Marvel : The great sage

The official debriefings were long, exhaustive, and filled with more questions than Alex cared to answer. He had expected as much. The world had just lost Captain America, and no one wanted to believe it. The military, intelligence agencies, even the President himself—all demanded answers.

But Alex played his part well. He stayed in the shadows, keeping his survival a secret. With Sophia guiding him, he manipulated the reports just enough to ensure no one came looking for him.

By the end of it, the world mourned the Rogers brothers—one a hero, the other a ghost.

And for Alex, his next destination was already set.

---

Peggy Carter walked through the quiet London streets, her heart heavier than it had ever been.

It had been almost a week since Steve and Alex disappeared. A week of endless questions, briefings, and military protocols. A week of pretending she was fine when, in truth, she wasn't.

Her fingers traced the edges of a small photograph in her pocket—a moment frozen in time, one she had carried with her since before the war truly began.

As she neared her home, a single tear slipped past her eye.

She wiped it away quickly.

She was Peggy Carter.

She wasn't supposed to break.

But as she reached her door, something made her pause.

A soft melody played inside.

It was faint—so faint that if she hadn't been paying attention, she might have missed it.

Her door was unlocked.

Instincts kicked in immediately. Hand reaching for her weapon, she slowly pushed the door open.

The inside was dimly lit, a warm contrast to the cold outside. The record player in the living room spun gently, playing a familiar tune.

A song meant for a dance that never happened.

Her breath hitched.

And then—

A hand landed on her shoulder.

Peggy spun on reflex, ready to strike, but before she could land a hit, both her hands were caught.

Warm. Firm. Familiar.

Her breath stilled. Her heart pounded.

She looked up—

And her world stopped.

"Not looking too good, Agent Carter," Alex said with a teasing smile. "Miss me?"

Her breath caught in her throat.

A laugh huffed out of her, watery and disbelieving.

She placed a hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat—real, steady, alive.

"You're late for the dance, Rogers."

Alex chuckled, his grip on her hands tightening just slightly. "Got delayed on the plane, Agent. Had to jump out of it."

She let out a soft chuckle, a mix of relief and exhaustion, before she did what she had been longing to do—she threw herself into his arms.

Alex caught her effortlessly, pulling her close.

For a moment, they simply stood there—her head against his chest, his arms wrapped around her.

No words were needed.

He was here. That was enough.

---

Slowly, as if pulled by an unspoken force, Peggy lifted her head.

The song still played in the background.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "We never did get that dance."

Peggy smiled, her eyes shimmering with unshed emotions.

"Well, what are you waiting for, soldier?"

And so, with silent understanding, they moved.

Their steps were slow, uncertain at first—but soon, they found a rhythm.

A step forward, a step back. A slow turn.

Peggy's hands rested against Alex's broad shoulders, his own hands firm around her waist.

They danced in the quiet of the night, lost in each other's presence, in the warmth of what could have been—what still could be.

As the song reached its final notes, they stopped.

Their breath mingled.

Their eyes met.

And in that moment—nothing else mattered.

Peggy tilted her head, lips parting slightly.

Alex leaned in.

And then—

Their lips met.

It was soft at first, a hesitant brush, but the moment they tasted each other, something ignited.

Peggy's arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer. Alex's hands tightened on her waist, grounding them both.

The world faded away.

It was just them.

After what felt like an eternity, Peggy pulled away slightly.

Her breaths came in shallow pants, her cheeks flushed, but her eyes—her eyes held nothing but certainty.

She took a step back, her fingers lacing with Alex's.

No words were spoken.

She led him toward her bedroom.

---

Their lips never parted for long, hands roaming, bodies pressed close as Peggy slowly led Alex toward the bedroom. The air between them was thick with heat, their breaths mingling as they finally pulled apart, eyes locked in silent understanding.

Peggy's lips parted slightly, and though no sound escaped, her meaning was clear: Take me.

No further words were needed. Clothes slipped from their bodies, falling away as they took in each other fully—exploring with both eyes and fingertips. Peggy's gaze traced over Alex's sculpted form, each muscle carved with perfection, like something shaped by divine hands. Drawn in, she reached out, her fingers trailing from his chest to his firm abs before drifting lower, brushing against him with hesitant curiosity.

Alex inhaled sharply, his breath unsteady, desire darkening his gaze. His hands resumed their journey, gliding over Peggy's soft skin, memorizing every curve.

They tumbled onto the bed, lips crashing together once more, their bodies pressed flush as heat coiled between them. As Alex moved against her, Peggy gasped, fingers tightening against his skin. There was a brief moment of tension, a sharp intake of breath, before her body melted into his, adjusting to the new sensation. He moved with patience at first, his touch both firm and reverent, their bodies finding a rhythm as pleasure overtook them.

Soft groans and whispered names filled the dimly lit room, the warmth between them intensifying with every movement. Time became meaningless as they lost themselves in each other, exploring, giving, taking—until finally, the world around them faded into nothing but shared breath and trembling limbs.

When they finally collapsed onto the sheets, their bodies spent, Peggy lay beside him, her chest rising and falling with exhaustion. Alex, however, still held that same steady energy, his fingers lazily tracing patterns along her back. She let out a breathless chuckle, pressing her forehead against his shoulder.

"If I'd known you had that much stamina, I would've prepared myself better," she murmured, voice laced with both satisfaction and playful frustration.

Alex grinned, tilting her chin up to press one last, lingering kiss against her lips. "Too late for regrets now, darling."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips as she let herself sink into his embrace, the warmth between them lingering long after exhaustion had settled in.

---

The Morning After

The sun peeked through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the room.

Peggy stirred against the warmth beside her, eyes fluttering open.

For a moment, she simply lay there, listening to the steady rhythm of Alex's heartbeat.

Her fingers lightly traced over his bare chest, committing every inch to memory.

Last night had been real.

Alex was real.

And he had stayed.

A small, satisfied smile tugged at her lips.

Beneath her touch, Alex let out a low hum. "Awake already?"

Peggy hummed in return, tilting her head up to meet his gaze.

For the first time in what felt like forever, peace settled over them.

But soon, reality would catch up.

And so, as the morning stretched on, Alex explained everything.

His survival. His escape.

Peggy listened without interrupting, absorbing every word.

At times, she frowned, at times, she nodded, but she never once looked away.

When he finished, silence settled between them.

Then, she exhaled softly and smiled.

"Well," she murmured, tracing small circles over his skin. "I suppose I have quite the story to cover up now, don't I?"

Alex chuckled. "You've handled worse, Agent Carter."

She smirked. "Damn right, I have."

And with that, she closed her eyes, allowing sleep to claim her once more.

Alex watched her for a moment longer, then pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

---

Howard Stark's Discovery

Meanwhile, at Howard Stark's private lab, a certain blue artifact gleamed under the artificial light.

Howard examined the Tesseract, fingers brushing over the note left beside it.

"Find a new guinea pig for your experiments."

A slow smirk spread across his face.

"Cheeky bastard," he muttered, shaking his head.

Still, as he carefully lifted the artifact, his mind whirred with possibilities.

The Tesseract was back in his hands.

And the future?

It was about to get a whole lot more interesting.