"Buzz"

At 10 o'clock in the evening, with the distortion of light in the darkness, Merlin and Steve returned to New York.

The city has a lot of nightlife, and it's a time when men and women are at their most profligate, but unfortunately, neither Merlin nor Steve have any intention of joining in on the young party.

"You know how the Birdwatch Club goes, right?"

Merlin pushed his glasses, and a message was sent out, and he stood on this slightly isolated street, and said to Steve, who was beside him:

"Do you want to change your clothes, I mean, you're going to meet the lover you've been dreaming of, maybe you should dress up more formally."

"That's enough."

Steve looked very young and chic in a floral plaid shirt he just bought today, baggy jeans, black combat boots, and a black flight jacket with a silver dog tag hanging around his neck.

Although the camouflage mask on his face made him look less handsome, his slightly melancholy temperament and his muscular figure always attracted attention.

When he and Merlin walked under the street lamp, there were always many girls' eyes on him.

"They like you, Steve."

Merlin whistled a little lightly, and said to Steve:

"These enthusiastic little girls, do you think of the fans of the past? I've heard that at the end of World War II, there were a lot of pretty girls who wrote you love letters, and it was said that even Miss Monroe..."

"Monroe is my friend."

Steve said casually:

"We've performed together before... I was still selling bonds at the time, the rumors were all false, I had never dated Monroe, but we did eat together. ”

"Well, it's a guy with experience."

Merlin took out his pocket watch and looked at the time, he stood at an intersection and stopped moving forward.

"Are you waiting for someone?"

Steve looked at Merlin, who shrugged his shoulders and said in a relaxed tone:

"No, I'm waiting for my car."

"Boom, boom, boom"

As soon as he finished speaking, the low sound of the engine came from the other side of the street, and under Steve's slightly surprised gaze, a 3-meter-tall black Raptor pickup truck like a small tank rushed all the way and stopped in front of Merlin with a perfect side swing, and the doors opened at the same moment, as if inviting Merlin to ride.

But Steve could see clearly that the cab was empty.

"Autopilot?"

Steve asked curiously:

"Is your level of technology already so high?"

"Well, this is a hassle to explain to an older person like you."

Merlin pedaled into the cab, waved at Steve, and said:

"So I won't explain, get in the car, let's go to the Bird Club."

Moments later, the heavy pickup truck started again, carrying two men towards the old town.

Merlin pretended to be behind the wheel, but in fact, it was Horus himself driving himself.

But Merlin didn't want to reveal the Autobots' secrets so early, because nominally, Horus didn't belong to S.H.I.E.L.D., it was Merlin's private property.

And although Steve is trustworthy, his level of secrecy has not yet been decided, and the rules are the rules, and you have to do things according to the rules.

"I had a chat with Sharon today."

Sitting in the passenger seat, Steve looked out the window at the city that was brightly lit and completely different from what he remembered, saying:

"Sharon said that your main job over the years has been to deal with aliens, aliens, etc., which sounds pretty powerful, at least in our time, there weren't so many weird things."

"No, no, Steve, you're getting a concept wrong."

Merlin looked out the window, and he looked at a lone vampire wandering along the street, and he replied:

"Aliens are not only active in this era, their activity trajectory runs through almost the whole of human civilization, and there are also aliens in your time, but large-scale wars cover this up."

"You're not still with Ulysses. Did Bloodstone Masters work together? You've also seen the Thule Society around Hitler, and the madmen like Red Skull, and you should be able to understand that this world is not just for humans. ”

"I know, I just think..."

Steve rubbed his forehead and said:

"The world is changing a little bit fast, the Cold War, the nuclear threat, the moon landing... I missed out on too many things. ”

"I want to open it."

Merlin said casually:

"This era just seems gorgeous, but it's actually no different from your time. Oh, by the way, speaking of which, do you remember what we said earlier? ”

He said:

"About the book of red skulls, and the secret bases of the Hydra in your memory, when are you going to find them?"

"I can go at any time."

Steve said seriously:

"But I guess you need to match me with a partner, you don't need to be particularly able to fight, as long as you can help me take care of other things besides fighting."

