Over the past several weeks group training had been quite an ordeal, falling back into the routing of Avengers training seemed odd without Natasha and Steve there to lead it, they had always been far better at that kind of thing than Tony had.

He had done his best, but Tony Stark wasn't the most strategic person on the team and it showed. He missed the days when he was able to be spontaneous and not have to worry about the entire team failing for it, but it seemed that those days were in the past.

He had tried in the beginning and it had ended disastrously, with damage to some of the compounds landscaping; due almost entirely to Scott Lang's 'party trick' and Sam's determination to beat the Ant-Man in combat and redeem himself from whatever had happened before.

Tony still didn't know what that was, and to be perfectly honest, he had no desire to know.

Wanda seemed more hesitant to begin training again, after everything that had happened, and Tony was glad to see Vision attempting to pull her out of her shell once more. He wasn't sure that he was getting anywhere, but at least he was able to try, which was more than Tony could say for himself.

He was still a bit skeptical of talking with the girl, though she seemed to old no hard feelings towards him. After seeing her chained like an animal on the Raft, it was hard not to allow his thoughts to drift back to that every time he saw her. It had been everything that he had been fighting against, and to see that he had failed bothered him more than he cared to admit.

That aside, even Rhodey seemed eager to try and get back into the fight, and Tony was glad for it. He had been making progress with his mobilization, and he seemed to be adjusting to the modified War Machine suit with ease. The man was eager to metaphorically get back on the horse that had thrown him, and he was flourishing.

Over all, it was nice to see the team training again, and everyone was involved in one way or another. Even as retired as Clint insisted he was, the archer still couldn't pass up joining in the fun, and fortunately it was apparent that his wife didn't fault him for it.

"Retirement didn't suit him," she'd admitted to Tony as the pair of them stood on the sidelines, watching some of the members spar.

Tony watched as Clint fired his arrows, effortlessly hitting every target that the simulation Tony had designed for them could spring on him.

"No?" He questioned, glancing over at Laura with interest.

"No, he had more energy than he knew what to do with, and he seemed more on edge than he did before," Laura smiled fondly as she watched her husband, "and he's always been bouncing from one project to another, but he threw himself into them even more. Of course he spent time with the kids and I, but he just wasn't himself. He has been since he's been back here, or at least, he's getting there."

Tony nodded in understanding, it was difficult to give up the life they lived, and he knew that. He had tried his best to do it for Pepper, but had failed in the end. Tony Stark couldn't stop because he didn't want to, he was Iron Man, the facade had become more than a suit to hide behind, it truly was a part of him.

He doubted that Clint truly wanted to stop either, it was obvious that the man was Hawkeye just as much as he was Iron Man, but he had wanted to make his family happy and had done what he could to put them first, it was admirable.

"I'm glad he's back," Laura admitted, and Tony looked over at her, tilting his head to the side slightly.

"I'm glad he's back home, but I mean I'm glad he's back here," Laura clarified, noticing Tony's curious glance, "I'll admit I wasn't at first, especially under the circumstances, but watching him now? He's doing what he loves again, and even though I'll always worry, if it makes him happy, then I'm happy too."

"Mrs. Barton, you're an angel," Tony said, shaking his head, "Clint's lucky to have you."

"I'm lucky to have him," she responded, smiling fondly.

He hoped the man truly realized how lucky he was to have such an understanding woman in his life, it was almost beyond Tony how the woman could deal with so much and still be more than willing to allow her husband to live this life.

It had been more than Pepper could take, and in the end he couldn't fault her for it in the slightest. He understood, more than she knew, exactly why he had driven her away. It hadn't just been the life, of course, it had also been him, and she deserved better than him.

The thought caused a stabbing pain in his chest, and he knew it was time to bow out and head down to his workshop once again. He made his way into the building and down the stairs, tiredly. He moved into his workshop and grabbed a glass off the counter, determined to pour himself a drink before he threw himself into his work.

"Tony."

Jerking his head up with alarm, Tony took a moment to recognize the voice before his eyes fell on Black Widow as the woman walked out of the shadows.

"What in the world are you doing here?" He shot, his eyes wide as he turned around to fully face the woman. "How did you even get in?" He questioned, before realizing who he was talking to and shaking his head dismissively.

Quirking an eyebrow upward, Natasha Romanoff rolled her eyes and walked to his work bench, leaning against it and staring him in the face.

"I found out some information you need to know."

"Really? Thrill me!" Tony said sarcastically, waving his hand exaggeratedly before rolling his eyes. He poured his drink anyway, moving over to the opposite side of the work bench, determined not to turn his back on the spy. Either from lack of trust, or stubbornness, he couldn't be bothered to figure out which.

