You Really Wouldn't Like Me...(OPEN TO ALL)

He and Wanda had been doing their visits rotating from the US and Canada. He'd been encouraging Wanda to try to use her magic to be able to cultivate an ability to fly, as she'd indicated she could do, to make the process easier. He didn't know how long he could keep how he was getting to the US so quickly from her, but her ignorance of the world made keeping that secret a bit easier. He was glad now that he'd taken a hands off approach in his role with his company, it gave him far more room to come and go without suspicion. They knew he worked counselling on the side, and did so in America as well as Canada. And did so with personal funds instead of company funds, so there was no real traces that could cause suspicion. He'd done his best to cover his tracks, but he didn't know if he could keep this a secret from Wanda forever.

Regardless for now, his own "Other Guy" was incognito, but Josh Dragomir was wandering New York, having shown up earlier than planned ahead of his planned date. He hadn't been here in a little while, having stayed at home for a good while to handle Blue Dragon business at home. So he did want to sightsee a little. Though that had come to a halt when something had come crashing down... It was big... Scary... AND PINK GREEN!

He kept his head down for now, but he was watching. It wasn't long before the cops arrived, it wasn't long before they started making judgements (pretty much immediately) despite the fact that green had become a man. And man seemed to be rather reasonable. So before long, he had ducked into an alley, and the Blue Dragon had come out, stepping into the fray. Of course, he knew it probably wouldn't end well. His meeting with that one clawed dude pretty much signified that. But oh well. He'd given up on not drawing attention. F*ck it. He'd draw all the attention needed if it meant making a difference.

"Hey, hey, hold up!"

He had hardly gotten the words out when one of them would point a gun at him. As if completely by reflex, Dragon would hold out a hand and a fireball would begin charging right in front of their face, and before long he backed down.

"Thank you."

The fireball disappeared, and while he was aware they could open fire at anytime, he would step forward. Perhaps an armoured figure wasn't what Banner was going to want to see, but he came in peace, he swore! So maybe it would be a bit of a surprise when the armoured man would hold out a hand to shake.

"Blue Dragon, can call me Blue, or Dragon, or whatever else you think up that isn't derogatory. While we probably have about a minute before they start shooting, would you care to give me the skinny on what's going on? They're not very civilized people, as you can see, but I'll at least listen. Listening's part of my day job" He cracked, grinning cheekily under the helm. "Also, if they do start shooting, just, y'know, duck under with me. This thing's bulletproof, I swear."

He seemed fairly well-humoured about this whole thing. But to be fair... He'd done this how many times now? It was almost becoming routine at this point.

Six months. It had been a little over half a year that Steve Rogers had been in this new world. It had been a time wherein so many things had been so similar to how they were before. He still donned the costume almost daily. He still wore the shield. He still was sent out religiously to contend with perceived threats against the peace. Looking at the situation through a separated lens, he would have believed himself the hero he always had been. Yet it was so different. Those he hunted weren't criminals, not normally. They weren't the super villains he was used to chasing every waking hour. These were regular people in a bad situation in an even worse time. He could remember the names of hundreds of others from his own world who were hardly different than those neos being arrested here.

He had come to realize that the situation here was far more complex than what was shown on the surface. Raz had given a brief overview in their initial meeting, yet from that, Steve wondered if she even knew just how convoluted everything truly was. The government here preached the message; they wanted to 'help' and 'protect'. Yet, time after time, he and other soldiers were sent out to arrest and detain newly revealed neohuman 'threats', where they were sent off to one facility or another. That wasn't help. Progress wouldn't be made by bucking against what they didn't understand, but by learning to adapt and live with the change. As someone who was literally shunted from the 1940's to the early 2000's, he could attest to that.

Why had there been no change? As the months went on, it became more apparent to Rogers that there was an underlying motive there. It reminded him of the registration movement from his own world, only more severe. That time, he'd been the first to rebel. He yearned to do the same again. But the scars from his actions then still burned fresh in his mind, the lives lost, people hurt, and families torn. By no means was Steve eager to repeat the mistakes of the past. He hoped that Tony agreed, though they'd been unable to actually meet outside of combat yet. For the moment, he decided, he would hide his discontent with the status quo, continue to earn the government and her soldier's trust. There would be a plan.

