You'd Give Anything to Be
I’m a riddle in nine syllables,
An elephant, a ponderous house,
A melon strolling on two tendrils.
O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!
This loaf’s big with its yeasty rising.
Money’s new-minted in this fat purse.
I’m a means, a stage, a cow in calf.
I’ve eaten a bag of green apples,
Boarded the train, there’s no getting off.
“Metaphors” by Sylvia Plath
Steve hadn’t left the tower since the attack on New York. Following Natasha, he breathed in all of the smells of the city. He could smell pretzels four blocks down, and god, he was suddenly starving.
“How are you still hungry?” Tony asked. “You ate all the breakfast food I’ve got in the tower!”
“Super-soldier pregnancy.” Steve shrugged.
“Do you think you can wait until after we go shopping?” Tony asked. He had decided to tag along with Nat and Steve on their baby quest.
Steve had to think about that. “I think I can wait till after.”
“We’re here,” Nat said, opening the door to a shop called Little Wonders.
Steve gasped, completely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of baby items. He’d never seen so many tiny and colorful clothes. He recognized strange, modern cribs and strollers. But there were things he’d never seen baby holders? And the stuffies…
“You ok, Cap?” Tony asked softly.
Steve shook his head.
Tony took his hand and squeezed gently. “Let’s check out these onesies, yeah?” He brought Steve’s hand up against the soft material.
“Soft,” Steve whispered.
“We need to get preemie sizes,” Tony explained. “Dr. Cho expects those two will be early and tiny.”
Steve swallowed thickly.
His ma had worked as a midwife. She’d always hated twins because the birth was always dangerous, and often, the babies didn’t make it.
Steve really hoped the serum would keep him and his babies alive…
“Do you know what you’re having?” Nat asked.
Steve cocked his head. “You can know?”
Nat smiled sadly. “I suspect you can find out when you have your next appointment. Are you hoping for girls or boys, maybe one of each?”
“Not really, I just want them to be 'ealthy,” Steve said, but he would like to name one after his mother.
Tony felt the weight of the world fall from his shoulders as Steve finally began to explore the shop.
He gravitated towards soft, neutral onesies in a style that likely reminded him of his time. He finished by picking out two stuffed bears with plaid bow ties.
Tony knew they needed more than Steve’s humble selections, but he could tell that the Omega was tiring fast. He purchased the onesies and the teddy bears before turning to Steve. “You want to eat out or go home?”
“Home,” Steve said softly, hugging the shopping bag.
Tony smiled. “Sure, big guy, let’s get you home.”
When they walked out of the store, they were ambushed by flashing cameras.
Swearing, Tony pushed Steve behind him.
The reporters shouted rude questions, obviously trying to paint the Omega Captain America in a bad light.
“Mr. Stark, are you going to mate Captain America?”
“Do the pups have the super serum? Will the pups be raised as Avengers?”
“Cap, how does it feel to stain our history with your lies?”
Tony growled, but before he could do anything, Steve exploded. “Shut up! I died for dis fucking country! Don’t you dare cheapen dat!”
Tony and Nat blocked the reporters from Steve as they pushed through the crowd to where Happy had parked the limo.
Steve was furious, cursing in a way that would have rivaled Howard’s infamous temper.
Tony immediately called Pepper. “Pep, we’ve got a problem.”
Bucky looked small, lying in a hospital room. He was turned away from his family, who spoke in soft voices.
“I sent his information in today,” Winnifred whispered.
George hummed, staring at the bandaged lump that used to be his son’s arm. “You’re sure about this?”
“It’s the least they owe him,” Winnifred hissed. “This is their fault!”
Blaming the Avengers for the Battle of New York was easy, but they both knew Bucky might have died. Surely, an arm was a small price to pay.
George sighed. He was afraid that Bucky needed more than just physical help. Grabbing the remote, he flipped to a different channel.
“So, Captain America was spotted for the first time since he defrosted,” a reporter said as a picture of a heavily pregnant Omega came onto the screen.
“Can we even call him Captain America?” Another reporter asked. “The fact that he’s an Omega really degrades our history and, perhaps, even our freedom.”
“I can’t even remember his name,” one reporter admitted. “He’s really only important because of what he did, but it was all a lie.”
“Is there any merit to the rumors that he’s engaged to Tony Stark?” Another reporter asked.
“Tony has refused to comment, but witnesses say they are close.”
George was about to change the channel when Winnifred stopped him. She gestured to Bucky.
He was sitting up, staring at the screen with the strangest expression on his face.
***
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