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

Nothing but the Truth - Pt.2/8

You felt a pang in your gut, unsure whether he was referring to you or his superhero friends. He sounded... harsh. Steve was never harsh with you. It sucked.

Natasha sighed tiredly. "The thing is, Steve, that the cat is already out of the bag. We might as well use it."

"No! No way! It's too dangerous! And she has a point!" he gestured to you, his voice rising in volume again. "We should use some low-key agents – well-trained but not recognizable-"

"That's the thing," Tony interrupted his outrage, pointing a finger-gun at him. "We need the attention of this guy, whoever he might be. Or they. You absolutely will get the attention. Some random couple? Eeee, not so much. We need to make sure he picks the ones we send-"

Steve's hand balled in a fist and he raised it, lowering his head to it, his knuckles brushing his mouth as if he needed to stop himself from spilling whatever streak of curses which gathered on the tip of his tongue. He took a deep breath, while your mind still raced.

If he would have agreed... would you be willing to do it?

An excited hormones-fuelled voice that imagined what could it be like, basking in his intimate proximity, touching casually for show, hell, maybe even kissing, yelled an enthusiastic yes.

Another, a voice of reason, the one that guarded your heart, pointed out that it would be all pretend, you would only fell for him harder and got your heart broken in the process as you would have only had a week or something of a somewhat relationship with Steve and then had it taken away.

Then the third voice screamed at you to get your shit together, because this meant offering yourself to be a bait for a serial whatever, a very much bad guy, and you should get your sense of self-preservation checked.

But the missing couples-! Protested yet another voice and you shook your head lightly in attempt to shush them all and focus on the discussion that was still unfolding in front of you. The choice wasn't yours anyway – at least not only yours.

"Yes, I get that, Tony. So... so it will just take some more time to lure him in, but at least we won't endanger a civilian."

The way Steve said the last word gave you a pause, angry and yet warmly; and his distaste made so much more sense now, his protective side kicking into overdrive and the realization eased your mind a bit. He might not want to date you (fake-date you, whatever), but it wasn't the only reason.

He wanted to keep you safe.

Which was... very sweet and thoughtful of him and there might have been a part of you that lighted up at his care; purely friendly or not, you apparently mattered.

See, you should go through with this. It could be so, soooo nice...

Shut your cakehole!

"Ten people are already missing, Rogers," Tony reminded him and your gaze involuntarily shifted towards the photos again, guilt stabbing your stomach. "Potentially dead."

"And she's NOT going to be the eleventh!" Steve exploded, hitting the table again with his fist, glaring at his friend, fuming with irritation.

You gulped, startled by the display of strength, yet you didn't tear your eyes away from the hologram to check Steve's expression.

Ten people. Potentially dead. Christ.

Innocent people. Civilians, just like you.

Their faces were staring at you accusingly. What choice was to make here?

Fuck self-preservation; you would have Steve by your side. The danger of getting hurt was minimal. Admittedly, your heart was in a considerably higher risk, but that was for you to deal with later.