Chapter 35: Return of a Living Legend
Avengers Mansion
The car rolled up to the gate of the Avengers Mansion.
Steve Rogers straightened in his seat, adjusting the straps of his knapsack as he took in the sight. It was grand.
Ben gave him a grin. "Welcome to the Avengers Mansion, Cap."
Steve let out a low whistle. "This is the place? Fancy."
"Yep." Ben rolled down the window to the entrance speaker. "Wait till you see the inside."
A crisp, British-accented voice chimed in through the speakers. "Welcome back, Mr. Tennyson. I see that you brought a guest."
Steve instinctively glanced around, expecting to see a security guard on the premises. Instead, Ben just smirked, tapping the dashboard like he was greeting an old friend.
"Yup," Ben said. "Hope that's okay. He wants to talk to the Avengers about some stuff."
JARVIS, as the voice introduced itself, responded without hesitation. "Normally, I would ask for guests to schedule visits ahead of time. However, I take it this is a unique case if you are vouching for his presence."
Ben grinned. "Yup. It'll be interesting."
There was a brief pause before JARVIS answered, "Alright, then. Guest access has been approved."
The wrought-iron gates ahead of them opened.
"Thanks, JARVIS," Ben said as he drove in and parked
Steve stepped out as well, slinging his knapsack over his shoulder. The grounds stretched out. Lush trees lined the driveway, flower beds added color to the scene, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of fresh-cut grass. It was certainly beautiful, peaceful even.
He hummed in approval. "I'm not surprised Howard owned a place like this."
Ben glanced at him before shaking his head. "Actually, Tony said this place belonged to his mother."
Steve exhaled. It figured. Howard Stark was brilliant, but subtlety and warmth were never his strong suits. This place, though? It had a gentleness to it, something that felt... lived in.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Wish I could've met her," he admitted quietly. "Must've been one tough woman to handle a man like that."
Ben hummed. "Yeah..." He gestured toward the front door with a jerk of his head. "C'mon, Cap. Let's make a good impression."
#
Ben and Steve stepped through the grand entrance of Avengers Mansion. Steve had been expecting to meet the man Ben called JARVIS, but there was no one in sight. Perhaps he was in another room.
The mansion itself was as luxurious as one would expect from a team backed by Tony Stark. Even compared to the Xavier Institute, this place had an air of wealth and prestige. The marble floors gleamed under chandeliers.
Steve took a slow look around with quiet admiration. "Impressive."
Ben nodded. "It's something. I've got a place in the city, but this is basically the work-home." He motioned for Steve to follow him. "Come on, let's find the others."
The corridors had paintings, some modern, some clearly older, and even a few framed photos of Tony's parents. Seeing the mother and Howard, they seemed happy. A part of Steve was glad his friend could find it.
Finally, they arrived at the common area. It was a large, open lounge filled with comfortable seating. Tony Stark was reclining on one of the couches, idly scrolling through a tablet with a few pieces of armor on. At the far end of the room, Thor casually spun Mjolnir in his hands, seemingly lost in thought. On the carpet, Hulk lay stretched out, watching television, while Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne sat at a nearby table, reviewing university paperwork.
The moment Ben and Steve entered, their casual conversations halted.
Tony's gaze flickered from his tablet, landing first on Ben and then shifting to the unfamiliar blond man beside him. "Hey, Ben," he greeted, eyes narrowing slightly as he assessed the newcomer. "Who's your friend?"
Steve met the stares of the gathered heroes. "Good afternoon."
The others focused their full attention on him.
Ben smirked. "Tony, everyone—I know this might sound weird, but meet the one and only Steve Rogers."
A beat of silence followed. Then, several expressions shifted to pure confusion.
Thor stroked his chin in thought. "Rogers? Yes, I have heard of the fabled Mr. Rogers."
The others turned to the Asgardian with raised brows.
"You have?" asked Janet.
"Indeed. During one of my conversations with the youth in the city. This Mr. Rogers is an upstanding character in his neighborhood and is said to be a friend to one King Friday XIII. I have not met them personally, but I have heard good things. I will say that I was expecting someone older."
Silence.
Janet sighed. "I think you have the wrong Mr. Rogers, Thor."
"I see." Thor turned his attention back to Steve, studying him. "Then who is the Rogers before us? By his stance alone, I can tell he is a warrior."
