"Can I buy you a drink, soldier?"

"Actually, the drinks are free," I responded as I turned to see who had spoken. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised at who stood next to me. Jade. She wore a deep green dress that marked her as a patron of this event as opposed to sneaking in dressed like the waitstaff that swirled silently and unobtrusively about us. The dress modest compared to some I could see nearby, but no less expensive or couture. However, she'd changed her appearance yet again. Her hair what I'd first thought to be strawberry blonde had in fact been dyed a pale pink counterpointed by green eyes as subtle as the pink of her hair neither of which could conceivably be found in nature.

She had a pair of drinks in her hands, one held out to me.

I had an instant of suspicion then mentally decided what the hell and took it from her. I downed a portion of the amber liquid, my nose giving me a heads up that the contents were bourbon an instant before it hit my tongue. "Working?" I asked, though I really didn't want to know.

Her gaze flicked from my glass to me and back again.

All the blood drained from my face. I snapped my left hand out to coil about her upper arm and pulled her closer to me. "What did you do?" I hissed.

She smirked at me. "Right, like I was going to let this opportunity pass."

A wash of heat rushed through me, causing me to flush over to pink. I had no clue what she'd dosed me with or if it could actually hurt me given my modified metabolism. It wasn't as if Tony had fed me poisons in an effort to determine my response to them.

Not that I had been aware of at least.

Knowing Tony he certainly could have and just not told me.

She watched me for a few more seconds, ones that lasted hours for me as I waited to see whether I would live or die tonight, when she cracked, her eyes lighting up and broad grin taking over her previous serious demeanor.

"Jeez, Rogers, kidding. Always so serious with you."

I let the breath I'd unknowingly been holding escape in a rush as relief flowed through me. I wasn't going to die today. "Shit," I muttered softly as she sipped at her drink, completely unfazed. "You did just imply you'd poisoned me."

She shrugged out of my now nerveless grip. "Just keeping you on your toes, Rogers."

More like giving me a heart attack. After a moment of hesitation, I downed the rest of the drink in my hand, needing it even though I knew it would do little to me. Sometimes being enhanced sucked. She handed me the remainder of hers and I finished it off in one swallow. "You know I can't get drunk, right?"

She shrugged. "Neither can I. Okay, I can, but it takes a lot of effort. And alcohol." A not so subtle reminder that she was something more than a vanilla human. She hooked her arm about mine and rotated to stand beside me, drink laden had waving to encompass the spectacle before swirling before us. "So, what are you shilling today?"

I set the glasses down on the bar as she encouraged me to rejoin the crowds swirling about us. "Uh, it's to raise money for a children's charity."

"And?"

I watched her nodding and smiling to various couples as we strode past them as if she were one of them. Which, of course, she could be. So, I ignored her question, especially since she probably knew the answer and instead asked one of my own. "So, how big a collection of wigs do you have?" Seemingly nonsensical, but could potentially give me some insight into her.

She glanced sideways at me. "I don't."

"We've met three times and you've had a different color every time. Your hairdresser must love you."

She snickered. "You brought your fly rod along did you?"

"If I did?"

She just grinned shaking her head gently. "Nanofibers woven into my hair. Let's me choose pretty much any color I want... or need."

I managed to contain my surprise, if barely. She had access to nanotech on a level similar to SHIELD. That told me more than she might suspect. The people she worked for, this Assassin's Guild, had access to some serious tech and they didn't hesitate to use it. I could only wonder and worry what else they had in their arsenal of tricks. "And you do this often? Tonight maybe?"

She snagged a pair of champagne flutes as a server went by with a tray of them, encouraging me to take one as she sipped on the other while we continued strolling through the crowd. "Tonight definitely."

I stopped dead, shifting about to block her path and leaning in threateningly close to whisper harshly, "Where? Where is the body?" I made certain to keep a calm demeanor and those nearby who cast glances in our direction simply smiled and turned away. Most likely assuming an intimate moment of another type happening between us.

She plastered a similar smile on her face, though her eyes hardened. "Captain Rogers, there is more than one type of assassination. I am quite skilled in all of them."

I had to admit to not be overly fond of that answer. I leaned in closer to speak directly into her ear. "Explain. Now."

She rested her cheek along mine, flashes from cell phones and cameras making certain to capture the moment for all of posterity. "I left my target alive and well, though come the morning they may very well wish otherwise." She brushed her lips across my skin then stepped back, her eyes locked on mine. "Satisfied?"

