Over the next couple of weeks of their time at the base together both Johann and Steve managed to break more equipment than expected. Johann more so, but that was mainly due to his intense anger that would show itself as the destruction of government property. The two had become an inseparable pair and were never seen without each other. They stuck together like glue one part to make sure the other didn't get the upper-hand and the other being they still didn't trust their new home. Their nights would usually consist of dinner and then Johann making a long detour to the library to grab new books detailing new scientific discoveries, equations and anything new he could find. Steve, on the other hand, decided to indulge himself in the pop-culture of the day, mainly with how art has changed over the years. One thing the two of them had in common was their liking of music. Johann preferred more orchestral styles with Steve liking swing and upbeat rhythms. However, the two of them would spend time listening to the radio and judging anything that would play.

"They are singing drabble, what is the point of this music other than being a nuisance," was usually what Johann would say with a huff, followed by a roll of his eyes. Steve would try and find the positives in all new forms of art justifying it by saying that it was a 'different time' and that 'they didn't understand it yet'. Outside of training and learning about the new world Johann would disappear for an hour at a time every night and come back late. Some days he'd come back in a happier mood and others he wouldn't even make eye contact with anything remotely close to Steve.

Once their few weeks were up they were greeted with a few men in suits who informed them that they will be integrated back into society. The catch being they can't live anywhere but the United States. This lead to protesting but Steve couldn't wait to get off the military base and into a normal apartment. The presence of soldiers, weapons and anything relating to war set him on edge. He didn't show it but it drove him insane most days and he could feel himself ready to snap and people's disrespect or their lack of care for their job.

"And how am I supposed to live in 'normal' society," Johann questioned as he was instructed to begin packing up whatever he had. "I don't exactly have a very pleasing presence." The agent looked at his partner before back to the annoyed man with a flick of his wrist another suited man brought in a sleek black metallic suitcase.

"In here will be everything you need to blend in with normal society," the agent spoke with a slightly mocking tone, "I suggest you get familiar with it before we leave." The two super-soldiers were left to get ready. Johann flicked open the case and peered into it. It was very futuristic, unlike anything he had seen previously with his time here. There was a small piece of card and printed on it was a note from Director Fury.

"Think of this as a thank you"

On the back of the note, it had instructions on how to use what looked to be a piece of holographic fabric. He waited for Steve to enter the bathroom before moving the fabric slowly towards his face as the card instructed. It told him to think of a face that he wanted, and he decided to think of his own face before it was mutilated by Erskine's serum. He imagined himself and what he would look like now should he had never taken it. Then all at once in a small flash of light, he saw in the mirror, attached to the case, a pale-skinned man with a sharp jawline and neat orange hair. It was an unreal experience to see himself in that mirror, his life seemed to flash before his eyes.

"Who the hell?! Oh… its… You?" Steve opened the door of the bathroom greeted by a different man than he left there. "Is… that you're facing?"

Johann turned around to fully face his roommate even without the red skull he still carried a very intimidating glare and look. "Ah yes, this is what I imagined I would have looked like anyway. You see the face I had before when I was fighting you it was ah- how do I say, borrowed?" He finished with a small sigh before closing the case behind him. "Wait, I didn't cut someone's face-off if that's what you think. I modelled it after some baker I saw once who had a similar face structure. I'm not that barbaric." He gathered the case and his suitcase full of clothing and left the room. Steve uttered a sigh of relief when Johann confirmed that he was wearing some poor man's face like a mask, he then proceeded to carry his own things out after him.

The two of them were escorted to a car which drove them to their destination. Steve had found out about where they were going before Johann even realised they were going to be moved. It was going to be an apartment in Washington DC, in a nice part of town. The building was very old school with beautifully carved wooden embellishments, and it came with its own gym in the basement where pictures of old boxing heroes were hanged proudly. The two of them were given instructions, allowances and anything else they might need before saying their goodbyes to the agents and hello to the receptionist. They were shown their apartment, which they would be sharing under Fury's instruction, except this time they had their own rooms.

