Hell Froze Over*Avengers*Captain America*Reader*

9) Close your eyes (and I'll be on my way)

Totally listened to Leaving on the Jet Plane. Uhm. And were back to the present ;)

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"We can't tell Steve."

"I beg your pardon?" Tony blurted out incredulously and if the situation would be any different, you would have rolled your eyes. It seemed to be a very popular phrase these days.

"Yeah, what Metalbrain said," Sam supported immediately, watching you with the same disbelief.

"We... we can't tell him. It's a terrible mess already. We can't tell him."

Grace caught her trembling lip between her teeth, silently agreeing with you.

"I'm sorry, are you saying we're not saving you from whatever is about to kill you? That's why you don't want Steve to know, right? Because he would do anything to save you. You can't be serious, Frosty," Natasha stated, her voice almost cold.

"Well..." Bruce opposed reluctantly, earning a sharp glare from the spy.

"Really, Bruce?"

"Yeah. Really, Bruce?" new voice joined the conversation. You all jumped except Natasha, who smirked at Bucky's figure in the doorway. "There is no way we're letting Steve's gal die."

"Bucky-" you protested tiredly.

"This isn't a discussion! We're not watching you die, Frosty. End of story."

"You can't make such a decision, Bucky. Saving my life could turn the world – hell, the fucking universe – into one big black nothing. That is not something we can allow."

"Oh, but we can let you turn into nothing and then watch Steve suffer, huh? You're forgetting that at least two people here saw him after you turned to ash in front of his eyes. Not a pretty picture I imagine. Oh, and he's asking about you, by the way. Surprisingly enough, he wants to see his fiancée after he's almost died. It's like he loves you or something. Has that crossed your mind, Snowflake?"

Yes. Surprisingly enough, yes. Has it crossed your mind that it's my own death we're talking about and I'm not all eager to end my life, especially when knowing I'll never meet my daughter? Huh? That this is really, really fucking hard for me?

You swallowed the sharp words and sighed.

"I should go. We all should, so let's dismiss this gathering – just so I know you won't agree on bringing the end to the universe or something while I'm gone."

---

The sight of Steve, crumbled on the bed, dark circles under his eyes, the nose cannula, and wires leading to the heart monitor, his skin white as the sheets he was tucked in – it was enough to bring your heart a stop. Grace's blood was still dripping into his bloodstream; her fast metabolism could speed up his healing, Bruce had said. It was his idea to transfer Steve's daughters blood and you didn't even question it, because who were you to do so. Why your daughter couldn't save him once more, right? It was sickening how useless you felt.

Even with the picture of him, nearly screaming in pain, the substance almost swallowing his arm up, this sight still made you freeze in the doorway. It could have been seconds or minutes before his eyes registered you and his lips curled up in a very exhausted smile.

"Hey," he rasped, clearing his throat loudly right after.

You forced your feet to move and you broke into a run, barely slowing down before you reached the bed and threw your arms around him. You hugged him as tightly as your positions allowed you. Steve let out a painful huff, but a weak laughter followed, his hand brushing your back as he tried to return your affection.