Saving Steve (Steve Rogers x Reader)

Chapter 15 - A Guiding Hand

You offer him a glare softer than the one you give Ross, but when you do you immediately notice he looks even worse than the last time you had seen him. He obviously hasn't been sleeping. 

"Knock it off, Stark," Ross growls. "You," Ross says marching in the door and shoving a pointed finger in your face. "Where is he?" he demands, pushing past you further into your apartment. He immediately looks towards the kitchen where the fire alarm continues to blare loudly.

Tony follows Ross into your apartment as he pushes you back. 

"Where is he, girl?" Ross shouts again, backing you up against the small half wall leading into the kitchen.

"Who?" you ask, feigning confusion the best you can. But the fear is real. You don't have to fake that. You remember all to well what it felt like to be trapped in that cold interrogation cell.

"Don't play stupid with me," says Ross. "I know he's here."

"I'm the only one here, I swear," you answer.

Ross begins to tower over you, invading your personal space as you begin to tremble.

"I'll give you one chance," Ross snarls, getting closer and closer as your breath starts coming in short, nervous bursts.

"Wow. That's annoying," remarks Tony from behind Ross, raising a pointer finger and gesturing towards the noise coming from the fire alarms. "Watch out sweetums," he says to Ross, raising his arm as it sounds like his hand is powering up.

A bolt of blue light shoots out from Tony's glove, blasting the fire alarm off the ceiling, bathing the apartment in silence and causing Ross to curse beneath his breath and jump back, putting ample space between you and him. Able to relax and breath deeply once more, you glance at Tony in subtle thanks, and he shoots you a covert wink.

And with that wink, all final doubt and hesitance to trust that he's on your side fades away. And those years of residual anger and blame melt into a resigned acceptance as you allow it to drip off your body. 

Tony Stark isn't the enemy - not anymore. Tony Stark is helping you. Tony Stark is on your side. 

"Search it," Ross scowls from several feet away, never taking his eyes from you as he rubs his ear, apparently struggling with a ringing sensation left over from Tony's blast. 

The four agents Ross brought with him break their formation and begin to scour every inch of your apartment. One heading back to your bedroom, the other two searching the living room. The fourth wandering into the kitchen.

As they search, you force yourself to keep breathing. Steve isn't here. You know he isn't here. You'll be fine.

"Over here," a voice calls out. "Positive identification."

One of the agents has pulled open your dryer. Reaching in, he grabs a handful of clothing and holds it up. 

Large men's clothing.

"Well, would you look at that," Ross says with a smirk. "Keep searching."

Intrigued by the clothing, Ross backs away from you slowly to make his way over to the laundry machines. You watch in fear as he goes through Steve's clothes, praying that Steve hasn't left anything in his pockets that might give away his location, wherever he is, or wherever he's going.

You wait in apprehension when a small movement from the corner of your eye catches your attention. A brief flutter of your curtains near the back window in the living room. Your eyes widen as you realize you failed to shut it all the way. And the two agents in the living room are too close. They're going to see the open window any second.

Hearing your small gasp, you feel Tony turn his eyes to you, his brow furrowing in silent question. 

Deciding to trust him, you glance quickly over at the open window. Tony's head turns subtly to follow your gaze and he catches sight of that cracked window, studying it for a moment. He looks back to you, a single brow arched. You widen your eyes and nod subtly. 

Tony's jaw tightens and his nostrils flare. 

And for a moment, you wonder if you've just made a mistake. 

Tony looks once more between you and the window, and your heart sinks as it seems like he's debating with himself. 

"Please," you exhale beneath your breath, so quietly you're not even sure he could have possibly heard you.

But Tony's lip twitches, and he breathes out as he rolls his eyes to himself, raising a metal hand to his forehead. He lowers it after a moment and casts a glance out over the room. 

"You know," says Tony loudly, pointing towards Ross who holds up Steve's underwear. "I didn't take him for a tighty-whities man."

All the agents turn towards Ross and snicker. As they do, Tony takes a couple quick steps backwards and reaches his hand behind his back, shutting the window before walking back towards the TV. 

You let out a breath you didn't realize you had been holding. Tony picked you. And in doing so, he bought Steve more time.  

"Report," calls out Ross. "Anything?"

"Nothing, sir," four voices call out in unison. 

Ross scowls and looks to you. "He might not be here, but he was. Recently. Men, transport restraints. She's coming in."

Your heart begins to race as two of the agents approach you holding a thick pair of zip-tie cuffs. You back up until you hit the half wall, pleading for them to leave you alone.

"She's a kid, Ross," Tony says, stepping to Ross's side. "Take it easy."

"She's aiding and abetting a war criminal, Stark."

"Stop, please, he's not here!" you cry out. But the agents don't listen. Forcing your hands behind your back they restrain you, and pull you out the door to a black SUV waiting in the parking lot.

As you're shoved inside the car, the agent dragging you along slams the door in your face before getting in the driver's seat. He starts the car and rolls down the window for Ross, who waits impatiently.

"Where are you taking me?" you cry.

"You're going to help us, girl. Or you end up on the Raft."

Ross walks away and the agent driving begins rolling up the window. Tears in your eyes, you cast one last helpless glance to Tony, whose jaw is tense as he gives you an apologetic look. He brings two fingers to the underside of his chin and pushes his own head up briefly before nodding at you and dropping his faceplate, taking to the sky and disappearing from view.

Restrained and left alone with the agent driving the SUV you're scared. But Tony's final, unspoken message brings a small sense of comfort.

Chin up. You're not alone.