I got the idea for this one when Chris Evans had a birthday yesterday. I changed it to Sam's b-day after learning Cap has a birthday on the Fourth of July (couldn't have picked a better day lol). Once again, it's a drabble, and I probably make someone somewhere OOC. Enjoy anyways.
Wanda conjured two more red bursts of energy and shot them at Steve's shield. The blasts knocked him off balance, but didn't send him flying like she expected.
"Not bad," replied Steve. They'd spent this particular day going back and forth against each other, planning out and responding to various situations they might have encountered in the field. "You're getting better at attacking. When we started, you couldn't even budge me. Now, let's try defense again."
Without warning, Cap threw the vibranium shield at her. But at this point in the day, her reflexes were honed in and ready. Wanda caught the shield with another burst of red light, then threw it aside telepathically.
"Impressive," remarked Steve. "2.5 seconds. That's your fastest all week. Good job. We'll call it quits there."
"Steve," said Wanda, "Isn't today someone's birthday?"
"Oh," said Steve, having a déjà vu moment. "It is Sam's birthday. Hopefully, the party favors are still scheduled to be here."
The "party favors" Steve was referring to were preparations for a surprise birthday party once Sam arrived back from a mission with James 'Rhodey' Rhodes, aka War Machine. Steve sent them off in advance, hoping to catch his best friend off guard. The usually hardened Fury had given the whole thing his approval.
Steve and Wanda passed by the firing range aka the Pit, which spread out over a large area: almost 150 yards squared. Half a dozen recruits, watched from a balcony by Maria Hill and Simon "Ghost" Riley, practiced hitting both static and moving targets with an assortment of pistols, rifles, and launchers.
"Afternoon," said Maria in a calm demeanor. "Nothing special happening in the Pit, if you're wondering." She marked scores and misses on a clipboard while Ghost barked out orders and commands in his British accent.
"Has she ever used a gun?" asked Ghost through his skull patterned bandana, pointing at Wanda. "Never hurt to learn."
"My powers are more than sufficient to handle a situation," replied Wanda. "I don't see the point."
"What about a worst case scenario? Suppose HYDRA has some secret weapon that neutralizes telekinetic abilities. What would you then?"
"I'll train her in firearms," said Steve. "When the time's right. Right now the focus should be on getting all of these grunts in ship shape for field operations."
"These 'grunts' come from the Marines, SAS, and other special forces," snapped Ghost defensively. "They earn their merit-"
"That's enough, Riley," said Maria, cutting in. She knew Steve was close to butting heads with the former SAS man, and that was unneeded. "Steve, why don't you get Wanda helping out with the party favors?"
"Sounds fun. Come on," said Steve to Wanda as they went off to the main building. He jogged lightly, she levitated.
"I think he's got a thing for her," said Ghost as he and Maria watched Captain America and the Scarlet Witch enter the main building. "He's usually not that defensive and protective of anyone."
"Well, she did lose the only family she had left, and he feels the need to be a helping hand," said Maria. "Steve's like that. He's always on the lookout for the lost and broken, because that was him before his serum."
"And when she's not lost or broken?" asked Ghost.
Maria smiled. "That's when things get interesting."
Falcon and War Machine arrived around five in the evening. Their mission hadn't been hard: just fly over to the Bronx and shake up two gangs that had been trying to take the place of Wilson Fisk and his associates. Their job was made easier by the fact that the masked man known as Daredevil was on scene, and volunteered to "clean up the mess", as he put it.
"Hey Sam. Hey Rhodes," said Steve as the two flying Avengers landed and took off their flying gear. "You encounter any problems?"
"Not at all," replied Rhodey. "Police almost got involved but we were too fast for that." He noticed that Steve and Wanda were the only ones in view. "Where's everyone else?" Like the rest, he was involved in the surprise for Falcon.
"Dunno," said Steve, playing dumb. "Wanda, could you fly over and check out where everyone is?"
"Yes, Captain," she replied. That was Steve's code words for get everyone ready.
The three military men walked close behind. "So Steve," said Falcon, "you every take that advice for getting a date? Wanda seems nice enough."
"Like I said: not my time," said Steve, though his heart did flutter a little bit at the sound of Wanda's name.
They got to the main building. The lights were off, and Sam was confused. "What's this?'
"We'll see," said Steve as he flipped the switch.
It might have been tacky, but the hangar room was decked out with cheesy birthday celebrations and decorations. A banner reading "HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAM" hung from the balcony. Furthermore, everyone was here: Natasha, Vision, Wanda, Ghost, Hill and at least thirty recruits and staff.. Even Fury, the workaholic, was here, and he was actually smiling for once.
Sam just looked shocked. "Seriously, Cap? I told you I didn't want a big birthday!"
"Couldn't resist. I am your best friend," replied Steve. "Happy Birthday, man."
"So now what? Do I get something or.."
"Yep. Show him." Two men brought in a large circular cake, decorated like Cap's shield.
"Wow, Cap," said Falcon. "It's my birthday, not yours."
"Well," said Steve, "Stark was the one who paid for it, so I kind of had to go along with what he ordered. Go ahead and dig in."
He did, and Steve and Natasha went on cutting up pieces of the Captain America themed cake. The inside was several layers of expensive chocolate that Steve knew were elements of Stark's touch. Fury looked at the super soldier with approval.
"Didn't expect you to be the one to cancel training for a birthday," the spy told Steve.
"Figured we could have an off day. Can't run an organization with all work and no fun. Besides, I've done this before with the Howling Commandos. Colonel Phillips wasn't too happy at first, but I figured he could relax and celebrate getting older."
Nick's good eye widens, thinking that Steve made a passing jab at the superspy.
"Relax," said Steve. "I'm not going to ask Natasha to do anything for your birthday, if that's what you're worried about."
"Good, it better." Fury walks off, leaving Steve to wonder around and make chitchat with the others. He notices Wanda doing her best to fit in. He knows that this is good for her, to help her fill in the gap left by her brother's death.
"Hey," he says to Wanda. "How's the cake? Stark paid a small fortune, according to him."
"I love it," she replies in her accent. "Luxuries were hard to come by in Sokovia, so I can't help myself. I'm going to get fat if I have another bite."
They made some more small talk, and then they went their separate ways. Natasha caught Steve off guard. "You know Steve, if you ask her out, she'll probably say yes."
"Again, Nat? I don't feel like putting that kind of pressure on her when she's still getting accustomed to life here."
Natasha Romanoff rolls her eyes. "Suit yourself, super soldier. Just know that most of us know about the way you look at her."
"What are you talking about?" Steve asked Natasha as the Russian spy walked off to talk with Maria Hill about something. But he couldn't deny that Nat was wrong about how Wanda caught his eye.