1963-06-23 - Mutant Ball
Summary: There's a pickup game in Mutant Town and everyone's invited
Related: None]
Theme Song: None
billy steve clea howard jess sam teddy louis 


The game of stickball in Mutant Town is about to break up. Many of these children have not had their X gene mutate yet, most are too young for that. Others who matured faster have begun to show tell tale signs of looking different. Some look animalistic, others way too strong for their years. Still others have cosmetic differences that while beautiful will never be accepted by some people outside of this ghetto.

It doesn't matter to Steve Rogers. It's a 2-2 count with two runners in scoring position. The game tying run sits on third, a small skinny boy with large coke bottle glasses. On second, Sam Wilson is probably talking some sort of smack.

On the mound, which is really just a tin sardine can, a young girl with kaleidoscope eyes and rainbow hair is burying the baseball into her mit.

Steve grips the bat strongly as he awaits the pitch, intent on showing these kids how it's done. But Lucy has something coming from him; a pitch she hasn't shown yet in her last two innings of work. A curve ball her dad showed her how to throw.

The offspeed stuff takes Rogers by surprise and he's way too far out in front of it. There's a mighty breeze that flies by as Captain America is struck out by a mutant girl amidst a ton of cheering by one team and jeers by the other.

*

Teddy's come to Mutant Town because… well, he wants to see how the people are holding up. Not because he's a mutant, and really not because he's an alien because he's totally not, but he's just a guy. A tall, blond teenager who has his hands in his pockets as he walks along. He's along with his friend just out doing things that friends do. Nothing weird. Nothing suspicious. Then he sees Steve Rogers and the game and he gapes, nudging Billy with an elbow, "Look! It's him!" The hero worship is strong with this one.

*

Billy, Teddy's friend who is doing nothing at all weird and is most certainly not a mutant at all, also has his hands in his pockets. He came because Teddy wanted to come, something about the whole ''Mutant'' town really sits poorly with him and he's not at all sure why. He's wearing a lot of dark clothes today, walking with his hair hanging a little shaggy around his face, at least until Teddy says ''he'' is here. "Who? What? Where? Who's here? Is it that baseball player you lik-…." Steve Rogers?! Billy stops straight in his tracks and stares, watching a little girl strike him out… "Whoa… groovy."

*

Clea is watching from the sidelines with uncommon intensity. She stands out, though she might be getting mistaken for someone's mother or older sister or something. Her arms are folded and she occasionally bites her lip with some intensity, as if she's deeply - perhaps unduly - concerned with how the game is going. Then:

"Oh!"

Inwardly Clea's stomach knots. Hopefully they won't have too harsh a punishment for the leader of the losing team.

*

Jess is a little bit off the reservation, so to speak. For the past few weeks, the spy has been haunting New York City in search of Nick Fury and intel on her captured / killed handler. And then there was news that Captain America himself was actually alive and well. It's not exactly a whole plan, but the idea of a hostage exchange is a valuable one.

Jess may not look unusual, but she fits in with the mutants in her own way. She just manages to hide her less than natural mutations. She's standing with some of the local crowd, watching the game. Of course, she's also weighing the competition and getting a feel for the escape routes in the area.

*

Louis stands amongst the on-lookers, hands behind his back and his expression curious as he looks at the various players. He lifts his eyebrows and comments idly to another nearby watcher of the exhibition. "That young lady is quite the bowler." He glances sidelong towards the other people looking at the game, "And the sardines are one of the wickets?" He makes a small 'hm' sound to himself as he observes, stopping his stroll for the moment.

*

Sam's smack talk is cut off mid-sentence by Steve's whiff. The pilot straightens up from his crouch, eyes shutting and head lolling back. His youthful baseman turns to him with a wild grin and sticks out a forked tongue, and the SHIELD agent can't help but shake his head and laugh. "Next time," he says, holding up one finger and grinning. "You just wait."

He claps the kid on the shoulder and straightens up, walking home as the bird flies, instead of as a winning runner would fly. Ahem. "Steve! I thought you had this!" He shakes his head and says, "This is why the Dodgers left, isn't it? They were just plan ashamed of Brooklyn."

*

Howard drives up on the scene in his vintage Tucker 48' Torpedo. The one of a kind concept car variant rolls along in its cream colored brilliance, the top of the convertible reeled back to show off the man inside. Howard is wearing a flat-cap with caps shield hand stitches into the brim, a matching red, white and blue jacket, and a pair of pitch black aviator sunglasses.

