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Chapter 1

Nightmares

It started with distant music. No words, just a melody that was getting louder. Steve spent some time, standing at the door and letting his eyes get used to the dim red light on the dance floor. The air was heavy and hot, with a slight scent of drinks and cigarettes. Somebody greeted him, and Steve nodded shortly.

He was searching for someone special. Men in their dress uniforms, women in their finest clothes – they created a chaotic and grotesque picture. Steve was walking forward, his steps loud and short. He was looking around, his eyes searching, but he was still alone.

Steve seemed to have spent ages, walking there, when the crowd finally stepped aside, and he noticed the woman in a deep red dress. His heart started pounding. He just knew it was her.

Maybe, she heard his steps, or she simply felt his presence, so Peggy turned and smiled at him. Steve smiled back, feeling happy and relieved. She was there, with him now.

"You're almost late," Peggy said. "I've begun to think you found something else to do today."

"You're right," he admitted. "Actually, I've been searching for the girl that owns me a dance… Could you help me find her? She walks in high heels and shoots with no misses."

They both laughed.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," he added. "Thanks for waiting for me."

Peggy held out her hand, and Steve didn't notice any ring on it.

"You know what?" she said, getting closer. He could smell her perfume. Steve fixed his hair anxiously. "The music today is awful. Let's go away from here, and maybe I'll help you find the girl you've been searching for —"

Steve woke up, breathing heavily. Travelling to the past transformed the false vision into a bad dream, and he couldn't get rid of it. Night after night he came back to the dance floor where he and Peggy planned to have a date. He was late, and it would never be real. Still, his mind was torturing him again, making him see something he'd never have.

Steve checked his watch. 5 A.M. The sky was cold grey, but it would get new colours soon. There was no sense to stay in bed. Steve knew he wouldn't be able to sleep again. One nightmare was more than enough.

When Steve entered the kitchen, he heard:

"Can't sleep?"

Bucky was standing near the window, a mug of tea in his hand. He would share the apartment with Steve until moving away somewhere nearby, but it was too early to speak about it. They both were strangers in that modern world, even now. Their past became memories filled with a layer of dust, their old lives and hopes were taken away, and their present was still unclear.

Steve grimaced.

"Sometimes I wish I didn't sleep at all," he said bitterly, taking his cup. "Looks like you know what I mean, right?"

Cap glanced at dark circles under his friend's eyes.

"Something like that," Burnes murmured. "Ghosts from the past can be very vivid sometimes."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Buck shook his head.

"Never been a fan of therapy sessions," he sipped his tea and glanced at Cap. "Seriously, did you really do this after the snap? Doing therapy sessions?"

Rogers chuckled.

"Maybe, it sounds weird, but conversation can heal sometimes," he became serious again. "You know that, right, Buck? If you need someone to talk to, I'm here."

They exchanged glances, and for a moment it felt like nothing ever happened, and they were in the '40s again. They were themselves, young, but still loyal to each other.

Finally, Buck sighed and nodded. Steve smiled. That glance meant more than many words they could say.

"How's about a little jog?" Steve suggested, looking out of the window. The morning was getting brighter.

Barnes shook his head.

"I'd better have another nightmare."

When Steve and Sam met outside forty minutes later, Falcon had been already warming out.

"So, Bucky-Scissorhand isn't going to join us?"

Cap smiled.

"No. He often skipped gym classes at school."

"And you didn't? Did you ever do a chin-up?" Sam asked.

"Well, I was too weak for that at that time, but, at least, I tried!"

They both laughed.

Cap and Falcon had been still running when Rogers's phone made a noise. They stopped, Sam breathing heavily, his shirt sweaty.

"Anything important?" Falcon asked. "If you need some time to catch your breath, let's pretend that you need to take a call."

It was the message. Cap reread it and glanced at Sam. He wasn't joking anymore.

"It's Banner," he answered. "He fixed the portal. It's time to return the stones to the past."

The world was safe, but they still needed to finish their last adventure.