Steve stared straight ahead while his heart thumped in his chest. His voice vibrated and echoed around the room. There were only a handful of times that he disobeyed a direct order. The first was when he went off and rescued soldiers from the Hydra base back during the war, the second was when he went to find Bucky and ended up on the other side from Tony. Now this. Every ounce of his training during the army told him to stand down but his mind had other ideas.
Fury turned slowly and set a gaze on the Captain. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. I said no. This team is done unless you tell us everything."
The air in the room seemed to get sucked out as alarm bells rang in Steve's mind. Fury walked closer to the table as a look of authority burned in his eyes. "I don't believe I ever mentioned that was up for debate, Captain Rogers."
"Neither did I."
"You're treading on dangerous waters."
"I've been known to be a good swimmer."
All the Avengers who were seated stared at each other with looks of surprise on their faces. Fury stepped even closer to the table but came to a halt when Tony spoke up. "You're too close to the table and I bet you didn't wash your hands."
Ignoring the man, Fury continued his stand off with Steve. "Fine. Captain Rogers, you're dismissed. Your services are no longer needed. The rest of the team, find the boy."
Bucky stood up next to Steve. "I'm with Steve."
Slowly, the rest of team America stood in solidarity with the first Avenger. Fury nodded once before looking at Tony. "It's your team. Find the boy." Tony raised an eyebrow.
"I've been more of a lone ranger kind of person."
"Tough."
"I'm with Steve," Natasha suddenly announced as she stood followed by Bruce. Tony and Rhodes were the only ones left sitting but Rhodes suddenly stood.
"Looks like you get your wish. Lone ranger it is."
"Actually, I'm with the team on this one, I just don't feel like getting up. Big meal, full stomach and all."
Fury eyed the entire table before shaking his head. "Fine. Have it your way."
"So you're going to tell us everything?" Scott asked.
Fury snorted. "No. I'm going to find another team to do the job for me. The Avengers are benched until further notice." With that the director left the room without a backwards glance.
Nobody spoke as Steve stared around the table. He had not expected it to go that way. On one hand, he was happy the team stood with him but on the other they were no closer to figuring out why Hydra was after the boy in the other room. Bucky turned to his friend and nodded once.
"What do we do now?" Bruce asked as he looked around the table, a look of approval shined on his face.
Tony let out a long and dramatic groan before he looked at the doctor. "I'm actually offended you would even ask such a question. I mean what am I chop liver?"
"If you have an idea, Tony, just spit it out." Natasha voiced her voice full control. A critical eye fell on the billionaire.
"I am a certified genius. I can always find out information about our two house guests. Not to mention, as much as I hate to admit it, it looks like the Manchurian Candidate was right."
"I'm flattered," Bucky said blankly.
"I'm known to flatter people from time to time," Tony smiled. "Give me the night to do some research and I'll let you know what I find."
Rhodes shook his head. "It can wait until the morning. You need to sleep, hell we all need to sleep."
A snort escaped the other man's lips as he walked away from the table and towards his lab. "Sleep is for the weak." Before anyone could say anything he disappeared.
"Well-" Scott started but the ringing of his phone cut him off. Quickly picking up the object he glanced at the screen before answering. "Hello? Hey. I'm with the Avengers. Right now? Is she okay? Well no. Well where's Jim? Fine. I'm on my way." With that he hung up the phone adding a few well placed mumbles.
Turning to the table he gave them an apologetic expression. "Sorry guys, I have to go. Maggie has to leave town for work and Jim wants to tag along for some reason, leaving Cassie with me. She also happens to be sick so I got to go."
"No worries. Honestly, I should probably head home to the Mrs. too," Clint said as he grabbed a garlic bread that was sitting on the forgotten table. "Somebody has to tackle the infamous 'Honey-do list'."
Natasha smiled. "Tell her I said hi, and I expect you to pass along at least ten kisses to each child from me. I will be asking to confirm."
Clint rolled his eyes before giving a salute.
"Wrong hand," Steve voiced automatically.
"I know, I have food in the other hand," Clint called as he made his way to the door followed by Scott.
"Hey can you guys tell Pepper?"
"We got you covered," Sam announced.
With that two more left.
Rhodes looked around the table but before he had a chance to speak, two people entered the room. "Did we miss anything important?"
All heads turned towards the voice to see Wanda and Vision standing there. They looked at the table in a calm manner. Steve caught Wanda's gaze and she nodded slightly. A clear message, everything is fine.
"Where have you two been?" Rhodes asked.
"Out," Wanda replied sharply. Clearly hard feelings were still there.
"Clint Barton was supposed to have informed you that we went off to try and work out our relationship. It appears he did not pass along the message as we had hoped," Vision announced. "We came back to assist with the mission, if our services were required. If not, we will be leaving again."
"We've been pulled off the case," Bruce explained. "So if you want to leave again, now would be the best time."
