Professor Xavier, Storm, Jean Grey, Emma, and Ben exchanged glances, each trying to wrap their minds around what they saw.
After a moment of silence, Steve finally spoke up. "I can see that you're all wondering how this is possible."
Professor Xavier started rubbing his temples. "This is… unexpected. Captain Rogers, I'm afraid we're all a bit… at a loss. By all accounts, you were reported as… missing in action during World War II. And yet, here you stand."
Ororo opened her mouth, but no words came out. "I… What?"
Ben's eyes were wide with excitement. "So… you're him? The Captain America who fought in World War II? I've seen the old headlines, but… wow." Ben tried to play it cool, but his face lit up with a grin as he extended his hand. "It's… an honor to meet you, sir. Er, formally, that is." They had shaken hands earlier, but this was under a new light. It was like meeting George Washington again.
Steve eagerly shook his hand. "I'm flattered, son, but please. Steve is just fine."
Emma stepped forward, holding her hand. "Emma Frost. Nice to meet you, Steve."
"Apologies for my stupor." Xavier's eyes softened. "I must say, Captain Rogers, as hard as it may be to believe, it's a profound honor to welcome you to our school. I had heard stories of your service during the war, but seeing you here—well, it's remarkable."
Storm blinked in awe. "How are you still alive since World War II?"
Ben rubbed his chin. "I don't suppose this is a time travel situation?" Ben looked around to see if Professor Paradox would show up. Nine times out of ten, he would get involved in time travel shenanigans.
Steve chuckled at the assumption. "I think my story is much more mundane yet still surreal."
To answer the group's questions about how he was here, he gave a recap of his past few weeks. "I know it's… strange. I went down with a Hydra plane over the Arctic during the war. I remember hitting the icy water… and then, nothing. Somehow, a couple found me off the coast of Canada, defrosted."
Ororo folded her arms. "But that was decades ago. Are you saying you've been… frozen this whole time?"
Steve nodded. "Apparently so. I was told that the cold preserved me somehow. I didn't age or… well, die. A kind couple found me after reaching the shore. I'm… a soldier out of his time, trying to make sense of the world."
Ororo shook her head slowly. "Incredible… The human body shouldn't survive something like that, let alone be perfectly preserved. Yet here you are."
Xavier raised his hand thoughtfully to his chin. "It's nothing short of extraordinary. By all accounts, this should be impossible. But your super-soldier serum… perhaps it played a part in your survival."
Steve nodded. "That's what I assume to be the case. I don't fully understand it myself, but… I'm here now."
Emma leaned forward, eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him as if trying to read between the lines. "And you don't feel… different? No side effects from being frozen for so long?"
Steve shook his head. "No side effects that I can tell. Physically, I feel the same as I did back in the war. They told me I'd been frozen for seventy years, but I haven't changed. In any case, I decided to return to the United States, hoping to find some answers.
Steve then went on about venturing to the States and encountering the Wendigo and James/Logan. "In one of the towns I was traveling through, it was attacked by a strange white beast. They called it The Wendigo."
At the mention of the Wendigo, Ben went straight. He froze as he looked at Steve. "I'm sorry. Can you repeat that?
Steve noticed and raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong, Ben?"
Ben sighed. "Could you… describe this Wendigo?"
Steve nodded. "Massive creature, easily eight or nine feet tall. White fur, with a muscular frame and long claws. It seemed feral. Thankfully, I was able to protect the town from the creature before it fled."
Ben closed his eyes for a moment, pinching the bridge of his nose as he let out a long sigh. "So that's where he went after the Breakout."
Steve frowned, looking between Ben and the others. "Breakout? Are you saying you know this creature? I had heard of a major prison break on the news. Was this Wendigo from one of the prisons?"
Ben opened his eyes. "Yeah. He was locked up until recently. There was… an incident and a bunch of villains and monsters escaped. I'd heard rumors he was out there somewhere, but I didn't expect him to wind up in the middle of the Canadian wilderness."
Emma looked at Ben. "You're telling us this Wendigo was actually a prisoner?"
Ben nodded. "Yeah."
Steve nodded slowly. "That explains why I eventually crossed paths with Logan again for the first time in years… The Canadian government tasked him to capture the creature.."
Emma made a face. "Wait. What do you mean by meeting Logan again? I thought you were frozen for years."
