Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Marc?”

The voice carried over the din of foot traffic in the tube, its familiar timbre reaching Steven’s ears. He slowed, wondering where he heard that voice before.

Keep walking Steven. Marc urged at the back of Steven’s mind.

Who is it? Steven asked even as he did as Marc asked and picked up his pace.

“Marc! Come on, man! I just want to talk!”

Someone we don’t want the attention of.

Steven glanced back, his eyes widening when he realized who was following them. Bloody hell, that’s an Avenger. Why does the Falcon know your name?

I’ll explain later, just get us out of here. Marc said.

However, it was too late. Falcon pushed through the crowd to catch up with them, blocking off Steven’s path to the train. Within moments the doors closed, abandoning them on an empty platform with the Avenger that Marc apparently knew and never told Steven about. So much for not keeping secrets.

Marc, you talk to him. Steven said, trying to bring Marc forward, but finding him growing quieter instead.

I can’t. Marc’s voice faded away.

Falcon stared at them for a good long moment. “Marc, I get it. We didn’t…”

Steven fidgeted. “Uh, sorry, mate, uh, Falcon, sir. I think you’ve got the wrong guy, yeah?”

Falcon tilted his head, doubt written across his face. “Marc Spector?”

“Steven Grant,” Steven said, forcing a smile.

Falcon stared at them a little longer before putting on a contrite expression. “Sorry, you look a lot like a guy I knew. Let me make it up to you. How about a selfie?”

“Oh, no, that’s alright,” Steve said with a wave.

“No, I gotta. You missed your train because of me. It’ll be a hit on social media,” Falcon insisted, pulling out his phone.

“I mean, if you insist…” Steve said faintly as he was herded into selfie taking position.

Falcon snapped a few photos and his phone away. “Cool, I’ll tag you. Steven Grant, right?”

Steven nodded. “Yeah...thanks...”

“Steven...what did you do?” Marc asked his reflection, just so tired that the words spilled out of his mouth.

What’s this? Steven replied, yawning.

Hawkeye is surveilling our apartment. Marc thought as he went through his morning routine, brushing his hair and teeth.

Bollocks .

Marc gripped the edge of his sink, toothbrush hanging from his mouth. You’re damn right. What the hell did you tell Sam that he sent freaking Hawkeye to watch us?

Sam?!?

Marc spat into the sink and put his toothbrush away. Falcon. You know, the guy who you were supposed to get off our backs?

You mean the bloke you apparently know and left me to deal with on my own? Nothing. I told him I wasn’t you, took a picture with him, and sent him off. Steven’s annoyance with Marc was beginning to bleed over.

Marc felt bad, he hadn’t meant to leave Steven to deal with it on his own. It was just that Sam reminded Marc of one of the worst periods of his life, just after he was dishonorably discharged and before he fell in with Bushman. A friend tried to get him help at the VA, introduced him to Sam, but there was nothing they could do with that black mark on his record.

On top of that, Marc was still trying to understand what exactly happened on that mission that got him discharged. He was becoming more and more aware of holes in his memory and missing time. He had no idea what was happening to him, no control over his life. He was spiraling and no number of well-meaning counselors from the VA were going to pull him out of it.

Head swimming, Marc blinked and tried to stay present. Steven was silent as these memories were shared with him, but Marc could feel him pressing at the edge of Marc’s consciousness or maybe it was Marc that was retreating backwards. They took a deep breath and shakily splashed some water on their face. Slowly, Marc settled more clearly at the front.

You took a picture with him. Marc thought at Steven.

Steven shrugged in the mirror. Yeah?

Marc frowned. Which he could then run through facial recognition software and use to pull up all our information and track us through one of the cities with the highest number of security cameras in the world.

Well, that last bit really seems like a lack of foresight on your part. Why are the Avengers even in London? Steven asked, his shoulders hunching defensively.

Good question.

After shaking down Marc and Jake’s contacts for any information on activity that warranted the attention of the Avengers, they were left with three possibilities. The first, which Marc deemed most likely, they were after a local Hydra cell that seemed to have gotten its hands on some modified alien weaponry. The other two possibilities both seemed too thin for the Avengers to get involved. Investigating a possible superhuman presence at the Museum of Natural History or whatever magical force was warping the space around Whitehall wasn’t exactly their wheelhouse. Of course, they could be in town just to look into Moon Knight’s activities, but they had kept things pretty quiet upon their return to London.