"There have been reports of a super soldier, or possibly more than one, terrorizing New York," Natasha said, looking at Tony knowingly, before stepping over to Tony's TV and flipping it on, searching for a news station.

"A super soldier?" That got Tony's attention, he frowned and crossed his arms, a thought flashed across his mind and he froze in his place for a moment. "Is it Barnes?"

"No," Natasha confirmed, and Tony let out a small breath, "no one has heard anything out of Barnes since your last altercation with him."

"Really? That's a relief, I'd hope not," Tony responded, looking thoughtful. It was always possible that he wasn't dead, Tony had been too occupied to really go back and check. However, as far as he knew, Natasha wasn't actually completely aware of his last 'altercation' with the Winter Soldier.

"Focus, Stark," Natasha snapped, looking annoyed.

"Oh, sorry Miss Romanoff, do continue," Tony grumbled.

Slowly he leaned against his work bench, looking towards the TV as the news anchor spoke of the devastation wreaked by the unknown soldier, or potential 'solders'. It seemed that there was a death count, though no one knew the motivation behind it. Were they just going off the deep end, or was there a purpose to it all? Who had sent them? There were definitely more questions than answers.

"Don't you find it a little funny that you haven't been called out to it yet, Tony?" She started slowly, pursing her lips together. "You haven't even heard about it yet, don't you find that weird?"

"Are you saying I should?"

"I just imagined you would, all things considered, it's clear the authorities are having a difficult time stopping them," Natasha crossed her arms, looking at the genius expectantly, "besides, you're the one who is automatically suspicious about everything."

"You know something more, don't you?"

"No, but I have a theory," Natasha confessed, glancing at Tony.

"And what is your theory?"

"The reason why they haven't called you, is because they already know why they're loose to begin with," Natasha supplied.

"What, you mean they had something to do with it?" Tony blinked, a soft hum in his throat, eyeing the screen carefully, "that would make sense, wouldn't it? Someone has to be making them, or attempting to make them. It's clear they're not doing a good job, unless they intended to create homicidal maniacs."

"Tony, there's something else," Natasha said slowly, a bit more hesitantly, which caused Tony to look up instantly.

Natasha wasn't one for being hesitant about anything, she bluntly spoke her mind with no concern over who cared. Something about the woman sounding unsure made Tony's blood go a bit cold, and caused an anxious feeling to settle in his chest.

"Just spit it out," Tony demanded.

"You know, for a genius, you can be pretty dense," Natasha growled lightly, "who has had worked in the field of super soldiers before, someone that we both know?"

Tony stilled for a moment, allowing the thought to sink in. It took only a second for the connection to click, and Tony blinked in surprise at the thought as all the pieces began falling into place before him with surprising clarity.

You're making it sound like Tony isn't the bad guy, but someone is. What are you not saying, Captain?

What I am saying is that all of you need to get out of here.

Tony had pretended that he wasn't listening to the conversation, but it was impossible for him to ignore it completely, though now it seemed that maybe he had ignored it to some degree despite the fact he thought he was paying attention. Avoiding eye contact had been a ploy, anything to keep them from realizing that he actually cared about what they had to say, but he had discredited the conversation, treating Cap's uncharacteristic attitude change as nothing more than him realizing his mistakes too late.

Tony, wait...

He had heard the silent plea in the air, the desperation in Cap's voice, but again it was something he had overlooked, despite how unusual it had been. The fury in his chest had blinded him to the real emotion in the plea, and now he felt like a fool for not seeing it.

What are you doing to Captain America to make him act like he's had the wind knocked out of him?

I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about.

"Ross," Tony said, breathlessly, "Ross is trying to make super soldiers again."

Natasha looked at Tony, unblinkingly, before slowly nodding. "And you've given him the original Super Soldier," she supplied.

"How did you know about..." Tony trailed again, shaking his head. It was impossible to hide anything from the woman before him, he should have expected she would find out about the entire ordeal. "You know, he kind of landed himself in that position, it wasn't my doing."

The exasperated sigh that Natasha let out grated on Tony as he glared down at his work bench, the entire situation hadn't been his fault, he hadn't sat out to arrest Captain America, it had just happened that way.

"Are you ever going to stop being so self absorbed?"

The shot actually stung, a little, despite the calluses Tony had built around himself. Everything that he had done was for the others, the good of other people, and people still had the nerve to call him self absorbed. For what, because he was mad at Steve like a normal person would be? Why did everyone get to feel except for him, how was that fair?

"I get why you're mad, Tony, but this is bigger than that," Natasha pushed, "they're making super soldiers. Why? And are they using Steve to do it? If they are, who knows what else they might be doing to him."

