And here's the new one :D I got my good friend Yasmin to tag along on this one to :P
Guest: for the 'post war survival' Um... I am leaning towards 'yes' but it might take longer to make it as a lot of their personalities would change if the things didn't happen that happened. All in all, I'll have a real answer if I'll do it by the next post ^^''
Pagie: Well, there are always more meanings to the word 'swear' so :P And... um... I'm not American so I don't know, but it's a saying none the less xD (schools do differ - which kind you go to and what are the teachers like so... yeah xD)
Ch.5 I'm just one man
"Okay everyone, mission complete!" Steve called as the Howlers looked at the burning base.
"This one was faster than most," Bucky let out a deep breath, leaning on a tree.
"Well… you guys never change," they heard from behind, Adam looking through the window of the truck, eyes on the blaze happening not too far away.
"Why would we change it?" Jim raised an eyebrow, making his way to the truck.
"No it's just… This'll go down in history," Anderson shrugged, seeing the Howlers getting on the ride.
"You'll be able to say you witnessed the making of history," Monty grinned as the others laughed.
"Yeah, I'll be the one to give nice details on what it looked like," the driver smirked, started the truck and drove off, back to the camp in Italy.
As usual, when they got back, the soldiers cheered. Every victory was a big one to them, so they made sure their best men knew they were doing a good job.
"Captain America!" came a shout as someone, or about 4 people, were making their way through the mass of soldiers that stood between them and the Howlers.
"Captain!" it looked like an interview crew was here. Just perfect…
"How does it feel to be the one changing the tide of the war?" the man asked; a camera man right behind him as the other Commandos shared a look.
"We'll see ya later Cap," Dugan waved, the others grinning, before leaving.
"Um, I actually don't do it. It's a team effort," Rogers tried, seeing the Howlers leave.
"Really, you should ask the others!" he knew they probably just felt… betrayed in a way. Not by him, he hoped, but by the fact these people just saw him as the hero.
"Come now Captain, give us your thoughts!" the man insisted.
"Nice to see some things never change huh?" Jones muttered as he stretched in the barrack.
"Yep. And it's not so bad. Who wants to be so known?" Jim grinned, pouring himself some water.
"Agreed. This way the enemy could have more information on us," Falsworth nodded his head.
"*But it would be a bit nice… the ladies would like you more,*" Dernier shrugged, a bit unsure.
"Well, hell, we ain't getting out there. Don't care why," Dum Dum frowned, a bit moody.
"True. Not to mention he's the star," Bucky plopped himself on the bed.
But no matter what they said, the mood was a bit… depressed. The Howlers didn't really want to be Captain America known, but it wouldn't hurt to get some of the credit. Unlike the star-spangled man, none of them was anything special. Maybe that's one of the reasons?
"You know… I think it's worsening the other's morale…" Monty added, seeing the other soldiers walking around, heads low or looking at Steve with this… envy.
"Can't really blame 'em or Cap… but he's the only one they see," Morita let out a sigh.
"This is war. It doesn't matter how you get it done… but they need Captain America for publicity. Try and get more soldiers to join. That kinda stuff," Gabe glanced towards the crew.
"So, how'd it go?" Barnes asked when Steve came back to the barrack.
"Like usual…" Cap sighed, sitting on a chair and leaning back.
"They only give me the credit…" he muttered, looking at the roof. He felt exhausted. Even after the tour with the USO, he wasn't used to so much attention. Nor that they gave him credit for things he never did. It just wasn't fair for his teammates, friends, to get ignored.
Chester Phillips shook his head in disbelieve. He stood in some distance to all the trouble with the Commandos coming back and the interviews starting. He also noticed how every member of said Commandos walked into their barrack – besides Steve Rogers, obviously.
What all the members had in common was that they didn't really looked happy about when, where and by whom all the attention was received.
He didn't really looked forward to telling Rogers that some higher ups wanted to give him a medal…
"Well who else is gonna get it? You're the 'American Icon' after all," Bucky said sarcastically, seeing how everyone laughed.
"I never wanted to be it… A soldier, yes, but not… this… I'm not even pure American," Steve shook his head before seeing the confused looks of his teammates.
"What?" he asked, Barnes seemed to notice it as well.
"Oh, they don't know!" the sniper laughed as the Howlers gave him the 'are you gonna tell us' look.
"Yeah, well… it's true. My mom and dad were Irish. We moved to Brooklyn when I was just a little kid. Grew up there so… yeah. But I wasn't born there," he smirked as their eyes winded.
"So… the American Icon isn't American?" Monty raised an eyebrow as the blonde nodded.
"Learn something new every day…" Jones whispered.
"Did the… doctors know?" Frenchie blinked and asked.
"They-" Steve would have said something, but his best friend cut him off.
"No way. He actually tried to get into the army 4 times. So they never really knew where he was really from," the others looked in amazement.
"You wanted to join so badly?" the medic didn't understand.
"Well… yes…" he said awkwardly, a bit red in the face.
"Now I really feel like a regular Joe…" Dugan let out a breath and leaned back in his chair.
"Oh c'mon guys! I never wanted the press to be just on me! I actually hate it!" Rogers didn't like seeing his friends so down. Especially when they deserved more.
