Chapter 2
Steve had not intended to wake up at 5:30 am Christmas morning. It was not like he had anything to look forward to, no presents to unwrap, no loved ones to help in the kitchen. Steve didn’t even have a tree to look at, he had thrown it out last night, ornaments and all. He hadn’t like it anyway, it was fake (Because trees were fake these days) and it felt like a terrible representation of how his life felt at the moment. Just a plastic replica, a cheap replacement.
Steve usually woke up early, his military training seemed to still be intact. He would wake up, go for a long run, and then grab a coffee on his way home. He liked to frequent the same small hole-in-the-wall coffee shop every day. He liked the familiarity of the staff, plus he figured that if he had such a huge back pay from the military (and nothing to spend it on) he may as well try to support small businesses. Steve knew what it was like to struggle for a living and he had to admit he disliked how rare small independent businesses were in Ney York. Back in his day, NYC was an expensive place, sure, but it was still a place that allowed for people to chase the “American Dream” and start their own businesses. Today he got the feeling that it was very difficult to run a small business in the shadow of Corporate America.
Steve decided he should still go for his run, he had nothing better to do. Plus if he was going to commit to this Captain America thing, he can’t let a silly thing such as a holiday affect him this much. Steve got dressed and grabbed his wallet (on instinct he filled it with extra cash) before heading out the door. Steve did not shop very often, SHIELD had provided him with a lot of the basics he would need to get by. One thing Steve did do on his own time was invest in some warm exercise clothing. He was surprised to find how many options there were, he found clothing that was flexible and breathable, yet somehow so incredibly warm. Being warm was a must.
Steve ran. He often ran until he worked up a slight sweat (aka much farther than the average human), but today he really pushed himself. Almost as if he could run so fast that he would forget all his problems. Maybe if he ran fast enough he would not notice the boy in pajamas dragging his father, also in pajamas and a coat, out of his apartment building to play with his new baseball glove. It was 6 am and the boy had clearly just opened the gift and insisted that he get to try it out on the snowy yet fairly empty sidewalk. The father still looked half-asleep, but almost as happy as his son was. Maybe if Steve ran fast enough he would not see the Christmas lights in the park or notice that all too familiar ache in his chest.
When Steve finished his run he decided he’d stop by the coffee shop, he was not sure if they’d be open this early on Christmas (or on Christmas at all) but he figured he’d give it a shot. So Steve was pleasantly surprised (and also a bit sad for the owner) when he saw their “Open” sign glowing in the window. When Steve walked into the cafe he saw the only person working was the owner, Mr. Collins, a man in his late 30s if Steve had to guess. Mr. Collins was behind the counter, turning on all the equipment, he must have just opened. If Steve had to guess he had opened gifts with his kids and then came to open the shop. Steve felt bad that he was alone on Christmas, he knew the man had two small children, a wife, and an elderly mother. Mr. Collins smiled warmly at Steve when he walked in.
“Steve! Merry Christmas!” The man said in his slight Irish accent.
Mr. Collins was a first-generation Irish American, much like Steve, and he held onto a very slight Irish accent that he picked up from his parents and the Irish community he had grown up in. So maybe the Irish thing was another reason Steve supported this business.
“Mr. Collins, Merry Christmas,” Steve said warmly. He noticed that the ache seemed to be the least noticeable when he was at this coffee shop.
“I’ve told you before, just call me Brian. You come in here enough.” the man responded. “The same as always?”
Steve simply nodded in agreement, watching the man get the machines up and running while also pulling out the necessary ingredients for Steve’s coffee. He felt a bit guilty making the man work on Christmas, but Steve knew that if he was working on Christmas then times must be hard and he must need the money. That should not have to be the case. Steve was feeling all too well what it was like to be alone on Christmas, and he hated it. He hated it so damn much. It was not fair that this man had to be alone when he had a family to spend it with. Mr. Collins was a good man and a hard worker, he also dearly loved his family. This was apparent by all the times Steve had seen them interact, or had been told stories about the man’s children.
The man handed him his drink. Steve pulled out his wallet, suddenly very happy with his choice to bring extra cash with him today. He had felt he would need it this morning.
“How many people do you think you’ll get in here today?” Steve asked casually.
“Oh, probably only around 100 people. Most of the people out on Christmas day are the types to go to Starbucks.” Brian said with a slight chuckle, but Steve knew that 100 people were hardly enough to cover the cost of being open today.
Steve nodded, “So this should be more than enough to cover that.”
