Chapter Text
The common room was unusually quiet, save for the soft hum of the city outside the Tower. Steve had claimed the sofa for himself, sprawled out in a pair of grey joggers, shirtless, one arm tucked under his head as a pillow. His chest rose and fell steadily in deep sleep, hair slightly mussed, a faint shadow of stubble along his jaw. For once, there were no alarms, no missions, no shields—just Steve, completely at ease.
He didn’t hear the door open.
“Uh… wow,” Clint whispered from the doorway, nearly tripping over his own feet.
Natasha peeked around the corner, a grin tugging at her lips. “Is… is he asleep? Like… actually asleep?” she asked softly, tone equal parts shocked and amused.
Sam appeared behind them, hands raised like he needed protection from what he was witnessing. “Is it… wrong that I can’t stop staring?” he asked, shaking his head in disbelief.
Steve shifted slightly in his sleep, letting out a soft groan. One shoulder lifted, exposing the curve of his chest and the faint definition of his abs.
Natasha stepped closer, crouching a little. “He really doesn’t do this around anyone, does he?” she whispered to Sam.
“Nope,” Sam replied quietly, a small smirk forming. “Never.”
Clint, ever the instigator, tiptoed toward the sofa. “Do we… wake him? Or just… appreciate the… uh… artwork?”
Wanda, standing just inside the doorway, tilted her head, eyes dancing with amusement. “Artwork? Clint, really?” she said, laughing quietly.
Steve stirred, one arm flopping over his face as he tried to block the light from the windows. “Mmm… five more minutes,” he mumbled, voice rough from sleep.
“You heard him,” Natasha said, backing away slowly. “We’ll just… admire from afar.”
Sam shook his head, pretending to be stern but failing miserably. “I… I can’t. This is… I mean… he’s just… seriously?”
Steve, now semi-awake, finally peeled his eyes open. “What… what are you all doing?” His voice was groggy but amused, one eyebrow quirking as he glanced at the group.
“Uh… nothing,” Natasha said quickly, trying to look innocent. “Just… checking in.”
“Yeah… checking in,” Clint echoed, leaning casually against the wall, eyes not-so-subtly fixed on him.
Steve let out a small laugh, stretching his arms above his head, muscles flexing under his skin. “You’re terrible,” he muttered, shaking his head. “All of you.”
Wanda walked closer, smirking, “Terrible, yes. But also… maybe a little curious.”
Steve groaned dramatically, rolling onto his side, tugging the joggers a little higher on his waist. “You’ve all had your curiosity moment. Can we… go back to normal now?”
“Normal?” Sam asked dryly, smirking. “I don’t think you understand… this is… not normal.”
Steve chuckled, letting himself sink back into the sofa, finally relaxed again. “Well, then I guess we’ll just have to redefine ‘normal.’”
Natasha shook her head, laughing softly. “Steve Rogers, shirtless, sleeping in joggers. I swear… I’ve never seen you like this.”
“Lucky you,” Steve murmured, closing his eyes again, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Don’t tell anyone.”
But, of course, Tony had already entered quietly earlier, phone in hand. His grin spread like wildfire. “Ohhhh, the world needs to see this,” he whispered, snapping a picture. “#MorningCap. Shirtless, relaxed, untamed hair… perfect lighting.”
Steve groaned from the sofa, half-buried in his pillow. “Tony, I mean it. Not a word.”
“Too late!” Tony grinned, already posting to social media. Notifications pinged instantly. “@TonyStarkOfficial: Our Captain America… human. Shirtless. Vulnerable. #TowerLife #MorningCap. Go forth, internet.”
Natasha rolled her eyes. “Tony, you’re impossible.”
Sam chuckled. “Well… the internet will love this.”
Steve slowly pushed himself upright, muscles flexing as he shifted. “I can’t escape this Tower,” he muttered, tugging at the waistband of his joggers and heading toward his room.
Clint, standing in the elevator shaft, froze as Steve passed, back taut and shoulders rolling under his skin. “Uh… wow,” he muttered again, eyes wide. Wanda and Natasha exchanged laughter behind him. “This… this is criminal,” Clint added, still staring.
Tony, of course, caught the entire walk on the drone feed. “#CapStrut. Oh yes… back definition! Shoulder rolls! Internet, rejoice!”
Steve finally disappeared into his room, shaking his head but secretly smiling. He knew this Tower life came with chaos, but he didn’t expect it would always involve him being the unintended star of Tony’s social media feed.