Remember, you are important as everyone else. Value yourself.

🔹️

Y/N's POV

It's been 1 week since that incident at the school.

Luckily, the childreb got back, now with a full remodeling at the building, all made by Stark industries, one way or another, they achieved their funds tehy needed.

You were walking normally, well, not normal. Actually, so much has happened and you didn't feel good at all.

Breakeups, bombs, attacks, all of that coming like an avalanche onto you.

You didn't feel safe. You weren't sleeping well, scared that someone could enter in your apartment and try to kill you, or id it wasn't that, when you fell asleep, you had nigtmares, memories with your mom, not good ones.

You walked fast, tried to stay in crowded places as much as possible, even though the sounds would drive you crazy. You made Tony do lots of unecessary meetings, just so you didn't have to stay in your office alone, wondering if an attack would happen at that moment.

You had anxiety, sweating hard, as you walked through the streets you felt like someone was following you, many times pausing and entering stores for nothing, to make sure you were away from that imaginary stalker.

You went after pills, you didn't want to recline on them, you knew they were bad. You remembered your mother taking lots of them per day, even though she didn't need them.

But it seemed like they didn't work. Your sleep continued messed, you still panicked, felt breathless and stressed. Like the pills just didn't work in you, because if you asked someone else to take it, it would.

You thought about going to a therapist, but whar would you tell them? You couldn't, too much personal and classified information from work. You also didn't feel comfortable telling your secrets, you just couldn't trust someone like that.

Talking about that with Sarah would scare her, talk with Manuel would make him worried, and also, you couldn't telk everything because of the information.

That only left people from your work. But it was still hard. Since always you didn't want to bother, your mother never wanted to hear your worries, and that made you feel like other people didn't either. Why talk?

You thought abour going to Wanda and tell her everything, take all the hard stuff stuck in your throat, so what? Make her worried? Or worse, what if she just didn't care? You loved Wanda, she was an excellet friend, but maybe that was passing a limit, maybe she didn't want to know about that

Then you thought about Bucky, but part of the problem was him. You didn't feek realdy to talk about that. You just couldn't. You knew that he would be worried, and that would go to his old suggestion: quit your job. You felt stubborn, doing that, in part, woukd give him reason. That would make all you said and done in vain. No, you weren't telling him.

Tony, what about Tony? What would he say? "Do you want a vacation?" Or "If you want to quit then say so" that woulf maje you seem weak. Also, he was your boss, not your friend. He didn't want to know about your problems, he wanted his documents in his desk, not your trust issues. Another person you'd bother.

You were walking through the hallways, entering the elevator, when Steve came, hurrying to catch it too, making just in time before the doors closed.

-Hey-He greeted you.

-Hi-You answered.

You felt relieved. Someone else in that metal machine. You weren't alone for that couple of minutes. It might seem stupid, but when you experience the feeling of constant fear, you just know how much that matters.

-Lots of work?-He tried to start a conversation.

-A little.-You answered simply.

-Hm..

You didn't know what to say, but you also didn't want him quiet. Silence meant a suspense, left your mind active, running with thouthts and possibilities, like, what if the elevator falls? What if it stops? What if you get out and discovered it happened a mass murder in the tower? Those were insane thoughts, but they wouldn't go away.

-You've been distant these days...-Steve finally said it.- Since...You know...

-.. Have I?-You asked but knew you were avoiding everybody.

-Yes...I wanted to ask you it's been a while- He got closer and turned to you.- Are gou really okay with all that happened? I mean...You've been a lot.

You felt your heart shake. Then tears come to your eyes, but held them. Did he really ask that? Did he really care? That possibilty made you feel touched...No, he was just polite. That's all. Steve is kind, after all, he's Captain America. That was a normal question, nothing beyond that.

-Of course.-You forced a smile.-Everything's fine.

The door opened.

-You know you can tell me anything right?-He insisted.

-I know.-No you didn't.

And left.

🔹️

"Hail"

-NO!-you woke uo in the middle of the night screaming.

Every single time.

