Only when Captain America's low, hoarse voice rang out and he raised his bearded, bloodstained face did Tony start in shock. "Steve?!"
"What?" Snake Captain answered reflexively.
But he immediately realized Tony wasn't calling him.
Snake Captain lowered his gaze to Captain America's face and saw one much like his own, yet utterly broken!
His face twisted. "Another fucking me? Last time it was that pussy from the Avengers Universe. Why does this one look even worse than that pussy?"
"Steve!"
Another voice called out.
It was Winter Soldier, standing beside Snake Captain.
Without giving Snake Captain a chance to answer this time, Winter Soldier strode past him, hurried over to Captain America, and crouched down. He brushed aside Captain America's disheveled hair, revealing his face more clearly.
Captain America, too, got a clear look at the face of his childhood friend, Bucky.
Unable to contain the pain he had carried for so long, Captain America lunged forward and threw his arms around Winter Soldier, who was crouching before him.
"Bucky, I failed. I couldn't protect him. I couldn't protect my child. James is dead. Carter killed him with her own hands while Doom was controlling her. It's all my fault!"
"James..." Winter Soldier froze at the name, then felt both warmth and heartache.
The warmth came from knowing that, even in another universe, Captain America had still named his son after him.
It meant Captain America had never forgotten their friendship.
The heartache came from knowing that Captain America's greatest lifelong regret had been the dance he owed Carter.
In this universe, Captain America had finally gotten the life he had missed out on. He had shared that dance with Carter, nearly a century late, and together they had brought a child into the world, the fruit of their