"Never," I told her though suddenly unsure as to what exactly I meant by that response. I permitted her to shift to my side, once again hooking her arm about mine as she began to walk. I could either follow or permit her to slide away and out of my sight. Given I didn't trust her one whit, I decided to continue the farce of us being together for the duration. Unwilling to just let her wander free and perhaps take advantage of another lucrative target she happened upon. Besides me. "How about a little give tonight, seeing as you know everything about me and I know nothing about you."

She snorted into her glass of expensive bubbly. "Know you? Not at all. Oh, I've read your files, watched every bit of video I can get my hands on. Studied your life, your patterns of behavior. I've read anecdotes, and opinions, and testimonials, but know you?" She shook her head, a wry grin upon her lips. "I've only just begun to learn who you really are. Shame that it seems you are indeed that good man most believe you to be?"

"And why is that?" I asked, trying to cover my discomfiture at her oddly accurate observation of the situation. Granted I knew even less about her since even though she'd dropped a major hint at our last meeting none of us had been able to track down any real information on her. On Jade.

"Because I'm not usually in the habit of killing people who don't truly deserve it."

Well, I guess it might be worth it to know she'd feel some sort of guilt if she actually did the deed. "So I'm still on your list then?"

Her response went unsaid as gunfire erupted from the mezzanine above. Both our heads snapped towards the sound as figures clad in black from head to toe appeared toting automatic weapons.

She frowned even as I went on full alert.

"Don't," she hissed.

I shot her a look that clearly informed her that she should not ever give me orders, but she brushed it off and leaned in close.

"If they realize you are here, everyone becomes a hostage. Wait to make your move."

I grunted in acknowledgment. She had a point. A good point, but I would chafe under the restriction of not fighting back. Right now I was nothing more than another rich guest in a tux.

"Fine," I grouched. Instead, I would observe and plan. Make my move at the opportune moment.

Yes, I had watched Pirates of the Caribbean. Yet another series Sam dragged me into kicking and screaming. The first one most certainly the best of them.

The masked gunmen herded us all into the center of the ballroom, out of direct line of sight of the massive glass windows that could have clued anyone on the outside that something hinky had been going on inside. They obviously had some skill at tactics as most of the moves those I would have made had I been planning a similar heist. Those with automatic weapons stayed to the perimeter while those with handguns tucked neatly away worked their way through the crowd collecting jewelry, purses, and money clips.

Jade nudged me, using a slight shift of her chin to point at one with his back to us, the weapon unsecured at his hip. Her suggestion, not a bad one. I could easily subdue him and secure the weapon for use against the others. I scanned the crowd, assessing my chances of taking him down without drawing undue attention by the others who seemed to be busy terrorizing the patrons over watching for a possible rebellion. She glanced at me and gave me a nod then proceeded to do the last thing I expected.

In Czech she began bellowing at the top of her lungs. My grasp of the language not perfect but I got the gist. Something along the lines of "how dare they" in a put upon tone that would have made my mother proud. She headed straight towards the nearest one on the edge of the crowd, who seemed to be shocked into silence by both her boldness and the fact that he hadn't a clue what she'd said.

My target glanced over in her direction but otherwise didn't react which allowed me to sidle up next to him, slip the handgun out of the holster with one hand while wrapping my other arm about his neck.

He dropped the swag and went for the missing weapon. I adjusted my grip and within seconds lowered him to the floor unconscious. The guests about me, many of whom most certainly recognized me, shifted in to hide me and the now sleeping bad guy. Rich did not mean stupid or faint of heart.

Jade, meanwhile, had gotten into the face of her target who seemed completely incapable of dealing with a rogue guest. At least not until some unseen communication happened and the gun he'd been holding uselessly in his hands shifted to point at her chest.

"Get back," he snarled at her.

She failed utterly at being intimidated and actually walked forward until the gun pressed against her upper chest as she continued to scold him.

I had to resist the urge to snicker. While I had to admit to enjoying the show I knew better than to waste the opportunity she'd handed to me on a proverbial silver platter. With all eyes on her, I made my way through the huddled crowd and eliminated three more before one of them on the mezzanine caught me at it. A single gunshot rang out which was effective in getting my attention.

The three above had all trained their guns at me. I could have taken them out with three easy shots, but risked the civilians next to me being hit in the ensuing crossfire. So with me essentially immobilized, Jade acted. With an efficient move that I caught out of the corner of my eye, she disarmed the man before her and knocked him to the ground his weapon trained at his head.

Chaos ensued.

Screaming, and shouts, and people running in every direction to get away.

I couldn't have planned it better.

