Vacation

They loaded up into the truck after Clint made a list of what they needed and packed a few things for the kids in a backpack. As they walked past the chickens Jack prowled at the edge of the fence giving Steve the stink eye.

"Daddy…..can we get lunch at the diner this time?" He smiled at Lila "It depends on how much the tools we need cost pumpkin and how long it takes us." Steve got the impression that money was a bit of an issue. He was aware what S.H.I.E.L.D. pay was. He was thankful for both the backpay he was granted and the fact that Tony didn't charge him rent. "I can pay for the supplies. I'm the one that broke the hen house anyway." Clint smirked and shook his head. "How about we go half. That coop was one bad storm away from doomed you just broke it in a way that kept the hens safe."

They drove for a while as Clint sang along with the old country music playing on the radio. The kids were sitting quietly between them. They finally came upon a tiny little town with a few shops, a grocery store and a diner. They piled out and headed for the hardware store. Cooper and Lila had each grabbed one of Steve's hands and walked with him across the street. The old hardware store looked a bit like it was peeled right out of the 40’s he smiled when he looked around. “I guess hardware stores don;t change much huh?” Clint laughed “not ones like this no. Lets see how long it's going to take to get all this might be a while for them to cut the pieces down. If you like you can wander the store with the kids. They will behave themselves.” He nodded and took the kids towards the greenhouse on the side of the store.

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Base- Location : Unknown- June 25th

Natasha sat quietly reading a book waiting for the next team briefing. They were waiting for a few more strike members to arrive before they deployed. The room was bustling with S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on their breaks. She heard a stomping of boots and then someone sat down on the arm of the couch behind her head. “Can I help you, Arsnoffe?” The man smirked and held up his phone. “I think you’ve helped me quite a bit already.” There on the screen was a somewhat out of focus shot of the picture Steve had drawn of her. She was far from shy but she didn’t think the image would have circulated especially after Fury got involved. “Good thing it was my off day. Seems Hill tried to erase people’s phones but I was getting it text by text while I was in South Africa on that shitty detail for the meeting with those piss poor Wakandans.” He flipped the screen to a few more drawings mostly of men none of them clothed. “Would never have guessed the Captain was a queer but then I guess thats why he gets all those intimate details with you. Fury get tired of Barton getting in some work AND pleasure?”

Others in the room were now looking over at them cautiously. She was certain rumors had gone around since everyone knew Rumlow had been taken off this job for suspension but she did not want things going around like this. She took a deep breath to steady herself and stood up. “ Everyone leave now, I would like to be alone with Arsnoffe.” People quickly scurried from the room, no questions asked. It wasn't even questioned when he was found in a supply closet hours later with a broken jaw and a black eye. Natasha found that with enough effort a cell phone could in fact go down a garbage disposal.

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Clint found Steve lifting the kids up to see a bird's nest above the doorway to the greenhouse. “Dad, Steve found baby birds. We got to see them hatch!” He smiled as they continued to look at the nest. The mama bird,sitting nearby watching carefully but so far not finding a threat. “Ok let's leave them be. I think that’s their ma over there.” Clint handed Steve a receipt for the supplies. “Wasn’t as bad as I thought but if ya wanna pay half here’s the invoice. It’s gonna take them an hour or so to get it all packed up. I’m gonna move the truck over so they can load it. We can take a walk and look around till then.”

They waited on the bench outside while Clint moved the car across the street and into the loading area marked by the store. He couldn't help playing with Lila's hair as he sat on his lap patiently waiting. Before he knew it Lila had several small braids in her hair. She carefully ran her hands over them. “Can you do more?” he smiled “Of course I can.” He repositioned her and began more braids. “I wanna learn, teach me?” He looked over at Cooper. “Sure thing. He went through a careful lesson while Clint watched. He then allowed Cooper to help him add a few more braids. He plucked a flower from the planter next to then and tucked it in one of the braids that wrapped around the back of her head . He pulled out his phone, took a picture and showed her “How’s it look?”

“I love it, especially the flower. How do you know how? Boys don't braid hair.” He smiled as he remembered helping his mom braid her hair as she got ready for work. He sobered a little remembering the last time he was able to do so was when she was dying. She knew she was and she had asked him to braid her hair saying that the undertaker wouldn’t do it the right way if he did it at all. “Steve why are you crying?” He was pulled from his memory by Cooper's concerned voice. “Oh, sorry. I was just thinking of my Ma. I used to help her do her hair while she got ready to go to work. It’s been a long time since I played with someone's hair.” Both Cooper and Lila hugged him. “We’re sorry we made you sad.”