“So, if they’re after Hydra, why are they watching you?” Layla asked over the phone.

“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I will be the first to admit that I don’t exactly have a clean record. To them, I probably seem like exactly the type to join up with Hydra. I wouldn’t be the first mercenary to go that route.”

Layla shouted, “That’s not fair, you would never do that!”

Marc pushed back his hair and sighed. “Yeah, well, Sam is the only one that knows me and he didn’t really meet me at the best time in my life.”

“We need to fix this. I’m going to fly back tonight.”

Marc shook his head, not really caring that Layla wouldn’t be able to see it. “No, don’t. I’ve got this. We’ve got this.”

“We’ll set things to rights, don’t you worry!” Steven added, pushing to the front.

“You better. Keep me updated, okay?”

Steven nodded. “You got it! Laters, gators!”

They hung up the phone and slipped it into their pocket. Marc brooded over how to best handle this without giving away the fact he was a system or Moon Knight while Steven went about feeding their fish and making dinner.

“Why don’t we just tell them that they’ve got the wrong guy?” Steven wondered as he scrapped his vegan pasta into a bowl.

Steven, that’s a terrible idea. Marc said.

Really fucking stinks. Jake added, speaking up for the first time since reaching out to his contacts. He didn’t like fronting much, so Steven figured he earned a bit of rest, but apparently he had enough energy to insult Steven’s plan.

Steven shoved a bite of pasta in his mouth. “Well, aren’t you two supportive? I don’t see you coming up with anything better, yeah?”

They’ll never believe us.

“You sure about that? That Falcon fellow seems like the type to hear us out, don’t he?”

What exactly are you going to tell him? The truth? You know we can’t do that. The only reason we’re not sitting in jail or some psych ward is because they’re hoping we’ll lead them to Hydra.

“A real Negative Nancy, you are. We’ve got information on Hydra thanks to the digging you two did. How about we make it a peace offering of sorts?” Steven forked a piece of broccoli. “We’re sort of working the same business, aren’t we? Might as well clear things up now.”

It wasn’t until Steven finished eating and was washing up that Marc came back. Fine.

“Hello,” Steven said with a little wave as he approached the café where Falcon was stationed.

Falcon was dressed to blend in, a jacket over jeans and a t-shirt. Steven probably wouldn’t have recognized him if it weren’t for Jake pointing him out. Marc had gone quiet again, but Steven knew he was listening.

“Steven,” Falcon said with a raised eyebrow.

Steven stopped and looked down at his hands. “Yeah, that’s me. Sorry, mind if I sit?”

“Go ahead.” Falcon nodded to the chair across from him.

Breathing out in relief, Steven immediately sat down and started talking. “See, I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”

“What makes you say that?” Falcon said, sipping a coffee.

Steven grimaced. “It’s a bit suspicious, innit? When the Avengers are watching your flat for no apparent reason.”

Falcon set down his coffee with an audible clack. “I’m sorry, Marc, but I’m not buying it. Things don’t have to be like this, you don’t have to--”

Holding up his hands, Steve interrupted, “Sorry, that’s the thing though. One, I’m not Marc. Two, this really isn’t what you think it is.”

“Then what is it?”

Steven took a deep breath and tried to settle his nerves. “You ever hear of Dissociative Identity Disorder?”

Marc jerked to life. Steven! What are you doing?!

Sorry, Marc.

Falcon’s eyes lit up. “I have.”

“So, it’s like that, yeah? Marc doesn’t really want you know. He’s scared that you won’t believe him, that you’ll think the worst of him if you do, all that. He thinks you’ll lock us up,” Steven explained, trying to keep his voice steady.

“But you don’t?”

“I don’t know, but I know we can’t keep running from this. So, here’s the deal: we know this town better than you, we’ll help with whatever it is you’re here to do and you’ll leave us alone,” Steven finished confidently. He had this.

Falcon raised an eyebrow at Steven. “What makes you think we want your help?”

“You can’t have very many leads if you’re taking shifts on the rooftop across from my flat.”

“Point taken.” Falcon shifted in his seat, sitting a little straighter. “Is Marc...can he hear me?”

Steven nodded. “Yeah...he can hear you.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you when you needed it.”

Regret, hurt, acceptance bled over into Steven. It wasn’t clear what Marc was thinking, but whatever it was, it was a lot. Slowly, Steven said, “I don’t think it was your responsibility.”

