like this in the movies, but I figure that 1940's sociolect is much different to know and I wanted to channel the differences. As the story progresses, Steve will adapt to the 2010's and adapt his speech accordingly.
Chapter 2- Again And Again
When it seemed like the world was becoming normal again after the close call in the alley, the Universe threw a huge curveball at one Kurt Hummel, wanting to see how he would react. Though, this time, he wasn't the direct target of the danger…
Kurt's boots clipped against the sidewalk, their respective pitches creating a calming rhythm for him to walk to. He had left his earphones at the loft, which had been a damn shame. Kurt had scoured the Internet ruthlessly for a new song to walk to which would allow him to strut and feel as fierce as he perceived himself to be. Immediately downloading IAMX's Happiness, he had been so excited to test it out that he had forgotten his earphones, leaving them on the kitchen counter. It was probably a sign from the Universe telling him to watch the environment around him more closely.
He didn't need to, though, as his attention was attracted by an ear-splitting scream which pierced the afternoon air with an acrid whistle. Instantly, Kurt's survival instincts were hypersensitive and they flared up like never before.
The reason being?
Kurt recognised the scream.
Although the person in question had never really been afraid of anything, which was all the more reason to help. He would've helped regardless, but when Santana Lopez was scared of something, it was serious.
While thinking about his day at work, he hadn't really paid attention to where he was. Looking around him, he realised that he was a block away from where he had been accosted just a week earlier. The trauma still got to him, the nightmarish scenario interwoven with flashes of Steve, Captain America, saving his life. He didn't know, but he was immediately intrigued by his saviour.
Maybe it was the urgent curiosity to glean what lay beneath the patriotic façade or to confirm what he had heard about him in passing? Kurt didn't know much, but he definitely wanted to meet Steve again, despite the man's passive hopes that they not.
Kurt zipped around the corner, seeing Santana backed up against the wall, a large man rolling up his sleeves. Santana spotted him, but the assailant's hood was obscuring his view. Santana was wise enough not to say anything, but her pleading eyes clearly screamed for help.
Kurt steeled himself. Do or die, Hummel. This is Santana, who's saved your ass many a time. Go kick some ass. "Hey, Neanderthal! Were you dropped on your head or are you just naturally stupid?"
The man turned then and Kurt's heart stopped at he recognised him.
It was Tony, the man who had cornered him the previous time Kurt had chosen to fight.
"Well if it isn't the fag who got away last time. What a small fucking world."
Santana took the opportunity to weave underneath his arm, fishing around in her hair for her razor blades. She backed away, leaving a sizable distance between them. Kurt was relieved that she was safe and that Tony hadn't noticed that she had escaped. Kurt motioned for her to run, but Santana refused.
Kurt sighed as he realised Tony was coming towards him. Not quickly, like some attackers do, but sluggishly, like he knew that Kurt wasn't going to run. He wasn't and that was probably foolish. Tony was pretty heavy-set and Kurt was lithe and quick on his feet. He could've outrun him if he wanted to. Although his Geiger boots didn't really accommodate high-speed chases, he could channel his inner Tim Gunn and "Make it work!"
Kurt didn't drop his gaze from Tony's. In another time, Kurt would have ran away, flitting through the streets to safety. But this was the second time, to Kurt's knowledge, that Tony had pulled shit like this and it was Kurt's job to educate him. If he got himself beat up in the process, so be it.
"You're dead, punk."
Kurt almost scoffed at the word 'punk' but decided to forgo it in favour of not angering the beast walking towards him. Kurt spoke with more confidence than he felt, a trend of him. He was reminded suddenly of the Karofsky incident in the locker room and wanted to roll his eyes at his temporary moniker of 'Courage' and smile at the fact that he dumped Blaine's ass as soon as he had wised up. "Maybe next time you'll think twice about hurting a girl, hurting anyone for that matter."
Tony scowled. "What are you going do without your little friend in his Halloween costume?"
Kurt wanted to smile at the label of Steve as his 'friend' but summoned his wit instead. "You're surprisingly condescending for a guy who got his ass handed to him that day."
Tony was dazed, probably at the polysyllabic lexis that Kurt had employed but continued towards him, still keeping up the unnecessary verbal sparring they were doing. "And you're an arrogant little bitch who's about to get pummelled into next week."
