Chapter 1070: Mundane Pre-Christmas Day (Part 1) (Patreon)

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A Christmas tree adorned with colorful lights and ornaments spun around as a hand holding the U.S. flag gently adjusted a crooked tree branch. Steve carefully inserted a small triangular flag onto the side of the Christmas tree.

The sound of high heels approached, and Natasha, with a graceful figure, greeted her colleagues as she walked over. Spotting Steve in a Christmas sweater, she raised an eyebrow and whistled, "Hey, handsome boy, why are you dressed so nicely today?"

Steve smiled at Natasha, but his response left her stunned. She then remarked, "Captain, did you take the wrong medicine?"

Natasha scrutinized Steve from head to toe, finding nothing unusual, yet she felt incredibly puzzled.

This sexy and beautiful female agent was accustomed to flirting with handsome men. Among the agents and superheroes in S.H.I.E.L.D., hardly anyone hadn't been teased by her. Most were used to it, and many even took pride in it, like Stark.

After all, Natasha had high standards. If this battle-hardened female agent took the initiative to flirt with you, it meant you stood out among men.

However, not everyone was as open-minded. Captain America was evidently more conservative. In the past, whenever Natasha flirted, Steve would furrow his brow, glance around for any minors nearby, ensuring he wasn't setting a bad example.

But Natasha had just seen Steve wink at her, and the experienced female agent felt certain it wasn't her imagination. Captain America's mood today was unusually good.

With her arms crossed, Natasha stood in front of the Christmas tree and asked, "What's up, Captain? Did something good happen? Tell me."

After speaking, Natasha leaned towards Steve, resting her arms on the railing behind him, getting close to him.

Steve busied himself with the Christmas tree but didn't avoid Natasha as he usually did. Instead, he turned around, glanced at Natasha, and said, "What good thing? Isn't Christmas the best thing? Tomorrow's the holiday; shouldn't I be happy?"

"Oh, please," Natasha shook her head. "You've been back for years. When was Christmas ever this happy for you?"

Suddenly, Natasha seemed to notice something. She patted Steve's back and said, "Keep up this mood. The person you're waiting for is coming."

With that, Natasha turned and left. Steve, looking puzzled at her retreating figure, heard another female voice beside him, "Um... Captain, are you free now?"

Steve turned his head and saw Sharon Carter, with delicate makeup. This younger female agent seemed less experienced than Natasha. She stood at least two meters away, her hands folded nervously.

"I've come to apologize," Carter said awkwardly. "Last time, my invitation was too forward. I know you haven't fully recovered from the emotional blow with my aunt. As her niece, it wasn't right of me..."

"But, Captain, please believe me. Even without this complicated relationship, I genuinely admire you. After all, I grew up listening to your stories..." Carter seemed particularly nervous, as if reciting lines.

As she looked up, she met Steve's deep blue eyes, his gaze fixed on her. This caused her to forget her next words, standing dumbfounded as if enchanted by Steve's charm, unable to speak.

Suddenly, a cough sounded from afar. Carter glanced slightly aside to see Natasha leaning on the railing, playing with her mobile phone.

Carter's communication device buzzed, and she hurriedly took it out. Natasha's message appeared on the screen: "Go for it, kiss him."

Carter took a deep breath, put the device back on her waist, adjusted her hair, took a few steps forward, and looked at Steve, "Mr. Rogers, may I invite you to be my dance partner and accompany me to this year's Christmas dance party?"

Steve's eyes gleamed as if reflecting all the lights on the Christmas tree. He took Carter's hand, lightly kissed her knuckles, and said, "It's my honor, miss."

Blushing, Carter was about to run away when she noticed Natasha at a distance, kicking the railing with her boot and coughing twice.

Taking a deep breath, Carter quickly approached, lightly kissed Steve's cheek, then turned and ran off.

Steve touched his cheek, chuckling and shaking his head. Suddenly, a hand rested on his shoulder, feeling the hardness of a mechanical arm's surface. He turned to see Bucky's face.

"She looks a bit like Peggy, doesn't she?" Bucky remarked, watching Carter's retreating figure. "At least in appearance."

"They're niece and aunt; of course, they'd resemble each other. But their personalities are completely different," Steve shook his head, adding, "If it were Peggy, she wouldn't care about the occasion and would have kissed me already."

Bucky laughed, "Exactly. No one would mistake this CarterAgent for your old flame. Their personalities are poles apart."

"Why are you here?" Steve asked.

