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bradygirl_12Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters: Steve/Tony (Pre-Slash), Clint Barton, mention of the Avengers.
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Summary: When Tony notices the date on the calendar, he understands why Steve is so quiet.
Date Of Completion: December 7, 2007
Date Of Posting: December 7, 2007
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Marvel does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 956
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: This story takes place in the early Avengers continuity in the early Sixties. The entire series can be found here.
My father was a Korean War veteran and his brothers were World War II veterans, and I thought of them when I woke up this morning and saw the date.
A few minutes after midnight, the Avengers walked out of the Quinjet, exhausted and ready for some sleep. They talked about the mission in a sort of preliminary debriefing, and Tony noticed how Steve did not join in. Usually he liked the informal talk about their previous mission, having told Tony once that the fresh impressions were the best.
His withdrawn demeanor worried Tony. Despite the depression that Steve frequently suffered, he was the most upbeat person that Tony knew.
Everyone dispersed to their rooms, and he removed his armor, took a quick shower, and then dressed in silk pajamas. He went to the kitchen, intending to get a drink of water.
His gaze fell on the calendar. “Oh, shit,” he said softly. He abandoned the idea of the water and left the kitchen, walking down the hall to Steve’s room. He knocked quietly.
No answer.
Tony nudged the door open.
Steve was still dressed in full regalia, his shield leaning against the wall beside him, his head bowed and his hands loosely clasped between his knees as he sat in a chair.
Tony entered the dark room.
“Hey, Cap.”
“Hey.”
Steve’s voice was very soft and very tired.
“I…noticed the date.”
Steve nodded, then said, “It seems just like yesterday to me.” He laughed a little. “Guess it is, in a way. Sometimes it still seems like 1941 to me.”
Tony sat on the bed and crossed his legs. He was prepared to wait as long as it took.
Steve knotted his fingers together. “Mom and I…we’d gone to church that day and had Sunday dinner afterwards: roast beef, little red potatoes, carrots, and peas. We read the paper while we listened to music. Symphony. She liked classical music.” His voice held warmth. “She and I didn’t get to see each other a lot during the week. I was out of high school and working full-time at the grocery story while trying to get a job as a commercial artist, getting some freelance jobs and working part-time at Timely Comics, and she was a salesclerk at Macy’s. Long hours and short pay. But we got by. I was going to meet Arnie later.”
Steve looked up, meeting Tony’s eyes. “We heard the bulletin about Pearl Harbor from the radio, like a lot of other Americans did that day, and I could see how scared Mom was. Still, I was scrawny in those days, and I didn’t really expect I’d get taken by the Army or Navy, but I knew I was going to try.”
Steve fell silent for a few minutes, then said, “It changed everything. So many people went off to war and never came back…” He took a deep, painful breath, no doubt thinking of Bucky and other friends “…or did but were maimed or psychologically-damaged.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “It certainly changed my life, once I took the Supersoldier Serum.”
Tony’s heart ached. Many people remembered December 7th. There were millions of veterans out there, World War I, World War II, and Korean War, still remembering…and possibly trying to forget. He also remembered the event, but he had been just a little boy. Steve had been the exact right age to go and fight, and when turned away because of his frailness, had found another way.
He was still fighting, and sometimes the memories were hard to take.
Suddenly, Tony had an idea. He stood up and put his hand on Steve’s shoulder. “Get showered, Cap, and put your costume back on. You and I and the rest of the Avengers have someplace to go.”
& & & & & &
The breeze was cool, blowing off the water. The Avengers stood, ramrod-straight, a flotilla of ships spread out before them as they stood on the platform. The clear, ringing voice of the young President carried out over the water and the newly-dedicated U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, the white structure bowed at the middle but soaring upwards at the ends, the remains of the battleship Arizona and her crew entombed below.
Tony listened to Jack Kennedy’s speech, pleased that it had style and substance, but his eyes were on Steve.
