Vacation

Clint paced around the apartment at the tower packing his things when Laura called him. "Hi honey. So I was heading to the store and I wanted to make sure it was ok to get some birthday party supplies." He paused "I mean...i guess but um...why?" He listened to Laura's stunned silence "Honey? What's wrong?"
"Clint…...Steve's birthday." He froze. "Wait...he was really born on the 4th? I thought that was a propaganda gimmick." She huffed and he couldn't help but smile. "No hon. Nat confirmed it for me. Any idea about a cake?" Clint thought for a moment. "Can't go wrong with Chocolate. He also loves ice cream, really any sweet. He thinks he can hide it but any time he has a bad day at least 1 tub of ice cream is missing from the freezer." She chuckled "ok I'm gonna be gone a while Nat suggested a trip to the grocery warehouse since we need to feed a super soldier." He paused "Steve won't eat super soldier portions."
"He will if I tell him to. Nat sent the file. I have all I need for the care and feeding of one Steve Rogers. Before you leave New York please do me a favor, there's an art shop in the Bronx, Nat already ordered the items you just need to pick them up, they are wrapped and ready. Don't let on that you went there, it will give it away. I have to go. See you in a few days sweetie." He sighed and raked his hand through his hair. "You love taking in strays don't you Lar" he muttered.

Jarvis gave him instruction to the shop but he had no clue how to get there. He would have to ask for help. "Jarvis, who in the tower would know where I'm going, that is not Steve?" There was a pause as he waited "Master is heading that way to get flowers for Ms. Potts, you have time to ask. I will tell him to wait for you." He groaned but it was his only choice. At least when Tony did something for Pepper he did it himself.

He met Tony in the garage like Jarvis said. "What's up Katniss? Jarvis said you needed a lift." He grabbed at the back of his neck "yeaa I gotta go to some store in the Bronx to pick something up for Nat and Jarvis said you were heading there too." He nodded "yea sure sure. What store has she got you going to? The surplus store or the fancy shoe store?" He laughed "no, Regatti's arts." Tony stopped "really? That's some pretty high end art supplies. She didn't strike me as the artsy type."

"Well um..it's not for her...it's a surprise...for Steve….for his birthday." Tony had just begun to pull out of the parking spot when he stopped. "Shiiiiiiit Spangles birthday really is the 4th? I could have swore dad made that up. Damn I already planned Malibu with Pep. I'm sure we can move it back a bit."

"No no no. No it's fine…..he's coming home with me. He needs some time away from hustle bustle and the city." Tony grinned "so a bachelors birthday weekend huh? Where ya going?" He took a deep breath " home…..to my wife and kids." Tony slammed on the breaks again. "Your what now?"

"My family, wife, kids, farm the whole nine." Tony began to laugh. "Damn you had me goin' there for a minute. That's a good one. Nice cover man." Clint pulled out his wallet "not a joke. Here, this is Laura,that's Lila and Cooper." Tony gawked at the picture in his hands. "Wow" he breathed. "That's….oh my god….. why didn't you tell me. I could have gotten you a comfy job with SI. No S.H.I.E.L.D. missions to risk your life. Nice pay too." He shook his head and smiled "thanks, but I like what I do. Laura and the kids know what I do and they understand." Tony nodded and continued out of the garage.

The art store was old in appearance. He walked in and was greeted by an old man. "Hi I'm here to pick up an order. It was placed by Natasha." The man smiled "ah the birthday order for Steven. Georgina was so happy to know someone was doing something for his birthday. She picked out the best for him. He's in here every monday morning and he only buys the basics. Poor boy. He's so talented. He has been a pleasure in our human forms class. An excellent mentor and an excellent model." Clint smirked "no nudes I'm sure." The man winked "I never sketch and tell." A few minutes later he handed Clint a box wrapped in green paper with ribbons wrapped around it. "You take care of Steven. It's nice to know he found himself a nice fella." Clint froze "oh...I..um...I'm a work friend and married...not...not his fella." The man frowned a moment "that's a shame although he does have a fondness for brunettes. Well it's closing time so, take care. I hope Steven loves his gift." He waved and made his way out meeting Tony at the car he texted Nat.

"Random but any info on Cap's love life?" He received a reply instantly "we haven't gotten that close yet but I've heard….rumors. Rollins swears he saw him at a bookstore that caters mostly to the gay community. Who knows maybe he has. Not my place to pry." Clint frowned but was pulled from his thoughts by Tony. "So what's in the box?" He shrugged "no clue. Nat picked it for Laura. So um… since you have some pretty intimate knowledge about Steve did he leave anyone behind?"

"Well dad always said he left aunt Peg behind. Worlds greatest romance and all that but to hear aunt Peg tell it she says someone else left him behind. Broke his heart so bad he plunged into the ocean." Clint nodded "ok …..but who?" He shook his head "she swore secrecy. Said it would dishonor the trust placed on her. I kinda think it was Barnes. He kinda surprised me but he's really comfortable with Thor. Wonder if something is going on there." Clint snorted a little. "I think he's just responding to Thor's over affection." Tony shrugged "look Legolas I have found Cap and Thor in some rather delicate ways over the last year. They are at the least fuck buddies."

He rolled his eyes. "I feel like Nat would have noticed by now." Tony hummed "That's another angle. Caught them in some rather close quarters as well. Perhaps our dear Captain plays for both sides." It didn't matter to Clint but he wondered how much he shared with the people in his art class. Were they really perceptive or was he just able to open up to them better than his team. Perhaps he would learn.

