Standing on the Time-Space Travel Bracelet, Rory looked calmly at Captain America.
Holding the case containing the Infinity Stone in one hand and Mjolnir in the other, Captain America stepped opposite Rory and nodded to Dr. Banner at the console.
"Dr. Banner, send us back."
Dr. Banner nodded and began the countdown, pressing the switch the moment it reached zero.
*Whoosh.*
Captain America and Rory vanished instantly.
Blinded by the blue light of time-space travel, Rory opened his eyes to find himself back in the abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Trenton in 1970—the very same dilapidated building he had left behind.
Captain America Steve Rogers stood before Rory, though Mjolnir was gone from his hand.
"Looks like you've been busy in that short amount of time."
Captain America nodded. He had returned Mjolnir and the Infinity Stones to their respective timelines, leaving only the Space Stone in the case.
"Rory, I hope you can live a good life here. I'll come visit you if I have time." As he spoke, Steve removed the Time-Space Travel Bracelet from Rory's wrist.
"Oh? You aren't planning to go back?" Rory was still holding his own computer hard drive.
Captain America shrugged. "I want to try the kind of life Tony talked about."
"Ha, and here I thought Captain America was a mindless patriot. Turns out you've got a selfish streak too." Rory's tone dripped with mockery.
Steve Rogers could not find a single word in rebuttal.
He refused to let Rory remain in the future, yet he himself intended to stay in 1970—the height of pure hypocrisy.
Too weary to trade insults with Captain America any longer, Rory turned and walked away.
Before leaving, he waved a hand. "You don't need to tell me what kind of life you want to live, but I sincerely hope you never cross my path again. Goodbye for good."
To say he wasn't angry would be a lie, but he lacked the power to fight back.
Before the assembled superheroes, Rory was as fragile as a newborn infant.
After Captain America returned the Infinity Stones and while he was busy going on dates with Peggy Carter, Rory had already taken a train to New York.
It wasn't that Rory held any special attachment to the place; it was simply prosperous enough to make acquiring necessary experimental materials much easier.
His first priority was securing funds. Rory leveraged future knowledge to attract investment, and the company that backed him was none other than Stark Industries.
Rory never met Howard Stark; he merely cleared the evaluation of Stark Industries' Strategic Investment Department.
The funding wasn't massive, but it was enough to support the establishment of his own laboratory.
"Mr. Rory, this money isn't a gift. Mr. Hans, the investment manager at Stark Industries, expects to see your research results within three months, or we will repossess this laboratory."
Rory nodded. "I'll mail my research progress to Stark Industries. Don't come disturbing me while I'm working."
This was 1970, and with just the slightest effort, Rory stood at the absolute pinnacle of this era.
He wouldn't even need three months; within three days, he could produce a complete body of technology far beyond his time.
***
"Oh, Steve, I can't believe it. You're really back. Am I dreaming?"
Overcome with emotion, Peggy Carter pulled Captain America close. The genuine warmth told her this was no dream, yet she still found it hard to believe.
"How could I leave the girl I love most? I still owe her a dance." Steve gently reached out and stroked Peggy Carter's cheek.
Warm, real, with a familiar touch and scent.
A romance spanning time and space, suffusing the air around them with sweetness.
Half a month drifted by in the blink of an eye.
Spending his days immersed in sweet intimacy, Steve suddenly remembered Rory.
"Peggy, there's something I need to take care of. I might have to step away for a few days."
Peggy Carter, dressed up and ready, turned her head to ask, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"It would make things much easier if you're willing. It's nothing major, just tracking someone down."
"Of course, I'd love to help." Peggy walked over and planted a kiss on Steve's cheek.
Since its founding in 1945, S.H.I.E.L.D. was beginning to show results. While intelligence gathering hadn't reached its later staggering levels, finding someone was no great challenge.
Hours later, Peggy had secured Rory's file.
Much of the information within it was fabricated, but the record of his partnership with Stark Industries to establish a laboratory was true.
Steve was startled upon reading Rory's file.
"He formed a partnership with Stark Industries?"
"Is there a problem?" Peggy asked, unaware of the actual situation.
Steve fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "I truly hope my concerns are unfounded."
Sensing the gravity of the situation, Peggy immediately drove Steve to the laboratory address listed in the file.
*Crash.*
They forced open the laboratory doors to find the interior entirely empty, devoid even of equipment—just a completely ordinary, vacant room.
Naturally, Rory had never left his real address.
The moment he got the funding, he relocated his laboratory elsewhere precisely to guard against any potential pursuit by Steve.
Furthermore, Rory was not in New York at that moment. He had already boarded an arctic research vessel, setting out to find that frozen American ass.
"Sir, are you certain this is the right direction? Very few people go to places like that."
The hired captain came below deck to find Rory.
Rory nodded firmly. "Proceed exactly along the course I've marked. An expeditionary research trip naturally requires seeking out the path less traveled."
During his time in the future, Rory had seen the map of the rescue mission for the frozen Captain America in the Avengers Compound. He trusted his memory.
However, landscapes shift with time, and Rory could not guarantee he would succeed, but he had to try.
Days later, the research ship finally came to a halt.
With the help of the crew, a vehicle and various supplies were unloaded onto the ice.
Rory drove off alone toward the coordinates of the frozen Captain America.
Surrounded by howling winds and endless snow, Rory drove through the white wasteland for two days and two nights before finally reaching the precise coordinates.
"It should be around here. God of Wealth protect me." (He pressed his palms together.)
He parked the vehicle, set up camp, boiled a pot of hot water, and after eating some instant rations to regain his energy, he slept in the tent.
Upon waking, he began his search for Captain America.
Using the topography to narrow down the search area, he scanned meticulously with a detector.
In just two days, Rory's lips had chapped, his skin turned dry and pale, and deep dark circles bruised the skin beneath his eyes.
Yet, driven by the desire to obtain the frozen Captain America's blood sample, he refused to give up.
Just as he was about to reach his breaking point, the detector finally beeped.
*Beep... beep-beep... beep-beep...*
Rory swung an ice axe and hacked furiously at the ice.
*Clang.*
The sound of striking metal rang out, music to Rory's ears.
"Hello there, Steve. Fancy meeting you again, heh heh!"