STEVE WAS NEVER A SOUND SLEEPER. Having been in the army, as well as his senses being at peak condition, he tended to wake at any moment, whether pure silence or loud noise or anything in between. It hadn't been until he went into hiding that he was able to sleep soundly, though he was sure the other person occupying his bed had something to do with that.

It was because of this newfound ability to sleep that he didn't wake at the shift of the bed or the weight pressing into him until he woke to the feeling of kisses being pressed along his jaw and neck, pressed against his eyes and all across his face.

He shifted slightly, keeping his eyes closed as his lips curled upwards. "It's my birthday isn't it?"

Rhett hummed above him, continuing to press feather light kisses across his neck. "Happy birthday, Mr. America."

Steve scoffed and opened his eyes, sitting up and capturing his lips in his, kissing him languidly as he began to wake, wrapping his arms around the other blond's hips, Rhett throwing his arms around his neck and pressing himself closer.

Steve's birthday was always something he looked forward to. As a kid, he and Bucky were always allowed to go out to the movies and do what they wanted with the money they were given, staying up past curfew to watch the fireworks. In the army, he'd always get a laugh with his battalion and offers for dances for all the pretty girls that he'd always be too afraid to actually agree to, his face red and stomach twisted into happy knots. When he was brought out of the ice, it was his team, all of them teasing him mercilessly alongside elaborate presents and parties and hugs, Tony always putting on the largest fireworks display, even getting fireworks in the shape of his shield and spelling out his name.

The split had been just over a week before his birthday, and he had spent it alone in Wakanda. By that point, Clint had taken Arabella, Leo, and the twins to his farm, he and Scott both under house arrest, Natasha had to go back and sort through the issue of her double crossing, and Sam was working through getting amnesty, as there had been too much to debate on a decorated war veteran being taken without a single word, so he hadn't been allowed to see Steve until it was all cleared, which wasn't until Tony helped them move back to New York months later. Bucky had gone under two days before.

He had sat just outside of Shuri's lab, a drink in hand—it mimicked Asgardian mead and he wanted to laugh the irony, but only cried—sitting just at the edge and watching the sunset. If he closed his eyes, he could just faintly hear the sound of Tony wishing him a happy birthday.

He hadn't expected to be getting another happy birthday anytime soon. But then Rhett stumbled into his life, dragging with him an eclectic little family that Steve soon found to call his own, reuniting with old family and making amends with others. He didn't expect to spend his birthday with people again.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart," Rhett mumbled, pulling away to press their foreheads together, smiling as he felt Steve preen under his words; it had quickly become apparent to the older man that his boyfriend thrived off pet names and he used them whenever he could.

"Thanks, Rhett," Steve sighed, breathing deeply as he pulled him close, hugging him and pressing his face against his shoulder.

"Today's your day, what do you wanna do?" Rhett asked, pulling back to cradle his head in his hands, "Preferably something that isn't gonna make you cry."

Steve closed his mouth from where he was just about to suggest Coney Island, as that was often where he and Bucky went whenever they were allowed. He pouted up at Rhett who tutted, kissing away his frown.

"Okay, we can do what you want, but if I see tears..." he trailed off, giving Steve a stern look, the other man simply grinning and nuzzling against his neck, flipping them over so he was hovering above him.

"Is Nicky awake?" he asked, glancing towards their locked door.

Rhett shook his head. "He's over at Sam's for the day. We'll meet up with him later, but he said we have the whole loft to ourselves, sound proofed and everything."

Steve groaned happily, dropping his head next to Rhett's, steadying his breathing as he broke out into a massive grin. "I love your roommate. So much."

Rhett hooked his legs around Steve's hips, leaning up to nip at his ear. "Well, c'mon, baby, get a move on, we don't have day."

Needless to say, they didn't leave the loft for a while.

º º º

"People don't recognize you at all with the beard, you don't need the sunglasses," Rhett pointed out, the two walking down the street, holding hands while sipping the coffee they ordered from the coffee shop; they were going to sit down, but found two young blonds sitting in their place, chatting happily over their own set of coffee.

