On The Edge. | Steve Rogers.

twenty seven.

Issac was finally given a break when Laura called the two young children inside for lunch. They were adorable, there was no question, but he was in no state to chase around to endless bundles of energy for hours right now. Frankly, he really wanted to just go inside and hide in one of the guest rooms to sleep off the lingering aches and sore muscles, but that would have to wait it seemed. He stopped at the door of the shed, slightly ajar. Peering inside, he could see the outline of a man sitting in the shadows and without drawing any attention to himself, he easily slipped inside.

The man regarded him for a moment before pushing himself to his feet, slipping his hands into the pockets of his dark slacks. Issac looked around as he folded his arms over his chest, a slight smirk on his lips.

"Shit. I thought death would be so much more climactic. Who knew it would be so boring." he joked.

The man smiled ever so slightly before his expression returned serious again.

"Good to see you're as resilient as ever, Agent Grey."

"Technically, I don't work for S.H.I.E.L.D anymore, and therefore I'm not an Agent." He raised an eyebrow at his former boss.

"And I was buried in Washington D.C last year. Yet here I am." the man deadpanned.

Issac bit his lip, nodding as he glanced down at his boots.

"Touché." He mumbled.

The man studied him for a moment, checking to see if he had suffered a similar fate to his comrades.

"How are they?" he asked, glancing at the slightly open door which allowed a stream of light to flood in, which they both remained hidden from.

Issac followed his gaze, sighing heavily as he could see an argument brewing between Steve and Tony from here.

"Shaken." he mumbled honestly. "But I think they'll be okay." he wasn't sure if he was trying to convince Fury or himself more at that moment.

"You think?" Fury raised an eyebrow, easily picking up on his uncertainty. They'd known each other since Issac was nearly still a boy, they were far beyond being able to hide the little things from each other.

"They will be." The younger of the two mumbled, looking Fury in his eye. His gaze faltered slightly. "We have to be." he mumbled.

Fury's shoulders dropped as he exhaled slowly and nodded.

"Do me a favor, bring Stark in here. Tell him that Mrs. Barton asked you to get the tractor running and you couldn't."

Issac did as he was asked, unfolding his arms and slipping out of the open shed door before making his way towards the two men chopping wood. He waited until Tony had disappeared into the shed before glancing at Steve's pile, whistling quietly. He let his eyes purposely trail down Steve's form, taking in the sight of him in casual clothing for the first time in a while.

"Farm life is a good look on you." he half joked.

Steve looked up, having not heard the male approaching. The tension bled out of his shoulders almost immediately and he chuckled, a bit of heat rising to his cheeks under Issac's gaze.

"Wanna give it a go?" He asked, holding out the ax in his hands.

Issac grimaced slightly, but stepped forward anyway. Despite having grown up in less than comfortable conditions, more often underground or in abandoned buildings than not, chopping wood was one task he thankfully never got stuck with.

"I've never actually done this." He admitted almost sheepishly, taking the ax and holding it awkwardly.

Steve watched him in amusement as he placed one of the skinnier, unchopped logs on the block of wood in front of him, stepping back and gesturing for him to give it a try.