Lessons in Rule Breaking and Other Reader-Inserts*Steve Rogers*Reader*

Just a Human - Pt.2/3

"More fun to break her, don't you think?" Henry purred, his hand sneaking around your waist.

You wanted to puke. You wanted to puke and scream and punch and you couldn't make yourself to do either, tears rolling down your cheeks as your body convulsed in a desperate attempt to break free. There was ringing in your ears, disorienting you and you tried to bite the hand holding you down.

"Oh-ho, biting!" you heard, strangely muffled as if you were under water.

"Shit, shit-"

The pressure on your legs eased and you immediately kicked with all you had, catching the rising figure in the calf, knocking them off balance.

"Fuck!"

You would swear the floor vibrated, but in must have only been your mind playing tricks on you. George disappeared from your field of vision; you only saw a fist sending him flying sideways.

Yep, your mind was fucking making up things, because there was no way he could have been thrown away like this by a single punch. You weren't complaining; the relief the illusion provided was almost blissful.

Henry's body weight vanished as well in nearly supersonic speed as if he wanted to escape. You did the first thing that came to your mind; with your hands free, you grabbed his ankle, stopping him from running away. Which, thinking about it, was stupid, because only a moment before, you would have given anything to get him the fuck away from you.

He kicked back blindly, but his sole never met with your body - he was dragged away and... and lifted to the air as if he weighted nothing.

Blinking your tears away, your fuzzy mind cleared.

Only to reveal a very muscled and very much pissed off blond slamming Henry against a wall and then letting his suddenly unconscious body slide down.

You gasped, your eyes catching a glimpse of the fourth figure - Frank - several feet away, running for his life.

"Buck?!" came a shout and before you could question it, a metal arm emerged from behind the corner, stopping Frank dead as he rushed straight into it.

"Yep?!" the dark-haired supersoldier yelled back, sounding almost amused.

What the hell just happened?

You blood sizzled in your veins, loud and rapid thump-thump-thump banging in your ears, face damp with several shed tears, body aching and your mind was fucking racing.

You heard a whimper on your left, automatically turning to the sound. It left Jim's lips, his form crumbled on the floor, struggling to stand up.

The captain's knee seemed to come from nowhere, digging into Jim's back and pinning him down again before you even registered a movement.

"Is it fucking over now?"

"Steve, let him be. Not worth it," Barnes' voice negotiated, sounding almost growling, but not nearly as loud as before. He approached your group in rapid pace.

You gulped at his angry grimace; it softened when his gaze fell on you.

"Hey there." He hold out a hand to help you up. "Can you stand?"

You blinked several times at the suddenly casual tone, still sensing something bubbling under it. You shook off the thought and accepted the offered hand - the flesh one. The detailed didn't escape you, your brain in an overdrive. Of course he hadn't offered you the metal arm. He didn't want to scare you. He was thoughtful like that.

Or not. The strength he dragged you up with was way too much for you, more so when combined with the speed. You stumbled over your feet, a wave of dizziness messing with your balance.

You awaited the upcoming reunion with the floor unable to stop the fall, but it never happened. Before you could as much as reel, gentle hands supported you in a firm grip, pleasantly warm against your bare arms.

"Whoa, take it easy," Rogers' voice warned you, soothing. For some reason, it felt more like 'I got you,' instead of 'take it easy.'

You took a deep breath, Barnes' hand letting go of yours as he semi-voluntarily handed you over to his friend.

"You're bleeding from your mouth."

Thanks, I noticed.

You swallowed the snarky remark, well-aware of the sergeant's care. You fought against the urge to spit the blood out.

"Is fine..." you muttered, wiping your mouth. "Bit my cheek. I'm pretty sure I-" you quickly ran your tongue over your teeth just to confirm your theory, "-still have all of my teeth."

Sergeant Barnes gave you a tiny smile, the crinkle that had found its way between his brows disappearing.

"Whatever you say."

His gaze flickered behind your head, exchanging a wordless conversation with your still present crutch. Not that you were complaining. The weight of what had happened was slowly settling on your shoulders and you were grateful for any support.

"Why don't we leave you in pu- Cap's capable hands while I-" his jaw clenched, pale eyes scanning the four bodies on the floor, calculating. "-take out the trash?"

You nearly choked at the choice of his words, wincing. Captain Rogers' hands squeezed your shoulders reassuringly and you nodded, not sure what else to do.

You didn't want to look at Henry. Or Jim. Or their loyal companions.

So when the captain carefully spun you on your heels, you didn't protest and your feet started moving the direction he had set on autopilot.

"You okay to walk without support?" he asked softly, a stark contrast to the voice you remembered from earlier or from the training sessions.

You knew that if you said yes, he would let go of you. Honestly, his touch was damn nice, pleasant contrary to harsh fingers of the men who had the nerve to attack you. Yet, you didn't abuse the kindness he was offering. After several indulging steps, you quietly confirmed he could release you.

You found out that sensing his large frame by your side as if he was your bodyguard was nearly as comforting.

Nearly.

You didn't admonish yourself for basking the light of his protective persona. Future agent of not, you still had the right to want to feel secure at times.

After all, you were only human.