<<requested by: anon>>
oof I apologize this sucked uhhh wow
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Steve couldn't sleep.
Being a superhero who was one of the 'Earth's Mightiest Heroes' and all, days in which he actually got an adequate amount of rest and felt well-rested the morning after were very rare. Especially after he'd watched you go down on the battlefield, clinging onto your life with all that you had left and on the verge of falling into the endless abyss of death, he'd grown restless. He had to carry your near-lifeless body across the field to get to the Quinjet, time seeming to tick by alarmingly faster than its normal speed and it terrified him.
It terrified him, upon seeing the blood seeping through and spreading across your suit and staining his hands, but all he could hear and think about as he rushed you to safety was the pounding of his heart in his chest and the word, Hurry, repeating in his head over and over and over again.
And even though you were okay, recovering with either Bruce or Bucky keeping watch every few hours, he couldn't shake the thought that you'd almost lost your life out there, that he'd almost lost you forever.
He didn't realize just how much he cared about you until recently, either. He'd thought that it was just because you two were so close, constantly being around each other, being paired up for missions and sticking together for just about everything, but it turned out to be something more than that.
The road to recovery for you was a long one at that. You were forbidden to get out of bed unless it was to take a shower or to use the restroom, so other than that, you stayed put. You were aching to see the others again because several days had gone by without you seeing them, and were just waiting until tomorrow morning when Bruce said he'd let you go.
You surprised yourself when you found yourself wishing to see Steve more than anyone else, though. With his kind eyes, warm smile and protective and loyal personality, there was no one else you felt more safe and protected around than him.
And also, on top of feeling terrified for you, Steve felt guilty. He felt guilty that he hadn't been able to get to you in time---even though everyone told him that it wasn't his fault and it wasn't something that he could control because he was all the way on the other side of the HYDRA base. Yet pain and guilt clawed at his chest every time he remembered the event, and he just wished there was something he could do to just make it better.
He spent the majority of the late-night hours mindlessly wandering the compound alone, and when he ran into a weary-looking Bucky he was taken by surprise.
"It's three in the morning, Steve," Bucky yawned as he sat across from his friend at the kitchen island and tiredly rubbed his eyes. "What're you doing up this late?"
"Can't sleep," he shook his head, "I just can't fall asleep."
"Something bothering you?"
He nodded before letting his head fall into his hands.
"Y/N."
When Steve didn't respond, that was all Bucky needed to know what was going on with him. "Steve, you need to sleep. You'll be able to see her in the morning."
"I know," he murmured, sitting back up and running a hand through his messy hair, "but I just can't sleep."
Bucky paused, silently observing Steve's expression and posture as his brows furrowed together in thought. "You're in love with her, aren't you?"
"No, Buck, I'm just concerned about her health and how she's doing in general. I'm not in love with her," he sighed. "We're just really close, and that's it."
"You're in love with her," he said softly, "I can tell by the way you talk about her. You care about her so much it's not even funny. And if you keep waiting like this, the time when it's too late to tell her how you feel may come and she might just be moving on from you."
"Moving on?"
"Steve, she loves you too. I saw her look at you as you carried her back. You were the last person she looked at before she blacked out."
"How is that significant?"
"She's always looking at you. And she worries about you just as much. But if you keep losing sleep like this, Steve, it's only going to harm you in the long run."
"But..."
"Do you still blame yourself for what happened?"
"Yes...but..."
"You shouldn't," he stated, "because it wasn't something that you had control over."
"Should I tell her, then?"
"You really should tell her how you feel."
"Then I will."
"And if it makes you feel any better, she didn't get a wink of sleep last night because she was up thinking about you. All she could talk about was you. Now go and sleep, Stevie," he patted Steve's shoulder, "or you're literally going to hurt yourself."
"Alright. Thanks, Buck," Steve said as he stood up.
"No problem."
He was able to sleep a little more peacefully that night.
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The sun's rays peeked through your blinds and you groaned, burying deeper into the covers and staying that way for a few minutes until Bruce gently shook you awake.
"Y/N?" he asked in his soft voice, "breakfast is ready, and you can take your painkillers afterwards."
You sat up abrupty and immediately regretted it when you felt a stinging pain shoot up your side, and you winced, holding a hand against your abdomen.
"Careful there," he reminded, before offering a hand to help you up, "now let's go and see the others."
"Is Steve awake?"
"Yes, he's awake. He kept bugging your father and Buck about you, you know," he laughed, shaking his head. "You lovebirds."
"Bruce," you whined as you walked down the hall together, "we're not together. And I doubt Dad would approve anyways."
"Oh, Tony approves. He's the captain of the ship."
"No way."
"Yes, he is. You'll see what I mean."
"The beast has finally awakened from her beauty sleep," Sam chuckled as he saw you make your way to the kitchen, pulling a stool up to the island.
"Nice to meet you too, Wilson," you rolled your eyes as he gave you a fist-bump. "What a way to greet your best friend after she was bedridden for three days because she got shot in the stomach. Very nice."
"Even after the effects of those drugs to put you under wore off, you're still boring."
"Shut up. At least I have a faster mile time than you. Remember that time we went racing when I was down with a fever?"
"Okay...let's not go there..." he said with a strained smile, neatly folding his hands in his lap. "Now. CAP! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU, YOUR GIRLFRIEND IS AWAKE!"
"I'm not his---"
"Hey, sweetie."
"Dad!" you smiled, quickly giving Tony a hug.
"You guys should get together," he wiggled his eyebrows up and down.
"In your dreams."
"Hey, Y/N," you heard a familiar voice say from behind you, and you turned around to see who it was, your face breaking out into a grin when you saw that it was Steve. You didn't care if your wound was fully recovered, simply launching yourself up into his arms and wrapping your arms around his neck and your legs around his torso, and his went around your waist to hold your steady as he spun you around.
"Woah there," he chuckled, patting you on the back and letting you back down, "someone's excited."
"I missed you," you mumbled into his chest as he pulled you in for another hug, holding him tight.
"I missed you too," he smiled as he bent down to kiss your forehead.
"And you said you guys weren't in love, hmmmmm?" Pietro looked at you all funny, crossing his arms in suspicion.
"No comment," both you and Steve said at the same time with your cheeks tinged bright pink, quickly shutting up to focus on eating your food.
"Aha. Bruce, it's time to go down to the lab to work on all the OTP ship names and writing out the story of their life together, and to draw their future children, with their powers and suits," Tony sighed wistfully, "I can't believe this day has happened. I'll be leading my little Y/N down the aisle soon."
"Dad!"