Chapter 22
Steve stepped back through the front door of their house in Scotland with a breath of relief. He glanced back at Sam who clapped him on the shoulder with a wide smile, and smiled back.
He’d needed the time away - and he wasn’t ashamed to admit he’d needed to talk to someone else about what he’d been going through.
The therapy, the space, and the job that needed doing in D.C. had helped him settle in a way he couldn’t have before.
Now he couldn’t be happier to be home.
“Uncle Steve?”
Harry’s voice was starting to drop, he realized, but the excitement in his gaze as he sprinted down the hall was the same as it had always been. The kid leapt at him and Steve caught him easily, ruffling his hair as he set him down.
Harry ducked out from under his hand to tackle Sam in a hug, and the man laughed, hugging Harry back.
“Hiya uncle Sam. Welcome back!”
“Good to be here, kid. Where’s everyone else?”
“It’s just Sirius and I here. Everyone else had stuff to do. And Sirius fell asleep in front of the TV. Jarvis told me you were here. But don’t worry! They’ll all be back for dinner!”
Steve nodded, not even a little disappointed that nobody else was here. It was a bit of a relief to be able to ease back in.
“Alright, well let us drop off our bags and then you can get us up to speed. I hear you’ve been managing death defying tricks even without us around.”
Harry’s grin is impish but he doesn’t argue.
“I’ll wake Sirius.”
He disappeared back down the hall and Sam chuckled, slapping Steve on the back again.
“It’s good to be home.”
>>>
Steve rubbed a hand over his face as Harry described the tournament up to date, and shook his head as Sirius cackled.
“Bet sitting in an office all day doesn’t compare to this.” Sirius teased, and Steve just shook his head.
“Speak for yourself. Pretty sure you’ve shaved about 10 years off my life, Harry.” Sam mused, and Harry flopped over until he was leaning against Sam’s side.
“Aw, come on, uncle Sam, I freed a dragon! That’s pretty cool!”
“And almost got eaten by tiny water demons.”
Harry shrugged, unconcerned.
“But I didn’t. And Fred and George asked me to the Yule ball. I said yes.”
Sam shot him a smirk.
“Oh yeah?”
Harry grinned back up at him.
“Yeah. They even made sure their robes matched mine.”
“Pretty romantic stuff.”
Harry flushed, but didn’t lose his smile, and Sam put a hand over the kid’s face, laughing as Harry did.
“Good for you, kid. You know, since we haven’t been around, you’ll have to reintroduce them.”
Harry looked between Sam and Steve skeptically, and they both watched the mischief slide into his eyes.
“If you insist.”
“Oh no.” Steve countered, recognizing that look.
“Whatever you’re thinking, just don’t.”
Harry gave his uncle Steve an innocent look.
“I’m not thinking anything, uncle Steve.” He chirped, but they all knew it was a lie.
“Sirs, Sergeant Barnes and Ms. Romanov have returned.”
Steve tensed despite himself, nervous, even as Harry bounced up and towards the door.
They heard his voice, high and bright, and it was Sirius who put a comforting hand on his arm, helping him relax as they saw Harry come back, dragging both ex-assassins by the hand.
“Look who’s back!” He announced, pleased and grinning ear to ear.
Natasha’s smile was easy and fond, and she stepped right over, hugging Sam first as he approached and then Steve when he stood.
“Welcome home.” She offered, and he smiled, hugging her back tightly. When he let go he saw Sam and James clasping arms, and met blue-grey eyes.
James smile was small but present, and it eased something in Steve he hadn’t realized was waiting, worried. He stepped over, and accepted the hug, clasping the man he’d known since he’d been a child, and stepped back with a smile.
“What does a guy gotta do to get some food around here?”
>>>
They sat around the table together, Steve at the head, Natasha on his right and Sam on his left. Past Natasha was Clint, Newt and Bruce, with James, Sirius, and Remus ranging past Sam, and Tony at the opposite end of the table. The genius offered him a grim smile, and Steve returned it. It was just like old times.
“So. What do we know?”
“The maze self-arranges. It’s impossible to plan a route.” Newt admitted, frown in place.
“But it’s still plant based?” Steve inquired, and Newt nodded.
“As far as we know.”
“Right then. Well, you can guide a plant to grow. All we have to do is give it a frame.”
It was Newt and Tony who exchanged a look at the words, eyes bright with ideas. Steve smiled at the familiarity of it, even with the new players.
“Tony, Mr. Scamander - Newt,” he corrected at the look, “you’re in charge of building the frame. Bruce, why don’t you help them with that?”
The scientist nodded in agreement, and Steve turned his attention to Remus.
“How much control do you have now?”
“The wolf is tethered by a pack now.” Was what the man said, and Steve nodded.
“Good. The third task is set on the full moon. We’re going to use that to our advantage.”
“Clint. You’re in charge of surveillance. I need you in the stands with Sam, keeping an eye on things from above.”
“You got it, Cap.” Clint saluted.
“Sirius, you’ll stick with Remus. Two noses is better than one.”
Sirius dipped his head, and Steve turned his attention to Natasha and James.
“Keep to the edges. You’re the second wave. You see someone who doesn’t belong, you go in and you go in hard. We’re not risking any of these kids.”
They both nodded, and Steve turned back to Bruce.
“That goes for you too. If things start to go wrong, you let the Other Guy out and the two of you raise Hell.”
Bruce’s smile was just this side of green, and Steve nodded, satisfied.
“Alright team, let’s get to work.”