Chapter Text
Aliens are attacking. To Steve, it seems like aliens or robots or something were always attacking. Requiring non-stop fighting, saving, avenging in general. He muses, in between flinging his shield into an enemy, that this sort of thing never happened before the ice. Really, is seventy years enough time to turn the world from semi-normal to the coolest new playground for super villains?
Steve tries not to dwell on it as he is surrounded again. This time is actually worse than it normally is. There are quite a few of these aliens- Steve knew right away that they aren't Chitauri, but could not identify them further. They came to hurt and bully in general, that was all Steve needed to know.
Steve's shield bounces back into his hand, as it always does from his well aimed throws. He then swings it around behind him to clear out the advancing aliens. He is lost to the adrenaline of the fight, putting all of himself into the battle at hand. After all, his style is and always has been that of a brawler- a self invented style that relied more on instinct and strength, rather than any practiced moves. Nothing like the practiced, disciplined movements of the other melee Avengers.
As he feels weariness start to tug lightly on his limbs, Steve thinks that maybe he should take official lessons. Natasha and Clint always nagged him, seemingly horrified that he didn't apply his strength and talent into a known martial art. Maybe it would help conserve his energy a little more, especially in long drawn out battles like this one. Still, his unpolished fighting served him well and no one could say it was ineffective. Steve swings his fist into an alien that got past his shield, hearing a reassuring crack.
It's almost strange to Steve, that the fight is serious enough that Tony isn't chattering over the comm link like he usually does. Steve will never admit that he enjoys those sarcastic and usually witty quips in the midst of battle. As much as he liked to complain that they were distracting, Tony's random comments usually helped by preventing Steve's mind from wandering too far from the task at hand. Much like it is doing now.
“Shit, Steve look out!” Steve hears some one shout through the clip on his ear, but he doesn't really process it right away. It takes a split second to snap back into the reality beyond beating up droves of unidentified creatures. It is certainly quick enough for an average human response, but a shade too slow to go unpunished in the battlefield. Steve turns around only just in time to see a blur of movement and suddenly he's on the ground, pain flaring through his body.
Maybe it's because of the super serum, but he doesn't even black out for a second. For a moment, he thinks he has, but then again his eyes are open, even though he is seeing only darkness. He's disoriented for certain, but not so badly that he can't answer to the “Fuck! Steve, you okay?” that he gets from Clint. Belatedly, he realizes that Clint was also the one to warn him in the first place.
“Yeah, all good. Hurts a little”, Steve bites out, only realizing as he speaks that it is quite the understatement. His head is ringing from contact with the pavement, and his left arm is painfully pinned underneath his side. Steve doesn't really want to think about his legs, other than that they are definitely being crushed, if the constant pain meant anything. Steve blinks a few times, faint light allowing him to see the rubble encasing him.
He takes a big breath, only to gasp quietly from the sharp rock pressing tightly to his chest. That just hurts more. Steve shivers, imagining that his body may have been buried like this before, in the ice. He didn't remember anything after the impact. Already, the rubble seems to be closing in one him, he is stuck and there's nowhere to escape.
Now is not the time to panic, Steve reminds himself in an attempt to calm his heart rate and stop from worrying his team mates. The last thing they needed was a freak out. He could breath-albeit in shallow gulps, so there was air. It wasn't cold either, that was a plus.
“I think I've been buried.” Steve speaks calmly, mostly to himself but also for the team's benefit. He shifts his unpinned right arm, experimenting in his mobility even as various shouts of concern ring through his device. It does not hurt too badly, and he shifts his body in the best position he can for shoveling himself out of here.
“Just hold tight, friend! I am hastening to your location now!” Thor booms, and hastily, Steve tries to side track him.
“No Thor, I'm not buried deep. I can dig myself out. It's more important that the enemies are beaten.” Steve really did not want to add that he wasn't entirely sure on his ability to fight right now even if the rubble is removed. He wouldn't give up for certain, but with his legs in so much distracting pain, he would be less than useful. On the other hand, if he dug himself out, that would give his legs enough time to numb a bit and he could get back on his feet without anybody noticing the damage.
“Nonsense! The enemies are being repelled, the fight is nearly won.” Steve punches his unpinned arm upwards, earning a bigger patch of light to filter through, alerting Thor to his position so that, if he was going to waste time digging Steve out, he might as well get it done quickly. Then, Steve pauses slightly in confusion. “They were everywhere just seconds ago. How exactly are they almost beaten?”
Strong hands grips his own, and suddenly Steve is pulled from the fallen building that previously stood behind him. He groans in pain as Thor's careless rescue causes pieces of brick and wood to scrape agonizingly by his legs. Still, Steve takes a deep breath stands up on his own weight. It's really the right leg that truly feels injured, the left aches for certain but feels more relief than anything at being freed.
“It seems that Man of Iron has gone into a battle fever.” Thor explains. Steve looks around him in surprise. Only a scant minute ago, they were being pressed under droves of enemies. Now, the charred remains of aliens hit by repulser beams layer the streets and roofs. There are merely a few dozen left, all of which are scattering in an attempt to save themselves. Hulk roars, and squashes three at once; that is still nothing compared to Tony's vicious efficiency. Steve notes that this is definitely out of character for the billionaire, as Tony streaks past to finish off the straggling foes before anyone else can. Steve is surprised, but silently relieved that the fight is over. He just wants to lie down and maybe get somebody to take a look at his leg- the concept of walking right now was unpleasant.
