Okay, so this idea came from when I was complaining to BewareTheFandom about how Steve should've gone back to 2012 and signed Coulson's cards. (Happy 4th friendship anniversary, by the way.) And he suggested to write it so here we are.

Now it's also a RomaRogers two-shot because, another thing I complain about is despite loving Steve/Peggy, we should've gotten a RomaRogers ending.

Disclaimer - I don't own the characters.

Chapter One: The Signature

Before he returned to his starting point, there was one more stop he had to make.

He lost count of how many times he's been in May 2012. He appears behind a storage unit, peeking over the side to keep a lookout. Certain people can't notice him or else this whole mission would've been a failure. One of them being the May 2012 version of himself. He'll have to beat himself up again.

There he is. He finds himself within the crowd of SHIELD agents, exiting a quinjet. A smaller agent follows and they both stand on the landing pad.

Steve isn't fazed by seeing himself again. He basically just met himself. He's more focused on Agent Coulson. It surprises Steve that it's been over a decade since he came here for the first time. Time travel really makes time irrelevant yet precious at the same time.

He's suddenly distracted when he sees her walking over to his past self. Her black heeled boots, brown leather bomber jacket, and short red curls. Steve came back here with another goal in mind and didn't think he'd run into her. Why did she skip his mind?

Steve wants to continue watching his past interact with her. He wants to gaze at the first time he met her because, at that moment, he didn't think she would be as important to him as she was eleven years later. His heart gets heavier because one of life's simplest pleasures is witnessing someone smile at you for the first time.

If only he knew…

Steve returns to reality when he sees Coulson heading inside alone. He looks at Natasha one more time before running after Coulson but looking as casual as possible.

None of the agents gave him strange looks when they pass him because a version of him is supposed to be here. They just don't know the real him for this year is outside and overwhelmed by a flying boat. As if his 2012 self wasn't already embarrassing…

It helps that he's still considered as the thawed war hero everyone thought was dead so they're too intimidated to make eye contact with him.

Steve stops at an opening doorway when he sees Coulson step out. Steve freezes, smiling down at the agent when he wants to hug him. (Truth be told, he didn't think Coulson would've minded or asked. It likely wouldn't be weird. He would've loved it).

"Captain," Coulson greets casually. He's probably wondering about Steve's sudden appearance since they were just together (in 2012).

"Hi…" Steve responds. For a moment, he blanked out on his plan. He clears his throat. "Nat - Agent Romanoff told me that you had some vintage trading cards."

Coulson hesitates, eyes bulge out of his head as his cheeks redden. It's like he revealed a secret he shouldn't have known about. Steve pretends not to notice but he notices. He only smiles because of only Coulson knew how happy Steve was to see him again.

"I was wondering if you wanted me to sign them…" Steve starts, waiting for Coulson to pick up this conversation.

And he does. Coulson's eyes nearly pop out of their sockets and he goes pale. The dream he never expected to come true is happening right before his eyes. His childhood hero who rose from the supposed dead is offering to sign his childhood collectibles.

Steve warms up more than he thought he would. After everything that happened after 2012, this moment is the most precious. This interaction is why heroes like him exist: to give hope and make the dreams of the little man come true. Besides, they're the real heroes.

"Do you have them on you?" Steve asks.

"No," Coulson responds. "They're never on me. They're in my locker. It's not that far from here."

Steve nods and gestures for Coulson to lead the way. Steve can't help but think this over for a moment. Back in 2012, after Coulson died and Fury showed them the bloodied trading cards, Fury said they were in his jacket. But now, Coulson said they were always in his locker. And that makes sense because why would he keep something so valuable on his person? Especially in this work environment. Unless … oh, that son of a Fury.

-o-

Steve uncaps a marker as Coulson stands in front of his opened locker. He watches as Coulson opens a plastic slipcover from the top shelf and fans out the cards.

Steve is more amazed by the cards than their mint-condition. He carefully takes them into his hands, holding them as if they'll shatter with the slightest movement. He feels the need to hold his breath.

It isn't until now that Steve realizes how much time passed for him. He already lost so much while in the ice. The cards showed how everything was for him when he first underwent Project: Rebirth. Looking at his first uniform, doing his first salute, and advertising war bonds all made his present self, or even his 2012 version look more like a man out of time.

"Were you always wearing that?" Coulson asks.

Steve pauses, escaping his thoughts as he refocuses on Coulson. Steve thought that Coulson was referring to the spangled outfit on the cards, but he's referring to their present interaction.

He was so distracted by being back here that he didn't change his outfit. Steve's wearing the spangled suit he left 2023 in since the quantum uniforms disappeared in micro-nanos when he arrived. Meanwhile, his real 2012 version was walking around the Helicarrier in civilian clothes. Coulson last saw him in civvies and here he is now dressed like the flag, and not the version of the American flag they'd expect.

Steve smiles casually. "Just breaking it in and making the most out of this moment."

Coulson nods as Steve looks back at the cards. His marker hovers just above his photo and he hesitates on how to sign it. Steve Rogers? Captain America? Captain Rogers?

Who was he now? If only he knew…

Steve exhales as he scribbles his name. A moment later, he hands Coulson the cards back as he caps the marker shut. Coulson holds and cherishes them as if they're the most valuable items on the planet because they are for him.

And that's why Steve did this: for the little guy. He should've done it sooner but would that have changed the outcome of The Battle of New York?

It doesn't matter. They already left a version of 2012 messed up. What's important is that he signed them. It's a valuable vintage set.

"Wow, Captain Rogers…" Coulson mutters in shock. "I don't know what to say."

Steve shakes his head. "Don't worry about it. Anything for a hero."

-o-

Steve turns down a corridor once he leaves the locker room. He doesn't know where he's going but he needs to get out of here before he runs into anyone else. He's surpassed the time is precious mindset a long time ago because of the seventy years down under and time travel.

He spent too long here. He has to get back before he misses his cue, but he sees the red curls and the green eyes that look back at him.

His face drops as his entire body swells with this gnawing pain that he never got to address properly. She promised to see him in a minute, and he expected that, but she never came back. She was gone for good in sixty seconds. But he would've done the same thing if he went to Vormir.

Steve exhales the longer he stares at her. Although this isn't the same woman he waited to come back to a minute later, it's her.

Maybe time is precious.

"Natasha," he calls.

Friendly reminder, this is a two-shot.