That one of a kind car slowly pulls up to an open parking spot, the thunderous engine dieing off as Howard steps out from the car closing shut the door behind himself. A small bubble is blown from his mouth as he tries his best to blend in, in the process sticking out like a sour thumb. He walks over towards the rest of the group. "Sam, thought you said the game was half past." He calls over the sounds of the crowd not really giving much of a care as he presses down on the strange device in his hand.

The hard top of the convertible behind him rolls its way back up into place thin metal sheets coming down over each window to lock down over them. Each wheel of the car receives a similar thin metal covering in order to prevent them being stolen right from the car itself. The idea of a theft deterrent alive and well in that oddball car.

*

Steve points the stick towards Sam as the catcher rushes by him to congratulate the pitcher. "That's a low blow, Wilson. I've never even been to California, much less Los Angeles." Considering Steve is wearing a blue hat with a B on it, it's safe to say he's a Dodger fan. His white t-shirt and jeans with boots ensemble is pretty much as standard as you get for a guy trying not to be noticed. Although it's not really working.

"You know that guy is Captain America, right?"

"Baloney," replies another player.

Steve stops suddenly and looks towards Sam. "Something doesn't feel right. Let's get these kids home."

As Howard makes an entrance, Steve's face lightens and he smiles at his old friend. "Howard Stark. Back in New York."

*

Teddy grins broadly at Billy, "I know right?" Then he bumps shoulders with the guy, and heads along closer to Captain America, because hey, its the Captain! "Maybe we can get an autograph." He frowns, patting down his pockets, "Not that I brought a pen. Or paper. Ahh man."

*

Teddy's optomism about going near to Captain America who is like a legend or something is only marginally rubbing off on Billy who seems a bit more reserved about this idea on account of he would ''prefer'' not to find out how the government feels about Teddy's involvement with ''that situation'' right here in front of all these kids… But the shoulder brush is encouraging and Billy walks along quietly. Glancing side to side as they approach. "Okay… I might have a pen." He does because he writes poetry and he's that guy.

*

"Does the B stand for Baloney?" Clea asks the most adjacent player, warily. From here she folds her arms and turns her head to see—

Howard! She blinks a few times. At a request for paper, however, she helpfully steps forwards and asks, "Like this?" while proffering an oblong strip of slightly off-white paper.

*

Too many people. And too much hero worship. Taking on Captain America in front of a crowd of kids and admirers…Maybe not the best route. Not for a full-out assault, at least. On the other hand, there's something to be said for bringing down a symbol where people can see it. Jess doesn't head directly toward Steve, but instead starts to circle around the crowd, mirroring the captain's direction.

*

Taking in the arrival and the conversations going on around him, Louis quietly and calmly seems to wait for the game to continue. But he picks up bits and pieces here and there, then asks casually one of those individuals nearby, "Ah, so it's over then?" He adjusts the hang of his suit by sweeping a hand over his lapel, then he considers the players as they begin to congregate. He hms again to himself, then starts back on his stroll. Coincidentally this carries him in the direction of the circuitous Jess stalking the hero.

*

Sam watches Howard's car turn itself into some sort of tank, dark eyebrows stuck at their highest possible altitude. "Half 'til, Howard. Half 'til," he answers the man dazedly, unable to make eye contact with his gaze still glued to the now-armored vehicle. Then, when he finally refocuses, it's time for Howard's ensemble to completely occupy his attention. "I guess you two know each other?" he asks, amusement tugging at his lips and a slight wince at Steve asking: 'superfan?'

Finally, Cap's warning snaps Wilson out of his reverie, and he looks around at the gathered kids with a worried expression. "I'll see what I can do, Steve, but they're just kind of…" He flaps his arms. (In a non-superheroic sense, mind. Just a gesture.) "Energetic." Sam was a loner growing up, and he's not any better with kids as an adult than when he was one of them.

*

"Sam, don't confuse the issue, just own up to your mistake." Howard offers with a smile of white teeth. There's a light reflection off those glasses of his as he makes his way closer to the two trying not to bump into Teddy as he moves past. "Me and Rogers here go way back, should ask him about fondue sometime." A light-hearted laugh coming from Howard as he tosses the keyfob back into the pocket of his overly bright jacket. In the process he almost bumps into Jess before moving over to try and give Steve a handshake. "How long you been back in New York yourself, and I'm just now finding out huh? I admit I'm feeling a little betrayed here."