He pulled out $600 in cash. Steve figured it was probably around double what the man expected to earn today. Luckily he brought it in $100 dollar bills, so it had easily fit in his wallet and would be easy for Brian to take home.
“How about you take the day off? Be with your family.” Steve said handing it to the shocked man.
“I-Steve I can’t possibly take this!” Brian said, hardly able to process what was happening.
“Please do. I want your family to have a good Christmas together” Steve said.
Mr. Collins looked close to tears, still holding the money in his hands in pure shock. He seemed to be debating what to do, his eyes flicking from Steve to the money, and back again.
“Just take it. Turn off the open sign and go home. Nothing could make me happier today than knowing your family gets to enjoy Christmas together. People should not have to be alone on Christmas.”
“I..at least let me give you some food!” Brain said, darting behind the pastry counter.
Normally Steve would refuse the offer, but he knew that Brian truly wanted to thank him in whatever way he could. Steve was not about to crush that and refuse the kind offer. Soon Brian returned with a Danish, some gingerbread and...and an orange. Steve almost felt like his heart had stopped when he saw the orange in the man’s hands.
“It isn’t much.” Brian said, setting the items on the counter for Steve, “and the orange is kinda an old family Christmas tradition.” He said with a shrug.
“Mine too,” Steve said softly, gently picking up the orange. “My Ma she-she used to get one for me every Christmas…”
Brian looked at Steve with an analyzing look before finally saying “Listen, Steve, how about you stop by for Christmas dinner tonight?”
Steve looked up sharply, the orange was almost forgotten in his hands. He saw no sign that he was joking or messing with him. Steve then looked for signs of guilt, maybe he felt that he had to repay Steve? That was not necessary, it took away from it being a gift.
“No, I couldn’t. I-”
“Don’t have any plans.” Brian interrupted, “at the risk of being rude...I’d have to guess you are alone for Christmas. We’d love to have you over.”
Brian grabbed a piece of paper and quickly wrote his home address on it, as well as the time of 5:30 pm. He handed it to Steve before putting the items of food into a small sack and sliding it across the counter. Steve didn’t even know what to say. He supposed he should not be surprised that Brian had so easily been able to tell Steve had no plans. Who went out for a run on Christmas? Who said stupid things like ‘no one should be alone on Christmas’ while so clearly alone.
“Just think about it, okay?” Brian said with a big smile on his face.
Steve nodded, offered thanks for the invitation (followed by many grateful thanks for the money), and left. Steve was more than happy to see the man turn the “Open” sign off as soon as the door closed behind him. Steve walked home stunned, hardly able to process what had just happened. Steve had set out to do a good thing, to help someone in the best way he could. He had not expected the tables to be turned on him like this. He looked down at the orange he still held in his hand. Steve felt tears at the back of his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He would not cry over an orange or an invite to dinner. Brian probably just felt like he had to repay Steve for the money.
Steve returned to his apartment, setting the sack and coffee cup on his kitchen table, still holding the orange and the piece of paper. Steve couldn’t go..right? It was impolite to force himself on this family, it was just a polite offer and nothing more. Yet..the way Brian had looked at him, Steve couldn’t help but think he meant it. Steve felt a lump in his throat as he continued to hold back the tears. Steve could not explain why he was so emotional, he just knew that someone gave him an orange. Steve had been in this century for about a year and Brian was one of the only people to actually call him Steve. Brian’s elderly mother had once slipped Steve a cookie with his order, a sly smile and warning not to tell Brian. Brian’s wife, Clair, had shooed away some fans once; allowing Steve the room to place his order in peace. That was the first time they looked at Steve differently, with a bit of curiosity. People hardly ever recognized Steve, so he figured they hadn’t. If they pierced it together after that exchange, they never said a word about it.
Steve realized that he hadn’t felt the ache in his chest at all since the coffee shop. Steve realized that this family he briefly interacted with him each morning probably cared about him (Steve, not Cap) more than anyone else in this century, and he was holding an orange as proof. Sure, Steve had given Brian a large amount of money, but Steve was actually invited to a Christmas dinner…
Steve carefully peeled the orange and took a bite. Maybe he would go. Steve Rogers would say yes. Steve Rogers did not want to feel so damn alone, he wanted to be with people...Captain America on the other hand? Well, maybe Captain America was too good to turn down an invitation. I mean Captain America was supposed to represent good and the 'American Dream', right? Well, what was so righteous about turning down a kind offer for a Christmas dinner? Perhaps accepting the offer benefits both Steve and the Captain...
Steve was suddenly pulled from his thoughts by the distinct sound of his phone alerting him to a call for the Avengers to Assemble.