THE EARLY MORNING SKIES were as gloomy as its titled. Washington was definitely a nice area. The wind just breezing around while you can take in as much as what you want. Y/N admired what he was seeing as he covered his mouth, coughing while he jogged next to Steve.

"You see that guy?" Steve pointed at a figure in the distance who was also making his rounds. Y/N chuckled as he watched the man.

"Yeah, really slow..."

Both looked at eachother, smirking as they came to a stop. Both men stretching their legs before nodding at eachother.

"Didn't think you'd be a jokester type." Y/N mused, doing small jumps as he prepared.

Steve simply chuckled. "I just thought we could have a little fun." He replied. "Alright, I stay on his left while you're on his right."

Y/N nodded as both simultaneously prepared their sprint. The olympic-type position as a smug smile was curving.

"Ready?"

"Set."

"Go!"

Both men sprinted, Y/N surprisingly taking the lead.

"On your right." Y/N announced passing by the figure.

"Uh-- Right."

Not even a few seconds later, Steve passed by him. It was like a wind just flying past him.

"On your left."

"Uh huh. Got it, on my left."

They continued this for the rest of their laps. Y/N and Steve didn't even sweat. Even when said goal was to mess with the man, both were also in goal to take leads on the run, like it was a race. Surprisingly again, Y/N was still in lead. Even stranger was, he wasn't even tired.

Strange indeed.

"On your right."

"Oh for-" The man stopped as he could hear the rapid footsteps just trailing behind. "Don't say it! Don't you say it!

"On your left."

"Oh, COME ON!" The man yelled as he panted. He forced himself to push his pace but to avail, giving up in not even a few seconds later.

--

THE MAN LAID ON THE TREE as he heavily panted. Hand on his chest as he did his best to catch his breath. Both L/N and Rogers were chuckling once they saw the man, both approaching.

"Need a medic?" Steve joked, earning a small laugh from the guy.

"I need a new set of lungs." The man grunted out. "Dude, you guys just ran like 13 miles in 30 minutes.. Maybe even faster to that other guy." He pointed towards Y/N who raised his brows from the call out.

"I don't know.. It's either we're pretty fast, or you're just really slow." Y/N joked, a smug smile plastered on his face. The man merely chuckled.

"Really? You should be ashamed of yourself." He sarcastically remarked. "You should take another lap.... Did you just take it? I assume you just took it."

Three of them laughed at the banter. Y/N coughed again while at it.

"What unit you in?" Steve asked, curiosity taking over.

"58th Pararescue." The man replied. Steve and Y/N looked at eachother, a bit impressed. "But now I'm working down at the VA."

"What- ehem- What's your name man?" Y/N asked, earning a nod.

"Sam Wilson." He greeted, reaching out a hand to the L/N, who immediately took it and gladly returned the favor.

"Y/N L/N." He greeted back before pointing at the person beside him. "That's-"

"Captain America." Sam interrupted as he was pulled up by Y/N. "I kind of put that together." He panted out. "Must've freaked you out, coming home after the whole defrosting thing." Sam pointed out, mostly remarked and directed to Steve.

Steve sighed.

"It takes some getting used to."

Sam nodded before turning his attention to the L/N, who was covering his mouth. Probably coughed again. "So uh- Do you work for him?"

Y/N shook his head, a smirk appearing on his lips. "I'm his adviser." He let out, earning a confused look from Steve. "Yep, that's right. Follows everything I say."

"Wait, your are not my-"

"It's okay, Steve. No need to be embarrassed." He said as a grin was tempting to grow. "He's just in denial. Afraid that a... specimen like him has some problems deep down."

Sam nodded in understandment. "Yeah, everybody needs help. You go keep listening to him." Steve was about to retort before Y/N placed a hand up.

"That indeed. It's good to meet you, Sam." Y/N waved.

As both were about to walk away, Sam caught their attention. "Marvin Gaye." He suddenly said, making both turn their heels. "Marvin Gaye, 1972 Trouble Man soundtrack. Everything you missed, jammed into one album."

Steve nodded pulling out his small notebook as Y/N covered his mouth, muffling a cough. "I'll put it on the list." As he wrote down, Y/N's phone starts to ring, gaining the attention of Rogers.

Y/N suddenly smiled, texting back as he didn't notice Steve's curious look. "Who's that? You got a date with someone-"

"It's Nat."

"You're going on a date with Nat!?"

"Huh, No!" Y/N quickly retorted as the words rolled out of Steve's mouth. "It's the mission. She'll be here any...." Y/N trailed off as the sound of a car revving was heard.

The passenger window rolled down to reveal a certain VERY pretty redhead. "Hey, fellas. Either one of you know where the Smithsonian is? I'm here to pick up a fossil... And a friend."

