DA Chapter 11

Finding Home Chapter 6

Chapter 5

Natasha stands in the middle of the room, waiting for the two men to leave before turning to face me.

“Sorry about outing you like that,” she says innocently.

“It’s fine. Tony would have found out eventually anyway.”

“So?”

“So?” I look at her with a raised brow.

“You and Barnes?” She smiles.

“Not happening, Nat.” I laugh.

“Oh, come on. You can tell me anything! We’re best friends!” she whines.

I throw my arm over her shoulders, pulling her in with a light squeeze. “You’re right, we are. And I love you, младшая сестра (younger sister). But I’m not telling you about Barnes.” There is no way I can tell her; it’s too painful a memory, even to share with my sister.

I turn, walking toward the bags hanging at the back of the room, leaving her in the middle to pout.

Finding some tape, I wrap my hands. Nat follows before long and stands behind the bag I am taking some frustrations out on. Holding it tight, she makes sure it doesn’t move each time my fist connects with it.

We make small talk, with her trying to understand what had happened to me.

“I know you won’t talk about Barnes, but can you at least tell me why you left us?”

“I just couldn’t play the ‘good guy’ anymore, Nat,” I reply between strikes.

“That’s crap. You relished being on the side of righteousness with Rogers.” She laughs.

“That’s beside the point.” I shake my head, holding back a laugh.

“From one super-soldier to another, huh? They must be excellent in the romance department.” She quips.

“You know I don’t kiss and tell.” I wink.

“Tell me the truth. Why did you run off? No note, no warning, no nothing. No one could find you. It was like you disappeared.”

“That was the point,” I say flatly. “Look, promise not to tell anyone?”

“You know me.” She cocks her head, giving a somewhat quizzical look.

“Exactly.” I laugh, “so, again, promise not to tell anyone?”

“Promise. What was it?”

“Barnes. All roads lead to Barnes, Natalia.”

“What about him?”

“I helped Steve with him once he broke out after being triggered by that low-life doctor. He remembered me; he trusted me, not Rogers. When he was - himself again, I couldn’t be around him.”

“So why choose to stay now?”

“He doesn’t remember our past now. Not after Wakanda.”

“You know you had us scared something happened, right?”

“I’m sorry. I probably could have done things differently, but in that moment, I was taken over by what few emotions I may have, and I ran. Rather than face everything, I fell back into old habits.”

“But not even Fury could find you?”

“As I said, that was the goal.” I finally step away from the bag.

Breathing heavy, with sweat pouring down my face, I step back and reste my back against the wall.

“I’m sorry, Nat. I had to go deep - go back to being a shadow - to make sure there was no way he’d find me.” I slide down the wall.

“But, we found you anyway?”

I look up at her with narrow eyes, and my head cocked to the side. “On accident. You guys weren’t looking for me. You were there on a mission and happened to stumble into my latest assignment.”

“Maybe. But we found you.” She smirks. “We can argue details later; let’s see if you still have what it takes to work with us.”

I shrug, standing from my spot. Maybe a little hand-to-hand combat wouldn't hurt.

After spending two long hours training with Natasha on the mat, we finally decide to call it quits. We are both tired and sore and ready for some much-needed rest.

Making our way from the elevator to our rooms, we part ways on her floor. She goes off to her bedroom, and I continue up to the level I had shared with Steve when I would stay at the Tower.

With some minor changes made from Tony’s original design, we had three rooms we could choose from. Looking down the narrow hall, I see the three solid doors. Steve had taken the first room on the right, and I claimed the single bedroom on the left. The last room, on the right side of the hall to the end, was left empty. I never asked Steve why he had requested three bedrooms or who he had hoped would fill the third, but I was sure I knew who was residing in there now.

Slowly opening the door, I just stand in the doorway and look around. Everything is how I’d left it, down to the weapons still being in their places around the room. The only thing that has changed is the sheets.

I hear the door behind me click open. Just as I suspected, I watch as Bucky steps inside and closes the door.

While staring at his door, I hear silent steps approaching behind me.“You kept it just the way I left it, huh?” I say before he can even open his mouth.

Turning around, I look up at Steve’s delicate features. That signature smile of Roger’s can still make my knees weak.

Maybe staying wasn’t such a great idea, after all, I think to myself.

“Why would I change it? I knew you’d be back eventually, and I knew you’d try to kill me if anything had changed.” He chuckles. “Besides, even I haven’t been back in the Tower that long.”

“True.” I smile. “But, you did touch my bed.” I poke him in the chest.

“I changed them while you were with Nat. I wanted to make sure you had fresh sheets, just like you like them.” He steps a little closer.

“Steve…” I lock my eyes with him, trying to judge what he is thinking.