"Howard called me. He said he made me a new mechanical arm as my Christmas gift. It's using the latest technology, much better than the current one."

Bucky glanced at his own hand, while Steve lowered his voice and said, "Howard seems to feel responsible for what happened to you. A couple of days ago, he almost stormed into the military to question those people about why they handed his technology over to Hydra."

"Unfortunately, most of the generals we worked with before are dead, and those who survived are mostly incapacitated. Howard looked at those generals who were almost at death's door and didn't feel like bothering them anymore."

Bucky shook his head and said, "I was captured due to my own tactical mistake, not because of any relationship with Howard. If anything, I should thank Howard for his reliable technology. If it were Hammer Industries, I'd have a prosthetic arm as temperamental as an 'ex-wife.'"

Steve patted his arm, laughing. Apparently, jokes about Hammer Industries were circulating in the circle.

Stepping out from behind the Christmas tree, Steve introduced to Bucky, "Nick assigned me to decorate the Christmas tree for the dance party. I think he made the right choice."

Bucky stepped back, looking at the brilliantly decorated and dazzlingly colorful Christmas tree, nodding, "It's really nice. Will it be placed in the center of the dance party hall?"

"Correct. Everyone will dance around this tree, and we'll pray together until midnight, starting the new year," Steve said.

Sighing, Steve added, "I haven't been this happy in a long time, not even counting the years before I woke up. This is the happiest Christmas for me."

"No wars, no conflicts, just many friends and a bright future..." Steve lowered his head, the light from the colorful bulbs dancing on his eyelashes like a group of elves dancing on tree branches.

"By the way, are the lists and dance partners confirmed?" Bucky asked. "Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. We can't confirm everything at the last minute, can we?"

Looking up from between the tree branches, Steve raised a finger. "You remind me... Natasha! Natasha! Don't go yet. Where's Coulson? Is he in charge of tallying the guest list?"

"He's upstairs," Natasha said as she walked past Steve. She tossed him a bunch of keys and said, "Move this tree to the warehouse later."

Bucky waved at Steve. "You go upstairs first. I'll take care of the Christmas tree."

As Steve turned to leave, he placed the keys in Bucky's hand and gave him a smile.

Upstairs, passing through the bustling offices, Steve found Coulson sitting amidst a crowd of clerks, answering the telephone. Steve overheard him saying:

"Correct, it's thirty thousand people. What's the problem? One sorcerer with a thousand apprentices, isn't that excessive?"

"How can you apply the rules of a regular university to sorcerers? Do you even understand what magic is? Do you know how complex and dangerous magic can be? What's wrong with having a thousand apprentices?"

Coulson impatiently hung up the phone. Then, he picked up another one and said, "... What? Not enough Customer Service personnel at Sanctum Sanctorum? Then go find the Sorcerer Supreme! What's the relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

"How many people do you need?... Ten? My God! Are you kidding me? You have plenty of simple and convenient magic props there, and you still want ten people? Dream on!!!"

Steve felt he couldn't listen anymore. He waved to the other people in the office, greeted them, and then approached Coulson. As soon as Coulson saw it was Captain America looking for him, he immediately put down his work and warmly asked, "What's up, Captain?"

"Nothing much. You carry on. I just wanted to ask if the guest list for the dance party is finalized. Can I have a look?" Steve smiled. "I'm a bit curious about who some people's dance partners are."

Coulson, seated by the telephone, looked somewhat embarrassed. He pursed his lips, glanced up at Steve, and said,

"Captain, it's clear you're looking forward to this year's dance party. This year, our progress has been good, and every industry has made significant strides. Society is getting better, right?"

Steve nodded, and Coulson fidgeted with his finger, saying, "Correspondingly, everyone is getting busier. Until the New Year, I still have five or six cases on hand that haven't been resolved, and I'm sure others are in the same boat..."

Steve sensed there was more to his words. His excitement and enthusiasm dampened a bit. He looked at Coulson and said, "No need to feel awkward. Give me the list. I'm an adult; I know not to force others. I'll go along with whatever arrangements have been made..."

Coulson sighed and took out a piece of paper from the drawer, handing it to Steve. Steve glanced briefly at the contents of the paper, and his eyes involuntarily twitched.

Half an hour later, Coulson found a somewhat tipsy Steve in the S.H.I.E.L.D. underground bar. He patted his shoulder, sat down beside him, took a sip of beer, and said,

"We're all adults now, aren't we?"

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Next Chapter>>Chapter 1071: Mundane Daily Life Before Christmas (Part 2)