In Your Eyes // Steve Rogers

To See You Again

A chime from the doorbell killed my appetite. My heart sank into my stomach. I mumbled to everyone that I would get it.

"Hi, Bruce," I smiled warmly when I opened the door.

He smiled. His arm was in a sling. His eyes were drooping, from the pain medicine, I assumed. I offered him what was left of our breakfast spread; he assured us he would finish it for us. As he, Bucky, and Sam started to clean up our kitchen, Steve and I headed back to our room.

I pulled out his suit and laid it on the bed. I helped him into it, piece by piece. In between latching his suit together, he would kiss a part of my face to make me smile. I kept rolling my eyes, despite how much I appreciated it.

"I think I know what it is you liked about this suit," he said, and I raised my eyebrow. "It's my ass, isn't it?"

I laughed heartily. "Maybe it is."

We kissed. We kissed a few times. We knew this was going to be the last time we saw each other like this. Still in love together, still young together. He didn't say definitively if he was going to stay back with Peggy. I hoped he would. I hoped he would try the life he deserved. Even if he did return, still young, I would still find myself having to leave. There truly was no win for us.

I grabbed the briefcase with the Infinity Stones tightly in my hand. Steve summoned Mjolnier to his hand. He gave a heavy sigh as he caught it.

"Gonna miss that thing?" I asked, smiling.

"It's a decent weapon," he agreed. "I'd ask you to try it, but..."

"Oh, hush," I laughed, nudging into him.

We met Bucky, Sam, Kona, and Bruce outside. From the boxes in Bruce's truck, they had built up the miniature Time Vortex in the front of our yard. I pushed the briefcase up onto the platform, then wrapped my arms around my waist. I found myself standing next to Sam and Bucky. Kona found her place in front of my feet.

"Remember, Steve, you have to return the Stones to the exact moment they were taken, or you're gonna open a bunch of nasty alternate realities," reminded Bruce.

"Don't worry, Bruce. I'll clip all the branches," promised Steve.

Bruce had been rebooting the system as he spoke. His hand slowed. He shyly looked at Steve and I. "You know, I tried... When I had the Gauntlet, the Stones... I really tried to bring her back. I miss her, man."

Steve put his hand on Bruce's shoulder. "Me, too,"  he mumbled, then walked to meet Sam.

"You know," said Sam cheerfully. "If you want... I could come with you."

Steve smiled as he embraced his friend. "You're a good man, Sam. This one's on me, though."

Sam nodded in understanding. He patted Steve's back one last time before Steve moved on to say goodbye to Bucky.

"Don't do anything stupid 'til I get back," reminded Steve as he pulled Bucky into a tight hug.

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you," responded Bucky. He and Steve shared a sad smile. "I'm gonna miss you, buddy."

"It's gonna be okay, Buck," promised Steve, nodding.

Bucky forced a smile and pushed him over to me.

Steve bent down to kiss my forehead. "I love you."

"I love you, always, Steve. Thank you," I mumbled. I hopped on my tip-toes to kiss his lips for a brief moment.

Steve gathered me in his arms. He ducked his head down by my ear. "Thank you for changing my life," he mumbled, then let go of me to take a knee in front of our baby.