“I don’t expect things to be like they were. Especially since Bucky is here.” He speaks softly, running his hands down each of my arms. “I’m just glad you’re back. And safe. Believe me; I’m more than happy as friends.” He leans down and presses a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Goodnight, Marena.”

Turning, he makes his way back to his room, closing the door after offering one last smile.

I walk into my room, close and lock the door, and make my way to the bathroom. After a quick shower, I throw on a T-shirt and shorts and crawl into bed. It doesn’t take long before sleep washes over me. Despite being a light sleeper, I always got the best rest in the Tower. It is the only place where the nightmares seem less frequent.

Chapter 7 - Masterlist - Tag List @lostinwonderland314

Finding Home Chapter 12

Chapter 11

Arriving in the training room, I put my headphones in and start my music. I have pent-up frustration, and I need to hit something. Repeatedly.

After taping my hands, I decide the best way not to kill anyone would be to focus on the bags.

Hit after hit, I watch the bag sway slightly. The longer I work, the more aggressive I get. My mind racing, almost drowning out the sound of the music in my ears.

Why does he have to look so damn perfect? Why can’t I get him out of my damn head? Why does he have to be the last person I think about each night? Let alone the first one to cross my mind in the mornings. Maybe I should take a vacation? A weekend away from this damn building? Yea, like Tony, would let you take a vacation after the last time you left. I guess you got a point there. He’d send someone to keep an eye on me. Maybe.

I had completely lost track of time. That is until Steve comes in and taps me on the shoulder.

I turn and look at him, giving a half-assed smile. I continue with the bag, finishing the combination of strikes I had started. With one final hit, the bag bursts and falls from its chain.

I take my headphones off and set my phone aside. Covered in sweat, I grab a towel and wipe my face off.

“Huh. And here I thought I was the only one who did that.” He walks over and grabs a new bag as if it were nothing, hooking it up before turning his attention back to me.

“Yea, well, it’s amazing what I can do when I’m…” I let my voice trail off, not wanting to say the wrong thing.

“Look, Marena, about Bucky…”

My eyes widen ever so slightly as I look up at him. “What about him?”

“He knows most of his past by now. He knows some of the things that Hydra made him do. But we could only fill him in on so much. None of us were there with him during any of it; all we had to go off was the information we knew and the details he could remember from his nightmares. It was like putting together a puzzle without being able to see the final picture. The only constant he ever sees, though, is you.”

He pauses, trying to read my reactions to his words.

“But this history you two have,” he takes a step toward where I stand. “You’re the only one who really knows anything about it.”

“Yea, well, maybe that’s for the best.” I turn to walk away.

“I’m not so sure,” he grabs my arm as I try to pass. “I know you still have feelings for him, I saw that the last time you helped us, and every time you lock eyes with him since you’ve been back.”

“Just drop it, okay?” I growl, pulling my arm free of his hand.

“Want to talk about it?” His voice is calm, comforting, even pleading.

“Steve, I know you want to help and all, and I appreciate it. But, this--this is something that I’d rather not bring up. It’s something I have tried to forget but can’t.” I start to make my way toward the door yet again.

“Maybe if you talk to someone about it? Get it off your chest and give yourself a chance to -?”

“You know, maybe a part of me doesn’t want to forget it?” I turn back to face him. “Maybe a part of me wishes that the Soldier was still here? The Bucky I knew, rather than the one you know. I know what he’s gone through; I know what he’s done. Here’s the thing, though, Steve…”

I watch as he takes a small step back as if recoiling from my words. “I know how to bring the Soldier back. But I’m smarter than that. I know what it would do. Bringing him back would destroy the Bucky that you know now. I can’t have my Soldier - my Bucky - back. I’ve accepted that. But to be around the new Bucky? -”

Steve could read the emotion in my eyes, despite my efforts to hide it. He knows I still feel something for Bucky, but he doesn’t understand why I ran off and avoided him. He doesn’t know what I don’t want Bucky to remember.

“Marena, talk to me. Please, give me something. I can’t keep watching you tiptoe around here like you’re afraid to trigger some bomb. The Soldier and Bucky are two sides to the same man, so what is so bad about him knowing you two were in love?.”

My eyes drop to the floor. Immediately Steve knows he has hit a mark. As he takes a step closer, I take a step back. He stops as soon as I feel my back hit the wall.

“Look,” my voice was weaker than I had wanted - feeling oddly vulnerable having this conversation. “It’s not that I mind him knowing about us, Steve; not that I’d call what we had love per se. But I couldn’t live with myself if he remembered what I caused him.”

A part of me knows Steve is right. Getting the words out would probably be for the best. It is just a matter of convincing myself of that.

