If tomorrow never comes (Steve x Reader) Part 2

2014, New York (alternate universe) – A few months after the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Drops of melted snow continuously fell on Steve’s forehead, spreading a loud echo through his head. The wind cut through his clothing and froze him to the bone. He had no memory of what had happened, but when he opened his eyes he knew something was wrong.

    As he let his gaze pass his surroundings he saw the ruins of what had once been the Avengers Tower scattered around him. He slowly pushed himself from the ground, feeling the shattered glass and gravel underneath his palms. He swallowed hard, making his way through the debris of the tower, trying to make sense of what had happened. Sirens could be heard around him, while bright lights from helicopters above skewered the broken building and what had once been a vibrant and busy city.

    It was all gone.

    Panic overwhelmed Steve; a feeling he hadn’t had in a long time. New York had been transformed into a battlefield; into something he had only seen in his nightmares. The smell of blood and despair lingered in the air and Steve suppressed the overwhelming urge to vomit.

    Embers were still burning in the heart of the destroyed buildings around him. Screams could be heard in the distance, but Steve ignored the chilling sounds as he searched for any sign of life in the remains of the tower. He didn’t like to lose hope, but he had seen enough of war to know survivors were unlikely.

    Could all the Avengers truly be gone?

    Steve felt tears sting in his eyes. He tried to remember what had happened; to somehow make sense of the mess he was standing in. He searched in the depths of his memory, but there was nothing. Everything after he had walked out of the courtroom was one big blur.

    Steve moved through the tower carefully, climbing his way out of the large crater to look out over the city. A helicopter flew over his head, temping him to call out for help. Just as the search-light was about to hit his face, he was swept from his place. He was slammed onto the ground behind one of the remaining walls; a loud shush telling him to stay quiet. A warm hand was put over his mouth, but he was too confused to object.

    It remained silent for several more seconds; the loud sirens and bright lights slowly fading into the distance. Steve took in the form of whomever had knocked him down––and by doing so had saved his life. Baggy and torn clothing hid the curves that defined her body, but he was more than sure the rapid––but steady––heartbeat softly drumming against his chest belonged to a woman.

    She kept her eyes on the sky, seemingly counting the seconds since the helicopters had disappeared.

    ‘What the hell were you thinking?’ she asked abruptly, the anger vibrating in her voice. ‘We’ve spent months securing this area. Who gave you the authority to come out here?’ She pushed herself from him, straightening herself and looking around the corner of the half broken wall they were hiding behind.

    A baseball cap shadowed her face, but Steve couldn’t help but think her voice sounded familiar. He quickly pulled the cap from her head, making her turn around.

    ‘Hey!’ you cried out, looking up to him for the first time.

    ‘[Name]?’ Steve swallowed hard, seeing the dirt and scars that marked your face; scars that hadn’t been there before.

    ‘S-Steve?’ you mumbled, your eyes shifting over his face and filling up with tears. ‘B-But that’s impossible…’

    ‘What’s going on, [Name]? Where’s the tower?’

    ‘Y-You don’t know?’ you frowned, still overwhelmed. ‘Of course not… You weren’t there.’ You stepped closer to him, letting your trembling hand rest on his cheek. ‘I don’t understand. I watched you––’  you sighed, swallowing away your words. ‘Are you really back?’

    Steve closed his hand around yours and nodded. ‘What happened, [Name]? Where is everyone?’

    You bit down your teeth hard, seemingly thinking about what to say and whether the person before you was really Captain America; your partner and friend. You were just about to say something when a loud explosion shook the ground. In the distance one of the buildings was reduced to ashes and dust.

    ‘We need to go,’ you said instead, letting go of Steve’s face and reaching for the guns that were hidden underneath your shirt. ‘I’ll explain later. If it’s really you, they might already know we’re here.’

    ‘What are you talking about?’ Steve asked, following you as you quickly made your way to the other side of the one of the walls. ‘Who already knows we’re here?’

    ‘There’s no time to explain,’ you replied distantly, pointing one of the guns out in front of you, shining a flashlight onto the ground as you walked further. ‘We need to get you to safety; stop them from reading your DNA-pattern. Come on.’

    You jumped down several feet, landing on a small beam sticking out of the debris. You wobbled on your feet for several seconds, trying to keep your balance on the unsteady piece of metal. Once you had, you quickly ran to the other side, only turning around to gesture Steve to follow you.

    Steve took in a deep breath, hoping the beam would hold his weight. A chilling metal squeak echoed through what was left of the tower as he landed, making his heart beat violently in his chest.

    ‘Hurry!’ you yelled at him, pointing up to the sky, seeing the helicopters returning with their search-lights in the distance.

    Steve watched you as you lowered yourself down, hanging on the ledge of the beam with your fingertips and dropping yourself down. A soft thud could be heard and Steve rushed towards the end of the beam, letting his eyes shift over the ground; searching for your form.

    ‘Are you coming?’ you whispered, clicking your flashlight back on.

    Steve sighed relieved, jumping down and landing next to you. ‘Where are we going?’ he panted.

    ‘Just a little bit further.’

    You led him further through the debris, pulling away electricity wires and continuously looking up at the sky to see how fast the helicopters were approaching. Steve had no idea where you were going and absolutely no way of knowing whether he should keep following you; whether to trust you or not.

    You stopped when you reached something that resembled the tower’s old basement. Tony had stored all his cars and parts of the Iron Legion there, but as Steve looked around it was obvious none of it was there anymore. Broken mirrors and tires, and arms and legs were scattered between the debris. Whomever was responsible for this…

     They hadn’t wanted anyone to survive.

    ‘Help me with this, will you?’ you spoke again, kneeling on the ground and curling your fingers around a large piece of concrete.

    Together you lifted it from the ground, revealing a small hatch. You pulled it open easily, ready to lower yourself down and climb down the metal ladder that was attached to the sides of the tunnel underneath.

    ‘Wait,’ Steve swallowed hard. ‘I need to know what’s going on.’

    You sighed, looking up at him. ‘We don’t have time for this. If they realize you’re still alive before I get you to the doctor… You could change everything, Steve. I can’t let them get to you. Not again. Please, before––’

    ‘[Name], I can’t go with you unless you tell me what happened,’ Steve interrupted you. ‘Who’s after us?’

    ‘HYDRA,’ you said, biting down your teeth hard. ‘During their rise you––I mean I––‘ you sighed, letting the tension leave your jaw. ‘I watched you die, Steve,’ you continued. ‘We all did.’

    ‘I don’t understand,’ Steve frowned, remembering the events of that day very differently.

    ‘Me either. We didn’t just think you were dead, and with you gone we weren’t in time to stop the helicarriers from connecting,’ you swallowed hard, letting your fingers caress the scars that marked your face. ‘So many people died that day,’ you mumbled. ‘So many…’

    ‘What are you saying?’ Steve whispered, feeling his heart beat in his throat. ‘Where are the Avenger’s, [Name]?’

    ‘HYDRA succeeded, Steve. S.H.I.E.L.D is gone… They are all gone.’


TO BE CONTINUED...