This Steve Rogers fellow looked righteous enough, Saiki mused, but when he put on an act, he was even more convincing than Loki.
Outwardly, Steve was smiling blandly and uttering, "Hail Hydra." Inwardly, however, he was thinking, Damn it! Why is my luck so bad? Drawing the short straw to come here for the stone...
Saiki called out just as Steve (#2, the time traveler) was holding the briefcase containing the Mind Stone Scepter. Seeing a stranger, Steve's first instinct was to tense up defensively.
That momentary distraction was all it took. Another Steve Rogers (#1, presumably the original Cap from this timeline) appeared and kicked Steve #2 hard, sending him flying.
The briefcase sailed through the air. Steve #1 moved to intercept it, but Steve #2, sprawled on the floor and clutching his aching back, managed to stick out a leg and sweep Steve #1 off his feet.
Steve #1 hit the ground, his leg going numb from the impact. The two Captain Americas locked eyes, and without another thought, immediately began brawling, completely forgetting the briefcase lying forlornly to the side.
Someone could easily just walk off with the case right now, and neither of them would notice, Saiki observed dryly. He considered his options. Logically, he should separate them, explain his own plan, send Steve #2 back where he came from, and allow the original timeline to proceed. Since the stones would eventually end up in his possession anyway, preserving the original course of events wouldn't risk any problematic butterfly effects.
However, watching the two identical men wrestle with fierce "him or me" determination, Saiki suspected words would fail to calm them down. Direct, efficient application of force seemed more appropriate. His revised plan: teleport the timeline-irrelevant Steve #2 to his private island, then mind-wipe Steve #1 to erase this encounter.
One problem arose: Which one was Steve #1, and which was Steve #2?
Saiki stared at the two figures—identical in appearance, attire, and even, disconcertingly, their surface thoughts were like copy-pastes of each other. He briefly considered sending both to the island but immediately discarded the idea. They'd just continue fighting there; it wouldn't solve the underlying issue.
Ultimately, the arrival of HYDRA agents resolved his dilemma by altering the two Steves' mental states. Steve #1 became enraged, determined to apprehend all the HYDRA operatives. Steve #2, meanwhile, was consumed by shame over having uttered the "Hail Hydra" slogan.
Seizing that instant of differentiation, Saiki teleported Steve #2 away to the island and simultaneously wiped the recent events from Steve #1's memory.
Steve #1 felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He staggered, struggling to regain his footing, momentarily confused about why he was even standing there. Then, he saw the HYDRA agents making off with the briefcase containing the Scepter.
"Natasha, have Nick seal the lobby," he barked into his comms device, already sprinting in pursuit.
Later, Saiki briefly explained his objectives to Steve #2 on the island, then sent him back to his own time with instructions to inform Saiki Kusuke that he was alright. Saiki figured that with Captain America's authority backing the story, coupled with Kusuke's likely interference, the other Avenger teams sent to retrieve the Space and Time Stones would probably return them to their proper places without issue.
Before leaving, Steve #2 had provided Saiki with the locations where Thanos had originally acquired the other three stones.
Saiki decided to pursue the Soul Stone on Vormir first. Locating the desolate planet took some time; he eventually resorted to reading Thanos's past memories to pinpoint its coordinates.
As soon as he set foot on Vormir's rocky surface, a figure in a hooded cloak floated towards him. Floated. Saiki had a strong suspicion he was looking at something inherently disgusting hidden beneath the cloak, but given the current climate of online censorship, the details wouldn't be described. For now, Saiki could rest easy on that front.
However, when the figure threw back his hood, revealing a gleaming, crimson skull, Saiki began to seriously question the author's life choices. Are you actively trying to get this story deleted?
The Red Skull spoke, his voice dripping with enigmatic pronouncements. "It is quite a busy day today. Are you also here seeking the Soul Stone?" He deliberately emphasized the word "also," pausing expectantly, waiting for Saiki's inevitable questions.
Internally, however, Red Skull was ecstatic. [AAAAAAAHHH!! Finally! Someone else has come for the Soul Stone! Excellent!]
Saiki: "..."
[Although, this kid is all alone,] Red Skull's thoughts continued, audible only to Saiki. [How does he plan to obtain the Soul Stone? Never mind, I'll just string him along first. It surely can't be worse than dealing with that clingy couple up on the cliff who've been arguing forever and still haven't decided which one of them should die. Those lunatics.]
Saiki, however, refused to play along. He ignored the blatant hints about Natasha and Clint, merely stating that he was, indeed, there for the stone.
But even if Saiki didn't ask, that didn't mean Red Skull wouldn't volunteer the information. Hearing Saiki's purpose, Red Skull adopted a regretful tone. "It is my duty to guide every soul who seeks the stone. But alas, a man and a woman arrived not long ago, their goal the same as yours. I wonder if they have managed to obtain the stone yet..."
The answer, of course, was no. Otherwise, Red Skull wouldn't still be trapped here playing the role of cosmic concierge. He finished speaking and stared intently at Saiki, apparently hoping to see a flicker of urgency or concern on the young man's face. He was destined for disappointment. Saiki, privy to Red Skull's inner monologue, simply stared back, his expression completely blank.
After a full minute of silent staring, Red Skull was the first to break eye contact, suddenly feeling unnerved. Was it his imagination, or did this newcomer somehow know things? Meeting his gaze instilled a strange sense of unease, as if his own thoughts were laid bare.
Shaken, Red Skull led Saiki towards the precipice where the Soul Stone resided.
Below, Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton were locked in a physical struggle. They seemed to be violently disagreeing on the crucial issue of which one of them should die. The Soul Stone, after all, demanded the sacrifice of that which one holds most dear—a beloved soul.
Wait a minute, Saiki thought, recalling Earthly gossip. Isn't Clint married with a full family? How did Natasha become his 'most beloved'? He mentally added another tally mark to the "relationships are messy and complicated" column. Then again, he conceded internally, perhaps in this context, 'beloved' could also mean 'closest friend'.
Ultimately, Natasha gained the upper hand. Exploiting Clint's soft-hearted reluctance to truly harm her, she found an opening and flung herself off the edge of the cliff.
Clint scrambled to the precipice, reaching out with a hand stretched in a pose of ultimate dramatic despair, screaming her name. "NATASHA!!!" His face was a mask of anguish and tears.
The next second, however, Natasha wasn't falling. She was floating gently in mid-air, slowly drifting back up towards the cliff edge.
Clint, whose heart had just shattered like glass: "???"
Natasha, who had been fully prepared for death: "???"
Red Skull, munching popcorn metaphorically from the sidelines: "???"
Seizing the moment while Natasha was still suspended in bewildered confusion, Clint scrambled to his feet and launched himself into the abyss.
"NO!!" Now it was Natasha's turn to scream, reaching out with her own dramatic hand gesture. She watched Clint's figure disappear into the mists below, then collapsed onto the cliff edge, burying her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.
Yet, before her grief could truly take hold, she watched, stunned, as Clint floated back up, unharmed, exactly as she had done moments before.
Clint, looking utterly baffled, was deposited unceremoniously back onto the cliff edge, face-to-face with an equally baffled Natasha.
Natasha wiped away a tear, took a deep breath, and jumped again. This time, Clint didn't cry. He simply leaned over the edge and watched impassively as Natasha floated gently back up beside him.
Clint: "..."
Natasha: "..."
They stared at each other for a long moment, the absurdity of the situation finally sinking in. Then, slowly, they both turned their heads to glare at the Red Skull, demanding in perfect unison:
"Are you messing with us?!"