"Hey, we never said anything like that. We get it – the light has to be on ya. We're fine with that, really," Dum Dum straightened a bit and looked at Steve.
"It's not like it can get any more out of hand right?"
Right at that moment Phillips made his entrance. "At ease" he grumbled, when the Commandos scrambled up to salute. After all, he still was their direct supervisor.
"I got a letter this morning" he started, walking further into the barrack, his arms crossed.
"In which General Princeton stated that he would like to give 'Captain America' a medal again."
The usual frown the colonel wore every day deepened a bit when he looked at the un-enthused faces of the team in front of him. He had thought this would be their reaction, to be honest.
"See, I know you guys don't care that much about medals and credits, and I also know that you think it's unfair how Captain here gets all the attention. It's painfully obvious that all of you don't like the way it is. So, I suggest sending you on an important mission instead of giving you, Rogers, free days to fly back to the states to get an unnecessary medal."
Monty immediately caught up to what their colonel meant by that. "It would be a nice statement that you don't care about medals and the likes, but more about your duty. Though I don't know how much that will change the interviewers."
"Well, they're still gonna hunger after the guy. He's the icon. But that's all for show. If the higher ups see that Cap doesn't really care about stuff like that, they're probably gonna try and keep things… quiet about it. I mean, you can't have Captain America running around, apparently disobeying orders. They'd have to make it seem like it was their idea…" Jones looked at the people around him.
"True. The interviewers would probably get board after a while, since they're not allowed to come into the field. Keep him away from base long enough, and he's free," Bucky smirked.
"But it would affect everything wouldn't it? People wouldn't see Captain America anymore and would likely be more unwilling to join the war…" Jim added, not sure how this is going to work.
"Use that against them. The Captain is busy saving everyone. Good enough no?" Dernier threw in, shrugging. What do they have to lose?
"Well, you boys seem to have everything under control… I'll get you an assignment tomorrow. That means you have less than a day to figure out exactly what you're going to do," Phillips was actually proud at how quickly these men adapted.
"And if you don't mind… try and get the other's morale up. We just received word unit 96 got decimated…" his voice grew a bit grim before he exited the barrack.
"Damn…" they all muttered. It was always hard when they lost so many…
"…Gather everyone…" Steve said, deep in thought.
"Everyone?" they repeated as he looked at them.
"Everyone."
Taking a deep breath, Rogers closed his eyes for a moment before getting on the stage and seeing that every single soldier in the camp had come. The Howlers really knew how to get a crowd.
"…" for a few seconds, Steve did nothing but look at the many men. He even saw the nurses and doctors- hell even the higher ups were. At the very back, he saw his team, along with Peggy and Adam, all looking ready to listen.
"I'm not really good at speeches…" Steve started, earning a few chuckles from a few men.
"But… I'll try my best," he added, always looking at the back. That's where his support was.
"I know you heard about what happened… we lost many good men – men you knew. I know it's hard, losing someone close to you. And I know that a lot of you are scared," he looked from left to right.
"How would you know? You're Captain America!" came a yell, but it didn't bother the Super Solider.
"I know because I'm a man like the rest of you… Yes, I'm a bit different, but it doesn't change the fact I'm still human," that seemed to have gotten real attention from the crowd.
"It doesn't matter what they show back home. What matters is what happens here. I know a lot of you are mad because they keep using me for popularity. And I don't blame you. In fact, I'm angry as well. I didn't do this to be a super star. I did it to help. Be it on the field or home. And I don't think myself better than anyone of you. Actually… you're all stronger, braver and better than me," it was hard, not listening to the man speak. No one could stop him.
"You know why? Because none of you have this… Super Soldier Serum inside you. You don't have superior strength or an unbreakable shield. Yet you still fight. You get up and go to war, because you want to protect your close ones. You fight for what you believe, without everything that makes me… so special," he never took his eyes off the crowd.
"So I want you to understand… Let the media say what they say. Let them speak of how 'Captain America' changes the war. How he's the one man army. Let them… because they are too afraid to say the truth. They're afraid to admit… the ones winning this war? Are all of you. No one man can win a war. He can only do his part. Mine being, giving others courage. But I'm not the real hero. That's you. Every single one of you. You are the army that wins the war, not my outfit or power. You are the real warrior of this hell, and you are the real Super Soldiers. And by the end of it all, truth and justice will make sure you all get what you deserve," he finished, a confidant nod, before leaving the stage.
A few moment of silence passed the crowd before clapping could be heard from the back. Soon, the whole crowd had to cheer and applaud the Captain. He was really incredible…
Elsewhere, there was a whole ceremony prepared in honor of the American Icon.
"And today, we are honored to give this medal or bravery to no other than Captain America!" the crowd clapped as General Princeton turned to the left, where someone was supposed to come.
"Captain America!" he called again, as the clapping stopped and the said man was not here.
"I'm… sure he's just… getting ready…" Princeton said awkwardly, holding the medal.
That's when a small man came and said something into his ear. Princeton looked about ready to faint as the color drained form his face.
"Um…. Well it would, ugh, seem that… Captain America is too busy…" he improvised, sweating.
"He um… also seemed to have said that… the medal should be given to… um the museum as all soldiers deserve it…" he was red in the face before he finished and left the stage.
And done! That's it for now and I hope to see you next time :D
Hope you liked it and if you did, leave a review :D