Kurt smirked at the fact that Santana had taken off her shoe, ready to clobber the guy over the head with it. "You're not very intelligent are you? You seem to forget who you originally intended to attack."
Tony frowned but remembered at the last second and spun around, seeing Santana swipe her arm across his face, heel catching his nose.
Tony bent down, clutching his nose, blood spouting mildly. "You fucking dyke! I'm bleeding!"
"Well spotted, moron," Santana drawled, caught up in her adrenaline. She failed to notice Tony hand striking her stomach. She fell back, hitting the floor firmly. Kurt charged Tony, fists at the ready, prepared to put everything Puck had taught him about self-defence into action. Tony stopped his self-ministrations to his nose and grabbed Kurt by the throat, the slender boy unable to stop the oncoming attack. He felt his back hit the wall and experienced severe déjà vu. Only last time, Steve had appeared just when he needed him to.
Kurt splayed his leg and his foot connected with Tony's thigh, narrowly missing his crotch. Tony hissed but didn't let go.
"Santana," Kurt choked out, gasping for breath. The girl didn't respond and Kurt was getting worried about her.
"I thought I told you to get away from him," A familiar voice snapped down the alley. Kurt was currently using his manicured right hand to dig his nails into the flesh holding his throat. He drew blood successfully, but Tony hadn't noticed.
Captain America stood there, circular shield poised in front of his stomach. Tony threw Kurt to the floor and faced Steve, pissed as hell and ready to fight once more. Kurt scrambled over to Santana, who had been winded and was regaining her breathing functions.
"Halloween was last month, asshole," Tony spat, literally spitting at Steve's feet.
"I'm surprised you recall last month, given that you don't remember last week's warning to leave Kurt alone."
Tony sniggered. "Your boyfriend and his little dyke friend deserved everything I did to them and more."
Steve laughed. "That's not true, but I also know what you deserve." Steve wasted no time in thrusting his shield at Tony's face. It connected with a grunt from the latter as Kurt and Santana watched on helplessly.
Steve leapt at the wall and darted through the air as his knee smashed Tony's face with a painful crack that rendered him unconscious. Steve absently wiped his shield of blood and turned to Kurt and Santana.
"We have to stop running into each other like this," Steve laughed and Santana smirked.
Kurt blushed. "I'm seriously getting sick of thanking you for saving my life. Can I just say it once now and have it stick for whenever I might need to say it?"
Steve laughed, extending his hand to help Kurt up first. "Sounds good to me. Does the lady need help standing?"
Santana snorted. "Listen, buckaroo, I'm probably the furthest thing from a lady that you'll find in New York. And second, have you ever heard of feminism?"
A flash of doubt passed over Steve's mouth and he sighed. "Apologies. I'm very…old-fashioned. You seem to be able to handle yourself."
Santana thought back to that idiot winding her and she clicked her tongue, irritated by the irony. "For what it's worth, thank you for helping us. Ugh, I hate even saying those words. But yeah, you'll never hear that again."
Kurt nudged Santana so discreetly that even hyperaware Steve missed it. From their time together, Santana got the hint that Kurt wanted to talk to Steve without her around. She had done the same to him on many occasions so it wasn't rude.
"I'm going to go and tell the diner I'll need the day off," Santana said, pulling out her phone and walking away.
Kurt dusted himself down and smiled at Steve. "Do you and the others have zones to cover?"
"Excuse me?"
"Well, do you cover this part of New York while the others take the other parts? Cause I figure that's the only reason you showed up and not one of the others, right?"
Steve frowned. "Did you not want me to come and save you again?"
Kurt backtracked. "No, it's not that. I like your company, but it just seems odd that you happened to be close by again."
Steve looked shifty for a little while and debated whether to tell the truth. In the end, his honour won him over and he sighed. "The truth is, Kurt, that we don't have zones. I just patrol the area from the time to time."
"Why here?" Kurt had a feeling that he already knew, but didn't want to assume.
Steve dropped his voice to a low whisper. "I wanted to make sure that you were safe."
Kurt heard everything, despite Steve's efforts for him not to. "You…you did that just so that I would be safe?"
"I know, it's probably considered stalking, but when I returned home last week, you were all I could think about."
"I know the feeling."
