Disclaimer: I own nothing (but Stan Lee can adopt me, if he likes!) and this is my own head-canon.

James Buchanan Barnes: A Winter Soldier Story

Chapter 2 - Reclamation

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Listen to "Caught A Long Wind" by Feist


Natasha knew Steve had followed her from the parking lot and was trying her hardest not to smile in amusement. Really, now, Steve, she thought. Spying on the spy? You should know better.

He'd shadowed her down the block, likely keeping up foot, and was now atop the roof of a building with a fire escape—a good vantage point of the park bench Natasha was currently sitting on.

"Well," said a voice from her left, the park bench shifting as someone sat beside her. "This is a bit awkward."

Natasha looked the man up and down and smiled. "It doesn't have to be awkward if you don't make it that way, Bruce."

Banner sighed. "I still maintain what I said before, about us not—"

"I'm not here about that." Natasha interrupted, eyes flickering to where she could almost see Steve on the rooftop before returning to Bruce's face.

"Oh." Bruce's mouth rounded at the sound, head bobbing with obvious relief and—was that a hint of disappointment? "Good." He nodded awkwardly. " So, um… What's this about?"

Natasha reached into her jacket and unfolded a few papers, each with the face of a single man, knowing full well that if she said the name aloud, Steve would hear it. Or any other ears that were listening in…

Letting out a low whistle, Banner sorted through the pictures. "I guess you have a thing for monsters."

Ignoring the jab, Natasha retrieved the pictures and put them back in her jacket pocket. "Hard to meet anyone else when those are the only people I work with."

Bruce chortled, but clearly wasn't offended. "And you need what from me, exactly? I might know a bit about duality, but I'm no counselor."

"Tranquilizers." Natasha answered. "The heavy kind. For something not quite as human as the rest of us."

Quirking an eyebrow at her, Bruce leaned against the back-rest of the bench, lazily allowing his elbows to perch against it while his hands dangled. "You tracked me down for something I know you have the resources to find elsewhere or cook up yourself—"

"This was faster and I need it now."

Banner snorted, looking entertained by her request. "What makes you think I carry Hulk sleepy-time tea on my person?"

"Because you didn't want to use the lullaby anymore." She stated. "I'm necessary for the lullaby to work, and you didn't want…that's not bitterness, it's a fact, Bruce. Stark's R and D department helped you out a little more than you thought it would, so you've been over there, coming up with sedatives." Natasha watched Bruce press his lips into a line and she glanced once more in Steve's general direction before adding. "And you're not doing me a favor; this is for Rogers."

As though an internal battle had suddenly been won, Bruce's face softened and he nodded before reaching into his own jacket pocket and handing Natasha something small, shaped like a pen.

"I owe Steve too many favors." Banner sighed. "When are you going to tell him what you're up to?"

"Do you want me to say 'when the moment is right'?" Natasha quipped as she rolled her eyes, standing up from the park bench. Bruce's hand caught her wrist and she halted in surprise, looking back at him.

"He should know." Bruce said firmly before letting go of her arm.

Natasha's eyes were well-trained to note when she was being followed and when her watcher had disappeared, and her instincts were telling her that Rogers was no longer on the roof.

"I think he already does."

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rec`la`ma`tion–(noun, verb) The recovery of useful substances

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Short chapter, and the next one is even shorter, but the fourth will be pretty long, so no sweat!

Please leave me a review :) it would make me so happy!