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Description
The fact that every battle you had fought led to this point terrified you. Yet, if you were to go back in time knowing this, you know that you'd fight same as you did back then. You didn't need to be reminded how many terrible things and people you had fought off to save lives; they woke you from your sleep in a cold sweat nearly every night. However, this was the most horrifying battle you had ever faced. It was like the boss in a video game you played when you were a child, except this was real and had much more permanent outcomes. You hold your breath for a split second before every punch, kick, and throw you made. You didn't need to see through time to tell that this was the end for some of you.

Thanos came to kill, and that was clear. There was no stopping him until he was dead, and that alone made your heart stop. There was constantly the pondering thought of if you could really do this in the back of your mind. Everything was chaos. You could hear the others fighting for their own lives, and everyone else's. You didn't want to know who you had already lost. You shoot a hole in the head of you attacker before sending your elbow in the neck area of the next one. The onslaught seemed never ending as one came after the other.

Suddenly, you were thrown to the ground. Cornered between rubble from the battle and the soldier in front of you, you scramble for a weapon. However, before you could, a familiar shield is pushed through your assailant. You look at your savior as the soldier falls. Captain America stands in front of you. You heave a breath to make up for the wind knocked out of you.

"I had him on the ropes," you joke dryly with a shrug. He shoots you a small grin at the all too familiar words.

"I know you did."

And with that, he was back into battle. You force your sore body up, picking up your dropped gun. Checking how many more bullets were left in it, you shrug at the small amount and begin shooting again. You had more than just that gun. Though you were caught up in battle, you still take the time to check how Steve was doing. Turning to him, time seemed to freeze.

He wasn't there.

Panic built up in you as you attempt to fight and search for him. Finally, out of the corner of your gaze, you see his shield. You sprint over to it, fighting as you go. Ignoring everything else going on around you, you find his face. He was laying on the ground, eyes closed, face caked in grime and sweat. But what stuck out most to you was the large amount of blood staining his uniform. You fall to your knees next to his still body. Suddenly, all air had left your lungs and your body felt limp. You could feel your mind hazing as if it were all fake. Tears flood to your eyes, but you refuse to let them fall just yet, not believing what was in front of you.

"Steve," you call out in a clear, calm voice. Not so much as a stir came from him. You call out his name again, voice slightly more panicked this time. No, you think, he's just unconscious. Steve Rogers would never die, not when there's still a fight to be fought. One of your shaky hands go to check his pulse while the other cups his head.

"Please, Steve," you beg. You feel nothing. Not a single beat.

"Please," you croak with a crack of your weak voice. It can't be. You set your jaw, trying to hold in sobs as you stare at him. One thing rang out in your mind. It felt like it got louder every time it repeated by the second. Soon, it was screaming through your head.

Steve Rogers is dead.

A dam broke within you. A sob racks through your body as you bow your head over him. You cradle him gently, pulling him closer to you. You didn't want him dead, you need him breathing. You need him with you. Nearly every part of you wants to lie next to him and give up then and there, but you couldn't. You had a war to fight. You had a war to win. Steve Rogers, your Steve Rogers, was not dying for a lost cause. You choke back what was left of your cries, tears still on your cheeks.

"I'll come back for you," you promise with a whisper. Without thinking, you pick up his shield. A piece of you had you find the strength to rise. A piece of you made you want to keep fighting. And that piece was the girl who loved Steve Rogers, the girl Steve Rogers loved too.

*~*~*

You sluggishly walk into the bunker-like area for the Avengers. A few people were there. Natasha, Tony, Clint, Bucky, and Stephen. They seemed to be talking over a battle plan, seeing that fighting without a plan wasn't working. They only glance up to see who had entered, not noticing your state. However, Natasha picked something up and looked back at you. Noticing the shield in your had, Natasha shoots a worried look.

"(Y/N)... where's Steve?" she asks quietly. At this question, the others look at your zombie-like posture on the other side of the room. You look up from your downcast gaze, eyes meeting hers. As your eyes glaze over, you give a bittersweet laugh with a weak shake of your head. With that, the room became even more solemn.

"Oh my God," she whispers, hand covering her mouth. Your eyes slide back to the floor as you gasped to conceal a sob, hand shooting over your mouth. Quietly, she makes her way over to you. The others avert their eyes, not knowing what to do besides give you some time. As she wraps her arms around you, she whispers words of comfort and promises of alright-ness. Maybe she meant to console you, but this only unwound you more as you sob into her emptily.

*~*~*

"You don't have to do this," Tony states, hand on your shoulder. He was referring to fighting. He knew how broken you were over the loss of Steve. As a father-figure, he realized you were hardly holding together. He couldn't remember the last time you had been genuinely happy. You meet his troubled eyes, and force a smile to your face. You try to fill it with as much sincerity as possible in the small smile, but you could feel how obvious the lie was.

