Disclaimer: I don't own The Avengers.

Summary: He should have signed the cards. Steve-centric, oneshot

First official Avengers fic (and officially the shortest thing I've ever written)! I loved the movie so, so, so much. I saw it for the second time yesterday, but this was actually written after I saw it the first time, and I've delayed in posting it for whatever reason. I was just thinking of things to write, and I really liked this scene in the movie. It goes without saying that there are spoilers for the movie in this, even though it's just a little short piece. I hope that y'all enjoy!


Aftereffect


The objects make a wet, sticky, slapping sound as they hit the pristine table in front of him.

He is too numb to feel anything, which is more than a little strange. Stunned by the events that just took place, he stares blankly in front of himself for a few moments before reaching forward and touching the flat pieces of cardboard. He knows what they are, vaguely, and it takes him a few minutes before he realizes that the face staring back at him - imprinted on the rectangle in front of him - is his own.

A few seconds later, he registers the red on his fingers.

Blood is familiar to him. He's seen it before, drawn it before. Though never pleasant, in this context, it seems like the ultimate of wrongs - the largest of misdeeds. Looking at the blood on something as innocent as trading cards seems like a scene straight out of a demented film.

Fury is saying something; he hears it, but it doesn't click. Doesn't make sense. The words are familiar to him, but he just can't seem to make them sink in. Everything is too surreal, now. Destruction and death run circles through his mind.

Not until Tony gets up and leaves does he manage to find out what has been running numbly through his head the entire time.

I should have signed them.


End.