Fear on Fire - Steve Rogers x Reader (Completed)

Part 7

1,361 words

The rather torturous trip back to the compound bequeathed you apprehensive and rigid. Your stare lingered on the thick bones that acted as a prosthetic and you glowered. You were merely another experiment to them. Simply like Bucky. And they willed you with a distinct retrospection of them, irksome and purposefully. The muddling part was that they had performed a surgical procedure on you. You were plausibly infected for all you knew.

Steve told you to bypass using it in case it was infected until you got the okay from one of the doctors. You felicitously complied and thanked him benevolently. You were much brighter than you had been when you started the mission, but there was still one element that could convert to an enigma. Steve still had yet to know about your fear, but you weren't ready to tell him yet. You had just declared your love for him and discovered that he felt the same. You didn't want to bother worrying about anything else that could conflict.

His soothing hand rested on your flesh thigh for the preponderance of the trip, until he required to begin flying the Quinjet. You presumed it was because you were almost home and he aspired to be in control when the jet landed. Maybe it was for your security. The thought gave you butterflies and the ghost of a smile settled on your face. You only wished that was his mentality because having someone care about you like that sounded like a dream. It sounded wonderful.

You deliberately pushed yourself from the floor of the jet and endeavored to hop over to Steve, using your right leg to withdraw from using the prosthetic. You were grappling to get there and Steve turned around upon detecting the uproar. His eyes widened and he hurried over to you to support you.

"What are you doing?" He chuckled serenely and helped you over to the front of the jet, placing you in the control chair with a small smile. He glimpsed over to the controls to make sure everything was working suitably before kneeling in front of you.

You flushed and peeked away. "I wanted to be near you." You felt his hand cup your cheek and delicately turn your face towards his. Upon seeing the sweet smile on his face, your stomach swirled with butterflies and you giggled sheepishly.

"Why is that?" The corner of his mouth turned up in a tantalizing grin and he drew his fingertips from your face and noted that your cheeks flushed with color. He neglected the sensation in his stomach when you gulped thickly and felt his fingers twitch in agitation.

You lamented and shook your head. "Because I love you!" You overexaggerated with a faraway snicker and picketed a giddy grin form on his face. This must have been your preferred transcription of Steve. The one where he let go of all his apprehension and was himself in front of you. The version where he wasn't Captain America, but a shallow guy from Brooklyn who discovered delight in the simplest of things.

He leaned forward and kissed your temple, murmuring a sweet 'Love you too' before solidifying his gaze on the sky in front of him. After all, he was to deliver you home securely to tell everyone the good news after the bad news. Or maybe vice versa.

He glimpsed over to you, a meager, loving smile gracing his lips and nearly melted at the sight of you fast asleep in the control chair with your lips slightly withdrawn and your left cheek leaning on your left arm. Your right arm was draped across the right arm of the chair and your flesh heel was propped against the floor of the jet with your enclosed toes pointed towards the sky. He resisted the urge to hold you and whisper sweet nothings into your ear as you slept to design beautiful dreams for you. He only pressed a tender kiss to your crown before willing the jet the fly quicker to the compound.

You awoke to gentle movement and peeled your eyes open. You could see the star of Steve's stealth suit and discerned that he was carrying you. Bridal style. You wanted to squeal and fangirl, but decided against it. Instead, you nestled into his chest and encircled your arms around his neck. What you didn't know, was that Steve smiled when he felt you shift closer to him, and felt no shame when he rambled into the compound with an ear-splitting grin on his face.

You pretended to fall back asleep and ventured to suppress your smile when you heard Tony's voice. But Steve regarded your joy and looked down at you, chuckling softly when you pulled your head away from his chest.

"Capsicle! You're bac-what is that?!" Tony eyed your prosthetic regarding interest and confusion.

"It's a prosthetic leg, Tony." You replied playfully and rolled your eyes with a titter.

"Why..?" He hesitated and browsed the metal with his fingers gently. "It's real metal. And why are you missing a leg?" He raised his chocolate-brown eyes to your (E/C) ones with a furrowed brow and you sighed.

"I was attacked by a shark. But, I'm fine now, so there's no need to worry!"

"A... what? If you're fine, why is Cap carrying you?" He lifted an eyebrow at you and you slumped in Steve's arms, looking up at him and wordlessly urged him to help you.

"She can't walk on it yet until a doctor makes sure it isn't infected." His voice remained monotone as he answered and you could tell he was ready to just go to his quarters and relax.

"Steve," He peered down at you lovingly and you smiled softly. "It's okay, you can go rest. I can handle myself."

He shook his head. "Not until I get you to Doctor Banner." You sighed but grudgingly nodded and enabled him to bring you to Doctor Banner. Or as you knew him. Bruce.

Steve jostled the door open with his back before turning around and gently setting you on the table. Bruce turned around and sighed before shooing Steve from the room.

"Go to bed!" You hollered after him and he smiled and nodded.

"I am!"

You giggled and turned to Bruce.

"What happened this time?" He asked, appearing exhausted but knowing that his job wasn't done yet. You revealed everything that happened, including every little aspect and he began to study your wounds and your prosthetic. He put you under anesthesia just in case, with your consent of course, and made sure everything was okay.

You gradually began to obtain cognizance again and it felt like you had been asleep for a week straight. You were slightly sore but overall okay and smiled when you saw Bruce wander over to you.

"You know this isn't the kind of Doctor I am, right?"

You laughed, well puffed, and shook your head. You cleared your throat and coughed before speaking. "Sorry. Steve wanted you to help me."

Bruce rolled his eyes before informing you about your state. Your prosthetic was secured to walk on and you had no lethal wounds from the mission. He told you to take it easy for a while until the soreness and fatigue went away and to make sure someone was always near you in case you fell.

"It'll take you a while to get used to walking on a prosthetic, especially one like this, but other than that, everything's fine." He helped you off the table and offered a closed-mouthed smile. He handed you short shorts that would only go down to your mid-thigh and a t-shirt he most likely got from the extra stash you kept in the bathroom across the hall from your room in your quarters. "You can get changed in there," He pointed to the bathroom, "And I'll have F.R.I.D.A.Y. make sure you get to your room safely."

You nodded and moved into the bathroom the change. Your life was about to change drastically, and you only hoped everything would remain somewhat close to the same.