Back in time (Steve x Reader) Chapter 6

A few weeks had gone by without any luck finding the last HYDRA base. You were trying desperately to remember where it was, but you couldn’t recall having seen it somewhere in the old S.H.I.E.L.D. files. You helped Steve and his team gather as much information as you could and for the first time in the months you had been here already, you started to feel part of the team.

Steve had put aside his grief for Bucky and had focused all of his attention on finding Schmidt. You had seen him every night at that same bar, talking to him about everything he wanted to talk about. You now knew everything there possibly was to know about Bucky and probably also about Steve. It hurt you to know so much however, because the more you got to know him, the more you started to like him. But every time he looked at Peggy, you knew his heart belonged to her. Of course it did. It always would…

You had also told him as much about yourself as possible. You had changed some of the details to make it believable in the time you were in, but he still seemed to believe you. You started to realize how lucky you were that he did. If he hadn’t trusted you from the start, things would have been a lot differently. You would probably still be in that cell, being interrogated by the colonel. The thought alone send shivers down your spine.

You were now walking towards the big hall, where colonel Phillips was waiting for everyone. Apparently doctor Zola had started talking and had told the colonel where the last HYDRA base was. Almost everyone was already seated, but Steve saved a seat especially for you, like he had done every time, and you nodded gratefully as you took your seat as well.

‘Johan Schmidt belongs in a bughouse,’ the colonel started once everyone was seated or had taken his or her position somewhere in the room. ‘He thinks he’s a god and he’s willing to blow up half the world to prove it. Starting with the US.’

The colonel pointed at the world map behind him, just as Howard walked into the room, taking the seat on the other side of Steve.

‘Schmidt is working with powers beyond our capabilities,’ he said, looking around the table, at which all the Howling Commandos – including you – were seated. ‘If he gets across the Atlantic he will wipe out the entire Eastern seaboard in an hour.’

You looked at the files that were in front of you, depicting the HYDRA weapons from the train Howard had analyzed. You knew their power came from the Tesseract and that they were extremely dangerous, just like the bomb that was in the files you needed to destroy.

‘How much time we got,’ Gabe asked to colonel, when no one appeared to respond to what Howard had just said.

‘According to my new best friend: under 24 hours,’ the colonel replied, also looking at the files Howard had brought with him.

‘Where is he now?’ you asked, trying to remember if there were any important things you needed to know before joining them on this mission. The colonel had been very clear. If you did this final mission: he would give you anything you wanted. Including doctor Erskine’s file.

‘HYDRA’s last base is here,’ the colonel spoke to everyone, pointing at a picture of mountains covered in snow. ‘In the Alps, 500 feet below the surface.’

The colonel threw the pictures on the table so that everyone could have a look at the information that had been gathered. You nodded, suddenly remembering to have read something about the surprise attack they had planned to gain the advantage over Schmidt’s indestructible weapons.

‘So what are we supposed to do?’ Jim said, looking at the pictures ‘It’s not like we can just knock on the front door…’

‘Why not?’ Steve replied.

Everyone turned their heads to Steve, wondering if he had gone completely mad.

‘That’s exactly what we’re gonna do,’ he added, looking at everyone seriously.

‘It will be the last thing they expect,’ you continued, backing Steve. ‘Schmidt thinks he’s smarter than us. Better. But that’s also his weak spot. We can take advantage of that.’

Steve nodded. ‘We need to make him think he has already won. We need to let him think he has me. That’s what he wants…’

‘So what then?’ Peggy objected. ‘You’ll just ride into the base on your motorcycle? Alone?’

‘Not alone,’ you said, offering Steve the help you knew no one would, but he desperately needed.

A small smile curled Steve’s lips as he looked at you for a few seconds.

‘So Schmidt captures you,’ Jim said, trying to make the plan clear for everyone. ‘The both of you, but then what? It’s not like we can come crashing through the windows... Right?’

It was awfully quiet for a few seconds, until a loud laugh welled from the colonel’s throat. ‘I’m guessing that’s exactly what you are going to do.’

You smiled, looking around the table, seeing how divided they all were about the plan.

‘Let’s just do it,’ James suddenly spoke, ending the discussions that were going back and forth among everyone. ‘We’ve only got one shot. Let’s make the most of it!’

Everyone nodded, returning their gazes to Steve, waiting for him to take the word again and tell them what to do.

‘Okay, so this is the plan…’ Steve started.


***** SEVERAL HOURS LATER *****

You were pulling yourself into the tight suit you had gotten weeks  before and you clicked the guns you had gotten from Howard on your belt. The plan was very simple. You and Steve had to make sure you were caught by the HYDRA agents, killing as many as possible in the process. Once you had Schmidt where you wanted him, the rest of the Howling Commandos would come crashing through the windows for a surprise attack, giving the other members of the S.S.R. enough time to overpower the HYDRA agents outside, without alerting all the other agents inside.

Even though you had been on missions like this before, you couldn’t stop your hands from shaking. Somehow this was more important. You would be part of history now. Your actions would contribute to everything that would happen in the future. Your future. The lives of the Avengers were in your hands. That made it all the more scary.

When you were almost ready, there was a knock on the door. You quickly zipped your suit shut and called the person in. A blond head of hair appeared in the door opening and you smiled, seeing Steve walk through the door.

‘Can I come in?’ he asked, sounding nervous.

‘Peggy’s not here, if you’re looking for her.’

‘I came for you…’ he swallowed hard.

‘Oh,’ you responded, gesturing he should walk further into the room. ‘Something wrong?’

‘No, no…’ he shook his head. ‘Not at all. I-I just... I wanted to thank you for everything. I don’t think I could have done this without you.’

‘You haven’t done anything yet, Steve,’ you frowned. ‘Besides, I…’

‘That’s not what I meant,’ he interrupted you, stepping closer. ‘What I mean is that I’ve come to care a lot about you these past weeks and I wanted you to know that before we leave.’

You felt the heat rise to your cheeks as he took another step closer to you. A small smile curled his lips and he looked at you like he had looked at Peggy just several weeks ago. You felt your stomach turn. No, this wasn’t supposed to happen. Even though your heart screamed of joy, knowing he was confessing his new find feelings for you, you knew it was wrong. He was supposed to love Peggy.

‘I was wondering…’ Steve continued. ‘After all of this is over, maybe we could…’

‘Shush,’ you said quickly, pressing your finger against his lips. You wanted to give in to that moment so badly, let him finish his sentence, but you knew you couldn’t. It would change everything. ‘No,’ you mumbled. ‘We can’t do this…’

‘What do you mean?’ Steve asked, sounding disappointed. ‘I didn’t even ask anything yet..’

‘I know, but this,’ you pointed at the both of you, feeling your hands shake, ‘you and me… It can’t happen. Not here. Not now.’

Steve nodded, saying he understood, but you could tell from his face that he was extremely disappointed and in fact didn’t understand at all. He turned away from you and walked back out of the door, letting you alone to think about what had just happened. You understood as much as he did. Only a few weeks ago, after Bucky’s death, he had told you he saw you as a friend. And now, he was saying he saw you as much more than that. Deep down you couldn’t be happier, but you didn’t know what this would mean for the future. You already regretted sending him away, but one day he would understand and you hoped that he would forgive you then, knowing you didn’t have a choice.

‘Steve?’ you asked, just before he disappeared. ‘What about Peggy?’

He sighed, turning his gaze back up at you.  ‘She’s not you…’




TO BE CONTINUED...