"Okay."

Merlin Says:

"Once Fury has taken care of your identity, let's get to work."

"Click"

Merlin's car stopped on the side of the road, and in front of the two of them, it was an old street that had been empty, with no street lights, no people, quiet like a ghost street, and on the left side of the street, there was an abandoned club.

The large neon sign shows its old days, but now even the beautifully decorated glass is almost shattered.

That's Merlin and Steve's destination.

The Birdwatch Club, one of New York's most famous military clubs during World War II, was also a favorite place for Steve and his Roaring Commandos to come and spend time on vacation.

But with the re-planning of the municipal construction, the famous club has moved to a more prosperous area, and only the old site remains here waiting to be demolished.

"It's a good match for you."

Merlin opened the car door, jumped to the ground, and said to Steve on the other side:

"The stubborn old man who doesn't want to admit defeat is still insisting on waiting for the arrival of the guests... This is where you made an appointment with Ms. Carter? ”

"Yes."

Steve took a deep breath as he walked over to the club and said:

"A ball, I'm 60 years late..."

"Again, I want to open up."

Merlin followed Steve to the haunted bird's club, saying:

"It's been 60 years and no one has given up on you, there is still a group of veterans who are stubbornly waiting for you to come back, you are remembered, people are still telling your story, it's a good thing, really, you are luckier than 99% of veterans."

"Smack"

The rusty lock was easily broken under Steve's fingers, and the two walked into the dark hall one after the other, Merlin stretched out his hand, and several dark red balls of light rose from his palm into the air, like electric lights, illuminating the dark place.

Well, the situation inside is miserable, everything of value has been taken away, and it is almost like a post-war ruin, and there are even rats running around in the dark.

The ground was covered with dust, cobwebs, broken doors and counters, making it feel like the place where one of those horror movies took place.

"What's your favorite dance hall to go to?"

Merlin asked, Steve pointed to the second floor, he stepped on the rattling stairs and walked up quickly, Merlin flashed and appeared in the second floor hallway in the black fog, he drew his wand, and with a flick of it, a large cleaning charm was thrown in front of him.

In the howling wind, the dust, stains, and debris were swept up by the magic and thrown into the hall on the first floor.

He sensed that in the ballroom in front of him, someone was waiting for them.

"Peggy..."

Steve ran to the front of the ballroom, took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and saw the figure sitting in a chair with his back to him in the flames of the candles.

That's Peggy. Carter, the dying Mrs. Carter.

She sat in the dark, dressed in a long black dress, her white hair combed to the way Steve remembered, and she held a cane in her hand and looked at the empty dance floor in front of her.

Ms. Carter did not seem to be older than she had left in Merlin's memory, but on the contrary, the sickly smell had been removed from the woman, and she looked healthy.

But she's still old.

Standing with young Steve, it is less like a lover, but more like a grandmother and grandson.

"Peggy..."

Steve read her name, and the next moment, in the candlelight, Ms. Peggy turned her head, her eyes cleared again at Steve standing in the doorway, she looked at the face that was exactly the same as she remembered, and a smile of happiness and regret appeared on this lady's face.

She waved her hand at Steve, as she had done when she was younger, and said:

"You're finally here, Steve... I've been waiting for you for a long time. ”

"Ugh..."

Merlin looked at the scene of young Steve and the dying old lady Peggy looking at each other, he shook his head, sighed, and quietly disappeared into the darkness.

He had a lot of questions for Ms. Peggy, but now...

Let's leave time for this hard-working couple.

——————————————

"Ah, you're as young and handsome as I remember."

Ms. Peggy sat in her chair, she looked at her lover in front of her, she reached out and stroked the wrinkles on her face, and she said:

"And I'm old."

"I'm sorry, Peggy."

Steve clenched his fists, and the captain's eyes were full of pain and remorse, and he said to Ms. Peggy in a gentle, trembling voice:

"I've kept you waiting too long, it's my fault, it's all my fault."

"No, no."

