Avengers: Reader Inserts

The Promise ~ Steve Rogers x Reader

Word Count: 1,140ish

Summary: You know Steve very well after having dated for many years. So you're pretty sure you know that he's planning on staying back with Peggy.

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You and Steve had been dating since just after the Battle of New York. You two had survived everything the universe threw at you, together. The fall of SHIELD, Ultron, the Accords, and now Thanos.

While the two of you were on the run after the Accords, Steve had proposed. He promised you a better life after all the dust had settled. But it never did. Thanos came and wiped half the population off the earth- out of the universe. It changed the both of you. Though the two of you still relied on each other for support, Steve also seemed to be separate. Taking on all the blame for what had happened to all those people.

You were by his side when the team traveled back in time to retrieve the Stones. You were even there when they went back to 1970 and Steve saw Peggy. You watched as he stared at her with a sadness and longing that you had never seen from him before. A piece of your heart cracked at the sight, but you moved the ring around your finger, reminding you of the promise he had made to you.

When you arrived back at the compound only to find that Natasha had been lost, Steve wouldn't comfort you nor would he let you him. It hurt you, but once again you reminded yourself, using the ring, of the promise he had made. He was going through something too. He just needed some time and space, at least that was what the both of you were telling yourselves.

When Thanos attacked the compound, Steve made sure that you were never out of sight, just as you did him. With tears rolling down his dirty cheeks, he watched you crumble in on yourself as Tony took his last breath.

After you two had finally gone home after the long and grueling battle, Steve was still attacking distant. As the two of you laid in bed, there seemed to be a canyon in between you. Taking a shakily breath, you moved over and curled up in his side. Steve tensed and began to move slightly. You feared that he was moving away from you.

"Please..." you whimpered. "Don't go... I need you..."

His arm wrapped around you and pulled you so that you were laying on his chest. "I know..." he replied softly, pressing a kiss to your head. "I know..."

You found out a few days later, that Steve had volunteered to return the Stones. You immediately wanted to join him.

"No," Steve responded, authoritatively. "This is something that I have to do myself."

"Why?" You asked, the two of you getting ready for bed. "Why do you have to do this by yourself?"

"I just do, Y/N. Okay. You wouldn't understand."

"Then talk to me! I want to understand, help me to understand."

"I... I... There's just something I have to do."

"And that is?"

"Just something."

"Just something?! Steve! You're acting like you're cheating on me. You are-" Then it hit you. You should have known the moment you saw Steve notice Peggy. "You're going back to her." You stepped back. "You... I thought..."

"Y/N." Steve stepped forward, reaching out for you. "It's not-"

"It's not what I think it is? Is that what you were going to say?!" You scoffed. "I should have seen this coming. You've been acting distant and I thought you just needed some time. But you don't." You shook your head. "I can't stay in this room knowing that you're just here to keep me company until you left me for good."

You rushed past Steve towards the door, only to be stopped by his hand on your arm before you exited.

"Please stay and hear me out," he pled.

"No," you replied. "I'm not wasting another second on you. You promised me a life. We've been together for 11 years, Steve, that's how long I've wanted for a life with you. Willingly waited for you to be ready for one as well. You can't go back and think that Peggy was sitting there waiting for you. She got married and kids, moved on. You should have too." You ripped your arm from his grip and ran to your car.

Only Bucky knew about the fight the two of you had had. That is why he was just as surprised as Steve to see you waiting in the trees the day Steve was to take the Stones back. You were honestly just as surprised yourself. You were still incredibly angry at him, but... deep inside.... There was a bit of hope that he would come back. That he did love you as much as he had always told you.

After hugging Bucky, Steve went to head towards you. But the moment he took a step in your direction, you took multiple steps back. It hurt him to see you so defensive. But he understood. So he mouthed an 'I love you' before turning and heading onto the platform.

Bucky and you weren't freaking out like Sam and Bruce were when Steve didn't come back when he should have. Bucky turned to see you sitting at the bottom of a tree, crying into your knees. He began heading over to you when the sound of the machine whirling spun him back around. You didn't notice because you were too inside your own head to.

"Punk," Bucky smiled up at Steve, who was frantically looking around.

"Where's Y/N?" Steve asked in his rush down the machine's steps. "Did-"

"Y/N's right there." Bucky pointed to you in the tree line. "Hasn't stopped crying. Better hurry before you lose your chance."

"Right." Steve nodded, hurrying towards you. He crotched down and gently rested a hand on your knee. You jerked it away.

"I don't want comfort right now, Buck. I just want to cry," you said, lifting your head up. "Can you just- Steve?" Your heart stopped. "Y-you're here?"

"Of course. I was never planning on leaving you."

"But... Peggy. You-"

"I needed to fulfill the dance I promised her. Nothing more than that... I promised you a better life and I'm planning on keeping that promise as well. That's why I had to make another stop." He reached inside his pocket and pulled something out. "I had to get this." He opened his palm to reveal a simple gold ring. "This ring has been passed down in my family. I want it to keep doing so."

"Oh, Steve..."

"Please forgive me for the distance. I was just nervous that I'd tell you about the ring and I wanted it to be a surprise. A new beginning for us after everything we've been through. So, Y/N L/N, will you marry me once and for all?"