After Dante and Tony reached a consensus, he got ready to set the whole thing in motion.
This was actually Dante's first time setting up the ol' "bait the enemy and close the trap" play.
But finally, this felt like some real "Agent" business. I mean, ever since transmigrating, when has anything he touched not been the kind of mess that even Superheroes might break a sweat over?
With that thought, Dante made a video call to Coulson using his personal terminal.
A few seconds later, the familiar sight of Coulson's receding hairline popped up on screen.
"Dante? What brings you to me today?"
"I just wrapped up a mission. The Star Team just finished a month of tactical training, so they're on break for a few days. I'm feeling antsy. Figured I'd ask if you've got anything troublesome lying around that needs a hand?"
"Don't joke. I don't have anything major going on that would justify bringing out you… But if you're free, come along. I'm on a flight to Peru right now."
"Alright. Be there in a sec."
Dante nodded, opened a portal, and stepped right in.
Coulson suddenly felt a chill run down his spine—then turned to see Dante already behind him.
"Honestly, portals are a neat trick. I always thought they were just a movie gimmick."
"In my opinion, nothing in movies or comics is half as fantastical as real life," Dante smiled, patting Coulson on the shoulder. "Where's the team?"
"They're in the combat briefing room. This is their first time encountering an 084 item."
084 item—FBI special classification. Translation: no one knows what the hell it is.
Usually, it's either some relic from an ancient hyper-civilization, or something straight-up alien.
For example, when Thor's hammer was discovered in the original timeline—it had massive energy output, couldn't be moved, and fit the bill for a textbook 084.
Which brings us to the first recorded 084 item: the Kree Obelisk.
Now that was a trap within a trap. The outer shell—the so-called "Diviner"—was just a failsafe meant to vaporize non-Inhumans.
Thanks to Jiaying and her cult melting the crystal encasing the Diviner, the layers got fused. So when it was activated, both the Diviner and Terrigen were released at once. Non-potential Inhumans? Instant charcoal.
Thing is, pure Terrigen crystals aren't fatal to ordinary people.
So yeah… that one's on Jiaying and her low-culture band of misfits.
But can you really blame them? Compared to the Celestials who birthed the Mutants, the Kree were just cosmic warmongers with more pride than brains.
They got their asses handed to them plenty of times—by Odin and Hela's forces, no less.
Dante and Coulson walked into the Airbus's combat briefing room. Inside, the team was gathered—including Steve Rogers, who, notably, wasn't wearing his usual getup—and listening to Jemma Simmons geek out over the Peruvian ecosystem.
"You guys should know, there are over 200 snake species in Peru's jungles. The South American Bushmaster? It's got venom that's not only neurotoxic, but also breaks down proteins and causes hemolysis. Real nasty stuff."
Steve Rogers leaned in and asked quietly:
"Is she always this excited?"
At this point, the team had been around Steve long enough to talk to him like a regular person. The whole fanboy stage had passed.
Helped a lot that Steve hadn't worn his old Captain America uniform once since waking up from the ice.
Coulson, his forever fanboy, had asked him multiple times if he wanted a new Cap suit made, but Steve always politely declined.
Too much time had passed. The world had moved on, and so had he.
Maybe the world didn't need Captain America anymore.
Maybe Steve Rogers just needed to live.
So now, he wore the standard FBI tactical uniform. Only the round Vibranium shield on his back gave away who he really was.
"How do I put this? Occupational hazard," Barry Allen said, a beat slower than usual. "It's like Fitz geeking out over Stark's suits or how I start analyzing tread marks without realizing."
"That's good. I thought Jemma was just one of those people who can't sleep the night before a field trip."
"Uh, judging by the bags under her eyes, she definitely didn't sleep last night," Barry added.
Dante looked at Steve Rogers—so quiet and grounded now—and couldn't help but wonder…
What would happen if he met Captain Carter?
After all, one's about to lose his Peggy Carter.
And the other already lost her Steve Rogers.
"Good afternoon, my dear teammates. I, Dante Alighieri, am back!"
Before Coulson could say anything, a loud "Aww!" rang out.
Instant chaos.
Everyone in the room—except Steve—visibly twitched. Even Jemma, who had been bouncing with excitement, froze like she'd been hit by a stun grenade.
That voice!
"Demon, begone!"
"Someone bring me a cross!"
"Ugh, damn it! I get stress-induced vomiting just hearing that voice… Ugh!"
The formerly calm scene collapsed into disorder.
Dante's eye twitched.
Are these clowns serious?
Especially Barry, stress-induced vomiting?
He literally had the lowest training intensity out of all of them!
Come on, Speed Force—smite him already!
He really couldn't take Barry's submissive, soft-spoken act anymore… but ironically, in boys love fanfics, Barry always ends up being the one on the bottom.
Tragic.
In canon, the guy dies and gets reset every other arc.
In fanfics, he has to offer up his butt too.
"Ah, Barry… you've really suffered."
"You— Ugh!"
"Is it really that dramatic!?"
Dante gave the twitching Wade a casual kick out of the way, clearing a path through the chaos, and approached Steve.
"It's an honor to meet you, Steve Rogers."
"You too, Dante. Thanks for digging me out of that damn ice."
Steve extended a hand. Dante shook it firmly.
"I figured you'd call me Captain America."
"I don't see Captain America. I see an old soldier who wants to say goodbye to the past and start fresh."
(To be continued.)
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