Steve

     My eyes flutter open, seeing the morning light. I take a deep breath and look down. I see Tori, who is still in a deep sleep. I shift her closer to me and my eyes slowly close again, taking another short rest.
     My eyes open once more when I feel Tori's hands flinch on my chest. She looks up at me, a smile spreading across her face.
     "Good morning," she whispers.
     "Good morning," I whisper back to her.
     Her brown orbs seem to be filled with happiness, causing me to smile.
     "Do we have to get up?" she asks.
     "Eventually," I laugh.
     "But eventually isn't now," she says, planting a kiss on my jaw.
     My grin spreads, soon it is showing my teeth. She grips my blue shirt as she inches up my chest. I rest my head on hers, not wanting the moment to end.
     "Anymore nightmares?" Tori inquires.
     "Thankfully no," I say. "But that was the scariest one I've had in a while."
     Tori blushes, remembering that it was about her, in a good way.
     "You really care about me, don't you?" she asks.
     "Yes," I breathe. "More than anything in the world."
     "I feel the same about you,"
     My heart flutters in my chest. I hold her closer to me and she interlocks her free hand with mine.
     "It just felt so real," I say, holding her hand.
     "I know," she says. "I know."
     "How?" I ask. "You were the one woke me up from it."
     "You were flinching and your eyes were squeezed shut."
     I laugh. "That makes sense."
     "Steve," she begins. "What happened? Like, in detail."
     "A H.Y.D.R.A. agent tried to push you off the side of the mountain, but you caught yourself on a very frail rock that stuck out of the mountain. You screamed and I heard you. I came running and knocked out the agent. I dropped to the ground to help you. But my fingers barely grazed your hand before the rock gave out and split. I've never seen anyone so terrified in their lives. You dropped down and disappeared into the fog, leaving me alone."
     "Steve," Tori coos. "I will never leave you, I promise."
     "But-"
     "At least with my own will,"
     "I promise you the same," I say.
     I kiss her forehead and nuzzle her hair. She holds me tighter and buries her face into my chest.
     "I love you," Tori mumbles.
     "I love you more," I sing.
     "I don't think so," she giggles.
     I laugh and continue our little "I love you"s.
     "I love you more than anything," I say.
     "I love you more than anything throughout the nine realms." Tori says.
     "I love you more than the United States,"
     "I love you more than I love Tony,"
     "Let's hope he didn't hear that," I chuckle.
     "Yeah, he'll probably kill me." Tori jokes.
     "Let's hope not,"
     We cuddle more, never wanting to let go. I've never been this calm and carefree in my life than right now. I have no worries, no bad thoughts. Tori takes the pain away.
     "Steve?" Tori whispers.
     "Yes, honey?" I ask.
     She blushes at the nickname. "I just want you to know that I'll love you no matter what happens. I know that I've already said it before, but I really want you to understand that I'm serious. You're the best thing to come into my life. And even if we're ripped apart, we'll come back together. Even if we have to take sides, I'll still be with you. I'm not letting anything take you away from me. I would die if that happened, and I'm being serious."
     "And I want you to remember that too because I'm always going to be here, even if I'm not physically in front of you."
    "You'll always be physically with me," she says. "In my heart."