Time. Space. Reality. It's more than a linear path. It's a prism of endless possibility, where a single choice can branch out into infinite realities, creating alternate worlds from the ones you know. I am the Watcher. I am your guide through these vast new realities. Follow me and ponder the question, "What if?"

• • 1945 • •

THE CELL DOORS opened, startling the prisoner within awake. Two SSR soldiers held their rifles as they looked at Armin Zola.

He had been in their custody since his capture three months ago, a mission that seemingly cost the life of Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes. A couple of weeks afterward, he heard that Captain Steven Rogers and Red Skull had perished during their fight on the Valkyrie.

"Up. Now." One of the soldiers commanded.

In the scientist's mind, he had an inkling of what this was. Over the last couple of weeks, he heard that the U.S was planning on recruiting imprisoned Nazi scientists for their own gain now that the war was coming to a close.

Operation Paperclip.

He tried to hide the smirk on his face as he got up and walked toward the soldiers. He knew that he was going to be told about it and possibly recruited. It was that or life imprisonment, and he'd take the former if presented with it.

He walked out of the cell and through the hallways. Once out of the prison, he was outside and saw a few other soldiers waiting. Among them was Colonel Chester Philips.

"Colonel." Armin greeted in his Swiss accent.

"Zola." Philips replied with a straight expression.

"You have not killed me. Nor have I killed myself like many of the POWs in your custody."

"I've noticed that."

"You know I'm of value. I can help with your cause. I have a lot to offer."

Philips still had an expressionless look, with his hands behind his back as he continued talking.

"I suppose you do."

There was a silence between them. Zola started to wonder what this was all about as the tense nature between them was what he expected if he was going to offer him a chance at being pardoned.

"And I also suppose you've heard about what the government is planning." Phillips added.

Armin nodded. Chester finally let out a scoff.

"One smart and nosy bastard." He said, then motioned to the building behind Zola. "Go in there and we'll talk, I got some business to attend to first but I won't be long."

Zola turned around and saw the building. At the same time, one of the soldiers undid the handcuffs he had. The scientists rubbed his wrist and looked at the Colonel.

"I won't be long." Chester repeated.

Zola nodded but at that moment, he also saw a familiar face in the distance. The fräulein stood by a doorway of another building, crossing her arms and looking on at the scene. Her expressionless gaze was on Zola...as if she was watching and waiting for something.

Armin looked away and then back at Phillips, who simply stood there with his soldiers. Finally, he decided to turn around and slowly walk toward the building the Colonel told him to go to.

As he made his way down, Chester looked at his men and gave a nod. The Colonel started walking away just when the soldiers raised their rifles and aimed at the oblivious Zola.

POW!

POW!

GRATA!

BANG!

Chester Phillips heard the scientist's body fall as he walked away. He muttered to himself.

"Too smart and nosy for your sake."

He made his way to Peggy Carter, who had expected the act and wanted to see it for herself. She held resentment toward Zola for being a factor in the deaths of both Bucky Barnes and in a way...Steve Rogers.

"Everything all right?" The Colonel asked the agent.

Peggy nodded as she kept staring ahead, her arms crossed as she leaned on the wall by the doorway.

"Yes...yes, everything's fine."

Phillips nodded. "Truman's rolling out Operation Paperclip. Zola could've been a candidate but..." He looked back at the body. "I wasn't going to give him that choice."

Peggy understood, agreeing with his mindset. Like Carter, Phillips hated Armin Zola.

"We might have some officials show and ask about our POWs. What are you going to say?" Peggy asked.

"What really happened. That most of HYDRA ones killed themselves and that Zola tried to escape."

Peggy nodded. "Right."

There was another moment of silence. Peggy looked down and let out an exhale. The Colonel knew what she was currently going through and what was on her mind.

"I know...Rogers won't be here for you and..." He stopped and let out a sigh. "But know that you have a support system. Your colleagues here...the Commandos...Stark."

She chuckled at the last name. "Stark?"

"Might be hard to believe but he can care about other things aside from dames and drinking."

Peggy laughed again and spoke.

"Steve might not be here but...I'm going to let them know how much of a hero their father was, and teach them the main principles..."

Chester nodded as he listened. Peggy turned away from him and looked on across the field as she continued.

"...the principles he lived by."