Steve decided actions would speak louder than words. He reached for his knapsack, unzipping it and pulling out the red, white, and blue vibranium shield.
The reaction was immediate.
Tony sat up straight. "No way. That's not possible."
Janet's jaw dropped as she glanced between Steve and the others. "Am I the only one freaking out right now? He looks exactly like the museum exhibits!"
Hank Pym, ever the skeptic, crossed his arms. "It could be someone else in costume. Let's not jump to conclusions."
Hulk regarded Steve for a moment before continuing watching the TV.
Steve, taken aback by their reactions, looked at Ben. "I… take it they weren't expecting me?"
Ben rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, yeah, sorry. I probably should've warned them."
Tony folded his arms. "You think? Care to explain, Ben?"
With that, Ben and Steve launched into an explanation of the events of the past few months, filling the Avengers in on how exactly the legendary Captain America stood before them.
#
After a long conversation, with Ben recounting his afternoon visit to the outskirts of New York and Steve sharing his story, the room fell into a contemplative silence. Everyone took their seats, soaking in the weight of what had just unfolded. On the other hand, Hulk was taking it in stride and indifference.
"This is incredible…" Ant-Man breathed quietly, still trying to process it all. He leaned in close to Steve, scrutinizing him as if expecting to see some cracks. "Captain… are you alright?"
Wasp folded her arms, tilting her head. "Yeah, after being frozen for so long, is your brain okay? No offense."
Steve chuckled. "I feel as spry as ever."
"Really?" Tony interjected, raising a brow. "Because you've been frozen in ice for decades."
Ben just shrugged. "Super soldiers are a sturdy bunch."
Not wasting time, Tony launched into an impromptu history lesson, filling Steve in on some of the major events that had transpired in his absence. After covering the essentials, he extended a hand. "My dad used to tell stories about you. Howard Stark was a big fan."
Steve smiled warmly as he shook Tony's hand. "Howard was a good man. A genius, but also one of the most dedicated people I ever worked with."
Tony smirked, leaning back into the couch. "You must have some stories. I'm guessing you've got a lot of catching up to do."
Thor stepped forward, grinning. "If you are truly the Captain of legend, then your strength must be great. Perhaps we shall test it in combat!"
Steve chuckled. "I think I'll need a little time to get settled before taking you on, Thor."
From the kitchen, Wasp waved a hand. "If you stick around, we can catch you up on modern pop culture. Trust me, you've missed a lot."
Ant-Man nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and the food's better now. Well, mostly."
Steve pulled out a small notepad, flipping it open to reveal a list of various recommendations. "Believe me, I've already started a list of things people have suggested."
Tony leaned over and peered at it. "Huh. Not bad. We can definitely add more to that."
Steve's expression turned a little more serious. "In any case, after reading some books in Canada and seeing the U.S. now, I know we won the war."
"Thanks, in part, to you," Tony stated. His armor's faceplate retracted, allowing him to speak directly to the living legend.
Steve exhaled, running a hand along the edge of his shield. "Still, I saw what happened at the UN on the news. HYDRA's not gone."
"Uh… it's complicated," Tony admitted. The Avengers hadn't really had a chance to explain just how much HYDRA had evolved over the years.
Steve's grip on his shield tightened. "Then they're just another reason for me to be here." He stood, glancing around the room at each of them before extending his hand. "That's my story. I'd hope to join your cause in protecting the innocent."
Janet's eyes widened with excitement. "Wait. You're not asking…"
"Yes." Steve's expression was resolute. "Captain America, at your service."
Wasp practically leaped to her feet, beaming. "This is awesome!"
Thor nodded approvingly. "A welcome addition to the team. You are among friends."
Ant-Man smiled. "It would be an honor to work alongside you, Captain."
Tony grinned, rubbing his hands together. "Oh, I cannot wait to see the look on Fury's face when we show you."
Steve tilted his head. "Wait… did you say Fury?"
Tony smirked. "Yep. Nick Fury. Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. I take it the name rings a bell?"
Steve's expression shifted slightly. "I worked alongside Sergeant Jack Fury, leader of the Howling Commandos."
Tony's grin widened. "That's even better. I'm definitely going to enjoy this."
