It's been a long time since he'd been out causing trouble- over two months- but now his compulsion to get out there and create challenges was becoming difficult to ignore. If he was being honest, he didn't really want to do it. He'd grown to like Tony, and perhaps even some of the team, too much to place him in danger. However, it almost felt like he didn't have a choice with the way his mind was churning every second, begging for occupation.
He was tired of living this life. A life where his own thoughts were like Rapids and he was constantly being pulled under. He needed a way to capture his mind and channel the energy into something useful that actually helped rather than destroyed. His art was only just managing to hold out as a distraction for him but he knew that pretty soon even that wouldn't help.
It had to be hard this time. Why? He wasn't exactly sure but the idea of going out with a bang came to mind. He wanted to stop and perhaps after this time he would make more of an active hand in trying to stop himself. Maybe he could get a full-time job working with computers? Maybe Stark would employ him? He doubted it.
He was targeting SHIELD this time. Why? He didn't know but what he did know was it was bigger with more experts and more man-power so posed so much more of a challenge. The instant he'd decided he was going to act his mind began reeling to find a plan. He was obviously going to do it from a distance and using signals because, quite frankly, he couldn't afford giant robots with laser eyes or whatever. He didn't have magic or anything from outer space so had to make do with what was cheap, available and he had some understanding with.
He purposely avoided Stark as the man was sure to figure out he was up to something.
Sam violently disapproved. The ex-soldier refused to talk to Steve for almost 3 days in protest before the super soldier managed to convince his friend to drive him out to SHIELD so he could scope out their wireless security. The smaller man did it but did so very begrudgingly. He didn't want Steve to do it but he wanted Steve to get into trouble while doing it even less.
It was nothing major on Steve's side but the whole plan was just to make the SHIELD lot lose it in absolute panic. Steve would maintain all the systems in place, he didn't want to invite an accidental invasion or anything, but just block SHIELDs access to it! So to them it would appear as though their entire system had crashed into the ground. Everything would actually be fine though, Steve couldn't stress that point enough.
It all started on a Sunday morning and little did Steve know that this day was about to go the complete opposite of how he had planned.
At first it was hard to figure out if his plan had even worked as SHIELD breaking down was exactly something they openly publicised to the news and such. It took careful inspection of the systems to notice that there were many people desperately attempting to access the data. Once or twice a request came through from outside the base requesting back up or advice during a mission. Not being a cold hearted bastard, Steve allowed those requests through to only a couple of high ups for them to be dealt with. He wasn't willing to have blood on his hands.
Unlike most of his challenges, Steve stayed around to watch. He was a few hundred meters away where he was sat on a roof so he had a clear view of the base. There was a few more people rushing about but aside from that, they hid their panic well. He hoped his mostly black ensemble didn't draw too much attention but at the same time be couldn't go around without a mask or SHIELD itself would probably spot him.
After 20 minutes Roger's cell began buzzing on his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced down at the number before leaving it on the roof edge beside him.
Tony Stark
The billionaire wasn't stupid. He either already knew Steve was behind it or knew that they needed to call Steve in to help they break back in to their system. The super soldier wasn't about to answer the phone, feel guilty and then reverse the whole process which had taken long and hard weeks of hacking.
He swung his feet where they were hanging from the ledge.
He didn't notice anyone on the roof behind him until they had their strong arms around his neck. They twisted, a move intended to pull Steve off the ledge and onto the ground of the roof. The super soldier went down as he was caught by surprise. He was prepared for the next move however so was able to roll out of the way of the person's knives.
He leapt up and faced his attacker with a gap of 3 meters separating them. The man's jaw dropped slightly as he noticed who it was.
"Natasha." He whispered, barely a breath.
"What?" She demanded, her hearing sharp.
"Black Widow." He supplied instead. He wasn't about to reveal that he knew insider knowledge on the whole Avengers crew. He'd read her file several times as he found her fascinating. Her upbringing and lifestyle was beyond anything he could believe.
She smirked, "I'm sure it's an honor." Her accent not quite natural.
The assassin leapt for him but his fast reactions allowed him to jump out the way just in time. Natasha swung a knife at him but he ducked away. His moves were purely defensive and she recognized that.
