Four years, five months, and thirteen days. That's how long it has been since the world froze, and the train started it's journey, round and round the icy Earth. And that's how long it has been since he lost Bucky. The photo of them was taken in Rome, a few days after Steve proposed. They are standing on the Spanish steps, smiling hand in hand. You can't see the ring, but he knows it's there. Steve carefully folds the picture and slips it into his breast pocket. He has to hurry, or he will miss breakfast. He takes his portion and looks around the dining carriage, and spots Darcy with Jane on her lap. He sits next to her.
-Morning Steve. Porridge ten days in a row. That's a new record. Come on, sweetie, eat another spoonful.
-I don't like it.
-I know. Neither do I, but we can't be picky.
-If you eat it, Jane, I will give you something yummy.
-What is it, uncle Steve?
-You can only find out if you finish eating your porridge.
Jane enthusiastically starts eating it, but half of it still ends up on her face and clothes. Darcy just sights, then turns to Steve.
-What will you do today?
-Maintenance work in the second.
-Are you all right? You aren't eating.
Steve pushes his plate away. He doesn't try to lie, he knows he can't fool Darcy.
-Oh, god. Is it him, again?
-I proposed today, six years ago.
-I'm sorry.
-We never even got to marry. I should have stayed with him. Never should have boarded this goddamn train.
-But instead, you are here. And you saved me, and Jane.
Steve buries his face in his hands.
-I know, Darce. And sometimes I'm even happy that I survived, with you guys. But not today.
-And that's okay. Tell you what, we should grab a drink tonight at the Nightcar. I can ask Mary to look after Jane. She loves playing with the twins.
-Can I have my yummy thing, uncle Steve?
-Here you are – he gives an apple to Jane, who immediately bites into it – I don't know if that's a good idea, Darcy.
-Come on, you need a drink. And you really shouldn't be alone today.
-Okay. But I have to go now. I'll see you after my shift.
A few clogged showers, a busted heating pipe, a rusty transportation car. Rich folks whining about creaks in the wall and cold water. Nothing he hasn't heard before. He's working on autopilot, his hands know what they should do, but his mind is far away, in Rome.
The sun is shining and Bucky is laughing so hard, he almost spits out the pasta. They are sitting in a small restaurant, in the suburb.
-Then he said that I have to go, and...Steve, are you even listening to me?
He doesn't even think before he blurts it out.
-Will you marry me?
Bucky just stares at him.
-What? Is this a joke Steve?
-No! I wanted to do this right, get down on one knee at the Trevi fountain, but I guess this is an as good time for it as any other – he reaches into his pocket while kneeling down – Buck, will you marry me? Please say yes.
-Of course, you idiot. Come here and kiss me right now.
-Rogers! Rogers!
Steve snaps out of it.
-Yeah sorry, I wasn't paying attention. What is it?
-Some fancy looking girl from hospitality is looking for you.
He looks up, and there she is, in her blue uniform, clearly uncomfortable between these third-class workers.
-What can I do for you, Ma'am?
-You are Mr. Rogers?
-Yes.
-You served in the army, for eight years before the Freeze, is that correct?
-Yes.
-And after that, you were a bodyguard.
-For Tony Stark, yes. Why?
-We would like to offer you a place in our security team. Based on your past experience, and your upstanding behavior on the train you make the perfect candidate. Unfortunately, we lost one of our security on Wednesday.
Steve heard about it. A kronole deal gone wrong on the second. The poor guy was stabbed in the stomach.
-I don't know.
-Here is a list of your duties, and the benefits you would get from accepting the job. I will find you tomorrow, so make your decision by then.
Steve just stares at the paper. Him, as a security guard?
-What did she want, Rogers?
-Nothing – he crumbles the paper into his pocket – Just asked a few questions.
He tries not to think about the paper in his pocket as he makes his way to the Nightcar. Darcy is waiting by the pult, waving him. She is wearing her only dress.
-Hey, Steve, here!
-You look nice, Darcy.
-Oh, you will make me blush. Hey, Clay, what can I get for two third-class chips?
-Shitty beer, or shitty wine.
-Shitty wine it is then.
-And for you?
-Beer.
-Cheers, Steve! To this fucking engine, may it run forever.
-To the engine.
Darcy sippes her wine and makes a face.
-Oh god, I miss cocktails. And whiskey. Even vodka, although I had my worst hangover from that. Jane and I used to hang out at this bar, to celebrate whatever crazy experiment we did. That's how we met Thor. Jane forgot her bag there, and he ran after us to give it back. I thought he was some creep, so I tased the shit out of him.
Steve has heard this story a hundred times before, but he still listens to it. Thor and Jane died in the Freeze, and Darcy needed to remember them. She even named her daughter after her best friend.
-What about you, Steve? Seen anything interesting in second?
-They asked me to join the security team.
-What? Really?
Steve slippes the paper to her. Darcy rans her eyes over it.
-Upgraded room, twenty chips a week, better meals. Sounds nice.
-You think I should accept it.