*

"It's for /Brooklyn/," responds the young boy with a pig nose that Clea asks. The way he says it is with a forlorn quality; a deep pain that hit everyone who loved the underdog, and hated the Yankees. Sure, there are the Mets now, the new expansion team that started up last year. But it's just not the same as when the Dodgers and the Giants played in these parts.

Jess may start to notice that Steve is onto something. Whether that's her or not isn't immediately clear.

"Yeah," one of the kids says to Louis. "Don't worry. As soon as the light comes out, we'll be out here tomorrow. It's summer, man."

The fondue joke hits the floor like a lead weight. For Howard it's been twenty years, for Steve it's been twenty days, and the news that he lost Peggy is pretty fresh. Nevertheless he shakes Howard's hand and smiles, "It's been sort of under wraps. You know how they are." By they, he means SHIELD.

*

Louis' steps pause for a moment as he looks down at the child, "Oh isn't that splendid?" He says with a decent amount of pleasant enthusiasm. He ruffles the youngster's hair, "Another afternoon with a stick and a sphere. How wonderful." He then continues on his way, walking along the sidewalk heading away from the crowd for now and casually wiping his hand on the front of his jacket as if he had touched something terribly untoward.

*

Teddy heads up towards Steve Rogers, but doesn't interrupt him. He does cough. Cough. Ahem. Cough. See? Attention. He has absolutely no idea anything weird is going on, he's just totally there to meet the famous guy all properly like.

*

Billy goes along for the ride, but he's a bit less ''look at me'' than Teddy and a little more ''look around''. Because that's what he's about. All about the scenary. All about the dangers that can come of having heroes and children in one location at one time. No good can come of this!

*

"Oh," Clea answers the small child, with a pained and sympathetic frown. "I understand - I'm sorry for your loss."

She seems to have missed the other context, but at least the child's horrifying mutated nose ain't bugging her.

*

Captain America and Howard Stark. Talk about high-value targets. Right in reach. Discretion may be the better part of valor, but Jess has been being discreet for the better part of a month now. "Excuse me," she says, stepping toward Steve and Howard with a flash of a smile. "But are you Steve Rogers? And Howard Stark?"

*

"Of course, Mr. Stark. My mistake," Sam answers, swallowing his pride and thinking of SHIELD. It helps that the man's airy detachment from reality is frequently funny, at least. It's even better that this time, it isn't attached to some screwball idea that is going to risk Wilson's life and limb. But the cherry on top has to be the look Steve gives Howard just after the fondue comment, and just before Rogers' unflappable manners are back in place. By the time he's shooing children away from the park, Sam is actually whistling a little tune.

Then Jess approaches, and… well, if Steve hadn't voiced his worry, Sam wouldn't have thought anything of it. But she calls him 'Steve Rogers.' Fans like this blond kid with the — my god, are those earrings? — they're excited to meet Captain America. She wants to know if she's looking at Steve Rogers. Wilson tenses, already moving toward the group.

*

"Made it through the war, make it through anything am I right?" Howard offers with another friendly smile, before turning on the ball of his heel to face this newcomer, a woman. "No, no I'm Howard S Wilson, just came to watch my son Sam play" He motions over towards Sam with a smile and a bit of a wave. "Middle names stark, but I can assure you, no relation to the handsome multi-millionaire, just a similar name."

The sheer straight faced nature of that line fed with the confidence that it might as well be the truth, even after being called Howard and Stark before. His smile holding strong even as he pats Steve on the back. Something doesn't sit right about this situation but damned if he doesn't at least try to play it cool. "If you're looking for the real Howard Stark, and Steve Rogers might check the nearest cemetery, pretty sure they're both dead anyway."

*

Louis has disconnected.

*

"That guy didn't know baseball?" says one of the kids to the other who had been standing near Louis. The latter shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders. "Maybe he's not from around here."

"Like where?"

"Maybe Nebraska."

Steve finally notices Teddy and raises his eyebrows in surprise and acknowledgement. Teddy had moved to save him in what turned out to be the ultimate in mishaps. "Hey! What are you doing here?" Steve says as he gives Teddy a slap on the shoulder. "I never got an opportunity to thank you for lookin' out for me.

