Saving Steve (Steve Rogers x Reader)

Chapter 15 - A Guiding Hand

"ONE SECOND! I'M COMING!" you shout towards the door as you let go of Steve's shirt and grab hold of his arm, dragging him towards the open back window. 

"Go," you hiss.

"Y/n, they'll take you in again," Steve says, digging his heels into the carpet and refusing to take another step. "If I go in now, they'll leave you alone."

"I'll be fine," you hiss, pulling on his arm to get him to move again. "Get out of here. You've got more people to save, Renegade," you demand with a heartbroken smile. "Please, just...go. And don't get caught."

Steve's eyes frantically search yours as you use both hands to try and push him out the window, desperate for him to disappear. His body obeys, but it seems his mind fights inside his head. 

With one leg out the window, you feel Steve tense once more against your pushing. 

You look up and meet his eyes, silently pleading with him to just go.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*

"YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS MISS L/N!" a rough voice shouts from your stoop.

"Go," you whisper once more, pushing him the rest of the way out the window. His body folds, and you watch as he stands on the fire escape outside, letting out a sigh of relief as you turn to face the front door. 

But a warm hand catches your wrist before you can even take a step.

"Y/n."

You turn.

He lunges. 

And brings your lips to his. 

A surging tide of warmth leaves you weak in Steve's embrace as his soft lips press awkwardly against your own, clumsy and unrefined. His tender, yet anguished kiss leaves your mind blurring into nothingness. His sturdy arm around your waist is the only thing keeping you anchored in a dizzy, swaying world.

Before you can kiss him back his lips part and leave yours, an achingly cold emptiness left behind as he whispers in your ear.

"I'll find you."

Rooted in place and rendered speechless, you watch as Steve disappears through the window, leaving behind only your racing heart, and his scent of freshly fallen rain and cedar trees, mixed with your pear shampoo.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*

Startled, you reach up and pull down the window. But an impossibly loud bang on your front door causes you to jump back, dashing across the room as the chain on your front door is ripped from the wooden post and your door flies open.

"You should have called, Miss L/n. You've officially run out my patience."

Your stomach knots itself in unparalleled dread as you see that this time Ross has brought not two, but four agents with him. 

I'm in so much trouble.

A loud whooshing noise from above Ross and the agents suddenly have them all backing up, and Ross rolls his eyes subtly as a gold and crimson metal suit descends into view, landing gently just beside Ross. 

"You're running out his hair too, kid," a familiar voice says from inside it. A moment later the faceplate drops, and you find those familiar, tired brown eyes. "You see that bald spot there? Yeesh."

The moment you meet Tony's gaze you let out an unwilling sigh of relief. You're surprised to feel not anger or hatred at seeing him again, but a calming solace. Maybe Tony's donations to the shelter had softened you on the man.