Lance and Stephanie exchanged a glance.
"Come in."
The door opened.
James Rhodes stood in the doorway.
He had clearly chosen to wear his military uniform for today's meeting. The stars on his epaulettes were almost blinding.
The lieutenant colonel was no longer young. His dark complexion and sharp eyes gave him a steady, disciplined presence.
After stepping inside, Rhodes did not look at Lance first. His gaze locked onto Stephanie.
For a brief moment, the composure he was known for showed a faint crack.
But he quickly regained control and gave Stephanie a military salute.
"Captain Rogers. James Rhodes, Air Force Colonel. It's an honor to meet you." His voice was slightly hoarse, but no one pointed it out.
Stephanie stood and extended her hand.
"Just call me Stephanie, Colonel. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise, Cap… Stephanie."
Peter stood off to the side, eyes wide. He was so excited that he covered his mouth, afraid that if he let go, he would start shouting uncontrollably.
Oh my God.
Coming to Lawyer Prescott today had absolutely been the right decision.
Rhodes took a breath and nodded to Lance.
"Lawyer Prescott, we need to talk."
"Sit." Lance gestured to the sofa. "But a reminder, Colonel. Ms. Rogers is my client. Any conversation you have with her will be conducted in the presence of her lawyer."
"Understood." Rhodes sat down, took several folders from his briefcase, and handed them to Lance and Stephanie.
"This is the Department of Defense's preliminary proposal. They want the Captain to join the military as a Special Advisor, participating in counterterrorism, intelligence operations, and responses to superhuman threats. The benefits are generous, and the clearance level is high, but…"
"…but she would be subject to military oversight, required to report regularly, and all actions would need prior approval."
Lance flipped through the documents Rhodes had handed over, a faint sneer forming on his lips.
"Let me see. According to this plan, Stephanie is to be brought into active duty, with the rank tentatively set at Colonel, reporting directly to the Pentagon. All actions would require authorization from a special congressional committee…"
"It seems you want my client to act as a high-level enforcer for the Department of Defense. And on top of that, you don't trust her, so you intend to keep this war machine on a leash."
"Sorry, Captain. That wording was inappropriate, but you understand what I mean."
"It's fine." Stephanie shrugged, continuing to flip through the documents in her hands.
"This is the result of a compromise," Rhodes said frankly. "Some people wanted to lock the Captain in a lab and replicate the Super Soldier Serum. The military, however, still has supporters of Captain America. We did our best to secure a relatively acceptable option."
"Acceptable?" Lance sneered and snapped the file shut. "Colonel, everyone knows the story of Captain America, but has anyone ever told you how Stephanie Rogers became Captain America?"
Rhodes shook his head in silence.
"She wasn't chosen by the military." Lance stood, walked to Stephanie's side, and patted her shoulder.
"Back then, she walked into the recruitment office herself and forged five physical exam reports just to get to the front lines."
"The Strategic Scientific Reserve didn't take an interest in her because she was strong. To put it bluntly, she was skin and bones. Even someone like me could have knocked her down with one punch."
"They took an interest in her because she was stubborn enough and had the guts. She dared to say to a general, 'I don't want to kill anyone, but I don't want to see others being killed.'"
Lance fixed Rhodes with a steady gaze as he spoke.
"Now seventy years later, you want to use a piece of paper to turn her into a compliant weapon. Captain America was never a yes-woman, and she certainly isn't some arrogant, self-important type like Tony Stark."
When Lance mentioned Stark, he noticed both Stephanie and Rhodes react at the same time. It was clear they both paid close attention to that name.
Lance did not dwell on it. "So, do you think she'll sign?"
Rhodes looked at Stephanie in silence.
Stephanie met his gaze calmly.
"Colonel Rhodes," Stephanie said, her voice steady. "I'm very grateful that you and your comrades still remember me, and I appreciate the effort you put into securing this 'decent' option."
"But Lance is right. I am not a weapon, and I never will be."
"I'm willing to help this country, to help this world, but I want to do it in my own way, and only when I believe it's right. If that makes cooperation impossible… then I can only say I'm sorry."
Rhodes listened in silence, then looked at Lance again. "So, does that mean we can't have a proper discussion?"
"No, of course not," Lance replied. "If you'd like, you're welcome to sit down and have a cup of coffee or tea with us. As for anything else, that's off the table."
"Fair enough." Rhodes suddenly laughed. "Nick Fury told me you wouldn't agree."
He shook his head. "He said, 'If she were the obedient type, she wouldn't have flown a plane into the ocean on her own back then.' I didn't believe him."
He put away the documents and stood up. "I've delivered the proposal. Mission accomplished. As for what comes next…"
Rhodes looked at Lance. "Lawyer, the rest is up to you. The hearing is set for next Wednesday at the Pentagon. The military, Congress, and S.H.I.E.L.D. will all be there. If you want to preserve the Captain's autonomy, you'll need to show some real skill."
"Such as?"
"Prove that a free Captain America is more valuable to this country than a restrained strategic asset."
Rhodes put on his military cap. "By the way, about Tony… if you can reach him, tell him I'm still waiting for his call. Even if he just picks up and says nothing, or curses me out for a bit, that's fine."
He turned to leave. At the door, he paused and looked back at Stephanie. "Captain."
"Yes?"
"Welcome back." Rhodes smiled. "This world… needs you. Even if it's a mess and doesn't deserve it, it truly needs you. Once again, welcome back."
The door closed.
The reception room fell silent for a few seconds. Then Peter let out a sharp breath. The poor kid had been holding it in for far too long.
"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God…" he stammered. "Ms. Rogers, you're really… I mean… Captain America! In person! Right in front of me! Ah, I-I'm sorry.."
Stephanie smiled, amused. "That's right, I'm Captain America. But you're a great kid too. No need to act differently."
Peter's face flushed even deeper.
Lance ignored them. He walked to the window and watched Rhodes's car drive away.
Then he took a bottle of whiskey from the cabinet, poured two glasses, and handed one to Stephanie. As for Peter, who was watching eagerly… "Sorry. You're still a kid."
Lance shut him down without hesitation.
"Next Wednesday. The Pentagon." Lance looked at Stephanie. "Nervous?"
Stephanie took the glass. She shook her head, then nodded. "Nervous," she admitted. "But Nick said he spent a fortune hiring the best lawyer for me, so I should relax."
"He certainly has a lot of faith in me." Lance let out a quiet laugh.
He glanced at Stephanie. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting deep shadows across her face. She looked just as young as she had seventy years ago, but her eyes carried decades of history.
"You know, Captain," Lance said quietly, "sometimes I think the only thing in this damned world worth saving…"
"…is that there are still people like you trying to keep it from getting even worse."
Stephanie smiled and raised the untouched glass of whiskey. "For the world."
Lance lifted his glass to meet hers. "To this damned world."
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