Becoming Captain America had been an honor. John didn't want to be like Steve or dishonor the original Cap's memory, but as Captain America, he felt like he could finally make a difference. He could do what he needed to do without some C.O. calling him off. He had his best buddy by his side. Life was, well... it wasn't exactly good, but it hadn't been half bad.

Then the whole situation with the Flash Smashers and Bucky and Sam had happened. He'd attempted to play nice. Even when they'd freed Baron goddamn Zemo from prison, he'd let them do what the wanted to do, temporarily of course.

He'd thought Sam was a dumbass for trying to reason with Karli right after Mama Donya's - or whatever her name was- funeral. In his experience reasoning with the enemy alone was one helluva easy way to meet your maker. He didn't survive three goddamn Medals of Honor by trying to reason with those who couldn't be reasoned with. He would never admit it, but yes, he was worried about Sam.

He truly didn't want to find a red stain as all that was left of the Falcon if Karli - who was a super soldier while Sam was just a guy - decided she didn't want to talk and just started attacking. As the minutes had dragged on, he'd be the first to admit he may have gotten too antsy. He definitely jumped the switch a little too early and pitched the whole 'reasoning' plan to the wind. But it was just another screw up in a long line of them. In the end, good beats bad, right? He'd find a way to get Karli behind bars even if it'd be the last thing he did.

He never thought it would escalate to this. Lemar was captured in an op. John's nest friend and the only man he comlpletely trusted was in the hands of terriosts. He wasn't a super soldier and neither was John. It was stupid to think the pair of them could take the Flagsmashers without direct help from at least Bucky or Sam. But they'd been directly speaking to Karli, unaware she'd sprung a trap in an effort to kill John, and Captain America, for good. Bucky and Sam had fought their way to John only to hear Lemar had been captured.

John had fought his way along Bucky and Sam, trying to find his brother in arms with no luck. Until he found him. He'd caught a glimpse of his uniform flying through the air before slamming into a rock pillar and just crumpling.

All the enemies seemed to pause, realizing a man had just been killed brutally. John staggered up to the body of his longest friend, in a slight daze.

He kneeled down, "Hey. Hey. Hey. He- hey. Lemar. Lemar." He tried to revive the man, patting his cheek, jostling his head. His voice grew more desperate, more scared, "Lemar. Lemar. Lemar." No response. He was dead. Killed by a goddamn, motherf**king terroist.

The damn cowards seemed to realize they'd messed up as they turned tail and started to run. That was ok. Oh that was fiinnneee... John needed to get even. He needed to trade his friend's, his brother's, life for one of theirs.

While Sam and Bucky chased them through the corridors, John took a more direct route, out the window. He spotted the face of the main guy in charge and took after him like a homing missile. As a trash can was thrown at him, he destroyed it with his shield, "Where is she!?"

He didn't give the man time to answer before flinging the shield at him over and over, not letting him speak. The man collapsed against a fountain. They were in the middle of a city square but John was too focused on revenge and finding out where he'd be able to find Karli to end her to realize.

The shield came down once, then twice... then it was over. The man went limp.

John breathed heavily, quivering almost. He staggered back. It was over. This guy was done. He didn't even pay attention to all the phones and cameras pointed at him while doing it, but he did now.

He'd. Fucked. Up.