“You know he would forgive you, Petrova.” He tries to take a few steps closer.

“I don’t deserve it, Steve. Trying to make your Bucky understand the things that happened when he was my Bucky is impossible. Despite what you say, they are two different people. Do you have any idea how difficult it is for me to see him around every day and yet not have him around? Does that even make sense?”

“So take the time to get to know this Bucky. Fall in love with him all over again.”

Hearing those final words, I look up at Steve with stone-cold eyes. After what I did to him, I could never ask Bucky to accept me the same way the Soldier did.

Putting his hands up in defense, he offers a small smile and takes a couple of steps back.

“Sorry. You know you’ll have to tell him eventually, though, right?”

“Says who? I’ve been doing just fine as it is.” I quip.

“Have you though? He knows you, Marena. He knows something is missing from his memories that include you. There’s a reason he feels comfortable around you, feels safe around you. He just doesn’t know why. And do you have any idea how difficult it is for me to lie to my friends, let alone my best friend, about what I know?”

“I got it. But I can’t tell him, Steve. Maybe I can fill him in on a few things, but not - that.”

“Then let me ask you this. Are you going to be able to stay here? Be able to fight alongside him? Without your feelings completely taking over?”

My voice is suddenly wholly void of emotion. “A mission is a mission, Captain. You know me, the mission comes before anything else.”

“Good. Because he’s coming to train with us.” He nods toward the door as it opens.

Great. Thanks, Captain dumbass.

Bucky walks up to Steve as I stay back against the wall. He has his back to me, and the two of them are whispering.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“She said herself if she trained with anyone else, she’d hurt them. She can’t hurt us as easily, so we’re the best bet.”

“You know I can hear you both, right?” Bucky turns and looks at me, slightly confused, as I raise my brow, looking between the two.

Steve knows I have enhanced hearing, just as they do, but Bucky doesn’t know my secret. Or at least, doesn’t remember it.

Steve slaps Bucky on the shoulder and smiles before walking toward me again.

“You’re going to work with Buck first. I’ll watch and offer pointers.” He says smugly.

“Really?” I whisper once he is close enough, being sure to keep my volume low enough that I know Bucky won’t hear.

“Yes, really. You won’t act on your own, so I’m giving you a chance. I love you, Marena, but something has to give here.” He whispers back, keeping his volume low as well.

“Fine,” I growl in reply as I push off the wall, walking into the middle of the room, waiting, bouncing a little on the balls of my feet. As he approaches, we each take up a simple forward stance.

“Don’t worry. I’ll go easy on you, princess.” He smirks a little.

“Don’t call me that,” I growl in reply. “And don’t worry about going easy. Я могу справиться с этим Солдат (I can handle this Soldier).” His eyes widen a little.

Catching him off guard, I take full advantage. Grabbing his shoulders, I quickly wrap my leg around his. Planting my foot behind his and pushing him to the ground.

As soon as he is flat on his back, I straddle his chest -pressing my forearm against his throat. Not hard, but enough for him to take notice.

Leaning down next to his head, I whisper into his ear. “Возможно, мне нужно поблагодарить его за эту небольшую сессию. (Perhaps I need to thank him for this short session.)” I move so I can see his eyes, smiling as I continue. “Кажется, вы немного из практики. (It seems you are a bit out of practice.)”

Sitting up, I set my hands flat on his chest. He looks up at me with utter confusion, unsure how someone so small can take him down so quickly. With a wink, I push myself off of him and back to a standing position.

Bucky rolls to his side and makes his way to his feet again. Glancing over, I see Steve smiling at the encounter.

As we each take up our stance again, I can tell I will not be able to take him down as quickly a second time. I also know he won’t use his left arm as the dominant one for fear of hurting me. Which means I just have to focus on his right.

Lost in my thoughts, I nearly lost all focus. Luckily, I was aware enough to see his hand coming at my face from my peripherals. Ducking, I reach for his shoulders again, this time pulling myself toward him.

With a well-placed knee to the stomach, I have him doubled over in front of me. Wasting little time, I use my upper body strength to push myself up with his shoulders.

Swinging my leg up and over, I settle myself on his upper back, wrapping my arm around his head, tucking it under his chin, and pressing against his neck again. Using my other to cinch it into place.

I wrap my legs around his midsection and squeeze my thighs together against him as hard as I can.

Bucky tries to stand up, reaching his arms behind him to try to grab at me. When that doesn’t work, he attempts to pry my legs from around him; he lowers himself to one knee.

He is fading, soon using his arm to keep himself somewhat upright. Watching his friend slowly sink to the floor, Steve finally interjects.

“Alright, Petrova. You made your point. Let him go.”

