(
“Stark.”
Steve didn’t recognize his own voice as he came at Stark, skin blotched and flushed with rage. Stark‘s eyebrows shot up and he moved his arms into a pacifying gesture that came across more mocking than genuine and, fuck, after everything- that was Steve’s last straw.
He swung his fist, last second hooking inwards and slamming the wall instead of Stark, taking in a criminal amount of satisfaction as concrete acted like shrapnel and an immediate spike of pain crawled up his arm. Clint and Natasha were up in a split second as Stark flinched back belatedly, mouth open in shock.
A layer of detachment washed over Steve as dust settled and he moved to pull his hand out of the wrecked wall, blood pooling from places where the plaster cut into his knuckles and dripping onto the floor. A flash of silver stopped Steve mid reach; Natasha’s pistol followed his every movement and even now, the woman’s gaze was as scrutinizing as ever.
“Step down, Steve,” said Natasha.
“Don’t use that tone with me.” Steve growled, rage crawling up his throat and corroding every syllable. They were acting like he was the crazy one for losing his cool. His gaze found Stark’s, brown eyes wide and unfocused with shock, and for the first time Steve faltered.
“Steve.”
And suddenly, Natasha wasn’t ordering- she was pleading, worry so tangible Steve wondered how he could have possibly missed it the first time.
“I…” Steve took in the scene around him. Clint clutched a knife at his side, mouth set in a grim line with stormy and determined eyes. Stark stood just feet away from him with eyes unseeing in a way that reminded Steve of shell-shock. Natasha hadn’t let her gaze nor her aim stray from its target.
Steve’s knuckles tightened and whined as the skin hurried to heal itself and suddenly, it clicked: he was a super-soldier- fucking hell, they were scared of him.
His knees grew weak as a feeling close to disgust worked its way up his stomach and lined his throat. When Steve opened his mouth to say something- fuckinganything- a wet laugh heaved its way out instead.