Captain America stood tall and proud, slightly ahead of his fellow Avengers, his shield held beside him. Even Clint hadn’t complained about Cap’s prominence this time, he and the rest of the Avengers pleased to be here. When Tony had first roused them, they had been tired and cranky, but when they learned their destination, had been willing to take the trip to Hawaii.
Steve had been speechless when told Tony’s plan, and had whispered, “Thank you,” while the others boarded the jet. He remained quiet all the way from New York to Hawaii, only perking up when they reached Hickam Field and they took a launch to the harbor. Tony had arranged for the transportation to be waiting for them, not wanting to miss the ceremony.
Now, it was eight o’clock, the beginning of the attack, and the President stopped his speech while a moment of silence was observed.
As silence descended over the harbor, Tony bowed his head. He thought of the men lost in that battleship and from others ships and planes that day, and the civilians who had been hurt and killed.
The moment of silence ended and the President began to speak again.
Suddenly, he felt a hand slip into his and squeeze. Startled, he squeezed back, then the hand slipped out of his.
Steve looked straight ahead, the shining embodiment of America on a beautiful Hawaiian morning as the dead lost to war were honored.
Tony was very glad for his idea as he stood straight and proud, scarlet-and-gold armor glinting in the sun.
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Date: 2007-12-08 04:49 am (UTC)I think I said this with the last ficlet, but it's really neat to see Avengers fics set in the 1960s, and I especially like the way you incorporate historical background in.
Despite the depression that Steve frequently suffered, he was the most upbeat person that Tony knew.
One tiny quibble: I'm not sure that "depression" is quite the right word. Maybe something about Steve trying to adjust to a new time/acting subdued/moping/having nightmares? Steve definitely had ptsd in the early Tales of Suspense/Avengers days, and he moped around some, especially after Tony left the team, but I swear it's been commented on by other characters that Steve rarely gets depressed (*grins* As opposed to Tony, who's had textbook -- and textual -- clinical depression symptoms since about 1963).
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Date: 2007-12-08 04:57 am (UTC)Had to get that in there! :)
I think I said this with the last ficlet, but it's really neat to see Avengers fics set in the 1960s, and I especially like the way you incorporate historical background in.
Thank you! I enjoy doing it. :)
Despite the depression that Steve frequently suffered, he was the most upbeat person that Tony knew.
One tiny quibble: I'm not sure that "depression" is quite the right word. Maybe something about Steve trying to adjust to a new time/acting subdued/moping/having nightmares? Steve definitely had ptsd in the early Tales of Suspense/Avengers days, and he moped around some, especially after Tony left the team, but I swear it's been commented on by other characters that Steve rarely gets depressed (*grins* As opposed to Tony, who's had textbook -- and textual -- clinical depression symptoms since about 1963).
Perhaps Tony is viewing Steve through his own experience and is using that word for what he thinks Steve is going through?
I do think, however, that Steve could have suffered depressed feelings, if not clinical depression, at least during these early days of adjustment. As he learned more about his new world and began to feel as if he fit in more, that depression and/or unhappiness lessened as the years passed.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Elspeth! :)
Hauntingly beautiful icon, BTW.
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Date: 2007-12-08 05:58 am (UTC)*nods* That makes sense, as does Tony viewing Steve through the filter of his own experiences. Steve was definitely screwed up in the early post-unfreezing days (and I might have been putting this fic slightly later in timeline than it's actually set). I guess I automatically, when reading Marvel fic with Tony in it, tend to think of the longterm clinical psychological disorder when I see the word "depression," and forget that it's also used to mean "general sadness and/or unhappiness."
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Date: 2007-12-08 06:13 am (UTC)*nods* That makes sense, as does Tony viewing Steve through the filter of his own experiences. Steve was definitely screwed up in the early post-unfreezing days (and I might have been putting this fic slightly later in timeline than it's actually set). I guess I automatically, when reading Marvel fic with Tony in it, tend to think of the longterm clinical psychological disorder when I see the word "depression," and forget that it's also used to mean "general sadness and/or unhappiness."