“Always a killjoy, Rogers.” I smile as I release my arms.

Bucky gasps for air as I step down to the floor. Once I was entirely off of him, he lays on his back, coughing a little, staring at the ceiling. I tower over his form, looking down into his eyes, and I smile.

“Я сказал тебе, что смогу справиться с тобой, Солдат. (I told you that I can deal with you, Soldier.)” I shake my head a little, holding back a laugh. “В следующий раз не сдерживайся только потому, что я женщина. Я обещаю, что не сломаюсь. (Next time, do not hold back just because I'm a woman. I promise I won’t break.)”

Walking over to the bags, I grab my phone and skip out of the room. Smirking to myself as I hear Bucky's comment just before the door clicks shut behind me. “She’s a feisty one. I like her.”

Alright, Captain, you win this round.

Chapter 13  - Masterlist - Tag List @lostinwonderland314

DA Chapter 5

Chapter 4

Laura stood in the kitchen, quietly making dinner as she listened to the children play outside. She could see them from the small window above the sink as she washed a few dishes.

“Hello, Little Bird,” a voice spoke behind her.

She turned around quickly, coming face to face with a woman she hoped she would never see again. “What are you doing here?” Laura asked, feeling behind her for something to use as a weapon.

“No need to get hostile,” the woman said, putting her hands up in defense. “I just thought it would be nice to meet my niece and nephews, is all. Maybe see my sister-in-law again.”

“Harley… How did you find us?”

“I have my ways, Bird. You know that.” Harper took a seat at the small table in the kitchen. Her calm demeanor and honest eyes trying to ease the tension in the air.

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Ch. 7

Chapter 6

The Avengers Compound had a lot of security. There were cameras, guards, alarms, and sensor systems around the perimeter to keep out intruders and any other threats. Maura got through it all and found a place to park. She pulled her hood over her head as she exited the car and made her way into the building. She wore her regular clothing since she wasn’t instructed to arrive in anything else and was ready to show Fury everything she had to offer to S.H.I.E.L.D..

When Maura walked into the training room, she was a bit nervous. She had no idea what to expect, and she didn’t know what was in her file with S.H.I.E.L.D. to be able to judge just how much they knew about her gifts. She stood with her hood up and her hands behind her back, hiding her face in the shadows.

“Maura, please step forward,” Nick said as he entered the training room.

Maura walked to the center of the room, slowly lowering her hood as she went.

“I just need to see you prove to us that you can handle the gifts you have and can be a good addition to the team,” Fury explained.

“Director Fury, I know I can handle whatever you may have to throw at me,” Maura said, remaining calm and confident. She was ready for anything that she would face when she joined the Avengers.

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Ch. 12

Chapter 11

*Chapter is in Tony’s POV*

It had only been a couple of weeks since Maura left. Tony was taking it harder than the others. He’d tried to keep up his act of normalcy, but he wasn’t fooling anyone. Every time he thought about the events that went down, he questioned what he missed.

How could she do something like this? We were family. We are family. We’re blood. I welcome her into my home and onto the team, and this is how she repays me?

“Tony?” Pepper called from the door.

“Yeah?”

“Are-are you okay?” she stepped into the lab, walking toward where he sat slumped over at a table.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” he looked up from his hands, locking eyes with his wife.

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Ch. 1

Masterlist

Tucked away in the Appalachian mountains, Hydra had hidden a facility from the public - and even most classified - records. The school nearby was known to most intelligence agencies, but not the small facility the Avengers were now tasked to infiltrate.

Only a handful of loyal Hydra agents remained to keep the building in working order. It was a fairly simple building; only those on a need-to-know basis knew the location. The organization only used it to house those weapons that they could never risk anyone finding.

“Do we have any idea what we’re walking into here?” Stark asked over the comms as he flew around overhead.

“No, nothing. There’s barely a mention of the building, let alone what may be inside, so there’s no telling what we might find,” Cap replied. “All Bucky could tell us was that it was here. He never knew anything else about it.”

“Great. So not only are we taking on Hydra, but we’re doing it blind.”

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DA Chapter 16

Chapter 15

Harper was back on the run. Three months had passed since she left the farm, and Laura's words still rang through her thoughts when she tried to sit in peace. Guilt? Love? Happiness? Loneliness? Could these really be what was tearing at Harper's heart? She couldn't put it into words. All she knew was that this pain and uncertainty was something she needed to get past quickly.

She sat alone in a clearing. A large oak tree covered with small green flowers stood before her. It was peaceful. The spring air was crisp and clean. Birds chirped their songs as they flew from one branch to another. Small animals scurried about, taking advantage of the warm weather. The world seemed so normal around her; but deep down, she was sure no matter how much she wished for it, she could never have 'normal.' Not after everything she had done.