You couldn't have a good night of sleep without them saying that. You didn't even understand what was it about, just heard the word Hail.

Hail what? And why? You even trued to search about it but had no motivation for it.

Drink some coffee and stay awake, looking around and hearing the sounds to keeo yourself safe. Yes. That was enough.

No one can hurt you.

No one can hurt you.

No one can hurt you.

"And what you're going to do? Run after me crying?

No one can hurt you.

No one can hurt you.

No one can hurt you.

"You're a coward."

No one

No one

No one

"Anyone can kill uou if they wanted. And you know that. Why? Because you are stupid. Innocent."

Can hurt.

Can hurt

Can hurt

"Just do me a favor and kill yourself"

They can hurt me.

🔹️

Flashbacks happened all the time, activated just by a single word without context. Like, attack, useless, cry, anything literally.

You felt fragile, vulnerable.

At lunch, sitting with your friends you stayed quiet, hearing them and all the other people talk, absoring the sounds.

"You know Stark's assistant?" One said "she's so weird, one of these days met her in a meeting, she was staring at the wall like an imbecile for 30 minutes"

"Stark probably forgot about her, is just a matter of time until he fires her and hires another assistant, younger and hotter, while Pepper is working her ass off in India"

"She's a freak, can't believe she sits with the avengers, she doesn't talk to anyone, heard she has a desease"

That made your blood boil, but made they were right, maybe you were crazy. And if not yet, you would be soon.

🔹️

You were once walking fast, with a pile of papers in your hands, almost unable to see what's in front of you, when someone, a coworker, put a foot in front if you, making you trip and fall on the ground.

The papers flying around and landing slowly on the floor. You heard people gossiping and giggling between them. While you tried to grab your work, and some of them just pass through it.

But suddenly the hallway went quiet. A figure kneeled in front of you, grabbing the papers from the ground, quiet and patient, the workers felt intimidated, leaving fast without the individul saying one single word.

You whispered some"it's fine, I can do this" and "thank you, but I can handle this" when you turned to see who was in front of your eyes.

-Let me help you.-Steve said with his sweet voice, as he madd a small pile with his hands.

You felt the sadness hitting you strongly like a wave.

-What are you doing here?-You asked.

-Right now...Grabbing papers-He joked.

You stayed silent until you made the pile, steve insisting to lead them to your office.

When he let the papers in your desk, he opened his mouth, abour to say something he seemed to want to talk in a long time:

-Are you okay?

-Why do you ask me that?-You said.

-Because I care about you.-He suddenly said as his words echoed in your head.

You broke down. The tears falling violently and you sobbed.

-No! No I'm not!-You said weakly.

He gave you a hug, a warm hug and whispered:

-It's okay. Shh...You can cry, go on.

You necer expected to want tp hear those words so much. Free to cry. Free to say you weren't fine.

-I-It's so hard...-You sobbed.

Steve looked at you in the eyes, then made you sit on the table, pushing the papers aside.

-Tell me.-He said.

-Do you really want to?-You asked cleaning your tears with your sleeve.

-Yes.-He said fiercely.

You hesited for an instant. But decided to talk.

And you told him everything. Since the emltiness you felt from the constant fear. The flashbacks about your mother, the strange dreams, everhthing with the details, as he listened acrefully not taking his eyes out of you. When it was over you said:

-I'm being stupid right?

-No you aren't.-He answered.- It's totslly reasonable for you to feel that way.

-How having flashbacks of your horrible mother is reasonable?

-I don't know eveeything about your life...-He tried to explain.- But everyine has their problems, and it's okay to have yours, it's okay to accept them too.

-You don't have problems... You are like, the perfect guy. Captain America, the hero.

-And you think waking up 80 years later when everyine you knew is dead is fine?

His words made the whole room turn into silence.

-I know how it its to feel lost, with fear. Eveybody knows and live with that everyday.

-Isn't that being weak?

-That's what makes you strong-He reafirmed.

-I don't know how to live with this.

-Let me help you.-He offered his hand-You don't need to do this alone.

-You want to help me? Won't I just bother you? Why?

