Sing to me

One moment until the end

      None of them could remember what the argument had started over. Perhaps it was some insignificant domestic detail, a disagreement about movie preferences, or an ill-considered remark. The foolish resentment towards each other caused not only the sweet and yielding Erica to grind her teeth in fury but also the generous and fair-minded Steve. For several days, they deliberately ignored each other, throwing spiteful glances and muttering incomprehensible words under their breath, repeatedly turning away from their other half. Tony laughed at them, Natasha tried to mediate between the quarreling parties, Bruce hid in the lab to avoid accidentally getting caught in the crossfire, and Clint slyly provoked Erica and Steve. In general, everything in the Avengers Tower was proceeding as usual, and perhaps they would have reconciled if not for one morning.       On that fateful morning, Nick Fury, lounging in the Avengers' living room and sipping whiskey, casually mentioned another lead on a Hydra base.       Captain America and Iron Man set out on the mission together, just the two of them. Neither of them suspected at the time that what seemed like a routine check on a routine lead from Fury, of which there had been many lately and almost all turned out to be false alarms, would end badly for one of them. The Hydra henchmen quickly detected the intrusion into their territory, as if they had been waiting for them, lying in ambush. Raising their shields, they didn't allow the Avengers to leave the base.       And so, at five o'clock in the evening, as the sun inexorably tilted towards the horizon, the lead turned into a fierce and brutal battle. Steve and Tony, barely managing to call for backup, fought off the relentless onslaught, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the enemies, leaping over lifeless bodies, and losing each other in the cacophony of horrific screams, gasps, and curses. They had to hold out for just half an hour, but either luck had turned away from them or the opponents were too strong - success came hard. There was nowhere to retreat, and the protective shield, like a transparent veil, blocked their path to escape.       Strikes, blood, dust, cries, the crunch of broken bones, a barrage of fire, flashes of light. Iron Man had already lost half of his suit, and Captain America had lost his shield. They had no idea how long the battle had been going on or how much time was left until reinforcements arrived.       Steve fought. Fiercely, mercilessly, standing in the midst of a circle of enraged enemies, trying to shield Tony. Blow after blow. He deflected another attack and managed to dodge another bullet. And then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a knife flying towards him, but it was too late. His tired body, covered in wounds and bruises, didn't move in time. It felt strange to feel an ordinary knife plunge into his chest, piercing through flesh effortlessly even through his armored suit. Maybe it wasn't an ordinary knife? Steve didn't know. The dull pain clouded his mind, and the man, losing control of his body, fell to the ground. He felt a strong desire to sleep. To close his eyes and sink into sweet bliss, where there was silence and tranquility. Captain succumbed. He closed his eyes and smiled. The world around him quieted. He saw Erica. Her round face, mischievous slightly slanted eyes, a button nose, and a sprinkle of freckles on her cheeks. She was smiling. She was happy.       "Rogers!" Stark's piercing cry made the man wince.       The sounds of the hopeless battle returned, and Erica disappeared. Captain felt someone grab him and pull him, then stop, collapse next to him, and start shaking his shoulders.       "Open your eyes, Cap!" It was Stark's voice again. "Don't you dare die, icicle! Reinforcements have arrived!"       A powerful slap forced his heavy eyelids to open. Tony seemed to swim strangely before his eyes, and something evil and green flickered behind him. Probably Hulk.       "Stark," the man croaked, feeling his mouth fill with blood and breathing becoming increasingly difficult. "Tell her..."       "You'll tell her yourself!"       "Tony, please," Steve tried to focus a sad gaze on his friend.       Stark squeezed Rogers' shoulder. He saw a terrible sight - his best friend (which, of course, Stark would never admit) lying on the ground, covered in blood, with a knife in his chest, growing pale as if melting, dissolving before his eyes. The dead haze veiled his blue eyes, and his chest barely rose.       "Tony..." Steve croaked again. "Tell her, I saw her. That I closed my eyes and saw her. I love Erica, Tony."       And Captain America plunged into the enticing darkness, amid the heart-rending cry of Iron Man.

***

      The smell of iodine, alcohol, and medication. The annoying beep of some device. Bright light piercing through closed eyes. Steve didn't want to wake up. His head throbbed terribly, and his whole body ached as if a twenty-ton tank had run over him. But Rogers was incredibly thirsty.       Opening his eyes, he didn't immediately understand where he was. A white room, some wires, something warm preventing his right hand from moving. By sheer force of will, Steve turned his head and saw Erica. The girl was sitting on an uncomfortable chair, resting her head on his bed and holding his hand tightly. He wanted to call out to her, but only a nightmarish rasp escaped his throat. Erica startled and jerked her head up. Her sunken, pale face and swollen eyes belied her exhaustion. It seemed like she had been sitting there for a long time, next to him, holding his hand, occasionally crying, praying to the gods for him to stay alive.       "Steve!" she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes again. "Oh God, Steve!"       The girl threw herself around the man's neck, holding him tightly in her arms, as if afraid that he would disappear any moment.       "Hey," Steve hoarsely replied, hugging her back.       Erica, not letting go of the embrace, pulled away slightly and looked into his eyes. How terrified she had been that she would never be able to look into them again, into those blue, dreamy eyes, feel Steve's warmth, and never hear his voice again.       "Forgive me," the girl uttered with her lips. "Forgive me for what happened. That stupid fight..."       "No need," Steve softly smiled and gently stroked Erica's back. "Everything's okay."       "I love you, Steve."       The man gently pulled the girl closer and kissed her.       "You know what I saw last, just before everything went dark?"       Erica shook her head in denial.       "You," Rogers replied. "And I love you, Erica."       And their lips met again in a long-awaited kiss...