-You are an adult, Steve, I won't tell you what to do.
-But...?
-But it does sound nice. Not just because of the benefits. It would be closer to your old job. You might even enjoy it, unlike being a mechanic.
-I don't hate being a mechanic.
-Good for you. I would do anything to work in my field again. Two diplomas and I'm chopping vegetables all day.
-Yeah, you only mention that every other day.
-Anyway, security might suit you.
-Everyone hates security on the third.
-Because they are assholes! That doesn't mean you will become an asshole the minute you put on the uniform. At least I hope so.
-I don't know.
-Hey, if you don't take it, someone else will. You can be one of the good guys. A security guard who doesn't want a blowjob so they will get medicine for your kid, or deal kronole, or some other shit. You can help people.
-Darcy...
-Just think it through. Hey, Clay, pour me another, please! Do you want to dance?
-No. I think I will get to my room and do the thinking.
He thriddens his way through the drunken crowd. He lets out a relieved sigh when he is finally back in his room. He quickly changes his clothes and lies down on the hard bed. He should think about this decison, but his mind wonders back to where it all started.
-Jarvis, where is Tony?
-Sir is then workshop, Master Rogers.
He hurries down.
-Hey Steve!
Tony looks like shit. He hasn't shaved in days, probably haven't slept either, and he reeks of alcohol and sweats. He has been like this since the diagnosis. Steve grabs the half empty whisky bottle from the pult.
-You shouldn't be drinking this crap. The doctor sais...
-The doctor sais I have two months to live. Drinking won't change that. I will.
-How? Will you replace your heart?
-Something like that. I just need to figure a few more things out.
-You are the smartest person I know Tony, maybe the smartest person on the Earth, but even you can't do that. Maybe it's time to accept things. Spend time with Pepper, with us, intead of living down here.
-I will figure this out, and than we can spend time together. I will even go running with you, promise. But that's not why I asked you to come. I got a visitor yesterday. A guy named Wilkers or Wilton, no Wilson. Definitely Wilson. He is building some kind of post-apocalytic train, in case the guys up can't fix the weather. He asked me to invest in it.
-Tell me you didn't blow money on this scam.
-That's what I thought at first. It all sounded like a distopian movie, a good one. But then he explained it in detail. The guy is crazy, but the genious type of crazy. So I bought tickets for Pepper and I, and also for you and Bucky.
-No, Tony, you shouldn't have.
-You guys are my best friends. My only friends,really. In case anything happens I want to make sure I want to make sure that you will be okay.
-That's nice of you, but how much money did you spend on this?
-Don't ask something you don't want to hear. But don't worry, I only bought thirdclass tickets, in case it turns out to be a scam, I don't want my entire fortune to disappear. I would build my own post- apocalyptic bunker or train, or whatever, but I'm busy now. Maybe after I solve this heart thing, I will do it.
-Tony, please.
-I will send you the tickets. Now, you should go. I have to get back to fixing my heart.
-Tony!
-Go, Steve. I'm working.
Tony dies a week later, and Steve forgets about the train for a long time.
-I accept the job.
-I'm glad, Mr Rogers. You can get your uniform and baton from the storecar. Mr Reynolds will fill you in on the rest.
Mr Reynolds tells him about gun safety, uniform rules and protocols. They have a protocol for nearly evrything: murder, theft, rebellion in the Tail, strikes. It's mostly keep quiet about it, don't cause panic and resolve it quikcly. He moves into his new room that night, and sleeps on an actual mattress in four years. It's seems almost uncomfortably soft, like when he came back from Afganistanand slept in a bed for the first time. He gets nasty looks and snark comments from the people on the third, especially from his ex-coworkers, but he pretends that he doesn't care. He buys a doll for Jane from his first payment, an actual doll, not some rag toy. Her smile makes hearing those comments worth it.
-You are spoiling her rotten.
-I'm her uncle, that's my job.
-How is security?
-It's okay. More boring than I thought it would be. All I did this week was brooke up a fight, saw a few drunks out of the Nightcar, an escoreted the mechanics and cleaners uptrain. Otherwise I mostly just stood around.
-Are the boys from mechanic still giving you a hard time?
-Kinda.
-They are just jealous. Any of them would kill for the oppurtunity to be a guard. Have you been to the Tail yet?
-No. They are still training me, before sending me there. To be honest, I'm not looking forward to it.
-It's minus 49 degrees outside. Two degrees lower than yesterday, and it's fucking August – sais Bucky as he takes his coat off.
-Shit. We definitely have to postpone the wedding now.
-You are still worried about that?
-Even if it's the end of the world, I want it to end as your husbandt.
-Don't even joke about that. The scientists will figure something out. They say they are very close to finding the solution.
-Like they never lied before. Listen, Bucky. I found those tran tickets Tony bought us.
-You can't seriously think this will come to that.
-Things aren't looking up and it doesn't hurt to consider it.
-Okay. Let's look into it, but pray that we will never have to board that train.
