Thor found himself observing the captain more often after what happened in Washington. He still regretted that he was unable to help him during the fiasco, being thousands of miles away. When he found out that Steven had been hurt gravely, he couldn't help but panic, though for unknown reasons. Jane helped him fly to the city right away to observe the damage and to check on their friend—he was so relieved when Steven turned out to be stable, not on the verge of dying despite his injuries. He knew that Steven was stronger than most humans, healed at a much faster pace, and it would take a lot to kill him. Still, Thor felt so scared of losing Steven—he was a precious friend and comrade and Thor didn't want to lose him.

It didn't surprise him when after Steven was healed, he went on a journey to find his friend. Thor had to go back to London right after Steven was released, so he only found out that Steven was gone when he couldn't call him at all and had to resort to calling one of Lady Romanoff's numbers. Apparently, Steven's phone was damaged and he had a new number—though Romanoff wouldn't tell him the new number.

Thor found himself thinking of Steven often, still worried about him. What he heard about what happened in D.C., how bad it was, he was wondering how he could help fix what happened and whether Steven was dealing with everything well or not. When he finally got a call from Stark asking if he would like to go to New York to help to deal with the remains of Hydra with the other Avengers, he agreed with no hesitations because he was itching to help. Not to mention, there were artifacts related to Asgard lost, stolen by Hydra.

And now there he was, at Stark's tower, observing Steven and Romanoff talking to each other on the kitchen counter from the sofa in the living room, wondering what they were talking about since Thor couldn't hear them. To Thor's delight, Steven was actually dealing well with everything. In fact, he looked happier than he used to be. He talked to Romanoff often and they got along really well now, it seemed that Steven spent more time with Romanoff than with Thor. Sometimes Thor felt a tinge of something—a little jealousy that he didn't want to admit because it was such a petty feeling. It was not only Romanoff but also Wilson. Sometimes he came and spent time with Steven, with or without Romanoff. A battle brought warriors closer to each other, indeed.

They stopped talking and Romanoff kissed Steven's cheeks before going away, walking towards the elevator. Steven watched her go before turning towards the living room and grinned at Thor. He walked to sofa and then sat down beside Thor with a question, "Hi, what are you watching?"

It was only when Thor looked at the TV, he remembered that he was watching the television.

"It was a documentary on animals," Thor said, "It was amazing, your realm really documented all kind of things."

"Yeah, sometimes I watched youtube videos of Penguins. They are hilarious."

"Penguins? I haven't heard of such animals," Thor frowned. He knew a lot of animals, but somehow he had no idea about this one. Steven took his phone out and pulled up youtube, typing in and then chose a video to show him. That was how they ended up almost spending one full hour watching clumsy penguin videos—these are certainly amusing, Thor thought—before he randomly said, "You are really close with Lady Romanoff."

"Hmm?" Steven looked up from his phone to look at Thor, shrugging while saying, "Yeah, I guess so."

"Are you courting her?" Thor asked bluntly because that was what he had been wondering since several days after he arrived here. Steven laughed out loud hearing that question, which sounded beautiful, if only it wasn't a laugh that indicated that Steven found Thor's serious question very silly.

"No," Steven answered, still laughing. He calmed himself down a little before he explained, "We're just friends. I think she's interested in someone else."

"Really? Who?" Thor perked up, excited to have a new gossip. Romanoff was a very hard person to read and Thor could only think of two possible candidates for her affection—Steven and Barton.

"Can't tell you, she hasn't even told me," Steven said, being loyal, much to Thor's disappointment, "I think I am right, though."

Thor nodded, deciding that maybe that was really not his business. So, he continued asking about his wonderings.

"How about you and Wilson?"

"Me and Sam?" Steven repeated, confused tone seeping in his voice.

"Are you dating?"

He didn't laugh which Thor took as a sign that there was something between the two of them, since Steven didn't dismiss his question right away. Steven thought about the answer for a while before finally answering, "Hmm, it's complicated."