-I'm your friend.

You stayed quiet by his words. Friend? Were you really friends? Looking back now he was right, Steve has always been there for you. It was kind of weird to have someone who cared so much...But it was a good feeling though.

-You don't need to...-

-Come here- He interrupted grabning your hand and lifting his other in the air.- Promise me you won't keep everhthing to yourself.

He lifted his smallest finger as a promise.

-Pinky promise? Aren't us a little too old to do that? Speacially you.-You said.

-Don't be a bummer. Promise me.

You looked at his sweet eyes as he waited for you.

-Won't you get tired of me?-You asked curious.

-Stop saying that, I'll neverget tired of you. Except when you call me a grandpa. -You chuckled- So?-He said and smiled.

You united your hands, touching ypur fingers and making the promise like two kids. His soft touch in your hands as a proof of how much he cared.

You didn't want to trust people so easily.

You didn't want to rely on someone.

But in that moment it seemed right.

After you parted your hands Steve continued:

-Whenever you need to talk I'm here.

-Thank you.-You said shy.- Really.

-Don't thank me, just...Take care of yourself ok?-He said, a little tone of concern his voice.

You nodded in agreement.

-And don't let people bully you. Stand up for them!-He encouraged and you laughed.

-What should I do then Cap?-You joked.

-Oh the captain america would say that you should just ignore bullies...-He played- But Steve Rogers would tell you to give them a good punch in the face.-He winked.

You both laughed and talked for a while.

You noticed that the atmosphere was now lighter, like his presence made you calmer. You weren't worried about all those crazy situation's that could happen.

-I know your job is kind of crazy right now...I wish you didn't have to pass through this-He started- Bombs, attacks, all of this...But I promise nothing will happen.

-You can't promise that.-You spoke.

He stayed in silenece for a second, you didn't mean to be rude, it was the truth.

-You're right...-He saidwith a hand holding the back of his neck awkward- But I'll do my best to help. We'll do our best to make danger go away.

-I'd like to help.

-You do enough Y/N. Think about yourself too.

-Says the guy who's here saying he'll do his best to keep me safe.

He smirked

-See? You are lucky to have me.

-Yeah, I guess I am.-You smiled to him.

🔹️

The days passed, and everyday Steve would come to your office to talk, it was actually good. You felt better, his presence was chill and funny.

About the coworkers, since you felt better you started to look up again, ignoring their comments they started to give up, speacially when Steve or Wanda were next to you, they felt intimidated.

After some days ypur sleep got back to normal and you almost cried of happiness, the old you was getting back, with marks, but still recovered.

You talked woth Bucky normally now, sonetimes you'd catch him lpoking at you differently but nothing more than that, it seemed like you two had peace.

Sarah and Manuel were okay, she got back to school, wich was safe, and y0u managed for him to don't freak out and continue working.

Whenever you had some sort of nightmare you'd tell Steve. He was always understanding and would hear the whole story, making you feel calmer after it. He didn't have solutions but just opening up was enough for you.

The work got better, the nights and the day itself. You saw the sun brighter and happier now. Time to get happy again.

🔹️

Tony's POV

-So? What happened?-You asked.

-Is it really necessary? I mean, it's something personal for her, we shouldn't--

-Steve, you need to understand,-You tried to explain- You are the only one she trusts, we are just trying to help, the more we know the faster we can discover what power she exactly has.-He observed you as you explaned.-It's for her own good.

He stared at the ground, his hands on his hips, quiet like he was searching im his moral code if he was doing the right decision.

-It's the same as I told you these days- He finally talked- The black and white scenarios with the voices, sometimes her mother in her nightmares. At day random flashbacks

-The voices saying that "hail" thing you said right?

-Yeah.

-Damn.-You swore trying to understand what all of that meant.

-Is it related to Hydra?

-Probably.

-Is she safe Tony?-He asked worried.

-I don't know yet. First WE need to be safe. Bruce and I need to find out what abilities she has hidden before...

You stopped in the middle of your sentence.

-Before what?-He asked.

-Before we all fucking die.