Chapter 13

The alien was fine. Turns out, it was just Loki screwing with us all the way in Asgard. The next mission was the Super Soldier.

Reading through the file, I was surprised to find unusual training in this soldier's past. I was trying to figure out what would lead him to go into hiding after killing his own brothers in arms.

I had James staying with Nat this time and kissed my little guy goodbye before changing into my suit. I slid into a S.H.I.E.L.D. vehicle and started my mission.

Tracking down the soldier wasn't hard. The camp he chose for himself was any other military-standard camp but with less buildings. To the untrained eye, it seemed like a remote service facility. To the army veteran's eye, it was nothing short of a camp. I hated it and loved it at the same time.

I made my way through the camp, feeling like I was back on my own camp. My heart stung and I raced across the field faster, wanting to get out of here as fast as I could.

I picked the lock on the building I tracked the soldier's signal to and pulled out a pistol in case I needed to shoot. Carefully inching along the wall, I peeked around the corner to see the soldier sitting on the floor against an old filing cabinet. He looked harmless but I knew better. I looked for any sign of weaponry beside him and then forced myself out of my hiding spot.

"Have you come here to kill me?" the man chuckled, not looking up.

I approached slowly. "That depends on your cooperation, sir."

"And if I don't cooperate?" he asked, looking at me with piercing black eyes.

I smiled despite my shock, "Then I'll be forced to do some very unforgiving things, sir. And I'd hate to take down one of my own."

"You served?" he asked, his eyebrows lifting with speculation and shock.

"I did," I nodded. "It was a very long time ago. I'd go back but I'm at a very different point in my life." I looked at him with a small, knowing smirk. "But from what I understand, you'd rather not go back."

The man grimaced. "I'll never take another step in their lines."

"And yet here you are in a camp, hiding from the world."

"The world needn't find me. It'll only find me if you take my body out of here."

I frowned, slightly lowering my gun. "Sir, I can get you help. There are programs, places that can help you with whatever is going on in your mind. Please don't ask me to do this."

He smiled whimsically at me, like he had no care in the world. "I killed our fellow brethren and you're begging me just like they begged for their lives."

"Why did you kill them?" I asked, unnoticeably fixing my aim once again.

"They had their own sins to pay for. Some less guilty than others, but still very guilty. And to pay for my guilt, God above has sent you to take me off this earth. I'm lucky enough that He sent a beautiful angel to show me the way. Make it quick, would you?"

I sucked in a breath, blinking away whatever was going on in my mind. It would be a disservice to this man to take away what he wants most. Screw the justice system, he deserves this mercy. I lowered my gun, letting it hang at my side.

"How would you like it done? Shot, suffocated?" I asked.

He smiled grimly. "I always knew it would be a gunshot to the heart. I have a birthmark right over my heart. Figured it would be fitting."

I nodded. "Close your eyes and count to ten. I will shoot after that. Any last words?"

The smirk grew on his face. "None...except... thank you. For doing what others refused to do."

I nodded as the man counted to ten. I slowly took my aim, sucking in a deep breath, my finger on the trigger. "Thank you for your service," I spoke clearly to him and then pulled the trigger. I lowered my weapon, sliding it into its holster, and approached the dying man.

"Thank...you..." he smiled, gripping my hand. He looked up at the ceiling and closed his eyes. I felt for a pulse a minute later and then picked up his body, carrying him back to the quinjet I had taken and brought him back to SHIELD.

I exited the quinjet when I landed, Fury approaching me as I did.

Fury started, "Is he-"

"Dead?" I finished. "Yes, he's dead. He begged me to show him mercy so I did. It was quick, if you were wondering."

Fury nodded. He didn't look too happy about it but he accepted it. "You should go change before you go home to your boys."

I nodded and walked away from him, heading to the stairs. I stopped before I reached the door, turning around again. "Nick? Make sure he gets a flag and a proper burial, okay? He was still a soldier, despite the things he's done."

Fury nodded and I turned around with that weight off my chest. I stripped of my blood-stained suit and tossed it in the washing machines in the basement of the base. I showered in the locker room and then changed into jeans and a black t-shirt, deciding to air-dry my hair.

I moved my suit to the dryer and then took the elevator up, deciding to find Steve before I headed out to go home. Said Captain was found in the waiting room on third floor, reading a book.

I smiled, leaning against the doorway and watched him. He looked so handsome just simply reading and it tugged on my heartstrings on being able to see that sight. I had missed it after spending two years apart. I approached him and slung around the back of the couch, draping myself over his shoulders and wrapping my arms around him.

"Whatcha doin' Stevie?" I smirked, looking at the book in his hands.

He smiled and showed me the cover. "Reading Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. It's very good so far."

I smiled and kissed his head. "I'm glad you're keeping yourself busy, but why aren't you reading it at home?"

Steve sighed, putting the book on the coffee table in front of him. "Honestly? It's too quiet in my apartment. At least here I know that there are always people running around."

I inhaled deeply and then untangled myself from him, tossing my body over the back of the couch and landing beside him. I took his hand and squeezed it tightly. "I'm sorry, Stevie. I wish there was something I could do."

He smiled and I could tell there was something on his mind but I knew he wasn't going to voice it.

"What," I asked, looking over at him.

"Move in with me?" he asked. "It would make it so much easier."

I smiled sadly. "I'm sorry, love, but I just got my own apartment and I think I'd like to try living alone for a bit."

Steve nodded, his head hanging low.

"Let's get you a dog, though! Then you'll have something to keep you company and to spend your money on!"

Steve chuckled. "I wish, but the complex I live in doesn't allow for pets."

"Why would you ever live there then?" I asked, disappointed.

He shrugged dejectedly. "It was a good place in my price range."

I sighed and rested my head on his shoulder, hugging his arm. "I really wish I could do more, Stevie. How about you FaceTime me later tonight, when you get home, and maybe it'll feel like you're less alone."

He nodded with a disappointed frown on his face. "Sure, Max."

I lifted his chin so he would look at me. "Someday soon, we'll move back in together. For now, I'm going home because I'm exhausted." I kissed his head and then let him go, leaving him in the lobby and driving home, relieving Nat of her duties.

I flopped on my bed after throwing off my jeans and bra, cuddling under the covers. I dozed off for what had to have been a few hours when my phone rang Steve's custom ringtone. I grabbed my phone and slid my finger across, smiling at the screen.