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Arthur and Red Skull sat facing each other, separated by a pale blue energy field.
Red Skull reached out and gently touched the field, but found it possessed no offensive power. It was simply... indestructible.
It seemed that no amount of force applied to it would have any effect.
Arthur smiled softly. "No need to waste your strength. Scientists are terrifying, aren't they? Many years ago, Dr. Erskine transformed you from an ordinary man into Red Skull. And now... this energy field, thinner than paper, imprisons you completely."
"I've always understood the terror of science," Red Skull or John Schmidt said, withdrawing his hand and looking at Arthur outside the field. "We just seem to have different ways of using it."
"Not really," Arthur replied. "You use it to conquer the world, I use it to protect it. And in the process, whether for protection or invasion, people always die. From the simple act of killing, there's no difference between us."
"I thought this might be what you'd say," Schmidt said, frowning. 'Well, in fact, he didn't have eyebrows.' "Could it be that you, a self-proclaimed champion of justice, don't feel ashamed of yourself? Don't you feel... uneasy that you could say such a thing?"
"Not at all," Arthur smiled. "I protect the world. I'm proud of it. Why would I feel ashamed? And you... to conquer the world and fulfill your ambitions, you've piled countless lives high to fill your throne. Don't you feel ashamed of that?"
Schmidt fell silent in his cell.
Arthur slowly rose to his feet. "You've endured this loneliness for a long time. What's a little more?"
"I thought you'd have questions for me," Schmidt said quietly as Arthur turned to leave.
"I did," Arthur glanced back at him. "But suddenly I don't want to ask them."
With a wave, Arthur gradually faded into the darkness. The faint blue light of the barrier was insufficient to provide visibility.
Schmidt closed his eyes. "You'll come back. You'll come back to me."
....
Back on the upper levels, Arthur remained silent.
Natasha watched his profile beside him, not with much curiosity, but with a faint trace of sadness in her eyes.
This sadness wasn't her own; she was simply infected by Arthur's mood.
Someone else might have wondered what Arthur was thinking, but Natasha knew. To her, Arthur had always been a special presence.
The superhero of her childhood, the protagonist of her bedtime stories.
When she first developed romantic feelings, she had felt heartbroken over Arthur's plight... and once envied Agent Carter, who had worked alongside him.
And then, when she finally met him, this man had simply walked into her life, alive and breathing.
It wasn't like the legends, but... those stories remained etched in her heart, impossible to erase even after all these years.
So she knew that Arthur was thinking of someone, someone who had died many years ago, someone even forgotten in the long river of history.
"Did you know? I could actually make the Super Soldier serum Steve used at any time."
Arthur suddenly spoke.
Natasha remained silent, simply waiting quietly.
After a moment, she heard Arthur continue, "But... some people fear that kind of future. So sometimes I don't know what to do. The serum can be made, mass-produced, but some existences... they just won't."
He let out a long breath and quickened his pace.
Natasha stood her ground, not following. Sometimes, men needed their own space.
...
Still on the roof of Camp Lehigh, Arthur was once again alone.
Winter Soldier Bucky had returned, but Steve had reportedly called him away today. The two best friends had reunited, and Bucky wouldn't be caught lounging on the roof of Camp Lehigh for no reason.
Arthur sat there, gazing at the sky, but his mind conjured the image of a bald-headed uncle.
In truth, the time he'd spent learning from that bald-headed uncle had been just as carefree... If only... If he'd truly become an ordinary researcher in this life...
He let out a bitter laugh. "In that case, I might have died long ago and never met Lily. But I also wouldn't have this responsibility."
He gently patted his face. "Super Soldiers aren't exactly everywhere. You created this, so you should take it with you. I caught Schmidt, maybe a bit late, seventy years late, but... I guess it's done, right? Whether you blame me or not... this is probably it."
The only response was the gentle breeze rustling through the desolate mountain wilderness.
A faint smile curved Arthur's lips as he rubbed his forehead.
Countless memories flooded his mind, some he thought he'd forgotten, some he wanted to forget but dared not, and some he didn't even dare to recall.
So much had happened to him along the way.
There had been joy and pain, hatred and gratitude.
Even if he never spoke of them, could he truly erase these things from his memory?
The indicator light on his wristband blinked. Arthur rubbed his face, and Natasha appeared before him. "Communication from Hank Pym."
Arthur nodded. "Take it."
Natasha nodded and asked cautiously, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Arthur said with a smile. "It's good news."
Confused, Natasha cut the communication, and an audio call came through. "Haha, you're really busy right now. I thought I'd dialed the wrong number when I called earlier."
"My apologies," Arthur said, standing up on the rooftop. "I didn't mean to ignore your call, but I haven't been able to relax these past few days. But now I can. Is it time for me to fulfill my promise?"
Hank was silent for a moment before saying, "Help me keep an eye on someone."
"Hmm? Just keep an eye on them?" Arthur asked with a smile. "If you need anything, just ask."
"No... just keep an eye on them," Hank replied. "Or... say, keep tabs on them."
(End Of This Chapter)
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