Not Darcy this time, sorry! Someone else makes a cameo. (Don't worry, this won't happen often)
The 21st century wasn't what he thought it would be. As a child growing up he'd thought that eventually all the discrimination he saw around him would stop. He believed in humanity, that people had an inherent goodness. That given enough time, everyone could see what he saw. That color, gender, and sexuality made no difference, didn't make any one less human.
Damn near a hundred years had passed since he disappeared from the Earth, hidden deep beneath the cold ocean. Sure, things had changed. Things had changed a lot. But even for all their fantastic advances in technology and science, people still couldn't treat each other with respect. As the equals Steve knew they were.
The Avengers made a trip to Asgard, once, when Thor and Jane married there. They had made the trip into a vacation. Steve spent much of his time wandering the city, observing the Asgardians and their culture. What he saw was beautiful. People there weren't so different from humans, really. But not once did he see an Asgardian belittled, harassed, because of who they were.
Steve thought about these things a lot. He wondered if it was his responsibility to stand up and say something. Surely people would listen to Captain America? But he'd always been shy of acting publicly. Even after his days on tour during the war, Steve still hated being in the spotlight.
When the team was fighting a scientist gone mad in the middle of Brooklyn he had his chance to speak out. This section of town had changed so much since the depression, but he still recognized it. There had been a speakeasy on the corner. Steve remembered being there with Bucky, once. They had seen a woman come out of the backroom, crying, dress torn, and limping. Shortly after her a man came out – easily recognizable as the owner of the building. Steve had looked at Bucky, asked if they should call the police, report what had obviously been an assault. Bucky had looked at him and said the police wouldn't do anything. They both made sure the lady got in a cab to take her home. Together they scraped up enough change to pay her fare.
Darcy was standing exactly where that lady had when the mad scientist threatened her. Told her that after killing the rest of her team maybe he'd keep her around. Said that he'd use her the way her team obviously did – as a fuck toy.
Steve saw red. In that moment the bad guy turned into more than just a scientist who'd had an accident with gamma radiation. He was the owner of the speakeasy. He was everyone who'd called Gabe a filthy nigger. He was rapist Steve had seen walk away from court unscathed.
Shield held at the man's throat, Captain America snarled. "When God looks down on us, I wonder what he sees." Steve had the man pinned against the concrete sidewalk and looked murderous. Cautiously, the rest of the team gathered around him.
"Steve. Come one buddy, let's keep him alive for Fury to question." Clint cautiously approached the man he had found himself becoming friends with. He had never seen Steve so livid. He had never thought Steve could get so angry.
With one last shove for emphasis the blonde man let go of the villain. "This has been going on too long."
Stalking off while Natasha cuffed beaten man, Steve found Thor by his side. "You speak the truth, my friend," the thunder god told him. "But now what will you do about it?"
"Everything I can."