Marvel: Reader Inserts

Missing Out ~ Steve Rogers x Reader

The worst part wasn't the pain— not really. It was the letting go. The slow unraveling of hope throughout the day. The way you had created a vague plan to push through with smiles and adrenaline. But around four o'clock, you'd known.

The kind of ache that sank into your bones like cement. The burning across your lower back. The weight of fatigue pressing down hind your eyes. One by one, your good intentions slipped away. You canceled the pre-movie night coffee with Nat. You skipped dinner and dimmed your lights.

And when Steve, your loving boyfriend, stopped by your room on his way to movie night, you barely met his gaze.

"I think I'm going to lie down instead," you whispered, trying to sound casual. "I'm not feeling great."

His expression softened immediately. He didn't question or push. He just leaned in and pressed kiss to your forehead. "I'll come check on you in a bit, okay?"

You nodded.

And now here you were, alone in the quiet. The team was down the hall, probably bickering over which ridiculous comedy to watch, tossing popcorn, laughing like kids. And you were missing it. Again.

A knock, soft and familiar, pulled you from your spiraling thoughts. You barely had time to say 'come in' before Steve entered, carrying a tray with popcorn, your favorite drink, a heating pad, and two chocolate chip cookies he definitely swiped from Tony's stash in the kitchen.

"You didn't have to leave movie night," you murmured.

He just smiled. "I know."

~~~

Steve had been dating you long enough, so he knew the signs by now. The little shifts. The way you went quieter than usual, conserving your energy. The soft sights that weren't quite complaints, but weren't neutral either. The stiffness in the way you moved.

He never pretended to understand exactly what you felt— chronic pain wasn't a battlefield injury. It was worse, in a way. It was invisible and ongoing. It wore you down in layers. But he could listen and notice. He could memorize your patterns— your tells— and show up when it counted. Just like tonight.

You gave him an apologetic smile when he entered, and he hated that smile— not because it wasn't beautiful, but because you only used it when you were trying not to feel like a burden.

Steve set the tray down on the bedside table before quickly— and gently— getting the heating pad adjusted behind your back.

"Hurting a lot?" He asked quietly.

You nodded, not quite meeting his eyes. "And I just feel... stupid. Like I'm letting everyone down for something stupid."

"Hey," he sat down beside you, taking your hand in his, "look at me." You did, reluctantly. "You're not letting anyone down. Least of all me. This is just a bad night. That's all it is. And I'd rather spend a thousand bad nights with you than be anywhere else."

The tears welled up faster than you expected. You blinked them back. "I just hate that I'm always the one missing out. I want to be part of things. I want to be fun."

Steve leaned in and kissed your temple, then your cheek, and then finally your lips— soft, steady, and grounding. "You're not fun because you go to movie nights. You're fun because you laugh at Sam's terrible impressions and you eat M&M's by color." You smiled faintly as he continued, his thumb brushing over your knuckles. "You don't have to prove anything to me, or to the team. When your body needs rest, that's not weakness. That's survival. And you're doing it with more grace than anyone I know.

You didn't know what to say to that. So instead, you reached out and pulled him down onto the bed beside you. He shifted without hesitation, curling around you as you nestled against his chest. His heartbeat was slow and solid.

"I brought a few of your favorite movies," he said after a moment. "I thought we could do our own movie night. Just us."

You smiled against his shirt. "And if I chose one you hate?"

He chuckled. "Doesn't matter. You love it."

You stayed curled up against him as the movie played. Neither of you were really watching though. His fingers traced slow circles along your spine, but making sure that your heating pad stayed where it was needed. He kissed your head randomly and you curled into him more.

"I've got you," he whispered. "You're not missing out on anything."