He turned to the ceiling. "JARVIS, prepare a room for Cap until we get everything sorted out."
"Of course, sir," J.A.R.V.I.S. replied smoothly.
Steve paused mid-step, looking around for the source of the voice. "The building has its own voice?"
Thor placed a hand on Steve's shoulder, nodding solemnly. "'Tis very disconcerting."
Ben smirked. "You get used to it."
When the other heroes started walking out the room to get things prepared, Steve was left with the Hulk.
Hulk, for his part, sat against the reinforced walls, arms crossed as he eyed Steve warily.
"You gonna gawk?" Hulk finally grunted.
Steve shook his head, stepping forward. "No. Just wanted to talk."
Hulk scoffed. "What, gonna tell Hulk he's a monster? That he's dangerous?"
Steve furrowed his brows. "No."
Hulk's massive hands clenched. "That's what most people say."
"And I'm not most people, and that's not what I say." Steve met his gaze. "I read the reports. When Graviton was tearing apart the city, you came here from the other side of the country. You defended people. You didn't have to, but you did."
Hulk's expression hardened, but Steve wasn't done.
"I also saw what happened with the Enchantress. She wanted you as her pawn, but you fought back. You made your own choice."
Hulk looked away at that. "So?."
Steve took another step. "Before the war, I was just some scrawny kid from Brooklyn who nobody thought could do anything. I wanted a chance—to prove myself, to protect my country, to make a difference."
Hulk finally looked back at him.
"You have that same chance, Hulk," Steve continued. "I'm not going to stand in your way. And I'm certainly not going to call you a monster."
For a long moment, Hulk was silent. He wasn't used to hearing that. Finally, he exhaled through his nose. "You believe that?"
Steve nodded. "I do."
Hulk grunted. "You're weird."
Steve smirked slightly. "So I've been told."
Hulk leaned back against the wall again but didn't seem as tense anymore. "Tiny soldier boy not so bad," he muttered.
Steve crossed his arms. "I'll take that as a compliment."
By the time the others came back, they were relieved that Steve and Hulk weren't at each other's throats.
With that, the group escorted Steve to a temporary guest room for the night. As the door closed behind him, he set his shield down beside the bed and exhaled. It had been a long day—longer than most. But for the first time in a long while, he felt like he found a new crew like the commandos.
The Next Day
The morning air was filled with the scent of sizzling bacon, fresh eggs, and golden pancakes as the Avengers gathered in the kitchen for breakfast. It was a rare, peaceful moment where they could enjoy a meal together before the day's challenges began.
Ben was already helping himself to a generous stack of pancakes, while Thor devoured an entire plate of sausages with gusto. Steve, still adjusting to this modern world, found comfort in the familiar spread of an American breakfast—simple, hearty, and satisfying.
"Nothing like a classic meal to start the day," Steve said, cutting into his eggs.
"You better appreciate it," Tony muttered, sipping his coffee. "I had JARVIS order extra groceries just for you."
"Which I am grateful for," Steve replied, amused.
#
After breakfast, the team moved to the training room. It was time for a proper introduction involving more than just names. Steve needed to see what each Avenger was capable of.
He stood in the center of the space, arms crossed, as the team prepared to introduce him to their unique powers and skills.
Tony clapped his hands together. "Alright, Cap. You saw some of what we can do on the news, but now you get the full in-person experience."
Steve nodded. "Show me what you've got."
One by one, they gave brief demonstrations.
Tony took center stage first, stepping forward in his sleek red and gold armor. The arc reactor in his chest flared to life as he extended his arms. "Now, I could just talk about my genius intellect and charm…"
Ben nudged the soldier. "Not to mention his humbleness." That brought out a few giggles.
Tony cleared his thought "but I figure a little demonstration's in order."
With a quick motion, repulsors glowed in his palms before firing twin blasts at designated targets across the room, hitting each with pinpoint accuracy. He then launched into the air, performing an aerial roll before landing gracefully in front of Steve.
"Flight, energy blasts, and an all-around cutting-edge battle suit," Tony said smugly. "Pretty good, huh?"
Steve smirked. "Impressive. Stark tech has come a long way."
Tony grinned. "Oh, you have no idea."
Steve crossed his arms. "So, what ever happened to those floating cars of your company? You guys promised that it would be ready within fifty years, and it's been over sixty."
