Chapter Text

Shield was right to warn him, Steve thinks vaguely as he looks around. There are six more Steve Rogers＊ in the room this time round, and it＊s a lot to process even for him. He mentally congratulates himself on his resilience because he＊s actually managing it pretty well, all told. No panicking, no hysteria; just a strong and mildly detached appreciation for how strange the entire situation is. The Steves are all just lounging about, chatting in small groups or reading 每 Steve spots the Steve in the purple uniform doodling idly on a scrap of paper 每 and altogether doing an admirable job of giving the impression that they＊re not all there to see him.

SJ is still clinging to his hand, and Shield is at his elbow, hovering protectively. Steve remembers Tony making a snarkyment about him doing it on a mission a couple of weeks back, and suddenly understands how Tony must have felt with his presence looming at his side. Not that it in any way validates Tony＊s bitching about it; Shield＊s protectiveness here is clearlypletely unwarranted, whereas he waspletely justified in keeping close to Tony, considering they were on the lookout for stray AIM snipers at the time.

※Okay?§ a voice says, and Steve turns his head to see the Steve who looks almost identical to him stepping up, Stephanie at his side. Just behind him there＊s a Steve wearing a forest- green suit, turned away and talking to a Steve who is wearing a suit that looks like his old one, with a few buckles and straps in different places. The guy looks deathly pale and as he turns his head to the side, Steve catches sight of his white face and blue-tinged lips. That＊ll be the version of him that froze in the arctic, then.

※Yeah,§ he says slowly. He spots the skinny Steve 每 Brooklyn, his mind fills in 每 from earlier over by the sink, leaning back and talking to a Captain-sized-Steve who is wearing plaid pyjama bottoms, a white T-shirt and no socks or shoes, and that springs more questions than it answers. Did he die in his sleep? Did he get caught short whilst lounging around somewhere? His mind immediately jumps to a mental image of the Avengers all fighting in their sleepwear and he fights down a sudden and hysterical urge to laugh.

※We did suggest some of theme back later, but no-one seemed willing to be the one to leave,§ Stephanie says, drawing his attention back to the situation.

※Yeah, we＊re stubborn across the multiverse,§ the other-Steve says with a grimace. ※They call me Seven, by the way.§

※I explained,§ SJ butts in hurriedly, pulling slightly on Steve＊s hand like he wants to remind him he＊s there. ※I told him already.§

Seven raises an eyebrow at Steve, who nods in confirmation. ※He says you all have nicknames,§ he repeats. ※To avoid 每§

He stalls momentarily as Green-Steve moves to the side and reveals a Steve who is wearing a white tank top and blackbat trousers and boots, and Steve does an honest to god double take because the guy appears to be half robot. He blinks and his brain quickly informs him that the guy isn＊t actually a robot, he just has a metal arm (not that that makes it any better), gleaming silver from shoulder to fingertip. A blue star is painted on the shoulder, and it moves easily and fluidly as the guy folds his arm across his chest.

※He doesn＊t remember losing his arm,§ Seven says in a low voice, following Steve＊s shocked gaze. ※Tony made that for him.§

※It＊s＃§ Steve says uncertainly, and then he＊s looking at the guy that the robot-arm-Steve is speaking to. He＊s in 1940＊s military gear, olive green and neatly pressed, and Steve＊s sharp eyes spot a hole in the front, over his heart and right next to the Howlingmandos insignia. Next to them is a Captain-sized Steve who is wearing jeans and a T-shirt, looking calm andpletely at ease.

※Jesus,§ he breathes, unable to stop the way his eyes are darting about. It＊s too much; so many identical faces and blond heads, so many subtle differences and then the sheer amount of questions whipping through his mind: how did they die, what happened to them? The voices overlap each other, identical murmurs of sound like waves upon waves-

※Where is he?§

Steve＊s thoughts and the conversation in the room are both interrupted as a loud voicees from just outside the doorway. Seven sighs audibly and Shield＊s jaw clenches tightly, his nostrils flaring, but Stephanie＊s reaction isn＊t as negative; she just turns her head, expression alert and ready.

Wondering why there＊s such a divide in responses, Steve turns just in time to see anther iteration of him walk into the room. He＊s wearing apletely black suit with a white star, and his expression is so serious it＊s downright grim. Just behind him is a Steve who is wearing the same suit as Steve＊s but even more bloody and torn. Steve stands stock-still and tries not to freak out at the blood that＊s matted in his hair, the obvious bullet holes in his uniform.

Seems he spends a lot of time being shot across the multiverse, he thinks with a steadily rising hysteria. He takes a deep breath and shoves it back into place, focussing on the feel of SJ＊s hand in his.

