"Again!"

Tadashi panted as he made his way through the obstacle course again. Jumping over objects in the way or dodging objects being thrown at him… or better yet, just burning some of them before they made contact.

"Look at him." Natasha smiled. "Muuuch better than he was about a month or so ago."

"Indeed."

Tadashi landed on the ending point, keeping his head held high as he looked to his two trainers, triumph in his eyes.

"Heh… Kind of reminds me of you, Steve."

"Yeah…" Steve looked at Tadashi, empathy in his eyes. "Me too, actually."

Natasha clapped.

"Nice work, Tadashi. That'll be it for today."

Tadashi nodded.

"In the mean time, I'm gonna finish that report for S.H.I.E.L.D. and see if they're okay with you finally leaving this place."

Tadashi sighed, finding a place to sit, grabbing a water bottle.

Am I ever gonna get out of here? I can't believe I have to wait till I'm approved. I'm not even going to BE an Avenger. Why do they care?

He lowered his head a bit.

It's been nearly 3 months since I disappeared… I just want to go home…

"Hanging in there, Soldier?"

Tadashi looked up, seeing Steve was now in front of him, concern in his eyes.

"Why do I even have to wait for approval? What does S.H.I.E.L.D. want with me anyway…?" He gave a bit of an annoyed look. "I thought I was supposed to run in the other direction."

"You are." Steve sat next to him. "But they like to keep up with who is running around. You're not going to be an Avenger, but you're going to be a hero of your own… and if need be, they want to assist you if anything should come up."

Tadashi ran a hand through his hair. "I don't NEED help-" He stopped himself. "... Steve I just want to go home. I want to see my little brother again… I wanna have a LIFE!"

Steve frowned, placing a hand on Tadashi's back.

"I understand that… I understand that completely."

He looked to him and frowned. "I'm one to talk, right? I probably have the least sucky life out of all of you but here I am whining."

"No, feel frozen in time. Everything else is moving but you're not. You feel like you fell off the wheel that everyone else is riding, right?"

"That's it exactly… I'm dead to the world… Buried."

"Gone." Steve sighed again. "You're lucky it wasn't for as long as it was for me. You still have a chance to see everyone you love again. Though… even months can still be as changing as years."

Tadashi sighed, giving a nod. "I feel older than I am. I don't feel like a nineteen year old anymore. I've been through and seen so much… But so has Hiro. I feel like I'm the one who lost out when I can't even imagine how he must feel right now. The same for all of my friends… My aunt…"

"You've grown up a lot since then, Tadashi." Steve looked him over carefully. "Both mentally and physically."

"Yeah… The me I used to be isn't the one I am now. I still wanna help people. More than anything else but… I don't know if I'm ever gonna be a doctor like I used to." He made a flame appear in his hand. "This… kind of made me rethink that."

"Wanted to be in the medical field huh?"

He nodded.

"Yeah… Even made a robot I was gonna one day use in hospitals all over. I wanted it more than anything else. I wanted to because I wanted to help kids like my little brother. But now… I don't know…"

"I get ya." Steve gave a gentle look. "But with what you're training to be. I imagine you're going to be helping a lot people. Well… in time. Here was only the beginning. I heard from Tony that you're getting transferred somewhere else after you're finally approved."

"Yep, Yoshima Peak to train with the air attack team from there." Tadashi smiled a bit. "I'm actually really excited to get there. That's where I'll really get to learn all about firefighting and such. Guess the guy running the place owed Mom AND Tony a favor. Heh seems they know all the places right?'

"Just how the system works." Steve smiled. "You're going to be an amazing firefighter Tadashi and trust me, I know you'll find your way."

"Thanks, Steve." He gave him a grateful look. "Appreciate it."

"Anytime, Soldier." Steve chuckled. "When you get there, if a man by the name of Dusty is there, tell him Steve said hello."

"I will, Cap." Tadashi chuckled. "I'll do my best."

Two men frozen in time… Still finding their way...

"As you always have."