Stealing the Future

Steve's face flushed crimson, from the base of his neck to the tips of his ears. He opened his mouth to argue, but anything he said would sound like an excuse. "Impossible," he repeated weakly. "That was a mission. We... we were just selling war bonds."

The explanation rang hollow. Even he didn't believe it.

Tony's laugh was short and sharp, like metal scraping glass. He pointed at Steve and said to Natasha, "See? I told you he was an antique. But even antiques make mistakes. Captain America is a space thug's grandfather? Hollywood wouldn't dare write that script."

Natasha merely turned her head toward the window, but the slight shaking of her shoulders gave her away.

The boulder weighing on everyone's chest had finally shifted a fraction. The fear remained, but at least they could breathe.

"Coordinates locked. Downtown Seoul, the Utopia research facility." Tony's smile vanished. Dozens of virtual screens opened before him, streams of data refreshing like waterfalls. "Arrival in five minutes. Building schematics have been uploaded to your tactical terminals."

His voice had regained its usual briskness, but deep in his eyes, the fear of seeing every one of his comrades lying dead at his feet still burned like a faint ghostly flame.

"Prepare to move." Steve's voice turned cold again. He gripped his shield, his gaze sharpening.

The jet cut through the clouds and roared toward Seoul.

Inside, Steve rapidly mapped out entry routes and fire assignments on his tactical tablet.

Natasha and Clint checked their gear. She wiped down her Widow's Bite while he adjusted the balance of his arrows. Their movements were precise and mechanical, as though the routine were the only thing keeping their fractured, blood-soaked memories at bay.

Thor held Mjolnir with his eyes closed. Faint sparks flickered across his