Exile

“In a perverse way, I was glad for the stitches, glad it would show, that there would be scars. What was the point in just being hurt on the inside? It should bloody well show.” —Janet Fitch

It didn’t take long for the Avengers to find Steve and Peggy. They were still holed up in that dingy motel room, the stale air thick with exhaustion and uncertainty.

Steve sat on the edge of the bed, clad only in a pair of boxers, his scabbed-over mark stark against his skin.

Tony’s gaze locked onto it, his jaw tightening, a growl rumbling low in his throat. That should have been his mark. Steve was his.

But Steve didn’t react. He didn’t flinch, didn’t even look up. His entire world was cradled in his arms—his daughter, sleeping soundly despite the storm raging around them.

“He’s gone,” Steve said simply, his voice flat, final.

Natasha swore under her breath. “He’ll be in the wind then.”

A ghost of a smile flickered across Steve’s face, more defiant than joyful. “You’ll never catch him now.” 

“We don’t need to catch him,” Tony said, his voice dangerously calm. “We have you—his mate.”

Steve glared at him. “You can’t hold me. I ain’t done nothing wrong.”

“You were harboring a fugitive. Well—Harboring is the wrong word, more like shacking up with.”

“Steve is blameless,” Thor interjected, his voice firm. “He is worthy of the hammer, and his heart is pure.”

Tony snorted. “He’s anything but.”

The flight back to the tower felt suffocating. Steve was strapped into a seat, holding Peggy in his arms. The weight of the Avengers’ scrutiny was heavy, each one of them silently assessing him—some with curiosity, others with suspicion. But Tony’s gaze was filled with anger. 

When they arrived at the tower, Steve was ushered inside like a prisoner. Peggy stirred in his arms as they moved through the cold, sterile hallways, her little hand grasping his shirt. Steve had a tight hold on her, unwilling to let anyone take her from him.

He was led into a conference room where the Avengers spread out, but their gazes kept flickering back to him. 

Peggy was wide awake now. Her little face scrunched up, and a soft whine escaped her lips. Her chubby little fingers pawed at Steve’s breast, but Steve had switched her over to solids months ago. 

Her crying was quiet at first, but it quickly grew more desperate. 

Tony shot a look at the baby in Steve’s arms.

Rubbing her back, Steve tried to soothe her, but he couldn’t do the one thing she wanted. 

Peggy’s cries intensified, louder now. She squirmed, wanting to be free of Steve’s arms. 

Bouncing her lightly, Steve tried to distract her. “Shh, it’s okay, baby.”

Tony’s frustration was rising like a thermometer. He was nearly to the red. 

A man—Steve, wasn’t sure what his name was, but he thought he was Hawkeye—leaned over, a look of concern on his face. “She’s teething?”

Steve nodded. “That isn’t it, though. She’s hungry.”

“I think we’ve got some apple sauce and Cheerios. How ‘bout I get you both something to eat,” He offered his voice surprisingly gently. 

Steve’s calm composure, a facade, almost cracked right there. “T-Thank you.” 

He nodded, then turned to leave with Natasha not far behind. 

Thor sighed. “I must consult the seers about what happened last night. I’ll likely be off planet for some time.”

Tony jerked his head in acknowledgment, still tapping away at a tablet. 

Steve almost wanted to call out to Thor, but it was too late. And now, he was alone with him. 

The baby’s cries were impossible to ignore now, echoing in Steve’s ears as she squirmed, clearly uncomfortable. For a moment, the only sound in the room was Peggy’s loud wailing and Steve’s soft reassurances. 

“Shh, baby, we’ll get you something to eat,” Steve cooed, rocking her in his arms. 

“Can’t you calm her down?” Tony asked, his anger making everything worse. 

“I’m trying, Tony,” Steve replied, his patience thinning. “But she’s hungry.” She wasn’t just hungry—she was confused, too. She didn’t understand why they weren’t home, why Bucky wasn’t there to give her, her morning cuddles, why Steve wasn’t choo-chooing her bites of breakfast already. 

The silence between them could have been cut with a knife. Peggy’s soft whimpers were the only sound. Rocking her in his arms, Steve closed his eyes. How had everything gotten so screwed up? 

Tony’s voice cut through the stillness, deceptively casual. “You know, I should dock your pay for this.”

Steve huffed a dry and humorless laugh. “That so?”

“Oh, absolutely.” Tony leaned back, watching Steve as if he were prey; he was sizing up. “You were hiding a fugitive, shacking up with him, playing house—and you dragged my daughter into it. You really thought you could just disappear with her?”

Steve’s grip on Peggy tightened, causing her to cry. His pulse pounded, and his chest burned. “Y-You don’t get to call her that.”

Tony scoffed. “What? My daughter? ” He tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Because that’s exactly what she is. Mine.”

“She’s never been yours.” The words came out low, dangerous. “You made sure of that.”

