Cap and Chief square off on a smoky battlefield. Both are at home here. Both are survivors...and weapons. Cap eyeballs the Spartan II's armor. He's seen the design for the Cape Killers that Tony sicked on him during the Civil War. This looked like a more advanced type of those. That meant he could count on the green giant standing before him to be fast and strong. Judging by the stance, loose and ready, he is a fighter too. Chief did a tactical appraisal of the gaudily dressed man before him. Its at times like this he missed Cortana. But Chief Mendez, a hard man and teacher, taught him to fight with more than his tools. So Chief used his mind. The man reminded him of the coin Halsey had given him all those years ago... But the man's fighting stance gave away his skill. Chief was facing off against a pro. Best to end things quickly. Chief raised his MA5 and let loose a volley that he hoped would knock the man back, maybe him dodge. Surprisingly, the man raised a round shield that deflected every AP round at it. John shift his aim, and the man seemed to know where John would aim next. The distance between the two closed as the last round left the barrel... Cap knew from the first twitch that he was in for a fight. He got his shield up and started to close the distance between the two. He knew that a fight at range, when he didn't have a gun, would be a disadvantage. He saw the armored soldier adjust his aim and he did the same with his shield. He crashed into the man and sensed something surrounding him... some sort of force field. Tony put those on the Avenger's training robots sometimes. You never new when the villains would be funded by Doom or the Tinkerer and have them. The impact knocked John back and weakened his shield by half. Whoever this man is, he's strong and as fast as an unarmored Spartan. John grabbed the man and pulled him back, looking to roll and come up on top for the killing blow. Steve knew this maneuver. He taught it to other Avengers. He countered it and landed several hits with the edge of his shield that seemed to dissipate the other man's force-field. He landed several punches to the visor, hoping to get a crack, and limit the other man's vision. He was rewarded with a snapping noise, and a noticeable crack sideways where his fist landed. John allowed himself a small amount of panic. Sometimes the adrenaline would help, and it did here. He managed to grapple the other man, removing him from above, and getting him below. The visor of his helmet was badly cracked. His visibility was reduced with it. He knew he'd have to ditch it and had to get some distance to do that. He got an armored boot under and flung the other man 10 meters to his right. He jumped to his feet and pried the helmet off. Steve watched the other man get his distance and appraised what happened. The other soldier, he thought of him that way now, was stronger than him, but about as fast. The man seemed well versed on combatitives, and some limited martial arts. The kind taught to special operations units. Steve could handle this. It might cost him, but he was confident the other soldier would lose. He watched the man remove his helmet. What he saw made his heart miss a beat. This is what he pictured Stark or Rhodes must look like had they been born in their armor. The man was too pale. Like he never saw the sun. Scars dotted his face, giving the grim look in his face an other worldly toughness. But, below it all Steve sensed a fellow soldier, one he could understand. John watched the man observing him. Never taking his eyes off of him. He was a threat, and so far the toughest fight of his life. He underestimated the man, he wouldn't allow that to happen again. He waded in. Their motions were a blur. John knew he was stronger, but the other man didn't give him a chance to use this advantage. Steve's analysis began to prove true. The armor was the key. If he could only...there! A gauntlet ripped free. At least Steve wouldn't have to dodge a metal fist... Chief began to worry. The man seemed intent on removing the Mjolnir armor from his body during the fight! He'd lose a big advantage if that were gone. Yet piece by piece he was losing it. He had both gauntlets taken, as well as a boot. It wouldn't be long before he'd be in his under-suit. Cap went to work. With each armor piece the man seemed to slow down a little, and become more and more workable. Steve couldn't feel anything but pity. The man was clearly attached to this armor, more so than Stark ever was. He felt the same way for his shield. But a good soldier knows how to adapt, he was sure this kindred spirit in front of him would, and he hoped he would be ready... Chief knew he had to adjust his fighting style. The two men were playing to different strategies. Chief was trying to take the other man out, while the other was just holding his own and taking pop-shots at removing his armor. This strategy appeared to work as his waist and chest pieces fell to the ground. John decided that the man would also lose his armor. He had to keep it even. Steve dodged what he thought was an attempt at an uppercut, but sprung backwards in surprise as his scale mail was torn from him. Also, his shield, which had been with him from WWII was knocked from his grasp. He fought without it before, but he didn't like it. John allowed himself some grim satisfaction as the warriors cowl and armor was stripped away. Suddenly Chief felt a new stirring. One he thought the Halsey and her augmentations had removed. The man in front of him was attractive. In way that john found irresistible. Judging by the way the other man stood, he felt similarly. Steve stood there, looking at the lust in the other man's eyes. Everyone always assumed that Captain America was married to his country. That he didn't need relationships. The truth is that he was ashamed by how he was born. So he suppressed it. Now, with this soldier who looked as abused as he was, he found someone who he could share his real self with! The two men rushed in, half trying to strike the other, but when they brushed chests, their lips met.... and well... the rest is for another day. They would eventually tie the knot, and open Steve and John's Furniture Restoration and Organic Produce in New Hampshire.