Henderson hit the ground at Steve's feet.
Steve froze.
"Henderson."
He dropped beside him.
The German officer remained silent behind them.
Steve put one arm under Henderson's shoulders and lifted him slowly.
Henderson focused his gaze.
"Cap…"
"I'm here."
Henderson stared at him for a moment and then moved his mouth.
"I'm sorry, Cap."
Steve frowned.
"I—"
"No," said Steve, reaching for his hand. "You have nothing to apologize for."
Henderson swallowed and grasped Steve's fingers with his weak fingers.
Blood soaked Steve's uniform; there was too much blood.
"You did good, Henderson."
Steve stayed by his side.
Until his hand went limp.
Steve didn't move.
He stayed there, holding Henderson's hand.
In the end, Steve placed his hand on Henderson's chest.
He softly closed Henderson's eyes.
Then the officer spoke from behind.
"Remarkable."
Steve slowly turned to look over his shoulder.
The officer stayed where he had dropped Henderson and looked at Steve.
"For a long time I have thought about you, Captain America."
Steve rose.
"Erskine had an army to choose from. Thousands of men, healthy, strong soldiers."
Steve said nothing.
"And yet…"
He stared at Steve as if searching for an answer.
"He chose you."
The officer nodded slightly.
"Why?"
Steve glanced at Henderson.
Then back at him.
"You should ask him yourself."
The officer frowned.
"I'm asking you."
Steve lifted his shield.
"I don't know."
Steve moved first, aiming at his head to stop him.
The officer caught his fist.
Steve's eyes widened.
He tried to free his hand.
It didn't move.
The officer smiled.
He struck Steve in the chest.
Steve crossed the street and flew through a wall, the officer lowering his hand as Steve answered, "Neither do I."
Steve pulled himself out of the rubble.
The officer walked toward him.
Steve threw his shield.
The officer ducked.
Steve rushed toward him as the shield struck the wall behind them.
He swung a punch.
The officer blocked, and Steve tried another punch.
The officer blocked it once more.
Steve aimed for his ribs.
The officer grabbed his arm and threw him over his shoulder.
Steve landed hard on the ground.
The officer watched as Steve got to his feet.
"You can fight."
Steve wiped a bit of blood from his mouth.
"You're not like the others."
The officer stepped closer.
"I was made to be superior"
Steve picked up his shield.
"So were your friends."
The officer grinned.
He charged at Steve.
Steve raised his shield.
He hit the shield.
Steve pulled himself back from the impact.
The officer swung again.
Steve blocked the punch and then hit the officer in the face with his shield.
The officer stumbled.
Steve hit him in the stomach, then his jaw.
The officer took Steve's uniform and threw him into the building.
Steve tried standing but the officer punched him back outside.
The helmet rolled across the street, and Steve looked at it.
"You were weak before Erskine found you."
Steve got up slowly.
"You were sick, small, and rejected by your own army."
Steve raised his shield once more.
"What did he see in you?"
He moved forward towards the officer.
Steve stared at him.
"I told you."
He squeezed the shield more tightly.
"I don't know."
The officer's face became tense. "You still don't get it, Steve?"
He charged at Steve once more.
"I'm stronger than you."
The officer struck Steve in the face.
Steve hit the ground.
He stood up and clenched his jaw.
The officer hit him again, harder this time.
Steve hit the wall.
He pulled himself up, breathing hard.
He took another blow to the shield and stumbled.
Steve dropped to one knee.
He looked down at Steve. "Do you understand now?"
Steve pushed back to his feet.
"You talk too much."
The officer looked at him and then vanished out of Steve's sight.
He moved quickly before Steve could react.
The blow sent Steve off his feet into the air.
He went through the wall behind him and ended up in the next room.
Steve landed on the ground beyond the far side of the building, lying motionless.
Steve gradually pushed himself up.
His arm trembled.
He got onto one knee.
The officer went through the hole that he had made in the building.
Steve tried to sit up again.
