Exile

“If someone punches you in the stomach, it’ll hurt whether you were expecting it or not. So, if the person you love stops loving you back, you’re going to feel the blow, even if you saw it coming.” —S.Z.

The Funeral

The funeral was a lonely affair. Some of the hospital staff sent flowers, but none of them had actually come to pay their respects. 

Sarah Rogers’ darling boy stood before her coffin, alone. He stared at the body that didn’t look like his mother. 

His mother had been brilliant and vivid. But a corpse is only an echo of life. 

He didn’t cry. Not even a tear slipped from his eyes. But that didn’t mean that he loved her any less. He was alone as they lowered her body into the grave beside her husband. He was alone as he threw a handful of dirt on top of her coffin. He was alone as she was buried, an inevitable distance between mother and son. 

No one walked him home. No one offered him comfort. No one held him close because no one should go through grief alone. 

Steve was irrevocably alone. 

The Interview 

Tap. Tap. Tap. 

Steve’s feet tapped nervously. He squeezed his knee in an attempt to stop himself, but he was wound up so tightly that his nerves bubbled over. He didn’t know what he was going to do if he didn’t get this job. 

“Mr. Rogers,” the receptionist called. 

Steve took a deep breath and walked over to her desk. 

“Mr. Stark will see you now.” She looked him up and down and was clearly not impressed. 

Steve hoped he didn’t look as nervous as he felt. 

Tony Stark’s office was obviously built to intimidate. 

Tony motioned for him to sit down but didn’t even look at him. “Where’s the red sweater?”

Steve was taken aback. “E-Excuse me?”

“Mr. Rogers?” Stark dragged the words out.

Steve forced himself to chuckle. 

“Where’d you last work?” Tony asked dryly. 

“The hospital,” Steve replied. 

“Hmm. Why are you applying for this job?”

“The pay’s better,” Steve answered honestly.  

“References?” Tony held out his hand. 

Steve handed over his resume. 

Tony skimmed through it. 

Steve waited with bated breath. 

“Well?” Mr. Stark asked impatiently. “Why should you get the job?”

Steve blinked. 

Tony rubbed his temples. “I’m waiting.”

“I’m an experienced nurse, and I enjoy working with seniors,” Steve said. 

Tony downed a glass of whiskey. “Barely any experience compared to the other applicants.”

“I’m a hard worker.”

Tony sighed. 

Steve dug his fingernail into his thumb. “I-I really need this job.”

Tony frowned. “Why?”

“M-My ma died,” Steve whispered. “I can’t pay the hospital bills or the mortgage bills on our place.”

“So, I should give you this job out of charity?” Tony laughed. 

“No, sir!” Steve cried. “I’ll work harder than anyone else, and I won’t quit no matter what.”

Tony hummed. “We’ll see about that.”

“I got the job?” Steve asked. 

“Sure, kid. The elevator will take you up.”

Steve was clearly dismissed. Hesitantly, he got on the elevator but balked at the hundreds of floors. 

“May I assist you?” A polite voice asked. 

Steve nearly jumped out of his skin. 

“Apologies, sir. I am the AI system that runs the building.”

“Oh, well, I’m Steve Rogers. Nice to meet you.” Steve stupidly held his hand out. 

“I am J.A.R.V.I.S.,” the amused AI replied. “I believe you are heading to the Stark Senior’s floor?”

“Uh, yes.”

The elevator started moving. 

The Job

The elevator opened into a large living room that could have easily swallowed Steve’s small apartment whole. 

It was as cluttered as it was big. 

Steve stepped over a pile of empty pizza boxes. His nose burned at a pile of clothes that looked like they’d barely survived a fire. 

“Fire in the hole!” An overexcited voice shouted. 

Steve ducked behind a rich leather couch that put his lumpy, orange couch to shame. 

A loud explosion shook the whole room. 

“Mr. Stark, we have company,” J.A.R.V.I.S.’ voice rang out throughout the room. 

“Company?” Mr. Stark asked. 

Steve stood up. “Hi.”

Mr. Stark looked so much like his son that it was uncanny. “Jar, who’s this?”

“The nurse—”

“How many times do I have to tell that boy that I don’t need a nurse!” Howard interrupted the AI. 

Steve chuckled. “Guess, it’s good I’m not a nurse.”

“What?” Howard asked. 

“Well, I’m technically a nurse, but it’s obvious that you don’t need one.” Steve smiled. “I am, however, whatever you need. So, for today, I’m a maid and a chef.” 

Steve had heard horror stories about working for the Starks. And though it was true that Howard Stark was eccentric and Tony Stark was a playboy, Steve didn’t mind it. Everything about him was small, even his personality. He didn’t mind letting the Starks shine. He needed the distraction. 

Nothing had been right since Sarah died. 

