Chapter Text
Edit by me <3
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Steve stood quietly in the dim light, resting his forearms on the railing of the little flat-- The normally calming cool of the night air seeped deep into his bones, the silence of the darkness threatening to suffocate him.
The decision he was about to make was weighing heavily on his shoulders.
But he had too.
Steve had tried-- God, he'd tried to settle into this life. Tried to be content with the second chance, the do-over he'd so desperately wanted.
The chance he'd taken.
He thought this was what he'd wanted...
Peggy had been one hell of an anchor, a spot of light and familiarity in a world that, once again, had continued to move on without him.
But as the years passed and passed, Steve realized there was not a chance in hell he could continue to idly sit by and watch history unfold from the sidelines. He'd always been a man of action-- A soldier-- And the knowledge he held of what was to come, and what had already happened, ate away at him and he knew he had to do something-- Anything-- To make a difference.
Peggy, her hair touched with silver, watched him from the doorway. She pulled her robe tighter around herself as she stepped out next to him. She'd always seemed to know him better than anyone, almost anyone, and she could see the restlessness that was stirring inside him.
She watched Steve, heart aching for the man who had given so much and now seemed so lost, in so much pain.
"Steve," She said, gently, looking him over. Hurt filled her gaze and Steve realized that she knew, too. "What's on your mind?"
He didn't turn to face her-- How could he?
Instead he furrowed his brows, fixing his eyes somewhere off in the distance.
"I thought coming back would be enough.. That I could live a quiet life, away from the battles and the chaos." Steve shook his head, shutting his eyes tightly shut and rubbing a hand over the bridge of his nose before finally bringing himself to face her.
He was stressed, rapidly nearing distraught. "Peggy, I tried. I really did. But knowing what's out there, what's going to happen? I can't just sit here and do nothing. I can't."
Peggy's lips quirked into a sad smile, leaning forward with a raised hand to place it ever so gently under his jaw-- Steve tensed.
"Then don't." She whispered, "You're not happy here-- You've not been happy in quite a long time. I don't know.." She had to pause to take a breath. "I don't know what, or when or where but... It's not here." Her voice wavered and Steve could see tears misting at the corners of her eyes.
"Go, Steve, find what you need. Make your difference-- You can't turn off who you are, love. You are a hero, and heroes don't stand idle."
The words hurt—Her tone hurt.
But Steve knew she was right—He couldn’t stand idly by watching the world unfold.
Knowing he could try to help—No matter how small the gesture.
Steve had a plan—An audacious, dangerous plan.
He would disappear, let the world believe that he had vanished.
And he would infiltrate HYDRA.
If he could get close enough, maybe he could change things from the inside.
Maybe he could make the Winter Soldier’s time just that much easier.
The final kiss he gave Peggy was half-hearted—The promise to return an empty one.
And Steve left—Heart heavy, but also filled with a renewed sense of purpose, like he was finally about to do what he’d come back to do.
He left and he waited, not-so-patiently for the right moment to make his move.
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The weeks that followed were a blur of planning and preparation—Steve sunk into the shadows, seeking out any sort of information that could lead him to a HYDRA contact, any HYDRA contact—And when the opportunity arose, he made his move.
It took months after that to whittle the man, Klaus Wagner, down enough to get him to a secluded bar.
“I know what you’re a part of, Wagner,” Steve murmured, now posing as Victor Hughes—A disillusioned former soldier looking for a new path.
“And I know you can get me in.”
It was daring, Steve knew that—And he could see it in the way Wagner narrowed his eyes, suspicious and wary.
“And why should I help you? They don’t take kindly to those who go looking.” It was warning just as much as it was fact.
“Because I have skills they can use—And I have stuff to offer in return.” Steve leaned in, nodding along with his words, gripping the edge of the already-cracked bar so tightly the wood creaked. "And I'm not just any outsider-- I'm a soldier. I've seen this world for what it really is and I'm sick of the lies. I want to make real goddamn change, not just play hero for some corrupt government."
Wagner studied him, just for a moment, before tipping the last of his drink back into his mouth.
“Talk is cheap.” He scoffed, "Prove it."
Steve smirked, his eyes cold. "I've spent time fighting in back alleys, underground rings-- Taking on anyone who thought they could break me. Got the scars to prove it." He cocked his head, "Learned more about survival there than I ever did in a uniform."
Wagners gaze hardened, "Why should they care about some washed-up brawler with a chip on his shoulder?"
"Because I'm willing to do what it takes to win," Steve countered, the edge in his voice bordering on urgent. "I've been through hell and back and I'm still standing. I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, not if it means making a difference. They talk about a new world order and I want to be on the side that actually gets shit done. I want-- I need to be a part of that."
"And you think you can just wander in and expect us to trust you?" Wagner challenged, looking rather unimpressed.
"I don't expect trust," Steve shook his head. "I expect to earn it-- Put me to the test. Give me a shot at proving my worth... You'll see I'm not just talk."
The agent stared at him for a long moment, then slowly nodded. "Alright, Hughes. You want in? You will have to earn it-- And it's going to be the worst goddamn time of your life."
"Easy's never interested me," Steve murmured with a shrug, "Just point me in the right direction."
Wagner finally offered a thin smile, a flicker of something Steve nearly recognized as respect flitting through his eyes.
"Welcome to the snake pit, Hughes. Hope you're ready for what's coming."
Steve's smirk returned, "I've been ready for this my whole life."
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