Johann went straight in to find the room he preferred, he chose the one furthest away from the road and sounds of people. Steve didn't mind as he liked to people watch from time to time and enjoyed the feeling of comfort knowing others thrived in the world. "So what do you think? Not like the lavishly decorated homes the Nazi's gave you?" Steve joked as the two of them met in the living room. Johann rolled his eyes at his foes comment.

"For the record, I've never really lived in my own home unless you count the rooms I had in my numerous bases around Europe."

Steve began to see a pattern with Johann and how he would respond to questions. He noticed that anytime he would mention Nazis it would be with disdain and disgust but when it came to HYDRA it was something he was proud of. To Steve, it was unfathomable how anyone could like HYDRA but the man did create it so it would be hard to change his mind on how evil he and his minions were.

There was an awkward silence before a knock piped up at the door and Steve went to briskly answer it. He opened to a smiling blonde with a fiery personality as she greeted him as her new neighbour. They exchanged the brief contacts and the usual 'if you ever need anything I'm just across the hall.' Johann didn't like her overt friendliness and stood out of her view waiting for her to pull some trick on the two of them. Alas, nothing happened and Steve re-entered their room with a bottle of alcohol gifted from her. "It's almost like she knew we were coming," Johann said suspiciously.

"Right… She could have been told before-hand? Who knows, maybe she's just friendly, she seemed nice anyway we could get to know her." He said as he walked back into the kitchen to put the bottle away. He noted that the pantry and fridge were stocked with the basics which were a relief because right now he just wanted to rest. Johann's mind however stuck to the phrase 'get to know her better' he didn't want to get to know her, and in his chest, he felt this pang of anger thinking about Steve and her being friendly.

The rest of the day wasn't eventful. The two of them spent time finding local grocery stores and places to go for their basic needs. Steve's mind wandered to decorations to make the place feel more like home with Johann adding he wanted a gramophone for 'old time's sake'. Steve didn't reject the idea but had no idea how to find one now. Once they had made their acquaintance with the room the two of them retired for bed.

Sleeping was the worst part of the day for the two of them. It was filled with dread for what their dreams may bring them and the silence that engulfed them reminded them of past struggles. Steve was feeling extra sensitive to little things tonight with the sound of cars driving by his window reminding him of the lie SHIELD had tried to present the day he woke up. It sent shivers up his spine and his chest felt like it was being filled with ice-cold water. Memories of the war and guns firing would fill his ears until all other sounds were drowned out. Anger, sadness and fear were all he felt during these moments, but all that was seen were silent tears. After laying in his bed for hours he turned his head toward the digital clock on the side of his bed.

"3:00 AM"

He sighed, no sleep for him tonight. He slowly got out of bed and put more suitable clothes on, he was going to pay a visit to that gym. He found working out a great way to take his mind of things, but he could never fully push himself to let go. As he was making his way out someone else noticed he was leaving. Johann wasn't sleeping either and watched his roommate leave, bringing a sports bag with him. He quickly followed after him and surprised him when he reached the gym. "Couldn't sleep?" He asked with a small smirk as he watched Steve grab out punching bags one by one preparing for a long workout.

"Not now Schmidt," Steve said dismissively as he hanged up one of the punching bags. He wrapped his hands and wrists in a tight cloth preparing for impact against the hard bag. Johann was taken aback, Steve never referred to him as Schmidt except when he did something wrong or he was in a foul mood. The smirk slowly left his face as he made his way over to him holding the bag firmly with his hands.

"What's wrong?" Johann asked as he watched the super-soldier prepare furiously.

"If you want to joke around you can go back upstairs."

"I don't hear anyone laughing."

Steve looked up at Johann with a defiant expression but curious as to what game he wanted to play today. It wasn't like him to ask people how they were, he usually didn't care.

"You told me once that in order for us to achieve our mission we can't let our emotions get the better of us."

"We don't have a mission to achieve, there were no leads on some dark force in SHIELD. Fury hasn't spoken to us about anything," Steve continued rambling and it caused Johann to smile.

"That's really frustrating, isn't it? I want you to get all that frustrating and all that anxiety you feel and I want you to destroy this bag." He encouraged as he held onto it firmly.

