A Multifandom Collection of Short Stories

21: Dancing-Steve Rogers

"Say you won't let go. Just say you won't let go," you sing along to the music as you run the paint roller across the wall. You were painting your room yellow, a color you thought was pretty and bright. It was the third time you had painted your room this month. You were going through a bit of a midlife crisis and you just weren't satisfied with any of the color choices. You had cried like forty times, and you felt like crying again.
"I'll wake you up with some breakfast in bed. I'll bring you coffee with a kiss on your head." You keep singing, a small tear slipping from your eye.
"Say You Won't Let Go by James Arthur," a voice behind you says. "One of your favorites." You turn around to see Steve leaning against the doorframe.
"Steve!" You say, shocked. You quickly wipe your eyes, and put on a smile.
"And one that's been on repeat for a while, I've noticed. Are you ok?"
"I just really like this song." You sniffle.
"Come over here." Steve pulls you over to him. He puts one hand on your waist, and takes your right hand into his left hand. "Put your other hand on my shoulder." You pull away.
"I don't feel like dancing, Steve."
"Come on. You know it calms you down."
"No, I don't feel like it."
"Y/n please. Let me dance with you."
"I don't want to dance, Steve!" You shove past him and walk quickly down the hall. You knock on the door of the first room you come to.
"It's y/n," you say, kind of angrily.
"Y/n?" Tony say, opening the door. You glance down the hall at Steve standing at your door looking sad.
"Can I come in?"
"Of course. What's the matter?" You walk into Tony's room, flopping onto the bed. "Does it have anything to do with Steve standing at your door?"
"Maybe. I just feel so overwhelmed all the time. And sad. I don't know why. I feel so unsatisfied, too. I don't know what to do, Tony." You start crying and Tony sighs and comes to sit down next to you. He wraps you into his arms while you cry.
You sniffle, ending your sobs.
"You should apologize to Steve. He was just trying to help."
"I know." You sniffle again.
"Mr. Stark, Mr. Rogers asked me to tell you that him and Ms. Romanoff are going on the mission now, sir," the automated voice of JARVIS says over the intercom.
"Thank you, JARVIS," Tony says.
"Looks like I've missed my chance," you say.
"For now. Why don't you go take a relaxing bath and figure out what you're going to say to Steve?"
"Ok. That sounds nice. Thanks, Tony." You sniffle and take a deep breath.
"No problem, y/n. Anytime."
You leave Tony's room and head back to yours. A piece of paper setting on your stepladder catches your eye. You pick it up and unfold it to reveal Steve's handwriting.
Y/n,
I leaving on this mission with Natasha now. I'm sorry if I upset you. Please feel better, and I hope you'll dance with me when I get back.
Steven
You smile, and walk to the bathroom. You take a long, warm bubble bath, with candles and a glass of wine. Wanda came in to check on you after about an hour. Tony had told her what happened and asked her to check on you.
"Hey, y/n. How are you doing?" She asks.
"I'm feeling better, Wanda. I think I'll take a cold shower and then get out." Wanda leaves and you start up the shower, spending another 30 minutes washing your hair and body. Then you get out, and stand at the mirror for 15 more minutes.
There's a knock on your bathroom door.
"Steve? Is that you?" You yell.
"It's Tony. You might want to get dressed and come out here. Quickly." The urgency in Tony's voice made you worried.
"I'll be there soon." You finish dying off and get dressed into some leggings and a loose t-shirt. Tony is standing outside of your bedroom door. "What is it?"
"Just follow me."
You take the elevator down to Tony's labs. You start to get confused.
"Are Nat and Steve back yet?"
"Yes." Is all you get in reply. Your confusion deepens as Tony leads you to the infirmary.
"Is Nat ok?"
"Yes."
"Is Steve ok?" No response. His silence is the answer. Tony opens the door to a slightly chaotic situation. Natasha and Wanda are fussing about. Clint is sitting staring at the wall. Bucky stands around nervously. And then I see him.
Steve.
He's laying on the medical bed. He's grimacing and clutching his chest. Someone has already removed his suit and cut a slit in his shirt. Blood oozes from between his fingers.
"Y/n," he says when he spots me.
"Steve. What happened?" When Sam sees my worried look, he vacates the seat next to the bed and lets me sit there. I take Steve's hand in mine and Sam puts a comforting hand on my shoulder. I start to tear up at Steve's bruised face and chest. "You're gonna be okay. Everything's going to be alright."
"Y/n," Natasha says quietly. "We don't think Steve is going to make it. I'm really sorry." I put my hand over my mouth as I try to quiet the sobs. I see now the tears shining on Bucky's cheeks, as well as Sam's and Wanda's.
"You were supposed to dance with me. I'm so sorry Steve. You just wanted to dance and I pushed you away. Oh, God, Steve I'm so stupid." You cry harder and Bucky comes over and squats down next to you, a hand on your thigh. Natasha hands Steve a pad and paper. He writes something down and Bucky reads it to you.
"I'm sorry, too. I love you."
"I love you, too, Steve. I should have danced with you." Steve scribbles away again.
"Lay with me please. Bucky play that one song she likes."
You crawl up into the bed with Steve, trying not to hurt him more than he already is. You lay your head on his chest, not worried at all about the blood matting your freshly clean hair. Steve grunts and leans forward, kissing the top of your head. Suddenly Say You Won't Let Go by James Arthur plays. You close your eyes and cry. you can hear everyone leaving, giving you some alone time. They already said their goodbyes to Steve.
Steve takes a deep breath in.
"I love you."
And a deep breath out.
"I love you, too, Steve."
You keep crying when his chest doesn't rise again.
You keep crying when Sam pulls you away from Steve's body.
You keep crying for just about every night after that.
You stop crying after the funeral. You had made your peace. You missed your Stevie like hell, but you knew there was no coming back this time. You were there as he took his final breaths, as he said his final words. They still rung in your head.
"I love you."

A/N
Ahhhh i love this one. It's so sad, but i love itttttt
~V