• • •

Margaret Carter's love for her child was strong. A result of her relationship with Captain Steven Rogers, Y/N Carter was born and raised by his mother.

In your universe, Armin Zola sent HYDRA operatives to kidnap Carter's toddler, where they chose to defect and ultimately raised Y/N as their own. He served in the Vietnam War, was pulled out of stasis by S.H.I.E.L.D in the year 2011, and became the Agent-then-Avenger Freedom Fighter.

But in this world, Armin Zola was executed before he can be recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D. With his death, HYDRA would never get the chance to resurface within S.H.I.E.L.D and the kidnapping attempt on Y/N would never happen.

Peggy Carter was able to fully raise her son along with the help of Howard Stark and Bucky Barnes, who was revealed to be alive and had been rescued from a Soviet POW camp. Like Peggy, the two close friends of Steve Rogers wanted to bring up the child the right way.

Although HYDRA suffered a setback with the death of Zola, they were still out there. Operation Paperclip was still a factor...which meant some institutions still had their operatives in their inner workings.

They just had to wait for the right time to rise again...

• • 1964 ••

THE EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD was sitting in the living room of his Brooklyn, New York home. He could overhear the arguing in the adjacent room. His mother had told him to wait there as she spoke with an old friend.

After waiting there for a bit, they finally came out. Peggy and now Major General Chester Philips joined him in the living room. The man kept his eye on Y/N as Peggy still looked angry and continued speaking to Phillips.

"So you're only stopping by for this?" She exclaimed.

Chester sighed and stood in front of Y/N. "Young man."

Y/N knew Phillips from before. He stood up from the couch out of respect.

"Major General." He greeted back, his British accent being prevalent. Y/N had an American one too but mostly spoke in the other while at home.

"You know what's going on in the world now, right?" He asked.

The young man nodded, knowing of the war that was currently happening in Vietnam.

"How about you skip the draft process and join us?"

Peggy interjected. "Chester—"

"Oh, wow...that sounds awesome." Y/N spoke over her.

Peggy looked at her son with a surprised look. Chester beamed at the young man's eagerness.

"In a few days, I'd like to take you to the base so we can—"

"Chester!" Peggy rose her voice and finally got him to stop. Both men looked at her.

"Let me..." She exhaled. "Let me speak to my son, please."

Chester glanced at Y/N before looking back at her. He gave a small nod before walking out the front door and giving them their privacy.

Y/N watched him leave and then turned to Peggy, who looked down as he rubbed her face. He never liked seeing his mother in such a distressed state.

"Mum..."

"You don't have to, Y/N." She interjected. "I know why you think you should."

He stepped closer to her. "Yes. This is my chance, mum. To be a soldier...a fighter like my father. Like Bucky! Like you."

"Do you even know what this war is about?" She butted. "Come on, tell me."

The fresh-out-of-high-schooler had to be honest...he didn't have a clue. Y/N rubbed the back of his neck.

"There's...bad people over there." He replied.

"This is not like the war your father and I fought in. HYDRA isn't experimenting. There isn't a dictator committing genocide—"

"That's good then, right? This isn't as big. I can go over there, do my service, be a hero, and come right back."

Peggy inhaled and shook her head. Y/N was excited at the thought of being a soldier.

"Mum, come on. I have to use my gifts! You've seen what I've inherited from my dad. I bet Phillips has too, which is why he wants me."

Y/N was top of his class in a lot of things going through school. From his studies to even various sports. He thought he could finally use it the right way.

"Yes, that's exactly why he wants you." Peggy replied, which she hated to admit.

"I'm special, mum. I go along with this...I can become Captain America just like him."

Peggy just stared at her son. She crossed her arms and the room was silent for a few more seconds.

"Is that what this is all about? The name? To have the title?"

Y/N was about to say yes immediately, but the tone of his mother's face kept him from doing so. He thought he said something wrong.

"Uh..."

Peggy stepped closer to him. "Steve earned that name. Your father came from nothing and worked hard to become the Captain that he was. Even if he didn't have that serum...he still would've found a way to be that hero."

Y/N kept listening to Peggy, not wanting to speak over his mother.

"You think that just because you have his abilities you can take the easy way and be what he was. I taught you better than that. Being that kind of soldier takes heart and courage and a mindset only a few people have."

Finally, Peggy started to tear up. The sight made Y/N feel really bad. She kept speaking to her son.

