[OOM: Howard Stark]

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

London, 1943

Downtime is both precious and rare when you're in an elite military force. Steve spends it at Milliways when he can, and at the pub that's become their local when he wants to stay in London.

(Which he often does, despite the air raids and curfews. He's come to love this dark, sprawling city. It's not New York, but it'll do until it's time to go home.)

So Steve is having a drink and smiling at the singing. Another thing to like about the English--no matter what, they keep on singing.

Comments

[thefirststark]

"Can I tell you something that I've heard whispered about? By Philips and the brass?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Please," Steve says.

[thefirststark]

"No one trusts the Soviets. Even if they're in the fight to the end on our side, the expectation at the top is that there will be another war. The army won't completely demobilize. You would have what to do if you wanted. So would I, come to think of it." A prospect that doesn't fill him with delight, but that also doesn't entirely scare him.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve frowns--the prospect of more wars is never good--but nods anyway.

"Then I'll be of some use. All right."

[thefirststark]

"And even if there's real peace, there are things you could do. Police work, or the FBI. J Edgar might kill for an agent like you." Though odds are J Edgar might just use Steve for another dog and pony show.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I'm certainly racking up the experience to be of use in covert operations," Steve says, dry again.

[thefirststark]

"I'm sure it will all work out. Heck, I bet you could even take Bucky and the Howlers with you." But only by waving the flag. Which, come to think of it, Cap would be good at doing.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve laughs at that. "I'd better. I couldn't do this without them."

[thefirststark]

"Then maybe once this is over, you can get the colonel to help find you and the gang something to do. Maybe he'll even surprise you and want to keep you around."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"He hasn't called me a chorus girl lately," Steve observes. "That's a good sign."

[thefirststark]

"He knows what you can do. That much is obvious. He's just never going to forget that he had all sorts of ideas for the Super Soldier Project. I think he was expecting to win the war by himself." Which is a bit ironic.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"After he'd duked it out with General Patton."

[thefirststark]

"That is a pissing match I would pay good money to see. But my money would be on Patton."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve chuckles. "All of those stars must give him some sort of advantage."

[thefirststark]

"He's got the stars because he's got the balls in the first place.

"Don't tell anyone I said this - because men in uniform can't say it - but most of the brass are jerks, assholes and assorted other malcontents. Except maybe Ike." There are advantages to being a civilian, who can say what he wants. He thinks.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I was thinking, the sharp points would come in handy in a fistfight, but it's not important."

He's quiet a moment. "There's little place for sentimentality in war. These old soliders have to be tough to last this long and climb as high as they have."

[thefirststark]

"I'm not saying that isn't true, Steve. I'm just saying that sometimes it's hard for you mere commandos and us mere engineers to face their wrath when half the time they really could be doing just a bit better." Cynicism apparently comes young to the Starks.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Be honest, though--would you really want a CO who was soft on you? Having Col. Philips's approval is nice to have 'cause it's so hard to get."

[thefirststark]

"If I have to have a CO, he'll do.

"But don't forget that I don't really count as military. Technically, I didn't ask for a CO." Technically, the owner and CEO of Stark Aviation thinks he IS a CO.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"True. The rules are different for you."

[thefirststark]

"Something I think Philips resents. He really does want one set of rules for everyone." Including commandos in bright costumes.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Long-time military," says Steve with a shrug. "As long as we keep getting the job done, he can't really complain, can he? Well, he can...but he'll mean it less and less."

[thefirststark]

"I wonder what he'll do after the war. I can't imagine the brass letting him serve much longer." MacArthur won't offer his famous statement about old soldiers for some time to come, but Howard will agree with it based on everything he'll see with Philips.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Teach at one of the academies, maybe."

[thefirststark]

"Maybe. I'm sure he won't be happy in the business world." He's met a few retired generals who like the desk and the secretary. Philips would probably hate both.