"You… what did you just say?" Coulson's voice wavered.
"Natasha Romanoff," Voss repeated calmly. "A Russian agent. She'll join S.H.I.E.L.D. next year."
Coulson and Steve exchanged a stunned look. If Voss's knowledge of the past could be dismissed as "dreams," then his knowledge of the future was something else entirely.
"Mr. Voss," Coulson asked carefully, "how do you know what hasn't happened yet?"
Voss shrugged. "Didn't I say? I have strange dreams. Sometimes about the past. Sometimes about the future."
Aqua suddenly chimed in, "He's not lying. Sometimes he yells names in his sleep—'Iron Man,' 'Thor'—all sorts of nonsense."
Voss glared at her. "Don't talk nonsense."
But inside, he felt a pang of unease. He really did talk in his sleep, a leftover habit from his old life—something he'd never wanted exposed.
Coulson, sharp as ever, discreetly jotted down the words Iron Man and Thor, circling Natasha Romanoff's name heavily.
Steve studied Voss, conflicted. This young man not only knew Hydra's darkest secrets, he could apparently see beyond time itself. To Steve, he seemed almost like an envoy sent from above.
"Mr. Voss," Steve said at last, his voice hesitant, "would you fight Hydra with us?"
The room fell silent. Tom and Jerry paused their chess game, Artoria lowered her teacup, and Aqua turned her wide eyes on Voss.
Voss blinked, genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected Steve's invitation.
"The Captain means…" Coulson began slowly, "we'd like you to join us."
Voss looked around at his companions, then shook his head with a faint smile.
"Thank you. But no. I'm just an ordinary man. Fighting—that's your battlefield, not mine."
Steve looked disappointed but nodded with quiet understanding. "You're right. I shouldn't have asked. This war is dangerous."
"It's not the danger," Voss replied softly. "It's that I can be more useful here. If you need information, come to me. That's how I'll help."
Coulson gave a small nod. "Then we'll leave you in peace. We need to report this right away."
"Be careful," Voss said as he walked them to the door. "And remember—trust only the ones I told you."
As Steve and Coulson stepped into the elevator, silence hung between them until Coulson finally spoke.
"Captain… why didn't you push harder? With his knowledge, he'd be a huge asset."
Steve shook his head. "Phil, of course I want him with us. But you saw his… unusual roommates. He's not an ordinary man."
"Exactly why we should—"
"No." Steve's voice was firm. "If I drag him into this out of selfishness and he dies, I'll carry that guilt forever. He's already risked much by telling us what he knows. That's enough."
Coulson studied him, then smiled faintly. "Captain, you always put others first."
"It's only right," Steve said, staring at his reflection in the elevator doors. "Besides… Voss is more complicated than we think. He sees the future. He lives with beings I can barely explain. Maybe he already has his own mission."
The elevator chimed, and they stepped out. Moments later, they were in a black SUV, heading toward Washington.
"What's next?" Coulson asked.
"Straight to Fury," Steve answered. "We tell him everything."
"Including Secretary Pierce?"
"Especially Pierce," Steve said grimly. "If he's Hydra, then time is running out."
As Coulson drove, his thoughts churned. "Captain… do you really believe all of it? Bucky alive, Howard's death, Project Insight?"
Steve stayed quiet for a long moment. Then he said, "Phil, an hour ago I thought Bucky had been dead for seventy years. Now I'm riding in a car I don't recognize, working with a one-eyed director I never met, and living in a world where nothing surprises me anymore."
Coulson gave a quiet nod.
"This world is unbelievable," Steve went on. "Two animals that play chess, a girl who conjures water out of thin air but barely understands it, and a man who dreams of the future. Compared to that, Hydra infiltrating S.H.I.E.L.D. seems almost normal."
"You're right," Coulson admitted. "And he proved himself—he knew exactly where we found you. That's credibility enough."
Steve's hands clenched into fists. "If Bucky's alive, and Hydra's using him as a weapon… then I'll save him. No matter what."
"We will, Captain," Coulson promised.
Back in the apartment, Artoria tilted her head. "Master, why didn't you go with them?"
Voss sank back onto the sofa. "Because I know how the story unfolds. Steve and Coulson will handle Hydra. If I step in too far, I might cause changes I can't control."
"But you said you wanted to change the story," Aqua pressed.
"Change doesn't mean fighting on the front lines," Voss explained. "I gave them the key information. That's enough to alter the future."
Tom hopped onto his lap, gesturing as if to say, Don't worry so much.
"What I worry about," Voss murmured, stroking Tom's head, "is that if I interfere too much, I'll trigger consequences I can't predict."
Jerry pointed to the window, reminding him of the agents still surveilling the building.
"Exactly," Voss nodded. "S.H.I.E.L.D. is already watching us. If I act too openly, I'll expose more than I should."
Artoria studied him, her voice soft but steady. "Master… it feels like you're playing a much larger game."
"Maybe I am," Voss said with a faint smile. "For now, Steve and Coulson have what they need. It's their fight."
"So what do we do?" Aqua asked.
"What else?" Voss said lightly, watching the SUV disappear down the street. "We eat, drink, and live as usual. Or do you still want to chase after them?"
"You—how dare you accuse me like that!" Aqua stammered, her face going red. "I-I never said that! Hmph, I'm going to watch TV." She stormed off, flustered.
Voss chuckled quietly, shaking his head.
"Captain," he whispered to himself, "this is all I can do for you. The rest… is up to you."