Song: Halsey - Graveyard.
Imagine; you get dusted, but when Steve goes back to 2012 and encounters his old self, it makes him want to fight again.
•••
'Steve...' you breathe out, wobbling to him.
'Y/n!, hey hey...' he catches you in his arms before dropping to his knees.
Your skin is pale and it frightens Steve go the core, he's not about to lose you, he keeps convincing himself he won't lose the person he walked into love with.
He wouldn't call it falling in love, it wasn't a surprise for him, he always says he walked into love with you, eyes wide open. He chose you to love.
'What's happening?' You croak out, trying to catch your breath.
You feel something changing inside of you, it's such a weird feeling that you can't place it. So you desperately try to hold onto his suit while you feel his arms tighten around you in a comforting embrace.
'I feel strange...'
The moment those words leave your lips, he moves his eyes up and sees people disappearing into dust all around you two.
'No...no no you can't go...'
You on the other hand look at your legs, you see them slowly to turn into dust themselves. You reach up to cup his face and you make him look you in the eye.
'Its going to be okay...' you use most of your strength.
You see tears glancing over his eyes. As one rolls down, you wipe it away.
'I can't live without you...'
'I love you...don't forget.... tha....'
And just like that, you become another heap of dust on the ground while the rest of the team is left to pick up the pieces.
Steve stares down to his covered hands before yelling out of pure rage and despair. Never in his life has he felt more pain than this moment. He was supposed to prevent this.
Guilt sets in as the tears flow. He swore to protect you and he failed.
For five years those feelings of guilt and sorrow consumed him and made him into the man he is today.
He became a completely different character. Where he used to be full of life and ready to fight the bullies no matter what size, he is now a man without any motivation left to fight with.
He has tried for five years, but failed all over again when he found out Thanos had destroyed all the stones. No hope left, which also meant that all the power to fight the wrong slowly ebbed away.
Until there was that sixteen year old kid from Brooklyn again.
'Steve... we have a chance now...'
'We had a chance five years ago, and then another soon after that and we both failed...' Steve slumps back into his chair while Natasha sighs.
'It took so much to convince Tony to help us, and now you're backing out?'
'Exactly..' Steve's reply is brief, a sign that she should stop trying with him, but she won't.
'And what would y/n day about this?'
That hurts Steve right in the gut, he hasn't heard or spoken that name out loud in years.
'Well she's not here is she?!' His sudden outburst doesn't faze Natasha one bit, she knows you're a sensitive subject, always have been.
'But what if this makes her come back?, you could at least try...' she reaches deep into her pocket and pulls out the one small reminder he kept.
She throws it on the table, making it slide over to Steve before she walks away, well more like stomps away.
Steve runs his fingers over the compass. It flicks open and he is met with a picture of you and him together. He can't help but smile at the image.
You just got back from a mission, his hair was all messed up and you got dirt and blood all over you, your hair was all tangled up and you're both clearly a mess. But nevertheless you were happy. And kissing for that matter.
'I can't live without you..'
'I love you... don't forget... tha...'
He closes his hand around it as he stands up. He needs to get you back, no matter the consequences.
•••
(2012)
He saw you walking with his past self. And he had to take a moment to look at you. Even if that sounds creepy.
And after taking the sceptre, he'd rather get out of there as fast as he can, he needs to get everyone back so he can be with you again.
But clearly you had other plans.
'Steve?' Your past self ask confused.
He slowly turns around and he sees your whole worried demeanour change into a defensive one. Y/n can tell it's not the Steve she knows.
'Who are you and why do you have the sceptre?' Y/n asks stalking towards him with a glare.
'I uh.. it's kind of hard to explain and I really have to go...' he turns back around and sees 2012 Steve standing on the other side.
'Damnit... why are we so good together...' he mutters.
Then all hell breaks loose, Y/n and 2012 Steve both charge at him and he actually has trouble fighting past you off, always had.
So instead of trying to knock her out, he grabs the sceptre and points it right to y/n's heart. Making her slump down to the floor.
The fighting between Steve and his past self continues, knocking out the compass containing your picture. It slides next to Y/n's hand.
She groans, Steve has never been able to completely hold power over you, much like the people around you.
Y/n turns her head and sees the compass laying there, her eyes widen when she sees its not Peggy's picture.
Y/n braces herself against the floor, pushing her body off of the glass crawling up. She opens the compass again and stares at the picture.
Then it dawns to y/n, this is Steve, just older. He's changed... and being choked by the Steve from this time.
Y/n rushes over to the pair and punches "her" Steve knockout making him let go of the older Steve.
'Thanks...' Steve wheezes as he crawls up.
'I always kind of wanted to do that... you can be pretty annoying at times...' y/n pants.
Steve frowns while she shows him a small smirk. 'Come on don't tell me I never told you that before...'
Y/n steps forward and gently cups his hand, putting the compass in his palm.
'This may have saved your life...'
'Thank you...' He stares at the younger version of you in front of him.
'What year are you from?' She asks.
'2023..' hè answers truthfully.
'How bad is it?' She continues to ask and Steve visibly swallows.
'You know what never mind, because I'm sure that you'll fix it... together with the team...' She wraps her arms around him.
'You can do this...' she whispers stepping back again. 'I believe in you...' She cups his cheek and wipes away a stray tear.
He nods as he takes a step back himself. 'I have to go...'
'Okay... I'll see you around...'
'Oh and tell that idiot over there that you like him... he likes you back...' He starts walking the other way.
'Then why doesn't he say anything?!' She yells.
'Because he's a little rusty!'
'Pff, like you could ever oil that old timer...' she chuckles.
She hears some ruffling and glass moving behind her. Followed by a threat of curses and grunts. 'What happened?' 2012 Steve asks lifting his head.
'I did...get up... we've got aliens to fight...'
•••
Steve has been fighting those things non stop now, Thanos and his alien army.
You should've been there with the others. But so far he hasn't had any luck finding you in the battlefield.
You are trying to find him as well. Pushing past a few aliens, killing them while you're at it.
And then you hear it...
His voice calling out to you over the comms, hoping it still works after five years.
'Y/n?!, where are you?!' He sounds so worried.
'Steve?'
You can hear him exhale out of relief on the other end of the line. 'You have no idea how good it is to hear your voice baby...' He breathes.
'Me too Stevie...where are you?'
'Right behind You...'
You turn around and a smile crosses your face when you see him. He may be covered in dirt and alien blood, and shaven off his previous beard, he still looks the same. God does this man ever age?
You start running just as he drops his shield. You jump up and he wraps his arms around your waist as you wrap yours around his neck.
You chuckle when you feel him spinning you around before he leans back his head and presses his lips to yours.
'Hey guys... don't mean to ruin the moment!, but we still have a lot of bad guys to kill!' Natasha yells.
'Hello to you too Nat...'
'Hey where's my come back kiss?' Tony replies and you roll your eyes.
'In your dreams iron boy...'
'I love you...' he puts you down on your feet.
'I love you too...'
'Seems like there is something that can oil up this oldtimer after all..'
You frown at him, you're having minding a deja vu, and judging by the look on Steve's face, this was supposed to be a witty remark.
'Hmm, I've heard that somewhere...' You hum.