Ms. Peggy shook her head, and she said:

"It's just fate, my Steve, that you are destined to go through these tribulations, that you are destined to be great. I'm honored to leave a mark on your life, but the story of your life that belongs to me is over... You should look forward, Steve, the past is a shackle, and you should throw off that shackle and move on with your life. ”

"I can't do it."

Steve lowered his head, he didn't want Peggy to see the tears in his eyes, it would make him look cowardly.

He said:

"From the moment I woke up, your figure, those stories, those pasts, have been entangled. It's like a ghost, I can't get rid of it, I don't want to get rid of it. ”

"Merlin told me that the other I'm with you... Is this true? ”

Steve asked, and Ms. Carter chuckled, nodded earnestly, and said to Steve:

"Yes, the other you, the future you, he went to the appointment for you, right here, we danced together and talked to each other. On the day the war ended, we got married, and then we have been until now. ”

Ms. Carter reached out and stroked Steve's face, and she said softly:

"You've never left me, Steve, don't beat yourself up for that."

"But that's not me..."

Steve shook Ms. Carter's hand, and he whispered:

"I wish it was me."

"There's going to be a chance."

There was a hint of relief and care in Peggy's tone, and she said:

"We will make up for the past regrets in the future, and you have not owed me anything."

"Listen to me, Steve, listen to me, you have more responsibilities to bear, the people you have protected need you more than ever, and you will once again be a symbol of courage and hope when darkness covers this world, and you will turn the tide again and again... I know how great you are, and I can't be a burden to you. ”

"I..."

Steve wanted to say something more, but Ms. Carter's finger was on his lips, stopping him from continuing with the question.

Ms. Carter stood up, she took Steve's hand, and she whispered:

"Don't ask anymore, Steve, I can't tell you more, the future will change because of the present... Come on, let's do the last dance, the dance that is 60 years late. ”

"Click, click, click"

In the dark ballroom, a few lights suddenly lit up, and the sound of soothing music seemed to be a stage specially prepared for this belated ball.

Ms. Carter reached out and placed her hand on Steve's waist as she had done when she was younger, and Steve grabbed Ms. Carter's waist as the two looked at each other.

Ms. Carter's eyes were full of nostalgia and blessings, while Steve's eyes were full of pain and entanglement.

His eyes were red and his face was stained with tears.

This hero, who has been praised by the world, seems to have never been so vulnerable, like a painful child who is about to experience parting.

In the melodious music, Steve and Carter rotated, the lady's long skirt swayed, like an elf in the light, the two had not seen each other for 60 years, but they still maintained the tacit understanding they once had, like the best dance partners, and there was no trace of confusion in their steps.

Merlin leaned against the pillar in the darkness, watching the last dance with an appreciative gaze, and beside him, old Steve, in a black suit, leaned against it, watching the scene with the same appreciation.

"What's it like to watch another self dance with your wife?"

Merlin asked softly:

"Will there be jealousy? After all, he is younger than you, more handsome than you, and more energetic than you. ”

"Am I going to be jealous of myself?"

Old Steve laughed and took two cigars out of his pocket, and gave one to Merlin, and said:

"Ask whatever you want, but don't expect me to tell you what you shouldn't know... Merlin, as I said last time I said goodbye, now is not the time. ”

"Shh

Merlin lit his cigar in the dark, and he made a silent gesture to old Steve, saying:

"Be quiet, don't disturb me to enjoy the dance in front of me... What happens between us, we can talk about it later. ”

A few minutes later, the music and lights slowly dissipated, and the dance that had been 60 years old was over, and Ms. Carter and Steve stood in the center of the stage embracing each other, and she gently buried her head in Steve's shoulder, and she whispered:

"Forget about me for a while, Steve... I've had a good life in this life, and the only regret is that I haven't been able to see you live your own life, but not this time, and this time I'll bless you, Steve, don't let it down. ”

"Nope."

With tears streaming down his face, Steve stubbornly said:

"I can't forget... I don't want to forget. ”

"It's time to say goodbye."

Ms. Carter's hand caressed the captain's neck, and the moment the throbbing arc lit up, the battered Steve lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground.

Peggy gently placed him on the floor, she stroked Steve's face, and she whispered:

"Steve, I'll be waiting for you in the past."