"You said I looked cool," Steve said, glancing over to him, adjusting the shades that had arrived in a package sent from Wakanda, along with a small plush of himself and a letter demanding he send pictures in return.

"You do look cool," Rhett soothed, moving to wrap an arm around him, "It's just weird because my nerdy art boyfriend was replaced by a lumberjack who probably has a rope kink. I really do like the beard, though."

Steve ducked his head, blushing profusely under the praise, mumbling to himself as he continued to hold Rhett's hand. Rhett simply grinned and looked around at the people around them before leaning over to kissing his cheek, nearly sending them tumbling over, Steve unprepared for the elementary school teacher-sized weight being thrown at him in full force.

"Look at my eyes," Rhett pouted, sighing when Steve continued to tug him along, the two heading towards the train station to head to Coney Island.

"If I look at your eyes we'll be arrested for public indecency, I'll be found out, and we'll both be sent to prison. Do you want your boyfriend to be in prison?" Steve looked over at Rhett who hummed for a moment, shrugging, and he scoffed, finishing off his coffee before tossing it.

The two stood at the platform waiting for the train, Rhett sighing and moving to rest his head against Steve's chest, closing his eyes as the man put one hand in his pocket, the other coming up to hold him, his thumb brushing gently across Rhett's cheek, looking down the line and waiting.

Rhett didn't realize he was falling asleep until he was nudged awake with a gentle, "Train's here."

The two climbed on, settling in on the seats, knowing fully well it would be at least over an hour before they made it there, Rhett immediately pulling out his headphones, handing one to Steve, the two leaning against each other and closing their eyes, listening to their favorite swing music, hands intertwined and resting on top of their legs.

Somewhere along the way, Steve opened his eyes, turning to look down at Rhett who had fallen back asleep. He smiled as he reached up to trace his cheek with his thumb, taking off the man's glasses and hooking them onto his own shirt collar. The two were rarely apart these days, but that never did stop Steve's heart from singing every time he so much as looked at the man. Resting his head back on top of his, he closed his eyes, listening to the music and the announcements over the radio system.

If he just had to spend the rest of his birthday in the near empty subway car with Rhett, he wouldn't have complained one bit. 

º º º

"I would've brought you to my old haunts, but that probably would've made me cry, and I know you said no crying," Steve said as they made their way towards Coney Island, smiling at all the people milling about on the sand and the boardwalk.

"Maybe next time," Rhett said, squeezing his hand, "I know you and Bucky didn't come here as often as you did anywhere else, so new memories, you know? Everyone's probably just around, we've set up a space for the fireworks later."

Steve swallowed thickly, nodding as he steadied himself, not realizing he was nearly breaking Rhett's hand as he thought about the fireworks display; the past few years he had been fine for the most part, but there was no guarantee and the festivities often had to cut short with he, Sam, and Tony fleeing the scene.

"I'm here," Rhett said softly, reaching out with his other hand to hold it over Steve's, "Baby, look at me. I'm here, okay? We got a quick exit if it gets too much, but I'll be with you the whole time."

Steve took a deep breath, nodding as he hid his face in the crook of Rhett's neck, holding him close as the man hugged him, whispering sweet nothing as he ran his hands through his hair.

Steve shuddered, cursing at himself; the sun was still out, yet there he was, making a huge deal over nothing. But then Nicky's voice filled his ears, the ghosts of all his reminders that it wasn't stupid to feel, no matter how he did feel. It was reassuring.

"Come on," Rhett said once he pulled away, "I want your perfect soldier training to win me one of those giant stuffed pandas."

Steve laughed as he was pulled onto the sand, weaving in and out of people as he was led to the most challenging game, in Rhett's opinion. It was an open wicker basket tilted at a certain angle, and he had to get three balls inside to win.

"The guys inside can do it, but I'm pretty sure that's because it's rigged for them, it depends on distance. Prove them wrong, honey," Rhett cheered, pulling out his wallet and handing the man manning the stand five dollars.