"I don't want you to go out there and fight a war you don't understand just so you could flaunt to people what you can do! I don't want you to die in a fight that you don't believe in!"

"Mum...I—I won't die. I'll come back—"

"Don't say that!" She exclaimed. "It was bad enough...hearing your father's last words. I don't want you to tell me that and find out months later that those were the final words I'd ever hear from you."

After that, Peggy continued to cry. That was one of the worst things Y/N had to see and he immediately stepped closer to embrace her. He felt really bad for having her go through this.

"I'm so sorry, mum." He apologized. "I just...wanted to be like you and dad. You're—you're right, I don't understand. I'm sorry."

She stopped crying for a moment and wiped her eyes, parting from the hug.

"I'm sorry too." She sniffled. "You know how I am."

Y/N softly smiled. The woman continued.

"I know you want to follow in the footsteps of your father. He paved the way for people like us to serve our home for the better."

Peggy was currently the director of S.H.I.E.L.D, a position she proudly served in honor of Steve. She wanted to keep serving the home Rogers sacrificed his life to save.

"You...you're your own man, Y/N. I can't stop you from doing what you want to do. If you really want to do this...fine. But please...just make sure this is a fight you really believe in. You can't be in a pointless one."

Y/N understood. As young as he was, he didn't know what was going on in the current state of the world...or at least accurately. He'd have to fully understand it.

"And..." She began to add. "You don't have to strive to be what your father was. Captain America. That shouldn't define you. He would want you to be your own man...to make your own mark."

Y/N nodded. "I know, mum. And...there's a lot for me to learn as well. And I just got out of high school...might be best for me to live a little beforehand." He replied. "And wasn't dad like an older fellow when he enlisted?"

"He was 23." She said with a chuckle.

He smiled along with his mother. After their moment, he was going to tell Phillips that he was willing to wait a few years...or until he was finally drafted.

"Then I got time." Y/N replied.

• • •

Y/N had all the time in the world. Eventually, he did decide to enlist in the U.S Army once he understood what it really meant to be a soldier.

He fought valiantly alongside his comrades, making his way up the ranks. Ultimately, just like his father before him, became a Captain. In the eyes of many in his squad...he was Captain America. But after what his mother told him...he wasn't sure he wanted that name...or if he deserved it.

But...the colors he wore...the name he represented...the cause he fought for...Y/N was going to see that it wasn't all black and white. There was no good versus evil...both sides had ill intent, even Y/N's side.

And he had experienced the aftermath of one incident firsthand...

• • 1968 • •

THE CHOPPER SPOTTED the burning village in the distance. The pilot, Officer Perez, landed by a ditch.

He and another soldier inside, Sergeant Thaddeus Ross, were in shock as they saw what was in the crater.

Bodies. Not of Viet Cong soldiers...but civilians.

They exited the helicopter along with their colleague, Captain Y/N Carter. The soldier removed his helmet and held it by his side, looking around at the chaos.

Another sergeant was nearby. Perez went up to him and spoke.

"I see movement in the ditch. We got to get them out. Help me."

"I could help them out of their misery." He simply replied.

The response shocked the pilot. Y/N still looked around, trying to process what was going on. The three of them were told to offer aid to the battalion in My Lai, but they expected to show up to them taking in Viet Cong POWs.

"What the hell is this?" Ross muttered, then looked on at the Lieutenant walking by. He called out to him. "What happened here?"

The man answered. "Just following orders."

They kept quiet trying to process what he meant. He tried to send them away.

"They're going to need you in My Khe. We handled everything here. Thanks for checking up on us, Captain."

Y/N didn't respond and started making his way back to the chopper. He was going to report back to base and question what the operation was about.

As the helicopter started to fly, he saw a soldier shoot into the ditch. He heard more gunshots below from within a hut and saw a couple more men walk out. Then suddenly, he spotted more soldiers pulling a group of villagers out from another hut. They included women and children.

"What the hell?" He muttered and immediately dropped from the rising chopper.

Perez and Ross witnessed what was happening below and the pilot kept the chopper in the air. He radioed the Captain.

"Go get more air support. We might need an extraction." Y/N reported back, thinking of the civilians in the area.

Perez listened and flew away with Ross. Y/N  stomped toward the Lieutenant.