“Nah, it wasn’t,” Falcon said as he stood. “But I wish I could have helped anyway.”

Falcon brought them back to the flat they were using as their base of operations. It was empty save for the equipment they clearly brought with them and a few broken pieces of furniture. Black Widow was perched on a faded armchair by the window.

“Hi.” Steven waved, feeling like a right idiot.

Black Widow ignored him to speak to the Falcon. “The others will be here soon, we better have something for them when they get here. Hydra is going to notice the full Avengers showing up on their doorstep.”

“Oh, I think I’ve got that covered,” Steven said, digging into his pockets. He pulled out his phone, Jake’s stupid fake mustache, and a stick of gum. No, that wasn’t right. He dug a little deeper and came up empty.

Don’t tell me you forgot it. Marc groaned.

“I didn’t!”

“You didn’t what?” Falcon asked.

Steven frantically patted down his pockets. “Forget it. My thumb drive, it had all the information we gathered on Avengers level threats in London.”

Falcon steadied Steven with a hand on his shoulder. “If you didn’t forget it, where is it?”

Steven shakily admitted, “You know what, maybe I did forget it, yeah? Had a lot on my mind. It’s probably back at my flat. I’ll just pop over and grab it.”

“I don’t think so.” Black Widow shoved him down into the armchair she was previously seated on. “You’re staying here. We can send Clint to pick it up.”

“That really isn’t--” Steven cut himself off at the glare Black Widow gave him. “Just...tell him not to make a mess of the place? Please?”

Black Widow pursed her lips. “He’ll do what he can.”

Falcon pulled up another chair next to Steven’s. It creaked as he sat down. “Memory problems, that’s a symptom, isn’t it?”

Steven rubbed his eyes. “Kinda, yeah. Though this is just me being a regular doughnut. Marc’s the organized one, but I think you’ve got him all out of sorts and I just…”

“Hey, it’s alright. Why don’t you tell me what you remember about those threats while we wait? Get a jump start on all this?”

Steven took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah, okay. I think I can remember a few things.”

They pulled up maps and profiles from the information the Avengers had gathered already and worked through what Steven could remember, with an occasional nudge from Marc or Jake when Steven couldn’t quite place something. Falcon very quickly went to being Sam in Steven’s mind and Black Widow to Natasha. He knew their names before, of course, but it didn’t feel right to just call a superhero by their first name, even in the privacy of his own mind.

Soon enough the other Avengers arrived. Bruce Banner, Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor all shuffled through the door in what might have passed for a disguise, if they didn’t look so much like famous people trying not to be recognized. Steven could see Marc rolling his eyes in his reflection on the computer screen.

Sam stood up and waved at Steven. “This is Steven Grant. He’s agreed to help us track down Hydra.”

“Are we sure he can help?” Bruce Banner asked, looking Steven up and down.

Iron Man cut in. “Or isn’t working for the enemy for that matter? I saw your little update about running into your old pal here, not really sure what changed your mind about him working for Hydra, though. And wasn’t his name Mike? Mark?”

“I never said he worked for Hydra, only that it was a possibility. He’s a local with a pretty good finger on the pulse around here, so he’s helping me map out Hydra’s activity in London.”

“Come on, Tony. Sam vouches for him. It’s at least worth a try, isn’t it?” Captain America added, nudging Iron Man with his elbow.

Thor grinned and clapped Steven on the shoulder. “I doubt an avatar for a god of the Overvoid would stoop to work for those such as Hydra.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Sam asked.

Iron Man squinted at Thor. “Run that by us again, big guy?”

Thor beamed, clearly delighted that he had something to contribute. “My people were not Earth’s only gods, yes? There are many others that emerged from different realms. The Overvoid is the home of one such pantheon, though I am not overly familiar with Osiris and his kin.”

“Well, this is awkward.” Everyone was looking at Steven, waiting for him to explain. Oh, gods, what am I going to say?

Do not tell them about Moon Knight. Marc said.

Even Jake added, You’re gonna keep your mouth shut or so help me.

“Can I?” Steven asked, pointing to the bathroom. “Just a mo’”

Steven rushed into the bathroom and slammed the door shut before anyone could stop him. His heart pounding, he turned to the mirror over the sink.

“I think we should tell them.”

Marc facepalmed. How did I know you were going to say that? I shouldn’t have to tell you why it is a bad idea.