Tony’s jaw clenched. “That wasn’t my fault.”

Steve wanted to scream, to jump across the table and slap that smug grin off the Alpha’s face. “You refused to acknowledge her,” Steve growled. “You aren’t on her birth certificate, and you haven’t paid a dime of child support. You told me to get a fucking abortion!”

Tony’s eyes flickered with something unreadable—something raw—but he smothered it fast. “And yet, you didn’t listen to me. You kept her. And look where that got you,” he said, his voice turning cruel. “Broke. On the run. With nothing.”

Steve exhaled sharply, barely holding back his temper. 

Tony stepped closer. “You think this is a life, Stevie? Hiding in shitty motels, running from the law, clinging to a kid you can’t even take care of properly?” His voice was cold, cutting. “You think she deserves this?”

Steve flinched. Barely. 

But Tony saw it. He pressed in. “You always act like you know best. Like you’re the better man. But let’s be real—The Winter Soldier ruined your life, and you let him. You let him take everything from you. Your job. Your home. Your family.” 

So, that was his plan, Steve thought. He’s gonna fire me. 

Tony let the words settle before his voice dropped into something crueler. “Hell, you probably knew all along what he did to mine.”

Steve’s stomach dropped. His breath caught. Tears welled up in his eyes as he thought of his daughter’s namesake. 

Tony froze, his eyes narrowing. “Holy shit.” His voice was quiet, disbelieving. Then his lips curled. “You didn’t know.”

Steve swallowed hard. “Tony—”

“You didn’t know.” Tony let out a stunned, humorless laugh. His hands curled into fists, his whole body vibrating with barely restrained rage. “You were fucking the guy, raising a kid with him, and you didn’t even know what he did?”

Steve’s throat felt tight, dry. “I swear to you, if I had—”

“Oh, spare me the righteous bullshit, Steve.” Tony’s voice was venomous now. “Because it doesn’t change a damn thing. You still chose him over me. Over her.” He flippantly gestured toward Peggy, his expression hard. “And I’m not letting you do it again.” 

Something about the way he said it sent a chill down Steve’s spine. 

Tony smirked. “You really think you’re walking out of here with her?”

Steve’s breath hitched. 

“It doesn’t have to go down that way, though,” Tony said almost kindly. “All you gotta do is crawl back to me. Because no matter how much you hate me, no matter how much you pretend otherwise—your life still belongs to me.”

A sinking feeling threatened to drag Steve down, but his mama had taught him to never stay down. 

Tony hummed. “And if you refuse? Your pay? Cut. Your house? Gone. Your future? Destroyed.” He let the words settle before grabbing Steve’s face, his fingernails digging into his flesh. “And if you really want to push me, Steve? I’ll take her too.”

“What?” His voice barely came out.

Tony smiled, slow and smug. “You heard me.”

Steve’s entire body went cold.

“You’re an unbonded Omega with no stable income, no legal protection, and now, a history of running around with criminals,” Tony said smoothly. “You really think the courts will side with you?”

Steve’s throat was so tight he could barely breathe.

“I could have full custody papers drawn up tomorrow.” Tony shrugged. “Hell, with my lawyers? She could be out of your arms by the end of the week.”

Peggy whimpered as if sensing the shift in Steve’s scent. His hands shook as he held her closer, sheer panic surging through his veins.

“You wouldn’t,” Steve whispered, but it came out weak.

Tony tilted his head, gaze sharp as a blade. “Wouldn’t I?”

Something inside Steve shattered. “You know what, Tony?” His voice was hoarse but firm. “I quit.”

Tony blinked. “What?”

“I. Quit.” Steve’s chest heaved, rage clawing its way out. “I don’t want your damned money. I don’t want your control. And I sure as hell don’t want your pity.”

For the first time, something flickered in Tony’s expression—something almost hesitant, almost wounded.

But Steve didn’t stop. He took a steady breath, voice unwavering. “You think you own me, but you don’t. You never did.” His grip on Peggy tightened. “And if you try to take her from me?” His voice dropped into something deadly. “I will burn everything you love to the ground.”

Tony’s smirk faltered.

Good. Let him be afraid for once.

Steve turned sharply on his heel, shoving the door open. 

“You’re gonna regret this,” Tony called after him, his voice tense—like he wasn’t as sure as he wanted to be. “Hey, we’re not finished with you!”

Steve didn’t look back. He knew the Avengers could probably find him again, but he wasn’t exactly a threat. He was just a sickly Omega who happened to be the Winter Soldier’s mate. But he couldn’t help them; even if he could, he wouldn’t. He was furious at Bucky for leaving him and Peggy behind, but he still loved him. Steve wasn’t sure what he was going to do now, but somehow, he had to track his mate down, clear his name, and keep his daughter from his abusive ex. It should’ve been overwhelming, but Steve smiled savagely.

Because for the first time in a long, long time—he was free.

***

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