"What the hell is this?" Y/N exclaimed.

The Lieutenant looked at him. "This does not concern you—"

"I'm your Captain! Explain to me what your business is here and why you're rounding up civilians."

"Like I said before, Carter, we're just following orders. These people could potentially be Viet Cong plants. We were ordered to burn this place to the ground."

He couldn't believe it. "Under who's orders?"

"LTC Parker and Captain Roberts."

The man's face fell. Parker was in charge of operations in the area and was close with his superiors. Roberts was in charge of the battalion that took on My Lai.

"You..." Y/N began and glanced around. "You were ordered to kill these people?"

The Lieutenant didn't reply, which was the confirmation Y/N needed. He looked behind the man, seeing that soldiers continuing to round up survivors of the earlier attack.

"They're not involved. Leave them be." Y/N told the Lieutenant and started making his way to them.

"You're not the one in charge here, Captain." He called out.

He didn't even turn around. "Now I am."

"You can't go against the order!"

Y/N ignored him and kept walking to the group. Ultimately, the Lieutenant aimed his pistol in his direction.

"Stop or I will fire!"

Y/N did so. In front of him, the soldiers who were about to shoot the civilians turned around and aimed at Y/N too. The young man could not believe the position he was in.

"You will leave now, Captain. Or we will put you under arrest for insubordination." The Lieutenant called out.

After a moment of silence. Y/N put his hands up. The man gritted his teeth as he replied.

"You're going to have to arrest me. Because I'm not going to leave these people."

The Lieutenant stepped closer and continued holding his pistol. He was willing to arrest the super soldier.

"Remove the shield from your back and put it on the ground. Along with your weapons."

Y/N removed his triangular red-white-blue shield and put it on the ground. He didn't take the gun or knife out of his holster though. The Lieutenant got closer and put the gun closer to his head.

"I said everything! Now!"

Y/N quickly unsheathed his knife and stabbed the man in the leg. He leaned over and yelled out in pain, giving Y/N the chance to punch him in the face too.

As the man fell over, the two other soldiers by the Vietnamese people aimed their rifles at him. Y/N picked up his metal shield and raised it, protecting him from the gunfire. He rolled into cover.

He leaped out of cover, his gun raised and shield in his other hand. Y/N shot the two soldiers down with efficiency.

The Lieutenant got up and shot at Y/N, but the super soldier deflected the bullets again. Several more soldiers arrived from a nearby campsite and saw the Captain attacking their superior.

"Kill him!" The Lieutenant exclaimed as he limped to cover. "He's gone mad!"

The soldiers followed orders and fired at Captain America. He was able to block their gunfire and then quickly dove behind a well. They kept shooting and pieces of the brick well scattered everywhere.

It seemed to cease, as one soldier took the pin off a grenade and was prepared to throw it. Y/N heard this, and immediately grabbed his knife and threw it at him. It stabbed into the man's chest and he dropped the explosive.

"It's live!" One of them yelled.

A few dove away but some were victims of the blast. Y/N got out of cover and quickly shot one soldier down. Three of them remained.

He charged at the recovering soldiers and held up his shield as one fired his gun. He deflected the bullets as he ran at them.

He rammed a soldier with the object and sent him crashing into the side of a tree. One soldier took out his own knife and attacked Y/N, but he dodged the swipe and grabbed his arm, snapping it. He let go of the knife and Y/N caught it before jamming it into his chest.

A gunshot finally got Y/N, hitting him in the side. He grimaced and shot his eyes toward the incoming soldier. He kept firing as he got closer, but Y/N jolted the shield to the side and caused a bullet to ricochet. It hit the soldier in the neck and the man fell to the floor, where he eventually bled out.

Y/N held his wound as he had his shield strapped his to left arm. He looked up as he knelt, seeing the Lieutenant from before limping away from the scene.

He gritted his teeth as he stood up. Y/N unstrapped the shield from his arm and eyed the fleeing man. He used all his might to throw it, and it hit the man straight in the back. The loud crack of broken bone was heard along with his yells.

"Argh!"

Y/N walked toward the man's now paralyzed body. It was going to be long into the internal bleeding would do him in.

"You're..." The man groaned. "You're a murderer...a traitor! What you've done—"

"What you've done...is heinous. An act of evil." He replied. "What I did....was retribution."