“Is it though?”

YES!

¡SÍ!

“They already know so much. It’s just going to look worse if we aren’t upfront about it.”

The truth don’t look great either. Jake said.

What he said. Marc looked up as if pleading with a higher power. Steven didn’t think it was Khonshu. Think about it, we’ve done a lot of things they probably won’t look too kindly upon as Moon Knight.

“They’ll figure it out sooner or later. If we tell them now, we actually have a chance of explaining ourselves.”

Marc sighed. Okay, you’ve got it. I trust you, Steven.

Jake wasn’t too happy though. Are you kidding me? You’re going to give in just like that? Stop spoiling him.

This isn’t about that. Steven’s right. He’s gotten us this far, hasn’t he? Marc argued.

Jake threw his arms up. I can’t believe this. Fine, have it your way. I’ll be here when you need me to clean up your mess.

Steven blinked a few times, trying to come back to himself after that little spat. Once he felt more grounded he said, “Okay, thanks, guys. Cheers!” He stepped out to the room of waiting Avengers.

Iron Man looked at Sam and Cap. “Was he just talking to himself in the bathroom?”

Sam shook his head. “We can discuss that later. Steven, do you know what Thor was talking about?”

“As a matter of fact, I do, yeah. It sounds a bit bonkers, but I’m sure you lot are used to that. I work for Khonshu, the god of the moon.”

Cap frowned. “You work for him? This god?”

“Haven’t heard of Khonshu, but if he’s with Osiris, that’s Egypt, right?” Banner asked.

Nodding, Steven continued, “Yeah, that’s right. Marc got tangled up with him some time back. Now we have this whole gig, Protector of the Travelers of the Night. His Moon Knight, he calls it. Khonshu, that is.”

“That thing in Cairo last year, was that you?” Cap asked.

“Well, we put a stop to it, if that’s what you’re asking. Big, bloody crocodile goddess wanting to eat everyone’s souls, couldn’t let that stand, now could we?”

Iron Man crossed his arms. “So, what? Does that make you a superhero of some kind? Also I’m not really clear on who Mark is. Wasn’t that supposed to be you?”

Steven started pacing. “I mean, sort of? I guess? About being a superhero – and Marc too, I suppose. I’m not really him though. We just share the same body.”

“DID?” Iron Man asked.

“Sounds like it,” Banner agreed.

Steven replied, “That’s what they call it.”

Looking contrite, Cap asked, “Sorry, what’s this?”

Thor also spoke up. “I’d like to know as well.”

At this moment, Sam jumped in. “I’ve got this. If it’s alright with you, Steven?”

“Hmm?” Steve stopped pacing to look at Sam. “Yeah, sure.”

Sam pulled the two Avengers aside to explain the basics of Steven’s diagnosis. Meanwhile, Iron Man couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of Steven. There was something different about the way he had been looking at him up until that moment.

Iron Man sidled up to him and asked, “So...Khanchu...what’s he like?”

“ Khonshu . He’s a big, tall mummy with a bird skull instead of a head. Kind of a jerk to be honest.”

“Is it okay to say that about a god you’re in service of?” Banner asked, a bit incredulous.

Steven shrugged. “I’ve said worse. The old bird isn’t in much of a position to do anything about it and he isn’t around right now anyways. Some sort of god business back in Egypt?”

“Steven, I want to be straight with you. You seem like...a nice guy, but I’m not really sure you’re cut out to take on Hydra. Maybe you should sit this out,” Iron Man said, patting Steven’s back.

“Oh, yeah, I completely agree. Honestly, don’t even want to be here. I’m not too shabby in a fight mind you, but I really just want to go back to my fish and hunting for a job.”

“Job hunting? Looking for anything in the private sector? I might be able to hook you up.”

No, Steven. Don’t do this. It’s embarrassing.

Steven ignored Marc. “Ideally, I’m looking to be a tour guide. Ancient Egypt, maybe the Greeks, anything in that area.”

“You...want to work at a museum?”

If he didn’t think we were weird before, he does now.

“Why? You don’t think I’d be any good?” Steven’s confidence rapidly dropping. Desperately, he said, “I’ve been practicing. Ask me anything.”

“No, that’s alright. I’ll ask around, see if I can find any leads. I assume you want to stay in London?”

