Gin saw them coming and crushed his cigar under his shoe. Early spring in Brooklyn always had a peculiar stench, the result of the filth hidden under the winter snow finally thawing.
"You guys figured it out?" he asked.
"Yeah, we're all set," Bucky replied with a grin, followed by a mischievous chuckle. "Thanks again—those passes are going to be perfect tonight."
Gin gave him a strange look but quickly seed to understand. Smiling, he reached over and plucked a wilted lettuce leaf from Steve's back.
"Alright, but Steve should probably head ho to change first. You don't want to go out with a girl while wearing a coat covered in garbage."
Steve sighed. He wanted to find a girlfriend, but every ti he went out with Bucky, the girls only had eyes for his tall, handso friend, treating Steve like he was invisible. Tonight, he could only hope for better luck.
"Thanks, Mr. Gin," Steve said.
With Bucky's arm draped over his neck, Steve was led out of the alley. Bucky could barely wait to start giving Steve advice on how to talk to girls, but Steve suddenly rembered sothing.
"Hey, what happened to that guy?"
Gin adjusted his glasses, the lenses flashing as if catching the light. He replied casually, "I had my n take him to the police station. The charge? Environntal pollution. You won't see him for a while."
Steve was confused. Sure, the guy had knocked over a few trash cans, but since when was "polluting the environnt" a cri? Was there even an environntal protection law?
Before he could make sense of it, Bucky dragged him off. Gin watched them disappear around the corner, heading toward their ho.
Gin, anwhile, turned toward the movie theater. His job, assigned by Su Ming, was complete, and now he could do what he enjoyed—watching a movie.
That evening, the World of Tomorrow Expo was packed with people. Every major company was showcasing its latest products, with all sorts of strange and fascinating inventions grabbing attention at every corner.
Perhaps the looming shadow of war made people yearn for celebration, and the na "World of Tomorrow" inspired hopeful fantasies of better days ahead.
But Steve's fears ca true.
Bucky had brought along two girls, one for each of them. He had t them while wandering the streets a few days earlier, and while they weren't very familiar, they were both beautiful.
Bucky picked the brunette for himself and left the blonde for Steve. The blonde was quite well-endowed, especially in the chest area, making her a perfect contrast to the skinny Steve.
Bucky introduced his good friend Steve, listing off his many fine qualities, but the blonde girl kept clinging to her friend, completely ignoring Steve.
No matter how good of a person he was, the girls were out for a fun night. What they wanted was a handso, muscular guy. Steve barely reached their shoulders, was thin as a rail, and had a sickly complexion. For the sake of his health, it was best to keep him out of their "adult ti" tonight.
Fireworks burst in the sky above, painting the dark night in vibrant colors, but all Steve could manage was a bitter smile as he trudged along behind the trio through the crowd.
"Hey, that's the Stark Industries booth. Let's check it out," Bucky said to Steve, pointing toward a brightly lit area not far away. The booth was bustling with activity, almost like a Broadway theater, with a group of leggy girls dancing in chorus line kicks.
High kicks, knee bends, another direction, more high kicks...
The girls were dressed in tuxedo tops with top hats, but below, they wore only shorts, showcasing their legs wrapped in stockings.
Bucky led the group through the crowd and secured a good spot in the front row, right near the stage. The two girls were just as captivated by the performance as Bucky was, though his attention was on the long legs, while the girls admired the sleek, red sports car on display.
Unfortunately, Steve's short height left him straining to catch glimpses of the stage between his friends.
"Ladies and gentlen, please welco Howard Stark!"
The dancing girls quickly lined up at the front of the stage, excitent shining in their eyes as a man with a charming smile and a stylish mustache walked out from behind the curtain. His expression was cocky, and he waved casually at the crowd, basking in the stage lights.
He didn't rush to speak, first walking over to one of the stage girls and planting a big kiss on her fiery red lips, earning cheers and screams from the crowd.
"Howard, I love you!"
"Ahhh! Howard, over here!"
The scene was like a Hollywood spectacle. And unlike movie stars who were careful with their image, Howard Stark was known for his playboy lifestyle, charming, handso, and, most importantly, a recognized scientific genius of the era.
Brains could generate wealth, an endless treasure trove.
Many won dread of becoming Mrs. Stark, hoping to win his heart. But Howard was only interested in fleeting flings, never discussing emotions, and those won all failed.
Yet that didn't stop more from throwing themselves at him. Howard lived each day in blissful indulgence, surrounded by beauty.
After his customary flirtation with the stage girl, Howard wiped the lipstick from his mouth with a handkerchief and began introducing his latest invention.
"What if I told you, that in a few years, your car could hover above the ground as it drives? How would you feel?"
Howard gestured to the girls to remove the wheels from the red sports car on stage. As they moved a control panel into place, he asked the crowd his mysterious question.
Steve seized the opportunity to try and talk to the blonde girl Bucky had paired him with. He hadn't had much experience talking to girls; his frail health had always kept him off their radar.
"Do you want so popcorn?" His bony hand offered her a small bag.
Predictably, the girl rolled her eyes and turned away, completely ignoring Steve. She was much more interested in Howard on stage.
Howard, too, wasn't expecting any answers from the audience. Grinning smugly, he adjusted so settings on the control panel and winked at the girl he had kissed earlier.
"Thanks, Mandy." He then turned back to the crowd and, with a flourish, placed his hand on the control panel, revealing the answer. "With Stark Industries' anti-gravity technology, anything is possible!"
With that, he slowly pushed the lever upward, and the tireless car began to float above the stage, drawing gasps from the crowd.
It was magical! Steve and the others' eyes widened as they watched in amazent. People around them started to clap, and as the applause filled the air, Howard's smile grew even broader.
But just as the car hovered for a few glorious monts, the anti-gravity device sputtered with sparks, followed by a puff of smoke. The car dropped back to the stage with a loud crash, causing the crowd to recoil in shock.
Howard, however, was unfazed. As a researcher, he knew the technology wasn't yet complete. Getting it to float for even two seconds was an overachievent.
Smiling confidently, he raised the microphone to his lips. "I told you—it's for the future."
The audience didn't mind. Whether it hovered for two seconds or indefinitely, it was still a miracle in their eyes. Thunderous applause erupted once again.
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