"I get it, alright? I know," Tony heaved out a sigh, "but what are we supposed to do, Natasha? If we aren't careful, we'll end up in a cell too now, you know that."

"So instead we're going to do nothing, we're just going to leave him there?" The disbelief in her voice made Tony flinch, and he looked away, trying to sort out the emotions rolling around in his chest.

"No," Tony said finally, after a few moments of silence, "but we're going to need to think this through, and plan it out carefully. If what you're saying is true, and there are other people in government involved, I doubt I'll be able to get him out of there the same way I did the others."

"What are you going to do then?"

Letting out a sigh, Tony shook his head and opened his mouth to respond before being interrupted.

"Probably something that's going to wind up with the Avengers in jail, but hey, with the Accords what else is new?" A voice behind him piped up, and Tony jerked around to see Clint standing in the doorway, looking amused.

"How do you idiots even get down here? Did I give you clearance?" He snipped at the archer standing behind him.

"I'm guessing you did, since F.R.I.D.A.Y let me in. Natasha's the one who told me what was going on, though, said she had something to tell all of us and she was starting with you," Clint responded.

"Well, apparently, we're going to spring Captain America."

"What happened to throwing out the person who talked about rescuing Cap, huh? Why didn't you throw her out? Geez, hypocritical, Stark," Clint jested.

"New circumstances coming to light, I'm not that much of a jerk," Tony huffed.

"Is this the era of a newer, kinder Tony Stark?"

"I'll still kick your butt out if you don't shut up," rolling his eyes, Tony bit his lip and rubbed his eyes. "Tell the Avengers to assemble, we've got to come up with a plan."

"Now you're talking!"

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.

Repeating the words in his mind helped Steve to focus on breathing long enough to actually accomplish it, despite the pain that shot through his chest, making it difficult to breathe.

Another experiment, or another torture session, depending on who you asked, and Steve found himself all the more worse for the wear afterwards. He could no longer remember how long he had been here, had it been days, weeks, months, or maybe years?

Too long, that was all Steve knew. Worlds away from the fight that had ended the Avengers, what felt like decades past failing to tell Tony that his parents death hadn't been an accident. All of his mistakes, all of his regrets, despite being so far away they didn't cease to play over and over in his head.

If anything, it was easier now, to see some things with clarity. Because all he was currently able to do was think, get lost in his mind when he was lucid enough to do so, and ignore what was going on outside of it.

It wasn't any better, really, and didn't offer much comfort. All that ran through his mind was how it should have never come to this, there had to of been another way than the downfall of the Avengers, than the civil war between himself and Tony. Because that had truly been what the fight at the airport was, the fight hadn't been between anyone but the two of them, not really.

He had heard his teammates offering banter to the other side, there was no animosity there, and Tony's side was simply following his orders, except perhaps T'Challa, who had a vendetta all his own. Everyone seemed to be doing what they thought was right, his team, going outside the law to save the world once again or at least they had thought so, and Tony's, fighting on Ross's side to uphold the law.

Tony was just doing what he thought was the right thing to do, and how could Steve really fault him for that? That was all Steve had been doing, too.

The more Steve thought about it, if he were honest with himself, he realized it had been a long time coming, the fight between he and Tony.

He wanted to be Tony's friend, he truly had and he genuinely thought he was, but their personalities or perhaps more then that had clashed, and he was beginning to realize that maybe they never had truly been friends at all, even before the disaster that had happened with the Accords.

Maybe it had all been in his head because he wanted his team to function like one, he never took the time to address his relationship with Tony, never truly took the time to get to know him outside of their work and stupid banter while on the clock. In the end, it seemed that this time the villain had truly won, and he was beginning to think that he had been partly to blame.

No one was perfect, and he knew he was no exception to the rule. He could only hope that the Avengers would mend, without him, maybe then everything wouldn't be a total loss.

A sharp pang tore through his head and he bit down on his lip, wondering what it even mattered now. It seemed that this was the end of the line for him, if they didn't kill him soon in the process of trying to break the code to the serum, he had to admit it would be a miracle.

He was tired, starved, in agony, and losing hope fast. He tried to continue to fight, to struggle from one day to the next, but slowly the realization that no one was coming for him and he had no ability to punch his way out of this one was beginning to sink in.

It was a strange feeling, defeat, and something that he hadn't allowed himself to feel or give in to in a very long time. However, maybe this time, it was the right thing to do, if he ceased fighting at least they wouldn't be able to continue to use him to experiment with the serum.

For once, Steve wasn't sure what else to do, and he only wished that things had turned out differently than they had, for everyone involved.

Maybe then the death of Captain America wouldn't seem so utterly pointless as it did to him in the recesses of his own mind.