“Yes, thank you, Iron Man – Mr. Stark.” Steven felt a little weird relying on an Avenger to get a job, but after months of being turned away he’d take anything he could get.

“Call me Tony.”

Steven grinned. Imagine that, little old me on a first name basis with three of the Avengers. Pretty soon I’ll have the whole set. “Yeah, of course, Tony.”

Don’t get too attached. We’re out of here the first chance we get, Marc advised.

“It was a trap!” Natasha burst through the door, which was quite surprising considering Steven hadn’t even noticed she left.

“What?” Steven yelped as the Avengers sprung into action. Marc too, urged him, Go!

Natasha grabbed them before he could decide what the heck he was doing. The shift happened quite unexpectedly, one moment Steven was fronting, the next Marc is there to defend them.

In a blink of an eye, Marc broke the hold and shoved Black Widow away. “Hands off.”

“Whoa, what’s happening?” Banner asked as the whole room came to a standstill.

Sam gaped. “Marc?”

“Whatever this is, I had nothing to do with it,” Marc told them. He looked for openings to escape.

Black Widow rolled to her feet. “Clint got captured leaving your apartment. What are the chances this is a coincidence?”

Cap held up a hand to stop her. “Natasha, we don’t know that he did this.”

Marc nodded at Cap. “See? Just let me go and I’ll be on my way.”

Turning his attention back to Marc, Cap said, “I didn’t say that. I’m gonna have to ask you to stay with us until we can be sure you’re on our side.”

“Yeah, how long until you decide you don’t trust us after all and toss us in some cell?” Marc asked through gritted teeth.

Sam stepped forward, waving Cap and Black Widow back. “Marc, is that you?”

Marc forced his face into indifference. “Yeah, it is.”

“I’m sorry about all this, man. I want to believe you, but it doesn’t look good,” Sam said carefully.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t trust me either. I told Steven it was a bad idea,” Marc admitted. He remained tensed, ready to fight his way out if need be. Sensing the impending violence, Jake was near by.

Sam tilted his head. “But Steven thought otherwise?”

“He’s a trusting, let’s-talk-it-out kind of guy. Kind of an idiot to be honest,” Marc smiled despite himself.

Oi!

“I’m not sure about that. It takes a lot of courage to trust someone who might hurt you,” Sam said.

“When danger is near, Steven Grant has no fear…” Marc mumbled before refocusing on Sam. “Still a stupid thing to do.”

“Not this time. I let you down once, I don’t want to do it again. Just work with us, okay?”

Please, Marc. Steven pleaded.

Marc looked around the room, searching the faces of the gathered Avengers. Stark was impassive, Cap, filled with grim determination. Banner looked tired, Thor, hopeful. Black Widow though, she looked like she was waiting for one wrong move from Marc, yet as their eyes met, she slowly relaxed her posture.

 “Yeah, okay…” Marc exhaled, dropping out of his fighting stance. “I’ll help you get your guy back, get Hydra out of London.”

 A plan quickly came together as they cross-referenced the information Steven shared with the location Hawkeye’s tracker last showed. Hydra was running their operation out of an office building just south of the Thames. The late hour meant that most, if not all, innocent bystanders would be cleared out, so it would just be a matter of surrounding the building and hitting them hard before they could retaliate.

“Let me head in first, clear them out. I can heal from pretty much anything they throw at me,” Marc told them as they decided their point of intrusion.

Cap nodded. “Natasha and I will be right beside you. We know how Hydra operates, what tricks they might have up their sleeve.”

“And you want to keep an eye on me?” Marc suggested ruefully.

Marc... Steven sighed. It was going so well too. We’re gonna have to go on the run. Move to Madripoor or some such place.

An awkward moment of silence was broken by Thor. “My friends are mistrustful. Many of us have experienced breaches of trust. We are caught between a desire to place our faith in you and the doubts sown by others.”

Marc sucked in a breath and exhaled. “I won’t take it personally.”

Oh, thank god, literally. Thor, you big, beautiful-- you think he’s in the market for an avatar? Probably not, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask, would it?

“Great. Sam, Thor, and I will be on containment and air support,” Stark said brightly.

“You got it, Tony. I’ll be counting on you to round up anyone who makes it out onto the street.” Cap squeezed Stark’s shoulder as he looked at Sam and Thor. “Let’s move out.”

