Despite your point blank refusal, Stark had insisted on setting you up somewhere nicer than the roach motel you had been planning on checking yourself into until you found something more permanent. You had finally reached an agreement on a relatively inexpensive apartment in Harlem though that hadn't stopped Stark from furnishing it with cushy armchairs and sleek appliances half of which you weren't sure what they even did. You both agreed it was temporary but for different reasons. You were sure that you were going to be on the move again soon enough. Stark thought you would "come to your senses" and back to the compound.

And god did you want to. You missed Sam, his joking demeanor and his constant flirting. You missed Natasha's quick wit and aloof personality. You missed Stark's endless font of sarcasm and Bruce's calm demeanor (and idly wondered where he could possibly be). And you missed Steve's comforting and supportive presence. You missed the team.

You let out a soft sigh and grab your cup of tea from the counter. You curl up on the sofa, tucking your legs underneath you and pick up a tablet - another of Stark's insistent gifts. You press a button and soft music fills the air in the room, a gentle unimposing melody. You click another icon and type in your password at the prompt, allowing you to access your encrypted files.

An hour later you're completely absorbed in your reading, your cup of tea sits forgotten on the table next to you as your eyes scan the various scanned documents. There was something you were missing; if you could just figure out what document was sending off warning bells in your head. You scroll back several pages and then flip to a map, your head unconsciously tilting in curiosity before you flip back to the document. You could feel something there, about to click, and then your phone rings.

"Shit," You tilt your head back and take a deep breath before you glance over; a smiling picture of Steve pops up on the screen and you let your breath out in a weary sigh. You hesitate for a moment before your fingers swipe to answer, "Steve."

"(Y/n)," He sounds relieved, "It's been awhile."

"Yeah. Well," You pause, but he doesn't say anything. "So what world ending event is going on this time?"

"It's nothing like that," He sounds hurt now, "We've got a line on Rumlow. Thought you might want in." Your free hand curls into a fist and you have to consciously force yourself to relax.

"As much as I'd love to kill that son of a bitch I'll have to pass," You tell him lightly, "But send him my regards."

"Right. Okay." You can hear him breathing on the other end, but he doesn't say anything else. Finally you let out the breath you had been holding in a sigh.

"I'm close Steve. And right now that's my main priority. I thought it was yours too. I thought we were in this together."

"(Y/n)..." Steve starts, but you cut him off.

"No, it's fine. You've got the team. I understand."

"A team which I wanted you to be part of," He reminds you, "You're the one who left."

"Well, I'm not much of a team player," You tell him, "Be careful Steve."

"(Y/n)-" You hang up the call, cutting him off and pick back up your tablet, running your finger down the map. You had been combing through these files for ages, but you finally had a lead-a lukewarm lead, sure, but at least it wasn't DOA. It seemed like your little intuition that maybe the Soldier wasn't working for HYDRA was looking more and more like reality. And that meant it was your best chance to strike.

You push away from your desk and head towards your bedroom, you'd catch a couple hours and then see about cashing in a favor from Tony: a ride to Romania.

To your surprise Stark picks up on the first ring; he was a busy man and you were expecting to leave a message. "I literally had your number dialed," he says promptly, "I guess you heard?"

"I don't think so. What's up?"

"Turn on the news," You walk past the TV, jabbing the on button with your finger as you pass. Images of destruction fill the screen and you mute it with the remote as you settle down into your armchair.

"Wow. Talk about a botched job. Is everyone okay?"

"More or less," Stark pauses, "Listen, I need you to come in. There's some things we need to talk about."

"What kind of things?"

"Listen kid, I got the Secretary of State here breathing down my neck. He needs you here, so I need you here. Capiche?"

"Yeah, not capiche," You sit up, "Whatever happened and whatever's going on, I got no part in it. The Secretary of State shouldn't even know I exist."

"You're one of us."

"I'm really not."

"Okay, fine. People saw you with us and assumptions were made. Is that better?"

"No it's not better," You snap. You take a deep breath, fighting to control your temper, "Stark, what's going on?"

"The powers that be are concerned that the Avengers have a little too much power and a little too much freedom. They want us to sign a contract stating that we won't act without permission so what you see on the news," You glance up, a frown on your lips, "Doesn't happen again."

"I'm not going to do that Tony," You say slowly, on your feet now, "You know that. If I come there right now there's a 50/50 chance I end up in a government prison."

"I wouldn't let that happen."

"I can't take that chance," You grab your duffle bag from under your bed and start methodically packing away your weapons, the phone tucked between your shoulder and ear as you work.

"Okay. I get it. Just do me a favor though; stay where you are. Don't do anything stupid and this will all work itself out."

You toss a bundle of clothes in at random and zip up the bag, "You know me Tony," You say lightly, holstering your .45, "I'm the very soul of caution."

Outside your apartment you eye the sleek black car parked outside longingly but you didn't think you were paranoid in thinking that it would be nothing for Stark to track it, even if you ditched the plates. Hell, for all you knew there was some kind of tracking device in it already. Instead you take a cab to the airport and take a nondescript sedan from the long-term lot.

You weren't taking any chances where the government of any country was involved, and it was with that thought that you drove out of the city, leaving the New York skyline behind you.