The sun had climbed higher in the sky, warming the city as Su Zhan finished his run with Sam Wilson. The park was bustling now, joggers and dog walkers weaving along the paths, but Su Zhan's focus remained on the man beside him. Sam's breathing was heavy, sweat beading on his brow, but he wore a satisfied grin. He had pushed himself hard, and he could not help but glance at Su Zhan, who looked as though he had barely broken a sweat.
"You really aren't an ordinary person," Sam said, shaking his head in disbelief as he slowed to a stop. He watched as Su Zhan's pace quickened, the distance between them growing with each effortless stride. Sam muttered to himself, "This guy's getting faster and faster. At this rate, he'll catch up with that other runner in no time."
Indeed, Su Zhan was not holding back. His physical fitness now rivaled that of Captain America, and he was chasing after another figure on the path—a man running with a speed that was impressive even by superhuman standards. Steve Rogers, Captain America himself, had not expected anyone to catch up to him. When he heard footsteps closing in, he was surprised, but the competitive spark in him was instantly ignited. He pushed himself harder, his pace increasing as he tested the limits of his own strength.
It became a silent contest, two extraordinary men racing through the park, their strides long and powerful. Steve was fast, but Su Zhan matched him, their speeds nearly identical. For a moment, Steve felt the thrill of true competition, a rare feeling for someone of his abilities. He glanced over his shoulder, curious to see who was keeping up with him, and when he recognized Su Zhan, his surprise nearly made him stumble.
"What… It's you?" Steve exclaimed, coming to a stop and steadying himself. He had not expected to see Su Zhan here, much less running at his side.
Su Zhan came to a halt beside him, a friendly smile on his face. "No need to be so surprised," he said, waving to Sam, who was jogging up behind them. "Sam, your wish has been granted."
Sam grinned, catching his breath as he joined them. "Thank you, Santa!" he joked, then turned to Steve with wide eyes. "Wait, are you… Steve Rogers? Captain America?"
Steve nodded, offering a handshake. "Hello."
Sam shook his hand, still in awe. "My name's Sam. Man, do you know the captain?" he asked, turning to Su Zhan.
Su Zhan shrugged, a playful glint in his eyes. "Isn't it obvious?"
Sam laughed, his admiration clear. "Well then, who are you? I mean, you're not an ordinary person; that much is clear. Do you have a code name?"
Steve answered before Su Zhan could reply. "You can call him the War King."
Sam blinked in surprise. "War King?"
Su Zhan raised an eyebrow, amused. "War King?"
Steve nodded seriously. "Yes, the War King. If you remember the news about Doctor Octopus being killed, you should know who he is. Of course, if he put on his battle suit, you'd recognize him at a glance."
Sam's eyes widened as the memory clicked into place. He recalled the reports of a mysterious figure in a dark battle suit, wielding a green blade and moving with deadly efficiency. "God, it's really you. Sorry, man, I didn't recognize you like this. Honestly, I agree with your approach. Sometimes, you have to be decisive with your enemies. If you're too soft, you're not just risking your own life but the safety of everyone else."
Su Zhan smiled, pleased by Sam's reaction. It was clear that Sam respected strength and decisiveness, qualities that would make him a valuable ally. As they walked together, the three men fell into easy conversation, their camaraderie growing with each step.
Soon, they reached the road, where a sleek black sports car was parked. The window rolled down, and a familiar voice called out, "Captain, there's a mission." Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, leaned out, her eyes lighting up as she spotted Su Zhan. "Su Zhan, what are you doing here?"
Natasha stepped out of the car, her movements graceful and confident. She greeted Su Zhan with a warm hug, and Steve and Sam exchanged glances, both a little surprised by the easy affection between them.
Sam leaned over to Steve, whispering, "Is the Black Widow the War King's girlfriend? Because I just saw him with another woman earlier."
Steve chuckled, shaking his head. "You'll get used to it."
Natasha turned to Sam, curiosity in her eyes. "Who was the woman you saw with Su Zhan earlier?"
Sam looked apologetic. "I didn't mean to pry…"
Su Zhan answered for him. "That was Sif, from Asgard."
Natasha's eyes widened in recognition. "The goddess herself. Impressive company, as always."
She turned back to Steve. "We have a mission tonight. Su Zhan, do you want to come with us?"
Su Zhan considered for a moment, then nodded. "If I'm free, I'll join you. Otherwise, I'll catch up later."
Natasha smiled, satisfied with his answer. She and Steve climbed into the car and drove off, leaving Su Zhan and Sam standing by the road.
Sam shook his head in amazement. "Man, can you tell me how you do it? She didn't even ask about the other woman."
Su Zhan grinned. "Because she already knows."
Sam laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "That's incredible."
Su Zhan clapped him on the shoulder. "It's just part of my charm. But enough about me—let's talk about you."
Sam looked thoughtful. "There's not much to say. Retirement has been… strange. I have a job, life is stable, but it's not what I want. Sometimes, I miss the action. Have you ever thought about going back, like Steve did?"
Su Zhan nodded, understanding the restlessness in Sam's voice. "I think you'll find your way back to the battlefield soon enough. People like us, we're never really done."
Sam smiled, a sense of purpose returning to his eyes. "Maybe you're right. Maybe it's time to see what else I can do."