HEY CAPTAIN
Chapter - 5 : Rekindling
Pairing: Steve Rogers x Eva Stark (OC)
Warning(s): MCU Spoilers (potentially); Language(?); Angst; Brief mentions of abduction and false portrayal of circumstances; Slowburn; Physical abuse; Any other required and additional warnings will be added in the upcoming chapters; Not gonna beat around the bush, this would probably portray the OC as the opposite of the strong, independent woman of the 21st century in the beginning. All I could say is see how far her character will grow; Fluff; Of course smut (👀); Physical abuse; Angst.
A/N: Hello lovely readers! I know I have been MIA for a while now and this series has been on hold for a long time now, but I plan on resuming updating the series that I've got on hold, starting with this series. I'm so sorry for not updating this sooner, but I'll try my best to work on it. (Also, I have to beat my self mentally for a long time to get inspiration for writing again, so sorry about that!)
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Series masterlist
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Steve sat at Eva’s bedside, his eyes watching her breathing slowly return to a peaceful rhythm. The nightmares had subsided, thanks to Wanda, and for the first time since she woke, Eva was resting without tension lining her face. Steve’s hand was still clasped gently in hers, and though she was asleep, her fingers curled protectively around his. His heart felt a pull—a mix of relief and something deeper he couldn't quite place.
Meanwhile, Tony stood outside the medical room, pacing in frustration. He couldn't shake the image of Eva’s nightmare, her cries of "Papa" still echoing in his head. He felt utterly helpless, something he hadn’t felt in years. Watching Steve's closeness with Eva only made it worse. Tony had spent years believing his daughter was gone, and now that she was back, she seemed closer to Steve than to him. His mind buzzed with questions—What if he had lost the chance to be the father she needed? What if Steve, with his perfect, noble charm, was becoming the one she depended on?
Natasha approached Tony with a look of sympathy, though her words were blunt as ever. "You're pushing too hard, Tony. You can't expect her to be comfortable with everything right away. Give her time."
Tony clenched his fists. "She’s my daughter, Nat. I don’t want to sit on the sidelines while Captain Perfect waltzes in and… I don’t know, becomes her hero."
Natasha raised an eyebrow. "You might be projecting, Tony. It’s not a competition."
Inside the medical room, Eva stirred awake. Her eyes fluttered open, hazel orbs meeting Steve’s warm blue gaze. She felt the comfort of his hand in hers and didn’t want to let go. Steve smiled at her, softly.
"How are you feeling?" he asked in that gentle tone she had grown to trust.
Eva gave a small nod, her voice hoarse. "Better... Thanks to you."
Steve shifted slightly in his seat, feeling a strange warmth at her gratitude. He couldn’t deny how protective he felt of her—not just as the man who rescued her, but something more. Her vulnerability called to something deeper inside him.
“I’m just glad you’re safe now,” he replied.
Eva smiled at him and Steve swore he felt something tug at his heart. He was not sure what exactly he was feeling, but he decided that he liked it. And he more than liked seeing Eva smile. Seeing her smile, a genuine smile spread across his face.
Eva's smile slowly shifted to that of wariness when the memories of what happened before she fainted, resurfaced. Her shaky fingers twiddled with each other while she gulped.
Steve noticed the subtle change in Eva’s expression, the wariness that replaced her brief smile. He frowned slightly, his grip on her hand loosening but still gentle.
“What’s wrong?” he asked softly, his blue eyes searching hers for any hint of what had suddenly shifted in her mood.
Eva lowered her gaze, her fingers nervously twiddling with each other. “I… I remember my father being here before I fainted,” she whispered, her voice shaky.
"Can I please see him?" she requested, her voice getting shaky with all the emotions that she was feeling and Steve could only smile in response.
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A very apprehensive Tony Stark was seen walking in the medical wing, towards the room where his daughter was getting treated. As he neared the room, he can see Pepper, Rhodey and Happy waiting just outside the room.
Pepper and Happy gave him an encouraging smile whereas Rhodey gave him a Don't fuck this up! look.
Rubbing his clammy hands against his pants, Tony slowly entered the room and his eyes immediately landed on Eva.
Eva, who was slowly talking to Steve and Wanda, paused and turned her head towards the entrance to find her father standing there, looking quite awkward.
Eva's heart skipped a beat when her eyes met Tony's. The awkwardness radiating from her father was palpable, and she could feel her own nerves tightening in response. The room, which had been filled with soft conversation between her, Steve, and Wanda, now seemed to grow tense with unspoken emotions.