※Ah, shit,§ Seven mutters, and the battered and bruised Steve＊s head jerks up, a pained and angry look passing over his features for a moment before his face is schooled back into neutrality. Steve watches them carefully for a moment, frowning at the obvious tension.

※You＊re not dead,§ the black-suited Steve says brusquely, and Steve snaps back to look at him.

※Apparently not,§ Steve says warily.

※Status?§ he asks, and Steve raises an eyebrow. This version of him clearly has 每 or had 每 a hell of a lot of authority somewhere, but that doesn＊t instantly mean that Steve is going to bow to his whims and answer all of his questions like he＊s nothing more than a grunt back at basics. He＊s still Captain America, no matter if some of these other versions appear to have been promoted somewhere along the line.

※Meet themander,§ Shield says dryly. ※He was in charge of Shield for so long that he＊s otten how to be polite.§

Themander sends Shield a look that clearly says he＊s not impressed. Wow, and Steve thought that Shield looked serious. He＊s got nothing on themander.

※I just want to know what＊s happened,§ he says curtly. ※If the Director shows up, we can＊t be caught off guard.§

And uneasy murmur goes through the assembled Steves, and Steve feels SJ lean more of his weight against his leg. Unconsciously, he reaches down and puts a hand on his shoulder, looking up at the faces around him. It＊s gone pretty quiet now, and expressions have gone grave and worried.

※Do I want to know?§

Themander ignores him. ※Which verse are you from?§

Steve shakes his head, nonplussed. ※Sorry,§ he says. ※I didn＊t pay that much attention to Tony.§

Themander just nods. ※Tony Stark?§

※Who else?§ Stephanie murmurs, and Seven elbows her in the side. She looks up with an almost rueful expression on her face, and Seven sighs, appearing to concede whatever her point was. It＊s so, so strange being able to pick up on all the facial expressions and cues that he knows so well, but without any context to help make sense of them.

※Who else,§ the torn-up Steve who hade in with themander echoes, and there it is again, that sad look that＊s a little too bitter for Steve＊s liking.

※Yeah,§ Steve says, looking away from the guy and back at themander. ※I＊m an Avenger. Woke up just over a year ago out of the ice, recruited by Nick Fury. I live in Stark Tower with Tony and the others.§

Themander nods. ※How did you get here?§

※I don＊t know,§ Steve admits. ※I got stabbed by a robot, and then I woke up here.§

※He＊s got a pulse,§ Shield fills in, and themanders eyebrows raise.

※Tell me everything you remember.§

Steve rubs the back of his neck with his hand, glancing down at SJ. He doesn＊t want him hearing this, really. ※Well, we were fighting robots 每 unmanned drones with rudimentary AI＊s. We were spread thin, I got overpowered and stabbed,§ he says, gesturing to the hole in his uniform. ※I was waiting for backup, but-§ he breaks off, something too close to anger and not far enough away from hurt pulsing in his chest. ※I remember 每 well, Tony was there. He was there when I blacked out, I guess.§

※Tony was with you when you died?§ the torn-up Steve suddenly asks.

Steve nods. ※Well, ording to you fellas I＊m not dead, but yes. He was there-§

To his surprise, the torn-up Steve curses violently in a wavering, broken voice, turning on his heel and marching away. Themander also swears, looking tense. ※Don＊t go anywhere,§ he instructs Steve. ※I＊ll be back-§

Themander takes off after the other, calling after him as he leaves the room. Steve looks at Seven, Shield and Stephanie, all of who are looking each other, epting yet resigned expressions on their faces.

※Want to tell me what that＊s all about?§

Shield blows out a breath and nods. ※We＊ll go to the roof,§ he says. ※SJ, go and find Brooklyn.§

SJ looks up at Steve with a beseeching expression on his face, and Christ, no wonder Steve got away with so much when he was younger.

※I＊lle back,§ he says, and SJ apparently trusts him because he nods quickly, lets go of Steve＊s hand and disappears into the crowd.

Casting one last look over the room, Steve turns away and follows the three other hims out of the room, and they head up the stairs and out of a door onto the rooftop. He watches the easy, effortless way that Stephanie takes the stairs, three at a time like he does and can＊t help but wonder how she got to this point in her life. She wouldn＊t have been allowed to join the army like he did back in 1942, but maybe she＊d been a specialist like Peggy? He supposes there＊s a hundred million ways in which life could have been different, countless moments where a single difference could have had far reaching ramifications.

They step out onto the roof and Steve instantly understands and is glad for the suggestion. The sun is just a

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