Chapter Text
It was the next day, and Steve had received another text from the kids confirming that they’d be coming. He checked in with Natasha and Bucky, who were both in the living room watching TV- or, well, Bucky was. Natasha was reading. She looked up when she spotted him, setting her book down.
“The kids will be here in an hour” he informed her.
Natasha sighed, looking out the window thoughtfully. Bucky’s attention was pulled away from the screen, and he looked between the two curiously.
“Steve?” Bucky said.
“Just checkin’ in pal, nothin’ to worry about”
“Pal”
“You’ll make sure they stay outside, right? And they won’t come around the side here to look in the window” Natasha asked.
“You want me to babysit them?” Steve asked incredulously.
“Well I don’t want them having free reign of the garden”
“I have other things to do”
“They’re here because of you” she accused.
“They came before I even knew about Bucky, and I promised them I’d let them fix up the gazebo! That’s hardly my fault, I couldn’t have known this would be happening then” he argued, motioning to Bucky.
“But you agreed to let them come back after you knew”
“Hey, you said it was okay too, don’t put this all on me, I-”
“Shraaack-lissssss” Bucky rasped, interrupting and pushing off the chair with a small splash, swimming to the edge of the pool. He pulled himself up to the edge, looking between Steve and Natasha.
“Stev-ie? Asha?”
“It’s nothing, Yasha” Natasha said gently.
Steve sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he let out a breath. Things had gotten heated, and Bucky had noticed.
“Look” he said, calmer. “If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll meet them outside and go over the rules. No coming into the manor, no filming or mentioning you or Bucky online. They stick to the gazebo, nothing else. Sound good?”
Natasha’s mouth twisted like she had more to say, but thankfully she held back whatever argument she had. “Alright” she conceded.
Steve nodded to her, then turned to Bucky, giving him a smile. “It’s alright Buck, you can go back to your show”
“Wha-watch? Steve, watch?” Bucky said, pointing to the second chair in the living room.
It took Steve a second to parse his meaning, but then he gave Bucky a rueful smile. “Sorry pal, I got work to do, but later? We can watch TV tonight when I’m done”
“Ater”
“Yeah pal”
“Pal”
“What are you doing up there anyway?” Natasha asked. “I thought you ripped everything out already”
“I did for most of it, but there’s some structural supports that are moldy too, and those can’t just be ripped out and left alone. I have to replace them one at a time, and then the actual mold-removal can happen”
“Huh, alright”
“You two have fun” Steve said in parting. Natasha hummed and acknowledgement, while Bucky raised a hand and waved, watching him go.
Steve left them to it, grabbing his filtration mask and other safety equipment as he ascended the stairs to the second floor. The kids wouldn’t be here for another hour- plenty of time to do a few replacements.
Steve got a text, his phone vibrating in his pocket, and he set down the new lumber he was carrying to check it.
We’re here
Had it been an hour already? Huh, how it had flown by.
Steve had gotten into a steady groove of cutting out the moldy studs, along with a few top and bottom plates. Some of the wood was cracked in places from the expansion and shrinking of water damage. He’d come up with a load of wood in his truck, already cut and measured from his previous inspection, so it was only a matter and cutting out the old wood and replacing it.
I’ll meet you outside, he sent back, then tucked his phone back into his pocket, making his way to the stairs.
He pulled off all his safety gear and set them on the middle step of the stairs for his return, then went outside.
He spotted the kids wheeling their bikes up the driveway, helmets hanging off the bars. They each had a backpack on, the bags bulging like they were full.
“Yo Mr. Rogers!” Miles greeted.
“It’s just Steve” Steve laughed, coming up to greet them.
“Is Bucky out here too?” Kamala asked.
“Nah, he’s inside right now. No idea if he’ll come out today”
The kids seemed briefly crestfallen at that, but not for long.
“We’re just gonna work on the gazebo if that’s cool” Miles said.
“What do you plan on doing with it anyway?” Steve asked. “After you guys put in the resin, the thing looks good as new already”
“Oh, we gotta polish it” Gwen said, taking off her backpack and opening it, pulling out a large bottle to show Steve.
“First we gotta clean it though. It’s been a few weeks” Miles added.
“Right,” Gwen said. “We clean it, then after we polish it, then we gotta seal it so the marble doesn’t get any wear from the weather”
“Then we landscape!” Kamala added excitedly.
“Yeah, we want to cut back some of the weeds and vines and stuff” Miles agreed.
“Looks like you got it all planned out” Steve said, sounding impressed. It was a solid plan, and from what Steve knew of outdoor marble, it was the right way to go.
“It it cool if we use your hose?” Gwen asked.
“Sure. It should be on the same side of the house, next to the pool”
“Awesome” Gwen said.
“Yeah” Miles said.
“Thanks!” Kamala said.
“Oh, and before you go,” Steve said, “I got some rules about bein’ here”
“Oh, sure” Miles said, and the three of them listened.
“You don’t go into the manor, at all. If you need anything, you text me, got it?” The three nodded. “Second, You can film the gazebo all you want, but if it comes up, don’t get Natasha in any of the shots, and definitely don’t record Bucky. That includes pictures. Also, don’t mention them in any recording or posting- actually, try not to mention this is Kenning’s Manor at all. The place is already famous with the locals, we don’t need more attention from the internet too. Sound good?”
“Oh, sure thing” Gwen agreed, and the other two followed suit.
Steve nodded to them. “Good. You can go on ahead with whatever you’re working on- but you all should be home before it gets dark, I don’t want your parents coming up here”
“Oh, no need to worry about that- they don’t know we’re here” Miles grinned, only to be elbowed by Gwen and letting out an oof.
“Wait, where do they think you are?”
Miles rubbed his side where he’d been hit. “With Peter”
“But Peter knows we’re here” Kamala added. “He’s the one who gave us these supplies, and taught us how to use it all safely”
“Wait, why isn’t Peter with you?” Steve asked, suddenly wondering about the other man.
“School’s starting up soon, so Mr. P has a lot of work to get ready for. You know, teacher stuff”
“Huh”
“Probably better he’s not here anyway, what with, you know...” Miles said, trailing off.
“Yeah, probably for the best” Steve agreed.
“But like, you’re still fine with him using the gazebo for his proposal, right?” Kamala asked. “It won’t be a problem with, uh, Bucky and Natasha here and all?”
“They can stay inside for the day- they got a TV in there and everything”
“Oh, okay”
“Anyway, you got any more questions?” Steve asked. “‘Cause if not, I got work to do inside”
“Nope, we’re all good” Gwen said, putting the bottle back in her backpack and hoisting it over her shoulder.
“Alright. And remember what I said. Text me in you need anything, don’t go into the manor, don’t mention anything about Bucky or Natasha in your videos”
They gave their assents, then Steve left them to head back in. He paused at the door though, turning back. He watched as the three of them disappeared around the corner, making sure they were going where they said they would, then turned and headed inside.
He had his own work to do after all.