I don't own marvel because yes this indeed is a FANfiction
A couple days had gone by after the Potomac. Steve was allowed clearance back into his apartment temporarily until Stark renovates the tower as a living space for the Avengers. Until further notice Steve was given time to gather his things and his thoughts in Washington DC.
A bit troubled after Hydra infiltration of S.H.E.I.L.D it's as if after everybody's hard work had fallen to pieces. After he'd sacrificed and be brought back finding everything he'd ever known corrupted including what he and Peggy fought for.
Despite being awake for a couple years he still had nowhere to go there was still Fury, Natasha, and Clint somewhere. All information has been leaked possibly putting more people at risk so all the high level S.H.I.E.L.D agents have already went into hiding, some had just retired as brave as they were they couldn't stand to be manipulated by H.Y.D.R.A and their piers turning on them, even as an organization built for security it was too much.
Agents still took only direct orders from Fury though only small missions, as of yet they've been ordered to be stationed all around the US and Canada some looking for mutants for recruitment into SHEILD to build more super teams like the Avengers or to get on the X-Men good side.
Since the recent release of top-secret information included the mutants. Public opinion has been negative of mutants and the avengers blaming them for not helping enough as well as their potential for disaster along with the past destruction caused by the mutants, including time manipulation? Steve had so much headache since being thawed he didn't even want to begin trying to figure out this one.The most recent destructions being DC in clean up and London being torn up with dimensional portals, though the Brits didn't seem too bothered by it, acting as if it was a normal occurrence, though reports from agents on the scene said that the portals were dealt with by some other alien (big surprise) so he and Stark wouldn't have to go on a mission together to fix it.
So the headache in filing out a 'few' paperwork wasn't the end of what Capt. Rodgers had to do. He had to file reports, apologies, make speeches, attend seminars, go to regular charities, answer interviews, help in clean up, be the 'leader' of the avengers and act as if everything is fine while Tony destroyed his suits, Thor's away, the hulk is who the heck knows, Nat and Clint are on some missions issued by Fury, Fury is gone, and he's left with little to no time for recovering thoughts.
He continued his daily routine. He refused any new missions and completed the paperwork that needed to be done and finished his regular training. Today if he had time and energy he'd go down the street from his apartment and sweep the ruble up off his neighborhood or help out police on small cases more or less pertaining to hydra than muggers for some reason.
He went outside more often maybe to look for the winter soldier. There was times that he'd look down the alley ways or he'd drift away from the police during a case because he thought he'd seen a bit of reflected light somewhere or seen for a brief second in the corner of his eye a shadow though it was a good start that he was following and not killing him as the very least he could hope there's still his best friend in The Winter soldier, or it's all just wishful thinking.
He headed back to his home/office and filled out some recruitment reports many were children far to young. Those kids were forwarded to Charles. Some of them qualified to be put under S.H.E.I.L.D's extensive training but their personal life would get in the way or emotional trauma. If it was up to him he'd forward them all to Charles, but instead put them in the potential candidate folder, it was their choice whether they wanted to be a part of S.H.E.I.L.D.
He didn't want to go to sleep after he did three days worth of shield work. He promised to meet Sam tomorrow for a therapy session but he wasn't tired, he grabbed his coat and hat, quietly opened the door not to disturb his neighbors and left to get snacks from the nearby corner stores.
On his way home he got a phone call from fury
"You've got more than enough time to recover. I need you to meet up with Natasha in the Gulf of Finland to take out one of the A.I.M facilities If you find any leads to Zola report back to us immediately"
"Ok sir" Steve isn't authorized to refuse any direct orders from Fury
"Meet up with Agent Hills so she can give you the full debriefing" and he hung up
He didn't have much to argue about the mission and he's already finished most of his work he might as well go to Finland since there hasn't been any leads on the Winter Soldier, for months. He packed his things and drove to the new S.H.E.I.L.D a rented out office with help from the government and a little bit begrudgingly from Stark get enough technology of some sort to rebuild from the ground up.
The location of the new headquarters leaves it susceptible to attack and would definitely damage the buildings around for 10 blocks if there were to be some mishap in the science facilities extra precaution had to be made to keep this base safe especially with it's information.
People know about the new S.H.E.I.L.D and there would be a small group of protesters that would be angry about something of S.H.E.I.L.D leaked, conspiracy theorist trying to break in, or Avenger fans hoping to Black Widow, Hawkeye, or Captain America
Occasionally a riot would spring up pertaining to national security, conspiracy, mutant rights, and terrorist perfect fuel for the media and struggling politicians. He listens in on political debates and speeches always keeping up on the problems and solutions to creating a better America, but most of the times he didn't really say much about it. He's just the leading man along side Tony for the Avengers, and Tony is put in the spot light frequently for his charisma and connections.
As the Avengers try to avoid being on the media too often (except Tony and Thor), but now than ever everyone is keeping a close eye on the avengers including Fury putting Tony on a shorter leash after his recent stunt with president's kidnapping and Christmas fireworks. His relationship with his team have been dwindling since their time apart especially with Tony whom seems to be oblivious to the recent mechanical malfunction that could have costed the lives of everyone in DC. It probably wasn't al his fault but he's partly to blame.
He steps to Fury's office occupied by Hill for the time being. She placed all the files on the table, and offered him a seat.
"I must thank you for all you've done to help us 'adjust' to our new headquarters however our work force is spread thin and some of our best men were lost so we're not able to send Black Widow a back up team after she recently discovered the A.I.M facilities which happened to be underwater" she pulled out maps of the location of the base of operations "A.I.M has stolen and modified Stark technology able to disrupt any GPS that would tract them if you come near them they'll disappear"
"The objective?"
"Shut down the operation, retrieve stolen documents, and interrogate A.I.M goonies. Have a ball A.I.M is basically science H.Y.D.R.A " she smiled just a little bit at the thought of taking down H.Y.D.R.A "Your transportation will be provided but you'll be staying in the same hotel room as Romonov and eating on a budget" She gave him a handgun and extra ammo "Your flight is tomorrow at 6:20 am sharp don't be late"
He nodded, thanked her, and left