53

Chapter Fifty-Three: Showdown

The signal vanished.

Thor fell silent for a moment before suddenly standing up.

"Where are you going?" Peggy Carter asked.

Thor gave her a penetrating look but did not answer. Instead, he climbed into a fighter jet.

Peggy's expression changed; she clenched her teeth and followed him, taking the passenger seat.

The two remained silent throughout the flight.

…

The northernmost part of Alaska was only a few hundred kilometers from the crash site of Captain America.

Thor stared out at the sea, with Peggy Carter standing beside him.

After a long pause, she spoke: "Aren't you going to tell me anything? Or have you been hiding something from me?"

Thor's expression shifted. He turned to Peggy and said, "What do you see?"

Peggy looked serious: "You've been hiding things. I've done some digging—Donald Blake, that name has never appeared before, as if it materialized out of nowhere."

"You've had a close relationship with Steve from early on, almost deliberately so. Given your behavior, you don't seem particularly eager to help others. Perhaps you've known for a long time that he would become Captain America."

"Bucky fell off a cliff, and you didn't seem particularly devastated because you knew—Sergeant Barnes was just missing, not dead!"

"There are more instances. For example, you know Howard will have a son in the future, and you even know his character. You also know..."

Thor's expression grew troubled. These were details that ordinary people would miss. She was indeed the most formidable agent, or perhaps she had been observing him closely?

"Then, have you figured it out?"

"I didn't guess at first, and I wouldn't have suspected it. But one day, while idly reading about the theory of relativity in news, it struck me. Does space-time travel really exist?"

Thor was silent for a moment before replying, "It does." These words confirmed Peggy Carter's suspicions.

"Just as I thought!" Peggy's eyes lit up, "It's unbelievable! Someone I've been with for so long is actually from the future! Is that why you've been avoiding me?"

Thor nodded, "I can't stay in this era forever. I came here to accomplish something. Once I finish it, I must return over sixty years into the future. Therefore, I can't leave behind too much emotional attachment."

He wasn't a shy person like Steve; how could he not sense Peggy Carter's feelings? Yet he had been pretending not to notice because their eventual separation was inevitable.

Peggy's face grew sad: "Yes, sixty years is a long time... For many, it's a lifetime."

In a moment of vulnerability, she gazed into Thor's eyes and asked earnestly, "What if I say I can wait for you for sixty years?"

She leaned against Thor slowly. He hesitated but did not pull away.

…

"The war will be won, right?"

"Yes, it won't be long."

"Donald Blake isn't your real name, is it? What is your real name?"

"Thor Odinson."

"That sounds like some mythical figure..."

"It is me. Do you believe it?"

Peggy stared at him for a while before smiling, "I believe. I've heard many incredible things today. I didn't expect to fall in love with a legendary god."

Thor took out a syringe and administered it to her: "This is a future-enhancing serum. Though not as potent as the Super Soldier Serum, it requires less and helps you recover faster from injuries."

Peggy was about to speak when a sudden roar interrupted them.

Thor's face shifted with concern. He gently pushed Peggy away and moved forward. With a thought, a blinding light emanated from his uniform.

To Peggy's astonishment, Thor's black battle armor and red cloak were instantly donned.

Thor's armor!

At the moment Red Skull activated the Tesseract, a new mission appeared before Thor's eyes.