I slipped my way through the crowd headed for stairs intending to take out those who currently held the high ground, but she got there first. Three extraordinarily precise shots in a matter of scant seconds through the crowd that shoved and pushed around her and they were out of the game. Dead or injured I couldn't be certain for all of them. One let out an ear-piercing scream that only ended when he either ran out of breath or passed out.

"Rogers," she shouted and I turned to find the gun flying towards me. I caught it easily and spun about as some sixth sense told me someone had come up behind me. I put a bullet dead center of his chest. His body armor absorbing the worst of the hit, but it still put him on his back at this close range. I spotted a huddle of people behind one of the tables and went to them encouraged them to get up. "Let's go." I covered them to the nearest exit. Then turned back to see if the rest of the would-be thieves had scattered and or decided to be brave and go for the bags of belongings that had been collected before we'd broken up the party.

Two had decided to try to salvage the situation, neither of them had much of a chance even though I didn't fire the weapon, simply using it as a blunt instrument this time. A single shot caused me to spin around to see the last man standing aiming his pistol at me, at what had been my back. The bullet had missed only because it had hit Jade instead.

I snarled under my breath and charged. He barely had time to raise the gun again when I hit him, putting him to the floor hard enough that he would not be getting up again for a while.

I rushed back to Jade who had settled to the floor, blood pouring down from her left shoulder. "Shit. What the hell were you thinking?" I peeled off my jacket and folded it up to press against the wound.

She grunted at the pain it surely caused. "No one gets to shoot you, but me," she informed me, tone tart even through the discomfort.

I snorted. I couldn't help myself. "I'm not sure if I should be flattered or concerned." I heard sirens outside, the authorities arriving just in time to clean up the mess.

"Way to show a girl a good time, Rogers." She attempted to stand and with a hand, under her elbow, I got her upright.

"C'mon, let's get you to the EMTs."

She shook her head. "I'll be fine."

"But-"

"No, buts. Not my first rodeo." She handed the jacket back. The now ruined jacket. Even though black the blood had soaked through to the bright red lining. Tony would not be thrilled.

"Jade-"

She gave me a smile, then walked away, towards the side entrance the professionals would not be using immediately. She did something with the bracelet she wore on her right wrist, her hair changing to a dark brown as I watched, the dress shifted to a deep red. An effective way to confuse any descriptions given to the authorities. I wanted to follow her, make certain she would be all right, but my attention got pulled away as armed police charged in to find me holding a bloody jacket in one hand, an automatic weapon on the floor at my feet.

Moans and groans of those still living but in pain informing them better than any words by me that the situation had been resolved with a minimum of bloodshed.

"Captain Rogers, are you all right?" His eyes flicked to the blood staining my hands. Jade's blood.

I nodded. "The only injured in here are the thieves. However, I do not know with any certainty if others got away." I gave him a quick rundown of where they'd fallen and after a few swift orders the wounded were rounded up and treated. The guests of the event had suffered no more than some bruised pride and rattled nerves. Their property to be returned presently.

When the time came I told them about the woman who had assisted me but left her name, fictitious as it might be, unsaid.

And I couldn't really explain why.

. . . . .

"Rogers, you're keeping secrets from us." Tony had shown up for the weekly meeting this time. He didn't always these days. Claiming to be retired, for Pepper's sake, until he got bored or a new idea for a suit or some improvement to FRIDAY or any of a dozen other excuses he made dragged him back to the Compound.

He slapped a pile of tabloids down on the conference table, causing them to slide across it and reveal the variations of the same headline over and over.

Captain America's Secret Lover

"I mean, after all we've been through, I figured I'd be at least the third to know and instead I have to find out through the paparazzi. I'm hurt, Rogers."

Nat picked up one and leaned back in her chair, booted feet coming up to rest on the table as she flipped through the pages. "Let me guess, Jade, given the total lack of an actual picture of her?"

I grabbed one of the rags for myself. I recognized the moment captured for all eternity. I'd pulled her in close to find out who'd she'd murdered, so I understood how the scene could have been misinterpreted. My image crystal clear, her a blacked out form, proving that even still cameras couldn't capture her image. Made sense given these days most were digital and even if you used real film, the instant you uploaded the image to the net she'd vanish from it. It did mean there might be pictures of her out there, hanging on someone's wall, but still useless for a facial rec search.

I'd figured out who she'd gone after that night. A senator, who had been none to clean prior, had suddenly resigned, pictures and records that put him in an extremely compromising position in more ways than one, had come to light and effectively ruining his career aspirations. Oh, he still had money and would never need to work another day in his life, but his hopes for the presidency in the future had been utterly destroyed.

I couldn't argue with the effectiveness. And, yes, character assassination was still an assassination.