"Babe, I can't promise anything, okay," Steve said carefully, glancing around at all the people milling about, hoping none of them caught onto him, "This isn't exactly in my line of work."

Rhett didn't say anything, simply pulling out his phone and watching as Steve held up the ball, staring at it, then at the basket. His mind worked faster than he was able to comprehend, his arm doing all the work, the ball slipping just past his fingertips, spinning and landing right inside. 

"Holy fuck," the man running the stand gasped, and Rhett whooped loudly, throwing up his arms.

Steve ducked his head, laughing at his boyfriend as he tossed in the next four balls, landing in all five. He rubbed the back of his neck bashfully as he looked over towards the man who just gaped at him. Wordlessly, the man unhooked a large panda from the top of the booth and handed it to Rhett.

"Mission accomplished," Steve hummed, and Rhett laughed, carrying the panda above his head as they waded through the sea of people who gasped at the sight of the large prize, "Thanks for getting us way too much attention."

"Beefcake, if any of them try to chat you up, I won't hesitate," Rhett promised, and Steve scoffed, shaking his head.

"Beefcake?" he parroted, raising an eyebrow, and Rhett simply smiled, puckering his lips for a kiss, Steve complying with a roll of his eyes.

"No way! Sam, wait, win me one!"

Steve and Rhett turned to find Nicky gawking at them, standing next to an unimpressed Sam who was wearing a tank top reading, 'I Didn't Serve My Country for this Shit,' and American flag sunglasses.

"Princess, I talk to birds," Sam sighed, the two coming to stand in front of the blonds, "And I wasted twenty bucks trying to win that narwhal, so let's just not."

Nicky smiled and showed off the pillow-sized blue narwhal in his hands. "I told him he couldn't win it, then he got mad and wasted twenty bucks to prove me wrong. And you said my degree couldn't get me anything."

"You're a manipulative little shit and I hate you," Sam sighed, wrapping his arm around the smaller man's waist, "Also, happy birthday, Steve, did you get all the messages from the others?"

"The farm family sent an hour long skit about how much they love me. It was a musical," Steve replied, and Sam gave him a pleased smile, nodding slowly in approval.

"Tony's got something planned for you," Nicky said, reaching out and taking the soda from Sam's other hand, taking a long, obnoxious sip.

"Where are the kids?" Rhett asked, looking around, groaning when he caught sight of a roller coaster, "They're up there, aren't they?"

"You can't know that if you don't look," Sam pointed out, grabbing his chin and tilting his head so his gaze shifted back towards Steve and not at the group of kids balancing on the edge of an operating roller coaster, ignoring the shouts for them to come down.

"Aw, that's sweet," Rhett heard Steve say, still looking over at the roller coaster.

Turning, they found that the side of the coaster was now covered by a large banner reading: 'Happy Birthday Captain America...He's Not Here, But We All Wish He Was.' 

"That's reckless," Sam corrected, and Steve shrugged, humming noncommittally, "Steve, I know you punched army tanks for fun, but these kids are in high school and should have more self-control."

"Steve's veto-ing self control for the day. As the birthday boy, he's allowed to have whatever he wants, within reason," Rhett explained, reaching out to splay a hand over his boyfriend's chest.

Nicky sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Remind me to disinfect the entire loft when we get home. Anyways, you guys wanna get terrible carnival food before the sun goes down?"

"I was never allowed to try any of those," Steve gasped, letting go of Rhett to follow Nicky who grinned, grabbing his hand and tugging him along, leaving their boyfriends alone.

Rhett turned to Sam. "Do you know if he's alright? He was fine when he woke up, but..."

"He spent his last birthday alone," Sam explained, shrugging, "I think he's alright. But whatever Tony's planning, I know he won't be able to show up in person. And I know Steve's been hoping for a message from Thor for the past two years now."

"I'm so worried about what'll happen when Thor comes back," Rhett sighed, not realizing what he just admitted to until it was too late to take it back.

Before Sam could say anything, Steve reappeared past the crowd, frowning at Rhett. "Why didn't  you follow, I was looking for you."