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Steve dropped off the mission report to Fury and let him know he was taking some personal time. He went to his locker to grab his sketchbook only to find the locker open and the book gone. He panicked as he thought of the book. There were pictures in there that were never meant to be seen by others. There was a particularly intimate sketch Natasha had allowed him to do after a particularly brutal mission and there were some from his art class and some were from memory. He scrubbed his hands over his face and took a deep breath. Someone had broken into his locker. Someone at S.H.I.E.L.D. had broken into his locker. Someone he trusted.

He grabbed his duffle and headed towards Maria’s office. He wasn’t sure Fury would understand the importance of the book. As he passed the break room he froze absolutely horrified. There at the table sat Rumlow and Rollins along with a dozen or so others skimming through his book hooting and hollering at the images in it. That book had images in it dating back to 1938. Intimate settings from Brooklyn Heights. Private moments that couldn’t be recorded any other way. They were all ogling over the image of Natasha. She had been taking care of a wound in her thigh when Steve walked in. she was just in her underwear but it was the perfect image of her. He promised her it was between the two of them and now this had happened. Just then Rumlow hopped up. “I gotta xerox this shit or no ones gonna believe it. Be nice when I need some to yank off to.” He froze when he saw Steve in the doorway and he grinned.

“Well boys, I guess our little peep show is all over. Everyone thank the good Captain for his artistic capabilities. Who would have known America’s greatest hero was also a fuckin fairy.” He held the book open “Some interesting images here. This ones dated 1940 Brooklyn Heights...Isn’t that where all the fags used to hang in your day? Before the cops drug them off to the sanitariums to fix ‘em?” Steve lunged forward tacking Rumlow. He felt the table cave as they smashed into it.

The others quickly tried to pull him off but it was useless. Everyone stopped when Fury and Hill walked into the room. He looked around the room and then back at Steve and Brock. “There better be a damn good reason for this. Rogers, go with Hill. Rumlow, come with me. The rest of you clean up this mess and wait for further instructions. NOW!” Steve stood up and grabbed his book off the floor while Fury hauled Rumlow up and marched off towards his office. Maria’s office was not far from the break room. He walked behind her completely ashamed that he let Rumlow get under his skin that way.

They stepped into the office and he took a deep breath “Maria, I’m so sorry I-” she raised her hand. “I feel like you aren’t the problem here Steve. Trust me this isn’t a first for Rumlow. I’m just glad you didn’t kill him. I can cover a lot of things but manslaughter isn’t one of them. So mind telling me what’s up?” He couldn’t stop himself as he began to shake, clutching the book close to him. “I...I know things are different now. So much has changed but...There is still so much I’m not ready for people to know. I don’t think I will ever be ready for them to know and...and...That part of me was violated….by people I trusted.” She passed him a glass of water and sat near him.

“Do you want disciplinary action taken against him?” He looked up at her “What?” Her expression was gentle. He clearly wasn’t in trouble nor was she upset with him in any way. “Would you like him to be disciplined? He stole personal property. What he did in the breakroom could be considered harassment and then of course there is the use of homophobic slurs.” Steve shook his head and opened his book to check on the pages. Thankfully it hadn’t been damaged. Bucky had given him that book for his birthday and he was thrilled when Tony had found it in Howards belongings. He stopped on the picture Rumlow was showing. It was him before the serum and Bucky holding him close as they danced in a club. It was the first time he really remembered getting drunk. It was right after he had gotten a big paycheck from an art commission. They had money to pay the rent, buy his meds and still be able to go out and they did. They even took a cab, not all the way to the club of course but close enough that they could walk the rest of the way.

“Maria….I don’t know. This book….I...you look at this and tell me what you would do.” He handed the book to her and she took it. “Are you sure Steve? I know your art is very personal.” He nodded “Yea. I just...You are gonna hear things about me from that and I want you to know. The first new picture in it is of Natasha. I had her permission to do it. I know she wouldn’t mind you seeing it but no one especially those guys were supposed to see it.” She nodded and carefully flipped pages. “Steve...these drawings..” She could see the blush on his cheeks and ears and the back of his neck. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. They are incredible. You have things documented in here that we have only ever heard stories about. You know the fight for gay rights took a huge step right here in New York. It’s why we have Pride month in June.”

He quietly nodded his head still looking at his feet. “I never wanted them to know I liked men.” He was so quiet as he said it. He then looked up at her. “I mean...I..I like women too but I mean I…..” he trailed off and looked back down at his feet. Just then her phone range. She stepped aside to answer it and returned a few minutes later. “Rumlow is suspended for a week. You...you are suspended for two weeks. After that you need to come back for an evaluation with a S.H.I.E.L.D. counselor. Nick’s gonna cancel your leave request so you don’t waste your time.” He paled as he looked at her “Am I going to lose my job with S.H.I.E.L.D.?” She shook her head. “No. You have been under a lot of emotional stress lately. We want to make sure you are healthy physically and mentally before you go out into the field. Please don’t think of this as a punishment.”

She took a gamble and wrapped her arms around him. He went rigid for a moment before he relaxed a bit. “So I will set up a meeting with a counselor whenever you are ready. You have to take at least the two weeks but if you need more time please let me know. No one will hold that against you.” He got up and nodded. “Thank you Maria. I hope this doesn't impact how you see me.”
“Absolutely not. Nothing has changed. I still have the utmost respect for you. Just so you know in about 2 minutes a surge is going to go through the building and wipe phone data that is less than 24 hours old so if anyone has any snapshots they are going to find them suddenly gone.” He gave her a small smile as he left “Thanks Hill, I owe ya one.”