Till it hurts (Steve x Reader) - Part 1

Gunfire echoed through the hallways of the HYDRA base and Steve took in a deep breath, looking at the woman that was hiding behind him: you. He clenched his fist around his shield, nodding at you. You had been over the plan numerous of times back at the Avengers Tower and while the rest of the team distracted the HYDRA agents, Steve was supposed to take you up to the control room of the base to hack into it and download any information that might help the Avengers locate the remaining HYDRA agents (and Bucky). The base was heavily secured, however, and Steve knew he had de deviate from plan.


He didn't like to leave you alone, even though he didn't have a choice. You were the computer nerd not him, but he had started to care greatly for you over the past months and he didn't dare to think about what he would do if something happened to you. 


After you had all returned form Sokovia a few weeks ago, he had even realized he was in love with you. There hadn't been a right time yet to tell you how he felt, but he had promised himself he'd tell you this weekend, when everyone had a few days off from hunting HYDRA agents.


'I'll cover you while you make a run for it,' Steve told you, pointing in the direction of the control room. 'I'll meet you back outside in five minutes.'


You nodded, looking at him seriously. You reloaded your guns and you were ready to make your way towards the control room, when Steve grabbed your arm.


'[Last Name], try not to get yourself killed...' he whispered, hoping you wouldn't put yourself in needless danger, like you always did.


You smiled, nodding again. 'There are worst things than death, Captain,' you replied, softly pulling your arm from his grasp and running towards the control room.


Steve swallowed hard and pushed himself from the wall you had been hiding behind together. He threw his shield towards HYDRA agents that were coming your way, making sure none of them got even close to you. His shield knocked them all to the ground and Steve watched you walk into the control room, locking the door behind you.


There was no going back now. Five minutes. That was all you had - all Steve had given you - but knowing you, Steve guessed that would be more than enough.


As he walked out of the base, taking out every agent he encountered,  he thought about what you had said. There were in deed things worse than death (like being locked in the ice for 70 years and waking up to realize everyone you know and love is dead), but it wasn't until months later that Steve realized what you had really meant.


Something had gone wrong inside the control room that day and you had never returned from the base. Steve had looked for you himself, together with Sam and Natasha. He had searched for weeks, but you were nowhere to be found. It almost seemed like you had vanished completely. As if you had never excisted.


Everyone lost hope you'd ever be found again, thinking you were most likely dead, and when Steve pressed the MIA (Missing in Action) stamp on your file, your [eye color] eyes staring up at him, he could but help but think he had been too late again...


TO BE CONTINUED