Shadow of the Beautiful World

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

The nightlife in this city is very rich, and at this time point is the time when men and women are most unrestrained, but unfortunately, neither Merlin nor Steve intends to join the young people's carnival time.

You know how the Birding Club goes, don't you?

Merlin pushed his glasses, and a message was sent. He stood on this slightly remote street and said to Steve beside him:

Do you want to change your clothes? I mean, you're about to meet your longing lover. Maybe you should dress more formally.

This is enough.

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

Although the camouflage mask on his face made him not so handsome, his slightly melancholic temperament and his strong body always attracted attention.

When he and Merlin were walking under the street lights, many girls' eyes would always fall on him.

They like you, Steve.

Merlin whistled a little frivolously, and said to Steve:

Do these enthusiastic little girls remind you of your fans back then? I heard that at the end of World War II, there were many beautiful girls who wrote love letters to you. It is said that even Miss Monroe...

Monroe is my friend.

Steve casually said:

We used to perform on stage together... I was still selling bonds, the rumors were all fake, I never dated Monroe, but we did have dinner together.

Well, it really is a guy with experience.

Merlin took out his pocket watch and checked the time. He stood at an intersection and stopped moving forward.

Are you waiting for someone?

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

No, I'm waiting for my car.

Boom, boom, boom

As soon as the words fell, the low engine sound came from the other side of the street. Under Steve's slightly surprised gaze, a 3-meter-high black Raptor pickup truck that looked like a small tank rushed all the way, with a The perfect side swing stopped in front of Merlin, and the door 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 technological level already this high?

Well, this is very troublesome to explain to an elderly person like you.

Merlin stepped on the pedal and sat in the cab. He waved to Steve and said:

So I won't explain, get in the car, let's go to the bird watching club.

After a while, the heavy pickup started up again, carrying the two people towards the old city.

Merlin pretended to turn the steering wheel, but in fact, it was Horus himself driving himself.

But Merlin didn't want to expose the secrets of the Autobots so early, because Horus does not belong to S.H.I.E.L.D. in name, it is Merlin's private property.

Although Steve is trustworthy, his level of confidentiality has not yet been determined. Rules are rules, and things must be done in accordance with the rules.

I had a chat with Sharon today.

Steve was sitting in the co-pilot, he looked out the window at the bustling city, the city was completely different from what he remembered, he said:

Sharon said that your main job these years is to deal with aliens, aliens, etc., which sounds quite powerful. At least in our era, there were not so many weird things.

No, no, Steve, you got a concept wrong.

Merlin looked out the window. He looked at a vampire wandering alone on the side of the street. He replied:

Aliens are not only active in this era, their trajectory almost runs through the entirety of human civilization. There were also aliens in your era, but the large-scale war covered this up.

Didn't you work with Master Ulysses Bloodstone? You have also seen the Thule Society around Hitler, and madmen like the Red Skull. You should understand that this world does not only belong to humans.

I know, I just feel...

Steve rubbed his forehead and said:

The world is changing a bit fast, the cold war, the nuclear threat, the moon landing...I missed so many things.

Be more open.

Merlin said casually:

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

He said:

About the Red Skull's Book of Skeletons, and the secret bases of the Hydra in your memory, when are you going to find them?

I can go anytime.

Steve said seriously:

But I guess you need to match me with a partner. It doesn't need to be particularly good at fighting, as long as it can help me handle other things besides fighting.

OK.

Merlin says:

After Fury has processed your identity information, let's start working on this matter.

click

Merlin's cool car parked on the side of the road. In front of the two of them, there was an old street that had been deserted. There were no street lights and no people. It was as quiet as a ghost street. On the left side of the street , there is an abandoned club.

The big neon signboard shows its prosperous past, but now even the beautifully decorated glass is almost broken.

That's where Merlin and Steve were headed.

The Bird Watching Club, one of the most famous military clubs in New York during World War II, was also a favorite place for Steve and his Howling Commandos to spend their time on vacation.

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

It suits you very well.

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 waiting for the arrival of the guests... Is this the place you made an appointment with Ms. Carter?

right.

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

A dance, I'm 60 years late...

It's still the same sentence, think about it.

Merlin followed Steve to the bird watching club like a haunted house, and he said:

It's been 60 years and no one has given up on you. There are still a group of veterans who are stubbornly waiting for you to come back. It is a good thing that you are remembered and people still tell your story. Really, you are better than 99% of veterans. All lucky.

Snapped

The rusted lock was easily broken under Steve's fingers. The two walked into the dark hall one after the other. Merlin stretched out his hand, and a few balls of dark red light rose into the air from his palm. Like an electric light, it illuminates this dark place.

Well, the situation inside is extremely miserable, all valuable things have been taken away, it is almost like a post-war ruin, and there are even rats running around in the dark.

Dust and cobwebs on the ground, broken doors and counters, it's like the place where horror movies happened.

