At the door of a modest apartment, Sharon Carter knocked, then stepped aside as Thor and Peggy Carter finally met each other's gaze.
With a knowing look, Sharon slipped into the guest room, leaving the two alone.
There was no dramatic outburst as one might have imagined. Peggy stood still, lips pressed tightly together as she tried to hold back tears, though they escaped regardless.
For Thor, it had only been a few days, but for her, it had been over half a century.
He had rehearsed many things to say, but in the end, only one sentence made it past his lips. "Peggy, I'm back."
Peggy dabbed her tears away with a tissue, forcing a smile. "Is that all you have to say after making me wait this long?"
Thor, catching her hint, composed himself, offering his hand with a small, formal bow. "Beautiful Miss Carter, may I have this dance?"
In the guest room, Sharon Carter shivered, feeling an instinctual wave of secondhand embarrassment.
"Ding! Congratulations on completing the mission: The Covenant of the Century. Reward: Dancing Proficiency."
The system notification chimed in, but Thor ignored it. Sometimes, he realized, the purpose of completing a task was the experience itself, not the reward. If it were a task that conflicted with his heart, no reward could make him pursue it.
Peggy's cheeks flushed, though not from embarrassment. Seeing his awkward sincerity, she held back her amusement and gave a quiet "Yes."
Thor wrapped his arms around her gently, leaning close to murmur, "It's all over now. I'm not leaving again."
In the years to come, the world would experience drastic changes, ushering in the true era of superheroes.
After a moment, Peggy looked up at him thoughtfully. "I haven't aged at all these years… you did this, didn't you?"
Thor nodded. "Yes. For mortals, the cycle of life and death is natural. Longevity isn't always a blessing; it often means enduring endless solitude when loved ones pass. But I am Asgardian, my lifespan far exceeds that of mortals, and I won't let such a fate separate us."
Peggy smiled softly. "Then why didn't you tell me sooner? I kept imagining myself in my forties, trying to face you with gray hair and a feeble memory."
Thor cleared his throat. "Well… I wanted it to be a surprise."
In truth, he'd only made the decision to give her immortality after completing his mission and returning. Before that, his plan had been to reach the modern era and ask to borrow the Time Stone from the Ancient One to restore Peggy's youth. He'd even been willing to pressure Strange if it came to it.
For the people he cared about, Thor never hesitated to do what was necessary—even if it meant playing the villain.
...
As they caught up, Peggy shared stories of the years he'd missed.
After the war, she, Howard Stark, and Colonel Phillips founded S.H.I.E.L.D. But keeping his advice in mind, Peggy chose to retire when she reached the appropriate age, even though her appearance never changed. Howard, on the other hand, stayed involved in S.H.I.E.L.D. until he was assassinated by HYDRA operatives in 1991. Stark Industries officially declared him dead, though Howard continued working in the shadows, pursuing the truth behind his attack. Sadly, he'd passed away a few years ago, never uncovering the answers he sought.
...
Later, they got into a car and headed for an upscale dance hall nearby, looking forward to the night's reunion.
Meanwhile, Sharon Carter emerged from the guest room, watching them leave with a sigh. "This old-fashioned love story from half a century ago, and my aunt's so emotional over it… it's unbelievable!"
"Thor, the one we've kept classified for over ten years, was once just Lieutenant Colonel Blake," she mused, shaking her head. "Director Fury probably has no clue. Well, it's out of my hands now…"
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