Still, six months was a long time to watch people suffering in a way Steve prayed he'd never see outside of Hitler's Germany.

It was a crisp morning. The sky was clear and bade the way for the warm rays of the sun, the heat warning of an encroaching summer. Yet the spring season called in a cool and pleasant breeze from the coast. Steve was dressed in his typical casual garb -- a skintight white t-shirt and camouflage cargo pants. His blond hair was combed neatly, chin clean shaven; and his brown army boots pounded on the dirt pathway around the track. He'd earned enough of their trust to have open use of the base's facilities, including the gym and field. So of course, as soon as he could, he was right back to training as he always had.

There wasn't much of a point. The serum racing through his veins kept his body in peak physical condition no matter the food he ate, rest he had, or exercise he did. But it was a routine that had been worked into him from his youth, training to become a soldier for the war. His empowered muscles carried him leaps and bounds faster than all the others around the oval-shaped dirt path. But even as he ran, he eyed the watchtowers and knew they were still watching. Even without an armed escort, they still kept their sights on him at all times. If they thought they were being secretive about it, Steve could laugh at their expense.

He had just lapped another group of runners for the seventh time that hour when the alarm blared to life, loud like a jet screaming overhead. Without breaking his stride, he sprinted over to the large collection of personnel scrambling outside the barracks. "What's happening?" he asked the first officer he found.

"Another portal opened over New York. First responders are en route and we're mobilizing a backup squad to support them." Steve frowned. Over New York? The fall alone would break the vagrants neck in the best case, assuming they didn't have augmented strength or another means to break their landing.

"Understood. Mind if I come along for the ride?" He was led to the helicopter, its twin rotors humming like powerful generators, and he piled in alongside a good handful of other individuals dressed in combat gear with automatic rifles. Steve could tell by each of their postures, they were all ready to shoot on sight. It disheartened him. A gun, a fist, a weapon should only be used in self defense of oneself, another, or one's beliefs. Yet these men and women were predisposed to use their weapons for violence, out of fear.

They were in the air before too long, flying at great speed towards what had since been deemed an impact crater. Whatever came through that portal had to be large to make such a big impact, but Steve wasn't prone to make a guess without seeing it for himself. As they flew, the air and whirling blades dimmed by the thick, metal walls of the transport, a voice spoke loud over the radio. "New footage from the contact zone, broadcasting to the screen." Steve immediately grimaced as the first words heard over the speaker included "freak" and "invader", even before the visuals came into focus. But as soon as they did, his attention was immediately grabbed by the man in the center of the debris.

He recognized him -- that was Banner! There was also the armored blue one, who he'd met briefly during the outbreak in Wichita but who he'd been unable to converse with. But right now, he was opposing the military force, and Steve honestly couldn't blame him. On the other side was a woman he didn't know. "Who's she?"

"Overgirl. She's one of our peacekeepers. Apparently she was in the area and came to assist when she noticed the disturbance." Peacekeeper... So they have those, now? He assumed Talos must have been one as well. But it seemed rare for a neo to actively support the government. Overgirl would be the second he'd encountered. At any rate, the situation was potentially dangerous. It was a small wonder that Banner was able to survive the fall, especially if the Hulk was active at the time. In fact, it was fortunate he had apparently been the Hulk when he arrived, as opposed to vice-versa. Otherwise they'd have a very angry beast to deal with instead of a well-mannered doctor.

Still, with everything going on, Steve was fully aware that Bruce could lose control at any moment. The military presence needed to be calmed, Dragon pacified, and Banner evacuated before things got drastically worse. "Listen up!" he stood to his feet. Admittedly, dressed in his iconic red white and blue uniform and with his bright and polished shield on his back, anyone else would have been laughed at. But considering he was a great deal larger than just about everyone else in the helicopter, he got their undivided attention. "That man is Bruce Banner. He's from my world. He's a good man, but he has a great power he cannot fully control. I can't stress how important it is we diffuse the situation and keep things as calm and collected as possible. Keep your weapons down and eyes open. I'll handle this."

Moments later, they'd landed and the back ramp lowered. Steve was the first to exit. "You heard her! Stand down!" He speedily walked to the edge of the crater. "Doctor Banner, good to see you. I apologize for the rude greeting, a lot has happened that needs to be explained. Overgirl..." He turned to the woman and nodded a greeting. "Steve Rogers, Captain America. This man is a friend of mine. I just need a moment to explain the situation, after which I'm confident everything will be resolved peacefully. I can handle that, if you'll give me some time."

He eyed Blue Dragon as well. He was a known opposition to the government. Likely he'd do what he could to stop them from escorting Bruce safely away. But with Overgirl there, perhaps she could hold him off long enough for Steve to talk to Bruce. Otherwise, there was still that chance that he'd lose control and turn into the Hulk -- a situation Steve wanted to avoid.

The Hulk Blue Dragon @karazorel

[Apologies Hulk for having him fly off the handle! Didn't mean to take over a bit, just kinda happened! Did my best in the end to shift back to you!]

"So to try to make this quick before they open fire, the government here is hunting people like us, and you are in serious d-"

The appearance of Overgirl would cause Dragon to let out an audible groan. "Oh for f*cks sake. Lady, just let me talk to the man, I'm not here to bring anyone any harm. I just want to talk. Or are you telling me that you government types are censoring freedom of speech just like you lock up everyone who-forget it, just. Look, hey, bud" He spoke as he would look toward Banner. "I recognize you, from the vision Wanda showed me, I'm here to hel-"

The arrival of another vehicle cut him short, and he was about done with this at this point. He hadn't had the time to explain to the new guy the situation before Captain America would emerge. "Again?" His brows furrowed at the emergence of the man who he detested so much. The man who he'd tried to help, the man who had taken Wanda's care for him, looking up to him... And turned around and tried to hunt her like a freak. His irises flashed a light crimson for a moment as his anger began to flare up but he would keep it in check. He knew already that the Captain and this guy were confidantes... But he also knew that this poor sod was about to be misled. It was when Banner would ask the question, that he would interject.

"I can answer that for you" He spoke as he stepped forward, stopping to look Steve dead in the eyes as if to warn him not to make a move. "I'm not here to start a fight. I'm fully aware I'm no match in a three on one situation anyway" He remarked bluntly as he turned to Banner, though kept on guard at all times in case any of them made a move. "By what I know from the folks from your world who have crashed here, portals have been popping up and dropping folks from different worlds here, most of which are superpowered types. The government here is hunting them down, whether they be good or bad, or have powers or not, and they're never seen again. Rumor is they're being experimented on, but I can't prove that... All I know is I've lost some good friends, and I do need to discuss that little plot point with the Captain here... So that's more or less your skinny on the situation. Martial law, curfews, and if vagrants or neos-we call powered people here neos-are caught they do that thing I mentioned... Or they end up like Cap here and hunt their own down for them. Fun, fun, fun...

Speaking of, if you don't mind me using this chance to talk to the Captain... I'll leave you to think about the situation for a minute, since these guys are clearly trying to put the pressure on for a quick decision before they decide whether you work for them willingly, or they clamp you in irons. And I've been meaning to talk to Mr. America here for some time..."

With that, he would look around then toward the small army around them, at Overgirl, and at Captain America. "So let me get this off my chest... I am getting REAL SICK of this, by the way. What have I done since I got here? Your reports might say different, but since I've gotten to America, I'm a native of this world by the way and grew up totally normal human until sh!t happened... I've stopped gang efforts, I've saved people who take a wrong turn... I've stopped drug operations, I've stopped robberies... I helped with your zombie problem, you were there, Cap... I stopped a literal f*cking terrorist attack, but my favorite one... Is the one where I tried to stop a bank robbery when a few non-friendly neos tried to rob it. For several days, reports air showing me saying, and some of you might be slow, so listen carefully... I... Am here... To HELP! And then suddenly that report is replaced with sayings of..." He trailed off as he would begin to take a mocking tone. "Oh, the neos destroyed the bank! That Blue guy destroyed the bank, send the hunters after him, la dee daaaaa!" He spoke, finding a moment to glare at pretty much everyone around him. "They legitimately consider you to be so stupid, that they think that because you've apparently not seen a television report that ran for a few days, you're just gonna take everything they say at face value."

He was sick of this, absolutely sick of this. He'd tried, and he'd tried so hard to hold it in, but he couldn't help but start to fly off the handle.

"So here's the question... Why are they hunting me, right? Think about it. It's obviously not because I'm doing anything wrong... So why else? Maybe it's because I've made it clear that people shouldn't have to fear neos... Maybe it's because I've made it clear that not all neos are bad... Publicly. It's almost like they like having martial law and more room to control the populace... Hmmm.... HMMMMMMM..."

Dragon finds himself shrugging his shoulders.

"But maybe my words are falling on deaf ears like usual, and none of you actually care. Maybe you just like the power that comes with putting poor sods like me behind the slammer because it saves your own skins. I get it, people suck, gang killed my family when I was a kid, so if that's how you are... Well, I'll just get to the point. I'm sick of it! Damn sick of it! And I'm damn sick of you pulling folks like the newbie here... Doctor Banner, he said your name was, right? Damn sick of you pulling folks like him, who don't have a clue, into your people-catching business. But there's one thing I'm even more sick of..."

Dragon turns and stands face to face with Captain America. The next word comes in a seethe...

"You..."

He pauses for a moment, his irises beginning to become more prominent a crimson color.

"I know who you are... Steve Rogers. Captain America. Wanda showed me visions of you, and the Avengers, and the things you've done, things she recalls fondly. She looked up to you, you know? And I'll admit... Until awhile ago, I had a bit of a crisis. I wasn't accomplishing my goals, I was frustrated... And then I saw those visions. I saw you put a team together, of extraordinary folks, to help people. You proved that people who are in situations like I'm in... Have a place. That they can do something. You taught me that I didn't have to do this alone! She looked up to you, she IDOLIZED YOU!"

Dragon couldn't help but growl those last few words...

"And so did I. I couldn't help it. You were like a superhero right out of a comic book, leading your team to help people, and sticking to what you believed in, and that was freedom! I couldn't help it, you inspired me, YOU DID THAT! I have been able to keep going, I have been able to stick to this mission of mine... BECAUSE! OF! YOU!"

Dragon wasn't able to keep his cool anymore. The playfulness, the humor, it was all gone. Just the sight of Cap had set him off. As the moments passed, he became more and more emotional as he couldn't help but pour out his heart. Pour out his anger and his sorrow...

"And I told myself, that if you were to pop into this world as well, I would help you. And there you came through that portal... You remember, don't you? I doubt you'd recognize me... But that was me under that hood when you first came here. I wanted to fill you in, help you escape and blend in... I wanted to have a talk before I brought you to Wanda so she could have some peace of mind after worrying about you for so long! I wanted to thank you, Cap! I wanted to thank you for a hundred different things! But... But I never got to. That hunter showed up, and... You went willingly.

I hoped, and I hoped, and I prayed... That you would escape. Wanda and I looked for you, we did our best... And then you re-emerge as one of them. You re-emerge as the very thing that people who come here from another world... Or people who have lived here all their lives and have suddenly ended up like I have... You re-emerged as what they feared. I don't know why you did it. Did you just want to save your own skin? Is that why people that Wanda trusted, people who called themselves Avengers... Turned around and became nothing but enforcers and oppressors? Does that make you happy, Cap? Huh? Does it? Does it make you happy knowing that you've traded the lives and livelihoods of HUNDREDS of innocent people, to save your own hide? Or what, maybe you believe in some kind of justice bulls*it that they're feeding you? I honestly don't care.

All I know is... The longer time went on, the more I heard about you hunting down people like me, people like you... Selling them to people that deep down you know aren't keeping them safe... The more it dawned on the both of us what you'd become. The man we looked up to, the man who inspired us... There's nothing left of him now."

He found himself growing quieter now, as his irises would begin to return to normal. Finally, he just... Shook his head.

"The Avengers Initiative she told me about... It inspired me. Now all my inspiration is, is reduced to a few guys who called themselves it's leaders... Clapping in irons the very same type of people they tried to protect back in their world. Just because they're a little different. Am I a freak to you, Cap? Am I a monster to you? Under this armor, I'm a human being, just like you. I had a family, I had dreams, I have emotions and feelings. Why should you get to express yours without fear just because you hunt down your own kinsmen... While I don't, just because I have a conscience?

The very same people who idolized you... Are the ones who you now want locked away. How do you think that makes me feel? How do you think that makes Wanda feel? I care about her so much... And I'll never forgive you for destroying her like that. For hunting her down like an animal."

Dragon let out a sigh in turn as he would begin to back up.

"We're not the monsters here, Cap...

You're the monster."

With that, he would look around. If at any point they'd opened fire on him, he'd have left the scene, but if he'd been left uninterrupted until this point, he would speak one last time.

"If the man wishes to go with you willingly, I will not stop him. I will not fight, I will not get in your way. I will walk away peacefully. No incident. You have my word, and you have my warrior's honor.

But if he does not wish to go, I will do everything in my power to ensure you can't force him. Even if it kills me. Because..."

One last time, he looked Cap dead in the eyes.

"Someone needs to do the job you're neglecting."

Had someone said something about keeping Banner calm and cool? It didn't hit him until after he began to calm down. Oversize months of holding all of that in, he couldn't help but explode at the sight of Steve. His gaze slowly moved toward Banner, with a bit more of a cautious tint to his look. He would help the man if he could, of course. He'd promised. But if he wanted to go with them willingly... He would allow it. His job was not to force people into a side. His job was to help the ones who wanted freedom.

So the question became then... What did Banner want?

It could have gone either way. This Bruce Banner could have come from any number of realities. In one respect, it could have ben one where he was with the Avengers, helping them save people with his muscle-bound alter-ego, directing an immeasurable rage towards evil and its vessels. Or, in the direct opposite sense, he could have been a Hulk who directly despised working with them, the very same one who fought bitterly against the X-Men and won, who wanted nothing but vengeance against Tony Stark, Dr. Strange, Namor, and the rest of that well meaning illumanati. Steve had realized that, yet still marched forward and beckoned towards Banner's more reasonable side. That of friendship.

Fortunately, his guess proved to be correct. Banner loosened visibly on merely sighting Steve, and affirmed that they were good friends even where he came from. The soldier prevented him from being outwardly revealing, but there was a passing feeling of relief there. Overgirl aside, who he didn't know, there were none present who could withstand the wrath of a very angry Hulk. Steve knew if he was wrong and this was the Hulk that hated mankind then it was entirely possible his tenure on this earth could have ended then and there.

The tension lifted when the soldiers realized Steve was right, and that they did in fact know one another. Granted, their distrust was nearly palpable. Friends they were, but both Steve and Bruce were vagrants in this world so openly hostile to them. Even while this could be resolved peacefully, there was no easy road ahead of them. Protecting Bruce from this world became a priority, at least until they were given a chance to explain everything fully. Also... Bruce needed to learn the truth as soon as possible, but finding the opportunity to tell him without the government's over-reaching ears would be no small task.

They'd had just enough time to shake hands, Steve's drastically dwarfing Banner's, and for Bruce to ask the question, before Dragon intervened. He could almost hear the officials back at base yelling at him for not saying anything, but he didn't. Not while Dragon talked about the vagrants, not while Dragon talked about the hunters, not even while Dragon talked about the rumors of experimentation. No, Steve said nothing, merely waiting and watching. There was nothing to say. While he'd recommend tact, all the same he'd never been one to stop another from speaking their mind. This wasn't a dictatorship, this wasn't Germany, no matter how badly the government or society teetered dangerously in that direction.

And yes, he remained silent even as Dragon approached him and spat a verbal lashing right in Steve's face. He waited patiently as Dragon went on, an emotional tirade that included everything from justification, the framing, media brainwashing, the past and how iconic Steve had managed to become even here, the shame Dragon felt that they'd been betrayed... Not a word nor even intent to speak once crossed Steve's mind. Not owing to that he had no defense -- he had plenty, and given a more private setting the Captain would have left no details out in explaining everything. But here; here there were soldiers, police, the media was overhead, and Overgirl who he still didn't know. Letting his demeanor drop now would betray everything he'd worked for.

It would ruin months of gaining their trust.

So yes, Steve remained silent. Even as Dragon claimed he was a monster. And a monster he was on the surface, even while every fiber of his being screamed at him that this was all wrong. Even while he yearned to drop every single one of the military members here with one quick swipe of his shield and escape with Bruce and Dragon in tow. Even while he wanted to go to Tony and tell him they needed to do something, anything, to stop the hurting, to take this corrupt government and smash it to the ground. He desired nothing more than for all of that, but he couldn't. Not yet, not now. Because Dragon was right, people were going missing. Now that he'd met Talos, he had a hunch the experimentation wasn't too far off either. If that was true... Those people needed to be rescued.

It was a surprise, however, that Overgirl was the one that decided to answer. She confronted him, asking him to come along with them so they could all chat peacefully. While Steve would prefer that outcome, he also knew that Dragon wasn't about to agree to that. Especially not after the rant he'd just given. But in her plea, she'd said something that caught Steve off guard. She said she'd seen nothing... Nothing of the arrests, the disappearances... None of it. She said she 'wouldn't stand for it'. What caught him off guard wasn't that she insinuated he wouldn't either -- no, in any other situation, he wouldn't.

She didn't know.

In that moment, Steve came to the realization that there was even more going on than met the eye. For most of the soldiers, himself included, the arrests were a fairly commonly known thing. Raz, Talos and himself had just recently apprehended Calamity in Los Angelas, which was broadcast to every television in the States. Yet, despite how well known it was that they were actively hunting down neos they deemed dangerous, she claimed to not know. If that was the case... Then maybe they were looking straight in the eyes of the aftermath of the rumored experimentation. Maybe Talos wasn't the only one.

"Let him go." Captain America spoke softly, yet with no lack of authority. "We're here to make sure everything gets resolved peacefully. If Blue Dragon is willing to walk away without conflict, let him. I would like to talk, but now is not the time or place. Right now our priority is getting Doctor Banner to safety before there's a riot. Let's move." This, he directed at Overgirl, but when he turned back to Banner he spoke more quietly. "You do have the choice, but it needs to be made fast."

In the event Banner decided to run away, Steve knew he could only stall the soldiers and police for so long before they would give chase -- and of course doing so would severely compromise his position. But for a friend, that much was worth it. Because Dragon was right, and Bruce was a very smart man. Steve wouldn't blame him or be surprised if he decided to go the other way. Ideally, however, it would be more preferred if the doctor came with them. In the end, the choice belonged to the newly arrived. Steve would respect, and do what he could to support, whatever that decision turned out to be.



The Hulk  Blue Dragon  @karazorel

He'd gotten it all out of his system, at least. He'd found himself calming down from that moment and the more that time passed without the others causing problems, the more his eyes began to revert back to their natural color. Although Kara did happen to bring up him aiming a fireball at a soldier. "If you can see that far, then you saw the guns go up first, darling" He spoke calmly, but firmly, staring a hole through her for a moment. The order was given for him to be brought in. "I wouldn't" He spoke toward the handler. "I do not wish to bring anyone harm, please do not force me to. I will defend myself if you make me do so, but I swear I will not harm a soul if you do not try to force bringing myself or Dr. Banner in." Though to Dragon's surprise, both Steve and Bruce ordered for him to be let go. His darted darted toward Cap in surprise before he would get back his bearings. Taking a deep breath, he would nod his head. "Thank you" He spoke quietly, unsure of how to take this.

He didn't understand. Why was Cap asking for him to be let go? Even he could admit he wouldn't blame him if he was mad at him, he'd unleashed utter hell at him, even if it'd been bubbling up for months and months now. The Cap he was seeing now was akin to the Cap he'd seen in those visions, the one that he'd idolized. But he was capturing innocent people, to be brought to god knows where and having god knows what done! He didn't understand.

Though Kara indicating that Cap wouldn't stand for these kinds of things got a look for him. Did she not know? Did she not know that was what they were doing? This just got more and more complicated. Was she new? Regardless, the decision was made. Bruce Banner would be going with his friends, which he expected, but he still wanted to be there to be a guardian for him if he needed one. It was his job, after all.

Then it came time to answer the question about joining them. He let out a long exhale, as he looked toward Kara again. This time, there was no anger in his eyes, no anger in his tone. Actually, he more just seemed... Sad.

"... I wish I could."

That was an interesting admission, but he would continue.

"Do you think I want to be some fugitive, someone working against the government? Being falsely labelled a terrorist that people fear? No! That's not what I want!" He would admit, his hands gripping into fists as his emotions began to flare up again. "I came here because there are horrible people from where I come from, doing horrible things. Long before I got my powers, I had to sit there and live that for years, and I hated that I couldn't do a damn thing. Now I can do something, and I'm hated for it when all I want to do is help!

Now I've found another purpose, and I found that purpose because of him" He spoke, pointing toward Steve. "He's why I want to foster peace between humans of all kinds, with powers or not. And he taught me that you can't always accomplish everything alone. That it's okay to have help, that you don't have to bear that burden alone. If I could accomplish that by working with you... I would. I would go with you in a heartbeat.

But... I don't think I'd be doing the right thing."

He let out another exhale as he tried to keep his composure.

"All of this... All of this martial law, all of this kidnapping neos from the streets, hell I come here and the first thing I hear is your friends over there calling Doctor Banner a freak. And the uncertainty around the rumor of experimentation... Fueled further by the super soldiers I've encountered, the ones that are from this world.

I... I'm sorry. I can't. I can't do something if I don't know for sure if I'm doing the right thing. If I continued to have doubts, I could never forgive myself if I joined you.

All I want is to know I'm doing the right thing."

An idea came to mind then, and after a moment of thought, he would voice it.

"Look... There is a man that I know is in your captivity. He goes by Deadpool. He was captured close to a year ago, and has completely disappeared. By what I know about him, and what I've been told by him by those who know him... He is not the type of person to go quiet unless he is being forced to.

I want to talk to him. I want him temporarily released and to find out what's really going on in there. I need to know if he's okay, I need to know he's not hurt. I want to hear it from his mouth. I want to know for sure that I am doing the right thing, and I think that's the best way to know.

If ever you find you can find a way to do that... I will consider."

His expression, though mostly hidden behind the helmet, and his tone indicated he was sorely worried about the man. But it also indicated sincerity in what he was saying. But with that, it was time to get going before the soldiers got antsy. So he looked toward Cap first.

"I wish I could stay and we could talk. I want to know why you decided to do this. Why a man like you would do these things... I don't know why you let me go, but I want to think that the real Captain America is still in there somewhere. Maybe... Maybe that's just me being overly hopeful, but I want to believe that's true. Part of me wants to believe that you're being deceived... That maybe you just don't know what's going on. Unfortunately, if I stay much longer, I may lose that opportunity to leave, so...

I... I'm sorry. For yelling at you. I've had a long time to stew on that, and it just... All came out in that moment. And... Thank you. For letting me go. But most of all... I hope that if the real Cap is in there somewhere, I hope that he searches himself, looks around him... And makes a decision. When you're ready to do that, when you're ready to fight for freedom, like you seemed to before... Wanda and I will be waiting."

He turned to Banner then, and held out a hand to shake. "I wish I could do more" He would admit somberly. "But I can't, and won't take you away from here against your will. All I can do is sincerely wish you the best. And know that if they try anything, if they try to imprison or harm you... Look for me. I have your back if you need me. On a warrior's honor, I swear to that."

With that, he would make a motion for the group to stand back a bit as he would back away from them, and allow his wings to appear. Nodding his head in respectful farewell, Dragon would summon a fireball and slam it to the ground, creating a field of smoke that would obstruct their vision. In the center of it, he would use the velocity of the fireball to shoot himself into the air, before rocketing off at full speed to clear the area as quickly as he could.

Finally, some good news. As the chaos around them wound down, slowing like the propellers of the helicopter as it remained rested to a stop, Steve had a moment to appreciate that everything didn't have to always be resolved with violence in this world. In his own, it was an issue too, but at least his name carried enough wait that sometimes - sometimes - he was able to stop a conflict before it started, diplomatically. For once, he came to the front lines, met a friendly and familiar face, and everyone got to walk away.

He finally understood how Raz felt.

Dragon's words likely struck a cord with Bruce more than they did with the Captain. Steve, for his part, knew that Dragon spoke out of an ignorance of what went on behind the scenes, and his anger was something Steve would never judge him for. It was well founded, but misplaced. However, the term "monster" took a very real meaning with Bruce Banner on the scene. He could appreciate internally that Bruce could take the words literally in his case, yet never took offense to it. He was a good man, in some cases without rival. That goodness permeated in the Hulk at times. Steve could only shudder at the thought that a being more corrupt in nature could have the Hulk's power instead.

Steve sighed inaudibly when Banner agreed to go with him. Part of him hoped Bruce would decide to run away and fight for neos, or at least go into hiding, rather than get himself involved in this mess of a government. But the other part acknowledged that Banner was a long time friend and ally, and his support would be invaluable, especially in the long run of figuring out what was going on with the neos. Not to mention, if things came to blows, the Hulk could very well be their ace in the hole. Or their undoing, if the soldiers took a dislike to the green giant and earned his rage. It was a double edged sword. But if he was lucky, Hulks ability to be a perpetual wildcard would actually come in handy, down the road.

He watched on, carefully but loosely, as Dragon declined Kara's offer. It was a predictable decision, and his reasons were understandable; in face, Steve sympathized. He had his own doubts that he was doing the right thing at all, that all this time earning the government's trust just to figure out what was really going on was time wasted, time he could spend doing what he yearned to do, to save people. He desired for nothing more than to stop hunting down people like Peyton, people with power and the free will to use it to benefit the world, and help them get away. Lead them in their freedom, as he'd done before. But that world also fell into a brutal civil war. Was it worth it, in the end?

"I don't think Wade would even know how to answer..." He commented, the Merc with a Mouth's rambling still audible in his ear even now. How Peter put up with it for so long, he would never know; and Captain America had a lot of patience. Still, it begged the question; Steve learned of Deadpool's appearance and subsequent capture not long after he arrived. Since then, he'd asked about Wade a handful of times, only briefly to allay suspicion, and each time he'd been given answers that differed from the last. Some claimed ignorance, some indicated animosity, and some decided it was classified information. Each time, Steve knew they were hiding the real reason. It didn't take a genius to realize that someone with Wade's healing factor would be like a gold mine if some mad scientist got their hands on him. The experiments? He wouldn't doubt it for a minute.

"But he's one of ours." he alluded to those brought here from his own universe, like Tony or Bruce. "If I can get in touch with him, I will." Dragon went on again, indicating that Steve wasn't the Steve that he should be - if he only knew - and that if the Captain would change his mind, they'd be waiting. Likely Dragon had no idea how much Steve wanted to bash every soldier nearby to the ground and leave with them all, but it was not the time or place. Not yet. Soon, if everything worked out that way. Yet for now he would remain silent and continue feigning loyalty to this government and the society it weaved. Dragon made his exit in an impressive blast of smoke, as he took flight and escaped.

For Overgirl's part, she bade her goodbyes. Steve had a moment to nod her head before she took off without another word, and just about as fast as Sentry had many times before. That one struck him as odd. Her ignorance of the kidnappings and the rumors was impossible to believe. Not if she was a neo human from this world. Even Talos knew that much. Yet unlike Talos, she shared her desire to talk about everything. To sit down, have a discussion, and even work with Dragon to bring some sense of peace to this world. What was really going on in her head? Perhaps if he could track her down again, they could have an actual discussion about her past and her place, but it would have to wait. Especially because she was already a good five miles or more away.

He turned back to Banner, it was time to go. "Glad you decided to come along. Like I said, we have a lot to talk about. Hopefully I can get most things cleared up by the time we're back to base. Everything else will have to wait until later." There were many things Steve couldn't tell Bruce during the helicopter ride. Not with the other soldiers present. If there was a moment they could find to chat without big brother watching over them, Steve would take it. With Bruce, and with Tony. They were the Avengers, and they weren't always on the same page, but Steve had a good feeling that in this case the three of them would likely agree -- the rumors were growing more and more to be something very real.

And the very real experimentation and abductions, and snuffing out of freedom, was unacceptable in any form of America.



The Hulk  Blue Dragon  @karazorel