Thor studied Steven's face, his expression turned sadder because of Thor's question. Thor had seen that expression several times.

"You like him."

It was not a question, but a statement. Thor could tell.

"Maybe," Steven shrugged again, "We're close friends, he helped me a lot—more than he should, really. But we can't be more than this."

Thor frowned. Was it possible that Wilson had rejected Steven? He couldn't imagine that, though. Or was it because liking fellow men still not widely accepted as it was in Asgard?

(It's one of the things he disliked about Midgard—how love was perceived to be so limited.)

"Why? He might like you, too."

"I can't give him happiness, all I have done is bringing danger to him, he deserves someone less messy than I am," Steve explained. Thor felt more confused—Steven was not a mess and from the way he talked that the only reason that the relationship didn't go through was that of Steven himself.

"Is that the only reason? Because I am sure if he loves you too, he wouldn't mind that."

Thor had met Sam Wilson—he was a wonderful man that stayed on Steven's side ever since they met. Thor had talked to him a little when Steven was unconscious, and he liked him. He and Steven would make a wonderful couple.

Steve felt silent and then quietly said, "And I went through a test, apparently I age slower than other people." He put down his phone on the table and then lean on the sofa, eyes staring at the wall, distant, "I am not sure if I want to outlive the people I love again."

Ah, it was because of his tragedy then.

"Then, if that's so, you won't let yourself love someone else?" Thor wondered. It was no way to live, though. How could someone stop making themselves love someone else? That would only bring more pain and Steven didn't need more pain, didn't he?

"I am not sure, I guess I will just do what I am made to do," Steven said, making Thor wondered what exactly Steven was made to do? Fighting? No person should live only to fight and to suffer. Steven seemed to realize something, eyes looking alive again as he looked at Thor and apologized, "Sorry, I am insensitive."

It was Thor's turn to be confused by what Steven said, "Why?"

"You and Jane…"

Oh. He got it now. He didn't think Steven was being insensitive though. It was actually considerate of him to remember about him and Jane.

"Ah, yes, I never thought about that, all I knew was that I wanted to be with her," Thor told him. He touched Steven's shoulder and squeezed it, "Loss is inevitable, my friend."

Steven just smiled, "Am I a coward?"

It seemed that Thor was not being as comforting as he would like to.

"No, you are not," Thor denied. There was no way Steven was a coward, it was just his tragedy shaped his thoughts, "You are one of the strongest warriors I know, but I understand your stance."

Thor was not lying—Steven had gone through a lot. Thor knew now how much it hurt to lose people he loved, he couldn't imagine losing everything at once. Until now he still felt a lot of grief.

"Yeah, maybe I can be stronger later," Steven said. He looked at the TV and suddenly perked up as if remembering something. His expression changed to excitement as he turned to Thor, "Hey, remember when we met at the forest? When you came to catch Loki?"

"When you hit my head with your shield?" Thor smiled, remembering the silly misunderstanding that happened.

"Oh yeah, sorry about that," Steven said, though he didn't look apologetic and instead grinned, "Remember when your hammer hit my shield?"

"Yes."

Thor remembered that very clearly, he was actually glad that Steven's shield managed to withstand his hammer, he would hate it if he accidentally hurt his friend. Back then, Thor failed to recognize Steven despite knowing about his identity. Despite knowing the name, he had never seen the shield or the uniform.

Steven grinned even wider, "Want to try it again?"

"Remind me when I agreed about this again?" Wilson asked from the passenger's seat, while Steven was driving and Thor himself occupied the back seat. They are on the way to one of Stark's houses to practice their 'moves'—they had been trying to find out how much damage the collision between Mjolnir and Steven's shield could cause, to find the difference between Barton's 'That is so fucking awesome'! and Stark's 'No no no god fuckin' no, not in my tower!'

"When you are passed out drunk in my room?" Steven answered. He turned to Wilson to raised an eyebrow before focusing on the road again.

"Ugh, I am pretty sure being drunk should invalidate all the things I said," Wilson complained again, though they all knew it wouldn't result in anything since they had been on the road for quite long.

