I Thought You Were Different: Part 6

Annihilation

The next part finishes the series...for good this time.

Two weeks later, Becca still had yet to talk to you. In those two weeks, barely anyone had seen you in the light of day, so it wasn't exactly her fault that you hadn't connected.

It was just so much easier in the solitude of your room, under your blankets, where the monsters couldn't reach you. Tony would say that monsters didn't exist and that you were being silly by hiding from an idea, and a bad one at that, but the monster you were hiding from was him. If he were here now you'd give him so much shit for that, proving that your childhood fears were realized through him when he was the one denying them.

Steve had no idea what to do to help you, other than his usual methods of staying back and clear of conflict that would only make you feel worse. It never worked, so he wasn't really sure as to why he clung to the failed attempts so readily, but it at least succeeded in not causing any arguments that no one needed right now. It was becoming a bit troublesome to him, though, that you were holed up in your room for a straight two weeks without so much as one step beyond it. He considered calling your old therapist for guidance, but that would be breaking a trust and he hadn't reached the breaking point just yet.

It was on the first day of the third week since the funeral that he had finally decided to make a move and to talk to you about getting you back into the world. Each morning when he woke, he swore that he could hear Tony yelling at him to get your ass in gear and get you back to life. Maybe it was more that he wanted to hear it, or that his grief had finally peaked into hallucinations from extreme loss. Either way, here your husband stood, on the other side of the door with a meticulously folded letter in hand, his entire body shaking at the idea of what seeing it might do to you. This could be the answer to bring you to life, or it could shut you down forever.

~~~

Steve,

I've known (Y/N) since she was five-years-old. There were so many days when it was just (Y/N) and I against the world. Then there were days that were against each other, but I suppose that I have myself to blame for that more than anyone, and in her defense I'm a handful. You knew that though, huh? But even during the days that she and I were at our worst, I would give her the world just to get a minute of happiness out of her. I never thought that this would be where you came in.

You and I haven't always been on the best terms, and we got off to a pretty terrible start. It stayed rough for a while, really, and I take responsibility for being a big part of that. Then it got better...then a little worse...then better again, but it still amazes me that we kept coming back to try to make this shit show of a friendship work. Of course, once I introduced you to her there was no way in hell that you'd be leaving after that. Man, you were so gone right from day one. Scared me to death, you know that? I barely liked you, and here she was giving you the love eyes after one day. I can never say no to the kid, so I had to learn to like you pretty quick.

Still took my time about it.

But then you'd do something for her that blew me away, and then you'd screw it up again only to do something amazing right before screwing it up one more time. I swear, I've been on rollercoasters that made me less nauseated than the ride you two have been on. Wouldn't you figure though, you guys decided to pop out a few adorable grandkids and I was immediately indebted to you. I've watched you be the best dad to those three, and I am just so proud of you. I hope that doesn't sound condescending, but it's true. I didn't know your dad, but I feel safe saying that he'd be proud of the man you are. I'm proud of you, Steve. I'm proud to have called you my son-in-law.

I'm gonna need you to be strong when this explodes, okay? She's tough, but this might be too much. She'll be mad at me. She'll be mad at herself. She'll just be...mad. But that's how we know she's hurting, and I'm counting on you to recognize it and be there for her when I can't.