"Thanks lady," responds the kid to Clea. "If you saw the Mets pitching last year, you'd be even sorrier."

Steve chuckles and shakes his head as Howard lies. He's made the decision that he won't lie about who he is. And whatever ramifications that brings, that's what it brings.

Steve turns towards Jess, who comes in right after Teddy. "Steve Rogers? Yeah, that's me." He's struck by the pretty lady; he was never really good around those, so he just sort of stands there awkwardly with a nod. Because, he is, in fact, Steve Rogers.

WEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOW WEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOW

Suddenly a set of four squad cars pull into the parking lot. Even before they put it into park, the fuzz are on the loudspeaker.

"The sun has now set. In accordance with the city of New York, Mutant Town is now under quarantine. Please disperse immediately."

The kids groan and begin to walk home—this has been the routine over the past few days.'

"

*

Teddy just grins hugely at Steve, and looks a little bashful all at once. He almost toescuffs, though he doesn't. "Hey, no problem. Its what we do, you know? Save peop—" And then there's alarms and squad cars and Teddy turns a dark look over that way.

*

Whoa, Teddy is like best friends forever with Steve Rogers?! Billy stares at the man he came in with in wide eyed acknowledgement of the Captain America gratitudinal shoulder slap! Heck, even Wiccan is beaming and he wasn't even talked to! He knows a guy who knows ''the'' Steve Rogers. Howard Stark is there too and while ''Stark'' is familiar… Howard, less so. Billy Kaplan, not a student of history.

Thankfully, or not depending on one's point of view, the police arrive. It gives Billy something else to do besides stare up at Teddy with a stupid, entirely too enamored grin… something else like bring up an expression as if he'd been struck upon the face. "What? Wait, what?" Did they… "No… What?" ''Quarantine''? Aw-hell-nah.. Billy turns slowly towards the squad cars with his brow furrowing and his expression going very very dark.

*

Four squad cars is a bigger problem than a couple of potential interferences. Jess half turns toward the announcement, giving the cars an odd look. "Land of the free, huh?" she drawls, snorting softly. It's only then that she looks back to Howard, smiling blandly. Not convinced. Sam gets a glance and a brief smile - she's watching - but he's not the target. Rogers is the primary target. "You know, Captain, I'm a real big fan. Any chance we could take this somewhere a little more quiet?"

*

Sam doesn't even miss a beat when he feels the clap on his shoulder. "I'm adopted," he tells the unknown woman, perfectly straight-faced. He spends a good chunk of his days rolling with Howard's technical improvisation; this is just the same principle applied to conversation.

When squad cars arrive, Wilson can't entirely disguise his distaste, even if they are getting young bystanders out of what he's worried could quickly become a volatile situation. He's a lot more restrained about it than Billy and Teddy, but synchronized with their more obvious looks of disgust, his own isn't as hidden as it might otherwise be.

"C'mon, Steve. Let's get out of here," he says, sparing Jess one more disdainful glance. "I know where the higher-class girls work, if that's what you're after."

*

Steve goes a bit wide eyed as the young woman asks him to go somewhere, "Well, I, uh." His stammering goes on like this until Sam comes in to save the day. "Well, it looks like we're actually headed out. Raincheck?" But something takes his attention as he speaks with Jess. Billy and Teddy are starting to look upset, so Steve is quick to play the peace maker.

"Hey, guys," he says as he pushes towards them and reaches what he hopes will be a calming hand on their shoulders. "Not worth it. This has all gotta die down a bit. Let's not make it worse. C'Mon, I know a pizza place in the Village we gotta try."

It's not the cops fault the city is like this, and Steve doesn't want a fight to start. Gradually, as has happened all week, the grimacing crowds have been upset, but they've been peaceful. It's not clear for how much longer.

*

Howard reaches into his pocket pulling out that keyfob from earlier in one hand. His own arms falling one over the shoulder of each friend. "And if it's about alimony, trust me Steve's a boyscout, and it's not my kid even if it is." Of course that's a lie, back in the day he had to pay more then his fair share of cash out in order to support the odd illegitimate child though his death sort of ended that whole practice short. So he supposes he should try and stay out of getting back into debt.

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