Silhouette in the Dark

IX.

                                                                  [2015]

"Yeah, that went really well, Cap." Sam pulled the cloth away from his arm and winced, studying the four parallel scratch marks on his skin. He put the cloth back in place and groaned.

Steve sighed and dropped his shield by the door. He glanced in Sam's direction and shrugged. "I told you she's getting stronger."

The look on Sam's face was one of indignation and anger combined. He gestured outside and locked eyes with Steve. "So why'd we go against her alone? Why didn't we get Clint or Wanda or Scott to help us?"

Steve's brow furrowed. "Who's Scott?"

"It doesn't matter. But, seriously, man, why? Why are you so insistent on tracking her alone? Why not get Tony or some of the others involved?"

Steve collapsed on the couch, clearly drained by all that had happened in the past couple years. He didn't answer; he just held his head in his hands and sighed. Sam studied him then also sighed. He reminded himself of all that Steve had been through as he sat across from his friend.

"Look, I'm sorry, alright? I shouldn't have yelled like that." Steve didn't move. "But really though. I don't get it. You act like you're the only person who can bring her in."

"I am the only person!" Steve snapped. Sam's eyes widened and he leaned back in his seat. Steve shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry. It's just... whatever it is she knows about me, whatever I did—or didn't do—to her. Until I find out what it is and how I can help her, how I can make it right, I don't want the others involved. She came for me, so I'm the one who has to fix this." Steve stood and wearily walked toward the door. "I hope you understand. Thanks for letting me stay here."

Before Sam could say a word, Steve had grabbed his shield and walked out into the night.

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                                                                  [2016]

"Hey, stranger," a voice said from beside him. Steve didn't turn to look at who it was. He just smiled and took another sip of his coffee. Natasha slid into the seat next to him at the bar and ordered a coffee for herself.

Steve finally turned his head to look at her. "Haven't see you in a couple months."

Natasha's coffee arrived, and she took a cautious sip. "Well, you know, I've been all over the world, tracking down our missing person and finding a new identity for myself, since I outed all my old ones a couple years ago."

"Which missing person?" Steve asked with a laugh. "We have three."

"Actually, two of them. By my understanding, Sam has the third one under control. Any luck with that, by the way?" Steve just laughed and took another swig from his mug. "That's a story I want to hear. Anyway, one of our guys is all over the place. He's got a bunch of cronies now; they follow him everywhere and do all the dirty work. Last I heard, he was headed to Africa."

"And Bucky?"

Natasha sighed. "He hasn't been as easy to track."

"But you know where he is." Steve glanced at Natasha. "Right?"

"Yes. He's in Europe. He doesn't stay in one city for too long, so if you're looking to find him, you might have to hire a travel agent."

Steve placed his coffee on the countertop and stared into it, as if it held the answers to the questions running through his head. "He was always there for me. He was like a brother to me, but..." He let his sentence trail off.