Pierce didn't expect that Captain America had actually managed to win over Hill. Was this the legendary charm of a Hydra leader?
He felt a dull ache in his teeth. After all, he had worked so hard to climb to a senior position, just one step away from full power—and now this "Hydra Captain" had suddenly appeared to throw everything into chaos.
"Captain, how did you end up fighting with Red Skull?" Pierce asked his first question. He had heard the name before—Red Skull was an ambitious man, ruthless and dangerous.
They were all part of Hydra, so why were they fighting each other like enemies?
Steve Rogers looked at him as if he were an idiot. He didn't feel the slightest guilt for seizing command; instead, he snorted confidently.
"Red Skull was about to betray us. I had to clean up the mess. Simple as that."
That answer made Pierce frown. Red Skull had resources, an army, and global influence. Meanwhile, Steve Rogers was, at least on paper, a soldier—an American hero. How could he accuse someone like Red Skull of rebellion?
It sounded ridiculous… but for some reason, Pierce found himself believing it.
"Then my second question," Pierce continued carefully, "what does the Captain think of the current situation?"
If the first question had been to confirm Steve's identity, then this one was meant to test his capability—to see whether this "Supreme Leader" truly had the wisdom to lead Hydra.
Steve stood up, walked toward the large French window, and placed one hand on the wall and the other in his pocket. The scene mirrored the movie, except now the roles were reversed—Steve was the one in charge, and Pierce was the one being questioned.
Indeed, the tables had turned.
The city lights twinkled outside the window. Beyond the green glow of the park, the skyline shimmered with life.
"Tell me, Alexander," Steve began slowly, "why do you think Hydra wants to dominate the world?"
Pierce frowned. "Of course—to bring the entire world under our control and establish a new order."
Steve smiled faintly. "But what if that order is meaningless to others? What if everything we've built can be wiped away in an instant?"
The mysterious tone in his voice sent a chill down Pierce's spine. A shiver ran through him from head to toe.
Steve turned and patted him on the shoulder. "I've seen things you haven't, Pierce. I've seen civilizations you can't even imagine. There are alien worlds out there—so powerful that compared to them, we're nothing. War will come soon, and humanity won't have many years of peace left."
He paused. "Enemies don't always need to be destroyed. In a global crisis, even enemies can become useful tools. What we need is a way out—not to become the world's enemy."
Then Steve mentioned the Project Pegasus engine and told Pierce to investigate whether an Air Force pilot named Carol Danvers had gone missing.
Even Hydra had heard whispers about this, but it wasn't in their official records.
When Pierce realized the implications—that extraterrestrials might already be involved—he broke into a cold sweat. He thought he knew everything, yet Nick Fury, the man he had personally promoted, had kept this secret from him!
"Leader!" Pierce stood up and bowed respectfully.
"Just call me Captain from now on," Steve said with a smile. "It's getting late. Let's continue tomorrow—at your house."
Working late? Not a chance.
As the new-age Captain America, Steve Rogers refused to promote unhealthy work culture.
If there was an easier way, why suffer?
Leaving the office, Steve found Hill waiting patiently outside. Nothing felt more satisfying than seeing a beautiful woman waiting just for him.
Steve silently promised himself to treat Hill well. As for loyalty—well, that was negotiable.
St. Peter's Restaurant
Soft, elegant music filled the air. The restaurant was bustling but reasonably priced, filled with people enjoying their meals.
Steve hadn't wanted Hill to cook that night, so they decided to eat out.
Hill didn't ask about the meeting's outcome. She simply smiled, watching the man devour his food like a starving soldier. She didn't even know why she had flown all the way from New York to Washington just to vouch for him.
It had started as a mission—but now, she was sinking deeper into something she couldn't escape.
What was Steve's charm, really?
He had no wealth, no assets—just the reputation of a relic from the last century. Even after waking up from seventy years of sleep, he was more of a legend than a man of status.
Modern women were practical. The rich switched partners as easily as clothes, while the poor spent years chasing one-sided love.
So why had she fallen for Steve Rogers?
Hill couldn't figure it out. She only knew that without seeing him, her day felt empty. Her usual sharp focus disappeared, replaced by a quiet ache she couldn't explain.
They hadn't even known each other for long, yet they were already living together. Even precautions seemed useless—how reckless could they be?
Wasn't this something only married couples were supposed to share?
"Don't just stare at me," Steve teased, winking. "Eat up. We've got plenty of exercise to do tonight."
The implication made Hill blush.
Who could imagine that the deputy director of S.H.I.E.L.D.—the legendary cold, commanding Maria Hill—could blush like a lovestruck girl?
In truth, Hill had never been in love before. Her strict upbringing had left her emotionally guarded.
Thanks to her academic brilliance, she'd earned scholarships to an Ivy League university, enrolling in an elite officer program—not some ordinary military academy.
High-ranking officials didn't seek soldiers—they sought talent. True elites were molded into instruments of power.
And only the great families truly thrived. Even if they lacked expertise, they had influence—and influence could solve anything.
"You've finished eating! I haven't even started!" Hill pouted, her playful expression completely different from her usual icy demeanor.
If the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents saw this, their jaws would hit the floor.
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
This was Hill—the cold, untouchable beauty of S.H.I.E.L.D.—acting cute like a lovesick girl?
"Haha, I'll buy you another one. You like fried egg sandwiches, right?" Steve said with a grin, remembering her favorite snack.
"Mm, thank you, husband," Hill said softly, her voice full of warmth.
Steve's heart softened. She called him that so naturally.
And in that moment, Captain America—Hydra leader or not—felt completely at peace.
...
📢 Author's Note
The full completed version of Marvel: This Captain America Is Different (Part 1) is now available on Patreon!
✅ Part 1 Complete — 117 Chapters
Join the journey of a wildly unpredictable Captain America as absurd system missions, unexpected rewards, and chaotic adventures turn the Marvel Universe upside down.
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