The Avengers x Reader Inserts

deserving | steve rogers | 2/4

A/N: This short series is for @/allisonbaelfire's writing challenge on Tumblr! Thank you for creating this fun challenge and letting me join! :)

IMPORTANT: For the sake of finishing this before the deadline (Dec. 24th), I'm gonna have to just do a couple parts and write the story about the very end of Liam and (Y/n)'s relationship. It'll be a lil' rushed, but hopefully still touching and good. :) 

Summary: Reader is in an abusive relationship with a man who makes it his sole priority to violate her boundaries. As the relationship wears on, Steve is your confidant, your closest and dearest friend. You had known each other for many years, since the first day he had awoken from the ice. You confide in him with everything and Steve cherishes your friendship – but when will you learn that you're worth more than a selfish man who can't respect you? When will you realize that America's hero, Steve Rogers himself, is waiting for you?

Warnings: angst, sad Steve, sad reader, mentions of abuse, depression, a little language from angry steve and natasha

Word Count: 5.2 K (sorry it's long but I couldn't split it up) (revised)

Music: Evelyn Goes It Alone by Geoff Zanelli and Jon Brion

New York was enchanting when her skies divulged their wintry breath upon the glistening towers of glass that populated the Manhattan area. Twinkling lights that foretold of the coming holidays hung primly from potted trees on every corner and illuminated the windows of every shop. It was almost blissful, even amidst the bustle of the early morning sounds of traffic. Manhattan was waking up to last days of November with punctuality, the glimmer of the festive season putting a cheerful tint to the greying days.

However, even with your love for the winter season and it's celebrations, your heart was downcast. Your mind was heavy with despair over the anxious entrapment which had pushed you into a state of numbness. You mulled over the aching emptiness that rolled around in your gut. You knew the source of your emotions; it was always the same.

As you tried to overcome it, you trod down the iced-over sidewalk, careful to mind your footing. You were headed to S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters for a briefing about the upcoming mission to Germany that the whole team was signed up for. Luckily, it was in January, which meant December was more or less an off-month.

While you were an agent in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s program, you weren't officially an Avenger - which you were secretly grateful for. Being a regular agent meant you stayed out of the limelight, out of the eyes of the public, and off the screens of worldwide news. But you did serve a purpose. Whether it was accompanying the team overseas on occasion as their advisor or training new recruits or even being Agent Hill's stand-in from time to time, you held up a large end of the program. You didn't see too much action, though; you found investigating cases, planning the missions, and writing up reports more to your taste. It gave you a chance to put your knack for writing to use, even if it was just for the database. Besides, Fury liked a thorough report.

Nevertheless, your name was on the roster for the trip to Germany after Christmas, which meant you had to be present for every meeting, no matter the unearthly hours Fury and Hill scheduled them. But today to you were a little late, even though the sun was just beginning to peek through streets between the buildings through the thick, snowy clouds. As you shuffled nearer to the headquarters and drank in the drowsy city, your phone buzzed in your pocket. You inwardly groaned.

It's probably Liam.

Without pulling the device out to check, you ignore the vibration and keep walking. You weren't in the mood to speak to him again, especially after last night. Especially after the last week - the last month, really. His controlling schemes had already stripped the joy from your mind this morning and you didn't need a call smothering what hope you had for the rest of the day.