The Lieutenant continued to groan in pain. Y/N picked the shield up from the floor and strapped it back onto his arm. He glanced at the group of civilians nearby before looking down at him one last time.

"These people...they're under my protection."

• • •

Y/N saved the remaining villagers from execution. The army's coverup of the village massacre included a fabricated story that Y/N Carter murdered the battalion responsible for extracting survivors from a Viet Cong attack. Because of this...he was marked as a traitor.

For the remaining years of the war, Y/N kept the innocent from harm. Often in the shadows or within the forest, he took on anyone, Americans or Viet Cong, whose operation was near civilians. The colors on his uniform and shield faded and the stars disappeared until it was eventually just a dark uniform.

Y/N couldn't go back home. He was marked as a traitor and a fugitive.

Despite that, he wanted to do good. He traveled around the world as a heroic outlaw serving those who needed his help, going from place to place...a nomad.

In his excursions, he stumbled upon the dealings of Fritz Klaue, a mercenary and enforcer of the Intelligencia.

Y/N's targeting of the man lead him to cross paths with another warrior whose goal was to take down Klaue as well. In the case for him...as vengeance for the loss of his father.

• • 1971 • •

THE SUPER SOLDIER treaded through the shrubbery of the African forest. He held his triangular shield, which he still had. The bright colors were now faded and the silver plating was more prevalent.

He heard the snapping of branches nearby. Y/N turned around and stopped, trying to hone in on his hearing further. After a momentary silence, he decided to move along.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed his neck. The assailant's footsteps were silent and Y/N didn't suspect him. He looked at the man in front of him.

"You must pay attention to each and every one of your surroundings." He told Y/N in his Xhosa accent.

Y/N had a straight face that eventually turned into a smirk.

"Tried throwing me off with the branches?" He asked him.

Finally, the man let go and replied. "Such an easy distraction."

Y/N's colleague was T'Chaka Udaku, the current king of Wakanda who was also the Black Panther. He had gotten the title after his father, Azzuri, passed away a few weeks ago.

The two men, both 26 years old, decided to rendezvous a few miles off the border of Cameroon. They had tracked down a site where Klaue could potentially be at.

"So, just us two?" Y/N asked as they began to walk.

"Yes." T'Chaka simply replied.

"No reinforcements?"

"No."

"Why? Feels like we could need all the help we can get."

"Let's just say the council doesn't even know I'm out here at the moment."

Y/N nodded. "Ah. King gone rogue."

"I'm doing what I have to do. Klaue got my father killed and I need to take care of this before their dealings get closer to Wakanda."

"And I'm here to help." Y/N replied.

"I appreciate it." T'Chaka. "Not just for this but for assisting my people last week."

He was referring to the time Y/N saved a group of Wakandans after they were rounded up by a militia group. He was always willing to help those in need.

"It's what I do. Just my principles."

T'Chaka nodded. The two kept walking through the forest.

The campsite was ahead. Nomad and Black Panther hid in the shrubbery as they looked on. They saw men sorting weapons and other goods they had.

"You see him?" T'Chaka asked.

Y/N kept looking. He eyed a tent that looked bigger than the rest.

"He's not out, but I can bet he's probably in there."

Before T'Chaka could respond, the man himself walked out of said they. It was Fritz Klaue. The sight of him made the Wakandan's blood boil.

"Speak of the devil." Y/N added after spotting him too.

With eyes still glued to the people at the camp, T'Chaka spoke to Y/N.

"I count fifteen men. You?"

"Same count." Y/N replied. "How do you want to take this? You're a panther, so maybe you'd like to do this stealthily. We can draw them out and separate—"

"I'm going in and ripping the man's throat out." T'Chaka interrupted.

"Oh, okay. So guns blazing then." Y/N nodded. "Don't worry, I'm very okay with that."

"Then let's get started."

He activated his claws and charged the campsite. Y/N took the shield off his back and unholstered his pistol, following his colleague.

Even running, the footsteps of the Black Panther were very silent. The gunman nearby didn't even react before being slashed across the face by T'Chaka.

Two men witnessed the act and were going to shoot him, but were dispatched immediately by Y/N. Another gunman shot at him but Nomad deflected the bullets with his shield.