“Oh, no, don’t be sorry it was a happy memory for the most part.” They stood up from the bench and turned to Clint. “What’s next?” He looked up and down the street. “How about we look in some of the shops and then get some lunch?” Cooper tugged at his pants leg. “Can we go to the library?” He smiled “Of course we can but I don’t know if Dante will be working today.” Steve gave him a curious look. “Dante is one of the librarians there. They showed Coop how to play Pokemon, it’s a card game kinda thing, anyway he really only plays with Dante since they are the only one he knows that has any idea how to play. It’s a little before his time so the kids at school only really know the video games, not so much the cards.” Steve nodded at the explanation. “Maybe Dante can teach me how to play if they are there” he chuckled. Cooper's eyes went wide “You would learn to play with me?”
“Of course I would.”

Cooper spent the walk to the library telling Steve all about Pokemon. Clint chuckled as Steve listened to everything he said as he carried him on his shoulders. Finally Cooper stopped talking for a moment and looked around. “WOW! Dad, I can see everything from up here! I’m so much higher than when I ride your shoulders.” Steve couldn’t help laughing at that. “Well I am a foot taller than your dad but I’m sure riding his shoulders has its perks too.” They arrived at the library doors to find it locked. “Huh that's weird. Wonder what's up.” They walked around back to find two older ladies trying to figure out how to get a flat tire off a small van.

“Mrs. Jasmine, Mrs. Sylvia, what's going on? The front doors were locked.” The women looked over at him. “No one was available to come in and we have to get the van running to drop books off to the center but the goddamn jack is broke and Henry Poole refuses to lend us his. He knows we can;t afford what he charges to come replace the tire.” Steve smiled “Can you ladies get the tire off if the car was lifted?” They nodded “of course. We have been taking care of things on our own for 75 years, no sense stopping now.” He nodded “Ok then let's get this tire fixed. Steve proceeded to walk up to the van and lift the front end up almost effortlessly so that they could take the tire off.

Within a few minutes it was off and a new tire was being placed. The two women turned to him “Well maybe instead of keeping a jack around we should just keep you.” He smiled “I wish I could but I’m just visiting Ma’am.” Both of them giggled “My it has been quite a long time since someone called either of us ma’am. I’m Slyvia and this is my partner Jasmine.” He held out his hand “Steve Rogers, nice to meet you ladies.” They both exchanged glances. “You mean THAT Steve Rogers?” Clint laughed “Yes THAT Steve Rogers but keep it quiet he’s here on vacation.” They both nodded “Well now that the vans running let's get out of this heat. I think Mr. Rogers has earned something to drink for his hard work.” They moved inside and Jasmine opened up the front doors. Cooper and Lila headed towards the kids section leaving Clint and Steve sitting with Sylvia and Jasmine. “Would you like some water?” He nodded “yes please.” She returned with a glass of water and sat down.

“So the two fo you are……”
“Partners, until our state can allow us to be married like some of the others. Why do you ask?” Clint saw an odd almost unreadable expression on his face. “I just...This shouldn’t even be a debate any more. Things were supposed to be better” he said sadly and in that moment Clint could feel the hurt coming from him. “Now now, it is better. We might not be able to be married yet but it's not illegal for Sylvia and I to live together. When I first started seeing her I was in college she was one of only 6 Black students that were allowed to attend. She and I had english 101 together and by winter break we were sneaking off to every place that would have us to be together. I didn't bring her home to meet my parents for fear they would be upset but when my parents asked about any special someone I couldn’t contain my love for her. I asked if they were angry and my dad smiled sweetly. He said, “I was rescued by one of the only integrated units back in the war. I may have lost an arm but thanks to those men I made it out of a prison camp in Germany and home to my family.” I think you know those men I speak of. From that point on Sylvia was part of our family. We went to protests and hearings for civil rights. We transferred to college in California because at least there we were welcome no matter who or what we were. We’ve fought the good fight all these years because of people like you.” He swallowed thickly trying to keep himself together. “I just wish you still didn’t have to. I fought the good fight in 45 with the hope that it would get so much better. We saw the who, what and why. Hundreds of men just like Gabe fought and died for a country that didn’t give two spits about them. They deserved so much better so much sooner.”

Jasmine patted his hand. “Whether you were here or not you know it would have been a knock down drag out fight. You know how things were back then so don’t beat yourself up about it. Last I checked you weren’t Atlas so the world doesn’t rest on your shoulders even if you think you have the muscles to do it.” Clint couldn’t help but snort. Steve sheepishly nodded. They chatted a little more about the way things were and Jasmine showed him pictures of her father and pictures of them from the protests they’ve been to. Cooper and Lila came over with a couple books to check out so that they could be on their way. Steve gave Jasmine a hug. “Thank you for talking a little bit of sense into an old stubborn soldier.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Well I am the level headed one in this relationship. I’ve pulled Sylvia out of more fights than I can count so I know a bit about talkin’ sense.” He knew what it was like to have one of those in his life. He wondered a little how things would be if he had that again. “Well still, it's appreciated. It was a pleasure meeting you both.”