Seeing the Avengers in action was like watching a well-oiled machine, each part –member – moving in sync. They took to the streets, spreading out and blending in the drunks and nightclub-goers as they converged on the location. Once in position, everyone shed their disguises. Marc didn’t fail to notice Cap and Black Widow always making sure that he didn’t leave their line of sight.

Just before they finally made their move, Cap appeared at Marc’s side. “It looks like they’re expecting us. There’s about twelve of them that we can see in that first room. I take the left, you take the right?”

Marc nodded. “Sounds good.”

“Suit up,” Cap said, clapping him on the shoulder before springing forward into action.

Between on breath and the next, Marc dug down for that wellspring of power Khonshu bound to his very soul. The suit began creeping up his body, wrapping him, binding him in the ceremonial armor. Marc could feel Moon Knight’s strength building within him, his bumps and bruises healing. He leapt after Cap, cape whipping behind him.

When they burst through the door, Marc already had a crescent dart to hand. He flung it at an enemy at the back of the pack while hitting a much closer one with a flying kick to the face. Steven swapped in to take couple more out with his truncheons. On the other side of the entryway Cap was throwing punches and taking goons out with his shield. Black Widow came in behind to help them make a clean sweep and move seamlessly into the next room.

The fight continued much the same way as they moved through the building, eventually discovering a huge basement level where Hydra had been conducting experiments and building weaponry.

“Wanna take bets on where they’re keeping Clint?” Black Widow looked over at the cell block that occupied one side of the cavernous space.

“Go, we’ll clear out the rest,” Cap replied.

Marc rolled his shoulders and grumbled, “Yeah, what’s another hundred of these jokers anyway?”

Cap smiled. “Why, you getting tired?”

“Not a chance.”

Off into the fray they went, avoiding bullets and blasts from ray guns. Marc immediately picked out the man who looked like he was in charge and pinned him to the wall with crescent darts. Jake snatched up one of Hydra’s particularly annoying weapons and turned it on them. At some point Black Widow rejoined the group with Hawkeye in tow. The four of them plowed through the ranks of Hydra goons, herding the ones they couldn’t take out themselves to exits where the team waiting outside could sweep them up. Ages later, the battle was finally finished.

The team gathered on the street to supervise law enforcement taking the enemies into custody. Marc quietly placed himself at the back of the group.

“Great work out there,” Cap said, holstering his shield. He held a hand out for Marc to shake.

Marc took Cap’s hand reluctantly. “Thanks.”

“We’re happy to be of service,” Steven added, shaking Cap’s hand more enthusiastically. “Give us a call if you ever need a bit of the ol’ moon power.”

“Don’t,” Marc corrected.

“That’s not confusing at all. I’ll put you down for a maybe,” Stark said, flipping the visor on his helmet.

Sam locked eyes with Marc and pulled him aside. Sam had seen Marc at one of the lowest moments of his adult life, when all the structure of the military had been pulled away from him and he didn’t know left from right. Marc didn’t know how to feel about that. He’d wanted to avoid thinking about it altogether, but clearly it meant something to Sam and Marc owed him some closure.

“I don’t need another apology,” Marc said.

“You’ve probably heard enough of those. For what it’s worth though, I really do wish things hadn’t played out the way they did.” Sam shook his head. “If I could have stopped half of the things that turned up in your file after we parted ways…”

“You can’t help everyone.”

Sam looked down. “I know. I’m only human. Still...sometimes these things get to me.”

“Well, I turned out alright,” Marc said, rubbing his chin.

The look in Sam’s eyes told him that he knew it was a lie. “Thanks for giving us the chance to give you a chance. If you ever need any help...here’s my number,” Sam said, pressing a card into Marc’s hand.

Marc smiled and slipped the card into his suit. He turned to a nearby alleyway and headed for it, walking off into the night step by step.

“I’m serious, call me!” Sam shouted after him.

“I’ll think about it!”

Chapter Text

Head pounding, eyes burning, Steven trudged home thinking longingly of his bed. They had been awake since Marc got them up the previous morning, spent the day worrying over the Avengers, and the rest of the night fighting Hydra. Now the first light of dawn was beginning to hit London.

And the door to their flat was open. Steven closed his eyes for a moment and tried not to fall over, the night’s exhaustion more fully catching up with him. Even Marc and Jake were completely wiped, quiet as dormice.

With the long practice of a frequent insomniac, Steven gathered what energy he could to deal with this. Steven peered through the door, bracing himself for the worst.