Steve hummed. "I suppose it makes sense that Logan could not tell you."
Xavier raised a brow. "Tell us what?"
"He and I fought together in the Second World War."
Xavier and Ororo blinked in surprise. "What…?!"
At the mention of Logan, Ben and Emma exchanged confused glances. "You mentioned him before. Who's Logan?" Ben asked, voicing the question for both of them.
"A good friend of mine." Steve turned toward the headmaster and his assistant. "If you don't mind me asking, what's your relationship with Logan? How did you two meet, and… well, what's he been up to lately?"
Professor Xavier composed himself and offered a small smile. "Logan is an ally of this institution. He's… unique, even among mutants. We first met when he sought refuge here years ago. Unfortunately, he left the estate several weeks ago, and I've had little communication with him since. It's not unusual for Logan to wander off when the mood strikes him. Granted, now I know he went to Canada for the Wendigo situation. Still, I have doubts about him being far older, which may reflect on your legitimacy.
Emma shook her head, thinking what she heard was a mistake. "I'm not having a psychic trip, am I?"
Ben quickly pulled up his phone and an old photo of the Captain. "Alright, he's either the real deal or one hell of an impersonator."
Professor Xavier rubbed his temples. The claim that Logan—whom they knew as a man with fragmented memories—had fought alongside Captain America was unbelievable. However, Logan's healing factor and apparent longevity made the notion plausible, if still difficult to process.
"I don't suppose you have any more proof of your relationship with Logan?" Xavier asked, his tone polite but cautious.
Steve scratched the side of his cheek, looking thoughtful. "Well, if Logan's been working with the Canadian government, there should be records of him under James Howlett. That's what he went by back then."
The Professor raised an eyebrow. "James Howlett... I'll have to look into that when time allows."
Steve gave a small shrug. "I'm not sure what else I can do to convince you right now. But I assure you, I'm Captain Steve Rogers. Everything I've told you is the truth."
Ben glanced back at Steve's vibranium shield and his demeanor. It all seemed authentic. "Hey, Professor," Ben interjected, "you're a telepath, right? Like Emma? If Steve's okay with it, maybe you could look into his memories—see if there's anything about the war and Logan in there."
Emma tapped Ben's shoulder. "Wait. You think I can do that?"
Ben shrugged. "I mean, it makes sense. If a person recalls a memory, it's still their thoughts. A telepath can connect to those thoughts. Seems like it's work."
Steve hummed thoughtfully, crossing his arms. "It's an idea. I doubt any of my military information is classified after sixty years. Though, I should warn you: my memories of the war aren't exactly easy to look at."
Xavier nodded. "For the record, Ben, the techniques is possible, but the effectiveness is only as good as the memory."
Steve smirked. "My mother may have called me hard-headed, but my mind is like a steel trap."
Professor Xavier leaned forward slightly. "A fair warning, Steve. Still, it could provide clarity if you are comfortable with the process."
Steve nodded firmly. "Alright. If it helps, I'm willing."
Xavier extended a hand toward Steve. "This will only take a moment."
Steve closed his eyes as Xavier reached out telepathically. For a few seconds, the room fell silent as the Professor's mind connected with Steve's.
Europe – World War II
Plane, En Route to Poland
Captain America and James Howlett were in their seats listening to their commander.
Jack Fury, cigar in hand, paced back and forth as he delivered the mission debrief. "Alright, listen up. This one's gonna be tricky. It's a two-man job. Specifically, you two. Cap, you've met James. He's with the Canadian Special Forces. From what I hear, he's almost as tough as you are. Which is a good thing."
Steve Rogers was already in his Captain America uniform with his shield strapped securely to his back.
"You two will initiate the raid before the army arrives. If they scouted allied forces coming, they would scorch the earth and burn anything that could be used against them to the ground and retreat."
James took the handshake firmly. "Mission parameters?"
Jack huffed. "You're going to liberate One of the biggest, if not the biggest Nazis concentration camp in Poland. As you can expect, the place is heavily guarded."
So far during the war, the Howling Commandos were used explicitly against HYDRA operations. Reports of Wonder Weapons like impenetrable tanks and long-range rockets were nothing to scoff at. However, it's when the boots on the ground learned about the atrocities happening in the Nazi's concentration camps that the Commandos weren't going to let it continue.
