Steve put his weight into the stone wall that was currently masking him. Natasha and Thor were nearby, hopefully holding progress that left them one step ahead of Ultron. He raised his com, eyes moving about the debris that lay around him cautiously."We gotta move!"He said. He became aware of a presence behind him; not that of Nat or Thor. No, this one was that of a stranger. His mind went to those Hydra had dispatched to be Ultron's support; the twins. This unfamiliar presence most likely held a confrontation with one or both. Seconds from turning he felt pressure consume his head, leaving him in darkness. When the darkness fell away, he found himself within The Stork Club. The occupants, caught up in their laughter and drunken shenanigans were slow-moving, lost to a time that had been taken from Steve.
"Saturday night at The Stork Club. Eight o'clock on the dot; don't you dare be late!"
He brushed away on-coming tears as his eyes swam through the cheery crowd. A woman emerged within their midst, taking center-stage of the fantasy. She wore a blue dress that swept to her ankles and a Dahlia corsage marked her right shoulder. Diamonds adorned her ears and her brown eyes, alight with a battling fire that Steve knew all too well, lay shimmering beneath brown hair that had been swept into a bridal bun. Steve found himself slowly approaching her, heart half-racing, half-breaking. Her eyes met his slowly as he came to stand before her.
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A hand slowly left her side, rising to touch his."Are you ready for our dance?"She asked. It's not real Steve Rogers, it's not real, it's not- He thought. She smiled, sending Steve into that ever cavernous abyss of love."Y-you know I still don't kn-know how Peg."He dared to say. She gave his hand a slight squeeze and leaned towards his ear."Didn't I tell you that I could teach you?"She whispered. She stood back to face him again."The war is over Steve."She said."We can go home. Imagine it!"The wedding bouquet; Steve could smell it, a dizzying crowd of roses, the sound of their children racing through the yard, a haunting chorus of spirited laughter; Steve could hear it, and a sunset together on the front porch, beaten only by waking up and gazing into Peggy's eyes; the euphoria of that warmth was staggering. He pulled her in, twirling her to him.
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Kitty Allen's It's Been A Long, Long, Time swept through the unearthly crowd as he held her."Follow the beat Soldier, bring yourself into a gentle sway."Peggy instructed him. Steve obeyed, bringing a smile to Peggy's lips."You're more of a natural than you think."She encouraged."Am I?"He laughed lightly as he dipped and spun her. She brought her lips to his, raising tears to his eyes."Yes."She said."Come find me Steve, bring me home."She said."We'll finally recieve our happy ending."You know that I want nothing more."Steve said, swinging her outwards and pulling her back. The crowd was closing in around them; a jeering hallucinogenic group high on fantasy. His hands fell away, releasing Peggy."But y-you're not her."He said. The crowd vanished, as did Peggy, leaving Steve in an abandoned Stork Club. He stood, one hand out.
"You're late."
The hand fell into a frustrated fist. He turned and rushed towards one of the club walls, tearing it down. The wasteland reappeared, crying out the bitter song of reality. His com whined and he raised it quickly."Rogers, it's Nat, I've tracked Ultron to the south side of this rubble."His friend said."Got quite a story to tell you when we meet back up."Steve looked back to where the club lay, finding it gone, lost to the world of a vision."You won't be the only one."He replied.
