As the door swung open, a rush of noise immediately overwhelmed the Captain's senses.
An old-fashioned bar, wooden tables, and soldiers in World War II uniforms filled the room, each face brimming with joy. They held up glasses filled with different kinds of drinks, clinking them together as they sang along loudly, their off-key voices blending with the music.
The band on stage played a lively tune, "Star-Spangled Man," a song the Captain knew all too well. Back when he first became Captain America, he had danced to this song onstage countless times alongside a group of long-legged girls, raising funds for soldiers fighting on the front lines.
But it wasn't just the song that stirred a familiar feeling in him. It was the soldiers' attitudes, their uniforms, and everything around him—it all felt as if he had stepped back more than sixty years.
The entire club, spanning hundreds of square meters, seemed to shimmer in a dreamy glow under the dim lights. So much so that the Captain hadn't even noticed the dark blue-black swirling around the doorway as he entered, a frame that seemed not quite real. Once he stepped inside, the door behind him disappeared, replaced by an ordinary wooden door fitting the club's vintage aesthetic.
Yet, the Captain hadn't noticed any of this. Slightly puzzled, he made his way toward the bar. The bartender, polishing a glass, looked up and broke into a smile. "Hey! Look who's here, Captain Rogers, our hero! Congratulations on taking down Hydra's leader, Johann Schmidt! Hydra is completely finished—I bet the war won't last more than a few days now!"
Hearing this, the Captain felt even more confused, unable to make sense of his surroundings. Reflexively, he replied to the bartender, "I'm here looking for a girl. She came alone, and she's probably waiting for someone."
The bartender thought for a moment before pointing to a corner near the stage. "There's only one single girl here tonight. I was wondering how such a lovely lady could be here alone, and now I see she was waiting for you, Captain! I'm envious."
The Captain followed the bartender's finger and saw a short-haired figure in uniform, sitting alone in a dimly lit corner. He couldn't quite make out her face, but her silhouette, attire, and hairstyle matched the image of a woman who had lingered in his heart for so long.
"Peggy," he murmured, barely noticing the bartender behind him shouting excitedly about treating him to a drink.
In a corner on the opposite side of the stage, a group of familiar faces—Blake, Tony, Banner, and even Rhodey—sat huddled together, all dressed in WWII military uniforms.
"Damn, that bartender is really into his role. Where did you find him, Rhodey?" Tony whispered to Rhodey, lowering his voice.
Rhodey glanced at the bartender, who was still enthusiastically waving at the Captain's back. "That's our bartender from the Air Force club. Those pilots don't know how to tend a bar. Tony, that's what a bartender should look like when he sees a hero of the battlefield. I think he's doing a great job!"
As the two bickered quietly, Blake cut in. "Stop talking, the Captain's headed over. Cue the next song, clear the dance floor, and let Natasha know—it's time for the leading lady to make her entrance."
With that, Blake prepared for the next stage of their plan. Meanwhile, the Captain, full of anticipation, walked toward the girl in the corner. Though the distance was only a few meters, each step seemed to stretch on endlessly.
After much hesitation, he finally stood behind the young woman. Normally fearless, Captain America now felt as timid as a schoolboy who'd done something wrong and was too scared to face his teacher. He lingered, not daring to take that final step.
"Rhodey, get someone to give him a little nudge!" Tony, unable to bear it any longer, said to Rhodey.
Rhodey quickly gave a few instructions into his earpiece. At a nearby table, two young men stood up, one swaying unsteadily as though he'd had too much to drink, with the other following closely behind.
As they passed behind the Captain, the "drunk" one stumbled and bumped right into his back, throwing him off balance.
The Captain, entirely focused on the figure in front of him, hadn't noticed anyone approaching and was caught off guard, stumbling forward.
"Sorry! I'm so sorry! My friend's had a bit too much!" the other man said quickly.
The Captain looked at the swaying "drunk" with a forgiving wave. "No problem. Get your friend home safely."
The young man thanked him profusely, then moved to support his "drunken" friend. As they walked away, the one who had acted as the drunk punched the air in excitement. "I just bumped into Captain America! I'll be bragging about this to my cousin for life!"
The Captain, brushing off his uniform, stood up and suddenly met a pair of bright, captivating eyes.
"Peggy?" he called out in disbelief.
"Peggy? I didn't think Captain Rogers would use such lines to flirt. My name's Vanessa, but if Captain America wants, I can be Peggy too," the woman replied, her smile enchanting.
Only then did the Captain realize that this woman only bore a passing resemblance to Peggy. A wave of disappointment washed over him.
He'd actually thought he'd traveled back in time to that era... How foolish. Clearly, this was just some elaborate prank or something of the sort.
Not in the mood for games or confrontation, he turned to leave, wanting to find a quiet corner to be alone. Just as he prepared to leave, the lights in the club dimmed suddenly.
The band stopped playing, and the cheerful music and noisy chatter abruptly ceased, replaced by an almost eerie silence that lasted only a couple of seconds.
Then, the smooth notes of a saxophone filled the air, playing a slow, romantic tune. A spotlight appeared in the center of the club, where all the tables and chairs had mysteriously been cleared away.
Standing alone under the spotlight was a woman in a striking red evening gown, her bright dress contrasting with the dim surroundings. Her short, slightly wavy hair and her face—those familiar features and eyes—were unmistakable.
It was Peggy Carter.
"I've waited sixty-seven years for this dance. So what are you waiting for, my little soldier?"
*******************************************
You can get access to early chapters on patr*on.
If you like my work and you want to support me then you can become my patron on patre*n.
My patr*on account is S_Pandey_0170