[for Various] Steve Rogers' Birthday

[onlyapassenger]

Memorial Day had passed by with little more than a couple of a beers and a five minute conversation, but Bucky'll be damned if he lets Steve's birthday go the same way. Even during the darkest days of the War, birthdays were always given the special treatment; hell, Toro once blew their cover making sure Bucky had a good one. The gruelling grind of the past couple of months is still fresh in body and mind, but in the simple preparation for the day's get-together, Bucky's found some semblance of peace.

He's not much of a party animal -- he's not even much of a planner -- but things fall into place easily enough. They set up in and around Steve's place, that nice bar of his getting some use for once. There are a couple of goats spinning on a spit outside, courtesy of Thor, and a more traditional grill manned by Bucky himself. Platters of cheeses and fruits and vegetables line a table covered in a red, white and blue tablecloth, and there's more than enough flag-themed birthday cake to go around (strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream make up the familiar stars and stripes, doubling as both food and decoration). Music from Steve's youth plays in the background out of borrowed speakers, and in lieu of streamers, there's a banner that stretches over the front door of his house that reads HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OLD MAN.

It's not a lot, but it's something.

[Open to Marvels, significant others/close friends of Marvels, and any assorted friends of Steve. This post will be linked to the main community on July 4th. Slated post here. ST/LT welcome!]

Comments

[notawastedlife]

"Do you think he's the candles and Barry White type, or does he just... cut loose?" Tony said, now attempting to spot Bruce in the mix, as if this super-appropriate line of thought could be assessed just by looking at him. "I feel like it could go either way."

[daretodo]

"Maybe he mixes it up?" I say, following Tony's line of sight. "Candles one night, property damage the next. Wanda's still in one piece, so I think we can rule out a classic Hulking out scena... rio...." I trail off, horror dawning on my face. "Oh God, you don't think he-- In bed? Not here, but--" I shake my head quickly and put down my plate. "Oh, God."

About the only good thing the loss of my powers has given me is a more relaxing love life -- when I have one, that is. I don't have to constantly be worrying about hurting the person I'm with just from a simple touch. It was nice. I'll probably never have it again, but it was nice. That doesn't mean I want to think about what it must've been like for Hulk back home. Yeugh.

[notawastedlife]

"Is it specifically anger or just usually how it turns- you know what, neither of us know, I'll ask him," Tony said, with a shrug. "Next time I talk to him I'll ask him."

[daretodo]

"Better you than me, pal," I say, holding up my hands. "I've been punched by the green guy, and if this version is half as impressive, I don't want to risk an alternate universe encore, even here."

[notawastedlife]

"I'm sure he's got more of a handle on it than 'relationship questions,'" Tony said. "Not that he needs a handle, but still."

[daretodo]

"Uh... No, no, the Hulk needs a handle," I say, shaking my head a little. "I mean, sure, sometimes he's all smart and stuff when he's--" I hold my arms like a gorilla and flex. "But most of the time it's just... A lot of smashing. Not saying he's a bad guy, just... A little control's a good thing."

I pause a second and add, a little quieter, "Actually, you know, first time I really met the Avengers? They sent me on this wild goose chase to catch the guy. I wasn't sure what they were gonna do to him, though, so I told 'em to shove off."

[notawastedlife]

"He doesn't need a handle here," Tony said, to clarify. "Hulk-free zone. Except that one time. And future times. But generally. The Avengers needed you to catch the Hulk? What, did you have a Peter Parker, PI phase?"

[daretodo]

I snort.

"I honestly still don't know what the deal was," I reply. " I was still in high school. Might've been some kind of... membership test or something, but I didn't stick around to find out. Whatever it was, I obviously failed." I shrug. "Had a couple of experiences like that. It's why I ended up working alone for most of my... Well, I guess you could call it a career, but that implies I was paid."

[notawastedlife]

"Internship?" Tony said. "No, suggests you were working for someone. What do artists call it before they start making bank?"

[daretodo]

"Freelancing? Busking?" I suggest. "Have spandex, will save lives?"

I shake my head a little and look around us. "You see yourself leading a team of these guys back home yet? Or does that still seem like crazy talk?"

[notawastedlife]

"Lead?" Tony said, looking around skeptically. "No. Advise, sure. Be smartest part of, okay. Do I- I mean, isn't that why we have the Captain? Captain implies... Captaincy."

[daretodo]

I think about it for a second, eying Cap before turning back towards Tony with a thoughtful look.

"You're kinda like mom and dad, back home. Different approaches, but you're both in charge, more or less. Him you, not you you, obviously."