"I want to," you reassure, "This is my fight too." He nods, but still studies your face. Brushing him off, you turn towards the exit. You take a deep breath in your new uniform. A white star emblem in the center contrasted to the blue fabric. Raising your head, you walk towards the door.

"Well," you state as the door begins to open, "Let's win this war." A dark look settles on your face as you march into battle, others following behind you. Some of them stare at you in awe. This team wasn't going anywhere without a Captain America, and if it wasn't Steve, it was going to be you.

*~*~*

You were so close to the battle ending, yet you weren't going to make it there. Not Thanos, but not one of his everyday soldiers had you. He easily overpowered you, trapping you between ruble left of fallen buildings. You were going to die. There was no doubt. You didn't have a Steve Rogers to come to the rescue this time. You dully note the sound of a bomb going off a ways away as you try to gather the strength to get off the ground. The soldier stood in front of your tired body, legs broken to avoid you fighting back. He grinned maliciously at you, as if you were a meal. The fact that you had done what you could gave you a little comfort in your death.

"Any last words?" he asks tauntingly. He stares at you as you try to find the breath to make words. You were covered in dirt, sweat, and blood. This was your end. You heave a breath as you stare up at him. As you open your mouth to reply, blood trickles down your chin.

"Yes," you declare. You wonder if the solidity of your voice surprised him as much as you. If it did, it wasn't obvious. He prepares his sword at your throat, barely nicking your skin. You glare at him, raising your gun.

"Burn in hell," you growl, pulling the trigger. The second he sees the gun, he pushes the sword through your throat before falling to the ground heavily. You could feel your blood choking and suffocating you for a few seconds. You fell forwards, knowing you had done your job.

You better be there to greet me at the gates, Stevie.

You felt the most comfortable you've been in a while. You shift as your eyes flutter open. Why did everything look familiar? Your eyebrows furrow in confusion, blinking slowly to clear your fogginess. Suddenly, you shoot up. You look around disbelievingly. This was your room in the Avengers Tower. Slowly, as if it could all disappear with to swift a movement, you rise from your bed. Shakily, you make your way to open the door, closing it behind you. You're met with a familiar hallway. You gently glide your hand on the wall as you walk down the corridor. You make your way to the elevator without even realizing. It felt like your body knew what to do as it went into autopilot. A soft ding sounds as the door slide open. You're met with a sight you didn't think you'd ever see again.

There they were. All of them. You did a head count, again and again and again, not believing what you saw. Tony, Thor, Clint, Natasha, Bruce, Wanda, Vision, and... Steve. They were all there... right in front of you. Clint and Natasha sipping coffee watching TV on the sofa. Thor munching on poptarts at the counter. Bruce trying to concentrate on the book he was reading over Thor's chewing. Tony tiredly trying to wake up. Wanda and Vision talking to each other as they eat breakfast. Steve preparing a bowl of cereal after his morning run. It was a scene you were all too familiar with. Something you would see day after day. And you couldn't want to see it more.

A tear falls down your face as the corners of your lips twitch, eventually growing into a wide smile. A laugh bubbles in you, at first quiet, but growing loud enough for the others to hear. Steve turns his head to the sound, finding you standing in front of the elevator. He smiles a bit at the sight of you, wondering why you were laughing. You couldn't fight the laugh of pure joy, but soon you hiccuped into a sob. This immediately grabbed everyone's attention. They rush towards you as you start crying in, what they didn't realize as happiness.

"(Y/N), are you okay?"

"What's wrong?"

"Why are you crying?" are chorused in worried tones. You shake your head, grin easily finding its way onto your face.

"Nothing! I'm fine, really. I really am," you breathe genuinely, looking at them with glistening, happy eyes. Their concerned looks don't leave.

"(Y/N), are you sure you're okay? You just started crying," Steve asks, hand on your shoulder. You grin up at him, happiest you've ever been.

"I said I'm fine! I really am! I'm- I'm great!" you nod. Steve shoots everyone else a look that dismisses them. They mumble some sweet things, sometimes patting your shoulder as they leave. Steve still stands in front of you. He cups your face gently, brushing away tears and stray hairs. His eyes burn into your own.

"Did you have a nightmare or something?" he asks you. You trail away from his gaze in thought. Flashes of every terrible thing that had happened flood into your mind. A weak smile finds its way onto your face, eyebrows scrunching slightly.

"Yeah... Something like that," you answer quietly. He sighs, pulling you into a gentle hug. You rest your head on his shoulder, contemplating what had happened. Shaking it off and deciding to think about it later you wrap your arms around him, burrowing your face into his neck with a smile.

