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The night was long, the moon was bright
The streetlamps cast a blinding light
A man out of time stood on his stoop
Remembering the things time took
.
On other streets a copper rode
And reveled in the quiet roads.
No noise pierced the silent night
Save his radio, singing light.
He heard a crackle, then a pop
All sound cut out, his hearing lost
“Futz,” he said, and pulled aside
To fix his hearing aid and sigh.
.
In the shadows crept a form
The man out of time had seen before.
Squinting into that dread night
He tried to reconcile sight.
“How can it be?” the man did ask,
“For you are dead. I saw you last.”
.
Atop a roof in streets afar
Perched a devil listening hard
To sounds beyond all other’s hearing
Sitting. Lying. Patient waiting.
.
The shadow form stepped in the light
And the man out of time knew he was right
His every dream at once came true
But all his fears, they came true too.
“Bucky, friend,” the hero cried—
“Who is he? The name’s not mine.
“Your time has now come to an end.
“So draw your sword and fight your ‘friend.’”
.
On streets too far from the fight
The copper’s gear returned to drive.
The devil threw his club and swung
And prayed arrive ‘fore it was done.
.
The shadow then raised up his gun
He gave his prey no time to run.
The other’s shield did block the shot
The man out of time knew hope was lost.
But still he had to try at least
“We were friends once, Bucky please!”
He begged the man from long ago
“Back to back we fought the war.”
The shadow gave his words no heed
And struck his friend with renewed speed.
.
The first sound the policeman heard:
A rifle shot clear to the world
He slammed his foot upon the gas
And took off speeding down the path.
.
The devil followed in the night
As each word painted radar’s sight
He swung from rooftops, worry-filled
That when he got there ‘twould be still.
.
As of yet the battle raged
Neither could advantage take
The shadow aimed his gun once more
But it was wrenched from him with force
His opponent took a shot
And hoped to god he wouldn’t drop
The shadow kicked the gun aside
Pulled a knife and slashed his eyes
His shield flew up and metal clanged
For minutes more the battle reigned.
.
The policeman gunned his ride
And the devil tried to fly.
.
Tires screeched and sirens wailed
Around the corner a police car squealed
For just an instant the battle paused
Time enough for the devil to drop
He fell from the sky in wingless flight
And landed atop the shadowed might
The man out of time rejoined the fray
But the shadow could match both any day
.
In his car the copper froze
He could not tell for whom to go
To him it looked like two on one
So he reached for his holster to pull out his gun
But instead he strayed his hand
Beneath the seat beside him and
Out he drew from era far gone
A bow and a quiver of arrows so long.
.
And when the fight at last came to end
The sun was beginning to poke up its head.
The cop leapt out and pulled back his bow
“Freeze! Put your hands in the air!” he bellowed.
Though they paid the warning no heed
Those three men were but human indeed.
The man out of time turned round to see
The devil landed wrong on his feet.
.
And the shadow, why he did what all shadows must
When daylight comes and turns darkness to dust.
.
The Winter Soldier faded away
And Hawkeye arrested no one that day
Daredevil went back to his home
And Captain America lost Bucky once more.