8
Chapter 8: Beware of Grenades
"Watch out for grenades!"
Colonel Phillips' shout rang out.
This was just an ordinary grenade, not particularly powerful, but definitely more than what soldiers in standard uniforms could handle. Once it exploded, while it might not completely wipe out the group, it would likely cause injuries or disabilities to anyone within range, and death was also a possibility for those who were unlucky.
A wave of screams followed, and the soldiers training immediately changed color and scattered in all directions.
Among them, one thin figure stood out.
Steve Rogers, watching the grenade hurtle toward the group, looked paralyzed with fear. In a moment of crisis, his reaction was starkly different from the others. He rushed toward the grenade, threw himself on it, and pressed it down with his body.
"Run! Get out of the way!"
"Get out of the way—"
His voice trembled with panic.
At that moment, both Dr. Abraham and Colonel Phillips changed their view of Steve. The soldier who normally bullied Steve, Hodge, peeked out from behind a car, clearly shocked.
Hodge was indeed one of the strongest in the team besides Thor and had been the fastest to run away.
Peggy Carter...
Everyone turned to Peggy Carter, their expressions blank.
…
Rewind to ten seconds earlier—
"Watch out for grenades!"
Besides Steve, another person instinctively rushed toward the grenade.
Peggy Carter, though she might not have the courage to sacrifice herself as Steve did, did not flee either. She planned to kick the grenade away from the crowd.
But before she could take two steps, Thor tackled her...
"Get down, grenade!"
…
The training ground fell into an eerie silence.
"It worked out pretty well. Colonel Phillips now thinks you're a fool. The side effect is—everyone thinks you're an idiot..."
Only Miss System's voice echoed in his mind.
Steve, still in shock, got up from the ground, breathing heavily and staring blankly at the now-quiet grenade beneath him. "Was this a test?"
The Doctor smiled and nodded.
Colonel Phillips glared at Thor and said stiffly, "In such a critical moment, he didn't flee immediately, which shows he has a very good mentality. Facing danger, he instinctively protected others, showing true seriousness and chivalry..."
Dr. Abraham did not argue. He knew his old friend was being stubborn.
He looked at Steve, who was still shaken, with admiration. "If the grenade had exploded, he would have definitely died, but his comrades would have been protected."
Agent Carter remained silent, staring at Thor with a frown. It was hard to reconcile him with the barbarian who once chased a group of gangsters with a beer bottle and beat them up.
…
Thor noted a significant plot twist: Captain America's romance seemed to be over before it even began!
In the original history, Steve's heroism had been like a ripple in a calm pond for Peggy Carter. Now, Thor had turned the calm lake into a mudslide.
Well, maybe describing it as poetic is a bit much, but that's the gist of it.
"System, do you think this is a problem?"
That night, Thor lay in the dormitory and spoke to the system.
"What's wrong?"
"Steve is a virgin with no game . If I mess this up, he'll likely stay single..."
"But he's single already... Oh, doesn't he already have Bucky?"
Thor silently raised his middle finger—women's thoughts are truly messy!
The system responded unhappily, "What's with that expression? Bucky and Steve are the original pair! Bucky has worn a ring from Steve before!"
Thor was speechless; this system knew quite a lot!
The system didn't continue on this topic but asked another question: "Why do you think there's a problem? The two of them can't even be considered friends. Even if Peggy Carter is infatuated with you now, it's none of Steve's business, right?"
Thor ignored the system's sharp tongue. "Don't change the subject. You know what I mean."
The system continued, "Do you think there's an issue because they're a couple in the original plot?"
Thor nodded.
The system asked, "Then what do you think should be done? Follow the plot?"
The system grew serious.