T'Chaka leaped onto another goon and stabbed him in the chest with his claws. He pulled them out and leaped onto the next man. After killing him, another gunman shot T'Chaka point blank with his assault rifle. The bullets bounced off his vibranium suit and T'Chaka grabbed the nozzle of his gun.

T'Chaka used his free hand to slash the man in the face before plunging the claws into his stomach. He let the man fall to the floor and moved to the others.

Y/N shot two other men down. Once he was out of ammo, he holstered his gun and took out a knife. He threw it into the jugular of a goon, killing him.

Another gunman shot at Nomad's back but thankfully his shield was there. Y/N quickly took out another knife from his boot and spun around to throw it. It hit the man straight in the eye and killed him.

Y/N panted and took out the last knife he had on his person. He held on to it this time and attacked another goon who charged at him with a machete.

Nomad weaved away from his swipes. He slashed the man's arm and forced him to let go of the blade. Still, he tried attacking Y/N with his bare hands...which was a stupid decision.

He tried to punch him but Y/N ducked before slashing his shoulders and stabbing his thigh. He stabbed the side of his stomach next and once the man doubled over, he jabbed the knife into his back.

The man groaned in pain. Y/N took the blade out before stabbing it into his neck. He pulled it out and let the man fall to the floor.

Y/N wiped the blood off his knife and looked around, seeing the countless bodies on the floor by both him and T'Chaka.

He nor Klaue were around. Suddenly, he heard gunshots in the distance and figured it was T'Chaka going after Klaue. Then, there was a loud blast that emitted a bright light across the tree line. Y/N ran deeper into the woods

Meanwhile, T'Chaka was fighting Fritz Klaue. The arms dealer tried fending him off with a normal rifle, but the bulletproof suit he had kept him protected. That was until he brought out a weapon he was developing using materials he stole from Wakanda a month ago.

The large blaster's projectile hit T'Chaka and sent him flying. He hit the side of a tree and fell on his, groaning. A part of his helmet was cracked from the blast.

"Like what I've cooked up, Your Highness?" Klaue taunted. "All thanks to the material I got from your Papa who was too dead to care."

T'Chaka glared through his mask. Klaue charged up the weapon and aimed it at him.

"How would you like to say hello to him again?"

The man fired the blaster but Y/N dove in front of him and tried to deflect it with his shield. It saved T'Chaka but sent Y/N flying several yards away.

He hit a large boulder and fell on his face, laying beside his now broken shield, unresponsive. Klaue didn't expect the arrival of the soldier and he looked on in confusion. He also fiddled with his weapon as it had to recharge.

T'Chaka looked at his injured friend and then shot a glare back at Klaue. He bellowed as he ran toward the arms dealer with his claws activated.

Klaue looked up at saw the dark blur coming at him. He could barely get a word out before...

"Oh, fu—"

T'Chaka's claws pierced his throat. The man gurgled on his blood as the Black Panther held him up. He looked into his eyes through one of the cracked eyepieces of Panther mask.

"Ndibulise usathana ngenxa yam (Say hello to the devil for me)." T'Chaka said.

Klaue's life ended in his grasp and T'Chaka let go of his lifeless body. He took a breath, content that the arms dealer would never be able to harm Wakanda and that he avenged his father.

He looked back and saw Y/N on the floor. T'Chaka ran over to his colleague and knelt over him. He checked for a pulse, which he thankfully found.

He thought about what to do. He wasn't sure what the extent of his injuries was, but he was adamant about helping. He wasn't going to leave him.

T'Chaka tapped on the beads on his wrist and activated the communicator. He didn't think he was going to use it but he had to now.

Immediately, a hologram of a Dora Milaje soldier appeared. Ramonda spoke to T'Chaka.

"My King! Where are you?"

"I'm a few miles east of Cameroon. I need medical assistance immediately."

"How hurt are you?"

"Not me." He paused for a moment. "But a friend."

• • •

Y/N OPENED HIS eyes and immediately didn't recognize the place he was in. It looked like the inside of a hut...but was rather clean than the ones he's settled in before.

He sat up and rubbed his face, his upper torso feeling a little sore. By the entrance, he saw a couple of African kids staring at him. After they were noticed, they ran away.

Y/N exited the hut and the bright sunlight blinded him for a moment. He was by a beautiful lake surrounded by trees.

A man stood near it. As Y/N got closer, he noticed he looked a little like T'Chaka, but it wasn't him. The man faced the soldier.