This time, he got one foot firmly under him and used the shield to pull himself up and out of the building.
In front of him, the officer stopped.
"Why?"
Steve was breathing heavily.
"Why don't you let go of your shield?" he watched Steve struggle to keep his feet up. "You've seen the difference in our powers. Yet, you really think you can beat me?"
Steve looked up at him, doing so slowly.
"Difference… in power?"
"You think I'd give up just because you're stronger than me?"
He said nothing, only looked at the officer.
"I knew you were stronger from the beginning."
"It didn't matter then."
He raised the shield in one swift motion.
"It doesn't matter now."
The officer's eyes widened.
Steve held his gaze.
"I refuse to give up."
He held his ground.
"You should've realized that by now."
Steve raised his shield.
The officer pushed the shield out of the way and punched him in the chest.
Steve hit the ground, stunned.
The officer caught him and hauled him up before Steve could react.
He hurled Steve across the street.
Steve hit the ground hard, then rolled until he stopped.
This time he stayed down.
Steve tried to lift himself.
His arm gave out.
The officer surveyed the village.
He glanced at Henderson.
"They followed you."
He turned to look at him.
"They believed in you."
Steve dug his fingers into the soil.
"And now they're dead."
Steve lowered his head.
"Steve…"
Steve opened his eyes slowly, barely responding.
He turned toward the sound.
"Help…"
"Help…"
Steve turned his head toward the voice.
Bucky.
Steve placed his hand on the ground and pushed, but his arm failed him.
"Bucky…"
The officer kept walking, ignoring him.
Steve reached out for his shield, placed his finger on its edge, and pulled it closer.
The officer stopped next to the rubble.
He looked up at Bucky, hope and fear in his face.
His face was streaked with blood, but he did not look away.
He looked past the officer and saw Steve.
"Steve…"
Steve grabbed the shield.
Bucky pleaded again.
"Help me."
The officer looked down at Bucky.
He caught Bucky by the collar.
Bucky groaned as the officer pulled him off the ground.
Steve hurled the shield hard.
The shield hit the officer's arm, loosening his grip.
Bucky fell back down.
He looked down at his arm, stunned.
Then he looked at Steve.
Steve was already moving, fast.
He tackled the officer at full speed.
They crashed into the next room and struck another wall.
Then they smashed through one more wall.
The officer smashed a fist into Steve's back.
Steve kept driving, forcing the officer backward.
The officer struggled to break free as they kept crashing into buildings.
Steve then knocked him against the next building.
The wall gave way behind them.
The officer struck Steve in the face.
In the end, Steve lost his grip.
The officer slipped out of his arms and hit the ground outside.
He pushed through the mud, planting his hands to stop himself. When he finally did, he stayed there for a moment, then looked up and saw Steve standing opposite him.
His helmet was gone.
The uniform was torn and stained with blood and dirt.
He was holding the shield again.
Bucky stood behind him.
Steve lifted the shield.
He focused his eyes on the officer.
Suddenly, it all made sense.
The way he always managed to get back on his feet.
The men who followed him to war.
The officer's eyes widened.
"Erskine"…"
Steve stayed silent.
The officer's face twisted with anger.
"ERKSINE!"
In front of Bucky stood Steve.
Blood flowed down his face.
His uniform was torn and bloody, and he could barely stand.
"Erskine wasn't looking for the strongest man."
Steve said nothing.
The officer stared at him.
"He wanted someone they would follow."
His fists clenched white.
"Someone who could inspire…"
He stopped.
His expression changed.
"That's what he saw."
The officer spat, his face twisting with anger.
"Not the strongest man."
He looked almost disgusted by the answer.
"Hope."
"That changes nothing."
His gaze swept across the village.
"The weak die."
He looked back at Steve.
"The strong survive."
Steve's grew angry.
He raised his shield, ready to fight.
"All right."
He planted his feet, bracing for battle.
"We'll play by your rules."
Steve tightened his grip.
"Let's go."
The officer's face twisted in fury.
