Saving Steve (Steve Rogers x Reader)

*Two Days After the Funeral*

"You sure you don't want me to come with you? I'd like to give him a piece of my mind."

"No, that's okay. Stay here," you answer, giving Blair a grateful smile. 

"Fine," she grumbles as you take a deep breath and reach for the car door handle. But she reaches over and catches your arm before you can step out. "For what it's worth, I'm so sorry, Y/n," she says.

You offer a steeled smile in return. 

You spent the last two days at Blair's apartment over in Jersey, filling her in on your conversation with Steve and sleeping on her couch, giving Steve the time and space you had promised. 

And he hadn't come looking for you. 

But he called this morning. With a place and a time. And he had asked you to be here. You considered saying your goodbyes right then on the phone. But you couldn't bring yourself to deny what might very well be his last request of you. And you knew you wouldn't be able to live with the memory of such an impersonal goodbye - not after everything you've been through together. No matter how painful. So you said okay and hung up the phone. Got dressed. And got in the car. 

"Whatever happens," Blair says gently, "I'm here for you. So is Liam. You'll always have us, you know."

"I know," you answer. 

Blair lets go and offers you a nod of encouragement as you step from the car. Pulling your sweater tightly around your body and shrugging off the cold bite in the air you follow Steve's instructions down the grassy path and through the park trail until you reach a clearing. In the distance you spot the machine, and several familiar figures milling about.

The most prominent, however, is Steve. His back is to you in the distance as he speaks with Bruce behind a table covered in scientific equipment.

Your heart lurches and you stop. You take a single step back, your mind telling you to just turn around now. Don't make this any harder than it needs to be. 

"Hey Y/n!"

Your eyes dart over to Sam, who smiles and gives you a friendly wave - completely oblivious to your discomfort. Your eyes dart to Steve who has already turned upon hearing your name. His gaze meets yours, and you're taken aback by the exhaustion in his face and the deep-set lines across his brow.

"Hey Sam," you say, willing yourself forward as you walk over and accept his offered embrace.

"You all right probie? You seem a little tense," he teases, giving you a playful shove. 

"Yeah, I'm good Sam. Just ready for this to be over," you say, glancing up at Steve. "So everyone can go home. Where they belong."

Steve's brow twitches as the corners of his mouth turn down ever so slightly, but he turns his back to you as he finishes his conversation with Bruce. You return your full attention to Sam as he chats idly about this and that. But you aren't really paying attention.

Finally Steve steps from the platform away from Bruce's table and starts giving his goodbyes, finally making his way over to you and Sam.

"I'll see ya in a minute man. Be careful out there," Sam laughs, clapping Steve on the back as the ambles over to Bruce, leaving you with your super soldier.

You watch Sam retreat, fighting the urge to look up into Steve's eyes. You can feel them watching you, their gaze heavy. It takes every fiber of your control not to simply throw yourself in his arms and beg him to stay. Plead with him to come back to you. To simply return the stones and come home.