The One Where Steve Doesn't Get It
Steve didn't get it. He always followed orders, he always kept everyone in line, he always worked hard.
Yet Peter was the one who got attention.
Peter was the one who got extra training sessions.
Peter was the one who was allowed to get extra sleep after those training sessions.
(Steve ignored the haunted look in Peter's eye. He ignored the sobs that echoed through the hallways, the concerned look Wanda, Bruce and later Tony got whenever Peter had his training sessions.)
Peter was the one Dad paid the most attention to.
Steve didn't have too much for his training. His power was super strength, so the majority of his training consisted of lifting heavy things and seeing how far he could throw them. Even when he did everything Dad asked, he never got that look Peter got whenever he made some progress with his power.
And the progress was an exaggeration. It was more of Peter didn't scream as much in the mausoleum. That was enough progress to warrant that look borderlining pride in Howard's eyes. That was enough to get a break in the morning.
That was enough to be Dad's favorite.
(Steve ignored that time after Tony asked Natasha to Rumor him into seeing what Peter saw, and came into dinner that day looking utterly haunted. He ignored how Tony looked at Peter sadly)
Steve didn't get it. What did he have to do in order to make Howard proud of him.
They were in the middle of lessons that day. It was math, something that Steve wasn't good at. Tony, Bruce, Stephen and Peter were the ones that excelled in math. Peter pretended he was stupid sometimes, though. He'd ask Wanda for help.
(He ignored how much Wanda smiled when Peter would go to her for help, even though he definitely knew how to do it himself)
Mom was teaching them. She was always gentle with this, taking her time in explaining concepts to Steve and Natasha, gently helping Tony through his stuttering, laughing at the jokes Peter cracked.
Maria assigned them seating. He was next to Natasha, Tony was next to Bruce, Peter was next to Stephen and Wanda was alone. Wanda was always alone. At least until Peter went to sit next to her, "asking for her help."
(He ignored how the only times Wanda ever smiled was when Peter was around)
Dad came in that day. "Number 4," he said sternly.
Peter immediately paled, though he tried to hide it with his normal smile. "Yes, Daddy?"
Dad scowled at the name. "You have a personal training now. Come with me."
Peter took a shaky breath, and smiled reassuringly at Wanda when she clutched his hand. "I'll be fine, Wandie," Peter said quietly. "Just be ready to give me a concert tonight!"
Bruce looked even more concerned, but Peter simply waved him off and followed Howard out of the room. He squeezed Tony's hand on his way out.
Why did everyone look at Peter as though he just got a prison sentence? They should of been jealous. He got so much extra training. He got so many opportunities to prove himself to Howard. Heck, everyone except for him, Natasha and Wanda got extra opportunities to prove themselves to Wanda.
(He ignored how Tony would either be shivering and soaking wet or weeping in relief after his training sessions, how Stephen would be literally flickering like a candle, how Bruce would be silent, his eyes still slightly green)
Steve was sitting near the entrance when Peter came back from his training. Father was looking slightly less off put than he normally did after Peter's training sessions. "Excellent work, for once, Number 4," Father said. "You may take the rest of the week off."
Peter was unresponsive as he numbly made his way back to the house. He didn't notice Steve, his eyes trained on something only he could see.
"What did you do?" Steve spoke before he could stop himself.
"Huh?" Peter asked, plastering a smile quickly on his face.
(Steve ignored how plastic the smile was, how it looked like two marionette strings were pulling the sides of Peter's mouth)
"What did you do to make Dad proud of you?"
Peter chuckled ruefully. "I accidently made the dead visible to him. Dad thinks I might be able to make them corporal."
Steve was disgusted at the sight of tears building in Peter's eyes. "What is wrong with you?" He demanded.
"Excuse me?" Peter answered.
(Steve ignored Peter's flinch, how his hands went to automatically wrap around him)
"How do you not realize how lucky you are? You get to make Dad proud."
Peter blinked tears out of his eyes and looked right at Steve. "You know what, Steve, I'd switch with you any day of the week." He started climbing up the stairs. About halfway, he stopped. "No, I wouldn't." Peter said all of a sudden. "I wouldn't wish this on anyone. Plus," Peter added, glancing at Steve. "You wouldn't last a day, Goldy."
Peter ran up the stairs before Steve could answer. A door slammed, and a violin's beautiful melody filled the hallways.
Steve didn't get it. How didn't Peter see how lucky he was?
(He ignored that nagging voice at the back of his head. You wouldn't last a day, Goldy)
Howard would give up on Peter after a while, Steve thought to himself. He would give up on Peter, and Bruce, and Tony, and Stephen and even Natasha after a while. He'd given up on Wanda years ago.
And when he did, Steve would still be here. Waiting for that look of pride that he would never recieve.