Rhett cast a glance over to Sam whose lips twitched into a slight smirk and, even behind his sunglasses, Rhett knew he had winked. Turning back to Steve, he smiled, taking his hand and following him towards the hot dog stand where Nicky was waiting, reprimanding a large group of teenagers.

"If Cap was here," Nicky sighed, giving them a stern look, "He would say—"

"If anything, he'd probably say it was a stupid-ass decision, but it was a stupid-ass decision he would've made, so he'd probably just laugh," Sam butted in, coming to stand next to him; unlike Steve, it was fine for him to be seen, to an extent, as he was granted amnesty in some degree.

"Hey, Mr. Wilson," Peter greeted, turning around to see Rhett and Steve, "Hi, Mr. Reiser. Mr. Stevens."

The teens all turned to see Rhett and Steve, almost all of them looking quizzically up at the latter man who carefully introduced himself by his alias, Grant Stevens, smiling when they all seemed to fall for it, save for the few who knew the truth.

"Happy birthday," Diana chirped, jumping up to hug him, "Guys, he shares a birthday with Cap, so at least he saw the banner."

"He could fill in for Captain America, what with his," Flash paused his sentence to motion to the man's body, nodding appreciatively, "Dude, what's your workout routine, you're jacked."

Rhett laughed as he held onto Steve's arm, watching as his boyfriend tried to seem like an everyday person with a body just like Captain America's, adjusting his sunglasses and chatting with the group, moving to throw the arm Rhett was holding over the teacher's shoulder, letting the older man hug his side.

"You okay?" Rhett laughed as the now large group made their way over to their section of the beach, the sun beginning to creep closer and closer to the horizon.

Steve pressed a kiss to his temple. "Yeah, I'm really okay."

º º º

Steve's entire lower half was buried in the sand by the time the fireworks were supposed to start, the teens immediately gasping and moving to get a good seat, leaving him forgotten. He sat up bolt right, looking over to Sam who had earplugs in, holding out another set. Nicky gave him a look and a thumbs up; of course the man had made pairs for them.

"Thank you," he sighed, reveling in the blissful muffled silence, reaching out for Rhett who immediately crawled over, settling by his side.

"Happy birthday, Stevie," Rhett hummed, and Steve grinned, hearing him perfectly; of course Nicky made him a device that cancelled out all that he hated and left him only what he loved.

"Thanks, Rhett," he sighed, kissing him sweetly as his heart ached and his cheeks hurt because he was just so happy.

"Your present's here," Nicky whispered, tapping his arm and pointing towards the sky.

Steve turned to where he was pointing, melting as he caught sight of the large fireworks display, first red reading 'Stark Industries,' but quickly moving into large explosions of simple, but extreme displays. He smiled as he rested his chin on Rhett's shoulder, happy to simply watch, losing himself in his thoughts as it continued on and on, but perked up when he caught sight of the white Avengers symbol. Now alert, he watched as, between the more simple designs, a white star appeared, just like the one on his suit, then blue wings, like on his helmet. His heart clenched when the finale appeared: his shield completely filling the sky, people cheering loudly.

'Happy Birthday, Cap,' filled the sky, finishing off the display, the sparks fizzling into the dark night sky.

Rhett grinned, turning to Steve who was crying, wiping at his eyes as Sam squeezed his shoulder, greeting him one last time. Cooing, Rhett moved to sit in his lap, wiping at his tears, tutting.

"Sweetheart," he cooed, kissing his cheeks, "You okay, baby?"

Steve nodded, sniffing and pulling Rhett into a fierce hug. "I love you."

Rhett smiled, running his fingers through the golden locks of hair as he held his boyfriend close, even as everyone packed up and milled around them, the two just happy to be with the other, this day and all days.

"Happy Birthday, Steve."

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Happy Birthday to Steve Rogers. This dude is really, really important to me and while this one-shot was kind of a huge fluff piece I feel like I was able to do something so that's that. Also happy birthday to lokidyinginside because I'ma be saying that until the day is done

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!