Steve had finally given up hope on keeping their old apartment. Even with his new paycheck, he just couldn’t swing it. He hated going home after work. The new apartment had no heart. Steve stared at the blank walls and hated how hollow he felt. 

Work was the only thing that gave him some purpose. 

The Beginning

Steve was doing just fine on his own. He actually really enjoyed working for the Starks. 

Howard didn’t need a nurse so much as he needed a friend. 

Something that was all too easy to give. 

It was usually just him and Howard. 

But sometimes, Tony came around. 

The tension between the two Starks was obvious, but it wasn’t something that Steve understood. He’d do anything just to see his ma again. 

One night after Howard had gone to bed, Steve was cleaning up the dishes. He hadn’t even realized that Tony was staring at him. 

“You know I pay actual maids to do that.” Tony’s voice was husky against Steve’s ear.

Steve shivered. “I made the mess.”

The Alpha almost purred. 

Steve almost jumped when the Alpha’s arms wrapped and locked around him. “M-Mr. Stark?”

Tony nipped Steve’s neck. 

Steve gasped. He didn’t understand what was going on. 

Tony Stark could have any Omega he wanted. 

Why would he want little-ole Steve?

But for whatever reason, Tony did want Steve. 

And Steve? Well, he just wanted to be wanted. 

Omegas are vulnerable. 

And Alphas take advantage.  

The Affair

Steve woke up feeling used and bruised. The bed was empty. He was alone. Why was he always alone?

Loneliness gnawed on the remains of his heart. 

Steve was worried about work, but Tony acted as if nothing had happened. So, Steve did his best to pretend that it didn’t hurt. He tried to focus on work. 

If Howard noticed that something was off, he didn’t mention it. 

Steve was especially exhausted as he got on the elevator. He pushed the lobby button, but the elevator didn’t go down, it went up. 

The elevator doors opened into a wing of the Avengers’ Tower that he had never seen before. It was even nicer than Howard’s. 

“Ah, there’s the friendly neighborhood Rogers,” Tony drawled, an empty whiskey bottle in his hand. 

“Uh, I think the elevator isn’t working,” Steve stuttered. 

Tony laughed. “Nope. I wanted to spend more time with you.” 

“I-I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Steve whispered. 

Tony dropped the whiskey bottle. “Why not, baby?” 

“You’re my boss. I can’t afford to lose this job.” 

“I’m not gonna fire you. I sleep with my employees all the time.” Tony pulled Steve towards him. “C’mon, baby.”

Steve knew that he should leave. He didn’t like being treated like this, but he didn’t want to go home either. He didn’t want to be alone anymore. 

The affair lasted for a few weeks. 

Steve couldn’t help but feel something for Tony. 

It wasn’t love. 

It was carnal, painful, and nothing but a lie. 

But Steve didn’t deserve love. 

Sometimes, Tony would whisper sweet nothings in his ear. Sometimes, Tony held him during the night. 

Sometimes, it felt real. 

The Fight

It wasn’t unusual for Steve to feel unwell. 

He thought he was coming down with the flu, so he called in sick. A few days passed, but Steve didn’t feel any better. 

Finally, he forced himself to go to work. 

“You sure you’re alright?” Howard asked. 

“I’m fine.” Steve’s voice was wheezy. 

Howard frowned. “Well, how bout we watch some movies?”

“I thought you wanted to finish your experiment?” Steve asked. 

Howard gently ruffled Steve’s hair. “We can do that any other day.”

Watching old movies put him right to sleep. 

A few weeks ago, Howard had first noticed that something was off with Steve. He didn’t usually care about his nurses, but Steve wasn’t like his previous caregivers. 

The Omega was curled against his side like a pup. 

Howard had almost fallen asleep himself when the elevator opened. 

“What’s going on here?” Tony growled. 

Howard sighed. “Steve’s still a bit under the weather.”

Tony scoffed. “This is inappropriate.”

“Since when have you cared about that?” Howard asked. He suspected, but he didn’t dare bring it up. 

Tony glared at him. 

“I think Steve’s been going through a hard time,” Howard admitted. 

“So, he’s just the help.” Tony snapped. 

“Is that how you see people?” Howard asked. 

Tony laughed loudly. “As if you’re one to judge!”

Steve startled awake. 

“I’m not paying overtime for you to sit on your ass!” Tony yelled. 

Steve flinched. “I-I’m sorry. I’ll be on my way.”

“It’s too late for you to walk home on your own,” Howard said. “I’ll have Happy drive you home.”

“He’s already clocked out,” Tony said snidely. 

“I’ll be fine,” Steve said. 

“No, no, dear-old dad’s right! You’ll stay in one of the empty apartments.” 

Steve trembled under the influence of the Alpha’s voice. 