Description
The fact that every battle you had fought led to this point terrified you. Yet, if you were to go back in time knowing this, you know that you'd fight same as you did back then. You didn't need to be reminded how many terrible things and people you had fought off to save lives; they woke you from your sleep in a cold sweat nearly every night. However, this was the most horrifying battle you had ever faced. It was like the boss in a video game you played when you were a child, except this was real and had much more permanent outcomes. You hold your breath for a split second before every punch, kick, and throw you made. You didn't need to see through time to tell that this was the end for some of you.

Thanos came to kill, and that was clear. There was no stopping him until he was dead, and that alone made your heart stop. There was constantly the pondering thought of if you could really do this in the back of your mind. Everything was chaos. You could hear the others fighting for their own lives, and everyone else's. You didn't want to know who you had already lost. You shoot a hole in the head of you attacker before sending your elbow in the neck area of the next one. The onslaught seemed never ending as one came after the other.

Suddenly, you were thrown to the ground. Cornered between rubble from the battle and the soldier in front of you, you scramble for a weapon. However, before you could, a familiar shield is pushed through your assailant. You look at your savior as the soldier falls. Captain America stands in front of you. You heave a breath to make up for the wind knocked out of you.

"I had him on the ropes," you joke dryly with a shrug. He shoots you a small grin at the all too familiar words.

"I know you did."

And with that, he was back into battle. You force your sore body up, picking up your dropped gun. Checking how many more bullets were left in it, you shrug at the small amount and begin shooting again. You had more than just that gun. Though you were caught up in battle, you still take the time to check how Steve was doing. Turning to him, time seemed to freeze.

He wasn't there.

Panic built up in you as you attempt to fight and search for him. Finally, out of the corner of your gaze, you see his shield. You sprint over to it, fighting as you go. Ignoring everything else going on around you, you find his face. He was laying on the ground, eyes closed, face caked in grime and sweat. But what stuck out most to you was the large amount of blood staining his uniform. You fall to your knees next to his still body. Suddenly, all air had left your lungs and your body felt limp. You could feel your mind hazing as if it were all fake. Tears flood to your eyes, but you refuse to let them fall just yet, not believing what was in front of you.

"Steve," you call out in a clear, calm voice. Not so much as a stir came from him. You call out his name again, voice slightly more panicked this time. No, you think, he's just unconscious. Steve Rogers would never die, not when there's still a fight to be fought. One of your shaky hands go to check his pulse while the other cups his head.

"Please, Steve," you beg. You feel nothing. Not a single beat.

"Please," you croak with a crack of your weak voice. It can't be. You set your jaw, trying to hold in sobs as you stare at him. One thing rang out in your mind. It felt like it got louder every time it repeated by the second. Soon, it was screaming through your head.

Steve Rogers is dead.

A dam broke within you. A sob racks through your body as you bow your head over him. You cradle him gently, pulling him closer to you. You didn't want him dead, you need him breathing. You need him with you. Nearly every part of you wants to lie next to him and give up then and there, but you couldn't. You had a war to fight. You had a war to win. Steve Rogers, your Steve Rogers, was not dying for a lost cause. You choke back what was left of your cries, tears still on your cheeks.

"I'll come back for you," you promise with a whisper. Without thinking, you pick up his shield. A piece of you had you find the strength to rise. A piece of you made you want to keep fighting. And that piece was the girl who loved Steve Rogers, the girl Steve Rogers loved too.

*~*~*

You sluggishly walk into the bunker-like area for the Avengers. A few people were there. Natasha, Tony, Clint, Bucky, and Stephen. They seemed to be talking over a battle plan, seeing that fighting without a plan wasn't working. They only glance up to see who had entered, not noticing your state. However, Natasha picked something up and looked back at you. Noticing the shield in your had, Natasha shoots a worried look.

"(Y/N)... where's Steve?" she asks quietly. At this question, the others look at your zombie-like posture on the other side of the room. You look up from your downcast gaze, eyes meeting hers. As your eyes glaze over, you give a bittersweet laugh with a weak shake of your head. With that, the room became even more solemn.

"Oh my God," she whispers, hand covering her mouth. Your eyes slide back to the floor as you gasped to conceal a sob, hand shooting over your mouth. Quietly, she makes her way over to you. The others avert their eyes, not knowing what to do besides give you some time. As she wraps her arms around you, she whispers words of comfort and promises of alright-ness. Maybe she meant to console you, but this only unwound you more as you sob into her emptily.

*~*~*

"You don't have to do this," Tony states, hand on your shoulder. He was referring to fighting. He knew how broken you were over the loss of Steve. As a father-figure, he realized you were hardly holding together. He couldn't remember the last time you had been genuinely happy. You meet his troubled eyes, and force a smile to your face. You try to fill it with as much sincerity as possible in the small smile, but you could feel how obvious the lie was.

