"Bang!"
A thug delivered a hook punch, sending Steve spiraling skyward, crashing headfirst into a garbage can in the back alley. Steve got up, but the thug punched him down again, stars danced in his eyes, and he spat out blood.
Again and again, he fell and got up, but the fight was not intense at all; it was just the thug beating him one-sidedly.
Once more, he stood up, licked the blood from his lips, and assumed a 'Little Chicken' fighting stance.
In fact, this was a posture he learned from a boxer, but he was too small and thin, and the pain in his body made his movements so distorted that they looked intimidatingly weak and simply comical.
The thug felt like he was bullying a child, he had lost interest; as long as Steve lay down, he wouldn't bother anymore.
"Don't you know what giving up is?"
The thug mocked, indicating that he should just lie down and he would take fewer hits.
But Steve voluntarily lunged at the thug, weakly punching him with small fists, and then was knocked down once again by a fist as big as a casserole.
He fell again next to the garbage can, the aluminum garbage can had deformed, but Steve grabbed the lid, held it in front of him like a shield, breathing heavily.
"I can do this all day."
The thug raised an eyebrow, this kid dared to talk back, he needed a good beating.
He snatched the garbage can lid and punched Steve flying. Just as he was about to pin the little guy down for a combo, someone grabbed his arm from behind.
"Maybe you should find someone your own size."
It turned out to be Baki and Gin... along with Gin's dozen bodyguards...
These Men in Black had bulging chests, hands tucked inside their suits, each of them looking grim, like fierce yakshas, delivering a brutal beating to the thug.
Gin twisted his neck, gave a look to his men, the thug was dragged away, unknown to what fate awaited him.
Baki ran over to help Steve up, checking his injuries, they weren't serious, just some bruises, so he started teasing his friend.
"Sometimes I think you just like getting beaten up."
Sounds of vehicles came from the street, screams echoed from the neighboring cinema, but in Steve's mind, there was only buzzing and Baki's voice.
He wiped his bloody nose, straightened up, stubbornly said, "You were a bit late, I almost had him cornered."
Baki pouted, not exposing the obvious lie, he bent down to pick up Steve's fallen notice, a rejection letter from the recruitment office.
"How many times is this?" Baki unfolded the paper, which said—Steve Rogers, failed physical examination, classified as 4F, recommended immediate hospitalization... he raised eyebrows, teasingly said, "You're from Paramos again?"
Steve pretended not to hear, the illegality of his actions made him a bit ashamed, he just lowered his head, fixing his clothes littered with food scraps and garbage.
Baki shook his head, folded the paper, seriously told Steve, "You know that falsifying personal draft information is illegal, right? And New Jersey? Are you serious? Your Brooklyn accent is etched into your bones."
Steve looked up, he finally wiped away his nosebleed, then, looking up, saw Baki standing imposingly in a military green uniform.
He opened his mouth, "You got in?"
Baki knew his friend would feel bad, they had agreed to go to the battlefield together, but Steve's body...
He sighed, but he, about to leave, couldn't hide it.
"107th Regiment, Sergeant James Barnes... leaving for England tomorrow morning."
The 107th was in the UK for over three months, endured all manner of bombardments, now its strength had halved, as a martyr's son, and a soldier top in quality, Baki inherited his father's rank in the 107th, becoming a small officer.
Not only the Celestial Dynasty factories had the saying of sons inheriting their father's trade; the old-fashioned foreign armies did too.
Steve nodded instinctively, somewhat dazed, he shook his head, then sank into silence, his tone filled with loss.
"We were supposed to go together."
The two were speechless, only left with silence, but Baki quickly changed the subject, smiling as he clapped Steve on the shoulder, hooking his arm around Steve's neck, leading him out of the alley.
"Come on, pal, cheer up, tonight's my last night at the home front, I need to settle your stuff before I can feel at ease."
"Huh? What? Where to?"
Steve looked bewildered, noticing Gin smoking a cigar, waiting at the alley's mouth, whereas the one who had just beaten him vanished without a trace.
Only the stench of garbage lingered in the alley, the exhaust smell from cars, the bloody scent was gone.
Baki handed something to Steve, turned out to be some special passes, Baki grinned mysteriously at him with pride.
"To the future."
Steve rubbed his eyes, carefully looked at the event name on the passes.
"Future World's Fair..."
Baki nodded without hesitation, "Yes, Mr. Gin brought this for us, turns out no one was home, I guessed you'd be in the cinema... Mr. Wilson gave us backstage guest passes, we can enter early, meet many big stars and celebrities."
Gin wore his trademark smile, the kind that sent chills down one's back, but Steve and Baki were used to it over the years, knowing although he looked terrifying, Mr. Gin was a kind man.
The only odd thing was, ten years ago Mr. Wilson appeared younger than his father, and ten years later he looked the same, seemingly like their peer.
It was somewhat bizarre.
But Steve and Baki didn't delve deeper, after all, the Bible said that God will bless the devout, sparing them from bodily suffering and the erosion of time.
In their view, Su Ming, who had cared for them, guided them, and helped New York City's citizens through tough times, fully deserved such a blessing, he must be a Saint, so God grants him eternal youth.
This era was one filled with faith, anything inexplicable people were willing to interpret that way. When people saw someone flying in the sky, they wouldn't whip out their phones to post on necessity, nor would they chat about which superhero it was, but rather draw a cross on their chest, thanking God for letting them witness a miracle.
Steve hesitated, his whole body ached, but with Baki leaving tomorrow, they'd have to go out tonight, where to wasn't important, it was about sending off his best friend.
Baki saw his expression, catching the hint of his desire, promptly added, "Alright, buddy, I'm bringing two beautiful women with us tonight, sorting out your life's big moments is the top priority, that's settled."