“J.A.R.V.I.S. will take you where you need to go,” Tony continued.

“Yes, Alpha,” Steve said softly. 

Once Steve was on the elevator, Howard yelled at Tony, “You never use your Alpha voice on an Omega like that!” 

“When did you get so pretentious?” Tony asked. “You wrote the book on being a shitty Alpha, and now you judge me for acting just like you!”

“I am your father!” Howard yelled. 

“Yeah, well, the wrong parent died!” Tony screamed. 

Steve was almost asleep when Tony stumbled into his room. 

Tony fell on top of Steve and tried to kiss him. 

Steve shoved him away. “You’re drunk!”

Tony gripped Steve’s hands. “So, you’re a bitch in heat for daddy—”

“Let go of me!” Steve growled. 

“Fine!” Tony shoved Steve so hard he fell out of the bed. “You’re pathetic! Not even worth a damn. Omegas have one purpose, and you can’t even do that right!”

Steve whimpered. 

Tears were free falling. 

“Get out of my tower!” Tony screamed. “Get out!”

The rain was pouring like pellets of ice. 

Steve shivered. He hadn’t even grabbed his threadbare jacket—

The rain made dark streets even harder to navigate; he could make anything out through the tears and the rain. 

He slipped, and everything went black. 

The Elegy 

Sam woke up with a start. 

The phone was ringing. 

Why on earth was the phone ringing so early?

“Hello?” He managed. 

“You are Steve Rogers’ next of kin?” A nurse asked. 

“What happened?” Sam asked. “Where is he?”

“Strange Miracles,” the nurse replied. 

“I’ll be there in a few minutes. Is he ok?”

The nurse hesitated before answering truthfully, “No.”

“What the hell happened?” Sam asked. He’d thought he’d seen Steve at his worst, but he’d never seen Steve look so broken. 

“He has hyperthermia and some evidence of abuse,” Dr. Strange replied. “It’s a miracle he didn’t lose the baby.”

“Baby!” Sam shouted. 

Dr. Strange frowned. 

Steve’s eyes cracked open as if they were frozen. 

He recognized that he was in a hospital, but he didn’t know why. 

“Thank God, you’re awake!” Sam hugged him. “I was so worried about you.”

“W-What happened?” Steve asked. 

“You walked home in a hurricane without your coat!” Sam snapped. “You caught hyperthermia, and you fell and passed out.”

Steve flinched at the harshness in his friend’s voice. 

“Goddammit, Steve, you’re supposed to be able to take care of yourself!” Sam swore. 

Steve started crying. His frail arms tightened around Sam. 

“Who hurt you?” Sam growled. “I’ll kill ‘em I swear.”

Steve sobbed harder. 

The next time Steve woke up, he was alone. Whimpering, he felt tears swell like an ocean held back by eyelashes. 

“Mr. Rogers?” Dr. Strange hovered in the doorway. 

“Yes?” Steve sighed. He was so sick and tired of hospitals and doctors. 

“We need to discuss your pregnancy.”

Steve inhaled sharply. “W-What?”

“You are pregnant. I would say only a few weeks along—”

“Is the baby ok?” Steve asked. 

“I’ve been going over your chart, and I can’t say that carrying this pregnancy to term in your condition would be a viable option.”

“Is my baby ok!” Steve asked again. 

“You have several chronic illnesses and a very weak immune system. I do not think your body could handle carrying a child to term.” Dr. Strange despised Omegas. They were so emotional. 

Steve knew that. He’d been warned repeatedly that pregnancy was not a safe option with his health. But that was before. Now, he was pregnant, and he would rather die than give that up. 

Steve missed several weeks of work because he’d been confined to bed rest. He’d seriously considered quitting, but he doubted he could find a better job. He was terrified when he finally set foot in the Avengers’ Tower. His hand curled protectively around his little baby bump. 

Howard pulled him into a crushing hug. “I was so worried about you!”

This close, there was no way the Alpha could miss how the Omega’s scent had changed. 

Howard’s face drained of color. His instincts screamed that this was his to protect—his family!

Steve dreaded telling Tony, but he knew that he had to. 

“What do you want?” Tony snarled. 

“I-I’m pregnant!” Steve blurted out. 

“Get rid of it then!” Tony threw a couple of hundreds at him. 

Steve shook his head. “I’m going to keep it.”

“Let’s get something straight then. That thing isn’t mine!” Tony advanced on Steve menacingly. “I don’t owe you or it anything.”

Steve nodded frantically. He was relieved if he were honest. He didn’t want a man like that in his child's life. “Understood.”

Tony tried to fire Steve, but Howard wouldn’t let him. So, Tony cut Steve’s pay in half. He didn’t care how it affected the Omega or his pup. 

Life was infinitely more complicated. 

But Steve wasn’t alone anymore. 

***

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