"Too scared to hit a girl?" Her lips curved into a grin, lipstick glinting in the sun.
"Nope, too scared to engage a master assassin in hand to hand combat." Steve replied honestly, moving back from her again.
She threw a throwing star and it whizzed through the air too fast for even Steve to react. The blade ripped through the skin on his abdomen, only a few inches from where his stitches had previously been. The black star stuck halfway in his flesh and half out. He tugged it out, wincing at the pain, and threw it away. In his distraction she leapt forward and grabbed him around the throat. The Black Widow pushed him back toward the edge until he was leaning back over the significant drop which would definitely cause his death.
His blue eyes noticed the archer, Clint, on the roof a couple of buildings over with his bow drawn tight and aimed at Steve's head. He recalled the conversation they'd had in the elevator a few months ago that made the super soldier like that man a little more.
"What were you doing?" Natasha's voice was fast and demanding. It made Steve want to wince.
"Nothing." He answered automatically.
She jolted him backwards which made his arms swing out to grab the edge and support himself. His heart beat began to race. Dangling on the edge of life or death was certainly a thrill although Sam would definitely be pissed if he got killed.
There was the sound of thrusters and heavy metal landing against the roof. That sound was like music to Steve's ears. Perhaps Stark was here to be his saviour. The suit walked over to where Natasha had Steve by the throat and was leaning him off the rooftop. A strong gust of wind and the man would be a goner.
Tony retracted his face plate and took s good look at the position Steve was in. He tutted and sighed like a parent who'd just been called into school again due to their child. He rubbed at the bridge of his nose and acted as though Steve really was causing him a headache.
"Please, no." Tony mock begged with absolutely no conviction in his voice, "Please spare him. God, my heart, my weak heart. Let him go."
Natasha raised an eyebrow. Her eyes slid back down to the large, masked man under her capable hands. He certainly wasn't fighting back.
The suited man muttered to Rogers, "I thought you'd kicked this habit." Before turning to Black Widow and throwing a mechanical hand to his forehead, "Must he die? Spare him."
Clint buzzed over the comms, "What the fuck is happening over there? I can just see Stark acting like an absolute sissy... As per usual."
Tony snapped back, "I'm trying to get Natasha to spare him."
Steve butted in from where he is back was beginning to ache from being bent over the edge, "Look, kill me if you want but can we do it soon? I'd rather not have to listen to your bickering."
Natasha glanced at Tony first before releasing her grip and stepping back. Rogers slowly straighten up to ensure he didn't pose a threat, eyes always glued to the assassin.
Stark stepped forward and pulled the half balaclava off the man's head. His blond hair stuck up in puffs but it was definitely the Captain America they'd come to recognize. Natasha's face folded into a deep frown. She might not have fully trusted him but never believed this guy was capable of anything like hacking SHIELD.
"Steve, I thought we'd gotten you away from this." The billionaire gestured around desperately.
The soldier peered down at his feet. At least he was ashamed of what he's done.
"Are you- Are you bleeding?!" Tony cried. The crimson blood had soaked out of the wound and into the dark fabric making it shine in the light. Steve internally cursed the throwing star for ruining a perfectly good sweater.
There was a beat of silence, "Yes."
"Why are you bleeding?"
"I stabbed myself." He answered without completely thinking through his words. Natasha's eyes shot to his face and studied him.
"You stabbed yourself." Tony said as though he really didn't believe it, "Why?"
"Because I was bored?" Steve cringed on the inside. This was possibly the worst lie he had ever told and he'd told some bad ones before.
"You were bored while you were hacking into a top secret base that most people don't even know the address of if they wanted to send a letter?" He scoffed, that would be a push even for a genius, "You're a terrible liar. I can read it all over your face."
Rogers shook his head defiantly, "Nope, my face always looks like this."
Natasha's lips curled into the subtlest smiles and it was clear she was grateful from the look in her big eyes. It wasn't that she couldn't take Stark. It was just that he'd be a pain in the ass if he found out that it was her that had caused this wound upon Steven's body.
The peered at the soldier. Perhaps he was growing on her.