They returned to camp two days later.
The delay was mainly due to taking a detour. Arthur and his group, mostly former prisoners, were physically and mentally exhausted.
Upon their release, fueled by youthful vigor and long-suppressed anger, they had displayed unimaginable fighting skills. But as soon as the excitement wore off, each of them became disheartened.
Taking such a group of people through the war zone would have been disastrous. So, after much deliberation between Arthur and Steve, they devised a route that skirted the danger zone just enough.
Though not the easiest route, it ensured their safety, hence the two-day trip.
Upon their return to camp, they were greeted with a hero's welcome. Soldiers lined the road, cheering, and Colonel Phillips personally greeted them.
How risky was the rescue?
Colonel Phillips once said. "For every ten people, you might save one." To see hundreds of prisoners rescued was truly an eye-opener.
Arthur wasn't fond of such receptions and slipped away unnoticed by the crowd.
Back in his tent, he organized his gear and sat on the edge of his bed, listening to the cheers outside. If he had wanted, those cheers could have been for him. But he really didn't want that... because he feared that accepting such acclaim would change him.
To become fearless, to become self-sacrificing, to become... not himself.
"I'm not cut out to be a hero," He muttered.
He lay down, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
This mission had taken almost six days in total. Most of the time, he hadn't been able to rest properly... which made this particular sleep feel like a sanctuary.
When he awoke, he felt someone lying next to him.
Opening his eyes, he saw that Agent Carter had pulled up a chair and was sitting at the head of his bed, sleeping with her face resting on her arms.
His movement upon waking seemed to startle her, and she awoke immediately. When she saw Arthur looking at her, her face blushed slightly. "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
"Drool," Arthur replied.
Agent Carter quickly wiped her face and Arthur chuckled mischievously.
"Are you teasing me again?" She asked, seeing his expression and knowing exactly what was going on.
He grinned playfully before speaking. "You're always sneaking over when I'm asleep... planning some nefarious act against me."
Agent Carter sighed helplessly. "If bringing you food counts as nefarious... then yes., I am nefarious"
"Great, I've been hungry for ages," Arthur exclaimed excitedly. "You have no idea what I've been eating these past few days."
Even though it was canned food that Agent Carter had brought, it was practically a feast fit for a king compared to the rations of Hydra.
As they ate, Arthur casually asked, "What about Steve?"
"Colonel Phillips thinks you might need a helping hand," Agent Carter replied, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
"Huh?" Arthur was momentarily taken aback.
After inquiring further, he learned that, contrary to the events in the movies, Steve's recent actions were largely due to Colonel Phillips' concern for Arthur's well-being.
---
Though Arthur had demonstrated his spectacular decapitation skills more than once in the past six months...
But this mission remained incredibly challenging.
Schmidt's strength and inscrutability had left a lasting impression on all the Allied forces... Relying solely on Arthur to penetrate deep into enemy territory, even those who had the most faith in him wouldn't dare guarantee his success!
Fortunately, Steve stepped up to the plate. Given his identity as a "Super Soldier," the old man immediately placed his hopes in him.
Colonel Phillips had long been familiar with Steve's background information.
Seizing the opportunity, he revealed a bit about the Azano campaign. Steve couldn't sit still and immediately asked about Bucky's whereabouts.
Of course, going alone for the rescue was no good... So Steve quietly asked Agent Carter for help.
Agent Carter had long understood the Colonel's intentions, so she took him to find Howard.
Throughout the process, Steve was kept in the dark about Arthur's mission. Nevertheless, the outcome was perfectly timed to bring the two together.
"That old man..."
After hearing Agent Carter's account, Arthur was somewhat speechless.
Running decapitation missions deep behind enemy lines was inherently risky. A single miscalculation could mean the loss of everything.
In a situation like that, the old man had brought the Captain along... Arthur was sure that the old bastard hadn't even seen the movies, so where did he get such confidence?
This was a classic case of desperate measures. If Arthur had known that, why would he have agreed to go in the first place?
But Arthur didn't answer. Instead, he sighed softly, "Is this price... worth it? I may not come out of this unscathed..."
Steve was the only success story of the Strategic Scientific Reserve. If his success was destroyed on this battlefield, it would be an incredibly embarrassing situation for the SSR.
Colonel Phillips was really taking a chance this time.
Thinking about that stern old man risking so much just for him, Arthur found it hard to describe his feelings.
Cheers could change a man... and so could genuine concern.
Dr. Erskine's complete trust, Colonel Phillips' sincere concern, and the warm affection of Agent Carter before him...
Arthur couldn't help but feel surrounded by something warm, almost suffocating.
Wanting to immerse himself in it, yet fearing... losing himself.
Well... Arthur wasn't really afraid of losing himself. He was more afraid that one day he would find himself desperately fighting for her!
But in reality... Arthur felt that if any of them were in trouble, he would indeed fight desperately.
Otherwise, why would he willingly embark on this dangerous quest, knowing the risks? Wasn't Dr. Erskine's death a bitter pill for him?
"Human hearts... are truly fickle..."
Arthur couldn't help but mutter, realizing that change was indeed inevitable, whether he liked it or not.
"What did you say?"
Agent Carter didn't catch it.
Arthur smiled and said, "I said you looked beautiful."
"Hah, it's rare to hear such praise from you!"
Agent Carter couldn't hide the hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth.
"Well, you can chalk it up to my occasional lapses in judgment."
Arthur chuckled.
"...Agent, you're evil!!"
Agent Carter pretended to be angry, grabbed the can Arthur was eating from, glared at Arthur, and then walked away...
(End of Chapter)
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