Steve sarcastically laughed, not noticing Y/N's confused state. "You consider me a friend?" Y/N asked, making his way to the car.

Nat completely ignored the comment, glaring at Y/N in amusement. "Did you ask anybody out yet?" She asked, more of directed to Steve.

Rogers rolled his eyes. "You both have to stop encouraging me to do these things." He voiced out, slowly opening the door as Y/N stood back, waiting for Steve to recline the seat forward so he can sit at the back.

When the topic of dating came up, Steve suddenly glanced at L/N and Romanoff. An idea popping up while he reclined the chair forward. "You sit infront, yeah?" Steve suggested as he sat at the back.

Y/N and Nat both glanced at eachother, both squinting their eyes before Y/N shrugged it off, making his way to the front.

As Y/N reluctantly sat, Both not noticing Steve's smirk as the L/N saw a hand reach out.

"Here's your meds." Nat reminded, giving him the bottle.

Y/N smiled at her before taking it. "Good to know you care." He joked, making both of them laugh.

Steve tilted his head in confusion. "I thought you were fine." Silence now took over as Nat was also interested in the up coming conversation.

Y/N snickered. "Steve, if I wasn't fine, I would've never ran."

--

THE JET SOARED THE DARK SKIES above the Indian Ocean. Y/N stood next to Nat as he listened. "Target is a mobile satellite launch platform, the lemurian star. They were sending up their last payload when pirates took them in, 93 minutes ago."

"Any demands?" Steve asked.

Brock nodded in response. "Billion and a half." Y/N glanced at Nat, a surprised look which made her try to hold in her laughter, biting her lip in doing so. Steve though, kept a straight face.

"Why so steep?"

"Because it's S.H.I.E.L.D's." Rumlow simply answered. Y/N for some reason squinted his eyes, observing the man, as if he was in suspicion. His small trance was cut off from Steve's voice.

"So it's not off-course. It's trespassing."

"I'm sure they have a good reason." Nat said, a fist under her chin as she was in deep thought too.

"You know, I'm getting a little tired of being Fury's janitor."

Y/N scoffed, mixing in a small cough. "I can vouch, it's kind of getting exhausting-"

"Relax, It's not that exhausting." Nat says, turning her head at Y/N, smirking. Y/N shook his head in amusement, licking the top of his first molar.

"How many pirates?" Y/N asked, regaining full attention to the task at hand. In response, Rumlow started swiping the touchscreen.

"25. Top mercy led by this guy," A picture popping up on the screen as he started to explain. "George Batroc. Ex-DGSE, Action Division. He's at the top of Interpol's Red notice. Before the French demobilized him, he had 36 kill missions. This guy's got a rep for maximum casualties."

"Hostages?"

"Oh, mostly techs. One officer. Jasper Sitwell."

Both Y/N and Nat looked at each other, furrowing their brows. Both thinking of the same thing, probably Steve too.

"What's Sitwell doing on a launch ship?" Steve muttered to himself before shaking it off. "All right, I'm gonna sweep the deck and find Batroc. Nat, you kill the engines and wait for instructions. Rumlow, you sweep aft, find the hostages, get them to the life pods, get them out. Y/N, you can switch in from time to time, maybe an all-around."

Everyone nodding in agreement as Steve turned. "S.T.R.I.K.E, you heard the Cap. Gear up." Rumlow announced as everyone instantly got into position.

"Secure channel seven."

"Seven secure." Nat responded, grabbing a parachute. "Did you boys do anything fun Saturday night?"

"Well, all the guys from my barbershop quartet are dead, So no, not really." Steve says as he placed his earpiece. "How about you, L/N?"

Y/N placed in his earpiece as well, a small cough escaping his lips. "Not much.. Just came in yesterday."

"Don't you have jet lag or something?"

Y/N thought about it for a second before slowly shaking his head. "Surprisingly, No. I mean I was able to outrun Golden boy over here this morning." Y/N joked earning small chuckles. He suddenly clenched his jaw as he slowly looked at Nat, approaching the redhead. "Does Steve know we're-"

Nat quickly shook her head, leaning in closely so no one could hear. "No, Fury told me to keep it on the down low. I got the stick, you take care of the rest." She whispered, earning a small nod of understandment from Y/N.

"Alright, I'll check in on you if you don't get it quick."

Nat scoffed. "How offending you think of me so lowly." She mocked, earning a small chuckle from Y/N.

"Hey, whenever we got a mission involving something like this, I always have to save your ass."

"And what about my ass?" Nat teased as Y/N was taken back from this statement. Before he could utter a word, Rumlow's voice chimed in his hearing.

'Coming up on the drop zone. Cap, L/N.'

Nat turned her attention to the Rogers who was already preparing. "You know, If you ask Kristen out from statistics, she'd probably say yes."