Harper stood from her spot, grabbed her bag, and walked off into the city. She found a quiet little cafe that offered free Wi-Fi and set herself up at a corner table. After ordering a coffee and a small sandwich, she opened her laptop and set to work. Stark's security wasn't as secure as he thought, so she managed to get into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s system again quickly enough. If killing, in general, made her feel like shit, maybe going after the bad guys could help offset that feeling.

Looking over things, Harper noticed a list of Hydra locations that had recently been researched far more than others. She could only assume Fury was gearing up to send his team out to close down those bases permanently. Jotting down the locations, Harper booked herself a plane ticket to Europe for the next day. Once she was finished with her food and drink, Harper shut down her laptop, paid her bill, grabbed her stuff, and went on her way.

It had been close to a year since Harper had taken off. Though Bucky still went on missions with the rest of the team, his primary focus was finding her. For now, though, he and Steve were tasked to destroy two locations in Germany that were personal to him. They arrived in Bavaria, Germany, at the first location, and though they were both rumored to be abandoned, you never could tell with Hydra.

As they approached the castle, James could tell something wasn't right. It was too easy. There's no way the Zemo family hadn't upgraded security in some way. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something about it all was making him uneasy. When Steve noticed his worry, he asked if he was alright. "I'm fine. Just... I don't know." He paused for a moment before continuing, "Something just doesn't feel right here." Steve nodded in agreement. While it could very well be nothing, they didn't want to take any chances.

The closer the two men got to the main gate, the more they could see. Not only was the large wooden door down, but looking up at the stone walkway over the gate, James noticed two bodies slumped over the side with pools of blood on the ground below.

As they continued, it was evident someone had beaten them to the location. It seemed the only things still standing were the outer walls of the building itself — the inside nothing but rubble.

"Seems like the Zemo family had more enemies than just S.H.I.E.L.D. that wanted to make sure they stayed out of commission," Steve said quietly as he and Bucky walked through the rubble.

"I don't think that's what this is," James replied, glancing around at the carnage. "I think someone did our job for us."

"What do you mean? No one knew we were coming here."

James pointed to the perimeter wall behind Steve, "That is what I mean."

Steve turned to look where his friend was pointing. "Shit... Is that...?"

"Yeah," James answered softly, "Yeah, it is."

While Bucky and Steve focused on their missions in Germany, Clint and Natasha arrived at a secret lab in Sudan. The place looked pretty much deserted, except for what appeared to be two guards standing at the door.

"Should be a quick in and out, I think," Natasha said.

"If she has Chitauri tech, we can't be so sure," Clint warned.

Natasha rolled her eyes, "We've dealt with worse." Clint shook his head, following Nat as she began approaching the building.

As they got closer, it became clear that the guards would be of no threat to the pair. "What the hell?" Clint muttered under his breath.

"Think it's a trap?" Natasha asked.

Clint pulled an arrow from one of the two men, dislodging it from not only the body but the brick of the building as well. The guard's form slid down the wall before falling to the side. "Nope. No trap," Clint assured, "Someone just beat us to the punch."

"What?" Nat questioned.

He sighed, turning to show Nat the arrow. "Look familiar?"

"It looks like one of yours," she commented.

"Close. I mean... you're right, it's not a standard arrow, but it's not one of mine either."

Clint and Natasha entered the small building and began exploring. They came across a few more bodies spread throughout the building, including that of the doctor that had been working with the technology and creating weapons to use against S.H.I.E.L.D.. When they entered the central lab, they saw that everything had been destroyed - weapons, computers, windows, everything. Nothing would be able to be salvaged, but it seemed that was the point.

Looking around the room, Clint's eyes locked onto the far wall in front of them. "Really?"

"What?" Natasha questioned as her gaze followed his. "Damn it..."

Standing outside the large building on the east side of Berlin, just one day removed from searching the rubble that was the Zemo family castle, Bucky couldn't help but feel tears prick at his eyes. It had been years since he had seen the structure before him, but he still remembered every second inside that hellhole.

It was clear that the area had been long abandoned, but James and Steve still walked in with caution. They walked into the large center room, and Bucky froze in his steps. An oversized chair still sat in the middle.

The giant lab still held desks, computers, recording devices, and so much more. To James, it appeared that nothing had changed since the last time he had been forced to set foot inside. While Bucky's eyes were fixed on the chair, Steve looked around the room, noting the second door on the opposite side and paperwork strewn about.

Bucky finally found his footing again and approached the chair. As he stood in front of it, he noticed something propped up on the seat. "Damn it, Angel," he breathed out.

"What is it?" Steve asked as he turned around.

