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Steve set the beer case on the dock, bottles clinking, and settled back into the folding chair on the dock overlooking the lake. His Avengers—the—he quickly corrected in his mind. The Avengers had officially disbanded a year ago. This trip marked the anniversary. They had fought hard and long. They had earned this vacation. This quiet. And so much more. His team had settled well into their “retirement.” Many of them nowhere near the actual age to retire, but they deserved it.
Steve opened a bottle of beer with his teeth and then let his gaze wander over the lake and finally to his right where most of them had gathered.
Tony and Bruce seemed to be in a heated discussion with Thor. Probably about some intricacies of science and magic that Tony and Bruce just couldn’t accept as “just existing” without any proof. Instead of trying to figure out what they were saying Steve let his eyes wander over their bodies. He’d been taking good care of his team before, but now there was actual proof for the world to see.
Bruce had put on some weight, which was spilling over the waistband of his shorts. If Steve had to describe him in a word it would be soft. Finally embracing that part of himself that wasn’t the angry lines of the Hulk or the surviving-by-the-skin-of-his-teeth sinew muscle that used to cover his body. Steve had been pleasantly surprised to discover Bruce’s sweet tooth and then provided him with all the sugar he could possibly want for in this world.
Of course, Tony had found all of Steve’s secret stashes of snacks and sweets within a day, but to Steve’s surprise instead of the stinging comments he’d expected, Tony had just given him a conspiratorial wink and even helped him get some actual food into Bruce.
After Tony had known about the snacks all over Bruce’s lab he’d also put on a few pounds. Just enough to make him look like he’d settled down. Steve was particularly proud of the Iron Man’s transformation. From a narcissistic party boy, to just… Well, Tony. Still, playboy, philanthropist, billionaire, but also so much more. A friend, Steve thought, letting that involuntary smile spread across his face.
Finally, Thor, who’d sort of kickstarted the whole Operation Get Bruce to eat something. The loss of his home planet had weighed heavily on Thor, and he’d fled into the easy world of drunkenness. The easy achievement one felt when they played video games. Though his mental state had stabilised, his weight had not. Thor had assured Steve multiple times that this was not a reflection of his failing mental health, but instead the result of “hanging around” with the Avengers.
The three of them seemed to have settled their argument and Steve’s eyes wandered further to where Natasha and Clint were sunbathing. Natasha had softened up just enough to make her seem approachable, but Clint had managed to put on weight in just the right places to make him seem imposing. Of course, Clint was an incredibly skilled archer, but before he could never have intimidated an attacker with his physical appearance alone.
Steve was just opening going to open his next bottle of beer when he heard Bucky lumbering down the dock. By far the most impressive gain out of everyone had been Bucky’s. Steve turned around to see him waddling to the end of the dock. He was swaggering, throwing his legs to the side, to get them past his thick upper thighs. Bucky grabbed the still unopened bottle from Steve, hooked the fingers of his metal arm underneath the cap and popped it open for Steve.
“You mind if I go tubing with some of the guys?” Steve, caught off by the question, chuckled.
“Of course not, Buck. Why would I mind?” Bucky opened his mouth as if to argue, but then he just shut himself up and kissed him. Steve’s hands automatically went to grab for his love handles, but Bucky turned out of his grasp and hurried down to the beach. Well, as fast as he could hurry with the excess fat that had settled on his body.
Steve watched as Bucky joined Thor, Tony and Bruce on the beach. Grinning widely and gesturing for them to follow him. Clint and Natasha also got up to follow them, even though they’d seemed completely disinterested just a few moments ago. Steve laughed to himself and raised the beer bottle to no one in particular. After the disaster that was the “Civil War” as the media had dubbed it, he was just genuinely glad that everyone got along and had settled into their comfortable lives.
Steve was just about to settle down and close his eyes for a short nap when he hear the unmistakable roar of a Jet Ski engine. As well as the angry, incoherent screaming of the Jet Ski’s owner.
Bucky raced into view, no life jacket, towing the rest of the Avengers behind him in several tied-together tubes. Bucky is clearly making eye-contact. Steve is up and out of his folding chair in seconds.
“Please tell me you didn’t steal a Jet Ski!” Steve shouts across the lake, sure that Bucky’s improved hearing would pick up on it.
“No!” Bucky screams back.
“You’re not even wearing a lifejacket!” Steve shouts, still firmly planted in his folding chair.
“Nope!” Bucky’s lips clearly popping on that last syllable.