"That's why I don't ask." Steve replied, strapping in his mask as Y/N pulled his own over his head, now standing next to Cap.

"Too shy, or too scared?"

"Too busy!"

As the words rolled out of his mouth, he quickly nodded at Y/N as he jumped out of the flying vehicle without a parachute, earning mixed looks from everyone other than Y/N. Nat quirked an eyebrow as she watched the L/N.

"What are you up to?" She suspiciously asked, earning a smug grin.

Y/N simply pulled out his middle finger as he jumped backwards, No parachute.

She simply looked down the floor, holding in her smile. "That son of a bitch." She mumbled, strapping in her chute.

--

GUARDS WALKING AROUND THE DARK SETTING as they did their job. What they did not realize were some distant screaming. As a guard passed by, A dark figure stealthily approaching the pirate, covering it's mouth as he watched the guard flutter his eyes closed.

The Shadow slowly laid the body down while he made his way around the vessel. It was all quiet until a shield flew in, knocking a guard. Y/N used this distraction to sweep another guard down, earning a small bang from the hard floor.

He ran to the other side of the area, kicking a guard so hard that he was sent flying out of the ship. Steve raised an eyebrow as that was initially his plan, but that was not what he was actually thinking about. The way he was sent out, made him wonder about Y/N's real strengths.

Cap shook the thought off as he helped Y/N out.

The Shadow blocked an attack from behind, twisting the man's arm as he used leverage to throw him out. Steve threw his shield to Y/N who easily caught it, knocking down another using it.

"Did not know you had it in you." Steve mused, earning a snicker out of Y/N.

"It's not mine though." The Shadow replied, throwing the shield back to it's rightful owner as he made his way through the large ship. When he ran, he always made sure to send a pirate out of the ship, easily if I may add.

Whenever he did so, he made sure to shoot down any nearby lights to make sure he can use it as advantage for the possible future.

A sword flying towards another pirate as it pierced through the chest, the others instinctively turning to see The Shadow diving in. One attempted to shoot at Y/N but he already made his way down, sweeping the man off his feet.

Y/N ran up to the pierced body, pulling out the sword as he jumped at the same time. Mid-air , he slashed a pirate right across the face, earning a scream full of horror which was silenced with a punch on the face which sent him flying.

Cap and the rest arrived at the scene, impressed as they looked around the bodies around the floor. Steve and Nat approached the L/N who earned a small pat on the shoulder.

"What about the nurse that lives across the hall from you? She seems kind of nice." Nat thought out loud as the three walked along side each other. Y/N smirked as he pulled out his other sword, sharpening the pair of weapons with each other.

"I told that to Steve not too long ago."

Cap rolled his eyes. "Secure the engine room, then you both can find me a date."

"I'm multi-tasking." Nat answers before dragging Y/N along with her which startled him a bit from the sudden action.

Steve noticed, raising an eyebrow. "What are you-"

"He's with me."

"I am?" Y/N asked confusedly, earning a glare from Nat which made him clear his throat. "Yes! I'm with her!"

Nat rolled her eyes as both leaped down from the railing. Steve shook his head in amusement, a discreet smirk curving up his lips.

"...Start the engines.."

"Okay." The pirate responded, bringing the small telephone back on the wall. As he turned, he was met with the presence of two figures. The redheaded one smirking.

"Hey, sailor." She greeted. Before the man could respond, he was received with a hard kick from the back of his knee, earning a small crack as he let out a scream. Y/N tied a line around the man's neck before grabbing onto Nat's waist, dropping down.

Nat held on tightly as both of them brought out their guns, firing a round to any pirate in their vision as they descended. When bodies were scattered around, it was signal for them to pull away, The Shadow removing the line off his belt.

"Come on, we have unfinished business.." Nat says, earning a small nod from Y/N.

"Nat, L/N... What's your status?" Steve's voice was heard in their comms, although not receiving an immediate answer.

"...Guys, status."

"Hang on!" Y/N grunted out, earning the attention of a pirate as he turned around. Once his body was fully turned, he was sent flying from the impact of a foot landing on his chest.

"Not bad.." Nat muttered before pulling out a gun as she saw incoming pirates at the side, firing another round as The Shadow took out the rest with combat.

She didn't notice another though running at her, in goal of tackling her down. Unable to do so as he was kicked out of the way, a small yelp was heard.

Y/N nodded at Nat in signal who gladly returned it. "Engine room secure." She answered, both of them walking away from the scene nonchalantly.

"Romanoff and L/N missed the rendezvous point, Cap. Hostiles still in play."

Steve panted before placing two fingers on his earpiece. "Guys, Batroc's on the move. Circle back to Rumlow and protect the hostages." The line was silent, Steve was getting a little impatient. "Guys-"

Batroc jumped at him, attempting to land a kick which was blocked by the shield.