"You do?"
Kurt rolled his eyes. "Come on, a mysterious superhero saves your life, you're bound to be left thinking about it. I'm not going to pretend like the mystery of who you are isn't bugging me either."
"Bugging?"
Kurt frowned. "Yes."
"I don't follow."
Kurt frowned again. "Bugging? Like when something is on your mind a lot? Bugging."
"Right," Steve nodded, trying to pretend like he was just in a daze. "Of course." He couldn't have Kurt knowing that he was practically clueless about the modernised world and its alternative vernacular.
Kurt was suspicious, but let it drop, knowing that there were more pressing issues to attend to. "Do you have somewhere else to be right now?"
Steve thought about it, but he didn't. "As a matter of fact, I do not. Did you have something you wanted me to do?"
Kurt smirked. I could think of a few things. "Not specifically. I just didn't want to keep seeing you only when I'm in danger."
Steve smiled widely. With Kurt, he felt like more than just a superhero. He felt like Steve Rogers again. Not just Captain America, the nation's powerful poster boy with his vibranium shield, but actual Steve Rogers. It was heartening to know. "I would like to see you in a social situation, also."
Kurt got the feeling that Steve had no idea how to talk to somebody in a less than professional manner. He liked the eloquence, but wondered if Steve would let loose once they got to know each other more. "Good. We know nothing about each other. We can break the ice."
Steve nodded as Santana walked back over.
"The diner agreed to pay me for the day, considering what happened. Gunther decided to not be a jackass and have some compassion. What are you going to do today? Don't you have work?"
Kurt smiled. "No, not today. They gave me the week to work on my designs."
"Where are you flying off to?" Santana looked to Steve.
"Actually, Kurt and I are spending the day together socially."
Kurt wanted to sigh, but could not admit that he didn't find the awkwardness charming and a contrast to the confident persona he embodied as Captain America.
Santana smirked. "That sounds too gay for me to cope with. I'm going to do some shopping, Tink. Hit me up later and we'll order dinner or something?"
Kurt nodded and kissed her cheek before Santana started to walk away. Halfway out of the alley, she turned.
"Kurt? Thanks. You had my back before, even though it probably triggered your PTSD. Means a lot."
Kurt raised an eyebrow. "It's fine, now put Sappy Santana back in the lockbox and go shop. Maybe get me a thank you scarf."
Santana laughed. "Keep dreaming, Pansy Parkinson."
Kurt waved her away and turned back to Steve, who was laughing. "What?"
"You two have a peculiar dynamic."
Kurt nodded slowly. "We do. We weren't very close in high school. She was popular and I was in Glee Club. We spoke more when she joined Glee, but we only really came to be close in senior year and eventually found a place together here after graduation. She's my best friend. God, I'm sorry, you probably don't want to hear my life story."
Steve tilted his head slightly. "I thought the objective of today was becoming better acquainted with one another."
Kurt grinned. "I guess it is. Where would you like to go?"
Steve looked around. "Is there anywhere we can go that doesn't have many people?"
Kurt chuckled. "Alaska, maybe. We're in New York, Steve. People are everywhere. I would say my apartment, but that seems beside the point."
Steve remembered something from earlier in the conversation. "You said you worked on designs. Are you an architect?"
Kurt shook his head. "I'm a fashion designer for Vogue. I'm starting my own clothing line. Menswear."
Steve thought that was admirable, making clothes that other people wore. "Would I be allowed to view them?"
Kurt chewed his lip in thought. "If you're striving for inconspicuousness, you're not going to find it at Vogue. With what you're wearing, they're bound to notice you."
"Good point," Steve said appreciatively, "maybe another time then?"
Kurt nodded. "Definitely. You know what, let's head back to my place."
"That's a good plan to me."
If Steve was honest with himself, being anywhere with Kurt Hummel would have been a good plan. If Kurt wanted to swim in the Hudson, he would have followed him gladly. If Kurt wanted to go to Mexico, Steve would have gone with him. As Bucky had said once before he left for the war, Home isn't a place, Steve, it's people.
That had stuck with him ever since. Bucky had been his home for so long. Then the rest of the Avengers had joined the fray and became his epicentre. Now he had a new home in Kurt Hummel. And he couldn't have asked for anything more special.
