Marvel Oneshots

Weight of Duty (Steve Rogers)

The chill of early morning hung in the air as the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon, casting a warm glow across the city of Brooklyn. Inside a modest apartment, Y/N stood by the window, watching the bustling streets below, her mind heavy with thoughts. The coffee pot hissed and sputtered in the background, but it barely registered as she tried to focus on the day's agenda.

Today was the day—Steve was going on a mission that would take him deep into enemy territory, and though they had done this countless times before, this time felt different. He had received intel about a new threat linked to Hydra, and the weight of that knowledge hung over them like a dark cloud.

Y/N turned as the door creaked open, revealing Steve in his standard casual attire—jeans and a fitted shirt, looking every bit the soldier she loved. But today, there was a heaviness in his posture, an uncharacteristic tension that she couldn't ignore.

"Hey," she said softly, forcing a smile as he stepped into the kitchen. "How did you sleep?"

"Not great," he admitted, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "Just thinking about the mission. I can't shake the feeling that something's off."

Y/N's heart sank. "Is it about the intel? Are you sure it's safe to go?"

Steve set the mug down, turning to face her fully. "It's just a standard op. I'll be in and out before they even know I'm there." He tried to reassure her, but she could see the uncertainty in his eyes.

"Steve..." she started, but he raised a hand to silence her.

"I have to do this, Y/N. You know that. It's my duty." His voice was steady, but the underlying tension was palpable.

"And what about our duty to each other?" she countered, her frustration boiling beneath the surface. "What if something happens to you? I can't just sit here and wait while you put yourself in danger."

He stepped closer, eyes softening as he took her hands in his. "You know I'd never intentionally put you at risk. But this isn't just about me. I can't walk away when there are lives on the line. I can't turn my back on what I've fought for."

"But I need you to consider me, too!" Y/N's voice wavered, the tears she had been holding back threatening to spill. "You don't have to carry this burden alone. We're a team, remember?"

"I know," he said, voice thick with emotion. "But sometimes being Captain America means making tough choices. Choices that can keep you safe."

"Is that what this is about? Keeping me safe?" she asked incredulously. "Because it feels like you're keeping me in the dark. Like you're shutting me out."

"Y/N, please," he pleaded, frustration creeping into his tone. "I don't want to shut you out. I just—I don't want to drag you into this."

She shook her head, stepping back from him. "You don't get to decide that for me, Steve. I'm not some fragile flower that needs protecting. I can handle this. I want to be there for you."

"Being there means letting you in on the dangers. And I don't want that for you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You've seen what I deal with. I don't want to put that weight on your shoulders."

Y/N felt the heat of anger surge within her. "You're putting all the weight on your shoulders! You're trying to carry the world alone, and it's tearing us apart!"

"I'm not trying to," he replied, his voice breaking slightly. "But I can't just sit back and do nothing while Hydra resurfaces. They're a threat, and I need to handle it."

"What if you don't come back?" The question hung heavy between them, the gravity of it palpable. "What if this is the mission that takes you from me?"

Steve closed the distance between them, taking her face in his hands. "I will come back. I promise. You mean too much to me for that not to happen."