Chapter 8

Steve

Steve spent most of the afternoon in the library. Mark had training sessions today with other Avengers, and he would be busy all afternoon. Steve decided to spend his time sketching since he had to train tomorrow. Steve sat in a large armchair in the library. Steve didn't read, though; he worked on one of his sketches. Steve couldn't help but think of the conversation he had with Mark yesterday and the one he had with Tony this morning. Steve still thought his emotions toward Mark were different, stronger than they should be. Steve thought what Andrea added was right. Steve lived for a long time period, but Mark lived longer. Mark knew his emotions and what he wanted; Steve needed to trust his emotions.

Steve found himself drawing some strange shapes. Steve always drew what was on his mind. Steve found himself drawing circles and filling in the shades. Steve began to look at his finished drawing and found himself worried about what he drew. Steve couldn't understand how he could describe this to anyone, let alone Mark. Steve decided to keep this drawing to himself for a while, least it told him how he felt about Mark. Steve realized the charcoal to be small when he was done, so he decided to get more from his room. Steve stood up and left the library. Steve walked down the hall and saw Andrea walking up the stairs. Andrea looked up and smiled at Steve. "Hey, Steve. Got any good drawing done?" Andrea asked. Steve paused and looked at his book. He opened it to the page and didn't know if he should show Andrea. Andrea would be the one who could explain the best how Mark feels about Steve and what this means. "I did," Steve began, "but not sure how to talk about my drawing."

Andrea leaned forward, "Can I see the drawing?" she asked. Steve still stood there holding his book. He didn't know if he should show Andrea.

"Does it have to do with Mark? Maybe about what we talked about this morning?" Andrea asked Steve.

Steve continued to look at his drawing, "Yeah it does." Steve sighed, and he turned the book to Andrea. Andrea grabbed the book and looked at the drawing. She looked intently at the drawing them her eyes went wide. "Is this?" Andrea began to ask, and Steve nodded. "I was just drawing what I thought, and I drew that. So yeah I think it is."

Andrea smiled big at the drawing and hugged Steve's sketchbook. "When?" She asked Steve. Steve just smiled and grabbed the book back. "I drew this today. I can't answer when, but I guess you like the drawing."

"Of course, I love it! I want to know when. I guess it is soon for me to ask if you just drew it. Well let me know if you need help with anything," Andrea said.

Steve looked down at his drawing, "Do you think Mark would freak out about it? I mean I already made a few dumb mistakes, and I don't want to make it worse."

Andrea put her hand on Steve's. Steve looked at Andrea, who was smiling at Steve. "He won't freak out. He is a pain sometimes because of everything he carries, but with you, he never is mad. He loves you. He may yell because he cannot handle what is put on him at times, but this," Andrea said pointing to the sketch, "will make you both happy. He wants everyone in his life to be happy. You are with him, so both of you will be happy. Remember your happiness will mean more to him than anything. He does things for others, often forgetting about himself. I bet you noticed it when he does nice gestures and doesn't even expect a hug from you."

Steve thought back to how Mark does things for Steve. Mark just wants Steve to be happy, he does things for Steve only expecting a smile from Steve, never wanting anything in return. Mark only ever wants Steve to be happy. Steve wanted to do the same for Mark and understood more about what Andrea meant. Steve shouldn't worry about doing something dumb; he should just do things. He should do them because he wants to for Mark.

"Thanks," Steve said, "I might need your help later. But I need to do some things on my own."

"Of course," Andrea said. "I need to get something out of my room and head back to the lab."

Steve walked Andrea to her door and hugged her as a thank you. She smiled at him and went into her room. Steve walked to his door and opened it. He looked to see a letter on the bed. Steve looked over at the letter. The front of it said "Sorry, " and Steve felt his heart drop. He remembered the letter Mark left when he went out on his own after losing his powers. Steve slowly picked up the letter and opened it.

"Hey, just wanted to say sorry. This isn't an attempt to one-up you from this morning. I thought your pancakes were wonderful and it is sweet of you to take over the kitchen for a morning. I left a present behind your shield. I got it for you a few days ago. I hope you like it. Mark"

Steve smiled knowing it was not the same letter as last time. Steve looked over at his Shield against the bed and saw a box behind it. Steve folded the letter and put it on the nightstand. He grabbed the box, and it was wrapped. It was a good size, and Steve couldn't tell what was inside. Steve slowly opened it and saw it was art supplies. A note fell from the wrapping. Steve saw the present had specialized artist pens, colored charcoal, and a new sketch pad. All this looked expensive. Steve grabbed the note and unfolded it. "You make my life brighter, so I thought you might want to add color to your art. Hope you like it! Mark"

Steve felt a big smile come across his face. He just looked at the note and the first sentence. "You make my life brighter." Steve had to laugh at himself at how cheesy Mark's words were. Steve felt stronger about his drawing when he saw the note. He put the note in the nightstand drawer; he wanted to hold on to it as long as possible. Steve looked at his new art supplies and wondered what he could do with all this new material. He put the items on his bed and stood up. He wanted to thank Mark. Steve never thought he was good at art, but Mark did. Mark would want the best of Steve to grow and show more. Mark getting Steve art supplies just showed Steve how much Mark saw in him. Steve left his room and saw Andrea leaving her room.

"You look in a good mood. What happened in a minute?" Andrea asked. Steve ran past Andrea. "Mark did," Steve said as he ran up the stairs.

"You go get him, Steve," Andrea shouted from the hall as he held her fist up in support like from an 80s movie, Steve wouldn't know the reference.

Steve ran to the training room. He saw Mark training Tony. Mark set up barriers in the training room to help Tony work on other forms of fighting other than boxing. Tony needed to dodge, hide, and move around the barricades which made his boxing stance not ideal. Steve sat back as he watched Tony and Mark.

Mark jumped from a barricade and went at Tony. Tony rolled to dodge and jumped behind a barricade causing Mark's kick to hit the barricade.

"Whoa, you left a dent. Would that have been my ribs?" Tony asked.

"Probably," Mark said, "But your movement is improving so at the speed I am working at, no."

Tony swung around the barricade, swinging a kick at Mark. Mark dodged, and Tony continued his attack. Mark blocked the hits from Tony. "Your strength is going up too. Your punches are stronger."

"Well I have you teaching me, and I am determined to hit you at least once," Tony said. Tony continued his attack on Mark. Mark dodged Tony's attacks and found an opening. Mark grabbed Tony's arm and flipped him around, slamming him to the ground. Mark went in for a punch and stopped short of Tony's chest. "And your weakness is hit."

"It is not fair when you already know my weakness. I haven't been guarding it as much," Tony said with a glare.

"True, I am happy to hear you noticed when you guard your Arc Reactor. Able to get up?" Mark asked Tony.

Tony just lied there on the floor. "I don't think I am. I feel more pain from the workout than from when you hit me," Tony said out of breath.

"Those bruises I didn't make, and maybe I should tell Andrea you are not up for another wild night," Mark said with a smile.

"You dare, and I will have Jarvis never allow a moment alone for you and Steve," Tony said.

"I am used to death threats, but that one has me scared."

"I know the worst way to ruin a man is to mess with his sex life. Let that be a lesson I teach you. You may know deadly strikes, but I know deadly cock blocks," Tony said as Mark helped him up.

"I'll remember that," Mark looked at Steve. "And how long had you been there?"

"Only a few minutes," Steve said. Steve walked over to Mark and Tony. Steve still had a big smile on his face.

"What has you in such a good mood?" Tony said.

"Excuse him, he's just tired. You're done for the day. Have to admit, a big improvement over the weeks," Mark said.

"Well I got someone important to protect now," Tony said.

"And the rest of your team?" Mark asked.

"Well I mean sure, but you guys don't leave love bruises like she does," Tony said with a smug smile.

"Someone is smitten badly," Mark said.

"You have no idea," Tony replied. "She might be the first person I met who can actually help calm my mind when it begins to obsess."

"That's because she gets it. Her mind does the same. So you both sync up and obsess together," Mark said.

"Probably, but the syncing up is the best part," Tony said.

"And how far will the syncing up go?" Mark asked Tony. Steve followed the conversation but knew that both men spoke about another topic in code.

"You will find out. I'm still working on it. But Tony Stark always finds a way to go over the top remember," Tony said.

"I am just expecting red and gold. The rest I won't even try to guess," Mark said as he crossed his arms.

Tony looked at Mark surprised. "How did you know red and gold?"

"Your egocentric side is your best side," Mark said and, Tony shoved Mark. "I will punch you in your ancient face," Tony said. Mark laughed at Tony.

"Go get rested up lover boy. I think she is still in the lab. You two can continue your syncing in there," Mark said.

"I just saw her head to the lab," Steve said.

"I will need to rest for a while first," Tony said rubbing his shoulder. "I will see you two later. And I am not the only lover boy here," Tony said looking at Mark. "Least I am planning something," Tony said hinting something.

"What happens in training, stays in training, Stark. Remember that," Mark said with a sneer.

"Same to you," Tony said as he left the room.

Steve watched as Tony walked out of the room. Mark walked over to the barricades and began to lift one. Steve went over to help. Steve grabbed one of the barricades and followed Mark to the side of the room to let them lean against the wall.

"What was that about?" Steve asked.

"Jealous your best friend and I have serious chats without you? Don't worry he is going after my best friend and isn't into men," Mark said with a smile.

"I am not jealous," Steve said realizing he reacted louder than he planned. Mark laughed.

