𝑾𝑰𝑪𝑲𝑬𝑫 𝑫𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑴𝑺 ━━ 𝚂𝚝𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜

14 A Lone Warrior

BACK at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, the atmosphere was tense, the weight of recent events hanging heavily in the air. Steve Rogers made his way through the sleek, sterile hallways, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and suspicion. As he approached Alexander Pierce's office, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking into something far more complicated than he could have ever anticipated.

He pushed open the door to find Pierce engaged in a serious conversation with Agent 13, who Steve now knew as Sharon Carter. "For whatever it's worth, you did your best."

"Thank you, sir." Sharon Carter said, her tone professional as she turned to leave Pierce's office. As she turned, her gaze met Steve's, and she couldn't hide the flicker of recognition in her eyes. "Captain Rogers," she greeted, her voice steady despite the tension in the room.

Steve's reply was cold, his trust shaken by recent events. "Neighbor," he responded curtly, the word heavy with unspoken meaning. He brushed past her, his focus now entirely on Pierce, who watched the interaction with interest.

Sharon felt a pang of regret as she exited the room. The trust she had begun to build with Steve was now fractured, and she wondered how much damage had been done by the deception.

"Captain Rogers," Pierce greeted, his tone cordial but laced with an undercurrent of urgency. "I'm glad you could make it. I'm Alexander Pierce."

Steve nodded and shook hands. "Sir, it's an honor."

Pierce motioned for Steve to sit, and as he did. We have a lot to discuss, Captain," Pierce began, folding his hands on the desk in front of him. "First, let me express my condolences for the loss of Director Fury. He was a great man, and his death is a significant blow to all of us."

Steve remained silent, his face a mask of controlled emotion. The loss of Fury was still raw, and he wasn't sure how much he trusted Pierce or anyone at S.H.I.E.L.D. right now. Fury's last words echoed in his mind: "Don't trust anyone."

The room was decorated with a mix of modern and classic elements, with a large window offering a sweeping view of the city below. Pierce gestured towards an old photograph on the wall, drawing Steve's attention to it.

"That photo was taken five years after Nick and I met," Pierce began, his tone nostalgic. "When I was at the State Department in Bogotá. ELN rebels took the embassy, and security got me out, but the rebels took hostages."

Steve stepped closer to the photo, studying the younger versions of Pierce and Fury. They looked determined, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. It was a stark reminder of how much had changed and how much they had all lost.

Pierce continued, his voice steady. "Nick was deputy chief for the S.H.I.E.L.D. station there. And he comes to me with a plan. He wants to storm the building through the sewers. I said, 'No, we'll negotiate.' Turned out the ELN didn't negotiate, so they put out a kill order."

Steve listened intently, trying to reconcile the image of Fury in the photograph with the man he had come to know. Fury was always ten steps ahead, always calculating, always ready to do whatever it took to protect his people.

"They stormed the basement," Pierce said, a hint of admiration creeping into his voice, "and what did they find? They find it empty. Nick had ignored my direct order and carried out an unauthorized military operation on foreign soil. He saved the lives of a dozen political officers, including my daughter."