Afterglow- Steve Rogers

Part 5

The time heist, the team had come up with the perfect plan to collect the time stones. It almost seemed too easy. Oh how wrong they were.

Steve and Tony now had to head back to the 40s with 2012 Loki now off with the tesseract.

"We'll meet you back at the compound" Steve said.

Bruce and Scott nodded pressing the button on their gloves shrinking down before dissapearing.

"Ready?" Tony asked.

He turned his head to look at the captain. Steve took in a deep breath and nodded catching Tony's gaze.

As soon as they arrived in the 40s they quickly got dressed to fit the era, Steve couldn't help but feel nostalgic.

"I bet your loving this all the old timey fashion" Tony whispered teasing Steve as they got into the elevator.

"We have a mission to complete" Steve said straightening his posture.

Tony rolled his eyes and pressed two buttons on the elevator.

"We'll split up, meet back up at the top in ten minutes. Tell me through comms if you find anything" Steve ordered.

Tony gave the Captain a crooked smile before handing him a mock salute, the blonde simply shook his head and got out when the elevator stopped.

Steve wandered through the hallways of the SHIELD base and he couldn't help but wonder what would've happened if he hadn't gone into the ice that day.

He would be here, working for shield. Maybe it was for the best. Maybe deep down he wishes he could return but he never let his mind dwell on it for too long.

That was until he heard a familiar voice coming from an office. Steve's eyes widened and he turned to face the glass window infront of him, the blinds only slightly apart, restricting his view.

But nevertheless the less he could see her. Peggy. He stood there speechless, he never thought he would see her again.

I could stay here, Steve thought. End the fighting, live my life where I was meant to be.

But he wouldn't be happy.

"Goodbye Peggy" He whispered to himself walking off.

He couldn't stay here, it's not truly where he desires to be. Where he is truly meant to be is home. And Y/n was his home.

"I found it Cap" Tony spoke through the comms.

"I'll meet you up top" Steve replied rushing back to the elevator.

When Steve first arrived back in the forties apart of him didn't want to leave he relished the feeling of nostalgia, the familiarity of it all. The simplicity.

But as soon as the mission was complete, Steve no longer wanted to stay. He knew that now he had a chance. A chance to have his real home back.

His home isn't a place, or a point in time. It was a person and that person was Y/n. Steve never felt like he fit in, felt at home but he grew to realize that home was never a place it was a person and once her found Y/n he felt more at home than ever.

Steve walked up to Tony who held a briefcase underneath his arm. He gave Tony a nod and they both briskly left the shield base. As soon as they were away from everyone Tony opened up the suitcase revealing the tesseract.

"We got it?" Tony said with a smile.

"I'm ready to go home" Steve said.

Tony was slightly confused at the Soldier but nodded. They both pressed the button on their gloves and seconds later they arrived back at the compound.

Bruce was standing at the computer, Steve getting a slight fright still not used to Bruce's new look.

"We got it Bruce" Tony said in a sing song tone slamming the tesseract on the table.

"Be careful with it Tony" Steve chastised.

Tony scoffed waving off Steve's concerns.

They heard a woosh of wind behind them and the trio spun around. Clint stood there with the soul stone tightly in his hand. His face was pale and his expression was lifeless. His eyes were bloodshot and puffy.

Natasha... she wasn't there.

"Clint, where's Nat?" Steve asked, his voice laced with sadness.

Clint bit his bottom lip which was quivering as the archer tried to hold back his tears. Clint dropped to the ground his body wracking with sobs and the soul stone slipped out of his hand sliding across the floor.

Tony rushed to Clint's side comforting him wrapping his arms around the man.

Steve and Bruce stood there shocked. Natasha was gone. It almost didn't make sense. This wasn't meant to happen. They weren't meant to lose anyone else.

"Fuck" Steve shouted tears streaming down his face as his hand slammed on the table.

No one even flinched, knowing the outburst was coming. Clint slowly stood up picking up the soul stone and slamming it on the table.

He wiped his hand across his nose as he sniffled.

"Well we got the stones" Clint said sadly.

"But what did it cost" Bruce sighed.

A/n
This took like 12 times to fucking upload i was trying to publish this in class but my school's wifi is incredibly awful 💀💀 anywayssss here you go guys enjoy (: