[h2][center][b][color=004b80]N O M A D[/color][/b][/center][/h2]
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The ax passed through the log like a hot knife through butter, and both halves fell onto the mountainous piles on each side of the cabin's chopping block. The wind kicked up and sent a shiver down the man doing the work's spine. The chill in the air was strong, but it was clean.

The cold had begun to whip through the mountains early this year. The locals had told the man they knew as Grant Barnes that it never snowed at this altitude this early, but that when it did it often meant that the winter would end up being a mild one when all was said and done. The down home superstitious nature of the sentiment had brought a smile to Grant's, or rather Steve Rogers's, face. If the people of Rock Fall, Montana knew who their new resident really was, they were doing an admirable job of pretending not to. Steve hoped the beard he had grown was enough to throw them off the scent, but he was never great at deceiving his fellow man.

But these people lived uncomplicated lives, and that's all Steve needed right now. Time to think and get his head on straight. He saw Sharon everywhere he turned now, and he wasn't going to be any use to anyone as long as that was happening.

At least that's what he was telling himself. Deep down he didn't know if that was the real reason he was here, or if it was because he was scared. It was an odd admission for someone like Steve Rogers to admit. But he was lost in this new world. Things were no longer black and white. Everything was a shade of grey. 

Suddenly, Scout, the German Shepard Rogers had adopted about two months ago stood abruptly up from a deep sleep and let out a low, aggressive growl.

Steve bent down next to the dog and patted his head, [color=004b80]"What is it, boy?"[/color]

He got his answer when the rumble of an engine began to crest over the hill. A truck swiftly followed, and Steve saw one person inside it. But that didn't mean there weren't more vehicles on their way. He snapped at Scout, who was in the ready position behind the super soldier. Steve himself gripped the ax a little more tightly, in preparation for whatever was coming.

But his stance relaxed as the door opened, and Roy Harper, the one-time SHIELD agent known as Arsenal, stepped out. The younger man nodded to Rogers, [color=9e0b0f]"We need to talk."[/color]

[color=004b80]"Looks like I don't have a choice,"[/color] Rogers motioned towards the modest cabin. [color=004b80]"Warmer in there. Don't have much to offer besides some bad coffee."[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Bad's better than none,"[/color] Harper shrugged and plucked a big bag out of the bed of the truck. [color=9e0b0f]"Though we might need something stronger."[/color]

The wood door creaked as the two men and one dog trotted through it. The inside was nothing special, but it was everything Steve needed. An old, plushy couch and chair with well-worn grooves where Steve and Scout sat every night sat in front of an old TV. Steve had little time for most of the fluff on it, but even he had to admit the documentaries he found had done wonders for his understanding of the modern world. A small kitchen sat in the corner, the pot of coffee on a small hot plate. On the other side of the wall that bisected the cabin was a bedroom and a bathroom. It wasn't anything to look at, but it was his.

Steve motioned to the couch and Harper took a seat. Scout placed himself across the coffee table from the fugitive, silent, still, and never breaking eye contact.

[color=9e0b0f]"Cute dog,"[/color] Harper mused, moving his head back and forth as the dog kept his gaze. 

[color=004b80]"Found him on the road,"[/color] Steve explained as he poured the coffee. [color=004b80]"Was abused by his former owner. Took him off his hands, gave Scout a cheeseburger and he's been following me around ever since."[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Yea, I can tell,"[/color] Harper's eyes narrowed. The dog's narrowed back.

Steve handed the black sludge to the younger man and took a seat in the chair, [color=004b80]"What's in the bag?"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"We'll get to that,"[/color] Harper changed the subject. [color=9e0b0f]"You seem to have everything you could need out here."[/color]

[color=004b80]"I get by,"[/color] Steve shrugged and took a sip. [color=004b80]"Getting my head back on straight isn't going to be easy."[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Yea,"[/color] Roy rolled the coffee in his hand. [color=9e0b0f]"It's gonna have to be."[/color]

Rogers put his cup down on the table, [color=004b80]"And what's that supposed to mean?"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"It means while you're up here playing Jeremiah Johnson the world is going to shit,"[/color] Harper snapped bluntly. He put his cup down and met the eyes of the former Captain America. [color=9e0b0f]"Ever since you and Wonder Woman disappeared its like things are coming apart at the seams."[/color]

Steve scoffed, [color=004b80]"Come on. Things aren't great. But I think that's a bit dramatic. There's plenty of others to take care of things."[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Yea,"[/color] Harper nodded curtly. [color=9e0b0f]"Plenty of others to get picked off by ARGUS, or HYDRA, or the League of Assassins, or whoever else is out there. There are a lot of us. You're right. But we're unlinked. Broken. Scattered. Easy picking for the hyenas that want us gone. Once that happens, they'll be free to plunder and pillage as they want."[/color]

[color=004b80]"I'm not a leader anymore,"[/color] Steve looked out the window and shook his head. [color=004b80]"I can barely figure out who the enemy is."[/color]

Harper let out a acidic chuckle at that statement, [color=9e0b0f]"Please. Steve Rogers unaware of right and wrong? No, you know exactly who the enemy is, Captain. You're just afraid to admit it. Because the enemy is all around us. They've infiltrated the government. The police. The military. But you know who they are. You're just scared to work outside of the system to fix things. To chart your own path. To stop taking orders and start giving them. That's how we'll win this war."[/color]

[color=004b80]"What war is that?"[/color] Steve's eyebrows raised. 

[color=9e0b0f]"The only one that matters, Captain Rogers,"[/color] Harper removed the item from the bag and tossed it to Steve. The vibranium shield felt familiar as it fit into his hand, like an old comfortable shirt. He turned it, and saw the bright blue and red had now been repainted a dark blue with white accents. [color=9e0b0f]"The war against injustice."[/color]

[color=004b80]"How...how did you get it?"[/color] Cap shook his head in disbelief.

[color=9e0b0f]"Doesn't matter,"[/color] Harper waved him off. [color=9e0b0f]"I have friends with certain skills. What's important is you have it. Now you need to do something with it. You think you're not necessary in today's world? I beg to differ. Just in your back yard a group that calls themselves the Church of Humanity has a compound. Ever heard of them?"[/color]

[color=004b80]"No,"[/color] Steve couldn't take his eyes off the shield. [color=004b80]"Let me guess, they hate mutants?"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Only hating mutants would have them a few rungs above where they are in my eyes,"[/color] Harper shook his head. [color=9e0b0f]"They'd still be racist scum, but at least the kinds of people they hate would be minuscule in comparison."[/color]

[color=004b80]"So what then?"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"White supremacists,"[/color] Roy said bluntly. [color=9e0b0f]"And they're gearing up for something. Figured you could help me stop 'em. And in the process I hoped you'd realize you can do more on the outside of SHIELD than you ever could on the inside."[/color]

Steve ran his hand over the shield as he had done so many times. Maybe Roy was right. Maybe he was wrong. But if the agent had found him here, others would eventually. Especially if this group was as dangerous as he said. Maybe it was time to get back out there and do what he did best.

[color=004b80]"Where are they?"[/color] he asked, meeting Arsenal's gaze.