"Stop," Bucky instructed sharply when he saw Steve attempt to walk toward him. "Don't move."

Steve gave his friend a questioning look. "Buck?" James picked up a pair of wire cutters from the chair. "What are those?"

"Wire cutters, Steve," Bucky sighed.

"What? Why?"

James held up a piece of paper, with Harper and Clint's symbol drawn on it. "Seems Barton's sister left a little present."

"I still don't understand," Steve replied with furrowed brows, crossing his arms over his chest.

"It was a game she played. There's a grenade… or a bomb… somewhere around here... with a wire attached. She left the cutters in case we can find it before we trip it," Bucky explained.

It had only been a week since the teams had returned from Germany and Sudan, but Bucky still couldn’t shake the sense that Harley was trying to get their attention. He knew he had to talk to Clint about it; he was the only one that might be able to give some insight into what she was doing. Bucky walked into the archery range at the compound. He watched Clint working with some recruits, giving them pointers and correcting mistakes. Their forms were fluid and precise; each movement seemingly practiced to perfection.

"You need something, Barnes?" Clint asked, spotting Bucky standing silently near the door.

"Just need to have a word with you if you have time,” he replied.

Barton nodded, directing the recruits to continue their work while he stepped into the hall with Bucky. “What is it?”

“Your sister, Barton,” he answered flatly.

"What about her?" Clint crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall.

"She's hit every location that we've been sent to. Which means she knows where we're going before we do. How?"

"How the hell should I know?" he shrugged. "Harley isn't stupid, Barnes. Knowing her, she probably hacked Stark's security again."

"So what do we do then?" Bucky pressed.

"Nothing," Clint said bluntly. "Look, Barnes, you've been searching for my sister for nine months and are no closer now than when you started. The only difference is that you have proof she is still alive and somewhere close by."

"Then help me," Bucky pleaded. "Help me find her."

Clint sighed deeply, "Listen, Barnes. You know how this works. You and I aren't the best of friends. And I honestly don't give a damn about your feelings for my sister. But Harley..."

"Yeah, I know, she can only be found when she wants to be. But come on, Barton. She is clearly reaching out in her own way here."

"To let us know she's alive, that's all. That's all she ever does.”

"I know that," Bucky sighed, "But what if this is different?"

Clint thought for a moment. "Alright, I'll bite. Say it is. What of it? How do you expect to find her?"

"That's why I need your help. You know her better than I do,” Bucky explained.

Clint snorted humorlessly, "I highly doubt that."

"Please, Barton. Help me out here."

"Fine," Clint relented. "Try the right way first," he suggested. "Find Fury, tell him you need the list of the recent Hydra locations we've been tasked with and any upcoming ones. It doesn't have to be in any order; it just needs the names. If he disagrees, go to Stark. He can get into the system and get the list easily enough. I don't need to know how you get the list, just get it and then come find me."

"Thanks," Bucky smiled gratefully at him.

"Sure,” he waved a hand dismissively as he headed back inside the archery room.

A week later, Bucky met Clint as he walked into the compound. "Barton," he greeted, "I got that list. It took a bit of convincing, but I got it."

"Okay," Clint nodded as he made his way toward one of the elevators. "Let's see if we can figure out where she'll go next."

The two men found an empty conference room with a large map that they could utilize. Clint marked out the few places they had already been to, and Bucky marked off other points of interest he thought Harper might consider off of the list.

"Now that that's done," Clint announced as he leaned back in his seat and stretched his legs out beneath the table, "We have to figure out where she may go next."

Bucky looked over the list of locations that sat on the table in front of him. He recognized most of them, but by name only. Two stood out to him, though. "I could narrow it down to two for us, but that's all I got," he told Barton.

Clint nodded, "Better than nothing. What you got?"

"From what I can tell, she's hit the places that have a connection to her in some way. I see two that I know for sure have a personal connection with her. One in L.A. and one in D.C."

"She's been hitting places that are either abandoned or have little to no risk for civilian casualties," Clint commented as he looked over the map.

"The D.C. location is right in the heart of the city. Unless she was damn careful, I doubt she could take it down without risk," Bucky stated.

"What about the L.A. one?"

"Fairly secluded," Bucky shrugged, "From what I know, it's abandoned, but there could still be some of the family living there."

"There's your answer then," Clint concluded. "Let's just hope she hasn't been there yet."

The two men had arrived in Los Angeles less than twenty-four hours after deciding that was the next logical place that Harper would go. They went straight to the mansion, hoping that it was still standing. When they arrived, they found the large gate at the entrance was open. There were no lights on anywhere in the house, to their relief, the driveway was void of cars, and the doors were locked and chained shut.

"Looks like it's definitely abandoned," Clint commented.