Tony made a nervous laugh. "Yeah… later testing showed that driving in four directions was already difficult without adding another two into the mix. We broke a lot of prototypes."
Steve grinned. "You could say the simpler, the better."
Tony groaned at that. "Oh, don't you get started on that too."
#
Thor stepped forward next, spinning Mjolnir effortlessly in one hand. "Captain, as you know, I am Thor Odinson, Prince of Asgard and God of Thunder." With a swift motion, he hurled the enchanted hammer across the room, where it shattered a reinforced training dummy with ease. In a blink, the hammer zipped back into his grasp.
"Strength beyond mortal comprehension and command over the storms!" With a grin, Thor raised Mjolnir skyward, summoning a controlled bolt of lightning that struck the ground, leaving crackling energy in its wake.
Steve whistled, clearly impressed. "That'll come in handy."
Thor chuckled. "Indeed!"
"My mother raised me to believe that there's only one god, benevolent."
Thor shrugged. "So I've heard as well."
"I may not have faith in you about your divinity, but I can start putting faith in you to fight by my side.
Thor swung Mjolnir, summoning a controlled crackle of lightning that arced through the air. "From a warrior such as yourself? I'd have it no other way."
#
Hank pressed a button on his suit, shrinking down in an instant. Before Steve could blink, he had vanished—only for a tiny voice to speak near his ear.
"I can shrink, grow, and manipulate my mass however I see fit," Hank explained, suddenly growing back to standard size right before Steve.
Steve nodded. "I can see why you two work well together."
Janet zipped through the air, her wings buzzing as she fired bioelectric blasts at a target. "And I've got flight and energy stingers," she smirked.
"Had I not known better, I would have accused you two of being one of Zemo's experiments."
Hank scratched his chin. "I can't say I'm familiar with the man or his work."
Steve shook his head at the memories of the madman. "That's probably for the best."
#
Hulk, still chewing on a piece of bacon from earlier, simply flexed. "Hulk smash." To demonstrate, he stomped the ground, causing a small tremor to shake the training room. Then, with a casual flick of his wrist, he launched a solid steel training block across the room, embedding it deep into the wall.
Steve took a step back at its sheer force. "Duly noted. You're quite strong."
Hulk scoffed, crossing his arms. "Hulk is strongest Avenger."
Thor was about to raise a hand to object, but Ben and Janet held him back.
#
Finally, all eyes turned to Ben., and Steve realized Ben was going to step forward. Ben was relatively broad about his connection to the Avengers.
Steve turned toward him, eyebrow raised. "Wait a minute. Are you one of the Avengers? I thought there were those strange beings. I had assumed I would be meeting them as well."
Ben straightened up, grinning. "Funny you should ask."
Without another word, a flash of green light enveloped him. When it faded, standing in Ben's place was a towering red-skinned alien with four muscular arms.
Steve instinctively took a step back, eyes wide. "What in the—?"
"Surprise!" Ben's voice rumbled in his transformed state, his grin widening. "I'm all of those Avengers." He then transformed into Astrodactyl and
Thor smirked, gesturing toward Ben. "It is the changeling's true power! 'Tis always a sight to behold."
Steve's gaze darted between the now-alien Ben and the rest of the Avengers, trying to process what he'd just seen. "This… wasn't what I expected."
Ben grinned before shifting back into his human form. "That's just one of my forms."
"Wait till you hear about him being part alien," Tony quipped, stepping forward with a smirk.
Steve blinked. "Wait. What…?"
Tony waved it off. "You'll get used to it. Welcome to the team, Rogers."
Ben shifted back to human form with another flash of green light. "Don't worry. We're all good guys. Especially Hulk."
Steve chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "I'm starting to see why Logan said this world has changed."
"Changed might be an understatement," Janet chimed in.
The group relaxed, the initial surprise giving way to camaraderie. Steve extended his hand to Tony. "Well, if this is the team protecting the world now, I'd say it's in good hands."
Tony shook his hand firmly, a smirk still tugging at his lips. "Welcome aboard, Captain." Now, there's something that we wanted to show you."
Liberty Island
The Quinjet soared through the sky, gliding over the glistening waters of New York Harbor. The sight of the Statue of Liberty standing tall against the bright blue sky was as awe-inspiring as ever. Inside the jet, Steve Rogers sat near the window, staring at the approaching landmark.