"I'm not going to have a tantrum like you do Schmidt. I just want to go a few rounds then go back to sleep. Now get out of the way before I hit you."

"Come on Rogers," Schmidt replied eagerly, "just a couple of punches. You refer to me breaking things as a tantrum but you don't see me bottling up my anger, at least not as much... Just let it go Steve, and make this bag pay for all the frustration you feel. Pretend it's me, pretend it's someone else. It doesn't matter as long as you hit-"

Before Johann could finish Steve landed a solid punch into the side of it shocking him. "Good! Again! This time with more anger." Johann encouraged his former foe and it built up adrenaline in Steve like nothing else. The memories of war and pain, the sounds of gunfire returned. The presence of the one who caused him to nose dive a plane into the see made him seethe with regret, guilt and anger. He began to punch it more furiously each new hit a new regret, a new memory. Again and again, he punched it his teeth were clenched and his eyes staring dead at the bag. The sound of the plane crashing down rang in his ears, the shock of waking up to a new world, and as it all hit him at once he slammed his fist into the bag sending it and Johann flying across the room.

The room fell silent with the sound of Steve's harrowed breath being the only thing he heard now. Johann blinked in shock before slowly lifting himself off the ground. Looking up at Steve with his new face he smiled. He didn't say anything, he knew if he did it would only make him feel worse and as much as he enjoyed annoying the American he really didn't feel like getting punched into the wall again. He slowly got up from the floor, as Steve stood standing there, and grabbed another bag to hang up on the hook for another round. Steve looked up at him and nodded beginning to hit it again this time with less emotion behind it. Their therapy session as interrupted by a familiar voice ringing out from the corridor.

"Trouble sleeping?" Fury spoke his hands clasped firmly behind his back and his eyes intrigued as he had watched the small exchange for a while now. He began to walk towards the two and Steve stopped for a moment to reply.

"We slept for 70 years Sir. I think we've had our fill."

"Then you two should be out, celebrating, seeing the changing world."

Steve looked up at Fury curiously before walking over to his bag to begin unravelling the straps on his hands.

"Before we woke up we were at war. Then suddenly we're awake and they told him that he won, but they didn't tell him what he lost." Johann chimed in defensively as his eyes burned with anger at the interruption. Something about their time together, this precious hour, had meant something to him. The connection that only they had and understood. Coming from a time that hardly anyone alive was around to even witness let along be at the heart of it. Despite being the one who lost everything Johann couldn't help but feel that, from what he had read, Steve had been lied to about how great his country is after the war he fought desperately to finish.

"We've made some mistakes along the way," Fury said directing his attention to Johann sternly before turning it back to Steve, "Some, very recently."

"Are you here for a real mission sir?" Steve asked turned around to face Fury directly.

"I am."

"You ready for us to be back in the world?"

"I'm trying to save it," Fury hands Steve a file with the SHIELD emblem printed onto it. Johann moved to stand beside him to take a better look at it his eyes widened when he saw the content inside of it. The tesseract had been found and held by SHIELD after he had lost it during his fight with the Captain.

"HYDRA's secret weapon," Steve muttered looked to his left his eyes meeting with Johann's briefly.

"Not so secret now, I presume," Johann said annoyance in his voice as he looked up at Fury for answers.

"Howard Stark fished that out of the ocean when he was looking for Rogers. He thought, what we think. The Tesseract could be the key to unlimited sustainable energy. That's something the world sorely needs." Fury answered looking between the two of them.

"Who took it from you," Steve asked as he handed the file over.

"He's called Loki… He's not from around here. There's a lot we'll have to bring you both up to speed on if you two are in. The world has gotten even stranger than you two already know."

Johann's eyes searched the ground curiously 'Loki' was a name he had definitely heard before. He couldn't quite remember when or where he had heard it. Something was reminding him of the mythology he once clung to for inspiration and guidance. Loki was the name of the God of trickery, but he was certain that their depictions were fiction, surely they were not real.

"At this point, I doubt anything would surprise me." Steve woke Johann from his train of thought as he spoke.

