Holding On| Stucky

Chapter One

How long had it been? Well, it depends on who you ask, when was the last time that Steve Rogers actually looked fully content. Even he didn't know.

"And we're finally down. Another successful mission Cap." Tony said, he slipped off his headpiece and turned to the seat behind him. Steve avoided his direct eye contact and nodded. "It wouldn't kill you to smile."

"Actually at this point, I think it might, a direct show of his joy might break the hinges holding his face together," Nat added before she undid her seatbelt and stood up in the helicopter. Steve managed to force a smile and undid his buckle.

"Guy's really, I'm fine. You've been worrying about me this entire mission." Steve said not exaggerating in the least. He couldn't name a moment during the mission where he wasn't getting a concerned look from at least one of his team members.

"And for good reason. I'd think you'd be ecstatic when the team got back together. But you treated it like you're listening to a meh song on the radio." Clint's voice had a chuckle towards the end of the sentence but it still sounded serious. He leaned over the seat where Steve once sat and looked up at him. "You going to be okay gramps?" Steve crossed his arms loosely and gave him a weak smile.

"Guy's I promise you I'll be fine, just going through some stuff. I'll work it out."

"What could you have possibly had to work out that you didn't think about in your seventy years in an ice cube?" Tony laughed finally getting up from his seat when the blades slowed to a halt. Steve shrugged defensively, keeping his eye contact towards the ground. "Come on, is this about a girl or something? Listen I knew that thing with Sharon wouldn't work, sorry but we all knew. Come on the niece of your one true love, come on now Steve."

"Yeah Steve you're almost a hundred years old you should know better," Clint said, he reached over and patted Steve's shoulder. Steve shrugged it off and hopped off the helicopter.

"Let's head inside." He began walking before anyone could say anything else in return. He made sure his back was fully turned away from them.

"One freaking step at a time." He mumbled to himself trying to hold it all together. He entered the tower to a familiar scene. Wanda was having a heated discussion with the newly humanized vision. Vision was relaxed leaning heavily on the counter his face was a little red, which might not have been a concern for him before. Steve looked away, he felt a sense of guilt for not addressing it right away but he just got back. One problem at a time.

Sam was playing video games reclined on the couch, and Bucky was on the loveseat diagonal from the tv. Steve stood there silently for a moment wondering if anyone would really address him. Bucky laughed at something Sam said, they were actually becoming friends. But they still did have their moments.

"Dad's home and I brought Mom, Grandpa, and your kooky cousin Clint with me," Tony yelled out catching the attention of the lounging Avengers. Steve glanced back as Clint closed the door, catching his eye and trying to give him a look that Steve cooley turned away from.

Wanda took a pause in her conversation and nodded at them to acknowledge their presence, then went right back to it. Sam actually stood up and waved.

"Long time no see. How was Gramps, still grumpy?" Sam asked avoiding Steve's heated stare.

"Worse, depressed." Nat threw down her bag on the floor next to the stools.

"Nat make sure you pick that up later someone's going to stub their toe on that." Steve chastised sighing, he really was feeling like a grandfather.

"Oh, it's just a little duffle bag." She scoffed waving her hand in dismissal of his suggestion.

"Filled with hyperactive alien metal parts."