An Age of Metal

Snapshots of Battle

(A/N this is a very different writing style. See more at the end)

The noise, that's what Steve could remember, what would haunt him so many years later.

The screams of civilians fleeing the howls of a robot army. Cracking coming from the blistered Earth as Tony announced that the city was going for a ride. 

The comforting murmur of Peggy's fight by his side.

The heroes assembled at the church-it seemed almost ironic to Peggy that they would surely die in the type of place she'd figured she would walk down one day, with Steve waiting for her at the end.

The only end to this was battle, and so they fought.

Ultron summoned and army and they fought. 

A helicarrier, bringing in passages off the doomed city and hope in the form or Rhodes, Nick Fury, Maria Hill and Sam. 

The boy-the frightened war torn twin-asked if this was SHIELD.

This is what Peggy dreamed SHIELD would be.

They fought and fought until Steve's shield had dents that would never be repaired and Peggy's knuckles were split and they fought despite exhaustion and fear because this could be it.

Thor's thunder shook them down and Natasha paired with Clint to bring enemies away from the city. Tony suggested they leave through blasts of his repolser ray. They stayed anyways. Wanda walked out a door an Avenger, joining the ranks of the other teens to bring down the hellish metal monsters. Hulk smashed and Sam and Rhodes provided air support.

All the while the country flew into the air and Steve briefly pondered the nature of heaven and if this was their last stand then he couldn't say he regretted it. Not with his love so close to his side, not with her lips stained red with blood and cosmetics and her eyes with the same fire they held seventy years ago. 

Pietro didn't see it coming. Charlotte saved him from the blood smattering his chest and threatening to drown him.

Wanda ripped out the cold heart of Ultron. 

They fought. 

Eventually the entire city was clear and they knew it was time to go. 

Vision flew Wanda out as they escaped through the ruin of Sokovia onto the safety of the airships. 

Breathing and trying to catch breath. 

Breathing and revival and destruction and renewal. 

No more fighting. No more dying. 

Hours after the battle, after the world almost splintered the into nothingness, after the wounded had been tended to, Steve sat with Peggy. 

"We did it," he breathed, coughing through the metallic smoke and ash in his lungs.

"That we did," she said, sparing a slight smile for her love.

They sat silently on the corner of the ship, simply feeling the others presence and reveling in the fact that they were alive, they were all alive, that tomorrow would start the training of new superheroes and the budding of new romance and a better world to save. They savored the quiet until Steve cleared his throat.

"Hey Peggy?" He said. "I've got something to ask you."

She tilted her head.

"What is it, my darling?"

Steve let out a breath, more fragile than she had ever seen him, even before the serum.

"You know, when I first came out of the ice, I didn't have anything to really live for anymore. I threw myself into mission after mission, not caring if I came back. As long as someone else got saved. But Peggy-you saved me. And today-it made me realize how much I want to be go home. To make a home with you. Whether I'm a punk from Brooklyn or a a soldier, whether you're a spy or a superhero. I guess what I'm trying to say is-"

He held her hands and knelt next to her, his sharp eyes turned soft, deep as the ocean he once called home, staring at her.

"Peggy Carter, will you marry me?"

Her mouth fell open before turning upwards into a smile and an unreserved laugh. 

"Steve, of course. Of course, yes, of course!"

Steve grinned and they kissed deeply, somewhere between elation and tears and war and peace. There would be other battles. Of course. There would be new enemies and a world to clean up and repair and renew. But now, they were alone together in their small slice of the universe. 

But now, they were home.

(A/N my dear readers, I feel truly undeserving of your love and patience. This story means the world to me, and I'm so happy I was able to share it with you, even if it took so long. I think we all deserve a happy ending, don't you? At least, Steve and Peggy do. It has been my honor to write to you. 

Til the end of the line, my darling readers)