"We were just talking Steve. Tony and I have a different friendship than you have with him. Tony and I see through one another's behaviors really well for knowing each other for a short time. So we have serious talks a lot," Mark said as he put another barricade against the wall. Steve went to grab another and Mark grabbed the last one.

"So what brought ya up here?" Mark asked.

Steve put the last barricade down and looked over at Mark smiling. "I wanted to thank you for your present."

Mark smiled. "I'm just happy you liked it. I thought of you when I saw it."

Steve just remembered the words in the note when Mark said he thought of him. "You make my life brighter," Steve said out loud.

"Not the most poetic sentence I could think of… but you do," Mark said as he looked at the barricade he kicked. Mark was assessing the damage while talking to Steve.

"You know you have been a whirlwind coming into my life," Steve said.

Mark looked up at Steve, "Is that good? Sounds bad."

Steve shook his head and leaned down next to Mark. Steve put his hand on Mark's. "You cleaned out all the mess. You made my life better and let me be myself without all the mess around me. I didn't think someone like you could be out there for me."

Mark smiled at Steve. "Sometimes it is hard to see myself as you see me," Mark said. "I think it's just hard to accept some things. I would want you to be in my life as long as possible, Steve. I would do anything for it to be for as long as I am alive, but I know it's not possible. I need to enjoy it for what it is. The truth is without my powers, I would have never met you."

Steve put his hand through Mark's hair. Steve smiled at Mark and leaned forward to rest his forehead against Mark's. "I am happy to hear you say that. I used to be worried I wasn't enough for you."

Mark grabbed Steve's hand from his head. "Steve…" Mark began, but he stopped to think of his words. "You are more than you will know."

Steve squeezed Mark's hand.

"So you liked the gift?" Mark finally asked. Steve laughed.

"Yes, I love it. I want to draw. You never questioned it or anything. You bought me something to help me draw more and better."

Mark smiled and then stood up. "Come on," Mark said pulling Steve up. "Let's have a day just us."

Steve hugged Mark, "I will like that." Mark pulled from the hug and led Steve out of the training room. They changed and readied themselves for the city. Steve didn't know what Mark had planned for him.

"Ready?" Mark asked as he walked into Steve's room.

"Yeah," Steve said. "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise. I am not sure what we will do, but I know where we will be," Mark said.

"That sounds a little confusing," Steve said as they walked into the hall.

"You will get it once we are there," Mark said.

Steve followed Mark down the stairs and out the door. Steve paused when he realized they weren't taking a car. "We are going to walk?" Steve asked.

"It will be easier taking public transportation where we are going," Mark said. Steve followed Mark.

Steve didn't know where they were going. He followed Mark into the city and went to the subway line. Mark needed to read the map to make sure they took the right subway to get where he wanted to go. Mark still wouldn't tell Steve where they were going. They got on the subway and transferred twice before they got to their stop. Steve stepped out of the subway and read the destination. He looked at Mark who was smiling at Steve.

"Really?" Steve asked.

"Well I thought you might want to see how the Brooklyn neighborhood has been since you last saw it," Mark said.

Steve smiled like a kid in a candy store and hugged Mark. Steve was excited to show Mark his old neighborhood. Steve visited Brooklyn before but never had anyone to share his past with until now.

Steve walked through the neighborhood and just looked around. He remembered what used to be in the neighborhood. Steve took Mark down neighborhoods that he would walk home from school and the old alleys he used to hang out with the other kids. Steve walked to the open area of Brooklyn.

"Is this the place you drew in your sketchbook?" Mark asked.

Steve nodded as he looked at the area. The building remained the same, the stores changed, but you could tell it was the same building in the sketch.

"It's scary how good you are at capturing the details," Mark said as he looked at the building.

Steve smiled. Steve led the way and was happy to be the one to show Mark around. Steve stopped at an old apartment building. He looked up to the third floor and just at the window which had a light on inside. Mark walked up next to Steve and looked up.

"This is where I grew up," Steve said. Mark remained silent and just listened to Steve.

"It was a small apartment. My mom couldn't afford much. We needed to pay for my medication because I was always sick. I sometimes would lie to hear and say I ate just so she could have a meal before I did. She would fight sometimes but ended up eating. Now thinking back on it I think she knew, but she just let me do it. She had to have known. She was one of the best people I have ever known."

Steve continued to look at the building remembering his mom. "That window used to be to my room. I used to love hearing the city at night. My mom always yelled at me to keep it closed so I wouldn't get sick. She worried so much about me."

"I wish I could have met her," Mark said. Steve looked at Mark who was looking at the window Steve pointed out. Mark looked at Steve when he noticed Steve staring at him.

"I wish she met you," Steve said. "She would have liked you. Especially with how you watch out for me and take care of me. She would want someone like that for me."