Which is your favorite dance hall?

Asked by Merlin, Steve pointed to the second floor. He stepped on the creaking stairs and walked up quickly. Merlin flashed, and appeared by the aisle on the second floor amidst the black mist. He pulled out his wand and waved it lightly. , a large-scale cleansing spell was thrown ahead.

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

He felt that there was someone waiting for them in the ballroom in front of him.

Peggy...

Steve ran to the front of the ballroom, he took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and then saw the figure sitting on the chair with his back turned to him amidst the flames of the candles dancing.

That was Peggy Carter, Ms. Carter, who was very old.

She was sitting there in the dark, wearing a long black dress, her white hair combed the way Steve remembered it, a cane in her hand, looking at the empty dance floor in front of her.

Compared with Merlin's memory, Ms. Carter didn't seem to be any older than when she left. On the contrary, the aura of sickness was also removed from this lady, and she looked healthy.

But she is still old.

Standing with young Steve was less like lovers and more like grandmother and grandson.

Peggy...

Steve read her name, and the next moment, in the flickering of candlelight, Ms. Peggy turned her head, her eyes that became clear again looked at Steve standing at the door, she looked at the picture and the picture she remembered. With exactly the same face, a happy and regretful smile appeared on this lady's face.

She waved to Steve as she did in her youth, and said:

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

well...

Merlin watched the scene where the young Steve and the aging Ms. Peggy looked at each other. He shook his head, sighed, and quietly disappeared into the darkness.

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

Let's save time for this poor couple.

—————————————

Ah, you are still as young and handsome as I remember.

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

And I'm old.

Sorry, Peggy.

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

I made you wait too long, it's my fault, it's all my fault.

no no.

Ms. Peggy shook her head and said:

It's just fate, my Steve, you were meant to go through these trials, you were meant to be great. I'm honored to leave a mark in your life, but my story in your life is over Now... you should move on, Steve, the past is a chain, and you should throw that chains off and move on with your life.

I can not do it.

Steve looked down, he didn't want Peggy to see the tears in his eyes, it would make him look weak.

He said:

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

Merlin told me that another me is by your side...is that true?

When Steve asked, Ms. Carter gave a chuckle, she nodded seriously, and said to Steve:

Yeah, another you, from the future, who made the appointment for you, right here, and we danced and told each other. On the day the war ended, we got married, and we're still here.

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

You never really left me, Steve, don't beat yourself up about that.

But that's not me...

Steve took Ms. Carter's hand and said softly:

I wish it was me.

There will be a chance.

With a touch of lightness and concern in Peggy's tone, she said:

We will make up for the regrets of the past in the future. You have not owed me anything.

Listen to me, Steve, listen to me, you have a bigger responsibility to take on, the people you protected need you more than ever, and you will be courage and hope again when darkness falls over this world Symbol of turning the tide again and again...I know how great you are, and I can't be your burden.

I...

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

Ms. Carter stood up, she took Steve by the hand, and she whispered:

Stop asking, Steve, I can't tell you more, the future changes because of the present...Come on, let's do one last dance, 60 years late.

Crack, click, click

In the dark dance hall, a few beams of lights were suddenly turned on, and there was soothing music, as if it was a stage specially prepared for this late dance.

Ms. Carter stretched out her hand, as she did when she was young, and put her hand on Steve's waist. Steve also took Ms. Carter's waist, and the two looked at each other.

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

His eyes were red, and there were tears on his face.

The world-famous hero has never seemed so vulnerable, like a child in pain about to experience parting.

In the melodious music, Steve and Carter spun, and the lady's long skirt swayed like elves in the light. The two haven't seen each other for 60 years, but they still maintain the tacit understanding they once had, just like the best The dance partner, there is no trace of disorder in the footsteps.

Merlin leaned against the pillar in the darkness, watching the last dance that no one watched with admiring eyes, beside him, the old Steve in a black suit was also leaning there, also admiring the eyes Watching this scene.

What's it like watching your other self dance with your own wife?

Merlin asked softly:

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

Will I be jealous of myself?

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

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

Hush.

Merlin lit a cigar in the dark, and he made a silent motion to old Steve, and he said:

Be quiet, don't disturb me enjoying the dance in front of me... We can talk about the matter between us later.

A few minutes later, the sound of music and lights slowly dissipated. This dance, which was 60 years late, was over. Ms. Carter and Steve stood in the center of the stage hugging each other, and she gently buried her head on Steve's shoulder. on, she whispered:

Forget about me for now, Steve...I've had a good life, my only regret is not being able to see you live your life, but not this time, and I will bless you this time, Steve Tiff, don't let it down.

No.

With tears streaming down his face, Steve said stubbornly:

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. At the moment when the jumping electric arc lit up, Steve, who was hit hard, lost consciousness and collapsed on the ground.

Peggy gently put him on the floor, she stroked Steve's face, she said softly:

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