Uploaded to Tumblr and forgot to upload here. So sure it's a little late, but enjoy. It's short and unedited because I wrote it quickly while watching fireworks.

The red and gold ones are Tony's favorite. "Narcissist," Steve whispers into his temple, but his tone is fond as he tugs him closer.

Natasha likes the stealthy ones - the ones that sneak up into the air unseen and then suddenly burst into colorful light and make the audience jump. She and Clint have started a tally of who startles the most, the terms stating that the loser must do whatever the winner wants for a whole day. Natasha is winning.

(Clint doesn't care. He likes the white fireworks the best, that light up the night and shimmer in Natasha's eyes. Sometimes he gets so caught up in watching those that the stealthy fireworks make him jump.)

It doesn't surprise anyone that Thor falls in love with the fireworks immediately. The louder the better in his opinion; he answers them with a booming laugh, rivaling the explosions in volume. Jane rolls her eyes; she pretends to cover her ears with her hands to protect them, but cuddles closer to Thor anyway.

("Keep it PG, guys," Darcy warns, poking her friend in the side. When Jane kicks her in the shin, she huffs like the drama-queen she is, picks up her lawn chair, and moves over to sit beside Bruce.)

Bruce likes all of them. Except the green ones. And the big green ones. And especially not the big, loud green ones. He flinches away from them, grips his pants at the knee, and tries to play it off. Darcy leans into him to whisper in his ear. "I like the green ones the best. It's my favorite color."

And then she smiles right at him, so he really can't do anything but nod in reply and say, "Mine too."

Tony makes faces at Pepper over Steve's shoulder; she tries not to look as amused by it as she is, but a small smile breaks free anyway. The sky bursts into color up above them, and Happy catches Pepper's attention. "I think the red ones are beautiful," he says, smiling at her. "They remind me of your hair." It's hard to tell if Pepper's face is red because of the fireworks filling the sky or from a blush. Tony gives Happy a thumbs up when Pepper's not looking.

Steve likes them all. Fireworks haven't changed much since 1940. Still bright, still loud, still on the fourth of July, and it's a bit of a relief to see something so familiar. He used to watch the fireworks with Bucky, laid out on a blanket covered in patches.

But mostly Steve likes to look around and see them all there, seated in lawn chairs and stretched out on blankets - Clint and Natasha with hands knotted together, Thor's big arms wrapped tight around Jane's waist, Darcy whispering secrets into Bruce's ear, Happy and Pepper smiling at one another, and Tony at his side with his head on Steve's shoulder.