Chapter Text
A tender kiss was left behind on the heated, exposed skin. A gentle nibble marked the pale flesh. A tremble of pleasure coursed within the feverish body. Caresses between lovers were given between each other, slowly followed by confessions of I love you between the two men. Moans of bliss and excitement echoed throughout the room; breaking the silence. A miracle happened that night, a night that was meant to be remembered between the two lovers, for them to remember for eternity but to never be mentioned or spoken of. That night a small light of life was conceived, a life conceived between Captain America and the God of Thunder.
“Attention! I have an announcement to make, fellow Avengers!” Thor spoke with authority, capturing the attention of his fellow companions who were present in the room.
“My fellow midgardians, my dear friends! I stand before you with an announcement of importance. It is my honor to announce a union will be created between my maiden and I, as I have asked my lovely Jane for her hand. She has accepted and with great joy and honor I am here announcing that we will wed in six weeks in Midgardian time. And it will be my joy for my fellow Avengers to join Jane and I in celebration of our union!” Thor announced to his fellow companions. Silence fell upon the room as each Avenger stared at the interaction between God and human; Thor gently pulled Jane by the waist, making the brunette giggle as she snuggled into his side, the God’s arms wrapping around the female’s thin waist, softly tightening his grip as he turned and smiled at his friends.
Steve Rogers felt his world come to a sudden halt; Thor’s words still echoing throughout the silent room. Time ticked by as each Avenger glanced at one another, not knowing how to respond. The silence and tension was broken by none other than Tony Stark who raised his glass of wine in the air, his chocolate orbs staring at the newly engaged couple with a smirk upon his lips as he proudly congratulated the couple “Cheers to the newly engaged couple! Cheers to the first engaged Avenger!”
One by one each Avenger raised their alcoholic beverage in the air and joined Tony Stark in congratulation Thor and Jane Foster. Everyone cheered to the newly couple, everyone but Steve Rogers.
Pain slowly crept into Steve’s frantic beating heart, as the pain began to slowly build around his heaving chest. The announcement made by Thor echoed into Steve’s eardrums, the God’s words slowly consuming him all while laughter and congratulations were still given to the couple. Steve took a few deep breaths, before slowly standing up and grabbing his shield along the way; quietly walking to the end of the room, making sure no one notice his sudden departure. The pain still consumed his frantic heart that belt against his ribcage as air was slowly leaving his burning lungs, yet Steve fought through it as he stepped out of the crowded room and into the dark, silent hallway. The Captain stood in silence, his back to the happy couple while his pale eyelids fluttered shut, trying his best to keep in his unshed tears. As he walked further into the hallway the harder it was to keep in his tears at bay; one by one the tears fell, slowly cascading down his cheeks.
Steve stood still, as his knees wobbled and his right hand trembled as it slowly hovered over his covered abdomen a slight swell showing through the dark blue fabric. It was a slight gesture from the blond, a gesture that disappeared into the dark room and was not seen by anyone. Steve took in another few breaths, but the pain became to much, the laughter was still in the air, Thor’s laugh being the loudest of them all and the pain consumed him whole. His knees gave out and soon Steve was falling onto the ground, onto his knees as a sob that was held back into his throat made its appearance as one sob after another followed, echoing into the semi-silent hallway. Sobs escaped from the broken blond, his eyelids shut tightly as tears still cascaded down his cheeks. Steve kneeled in the dark, his shield by his side as he sat there on his knees crying for a love long gone. As he sat there Steve could make out Clint’s and Natasha’s voices, flinching at their words of congratulations and humor.
“Congrats Thor! Who knew you’d be the first Avenger among us to pop the question!” Clint laughed as he patted Thor on the back, before grabbing Jane’s delicate hand into his own, bringing the feminine hand up to his lips and giving it a soft kiss.
“And we all thought that Tony and Pepper were going to be the first to tie the knot. Guess we all thought wrong, didn’t we Tony?” Natasha snickered, smirking when a loud cough came from Tony as Bruce quickly patted his back and only receiving a chuckle from Pepper.
The conversations carried out between the remaining Avengers, yet in the dark hallway Steve stayed silent. It felt like hours before Steve had the strength of rising to his feet, his shield dropping from his grasp and clinking onto the tile ground, echoing throughout the hallway. As the blond bit down on his lips, keeping his cries at bay, Steve took a step forward, followed by another as he walked away from his shield, from his fellow friends and teammates, he walked away from Thor. That night, a man was broken into a million pieces, an engagement was announced and the symbol of freedom and honor was left behind in the darkness, the shield of Captain America left behind as a reminder of the man who once wielded it with honor, was suddenly gone.