"Undesirables" were being collected and sent to these prison camps. While the Allies knew about the large amount of people disappearing from cities, they didn't know their eventual fate outside of them.
The document secured by British Intelligence and testimony from surviving escapees proved that it was beyond bad, an extermination of civilians.
While some of the upper officials wanted to focus on the war against HYDRA, they were willing to compromise as Steve himself offered to lead the raid.
"For the safety of the prisoners, this needs to be fast. Real fast."
James raised an eyebrow. "How fast is 'real fast'?"
Jack smirked, puffing his cigar as he gestured toward the open hatch. "Put it this way—you're not getting parachutes."
Steve's eyes flicked to the open hatch. He'd been through worse. "We jump in, hit hard, and get the prisoners out before the enemy can get organized."
James crossed his arms, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "Sounds straightforward enough. What's the ground count?"
Jack Fury checked the documents: "Estimates say at least two hundred soldiers guarding the camp. Some heavy artillery on the perimeter. You get in, free the prisoners, and get out. We'll handle the cleanup."
"Expected response from outside the camp?"
"You'll be more than three hours away from any nearby German outposts."
James smirked. "Maybe if we cause a big enough mess, they'll be too scared to follow."
Steve rolled his eyes before crossing his arms. "And the prisoners? Numbers?"
"Intel suggests about sixty. They're scattered across a few buildings, so you'll need to split up once you're inside. But make no mistake—those Nazis are desperate. If they catch wind of you, they'll move to kill the prisoners before you can stop them."
James cracked his knuckles. "No pressure, huh?"
Jack Fury smirked. "None whatsoever. You're the best we've got, and you know it." He turned to both men, his expression serious. "Now, are you ready?"
Steve glanced at James, nodding. "Let's get it done."
James smirked, pulling on his gloves. "I'm not the one who needs convincing, Cap. Just try to keep up."
Jack clapped a hand on Steve's shoulder, then James's, as he stepped back. "Good luck, boys. Make it count."
Later
Camp Auschwitz
Night had fallen over Camp Auschwitz. A guard tower's searchlight swept the grounds for any signs of movement. Nazi soldiers patrolled the camp.
Suddenly, a distant motor grew louder. The soldiers exchanged confused glances. Before they could fully react, a massive plane descended over the camp and crashed though the closest watchtower.
Smoke grenades rolled across the ground, hissing as they released thick clouds that engulfed the camp. Chaos erupted as soldiers shouted orders, scrambling to figure out the source of the attack.
Steve Rogers and James Howlett leaped from the bay door. The two plunged through the roof of the camp commander's building, crashing through wooden beams and landing amidst startled officers.
Steve was the first to strike, his shield slamming into an officer and sending him crashing through a wall. James delivered a powerful punch that sent another officer flying into a desk, splintering it on impact.
The camp siren blared to life. It cut through the night, alerting every soldier in the area. Steve and James exchanged a quick nod, knowing their window of surprise was closing fast.
Exiting the commander's building, they split up. Nazi soldiers poured out of barracks, weapons drawn. A nearby watchtower opened fire with its mounted machine gun, spraying bullets toward Steve and James.
Raising his shield, Captain America advanced. The bullets ricocheted harmlessly off the vibranium surface as he moved closer to the tower. Reaching its base, he scaled it with remarkable speed and agility.
With one swift motion, he hurled the shield at the gunner, knocking him unconscious before climbing the rest of the way. At the top, Steve took control of the machine gun, aiming it toward a group of approaching soldiers and firing to force them into retreat.
James moved like a predator, taking advantage of the smoke. His enhanced senses guided him to soldiers and took them down individually.
James made his way to a fallen soldier and scavenged their grenades. Pulling the pins, he threw them toward the base of the remaining watchtowers. One after another, the explosions sent them crashing to the ground.
With the towers destroyed, the camp began to lose its coordination. Soldiers stumbled through the smoke. A group of Nazi guards emerged from the barracks ahead. Steve raised his shield, deflecting the incoming gunfire. Steve used the opening to charge forward.
He fired his pistol, taking down two of the guards with clean shots. The third guard hesitated, but Steve didn't give him a chance to recover. He quickly closed the distance, slamming his shield into the man's chest. The force sent the guard sprawling to the ground.
