What Came After a SamBucky and Romanrogers Story

0.2

Steve

The light of the quantum zone is blinding. The only thing keeping me from being decimated by the light is my fancy suit. The first two stops went relatively smoothly. A few of Ronan's men attacked me while I was returning the Power Stone. The Asgardians didn't even realize I was there. Next, I go to New York to return the Time Stone and the Mind Stone. I'll have to go back to the 70s to return the Tesseract because that's where we originally took it from.
Next is Vormir. Where Nat... No, I can't think about that now. Do your job. Get in get out and go home.

Or to Peggy. What Bucky said hit me though. I'm not sure if I can leave him. But I've been fighting forever. I want to see Peggy. Want to dance with her. But entangled with all these thoughts of Peggy are thoughts of Nat and what could have been. I can't leave everything behind. Not like this. Even if I wanted to, I can't just turn my back on people for what I want. That's not what a Captain does.

Leaving New York behind I go to the government facility in New Jersey next. There I replace the Tesseract in the underground lab. In the elevator, I ride upwards. It stops on one floor and the doors open. A woman walks in. Beautiful shoulder-length hair in her S.H.I.E.L.D uniform. The absolute measure of grace and beauty. "Peggy," I breathe. So quietly I'm sure she doesn't hear. But she's Peggy, the director of the very place I stand. She whips her head around to face me.

"What do you...Steve?" her voice fades to a whisper. She grabs my shoulders. "This isn't really there's no possible way. I'm hallucinating!" She turns to face the door.

"Peggy, it's really me."

"Steve..." She falls into my arms.

"It's okay Peggy, I'm here," I mumble into her hair. "But... what are you doing here?" She asks me while still holding onto me. "I'll explain it all later. Meet me at this address tonight." I hand her a paper and walk out of the elevator when it reaches my level.

...

I explain to her all that has happened since I went into the ice. How I got there and what I was doing here. All while dancing. Just like I promised her I would. I came back to dance with her, but I have a duty as Captain America and the people back who are counting on me. I also have one more stop to make.

"Steve stay here... with me. Please. You owe it to me and to yourself; you've been sacrificing things for other people your whole life. Just take a break." I smile down at her as we sway to the music.

"Peggy, you know me so well. So you know that means I have to go back. You'll be fine on your own. You have your family to watch you. Just know I will always be with you." I see tears fall from her eyes. We dance for a few more minutes. Then she kisses me one more time and goes back to her house. I put the final destination into the suit and head to Vormir.

...

Vormir is a miserable place. All dark and wet and cold. Nat should not have died here. No one should have to die here except Thanos himself. I climb the towering mountain that seems to be the only thing on the whole planet. Once I get to the summit a black-cloaked figure floats toward me.

"Steve Rogers, it has been some time." My heart freezes in place. I'd know that voice anywhere

Red Skull. He is the person that watched Nat die. The one that watches people do this all the time. He's the person that told Nat she had to die. "It has. Why are you here?"

"This is my eternal punishment. To guide people to an object that I can never possess. Like your friend. I believe she was here."

"How dare you speak about her like that! She died a hero." My voice cracks on the last word. I can't do this. I can't argue with him about this. Just get it done and leave. "I have come to return the very thing she gave her life for. It's better off here." I hold the stone out in the palm of my hand. Red Skull points toward the cliff.

"The bargain in this place is a soul for a soul. Sacrifice the stone for a soul. Throw it down there and it will be done." He's confusing me with the soul for a soul so I throw the stone. I just want to be out of this wretched place. Tears blur my eyes as I turn back towards Red skull. The mountain begins to vibrate and light flashes down from the sky towards the mountain.

I blackout.

When I open my eyes I'm laying in a puddle of water away from the mountain. I sit up and scan the horizon. No ships or guns or anything coming for me at all. I'm about to set my suit to take me back when I see her.

Laying in the puddle of water next to me is Nat. Her hair is spread out around her face, limbs sprawled in all directions. Most likely the exact way she died. It's horrifying and sad. I crawl over to her and place my hand on her cheek. Her head in my lap.

"Oh, Nat," I stroke her face. She's still wearing the suit she was in when we pulled the "Time Heist". Her Pym particle for returning home is still there. I'm about to put her down and leave when her eyelids start to flutter. Her arms and legs twitch as her eyes open. She looks at me and smiles.

"Hey, Rogers."