"And not a pile of rubble," Bucky added. "Maybe we did beat her to this one."

The two quickly checked the perimeter, checking all the windows to ensure no one was hidden inside. Finding nothing, they moved onto the garage. Inside were several pieces of machinery that Hydra had left behind, along with a few discarded weapons, which Bucky recognized.

"This could be our chance," Clint remarked as he reached down to pick up what appeared, at least, to be a shotgun that sat beside one of the machines. "We could take some of this back with us."

"Careful with that," Bucky warned. "Some of this stuff may not be exactly what it looks like."

Clint gave him a confused look but didn't ask further questions. The two finished clearing the outside area as quickly as possible, making sure the property was, in fact, abandoned. "Think you can take care of the chain?" Clint asked, knowing they needed to clear inside the home as well.

Bucky walked up to the front door, grabbed the heavy metal chain by the padlock with his left hand, and pulled it free. "No problem," he assured him before stepping over the threshold, dropping the chain to the floor just inside.

Clint followed suit, closing the door behind them as they entered the darkened home. They each went in opposite directions, checking everything they could find before returning to the entryway.

Bucky was the first one to notice the slight noise coming from outside. He glanced up at Clint, "Did you hear something?"

He shook his head slowly, "No."

Bucky turned to check out the window, careful not to move the blinds. "We have company," he told Clint. Walking to the steps directly in front of the door, he sat down, resting his forearms on his knees. It didn't take long before the door slowly opened. "Welcome home," Bucky greeted flatly.

Harper walked cautiously into the house with a pistol held tightly in her grip, aimed directly at Bucky’s head. Her eyes scanned the area quickly, spotting Clint in the next room as she looked for anything suspicious. Once she realized neither of the men posed any immediate danger to her, she lowered the gun slightly. "What the fuck are you two doing here?" she growled out.

"Why do you think we're here?" Clint replied simply, stepping into the entryway.

She scowled. "Because you can't leave well enough alone?" Bucky smirked as she continued, "You think I don't know you've been tracking me, soldier?"

"You're one to talk, Angel. Hitting Hydra locations you knew damn well we'd go to, leaving your mark behind for us to find," Bucky countered. "Not very subtle, huh?"

Harper's lips twisted into a grimace, "It was a message, nothing more."

"Oh really?" Clint raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Just like any time before. It was so that you knew I was fine. It wasn't some cry for help or a sign for you to find me. It was just a fucking message," Harper spat at him angrily.

"You only ever left them sporadically, Harley, not at every damn location. You and I both know this is different," Clint argued.

"No. This isn't different," Harper snapped.

"Bullshit," Bucky chimed in. "You weren't subtle about it. You left giant fucking symbols and buildings turned to nothing but piles of bricks. Let's not forget your little wire game in Berlin."

"Did you like that, soldier?" she mocked. "I knew you would be the one to show up there, so I left it just for you," she sneered at him.

"Cute," he retorted. "But you're not going to get out of this that easily, Harley."

"Don't be so sure about that," she smirked evilly.

Bucky stood from his spot, stepping down a couple of stairs to the floor. As he got closer to Harper, she stepped back, inching her way out the door. "You don't want to run. Not really," he continued as he neared her.

"I always run, Barnes," she muttered quietly.

"You can fool your brother, but you're not fooling me," he chuckled. "You wanted to get caught."

She paused at his words, looking at him with wide eyes for a moment before she laughed nervously. She shook her head rapidly, "You’re crazy," she breathed out.

"Am I?" he challenged. Bucky quickly reached out and grabbed her upper arm just before she inadvertently fell down the porch steps. His grip tight, he dragged her toward him. "Tell me the truth," he demanded in a quiet whisper so only she could hear.

Her gaze shifted nervously between the floor and the man standing above her. "Fine," she replied in a whisper of her own. "I wanted you to come for me," she admitted softly.

"Why?" he questioned, letting go of her arm.

Harper sighed, shaking her head. "You know why," she murmured.

Clint leaned against the banister, watching the two of them interact. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but that didn't matter because he could read their body language perfectly. He had never seen his sister look so... vulnerable. Even when she was stuck in the hospital bed, she still was on her guard. But with Bucky? That faded away. She didn't seem like a woman who was afraid anymore; she seemed like an entirely different person. It was almost like looking at a complete stranger. "Would you two like some privacy?" he inquired suddenly.

Harper jumped when she heard Clint speak, all but forgetting her brother was even there. "No," she answered shortly.

Bucky rolled his eyes, giving Clint a pointed look before returning his attention back to Harper. "Just come back with us, Harley. No more running," he pleaded.

Harper remained silent for a moment as she looked between the two men. "No," she finally said.