"You're awake." He said.

Y/N nodded. "Uh...where am I? Who—who are you?"

"I'm N'Jobu. Brother of T'Chaka. This..." He glanced around. "...is Wakanda."

He arched a brow, looking around as well. He turned around and saw large buildings in the skyline, ones that could be in a city like New York. He couldn't believe it was Wakanda.

N'Jobu spoke after his silence. "Come, follow me. Now that you're awake, they'd like to see you."

Y/N stepped into the royal chambers. There, some council members, Dora Milaje, and T'Chaka stood. They eyed the soldier as he walked in.

"L/N." T'Chaka greeted.

"King T'Chaka." Y/N replied out of respect. "What am I doing here? What happened?"

He stepped closer with his hands behind his back. The man wore the purple robes he had on his Panther suit but over his normal attire this time.

"You were hurt and rendered unconscious yesterday. I feared the worst and brought you back here to get treated." He replied.

"Oh." He said and rubbed his neck. "What was the diagnosis?"

"Several broken ribs and collarbone." Ramonda replied, still standing at attention with her spear. "It was that initially until it magically repaired itself this morning."

Thanks to his healing factor, that was the case. He didn't want to dwell on it though and T'Chaka, fortunately, changed the subject.

"This man...saved my life." He told the people. "Just like he's saved our people from the militia. And the countless others around the world the last few years."

"And for that. We are thankful." N'Jobu added.

Y/N didn't know what to say. He simply smiled and nodded at their words.

"I know of your current predicament, Y/N. Being a fugitive and slighted by your own country." T'Chaka said. "You have no place to go...but I want to change that."

Y/N looked at him and arched a brow. The King continued.

"I want to offer you sanctuary here. In Wakanda. I want to give you a place you can call home."

The young man appreciated hearing that from the Wakandan. It would be nice to be in a place where he was wanted and not have to keep moving.

"I—I'm grateful."

"The true nature of this country is hidden from the world. Under the radar. It'd be good." He replied.

"It does sound good." Y/N looked down and fiddled with his hands. "Your Majesty...is there...?"

The King arched a brow as the man began to ask the question. Y/N continued.

"Is there a way I can have someone visit?"

"Like who?"

There was a beat. "My mother."

T'Chaka nodded. Y/N spoke again.

"I haven't seen her in so long. I haven't been able to tell her where I am or how I'm doing. It hurts thinking that she probably thinks I'm...dead. I want to explain what happened...why I'm where I am now. And I want to let her know I'm okay."

The people in the room listened to his story. They looked to the King for his response.

"And you will, Captain." T'Chaka replied. "We can arrange for you to see her again."

Y/N looked up at T'Chaka, stunned by his answer. He never thought he'd be able to see Peggy so soon.

"Really?"

T'Chaka nodded. "Of course. I'm sure a trip to Africa wouldn't raise any questions in her line of work."

Y/N was very grateful to Wakanda. The man smiled and bowed before T'Chaka. He also knelt and stayed there to display respect. The King chuckled as he looked down at him.

"We don't do that here." He said and offered a hand.

Y/N took it and stood back up. Then, T'Chaka shook it and brought him in for a hug. Y/N appreciated the act and continued embracing his friend.

• • •

A COUPLE OF months passed since Y/N integrated himself into Wakanda. Although he had new bonds, a better outlook, and a home to be in...he still needed to be a hero, and not an idle one.

He was making his way toward the border of Wakanda. Y/N wore a new version of his suit, which was a darker shade of the Captain America uniform he'd sported during the war. Behind him was T'Chaka who had been walking with him.

"Didn't think you'd leave so soon." He remarked.

"I'll be back. Just gotta...make sure things are settled." Y/N replied.

"Is that American jargon for going to kick people's ass?"

"Ah, you get it." Y/N said.

They laughed for a moment. T'Chaka nodded and smiled.

"Good luck out there, Y/N."

He smiled as the King pat his shoulder and started to walk away. Y/N turned around and looked on at the field, the sunset giving the plains an orange hue.

Before walking forward, he activated his arm shields, courtesy of the Wakandan Design Group.

With that, Y/N started making his way toward the barrier, ready to continue his quest on helping those in need...the little guy...per the principles his father would have.

Not as a U.S Army Soldier or Captain America...

...but as Nomad.