Y/N PULLED OUT HIS MASK as he sat on the table, letting Nat do her thing as he sighed. "Are you sure you got it covered?"

Nat snorted. "Relax, I got it." She replied, sounds of her fingers dancing around the keys. "This is gonna be eas- nevermind."

"What?" Y/N asked, leaning over to look at the monitor. He suddenly let out a small laugh. "Aw, I thought you said you didn't need my help."

"Well, now I do." She frustratingly let out, turning to Y/N. "Can you sub in?"

Y/N merely looked at Romanoff, an eyebrow raising while also covering his mouth to cough. "That's it?"

Nat sighed in defeat before placing both hands together, gritting her teeth. "Please?" She asks, sarcastically giving him puppy eyes which made him chuckle.

"That's all you had to say..." He grunted out, making his way to the monitor. "...Minus the whole desperate look. Doesn't match with you."

"I was not desperate!" Nat retorted, earning a 'really?' look from Y/N before turning back to the monitor. She didn't want to let go of the topic though, she didn't want it in the same sentence with her name. "I'm serious, I-"

"Nat, just drop it. It's fine." He noticed Nat's look, giving her a little sympathy.

"But--"

"Seriously, Nat. I was just joking." Nat gave up on even answering back, sitting on the edge of the table as she looked down. Y/N would give her small glances while at it, observing her. It was weird kind of seeing this side of Nat... He was not sure of what he has concluded but when he watched her in that state, it was as if she was being..... vulnerable?

Yes, vulnerable. Another word you never expected that would fit in the same topic as the Black Widow.

He was not too keen on that thought, going back to his work while also letting out a few coughs.

When Nat saw Y/N turn back in the corner of her eye, she looked back up, more specifically on Y/N as it was now her turn to observe. She noticed how uncomfortable his posture was, his skin getting paler, baggy-eyed. Something was definitely not right, and she knew it. She inspected him more before her eyes landed at his neck while he let out another cough.

Small veins popping out of his neck which she was sure was not on there earlier. It brought her to a state of de ja vu. It was then she remembered Tony's neck around 2010. This actually started to worry her a bit, which she never thought would've happened before.

Her worrying about Y/N?

If she remembered correctly, the last time she saw veins like that, the person was-

BANG

A door bursting as Burtoc laid on the ground, Steve entering as he panted a little, Causing both Nat and Y/N snapping their heads at the sudden disruption.

"Oh shit."

"Well this is awkward."

Steve furrowed his brows before his head shot up, confusion plastered as he approached the two. "What are you guys doing?"

"Backing up the hard drive." She answered for Y/N who's eyes were glued onto the screen. "It's a good habit to get into."

"Rumlow needed your help." Steve frustratingly let out. "What the hell are you both doing here?"

Both ignored Steve who decided to look for answers himself, and that he did.

"You're saving S.H.I.E.L.D intel." He mused, a tone of disbelief.

"Whatever we can get our hands on-"

"Our mission is to rescue the hostages."

Nat shook her head as she placed a hand on Y/N's shoulders. "No, that's your mission." As the words rolled out of her mouth, Y/N handed her the hard drive, earning a small smile from the redhead before turning back to Steve. "And you've done it beautifully."

Before she could walk away, Steve aggressively grabbed onto her arm, stopping her from her tracks. "You just jeopardized this whole operation."

"Wait-- hold on now." Y/N chimed in, removing the hand away from Nat's arm, ready to be her defense. "Relax, Cap."

Before he could even answer, Batroc stood up, throwing a grenade which Cap swatted away. Y/N instinctively grabbed onto Nat before jumping out of the glass window, a small burst of an explosion erupting as they landed on the ground. A loud thud was heard.

Three of them grunting in small amounts of pain. Nat didn't realize she was ontop of Y/N who took in the pressure of her body. She quickly got up, muttering out a small 'sorry' as she dragged Y/N onto the wall.

"Okay.. That one's on me.." She admitted, panting out before checking on Y/N who was coughing and groaning at the same time. The ashes and small amounts of dirt plastered on their face.

"You're damn right." Steve says, frustratingly getting up.

Nat felt a little guilty, a sharp intake of breath entering through as she sighed. She was in deep thought. But she was snapped out of her trance when the sounds of coughing were heard, this one though was different. Louder than the rest. She gave a small glance at Y/N, her eyes widening at the sight.

His mouth coughing up blood.

Nat ran up to him.

--

A/N: HERROW! HI! I.. DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY. I'M JUST HOPING MY LAKERS GET ANDRE DRUMMOND.

-What do you think will happen next chapter?

-Any working theories on your minds, I'd like to hear your thoughts if you're willing!

-Any suggestions? Things I could work on?

-If not, don't forget to vote, possibly share this book around. I'll See ya in a bit!

-Forti