As the Quinjet touched down near the island, the doors opened, and the Avengers stepped out. Almost immediately, the gathered tourists turned their attention to the arriving heroes. Many already had their phones and cameras at the ready, eager to snap pictures of the famous team.
Among them, Thor stood proudly, allowing tourists to take pictures, while Wasp knelt down to interact with some of the children, letting them touch her wings. Even the Hulk—despite his usual gruff demeanor—allowed a few lucky kids to get a close-up shot before grumbling something about "too many puny humans."
But it was Steve who caught the growing interest of the crowd.
Though most tourists were excited by the Avengers, they couldn't help but notice the unknown blonde man standing among them. Murmurs began to spread.
Steve didn't hear any of it. His attention was locked on something at the foot of the Statue of Liberty.
His steps slowed, his breath caught in his throat.
There, standing in solemn tribute beneath Lady Liberty, was a statue of Captain America and Bucky Barnes. Carved in stunning detail, the two figures stood proud. At the base of the monument, a plaque was engraved with the words: "IN HONORED MEMORY OF CAPTAIN AMERICA AND BUCKY."
Steve's jaw tightened. He took slow steps forward, reaching behind him to pull his shield from his back. He held the familiar red, white, and blue symbol before him.
The tourists finally made the connection. Gasps rippled through the crowd as realization dawned. Had… had Captain America returned?
Even as the murmurs grew louder, Steve's focus remained on the statue. He swallowed the lump in his throat.
Tony stepped forward, activating a holographic projection from his suit. The image that appeared was an old newspaper headline:
"CAPTAIN AMERICA FALLEN! AND A NATION'S HEART WITH HIM!"
Tony's voice softened. "The world didn't forget you… or your sacrifice."
Steve stared at the hologram. The article had captured him mid-battle, shield raised, leading the charge against tyranny.
Tony continued, "My dad used to tell me stories about you when I was a kid. You were an inspiration to him."
Steve's exhale was heavy. His eyes drifted back to Bucky's statue.
"That's... some poor reporting," he muttered. But then, his voice took on a flicker of hope. "But if I survived… maybe Bucky…" His voice trailed off as he considered the impossible.
Tony frowned. He had been dreading this part. He knew how much this moment meant to Steve, but reality was cruel. "I'm sorry, Cap," Tony said, his voice quieter than usual. "Every kid in school learns about how Captain America and Bucky gave their lives to stop the Red Skull."
Steve's fingers curled around the edge of his shield.
But Ben as Four Arms, ever the optimist, crossed his arms and played devil's advocate. "Okay, but was Bucky's body ever found and buried? Steve's literally proof that you need a body to confirm it."
Tony opened his mouth to respond—but paused. For the first time, even he wasn't sure how to answer that. "We actually don't have records of how Bucky's body"
Ben nodded, satisfied with his point. "In all my experience, never assume someone's dead unless you've actually seen the body."
Janet crossed her arms, tilting her head in consideration. "I mean… the logic tracks."
Hank, however, sighed. "At that point, we'd have to assume every person lost at sea is still alive."
Ben shrugged. "It's still a non-zero chance."
While the others debated, Steve remained quiet. His fingers traced the engraved name on the plaque.
"Bucky Barnes."
He sighed heavily. "Unless we have another miracle… Bucky's gone." He took a deep breath, shoulders tense. "Besides James, almost everyone I ever knew is gone. My whole world… it's all gone."
A few of the Avengers raised a brow at the mention of this James character.
Before his thoughts could spiral, an image flashed in his mind.
Laura.
The little girl who he had broken free.
Had he not been there for her…? Had he not intervened…?
She might have been turned into another weapon. Another pawn.
Steve tightened his jaw. No.
As long as evil existed, as long as there were people who needed protection, then he had a reason to keep fighting. He exhaled sharply, straightened his posture, and placed his shield back onto his back. "I'm sorry, I'd like to be back in my room for a while, please."
Wasp hesitated, stepping forward. "Cap…"
But Steve had already started walking back to the Quinjet.
Janet made another move to follow—only to feel Hank's hand gently stop her.
"Give him some time, Jan," Hank said quietly.
She sighed but relented.