With so much talk about clinical depression nowadays, it is easy to forget that it's used for general sadness/unhappiness.
Poor Steve! It must have been tough for him when he was unfrozen. Talk about culture shock!
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Date: 2007-12-09 12:34 am (UTC)*nods* And current canon would be even tougher, with him spending 50 years on ice instead of 20.
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Date: 2007-12-09 02:23 am (UTC)*nods* And current canon would be even tougher, with him spending 50 years on ice instead of 20.
Yikes! Very true!
It'd be like waking up on an alien world. :)
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Date: 2007-12-08 04:53 am (UTC)And the hand holding at the end :).
The only thing is, that past the first few months he was unfrozen, Steve canonically doesn't suffer from depression except under extreme circumstances, while Tony on the other hand, has canonically suffered from depression since 1963. Sorry if you don't want any concrit; this really is good, I'm just overly nitpicky about characterization.
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Date: 2007-12-08 05:03 am (UTC)And the hand holding at the end :).
Heh, I got a kick out of mentioning Timely Comics and slipping in the hand holding. :)
The only thing is, that past the first few months he was unfrozen, Steve canonically doesn't suffer from depression except under extreme circumstances, while Tony on the other hand, has canonically suffered from depression since 1963. Sorry if you don't want any concrit; this really is good, I'm just overly nitpicky about characterization.
Interesting observations! I answered the same question up above.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Rosa! :)
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Date: 2007-12-08 05:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-08 05:54 am (UTC)Excellent! :)
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Date: 2007-12-08 06:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-08 05:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-08 05:41 am (UTC)A teary Quill! Thank you! :)
The mention of Arnie made my slasher's ears perk up. :-)
Of course! Love Arnie! :)
And, of course, I loved the hand-holding. *hugs the boys*
I wanted to throw a little sap in there. ;)
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Date: 2007-12-08 05:36 am (UTC)-Tro
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Date: 2007-12-08 05:43 am (UTC)-Tro
Thank you kindly, Tro! :)
December 7, 1941, is one of those watershed moments in American history, and I wanted to write about that today.
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Date: 2007-12-08 08:05 pm (UTC)I'd weird though to even consider this date. TBH, in Europe, we don't really think about it much. For us, September 1st is more significant but the only date we pay particular attention to is November 11th.
It's good to get a different perspective now and then.
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Date: 2007-12-08 11:27 pm (UTC)Thank you, Faith! :)
I'd weird though to even consider this date. TBH, in Europe, we don't really think about it much. For us, September 1st is more significant but the only date we pay particular attention to is November 11th.
Not so surprising! September 1st was when World War II started in Europe, and November 11th is the last day of World War I.
We observe November 11th here as Veterans' Day (also known as Armistice Day) and also observe Memorial Day, once upon a time observed always on May 30th (my sister's birthday!) but now on a Monday closest to that date. Memorial Day grew out of the American Civil War and the decoration of solder's graves after that conflict. It's also known as Decoration Day in the American South.
And, naturally, December 7th has been a big date here because it brought us into the War. Not all the calendars you can buy here have it marked, but you'd be surprised by how many do have 'Pearl Harbor Day' listed.
It's good to get a different perspective now and then.
Absolutely! I like to get different perspectives, too. :)
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Date: 2007-12-09 07:02 pm (UTC)Of course, I think your grasp of the historical aspects makes your writing in this fandom a particular treat.
Bravo!
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Date: 2007-12-10 03:45 am (UTC)Of course, I think your grasp of the historical aspects makes your writing in this fandom a particular treat.
Bravo!
Thank you, Theresa! :)
I'm glad you enjoyed this story. I like doing historical fiction and blending it with RL events.
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Date: 2007-12-18 03:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-18 04:03 am (UTC)Ah ha, I didn't know this! Well, we could consider this slightly AU, then. :)
I'm glad you liked the story, Tavella! :)
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Date: 2008-05-29 07:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 02:19 pm (UTC)He needs hugs, doesn't he?