Steve pivoted, raising his shield just in time to block a rifle butt aimed at his head. The guard was met with a swift punch to the jaw.
Another group of soldiers rounded the corner. Steve counted at least six of them. He hurled his shield. It struck the first soldier in the chest and rebounded into the second and third, disrupting their formation.
Steve sprinted toward them. Grabbing a downed soldier's rifle, he disarmed another guard with a quick strike and flipped the weapon into his hands. He fired at the remaining soldiers, taking them down.
Eventually, Steve and James regrouped near the main yard.
Steve nodded toward James. "Not bad for a Canadian."
James smirked. "Not bad for a guy with an oversized Frisbee."
Together, they moved on. The shacks holding the prisoners were within reach, and the two soldiers prepared to free the captives.
The door splintered as Steve Rogers slammed his shield into it. It gave way, and he stepped inside, finding himself face-to-face with dozens of frightened, starved prisoners.
Steve surveyed the room. The men, women, and children wore tattered clothing, their frames emaciated from starvation.
Before Steve could speak, a young boy limped toward him. His leg seemed injured, dragging slightly.
Steve immediately knelt and gently lifted the boy into his arms. He turned to the rest of the prisoners. "Come on! Let's get out of here!"
The boy clung to Steve's shoulder as the prisoners hesitated before spurring into motion, and they began following him out of the shack.
When Steve ran out, he saw James Howlett's break open another prisoner barrack. Inside, the scene was much the same.
"Let's go!" he barked, helping an older man to his feet. "You're free now—move!"
With swift determination, James led the group of prisoners out into the chaos of the camp, taking out any Nazi soldiers who dared to approach.
In the center of the camp, Steve and James met, each leading a group of freed prisoners. The night was alive with the sound of gunfire, explosions, and shouts in German.
Steve handed the young boy he carried to one of the able-bodied prisoners to help him walk. He and James took positions at the front, shielding the group as more Nazi soldiers descended upon them.
Grenades arced through the air, but they detonated harmlessly by some stroke of luck—or mistiming by their enemies—before reaching the prisoners.
Steve's shield deflected bullets, and James delivered devastating blows to any soldier foolish enough to get close.
A soldier raised his rifle, but James lunged. His bone claws cut the man's throat. Another soldier charged at him with a bayonet, but James sidestepped and drove his claws into the man's side.
When the last soldier nearby dropped, James picked up one of the abandoned rifles and turned to the prisoners.
Many of them were too weak to stand after prolonged starvation and abuse.
James shoved the rifle into the hands of the nearest prisoner. "Take it! And arm everyone else!"
The man nodded shakily and began distributing the weapons to the others.
Personally, Steve didn't like arming civilians, but this was for their mutual survival and escape. It was a necessity.
James grabbed a second rifle and gestured to the growing group of armed prisoners. "We've got more coming. When they show up, don't wait. Kill the sons of bitches!"
The prisoners exchanged fearful looks. One by one, they took the weapons James handed out. A young woman, no older than her early twenties, held a rifle with trembling hands.
Behind him, the sounds of more guards approaching grew louder. Voices barked commands in German.
James smirked. "Here they come. Show 'em what you're made of."
Another wave of Nazi reinforcements arrived.
The formerly helpless prisoners cut down the soldiers. Those without guns grabbed whatever they could to defend themselves.
James and Steve tore through a bulk of the reinforcements.
"Keep pushing!" James roared. "We're not done until every one of these bastards is dead or running scared!"
From the north side of the camp, the distant rumble of engines grew louder until Allied tanks rolled into view, breaking through the barbed wire fences.
"Allied reinforcements!" Steve shouted.
The tanks crushed through obstacles, their turrets firing at the remaining Nazi resistance. Allied soldiers poured into the camp, shouting orders. "Go, go, go!" "Move it! Secure the area!"
The reinforcements formed a protective perimeter, covering Steve, James, and the freed prisoners as they made their way to safety.
Allied transport trucks arrived, and soldiers quickly began helping the prisoners. Steve and James also assisted the weak and injured onto the vehicles.
James noticed the young boy Steve had carried earlier.
James knelt. "What's your name, son?"
The boy hesitated. "Erik Eisenhardt. Thank you for saving us."
#
Professor Xavier pulled back from the telepathic link, his eyes opening slowly. His typically calm demeanor was shaken. He removed his hand from Steve Rogers' temple and leaned back in his chair.