"You underestimate my power."
He charged Steve.
Steve moved at the last second.
The officer's fist passed inches from his face.
Steve felt the air from the punch.
The officer had put everything into it.
But it was too late.
Steve threw the shield.
It ripped through the officer's arm.
"AHHH!"
Steve caught the shield as it came back. Then he roundhouse-kicked him in the chest.
The officer flew backward.
A metal spike protruded from the ground behind him.
His body slammed onto it.
He stopped instantly, shock frozen on his face.
Steve stood there, finally catching his breath, staring at the spike.
The officer stared down at the spike sticking out of his chest, finally realizing it.
Blood ran from his mouth.
"Kekekeke…"
Steve watched him.
"You think this ends with me?"
Steve said nothing.
The officer raised his head.
"There are more."
Steve's jaw tightened.
"How many?"
The officer smiled weakly.
"Enough to take over your pathetic country."
Steve tightened his grip on the shield.
"You'll all die."
He laughed again.
Steve stared at him.
"I'll find them."
The officer's smile faded.
Steve stepped closer, his face set.
"Every one of them."
"Steve…"
Steve turned.
"Bucky!"
Bucky lay on the ground, barely moving.
Steve knelt beside him.
"Hey."
Bucky opened his eyes.
"Took you long enough."
Steve exhaled.
"Can you move?"
"Not really."
"Good. Don't."
"...Heh."
Bucky laughed weakly.
Steve looked back toward the village, toward his men, Henderson, and the smoke where Sullivan had died. The fight was over, but the cost was clear.
Bucky noticed it.
"Steve…"
Steve looked at him, then nodded.
"Let's go home."
A few days later.
Steve was all by himself.
Rows of crosses stood in front of him.
For a moment, he could hear them again—the cards, the laughter, Sullivan raising his drink to Captain America.
Steve looked across the graves and down at the names listed there.
"The war's almost over."
"Our victory—your victory—is so close."
"I wish you could have lived to see it."
"Steve."
He turned.
Peggy stood behind him.
For a moment, they said nothing.
Peggy looked at him.
"Bucky's awake."
"He is?"
Peggy nodded.
"He's hurt. But he's going to live."
Steve closed his eyes and exhaled.
For the first time since the village, the weight left his shoulders.
"He asked for you."
Steve turned his gaze back to the graves, but Peggy was still there.
"I'll go right now."
Peggy watched him.
"There's something else."
Steve looked at her.
She held up a folder.
"The German was telling the truth."
Steve stared at it.
"There are more."
Peggy gave Steve the folder.
There were names, locations, and photographs.
Many enhanced soldiers.
He shut the folder.
Steve turned and walked away.
"Steve."
He paused.
Peggy stood right behind him.
"You're going to leave already?"
Steve stayed facing away.
"I have to."
"You just came back."
"I know."
"You nearly died."
Steve lowered his head.
"I know."
Peggy stepped closer.
"And what about us?"
Finally, Steve turned to her.
He met her eyes.
He said nothing.
Peggy began to cry.
"You said we would have a life together after the war."
Steve gazed at her.
"I wanted that."
Steve dropped his gaze.
"I still do."
Peggy met his eyes.
"Then stay."
Steve had no answer. He looked at the folder in his hand, then at Peggy.
"If I don't stop them, more people are going to die."
Peggy slowly shook her head.
"Do you really believe you can stop them all?"
Steve's face turned serious.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Steve met her gaze.
"Because I have to try."
Peggy studied his face.
"I love you, Steve."
Steve stayed silent.
"I love you, Peggy."
She met his eyes.
Steve spoke softly.
"But I cannot ask you to wait for me."
Peggy understood exactly what he meant.
Steve stepped back.
"I'm sorry."
Peggy lowered her eyes.
Steve started walking away.
Every step took him from her and the life he wanted, and closer to the responsibility he had accepted.
With great power comes great responsibility.
This was his gift and his curse.
Who am I?
I'm Captain America.