Both Wanda and Vision nodded before they turned and left without any questions. Bucky raised an eyebrow at Sam who snickered.
"Why are you guys so juvenile?" Natasha asked as she started clearing the table. It was clear that the dinner was finished. Bruce leaned down and started to help her.
Steve finally managed to find his voice. "Thanks." Everyone froze and looked at the man. "For standing with me," he elaborated. "I know for some of you, disobeying a direct order is not necessarily in you nature." His eyes roamed around to each of their faces, but they stayed on Rhodes the longest. Rhodes nodded.
Sam smiled and slapped a hand on Bucky's shoulder. "No sweat man, we're a team. It was the right call."
Everyone agreed before they went and finished clearing the table. Once the table was cleared, they all made their way to the living room and eventually a movie was put on. Steve glanced around the room and took it in. It was as if nothing happened between them, like they weren't on two seperate sides.
When he stood, the heat of everyone's gaze fell on him. "I'm going to tell Pepper that Fury left." Slowly eyes went back to the tv. Steve made his way down in the direction of where Pepper went earlier. His eyes swept every room until he found the light on in one. Walking over he looked through the open door to see Peter standing by the bed. His entire boys stood rigid as if he was in the army. The food Scott gave him, earlier, sat untouched on the bed next to him. Steve held back a sigh. Leaning against the door frame he watched the boy for a moment longer.
After a minute, the war captain spoke, keeping his voice soft. "You know, you're going to have to eat at some point right?"
Peter flinched a little before he turned around. Steve took a moment to fully assess the boy. Long hair hung off down to his shoulders as the t-shirt he allowed for him to borrow hung off his frame. The kid was no doubt skinny, probably malnourished too. Peter's eyes drifted down to the floor.
"I promise the food isn't bad here, unless of course Tony is cooking. The man can't cook to save his life. I personally think a man who burns grilled cheese sandwiches has no business being in the kitchen."
A small snort escaped the boy's mouth, making it the first sound anyone had heard from the boy since he came into their care. "I can tell you this. Tony did not cook tonight. So the food is safe to eat."
He watched as Peter seemed to eye the food as his stomach released a loud grumble. Red flowed up to the boys cheeks. Steve held his breath as Peter grabbed the plate, but any hope that he had was swept away with a tide as he held the plate out to Steve. Steve took the plate but as Peter turned around, he stopped him.
"At least eat a bite or two. If you decide that you don't like it, then you don't have to eat it."
Peter looked to the captain with a look of uncertainty. Steve held out the plate and waited. The man and child stood in the middle of a staring contest before Peter broke first. Stepping forward, he grabbed the plate again and the fork. Steve watched as he took two bite of food and forced himself to swallow. He prepared himself to take the plate back but was surprised when he kept it.
Taking another forkfull, Peter shoveled the food in his mouth in quick succession. Steve's heart seized at the thought the boy would choke, but before he could say anything, Peter stopped. Swallowing the food that was in his mouth, he looked up at the man and if Steve didn't know any better he would say a look of guilt flashed across the young face. Peter held up the plate for Steve to take, but when the man didn't he gave him a confused look.
"Are you finished?"
A look of uncertainty crossed his face before he slowly shook his head. "Well, go ahead and finish, preferably at a slower pace. When you're finished, you can just set the plate in the sink."
Before any action could take place, Pepper came back into the room. "Is everything okay?" Her eyes traveled between the two males.
"Yeah, I came in to tell you that Fury left and decided to ask if Peter liked the food," Steve answered as he pointed to the now half empty plate that Peter was once again working through, at a slower pace much to Steve's delight. Pepper followed his finger and smiled.
Silence descended on them. "Uh...Pepper can I see you in the hall for a second?" The CEO looked up at the request. When she nodded, a smile was sent to Peter before backing out of the room with Steve following.
Stepping a little further down, Pepper faced the war hero. "Just so you know, Fury pulled us off the mission and the Avengers are benched until further notice."
Her eyebrows went up at that. "Why?"
"Turns out Bucky was right. We aren't getting the full story, Fury basically confirmed it. When I tried to get him to tell us he wouldn't. I told him the team wasn't helping until we knew the whole thing, especially with Hydra being involved. He wouldn't say, instead he benched us."
Pepper took a moment to absorb the news. "Where is everyone?"
"Clint and Scott went home to their families, and Wanda and Vision are off somewhere figuring things out. Tony went to his lab to work on the mission, naturally and the rest of the team are watching a movie."
Pepper nodded once more. "Okay. Thank you for letting me know." With that she turned and started to walk away but Steve stopped her once again.
"Pepper?"
"Yes?" She turned to him.
"I'm trying to do everything I can to fix things with Tony."
"I'm sure you are." Her voice remained neutral.
"Any tips?"
She seemed to think for a moment. "It will take a while but he will get there eventually. Just give it time." With that she walked into the room that housed Peter.
Give it time, his brain echoed.