For a moment, neither of them said a word. Tony stood there, hands at his sides, his usual bravado nowhere to be found. His eyes flicked nervously between Steve, Wanda, and his daughter, unsure how to start.
"Hey kiddo," Tony finally said, his voice unusually soft, almost tentative.
Steve had to double check if it was indeed Tony Stark himself who was standing there, sans the unwanted sarcasm and unappreciated humor.
Eva swallowed, her fingers gripping the blanket that covered her. She had been rehearsing this moment in her head, but now that it was happening, she found herself at a loss for words. Her father, the man she had always idolized, all her life, looked so… uncertain.
"Papa," she whispered, the word carrying years of lost time and buried feelings. Her eyes immediately pooled with unshed tears.
Tony’s heart clenched at the sound of that word. It had been so long since she had called him that. For a moment, he just stood there, taking in the sight of her, sitting up and looking better than she had in days. He wanted to rush forward, hug her, hold her, but something about the tension in her posture made him pause.
"You're not gonna faint on me again, are you?" gulping the knot in his throat, Tony tried to joke, but everyone there knew that he really meant what he said.
Eva tried her best to not cry, while shaking her head slowly.
"Can I—" Tony cleared his throat, trying to find his voice again. "Can I sit with you?"
Eva glanced briefly at Steve, as if searching for some reassurance. Steve gave her a small, encouraging nod before rising from his seat next to her.
“I’ll give you both some time,” he said softly.
Wanda, sensing the need for space, also stood and gave Eva’s hand a quick squeeze before leaving the room with Steve.
Now, it was just her and Tony.
The silence stretched for a few beats longer than was comfortable, but Tony slowly made his way to the chair Steve had vacated. He sat down, looking at Eva with eyes that held so much emotion—guilt, worry, love—all things he had a hard time expressing.
"I’m glad you’re awake," Tony said quietly, his voice tight with emotion. "You gave us quite a scare."
Eva nodded, her gaze flickering down to her lap. “I didn’t mean to… I didn’t know it would be this hard,” she murmured. "Being back, seeing you again."
Tony’s heart ached at her words. He reached out slowly, tentatively placing a hand over hers. It was the first real touch they'd shared since she returned, and the warmth of it sent a shock through both of them.
"I know, kid," Tony said, his voice thick with regret. "I don’t know what you’ve been through, and I won’t pretend to understand how you’re feeling right now. But I want to… if you’ll let me. I want to be here for you."
Eva smiled at him gratefully. Despite of everything that has happened, Eva knew that she could always rely on Tony, but things aren't the same anymore. A lot has changed over the years.
But as she looked into his eyes, that familiar warmth began to dissolve the walls she had built up, and the memories of the last few years flooded back. She wanted to be open with him, to let him in, but fear still clung to her like a shadow.
“Things feel different now,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m… not the same person I was before.”
Tony leaned closer, his expression earnest. “Neither am I, Bubba. We both have a lot to figure out. But I’m here. We can navigate this together.”
Eva felt a swell of emotion at his words. It felt like a lifeline, something she desperately needed in that moment. Yet, doubt crept in. “What if you don’t like who I’ve become?” she asked, her voice trembling. “What if I’m not the daughter you remember?”
“Hey,” Tony said firmly, lifting her chin gently with his fingers so she had to meet his gaze. “You’re my daughter. I love you, no matter what. That doesn’t change. You are still you, and that’s what matters most.”
Tears welled in Eva’s eyes, and she fought to keep them at bay, but they slipped down her cheeks anyway.
Instinctively, like he always did years before, Tony immediately wrapped his arms around shoulders and hugged her as the girl broke down.
"Sh... Everything's going to be okay now. You're going to be safe. I'm so sorry that you had to go through all of that alone, but I promise you, I'll not let anything bad ever happen to you again, bubba," Tony reassured her.
A few minutes later, Eva calmed down a bit.
“I’ve missed you so much, Papa,” she confessed, her voice breaking. “I thought I lost you forever. I thought you had forgotten about me.”
Tony shook his head vehemently, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Never. Not a single day went by without me thinking about you."
Tony slowly broke their hug and cupped her face, looking at her reassuringly.
"Papa can never forget his bubba. I'll never let anything happen to you again, okay? It is Papa and Bubba against the world, remember?"
Eva smiled at that and nodded, glad to have her father back.