“What do you mean no?” Bucky questioned firmly.

“I don’t know how to make it any clearer, Barnes.”

“What are you so afraid of? Why are you so damn scared of staying?” he pressed.

“I’m not-”

“I think,” Bucky interrupted, “It’s because you can see a future… a happy one… And that terrifies you to think that you could allow yourself to have that.” Her eyes softened and he could see the idea playing in her mind.

"Harley…" Clint tried.

"No," she cut him off sharply, clearing her throat and recentering herself. "I'm not going back to New York," she declared.

Clint let out a defeated sigh before nodding his agreement. "Fine."

"Fine?" Bucky glared at Clint. He had hoped that he was getting through to the both of them, but it seemed he was mistaken.

"Barnes, just leave it," Clint sighed tiredly. "I promise it isn't worth the fight."

Before either man could stop her, Harper took off out the door. She hopped in her car and sped out of the driveway.

"We can't just let her walk away," Bucky protested. “We were so close to-”

"Can't? Or won't?" Clint shot back. "Look, if you try to fight her, you're gonna lose her for good. She’s not ready to change, and you’re not going to convince her otherwise."

"So am I supposed to stand around while she goes and tries to get herself killed again?" he questioned.

"If that's her choice, yes," Clint countered. "I know it's not what you want to hear, trust me. But she's too stubborn to give in to what someone else wants her to do. She has to make the choice on her own."

Bucky began to argue. "But -"

"Barnes, just stop," Clint interrupted him. "There's nothing you can do. I understand there is something between you two, but you have to let her come to terms with it on her own. There's nothing you can say right now that will change her mind." He walked out of the house toward their car. Bucky reluctantly followed. "She'll come around," Clint tried to assure him. "For now, let's just get some agents here to empty the house and move on to the next mission."

Bucky nodded in silent agreement before dropping into the passenger seat. "You better be right," he muttered under his breath as he closed the door.

Chapter 17 – Masterlist – Taglist

Epilogue

Chapter 15

Five years ago, Maura walked away from Hydra for good. She never imagined that, after everything, the Avengers would welcome her back as one of their own. But here she was.

She worked hard to rebuild a friendship with everyone on the team. She enjoyed spending time with Nat and Wanda when they were off duty, thanks to their shared histories with Hydra; she had even grown fond of Steve and Sam. The two had taken her under their wings like an older brother would a younger sister, despite her being a few years older than Sam. Her work in the lab provided plenty of opportunities to spend time with Tony and Bruce, too.

Maura’s relationship with Morgan grew as well. She watched her niece grow from a small girl into a teenager. They shared a lot of the same interests, both having similar personalities. It was easy for them to talk for hours, and sometimes they didn’t need words at all. When they needed it most, they could just hear each other speak.

Nothing could have prepared her, though, for the relationship she formed with James Barnes. Their connection was more profound than any she shared with the others. He was the only one who truly understood what she had gone through. As the weeks, months, even years went on, she and James grew closer each day.

Their relationship eventually took on an intimate nature, something Maura had not experienced before with anyone else. Sure, she had flings in the past, but they were never like this. There was never love involved, no romance, no feelings of passion, attraction, or anything. With Bucky, however, Maura found all those feelings and more. For the first time in her life, she felt safe. She felt loved. She felt wanted.

Sitting on the couch, the main room of the penthouse of the Avenger’s Tower aglow from the holiday decorations, surrounded by friends and family, Maura knew there was no place she’d rather be. Everything in her life, she now knew, had happened for a reason. It had happened to lead her to who she had become and to where she was now. To a place where she finally felt whole, complete, and free. Where she finally felt content.

Resting a hand on her growing belly, Maura looked around at everyone as they opened gifts, laughing and having fun together. This is where she belonged. This is where she is supposed to be. And she couldn’t be happier.

Masterlist

Ch. 4

Chapter 3

Maura had been at the Tower with the Avengers for a total of three months. She was slowly but surely getting to know everyone and gaining the trust of each of the members. She was still struggling to crack the tough shell of others, but that was to be expected with some.

She had always been very interested in the people around her, even more so in those that stood alone. Being laid up in a hospital bed most of her life, she had little else in which she could excel.

Maura worked hard to learn as much as she could about each individual. Not only to build a relationship with each of them but to learn of each one’s weakness. For each one, there was a piece of information that she aimed to find out; the tiniest of details always saved to memory. She trained herself to pick out every little nuance, details about their past, present, and even what they wanted for their future.

Since the first Avenger started coming out of their shadows, Maura worked to get a clearer picture of their original personalities. Who they had been before Hydra or S.H.I.E.L.D., and who they were now; the traits that had molded them.

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