Chapter Text
Steve’s struggling to focus on the book in his hands when Rumlow walks in reading a letter.
‘Where’s everyone else?’ he demands.
Steve shrugs. ‘Think a couple are out. Sam and Blake are in their rooms, Sam said something about talking with family. Bucky’s obviously still in hospital. Not sure about the others.’
Rumlow glares at him. Technically Steve is the same rank as Rumlow, but as he and Bucky are currently on forced medical absence he has to defer to Rumlow while they work towards getting back into active service. Not that Bucky will ever be able to get back into active service if they can’t solve the problem with his arm.
‘One day, Rogers, you’re going to actually show me some respect,’ he snarls.
‘Maybe one day,’ Steve agrees, closing his book, ‘when you’ve actually earned it, Rumlow.’
‘The day you’re out of my hair and onto the front lines where some lucky bastard gets to shoot you, Rogers, is the day I most look forwards to,’ he snaps, before stomping down the corridor to bang on the other soldiers’ doors, hollering for them to come down to the living room.
After the incident which had severely injured Bucky, and Steve himself had barely survived, they’d been stuck in this house with the rest of Rumlow’s squad. Steve was near crazy dealing with the asshole that was Brock Rumlow. Bucky was in and out of hospital too much to understand just how terrible this squad was. Well apart from Sam, he was actually a decent guy and Steve isn’t sure how such a nice guy ended up in this squad.
Rumlow stomps back into the living area, pulling Steve from his thoughts, Blake and Andrew behind him looking curious, followed by Sam who looks more than a little annoyed at being dragged out.
‘What’s going on?’ Sam asks, once they’re all in the room. ‘Why are we not waiting for Luke, Caesar and Paul to get back?’
‘I’ll fill them in when they get here,’ Rumlow replies, ‘this,’ he holds up the letter he was reading, ‘is an invite for the squad to the Stark Industries party next week.’
‘You’re kidding me!’ Andrew takes the letter from Rumlow. ‘These are like gold dust!’
Steve’s heart is in his throat. This is perfect. This is exactly the opportunity he needs.
‘And it says the whole squad?’ Sam asks, going to stand next to Andrew and read over his shoulder. ‘I mean I can understand the captain of a squad, but all of us?’
‘Eh, you know what Stark’s like. He likes to show off,’ Rumlow shrugs. ‘But that means you need to get your dress uniforms ready, boys. We got a party to go to in four days’ time.’
‘Hell yeah, it’s a free bar as well!’ Blake says, looking over Andrew’s other shoulder.
‘What time is it starting?’ Steve asks, standing up from his chair.
Rumlow gives him the self-satisfied smirk that always makes Steve want to punch something. Preferably Rumlow’s face. ‘You aren’t going, Rogers.’
‘Excuse me?’ Steve’s voice is cold and dangerous, and he’s trying to keep his anger under control.
‘You heard me, blondie. You aren’t going.’
‘And why the hell not?’ he demands. ‘The invite said the entire squad didn’t it?’
‘Yes,’ Rumlow replies. ‘But you aren’t exactly a full member of my squad now are you?’
‘I hardly think they’re going to argue that at the event,’ Steve crosses his arms.
‘And someone needs to be with Barnes,’ he adds.
‘Since when have you given a damn about Bucky?’
‘Since I know that if you come along you’re just going to be kicking up a fuss about that damned arm of Barnes’ and I am not having you ruin our shot at getting the attention of the main weapons supplier of the US Army. Do I make myself clear Rogers?’
‘If you think I’m going to sit here and miss the chance to get Buck’s arm fixed-’
‘I’m ordering you to, Rogers,’ Rumlow growls. ‘And since you are temporarily in my squad you will follow that order or shall I report you for insubordination?’
Steve stands facing him, hands clenched into fists at his side and tries desperately to withhold the urge to smash his face in. He catches Sam’s eye and the other man shakes his head minutely. ‘Fine,’ he snarls.
There’s a soft knock on his door the day before the party.
‘Come in,’ Steve calls, putting down his pencil and looking up to greet his visitor. ‘Hey Sam.’
‘Hey,’ the shorter man says, closing the door and taking the only seat in the room. ‘You doing alright?’
‘Guess so, considering everything,’ Steve sighs, moving to sit on his bed so he’s facing Sam.
‘How’s Bucky? You saw him earlier right?’
‘Yeah, he’s uh, he’s doing better I guess. Just got to wait for everything they’re pumping him with to actually start working.’
‘He’ll be alright, Steve, he’s about as stubborn as you are, you just got to give him time.’
‘I know, it’s just…it’s hard you know? He’s basically my brother, we’ve been through a lot together, and I can’t do anything to help him. And this party…it would have been the chance to speak to the people that have caused all this new set of problems and try to get it sorted, and Rumlow won’t let me go,’ he fists his hair in his frustration.
Sam studies him quietly for a couple of moments. ‘You’re going tomorrow night aren’t you?’
‘What makes you say that?’
Sam laughs. ‘I’m the only one who has actually taken the time to get to know you Steve. I know you aren’t going to sit here and pass up an opportunity like this to help your friend.’
‘Alright…’ Steve wonders where this is going. Is Sam going to tell Rumlow what he’s planning?
‘It starts at seven,’ Sam tells him, putting a piece of paper on his desk as he stands up to leave, ‘this is the address. I’ll try and keep Brock as busy as possible. Good luck.’
‘Thank you,’ he says as Sam leaves, giving him a small salute as he does. Yeah, Rumlow does not deserve someone like Sam in his squad. When he and Bucky are back in active service, and Steve’s back in charge of his own squad, he’s getting Sam transferred. He doesn’t care how many favours he has to call in or how many boots he has to lick.
‘Rogers!’
‘What now?’ Steve grumbles to himself as he leaves his room to answer Rumlow’s summons. When he reaches the living room the rest of the squad are there, all in their dress uniforms. Sam shoots him a warning look to play nice and keep his cool. He’s right he can’t afford to lose his temper and risk letting Rumlow know of his plan.
‘Well, well, looks like you are going to play ball after all,’ Rumlow sneers when he notices the dark jeans and hoodie that Steve has on.
‘What else did you expect me to do?’ he counters.
‘We’re just leaving,’ Rumlow says, as if he’d never spoken. ‘So sorry you won’t be joining us at the ball, Cinderella.’
‘I think I’ll cope without having to spend time with arrogant assholes who can’t get their tech right.’
‘Whatever. See you when we get back, Rogers,’ Rumlow waves him off and leads the others out of the door, obviously upset at not having succeeded in riling Steve up. Sam winks at him as he closes the door behind them.
Now he’s alone, and this is going to be the hardest part: being patient and waiting for the party to be in full swing before heading over there. He does everything he can think of to kill time, but it just seems to go by at half speed. Eventually he gives up, deciding he can walk part of the way and give himself time to work out what he’s going to say when he gets there.
Because if there’s one thing he’s determined to do by the end of tonight, it’s to give Tony Stark a piece of his mind.