"A promise is a promise, my friend," Thor chimed in, squeezing Wilson's shoulder. They had started to get to know each other as Wilson had come to the Tower to visit Steven more often and sometimes they went out together to explore New York, sometimes with Romanoff in her various disguises.

(She had been trying to make them come up with better disguises than leather jackets and caps.)

"Are you scared?" Steven asked, his tone suggested that he found it really ridiculous that Wilson was scared.

"Hell yeah, I am playing baseball frisbee with a super soldier and a freaking god, accidents happen."

Steven snorted, "Please, you put a rocket near your ass on the daily, I am sure you will be fine."

Thor found himself enjoying how at ease Steven was when it was just the three of them. And there were times when Thor found his own heart beat faster when he saw Steven's genuine smiles—smiles that were reserved for his close ones, which included Thor. He tried to ignore that, though.

"You are a much better choice than Iron Man," Thor said, looking away from Steven's face, "We don't want Iron Man."

To be honest, he was only saying that because Stark had banned them from practicing at the tower after one incident where they almost trashed his tower. Stark would love to join them on their fun, but he didn't want it to happen in the tower, so he sent them to one of his properties to practice. Thor and Steven ended up conspiring to choose the days where Stark would be too busy to come along with them as a punishment for ruining their fun. Too bad Romanoff couldn't come with them as she had a business to do.

"He has a suit, I only have wings," Sam said, though he did end up saying in mock defeat, "Alright."

Their journey went quiet for a while before Steve spoke up again.

"You know I am glad we have time for ourselves, for now," because their days were filled with hunting the remnants of Hydra and finding James Barnes, "We even get a beach for ourselves."

"Because Stark didn't want you two to trash his tower again."

"If we do that more, will we able to go on a holiday again?" Thor wondered.

"That's a pretty good idea…"

"Ready?" Sam started to count, yelling from above, flying with his wings, "One, two, three!"

The force of Mjolnir meeting the vibranium shield made the sand around them exploded as if it had been dropped by bombs. The sand flew everywhere and Thor had to close his eyes so they wouldn't get into his eyes.

"Holy shit," Wilson said once the sand storm calmed down.

Steven grimaced, "Too much power?"

Thor grinned.

"I think so."

"Dude!" Wilson yelled the shield flew by his head.

Steven and he yelled back in unison, "Sorry!"

"He is coping well, don't you think?" Sam—after their practices today, Thor thought they should be on first name basis—asked him when they were both alone in a living room that was too big for only the three of them. Steve was taking a long bath, probably taking time to clean all the sands in his hair, just like Thor. He was the last one to take a bath, letting Thor went first because so many grains of sand caught in his hair, and Sam second because Steven thought he was one second away from passing out.

Sam gave Steven a dirty look over that, but nevertheless, accepted the arrangement.

"He is unexpectedly dealing with everything well," Thor agreed, both of them had a beer on their hands, "I believe you have a part in that."

"I'm just doing what I should be doing," Sam said, and Thor understood more now how Sam and Steven could get along so well, "He is a good man."

They were both noble warriors who had gone through a lot.

"He is a good man, indeed."

"I asked him once what made him happy," Sam said, "He said he didn't know."

To be honest, Thor was not sure why Sam told him that, but he was honored to be trusted with that information. He was not surprised by that answer, however. Sadly, it seemed like an honest answer.

"Then let's help him find one," Thor said. He guessed that they were similar in this, they both wanted to watch over Steven and see him happy, "Though I believe that he has found some, now."

Sam contemplated that for a while. What he thought didn't come across his face—he was almost as good as Romanoff at masking his thoughts.

"I want to believe that," Sam ended up saying, "He is very good at masking his pain."

That had been true. But perhaps, because Thor watched over him too much, he could see the cracks in Steven's façade.

"I found him a very poor liar. But he had his moments."

Sam laughed at that.

