In another parallel universe, Captain America's story unfolds quite differently—no female love interest, and his only close companion is Bucky.
It's said that, at one point, Steve even gave Bucky a ring to hold onto, which Bucky ended up wearing himself. And when Bucky was injured, Captain America didn't just support him like in the movies; instead, he carried him in a classic "princess carry."
Rumor has it that, in a previous life, a Marvel fan poll asked fans to choose their favorite pairings, regardless of gender, and Steve and Bucky took first place. In short, they were more than friends—they were life-long companions, closer than any romance. In comparison, Peggy Carter seemed more like a third wheel…
…
That morning, a doctor at the office was called out of the room during Steve's medical examination, leaving Steve alone. He couldn't help but glance nervously at the wall where "Forgery of Military Volunteer Forms" was scrawled in large letters. This time, it felt different.
In the past, he'd been rejected immediately, but the recruitment office usually let him off without much hassle. Was today going to be the day he finally got in trouble? The penalty could be serious; he could be locked up for years.
Then a stern-looking soldier drew the curtain and stepped inside. Steve felt a wave of dread.
At that moment, an older man with a receding hairline entered, motioning for the soldier to leave. The man introduced himself and began questioning Steve, and Steve's responses seemed to satisfy him.
Finally, the older man said, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Abraham Erskine, and I'm prepared to give you a chance!"
Steve's eyes lit up. "I just need one chance!"
Just then, a voice called from outside, "Doctor! I'd like to enlist as well!"
Dr. Erskine nodded to the soldiers, who brought in a young, blond man.
"Mr. Blake, you're joining the army too?" Steve greeted him with a grin. "Hey, I just passed!"
Of course, Thor (posing as Donald Blake) passed the examination easily. His nearly perfect physical stats prompted Dr. Erskine to consider him for the super-soldier program as well. Thor had followed Steve to the recruitment office that morning and, after Dr. Erskine arrived, waited a few minutes before entering himself.
As an Asgardian, Thor's physique was vastly superior to that of any mortal, and as a prince, he had a godly body that once stood toe-to-toe with Thanos. Even a strengthened Captain America couldn't match him. To avoid causing a stir, Thor had suppressed his true strength as much as possible. If he hadn't, the power of thunder alone would have been enough to demolish an entire army.
Soon, both Thor and Steve were at the barracks, now wearing brown military uniforms. Sitting beside each other, they couldn't have looked more different: Steve's thin frame made Thor's towering 1.9-meter height all the more noticeable.
A striking female officer entered, her confident steps turning heads. Her curly hair and vibrant red lipstick gave her a charismatic edge. When a brazen soldier tried to flirt with her, she instantly put him in his place, knocking him down with ease. Another recruit muttered something, but in less than three seconds, he, too, was on the ground.
The recruits went silent. What on earth? This woman is fierce! Steve sat there, wide-eyed, while Thor watched her with amused interest.
This was Peggy Carter—the future legendary agent.
Peggy took a quick glance around and immediately noticed the humorous height difference between Thor and Steve. She caught Thor's smirk, and he gave her a wink, his expression mischievous.
"Well, beautiful lady, I wonder if I might have the pleasure of inviting you for a glass of wine tonight?" he asked smoothly.
Steve felt a strange pang, as if something precious were slipping away from him, though he couldn't quite name it. He frowned momentarily but quickly brushed it off.
What am I even thinking? he thought to himself. I should be thinking about Bucky. He's probably already on the battlefield by now…
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