Soon enough, the enemies are gone and the Avengers gather together to assess the damage. Despite Steve's protests on being able to walk unaided, Thor sits him on a chair-sized flat chunk of debris. Steve has the temptation to cover his face with the palm of his hand, as the other Avengers crowd around him in worry.
“Is anyone else hurt?” Steve insists, casting his gaze around the five heroes for signs of limping or pain. Steve feels somewhat bad at his initial annoyance in finding that no one else had more than a scratch or two. It was great that no one else is injured, but Steve can't deny the sting in his pride to be the only one in this situation.
Tony lands in the circle last, coming to a gentle stop with contrasted from the blood on his armor. Steve does a double take; since when does Tony get blood on him? He is a mid to long range fighter, right? He only gets really close if the enemy overwhelms his lasers and blasts, when he has to use the strength given by his suit to swing them off. And yet, the usually clean and shining metal suit is sturated with the alien's inky black blood.
Tony's face plate slides up, revealing a panicked face, still conflicting with a rage that is quickly receding. “You okay, capsicle? You missed the best part.” Tony's voice was light and joking, but Steve knew better. This was why he hadn't spoken much over the course of Steve's burial.
“I'm fine actually. More importantly, is this alien attack isolated, or part of a larger scale invasion?” Steve deflects, almost smiling at the fact that the sentence was a perfectly legitimate thing to say. Before the ice, if he had even suggested alien invasion could be a real threat in the future, they would have sent him to an asylum.
Fury interrupts them over the comm link for the first time that evening. “We've got the leader at SHIELD. Apparently, their plan was to send one strong force into a major city to gain a foothold. They breed using the bodies of other creatures.”
Steve wrinkles his nose in distaste, the Avengers in mutual expressions of disgust. Even Hulk, who has yet to turn back into Bruce, grimaces. If they had actually taken New York as their stronghold... there would have been so many humans to use as fodder for whatever process created them.
“Well, looks like we've saved the world then. Should be good for about a week.” Tony drawls, before turning to Steve. “Satisfied? We can get back to the tower, and you can get all fixed up.”
“Tony, we need to make sure that all of the civilians are found and cared for. This was a major scale fight, and I know how many casualties and injured people those create.”
Tony groans. “There are hospitals and ambulances for that. Look, there they go already!” He waves his hand in a broad gesture. Sure enough, ambulances are driving through the damaged streets as best they can. People laden with stretchers pour out of them as they park. There was just so much damage though, and not nearly enough aid.
“There are many people who need aid more than I do. I'm hurt, sure, but I have the serum. These people don't.” Steve protests.
“Oh come on, I'm not putting you in a hospital, you can use the doctors I have in the tower. Their job is solely caring for injured super heroes!”
“Then call them down here and have them help these people. I can survive a few days without medical attention, and I'll probably heal on my own too.” Steve counters. Tony is stubborn, but so is he.
“There is blood all over you! Your leg looks broken! That has to hurt enough to warrant at least some painkillers.”
“I highly doubt my leg is broken, It takes a lot more than a few bricks to break my bones. Also, painkillers don't even really work on me.”
Tony throws his hands up in the air. “You are insufferable! Fine, but the second a doctor isn't busy with someone, I am dragging them up to treat you, I don't care how tired they are.”
“Deal.” Steve grins at the victory. Usually Tony was the one who wore him out. It must be his lucky day.
With an inexplicably short wait, Happy arrives in a limo large enough to fit them all- Hulk had finally relented and allowed Bruce to make an appearance. Steve is a little unsure at how Happy even got here, what with rubble littering what patches of road that weren't half ripped from the ground.
Steve slides off his brick chair and tries to stand properly. He bites his cheek so as not to shout out from the pain that lances through his leg and the slight weight placed on it. Shaking slightly, he takes a step forward.
“Damn it Steve, you are not fine! I am taking you to a doctor!” Tony growls, jumping forward to take some of Steve's weight. He shrugs. “I will be fine, then. And you already agreed not to, so nice try.”
“Gaah!” Tony grumbles, making his irritation known even as he half carried Steve to the car and gently eased him into a seat. “You suck.” Tony complains, taking the seat beside Steve.
Steve, on the other hand, smiles brightly. He knew that Tony wanted nothing more than to disregard the promise and drag him to a doctor. He also knew that Tony was retraining himself for Steve's benefit. Ever since they had recently gotten together, Tony had been making tiny sacrifices like that. He did them because he knew how much Steve valued following through with one's words.
Their new relationship is no secret to the other Avengers, so Steve replies with a thank you and a short peck on the lips even if it does make him blush madly. Tony's frown turns into a slight smile as well with the acknowledging of his sacrifice.
The drive back to the tower is both swift and painless. Steve hopes that he's done a little extra good today as a group of doctors are hustled out of the tower and out towards the damaged zones.