“Oh no, look at the state of this place,” he said, stepping inside with a sigh.

The flat was a wreck. Tables and shelves were up turned, even broken, and Steven’s carefully stacked books were scattered across the floor. The laundry they had hanging to dry had been pulled down and trampled and the kitchen was full of broken dishes. The Guses’ tank was fine and by some a miracle their laptop was still there, but otherwise the flat was in a sad state indeed.

Steven lifted up a book with a clear boot print on it. “Bugger.”

He sighed and began tidying up. He felt stretched thin, ready to snap, but he wouldn’t be able to get a lick of sleep until everything was accounted for and in its place.

The tables and shelves were first. Steven carefully stepped around books to right the ones that weren’t broken and began stacking books atop. He’d barely started when he heard a creak and a quiet thump.

Steven turned to see someone coming through his window.

Correction, Steven saw Hawkeye coming through his window. Steven’s mouth hung open, unable to find words to express how he felt about this.

Hawkeye paused, having noticed Steven watching him. “Sorry, just grabbing something I dropped.”

“You’ve got some nerve coming in here after what you did,” Steven said, finally.

“Yeah, yep, look, I just want to find…” Hawkeye glanced around the flat.

Steven huffed and crossed his arms. “You know, I’m going to have to find a new copy of The Genesis of British Egyptology. It’s out of print.”

Hawkeye pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t exactly worried about your books when Hydra attacked me.”

That deflated Steven a little bit. He wasn’t exactly unfamiliar with how messy things could get mid-battle and it was probably their fault that Hawkeye had been ambushed in their flat to begin with.

“Well, I suppose it can be a bit difficult in the circumstances... What were you looking for?”

Hawkeye sighed. “Merida.”

“What?”

“Merida from Brave? Red hair? Bow and arrow?” Hawkeye stared at Steven as if all of this was supposed to make sense. “Right, you don’t have kids. Just look for a cheap plastic toy.”

“Well, alright then. Where do you think you dropped it?” Steven asked, picking up a few more books.

Hawkeye squinted at him. “You are not what I was expecting.”

“What that supposed to mean?”

“Did you have a different accent an hour ago?”

Steven groaned. “Bloody hell, did they not tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

Dragging a hand across his face, Steven sighed. “You know what? Forget it. Let’s find your toy and get you out of here.”

Hawkeye – Clint helped him pick up the fallen books and broken dishes in the search for Merida. The both of them were too tired to talk much, but with an extra set of hands they made good progress straightening out the flat. However, the toy was no where to be found.

Clint threw in the towel first. “I’m calling it. It’s not here.”

“Really?” Steve asked, equal parts disappointed and relieved.

“Yeah, I’ll figure something out. I’m going to head off,” Clint said before hauling himself out of the window.

“Well, alright then. Use the door next time.” Steven waved goodbye completely drained of energy. He turned and collapsed into bed fully clothed. The flat was good enough, he’d finish clearing out the rubbish when he woke up.

But before he could even close his eyes someone began knocking at his door. He shouted, “Bugger off!” into his pillow.

The knocking continued. He groaned, pulling himself from bed to answer.

“Hasn’t anyone heard of a late morning?” Steven grumbled as he opened the door to find Natasha.

Natasha asked, “Have you seen Clint?”

“You just missed him. He’s on the roof.” Steven yawned.

“Of course he is,” Natasha said rolling her eyes. “Did he find his little good luck charm?”

Just then, Clint stuck his head back through the window. “Nat! No dice.”

“You’re going to be in hot water for this.”

“I’ll just have to accept my fate.”

While they were talking, Steven’s attention wandered. He spotted something wedged underneath the fish tank’s stand – a plastic figure with orange hair and a green dress. He bent down to pull it out.

“This what you were looking for?”

“You found it.” Clint said, hopping down from the window.

Thank god. Steven presented the toy to Clint. “Well, here you are.”

“I owe you one.” Clint brushed his thumb over the toy’s hair before stuffing it into his pocket.

“Yeah? You can pay me back by getting out of here. Go on, get.” Steven waved the both of them out of his door.

Seeming rather annoyingly amused, Natasha said, “We’ll be in touch!”

Steven slammed the door shut rather than answer. Crawling into bed, Steven pulled his pillow over his head. He slowly sank into a peaceful slumber.

Two minutes later his alarm clock went off.