"I am glad you and Natasha are there for him when I am too busy chasing cold leads," Sam said. Thor wanted to argue that he barely did anything, that Steven was amazingly good at taking care of him, but Sam beat him, "You know what, I am exhausted. I am gonna hit the shack, now."

He got up and put the beer bottle on the table. He turned to Thor and warned him, "Don't tell Steve he was right."

And then after that, Thor was left alone. Not for too long, though, because ten minutes later, Steven joined him. He smelled like soap. He took the bottle Sam left and saw that there were still liquid left there, so he just drank it. Thor looked straight at the television. It was playing something that Sam called a 'telenovela' earlier.

"Hey, have you talked to Jane lately? I haven't talked to her or Darcy lately," Steven suddenly asked after he emptied his battle.

"I haven't."

Steven looked surprised at the answer. Maybe, he thought that they were in contact every day—in a better condition, they would be. Unfortunately, there was some complication.

"Really? Why?"

"She was very busy," Thor answered. It wasn't a lie—after their 'adventure', Jane was even more determined to figure out the whole world, she had been busy with her researches. But, that was not the only reason. Thor hesitated to say, "And I think she didn't like it that I decided to stay here for quite a while. She didn't say it, though."

They didn't have an argument over that, but Thor could recognize how disappointed she was when he said he needed to be with his fellow Avengers.

"You know, you don't have to stay here all the time," Steve said, face twisted in concern, "We will call you if we need you."

"I want to be ready in case there are more dangers lurking."

"Still, you can visit her, you know."

He could, Thor supposed. And yet, he hesitated. He was at loss about why he hesitated so much.

"I am at lost at what to do for her."

"Don't ask me, I am really not good with women," Steve laughed, though he still tried to give some advice, "But maybe, you can give her gifts, take her out to dinner? You can ask Natasha if you don't know what to give her."

"That might be a good idea."

Dinner would be good. They both loved dinners.

"I hope it works out, if you need a best man for your wedding, call me," Steven said. He was already opening another bottle—his own now. They both could not get drunk, but they still liked drinking while talking. Thor planned to give a special gift for Steven when he found a fitting time to do so.

"A best man?" Thor was not sure what that meant and how a best man could be related to a wedding, but instead of asking for an explanation, he said, "I think it's too soon to talk about a wedding, my friend."

Steve just laughed, "Maybe it's better to talk about it instead of being too late like me."

Thor turned to check Steve's expression. He expected sadness, but Steven just looked content about what he said. He must be happy because he changed the topic their conversation quickly, "Hey, when we go back to New York, would you like to visit a museum with me?"

"A museum?"

"Yeah, I have one I want to visit, I think you will find it interesting. It's okay if you have other plans, though."

"I don't have many things to do, so, I accept your offer."

"Nice."

"Bucky?" Steven yelled out, trying so hard to run despite the obvious pain he felt, despite the limping, "Bucky!"

Thor knew something was wrong when Steven was suddenly distracted during a fight with Hydra members, letting himself getting swept off his feet and hit. It didn't take long for him to recover, but Thor could see that he was still disturbed by something. Steven was determined to finish the fight, though, so it was not until the fight had ended Thor knew what was distracting him.

Steven broke off from the others right away, which was very unlike him. He ran towards nowhere and Thor followed him. And now, Thor knew.

"Captain," Thor said, catching Steven's arm so he would stop running, "Are you okay?"

Steven looked around, still in a daze. Not a word of an answer came out of his mouth.

"Steven?"

"I swear he was there," Steven said, looking at Thor. The look on his face was heartbreaking, it was a mix of confusion and sadness, childlike in a way that he was searching for both a validation and a confirmation, "I saw him."

Thor couldn't give him both.

"You are hurt," He instead said.

"It will heal," Steven said. His shoulder slumped for seconds. Thor could see that he was trying to collect himself. It disturbingly didn't take long before he stood up straight again and said, in his Captain's voice, "Let's go back."

No, it turned out, Steven was not fully alright.

That was alright. Thor should have known it would be a work in progress. He was determined to be there for Steven, even if it was only for those genuine, beautiful smiles.