"What about the captured soldiers? Is there a rescue plan?" Steve demanded, standing at Phillips' desk with urgency in his voice.
Phillips sighed, his tone grave. "Yes—our plan is to win this war."
Steve's face hardened. If they waited until the war was over, Bucky's fate would be sealed.
"Where are the prisoners held?" he pressed.
"Thirty miles behind enemy lines, through heavy defenses." Phillips paused, his voice softening. "But that's not your concern, Captain. You have a performance in half an hour—go get ready." Without another word, he dismissed Steve, leaving him standing there, fists clenched.
"Alright, I understand." Steve's face showed determination. It was time to break some rules.
…
In the tent, Steve and Thor were gathering their gear.
"You don't have to come with me, you know," Steve said, though he knew the colonel was still trying to organize a rescue team. Venturing into enemy territory without support was a huge risk.
"Nah, you're done being a mascot, and I'm done sitting around. Let's make it big!" Thor replied with a grin. "But remember, you're the one disobeying orders. I'm just… going along for the ride."
He glanced toward Peggy, who stood by the door. "Ms. Carter, contact Stark. I heard he's in the area. We'll need a pilot—can't exactly walk thirty miles into enemy territory, can we?"
Peggy crossed her arms, eyeing him with exasperation. "I get the feeling I've been roped into a losing battle."
…
"Stark is the best civilian flight officer around," Peggy explained as they flew over the Italian landscape. "He's the only one who'd dare fly us through this weather."
"This is insane!" Howard complained from the cockpit, though his grin betrayed his excitement. "We're all gonna get court-martialed if we make it back alive."
"It doesn't matter," Thor said casually. "So, Mr. Stark, any plans to have a son soon? You've got quite the legacy to pass on."
"Oh, if I had a choice, I'd prefer a daughter," Howard replied. "At least she'd have a better chance of not turning out like me."
Steve raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly would be so bad about that?"
"Well," Howard began, smirking, "I tend to put my personal interests ahead of, you know, the greater good. And if I have a son, there's a good chance he'll be a playboy like me."
Thor chuckled. "Oh, trust me. You'll definitely have a son—and he'll be an even bigger playboy than you."
Peggy was about to question him when the roar of artillery sounded around them.
Howard turned to them, his face serious. "This is as far as we can go. You'll have to jump from here."
Thor laid out the plan. "Steve, once you're down, head straight in to free the prisoners. I'll stay outside and keep the enemy busy."
Without hesitation, Captain America nodded and leaped from the plane, disappearing into the clouds below.
Thor was about to follow, hauling a large package with him, when Peggy called out, "Blake! Come back alive, alright?"
He gave her a confident grin. "Don't worry—I will."
With that, he jumped, and as he fell through the sky, he tore open his package to reveal two modified Gatling guns.
Watching from the plane, Peggy's jaw dropped. She shot a look at Howard Stark. "This was your doing, wasn't it?"
Howard shook his head, amused. "Not this time."
Suddenly, Peggy's expression changed, realizing exactly what Thor meant by "distracting the enemy." She turned back to the flight crew in alarm. "I need a parachute—now!"
"Sorry, ma'am," one of the crew replied. "Mr. Blake said not to let you go after him, in case you slowed him down."
…
At the HYDRA camp's edge, Steve stopped dead in his tracks, staring at Thor, who had a Gatling gun in each hand.
"Where did you get those?" he asked, dumbfounded.
"Captain, no swearing," Thor replied with a smirk. "Remember, I said I'd distract the enemy. You go handle the rescue."
Before Steve could respond, Thor dashed toward a bunker, grabbing a loudspeaker on the way. He raised it to his mouth and yelled, "Hey! HYDRA worms, come out and meet your doom!"
Without further ado, he unleashed a relentless hail of bullets from both Gatling guns, peppering the camp with fire.
Steve could only shake his head as he slipped past the chaos Thor was creating. Sometimes, I think he enjoys this a little too much, he thought with a smile.
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