"Ten bucks says you're wrong," Fury added with his usual seriousness but a hint of a laidback attitude he rarely showed around others. Steve picked up his back and made his way to pick up the leftover punching bags which Johann followed quickly behind to help with. "There's a debriefing packet waiting for you both back in your apartment. Is there anything you two could tell us about the tesseract we ought to know now?"

Without skipping a beat Johann replied firmly, "You should have left it in the ocean." It surprised Fury to hear that from him but to Johann, the power of the tesseract was very real, and his downfall. It showed him impossible futures and even greater power that he couldn't fathom. It sent him insane on a chase to become a god only to be thwarted by someone who believed they were nothing special. His lay awake at night thinking about all the futures he saw, the infinity stones, his life if he had taken different paths, it was a lot to think about and a lot to handle. It was definitely something no one, other than those experienced, should ever deal with.

The next morning after a short, but fulfilling, rest the two of them got ready and were boarded onto SHIELD signature Quinjet. Johann's disguise held up quite well and the technology that maintained it was excellent. It felt real and looked even more authentic. If he ever wanted to take it off he was given a case the size of a pair of glasses to put it in should he want to remove it. He doubted he was ever going to, at least not for a long while. Fury made a note in his briefing that the agents and people he was meeting had no idea what his past was so it was best to keep it that way. Johann scoffed at the idea, a German following the one and only Captain America around, has a similar physique and also lived in the 30s, no one was ever going to suspect anything.

They sat on the Quinjet next to each other. This was their first time on a plane together since the fight. To say the air was a bit tense was an understatement. Even though the two had gotten acquainted for a while now none of them could shake that feeling that the other wanted to end them. Steve was handed a holographic tablet to display information about Dr Bruce Banner, also known as the incredible Hulk. Johann peered over his shoulder to watch the videos alongside him curious as to what this scientist had attempted.

"So this Dr Banner was trying to replicate the serum they used on us?"

"A lot of people were," Agent Coulson said bluntly as he made his way over to stand near them. "You were the world's first superhero." Johann scoffed and looked the other way, he made taking the serum sound so easy and pleasant. "And the world's first supervillain." The flattery fell on deaf ears as Johann's attention remained elsewhere. "Banner thought gamma radiation might hold the key to unlocking Erskine's original formula."

"Didn't really go his way did it?" Johann said with venom in his voice, but a tang of sympathy as he understood the want to be something so badly that you'd destroy yourself in the process to get it.

"Not so much," Coulson said solemnly. "When he's not that thing though the guy's like a Stephen Hawking." Steve looked up at Coulson with raised brows, not quite understanding who Coulson was referring to.

"He means he is very intelligent," Johann added studying his gloves, tired of the conversation. After a small moment of silence, Coulson looked awkwardly between the two before turning his attention purely onto Steve.

"I gotta say, it's an honour to meet you officially. I've sort of met you. I mean, I watched you while you were sleeping." Coulson said with the intent of being endearing but it just left Steve feeling rather weirded out. "I mean, I was present while you were unconscious from the ice." Johann tried hard to hold back his laugh at the sheer social ineptness of the man speaking to Rogers. Steve just got up from his seat and moved away from Johann before he decided to do anything and joined the pilots near the cockpit of the jet. "You know, it's really just a huge honour to have you onboard this…"

To save him from talking Steve replied firmly, "I hope I'm the man for the job." He was earnest about the comment though. Surely if this Loki was a huge threat why would they ask a couple of old-timers to fight to save the world? Surely by now with people like Banner attempting to be super soldiers, there were others just as strong out there to defend it. "Oh, you are." Coulson abruptly replied, "Absolutely. We uh, made some modifications to your uniform. I had a little design input."

"His uniform?" Johann piped in with a chuckle, "isn't the stars and stripes a little old hack for the new generation?"

"With everything that's happening and the things that are about to come to light," Coulson replied defensively, "people might just need a little old-fashioned. Don't worry Agent, we didn't skip out on your uniform either." Agent, that's what he was to be called. No formalities, no fake name or alias to go by. Just the word Agent, like he was one of the cannon fodder Fury had at his disposal. Johann sighed and went back to staring blankly into the abyss not enthusiastic for the day ahead.