Jade remained damned good at her job.

"Dating the enemy, how cliche of you," Tony sneered, but I could see the laughter that lay behind the tone.

I sighed heavily. No matter how I responded he'd use it against me. Denial, even if the truth, to be used to embarrass me. Meant in good fun, but given the utter lack of a love life the comments always seemed to hurt even after all this time.

"How better to exploit her than by getting close," I said softly, tossing the paper aside.

Nat lowered the one in her hands slowly, eyeing me warily. "Steve, I… I'm impressed. Do you think she could be turned?"

"Oh, that would be the icing on the cake, wouldn't it," Tony snarked. "We're supposed to Earth's Mightiest Heros, not a home for wayward bad guys of dubious origins."

"She took a bullet for me, Tony."

Nat snorted. "Probably to protect her payday."

I turned to her. "That's what she said."

She sat up straighter, feet hitting the floor with an audible thud. "But you think different."

"I mean it would've hurt, but it wasn't a kill shot by any means. Tony's guy lines my jackets with kevlar just in case, so…" I shrugged.

"You know that?" Tony asked, actually sounding surprised that I'd figured it out.

I nodded. "He's good, but I can feel the weight difference from the original fittings."

"That doesn't mean she knew, Steve. Given what I've read in the reports and seen on the video, the impact would have incapacitated you for a few seconds at the very least."

"So, you're saying she took that bullet to make certain he could finish the job?" Tony asked sounding confused.

"That's what the evidence is suggesting, yes."

"What is it with bad guys being good people, lately," he huffed out in complaint.

"You'd prefer the clear-cut black and white?" I asked.

"Well, yes, actually."

"So, would I," I told him. "Too bad we live in the real world."

He chuckled in dark amusement. "Just give me a heads up if you decide to recruit her."

"No promises. God knows she might just show up on our doorstep uninvited."

"Well, then we can shoot her," Nat stated. "Hill will be here in five, you joining us, Tony."

He nodded. "That's the plan."

The subject of Jade dropped for the moment, I picked up my tablet to go over the agenda.

. . . . .

Jade seemed to have a fondness for sending me packages out of the blue. This time a thick envelope arrived at the Compound while I'd been on an op chasing down some gun runners who had been selling modified Chitauri tech. No matter how fast SHIELD had moved they'd been unable to prevent some of the alien artifacts from simply disappearing. They had no way of accounting for every single piece or body so souvenirs had been spirited away. Some harmless, some so supremely destructive one had leveled a small town in Europe when a wrong button had been pushed.

Damage Control had taken over the clean up of the Chitauri Invasion as well as Sokovia, so I'd only been minimally involved. Mostly chasing down tech that had escaped and converted to more mortal use.

They were prized on the black market and fetched a small fortune when sold. I just wished we could get ahead of the sales. Tracking down the sellers after the damage had been done maddening, to say the least.

I let the package sit on my desk for two days before even thinking about opening it. I'd needed that much time to decompress after the op. The fact that the sellers would be spending the rest of their natural lives in jail no consolation for the lives lost in one moment of stupidity.

I pulled the inch thick file out of the envelope and stared at the note on top with more than a touch of confusion. The fact that I recognized Jade's handwriting not bothering me as much as it should have I supposed. I'd grown somewhat used to her gifts over the months. Our relationship, though loathe to use that word to describe our interaction up to this point, it was, even I had to admit, accurate. We had a mutual respect and borderline trust if nothing else.

A little birdie told me you were looking for this.

This turned out to be information on Brock Rumlow, former STRIKE team member and Hydra agent. He'd survived a building and helicarrier being dropped on him and somehow, in the chaos that had followed, walked out of the hospital once healed enough, if barely, to do so. We'd been hunting him and the crew he'd built ever since.

Dangerous didn't come close to describing them. Near as we could tell all were former Hydra agents who'd managed to escape the purge and they lived to do nothing more than destroy and do maximum damage with the least effort possible.

And Jade, my assassin and apparent self-appointed Fairy Godmother had given me everything on his next op. If accurate this intel could be our best chance to stop him permanently.

We'd had so little luck finding them, always three steps behind, that I'd seriously pondered siccing her on him. My conscience wouldn't permit it, no matter how deserving he might be of a long distance shot to the head.

No, I would give him the opportunity to face me and do the deed myself. No need to have his blood on anyone's else's hands.

"FRIDAY, who's home? Nat still here?"

"Yes, Captain. Shall I connect you?"

"Ask her to meet me in the conference room. Tell her I have intel on Crossbones."

"Of course, Captain. She's on her way."

I picked up the file and went to meet her.