Steve

I gently shake Tori's shoulder, desperately trying to make her wake. I say her name over and over again, but it doesn't work. She trembles in her sleep until she bolts upright from the bed.
"No!" she screams, sweat trickling down her forehead.
     "Tori," I choke out.
     She snaps her head to look at me, her eyes filled with fear. She wraps her arms around me, sobbing into my chest. I whisper comforting things into her ear, hoping that will help. I rub my hand along her back soothingly, making small circles with my fingers.
     "It was just a dream," I coo.
     "It seemed so real," she cries.
     "What was it?" I ask her.
     "You and Tony dying."
     "Well, we're both living, I can assure you that."
     "Steve," she whispers, pulling away from me. "Do you ever feel like you have the same dream over and over again?"
     "Sometimes," I respond. "What do you mean by that?"
     "I always have nightmares about you dying."
     "I do too," I say. "It scares me so much and you're living when I wake up."
     "That's the only good part about it,"
     "We should get back to sleep," I say, laying back down on the bed.
     Tori drops and rests her head on my chest. She grips my blue t-shirt and takes in its scent. I wrap my arms around her, keeping her as close to me as I can.
     "I love you," she says.
     "I love you too," I respond, quickly pecking her forehead.

•••

I inhale and exhale the warm air. The spring heat is becoming more recognizable. I hold Tori's hand as we stroll to my motorbike. I grip a helmet in my other hand, but it isn't for me. I help Tori onto the bike and put the helmet on her head.
"I don't need this," she protests, adjusting the helmet.
"Yes, you do." I respond.
I hop onto the seat and start it. Tori wraps her arms around me as I kick up the kickstand.
"And we're off," I announce, placing my hands on the handle bars.
The air rips through my shirt and we drive along the streets of Manhattan. We were called earlier this morning to go to S.H.I.E.L.D. for a meeting, and I wanted to go the entertaining way.
"We could've just gone in the car," Tori complains along the way.
"But this is fun," I call back to her.
I pull up to the huge building, turning the bike off and putting the kickstand down. I get off and help Tori, which she thanks me for. I spot the other Avengers, except Thor, walking inside the building. Tori and I race to catch up to them, not even breaking a sweat when we eventually do.
     "Oh, hey," Tony says.
     "Hey," Natasha greets.
     "Does anyone know what Fury needs?" I ask.
     "Nope," Clint says, popping the 'p'.
     "Well, alrighty then." I mumble.
     "Probably another mission," Tori groans.
     "It better be simple,"
     We stroll through the hallways to Director Fury's office. He looks up at us, his expression unchanging.
     "I have a mission for you all," he announces.