Eight months later
The Snowpiercer will be deporting in two months. The world has gone mad, as the the temperature slowly but surely dropped lower every day. Electricity, and with that phones and internet, or any form of communitation to a distance diappeared. Gangs floaded the streers, robbing and murdering people. The healthcare crushed, and only a few police and military forces tryed desperately to keep up the illusion of order. The rich hid away in their bunkers. Their was utter chaos.
-I got news on Becky and the kids. They are alive.
-That's great, Bucky. What should we do?
-I will go down to Pennyslyvania, bring them here. Then on the Snowpiercer.
Becky is Bucky's little sister. She has two kids, James and Rachel. Steve has no family since his mom died. He knows how much Bucky loves his sister and the kids, and he knows that if Bucky wants him to, he would give up the tickets for them. But there are only two tickets.
-I'm coming with you.
-No. You need to stay here. Help Pepper, and Morgan. And who would get the food for Mrs Blane's family?
-There is no way I'm letting you go alone.
They argue, but in the end Bucky wins. He also wants the tickets to stay with Steve.
-It's safer this way. God knows how many gangs I will meet on the way, I don't want to loose them if I get robbed.
-Bring your gone with you and come back to me – he kisses him goodbye.
The Snowpiercer's departure is brought forward with two weeks, due to the temperature dropping faster than expected. There is still no sign of Bucky. Steve grows more concerned every day. He knows that he should head to the place of the departure, he knows that's what Bucky asked him to do, in case anything happened, but he can't bring himself to do it. He waits until the last minute. He leaves a note on the kitchen table.
Bucky,
I went to the departure point. I'm sorry, but I couldn't wait longer. They brought the departure forward two weeks. I will be waitng there for you and Becky. I won't board unless you are there. I love you. Please, be there.
Steve
The road takes longer to the train than he expected. He gets there on the day of the departure. The madness there is even worse than on the streets. The mob is besieging the train, desperately trying to get on, a last attempt to save their life. There are guards protecting the train, with weapon in hands. The place is loud with the sound of screams and gunshots. He waits there, looking around, hoping to see Bucy's brown mop of hair, but there are only strangers.
-Attention! All passanger should board the Snowpieercer. The departure is in ten minutes. I repeat, all passanger should board.
Steve noticed a familiar figure. He ran towards him, pushing people out of the way.
-Bucky! Bucky!
The man turns, and Steve's heart drops: it isn't him. He tries to go back, but the mob is pushing him towards the train. He looks around, desperately screaming Bucky's name, again and again. A young woman is pushed down right next to him. A soldier points his gun at her. She is crying, and Steve notices that she is pregnant. He steps infront of the gun.
-Wait! She is with me, we have ? – he waives the tickets infront of the guard.
He takes and examines them.
-You came at the very last moment. Follow me, I will escort you to the train.
Steve helps her up. She is clinging to his arm, as they climb up to the engine. Steve collapses on a chair, his eyes glued to the window. The girl sits next to him.
-Thank you! You saved my life. I'm Darcy – her hand slides onto her stomach – And you saved my baby, too. I guess I choose the worst time to get pregnant.
She is still speaking, but Steve can't even hear her. He is still looking out, hoping that Bucky will appear in the last moment, somehow. Then the train starts with a shake, and it tooks off, quickly leaving the mob behind, and Bucky isn't here. Steve lets out a pained cry, but it's lost in the murmur.
The first two weeks are easier than he thought they would be. That's when he is sent to the Tail, to help with delivering the food to them. The Tail was a contreversial topic. Some thought they should let them starve or freeze to death, and the problem would be solved. Other's didn't think that it was just or humane how they were treated. The last one were the less popular opinion. People despised and hated them, but they were mostly afraid of them. The Tail ment a constant threat, with frequent rebellions. The people of the Third class were especially afraid, having only a few wagons between them and the rebels. Steve saw pople who were brought up from the Tail. They were all alike: skin and bones, pale from years of living in the dark. They ate fastly and messily, and their eyes were full of terror, like the soldiers who came back from war zones. They kept to themselves, and never spook about the Tail. He heard rumors, though, terrible ones, about murders, mutilation and cannibalism. Steve hated the way they were treated: like animals, while the people in second and first squandered food, water and other resources. And now he was on his way to the Tail pushing a carter loaded with black protein bars. He can't belive they are feeding them this crap. They have an awful smell and an even worse taste. Porridge is a hundred times tastier.
-Is that all? Seems like like very little food for all those peole.
-Yeah, they cut back on the food for the week. Okay, here we are. Just remeber, Rogers, keep them at a distance,and never let them near your weapon. Those fuckers can be dangerous, especially now that they aren't getting the portions they are used, too. At any sign of violence, you shut the doors, and call for backup, am I clear?
-Yes, sir.
The doors open with a loud buzz.
-All right! Everyone step back! On your knees!
The stench is horrible. Steve looks over all those people kneeling on the dirty ground, a sad sight. Then one of them lifts his head and looks into his eyes. Steve heart stopes for a moment. It's Bucky.