They looked through a few of the shops and then headed for the diner. Clint made a face as he looked at the specials board. "Something wrong?" He smiled and said with a shrug "was kinda hopin' for a different special today." Steve glanced at the board and laughed. "My ma would have been hot to see someone charge $7 for a muskrat dinner. That was two months worth of groceries and meds for me." They took a seat at a booth and the waitress brought over some crayons for the kids.

"Hi Clint long time no see, hows Laura doin'?" He looked up to the woman "hey Harriette she's doing great. She's over at Christy's today. This is my friend Steve. He's in town visiting, we came to pick up some stuff for the coop." Steve held out his hand "nice to meet you Ma'am." She laughed "he really is plucked right outta the 40's. Surprised ol' eye patch had found a way to break that down." Steve gave them a quizzical look.

Harriette used to work with S.H.I.E.L.D. in the waaaaaay back days while Fury still had both his eyes." Steve opened his mouth to ask but was stopped "That information is classified, soldier. If he wanted you to know he would have told you. So everyone know what they want?" Cooper and Lila looked up from the placemat they were drawing on. "We want grilled cheese please" Lila said and resumed drawing. "With tomato soup." She smiled and wrote down the kids orders. "How about you Rogers? I already know what Clint wants." After a moment's thought he made his decision "I'll have the special and a coke please Ma'am." Clint looked at him surprised. "Comes with a slice of pie, what kind will ya have? We have apple, cherry, blueberry, lemon, and strawberry rhubarb." She caught the grin on Steve's face when she said strawberry rhubarb. "Well I guess I'll put down Strawberry. Glad someone appreciates it."

She left and Steve began watching the kids draw. Clint could see him working up the nerve to ask the kids for a crayon. "Hey Coop, Lila, did you know Steve is a really great artist? I bet he could draw something for you if you asked." Lila looked at him and smiled "can you draw something from your favorite movie?" She reached into the backpack Clint had and pulled out colored pencils. "You might want more colors. You can't make a good picture with three colors." Steve opened the box, pulled out grey and Black and passed it back. "Sure ya can. I'll show ya."

He worked away on his place mat as Lila, Cooper, and Clint watched in awe. As he finished he plucked the red pencil from the box and made one last touch. He held it up for them to see the black and white picture of a scene from wizard of Oz. The red of course used for Dorothy's shoes. "WOW." Steve smiled "looks like I finished just in time." Harriette came back with their lunch and sat it down, her eyes then flicked over to the place mat drawing. "Well that's certainly one of the best place mat drawings I've ever seen." Steve smiled and handed it to Lila. "Here, since it was your request you can have it. Maybe we can get a frame for it." She carefully put the drawing in the backpack with the books. "We can do that when we go to walmart next but for now let's chow down."

They ate lunch and talked, with Harriette dropping in to share a story or two about her days at S.H.I.E.L.D. and a few about when Clint and Laura had first moved in. Once they were finished Harriette sent Steve home with some extra pie and they headed for the truck.

Jack kept a close eye on Steve as they worked on the coop but he didn't see any need to attack. When Laura arrived back home that evening the coop was now complete and Steve and Clint were finishing dinner. "Looks like you four had a successful day. Christy said we can come ride horses at the start of next week. We can have a cookout and spend the day." Steve gave her a skeptical look. "I don't think I'm built for horseback riding." Clint patted his back "you'll be fine."

As it was getting dark Steve kept glancing out the window. Finally Clint got curious. "Something bothering you out there?" He shook his head. "No it's just um...do you get fireflies out here?" He chuckled not expecting him to ask about fireflies. "Yes they should be showing up any time now why?" He saw an almost child-like look on Steve's face "I've never seen them in real life. I've only seen them in movies or read about them in books." Laura looked over at the kids. "We can finish the dishes, how about you take the kids out and they can show you how to catch some fireflies, right guys?" They scrambled off the couch and headed for the door. "Come on Steve let's go!"

They sat on the porch for the next few hours watching Steve run around with the kids and catch bugs. It was hard to believe this man was the Captain America the history books would have them think. He was strong and righteous but they seemed to miss his humanity, his compassion, the things that made him a great man. They were getting to see Steve Rogers.