Mark smiled. "She may have been upset over the fact you would be dating someone older than her," Mark said. Steve shoved Mark. Mark was laughing. Steve looked back to the window.

"She told me to find someone who you care about and who cares about you. She said I would need to find someone who sees me like she did. She loved me and wanted someone to see me with the same eyes she did. I think I finally found that " Steve said.

Mark walked next to Steve and grabbed his arm. "Come on," Mark said. "We are in Brooklyn, might as well find an awesome Chinese place or pizza. What do you feel like eating?"

Steve looked back to the window as Mark led him down the street. "My mom always loved Chinese for special nights when we could afford it. I think we should get that," Steve said looking forward.

"Then Chinese it is," Mark said. Steve grabbed Mark's arm tight. He felt he did find someone whom his mother would be proud he had. Steve led the way hoping to find the Chinese place he used to remember. He found a Chinese restaurant which still stood there. He saw the food; it looked the same, only the name changed. He and Mark enjoyed the food there for dinner.

"Did that remind you of the food before?" Mark asked.

"It is different but similar to what I remember. That place was very close to what I remember. But I figure with time changing how we get the food, that changed how it tasted too."

Steve walked with Mark in the city. Steve asked to walk as much as possible on their way back without taking the public transportation. Normally, anyone would say no. Mark and Steve were not the average people, so Mark agreed to walk.

"It does change over time. But I am happy you got this day," Mark said.

"I am happy I got to spend it with you," Steve said. Mark smiled.

Steve and Mark walked and just talked about one another. Steve didn't relive his past with Mark anymore; they focused more on the present.

"So I am curious, when did you realize you liked me?" Mark asked. Steve quickly answered.

"I realized something between us when you first arrived in the Avenger Mansion. You shook my hand; I felt something then. I didn't know what it was, but I now know it was my attraction to you. I already know when you first liked me," Steve said.

"You have a shield to prove that point," Mark said.

Steve laughed. "I have many things to prove you care about me, now."

"That was after you realized how much I cared about you. You struggled with me being much more powerful than you if I recall. The term monster may have been used," Mark said.

Steve shoved Mark as he brought back the rough parts. "I did, fine. You want to hear it?"

"Yes I do," Mark said.

Steve sighed. "I am not used to having someone care about me like you do. You protected me, worried about me, and would put yourself in harm's way to make sure I was fine. I hated it I couldn't do what I normally could for others with you."

Mark looked up at Steve. "Steve…" Mark said.

"And that is what brought more of myself out. I didn't need to try to be anything else for you. It was nice."

Mark and Steve continued walking and realized they arrived at the mansion. Mark looked at the time. "Well, I guess we didn't realize it was two in the morning."

"No," Steve said hugging Mark, "in good company, we lose track of time." Steve rested his head on Mark's shoulder and yawned. Mark scratched the back of Steve's head. "You are tired. Come on, let's get some rest." Mark said.

"But I am already comfortable," Steve told Mark. Mark sighed and pulled from the hug. He bent down and picked Steve up over his shoulder and carried him into the mansion.

"I can't believe you are doing this!" Steve said.

"Yes you can," Mark said. Steve then began to laugh.

Mark carried Steve up the stairs and into Steve's room. Mark put Steve on the bed. Steve was smiling at Mark.

"I can't predict you at times. It's a good thing when you do things like that, but crazy when you do your dumb plans," Steve said.

"My stupid plans have saved us," Mark said as he took off his shoes.

"But drove me crazy doing so. I still say they are dumb."

"Oh hush," Mark said. "I am going to get changed and ready for bed. I will be back."

Steve watched as Mark left the room. Steve got up and changed for the night. He went into the bathroom and brushed his teeth. Steve went to bed when he was finished and saw Mark walking back.

"Aren't you suppose to start moving your stuff in here?" Steve asked.

"Are you still gonna turn red when you undress in front of me?" Mark replied.

Steve stuck his tongue out at Mark and Mark grabbed Steve pinning him to the bed. "I don't turn red anymore. We have seen each other naked. I won't be embarrassed by it."

"But I am still going to get you back for the tongue thing," Mark said as he leaned in and kissed Steve. Steve couldn't help but smile during the kiss, he found himself doing this more often when he kissed Mark. Steve saw Mark pull back from the kiss wearing a smile of his own. Mark turned and turned off the light getting comfortable next to Steve.

"I thought we were going to have you move in here, though," Steve asked.

"We will. We just need to get around to the actual moving part," Mark said. Steve turned to rest his head on Mark's chest. Mark rubbed the back of Steve's head. Steve found this relaxing and felt himself quickly falling asleep.

"No more crazy or dumb plans," Steve said as he slowly fell asleep.

"No promises," Mark said. Steve bit Mark at his comment. But Mark never corrected what he said. Steve just went to sleep with Mark helping him relax.