Chapter 8: A Moment of Peace

Camp Lehigh – The Next Morning

For the first time in weeks, there was no immediate battle on the horizon. No gunfire, no Hydra ambush, no last-minute mission briefings.

Just… quiet.

Alex stretched his arms as he walked across the camp, enjoying the rare moment of peace. The air was crisp, the scent of coffee drifting from the mess hall. Soldiers moved about, chatting, cleaning their gear, and just living instead of fighting.

Honestly, he could get used to this.

Too bad it wouldn't last.

---

Howard Stark Being… Howard Stark

"Rogers!"

Alex turned just in time to see Howard Stark striding toward him, his usual self-assured grin plastered across his face. The man was holding some kind of device, wires sparking as he adjusted a dial.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Should I be concerned?"

Howard scoffed. "Please. I only blow things up when I mean to."

"That's… not reassuring."

Howard ignored the comment, stepping closer and giving Alex a once-over. "So, you're the twin. The one who fights like a machine."

Alex smirked. "That what they're saying?"

"Oh, absolutely," Howard said, waving a hand. "Dugan won't shut up about it. Says you move like you know exactly what's gonna happen before it does."

Alex shrugged. "Just good instincts."

Howard gave him a knowing look. "Right. 'Instincts.' Sure."

Before Alex could respond, Howard tossed him the device.

He caught it without thinking, his reflexes kicking in instantly. The thing was small, metallic, humming with faint energy.

Alex frowned. "What is this?"

Howard grinned. "A little experiment of mine. Thought you might like a gadget or two, seeing as you're already playing superhero."

Alex studied the device. "It's not gonna explode, right?"

Howard winked. "Only if you press the wrong button."

"Great. That's helpful."

"Relax," Howard chuckled. "You'll love it. And hey, if it does explode, at least it'll be memorable."

Alex found Peggy at the shooting range, effortlessly hitting her targets. Her posture was perfect, her movements controlled.

He leaned against the railing. "Remind me not to get on your bad side."

Peggy didn't look away from her target. Bang. Bullseye.

"You already did," she said smoothly.

Alex chuckled. "Fair enough."

She lowered her pistol, finally turning to face him. "You've been avoiding questions, Alex."

He feigned innocence. "Me? Never."

Peggy's gaze hardened. "You fought like a soldier who's seen a hundred battles… but you've never been deployed. So tell me—where did you learn to fight like that?"

Alex leaned in slightly, a teasing smile on his lips. "Would you believe me if I said natural talent?"

Peggy crossed her arms. "No."

Alex sighed dramatically. "Well, then I guess I'm just a mystery."

She rolled her eyes but didn't push further. Instead, she holstered her pistol and smirked. "For now."

Alex grinned. "You really don't let things go, do you?"

"Not when something—or someone—doesn't add up."

For a brief moment, their eyes locked. A silent challenge.

Then, Peggy turned on her heel. "Try not to get yourself killed before I figure you out, Rogers."

Alex watched her walk away, a smirk tugging at his lips. She was interesting.

Things at Camp Lehigh had slowed down. There were no last-minute mission briefings, no urgent orders—just a rare moment of calm. The soldiers took the opportunity to catch their breath, whether that meant cleaning weapons, playing cards, or swapping war stories.

For Alex, it meant getting roped into Howard Stark's latest experiment.

Howard's "Genius" Invention

"You sure this is safe?" Alex asked, eyeing the strange-looking device strapped to his wrist. It had buttons, dials, and what looked like a small energy core.

Howard grinned. "Safe is a relative term."

"That's not comforting."

"Relax!" Howard adjusted the device, stepping back. "This is cutting-edge technology. With the press of a button, you'll have a short-range energy shield—perfect for deflecting bullets, punches, maybe even a grenade or two!"

Alex raised an eyebrow. "And you're testing it… on me?"

Howard clapped him on the shoulder. "You're faster than most! If something goes wrong, just dodge."

Alex sighed. "Great. Love being the guinea pig."

Howard ignored him, pressing a button on a small remote. The device hummed to life, forming a faint, circular energy barrier over Alex's forearm.

"See?" Howard said proudly. "Perfectly stable!"

A second later, the shield fizzled, sparked, and exploded in a harmless but dramatic burst of light.

Alex stood there, smoke rising from his sleeve.

Howard coughed. "Okay, minor miscalculation."

Alex crossed his arms. "Uh-huh."

Howard scratched his head. "Maybe less energy output? Or maybe—"

Alex cut him off. "How about you finish the design before you strap it to me?"

Howard waved him off. "Details, details."

Next day, Alex found himself at the training field, stretching after a short run. The fresh air and movement helped him clear his mind, even with everything happening around them.

"You're not bad," came a familiar voice.

Alex turned to see Peggy Carter standing nearby, arms crossed, watching him with that same keen gaze she always had.

He smirked. "Not bad? That's high praise coming from you."

She stepped onto the field, tilting her head slightly. "I've seen you fight. Your style is… unorthodox."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Unorthodox?"

Peggy gave him a knowing look. "It's too refined for someone with no combat experience."

Alex chuckled. "You're really not letting that go, huh?"

"No," she said simply. "So, why don't we test just how 'unorthodox' your skills are?"

She gestured toward the sparring ring.

Alex blinked. "Wait—you want to fight me?"

"Afraid?" she teased.

Alex smirked. "Not in the slightest."

They stepped into the ring, drawing the attention of several soldiers nearby. A few stopped what they were doing to watch—after all, who wouldn't want to see someone go up against Peggy Carter?

"Rules?" Alex asked.

Peggy rolled her shoulders. "No broken bones."

Alex barely had time to react before she struck.

She was fast—a blur of precise strikes, aimed to disable, not harm. But Alex was faster. He dodged, sidestepped, and countered without thinking, his body moving on instinct.

Analysis complete.

Great Sage's voice echoed in his mind, feeding him predictions and counters. He shifted his weight at the last second, narrowly avoiding a sharp elbow strike.

Peggy's eyes flashed with surprise.

"You're holding back," she said, breath steady.

Alex grinned. "So are you."

She smirked. "Good. That makes this more interesting."

They continued to trade blows—fast, controlled, calculated. Peggy was one of the best fighters he'd ever faced, her skill undeniable. But Alex had an advantage—he knew what was coming.

In the end, he caught her wrist mid-strike, stopping her inches from his face.

A brief silence.

Peggy's lips curved slightly. "Not bad."

Alex released her hand, stepping back. "I'll take that as a win."

"You shouldn't."

She turned, walking off the field as the watching soldiers muttered among themselves.

Alex chuckled to himself. She really was something.

That evening, Steve was in the barracks,

his expression thoughtful. "You ever think about what happens after all this?"

Alex raised an eyebrow. "After what?"

"The war."

Alex was quiet for a moment. He knew how this story went. Knew what fate had in store for Steve.

"Yeah," Alex said finally. "I think about it."

Steve smiled. "Then let's make sure we both live to see it."

Alex smirked. "Sounds like a plan, Cap."

As Steve adjusted one last time, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that something big was coming.

And whatever it was…

They'd face it together.