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Steve’s head hurts. He generally doesn't mind his teams' antics and he likes that the kids experiment and follow their gut but this was an epic mess.
Peter had pulled out a sword of a stone and transported the entire team to the middle ages with no way to go back home. And Steve is responsible for them. Fuck. Their parents and guardians are going to kill him. If he ever gets them home, that is. He isn't confident they will make it home.
"You've time traveled before, right?" Kamala asks.
"Not like this, not without a clear plan," Steve says.
"We'll figure it out," she says. She sounds a lot more confident than he feels.
"I'm sorry," Peter says.
He looks so embarrassed and Steve feels bad about that. He puts his hand on Peter's shoulder and squeezes it gently.
"We'll figure it out," he says, echoing Kamala's words.
Steve and the team find some disguises so they can blend in with the people that actually belong in this era and then start their journey to figure out how to go back home. They take the sword with them, just in case. If it has the power to transport people through time, it must be important.
They find their answers weeks later. It's been a long and difficult journey and they are tired, so they go into an inn to have some food and ask for a room. Moments after they sit down to eat a strange figure wearing a long black cloak steps into the room. He looks straight at them and smiles. It's a little creepy, to be honest. Steve feels unsettled and he tells himself he's going to do anything to keep the kids safe. Anything. Even if it means dying.
"You found my sword," the stranger says.
"How do we know it's yours?" Peter asks.
"Clever," the stranger says. "If you want to go home, you must humor me."
Steve sighs. He's not happy about this but he knows they don't have a choice. This man might be their only shot at getting home.
"I knew you'd see my ways," the strange man says. He grins at them, still creepy. "It's all very simple…" he starts to say.
He tells them a tale of myth and magic, of kings and betrayal and legendary swords. Apparently this sword belonged to King Arthur once. This sword will announce his return.
When he's finished the stranger pulls off his hood, revealing a handsome blonde man.
Kamala pokes Steve and whispers into his ear.
"Go on," he tells her.
"You are King Arthur," she says.
"I am," he says. "And you are people of the future. I have a… friend. He will help you if I ask. He's a sorcerer. He can bring you home."
"Please," Steve says. "We'd like to return home."
"All I need is my sword," King Arthur says.
"I think we were meant to deliver this," Peter says. He takes the sword and hands it to the king.
"Thank you, I am indebted to you," King Arthur says.
He keeps his word and takes them to his friend, Merlin. It's quite obvious that they are much more than friends but Steve won't say a word. People keep their secrets for a reason and he knows what it's like to need to hide. He won't take that from them, their safety. He smiles at them, though, moments before he and his team step into the portal Merlin created. From the corner of his eye he sees them holding hands.
Then they arrive home and it's like nothing ever happened. No one even knows they were gone. But Steve and his team know something special happened. They went on an incredible journey and it has made them closer. No one will ever take this from them.
"I hope Arthur and Merlin are okay," Kamala says, a few weeks after their journey.
"Me too," Steve says. "Me too."