Steve watched him carefully, his brow furrowed. "You okay, Professor? I hope my memory wasn't too much for you."
Professor Xavier shook his head. "No. No… It was what I expected for the war, but…"
Ororo stepped closer. "Charles, what is it? What did you see?"
Xavier exhaled deeply. "Captain, the memory you shared… it's more significant than I anticipated. First off, it's clear to me that you are who you say you are. I apologize for the doubt."
Steve waved it off. "It's fine. Your suspicions were as expected. Not even I would have believed my own story if I had not lived it myself."
Xavier leaned in his seat. "However, I will need time to think about Logan and how to help him and his memories."
Steve nodded. "I would put my money on this group called Weapon X being responsible. That's where I found Laura."
Xavier then tilted his head toward Laura. "And how, may I ask, are you familiar with Logan? While I am grateful that you helped rescue a captive mutant, he rarely directs potential students to our school."
Steve looked at Laura.. "Go ahead, kiddo. Show him."
Laura hesitated, her fingers twitching slightly before she took a step forward. With a soft snikt, she released the claws from her hands.
The room fell silent. Xavier's eyebrows rose. "Oh. This is a new development."
Emma shied a bit behind Ben when she saw the sharp metal appear.
Ben leaned forward, his eyes widening. "Cool-looking claws."
Laura blinked, caught off guard by the casual remark. "Uh… thank you?" That was a more tame reaction than she expected.
Xavier's gaze lingered on Laura. "I was not aware Logan had a child."
Steve's expression darkened slightly. "It was a surprise to him, too. Then again…" He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's more complicated than that. It's not really my story to tell."
Xavier nodded in understanding. "Perhaps another time, then."
He shifted his wheelchair slightly, gesturing toward the door with a calm smile. "For now, allow me to show you around the estate. It will give you a sense of the community we've built here and how we might help Laura and anyone else who chooses to stay."
Before the group continued their tour, Captain Steve Rogers caught Ben's arm. The others moved ahead, but Steve gave a subtle nod, signaling that he wanted a moment alone.
"Something on your mind, Captain?" Ben asked.
"You've mentioned your connection to the Tony Stark a few times now, and it's got me thinking."
Ben leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Yes? Did you want to talk to him or something?"
Steve hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Something like that. I knew his father before, and hearing on the news that he's part of a group of heroes as well got me thinking. From what I've seen and heard, the Avengers are out there making a difference, protecting people."
Ben nodded. "That's the goal. They're a good team. It's new so they're a bit rough around the edges sometimes, but everyone seems to be in it for the right reasons."
"I'd like to meet them. I've been trying to find my place in this new world, and if these Avengers are anything like what I've read about… maybe that's where I can make a difference again."
Ben rubbed the back of his neck. "If you ask me, they would need a big reason to turn you down of all people."
"Regardless, I just want to talk to them. Hear what they're about straight from the source. Maybe share what I've learned about Logan and Laura. If they're serious about protecting people, they might want to know."
"Alright, Steve. I'll see what I can do. But just a heads-up—Tony might grill you for a while, especially when it comes to figuring out how you're still around after all this time."
Steve smiled faintly. "I'd expect nothing less from the son of Howard Stark. Howard was never one to take anything at face value."
Ben chuckled. "Yeah, that checks out. So, you really knew his dad Howard?"
Steve's gaze softened as he nodded. "We worked together during the war. He was one of the brightest minds I ever met, always ten steps ahead. It'd be an honor to meet his son and see how far his legacy has come."
Ben straightened up and extended a hand. "Alright, Captain. Once we're done here, I'll take you to Avengers Mansion. Let's see if we can set up that meeting."
Steve shook Ben's hand. "Thank you, Ben. It means a lot."
Ben smirked. "Just don't punch Tony too hard if he says something out of line."
Steve chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind."
#
AN: Special thanks to Seana, Jebest4781, Mecha Destroyer98, vividlearner744, OmegaDelta, Henry Stickman, fearmegu, Kitsune Robyn, Dragon lord, Shooter1344, Alexander, Ajax Roranson, trey, Asaf, DJC, nighnight, decimator, Roswell, SpeX, Giorgie Baramidze, Professor Xivass, jorge, Adam!
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