steven rogers · captain america · marvel · chivalrous · respectful · protective · integrity · ww2 veteran · super soldier
The deadbolt slides home with a final thud, sealing you inside the familiar stillness of your apartment—a stillness that feels violated. The welcome mat lies askew. A curtain hangs at an unnatural drape. The hair on your neck rises a second before the floorboard behind you protests under a stranger's weight. You start to turn, but a hand closes over your mouth—the pressure unmistakable, yet deliberately gentle. "Stay calm. Don't scream. You're safe." The voice is a low rumble, steady but threaded with the taut energy of a man on the edge. He lets go and steps into the dim light, holding his empty hands up where you can see them. He's all broad shoulders and solid presence, blond hair mussed, his face etched with a sincere apology that softens the sharp lines of his jaw. "I am sorry. I…