"I want to," you reassure, "This is my fight too." He nods, but still studies your face. Brushing him off, you turn towards the exit. You take a deep breath in your new uniform. A white star emblem in the center contrasted to the blue fabric. Raising your head, you walk towards the door.

"Well," you state as the door begins to open, "Let's win this war." A dark look settles on your face as you march into battle, others following behind you. Some of them stare at you in awe. This team wasn't going anywhere without a Captain America, and if it wasn't Steve, it was going to be you.

*~*~*

You were so close to the battle ending, yet you weren't going to make it there. Not Thanos, but not one of his everyday soldiers had you. He easily overpowered you, trapping you between ruble left of fallen buildings. You were going to die. There was no doubt. You didn't have a Steve Rogers to come to the rescue this time. You dully note the sound of a bomb going off a ways away as you try to gather the strength to get off the ground. The soldier stood in front of your tired body, legs broken to avoid you fighting back. He grinned maliciously at you, as if you were a meal. The fact that you had done what you could gave you a little comfort in your death.

"Any last words?" he asks tauntingly. He stares at you as you try to find the breath to make words. You were covered in dirt, sweat, and blood. This was your end. You heave a breath as you stare up at him. As you open your mouth to reply, blood trickles down your chin.

"Yes," you declare. You wonder if the solidity of your voice surprised him as much as you. If it did, it wasn't obvious. He prepares his sword at your throat, barely nicking your skin. You glare at him, raising your gun.

"Burn in hell," you growl, pulling the trigger. The second he sees the gun, he pushes the sword through your throat before falling to the ground heavily. You could feel your blood choking and suffocating you for a few seconds. You fell forwards, knowing you had done your job.

You better be there to greet me at the gates, Stevie.

You felt the most comfortable you've been in a while. You shift as your eyes flutter open. Why did everything look familiar? Your eyebrows furrow in confusion, blinking slowly to clear your fogginess. Suddenly, you shoot up. You look around disbelievingly. This was your room in the Avengers Tower. Slowly, as if it could all disappear with to swift a movement, you rise from your bed. Shakily, you make your way to open the door, closing it behind you. You're met with a familiar hallway. You gently glide your hand on the wall as you walk down the corridor. You make your way to the elevator without even realizing. It felt like your body knew what to do as it went into autopilot. A soft ding sounds as the door slide open. You're met with a sight you didn't think you'd ever see again.

There they were. All of them. You did a head count, again and again and again, not believing what you saw. Tony, Thor, Clint, Natasha, Bruce, Wanda, Vision, and... Steve. They were all there... right in front of you. Clint and Natasha sipping coffee watching TV on the sofa. Thor munching on poptarts at the counter. Bruce trying to concentrate on the book he was reading over Thor's chewing. Tony tiredly trying to wake up. Wanda and Vision talking to each other as they eat breakfast. Steve preparing a bowl of cereal after his morning run. It was a scene you were all too familiar with. Something you would see day after day. And you couldn't want to see it more.

A tear falls down your face as the corners of your lips twitch, eventually growing into a wide smile. A laugh bubbles in you, at first quiet, but growing loud enough for the others to hear. Steve turns his head to the sound, finding you standing in front of the elevator. He smiles a bit at the sight of you, wondering why you were laughing. You couldn't fight the laugh of pure joy, but soon you hiccuped into a sob. This immediately grabbed everyone's attention. They rush towards you as you start crying in, what they didn't realize as happiness.

"(Y/N), are you okay?"

"What's wrong?"

"Why are you crying?" are chorused in worried tones. You shake your head, grin easily finding its way onto your face.

"Nothing! I'm fine, really. I really am," you breathe genuinely, looking at them with glistening, happy eyes. Their concerned looks don't leave.

"(Y/N), are you sure you're okay? You just started crying," Steve asks, hand on your shoulder. You grin up at him, happiest you've ever been.

"I said I'm fine! I really am! I'm- I'm great!" you nod. Steve shoots everyone else a look that dismisses them. They mumble some sweet things, sometimes patting your shoulder as they leave. Steve still stands in front of you. He cups your face gently, brushing away tears and stray hairs. His eyes burn into your own.

"Did you have a nightmare or something?" he asks you. You trail away from his gaze in thought. Flashes of every terrible thing that had happened flood into your mind. A weak smile finds its way onto your face, eyebrows scrunching slightly.

"Yeah... Something like that," you answer quietly. He sighs, pulling you into a gentle hug. You rest your head on his shoulder, contemplating what had happened. Shaking it off and deciding to think about it later you wrap your arms around him, burrowing your face into his neck with a smile.