Hey everybody! Thanks for all the awesome reviews, I love reading them and I'm happy everyone is excited for this story! I forgot to mention this in the first chapter, so here it goes: This story only follows canon in the MCU up until Avengers: Age of Ultron. And I elected to ignore the part where Hawkeye has a family simply because it fits better with my little universe here. Also, I own nothing. Please leave a review and let me know what you think of this chapter!
James eyed the weird woman at the desk in the middle of the lab, wondering how she had gotten to be friends with Evangeline in the first place. Eve was fairly quiet and knew how to use a silence to her advantage. The woman before him, her best friend Nova, talked nonstop, even when she didn't realize she was doing it. So far, she had been focused on mumbling about the idiocy of Tony Stark, which James actually agreed with in a general sense. Stark was an idiot, hence the current predicament James found himself in. If he didn't talk to the weird woman, he'd never get his arm fixed. If he wanted it fixed, he had to force the words out of his mouth and he wasn't sure about that either.
Nova seemed fairly open to his presence, something that honestly surprised him. He'd assumed she would scream when she first saw him sitting in the corner, but she'd just started talking to him like she normally did. James honestly wasn't sure if that was good news or not. While he knew Nova was Eve's friend and had seen her around the medical bay a lot before Eve's release, he wasn't particularly impressed with what he had seen of her so far. He needed more information before approaching this particular situation, hence keeping an eye on her while she worked. Whatever was pulled up on her screens he couldn't make sense of it with how fast she was reading through the equations and looking through blueprints of some kind. All he understood was that she was trying to rewire a thruster. Or something.
"FRIDAY, put in a reminder for supper tonight. Make sure there's pizza. With pepperoni… and mushrooms, tomatoes, and pineapple. Don't forget to pay out of Tony's account. He can pay for my fuel while I work on his stupid project. Honestly, I can't believe he gave me such a fucking terrible project to work on. I mean, I know he wants to test me, but aren't there other ways of doing that? Interesting ways?" Nova complained before going back to mumbling angrily to herself. James frowned at her back. If she would ever pause in her incessant chattering, she would have noticed he was there in the first place without having to spin around in her chair. It had taken almost half an hour for her to finally notice him. Taking the chair had been a test of her focus; he could have waited while standing. He'd trained as a sniper, he could stand in the same spot for days without moving a muscle waiting for a target. Yet when he'd taken the chair he was currently using, she hadn't even twitched. After that, interest had started to well and he had to wait until she noticed him, just to see how long it would take her.
Nova started humming in a soft tone, causing James to tense immediately, watching her chair move from side to side. Sitting still wasn't her strong suit either and it immediately made James nervous. A cursory check showed that he still had all his weapons, the knife in his boot brushing his ankle gently and the gun in the small of his back pressing comfortingly against his skin. It would take half a second for him to pull his weapon.
A cursory scan of the woman before him showed that she wasn't much of a threat. She was generally in shape, but far too thin to be a viable threat. Not quite malnourished, but not completely healthy either. If she wanted to stand a chance against him in a fight, she needed to eat more regularly. If she did attack in any way, she was a dead woman. He estimated it would take less than ten seconds to take her out, whether he took the time to knock her unconscious or kill her. The choice would be made in the heat of battle depending on multiple variables that he wasn't always able to explain. If she attacked, though, he was ready.
Not that he thought she would. She was too immersed in her project to even notice that he was in the room with her. If he did attack, she would be completely at his mercy. He would make it quick. Maybe snap her neck. She wouldn't feel any pain. Maybe not even notice it at all, her concentration was so absolute. That could be a blessing or a curse.
James honestly appreciated Nova's single-minded focus. Not many people could achieve that level of intent and he was surprised that she managed considering all the talking and humming. On the other hand, if it hadn't been him who had walked into the room earlier, it would have inevitably led to her death. Anyone meaning to harm her would find an easy target. After promising Eve multiple times that he would check on her friend throughout her time away with Steve, that wasn't a comforting thought at all to James. He didn't particularly care for Nova, but Eve did. And Steve cared about Eve. If he let Nova die over such a small matter as not being fond of her, it would indirectly affect Steve, which was the last thing James wanted. He had already hurt his friend enough for multiple lifetimes, he didn't need to add Nova's death to the list.
Not only that, but James technically still owed Nova for helping retrieve Eve after HYDRA had managed to take her from his possession. While he generally tried to forget about that failure, it stuck out in his mind more and more with each passing day and he wasn't about to forget that he owed this woman particularly. Her family and her connections had been instrumental in saving Evangeline. She hadn't known him but had come as soon as he called. He might not like her too much, but he had to trust her at least enough to save Eve.
"Oh, and FRIDAY, can you make sure Tony gets a copy of the updated specs? Let him know he's an ass hat and I hate him," Nova demanded, spinning in her chair as she reached out blindly to grab another lollipop from the bowlful on her desk.
It was another pink lollipop. Those seemed to be her favorite considering half of the bowl was pink. He was fairly certain those were bubblegum, but hadn't been close enough to read the wrapper yet. Whatever they were, she hummed in appreciation as soon as it was in her mouth, swinging her chair from side to side as she typed another command into her computer absently, her attention seeming to divide between the many screens as she worked.
Her desk was the only spot in the entire lab that was completely clear of clutter, something he considered carefully as he watched her. The rest of the tables and counters were piled high with equipment and various parts. He couldn't tell what most of it was and it wasn't because he was that out of touch with technology, as the other Avengers assumed. It was because she had an array of specialized equipment that he never even knew existed. Some of the materials she was using were as familiar to him as breathing. He knew what a grenade looked like and she had three different ones that were in various states of assembly on one of the tables. He could make out different guns on another counter that were shaped oddly. They were completely stripped and it looked like they were in the middle of being specialized, though he couldn't make out the exact functions. He didn't know what she was doing with such serious weaponry and didn't really feel inclined to ask, but he noted the different weapons and possible uses, a part of his mind he couldn't turn off even if he tried. If she tried anything on him, he would at least be capable of defending himself, if nothing else.
The entire lab looked like what he assumed the inside of her mind looked like. It was intensely cluttered, but generally put together. If he read the room right, Nova would know where everything was and how it all worked. She probably had some sort of category system and had everything labeled somewhere. Anyone who came in would be incredibly confused as to her system, but she was meticulous, in her own way. Even if she was scatterbrained and oblivious to possible enemies, Nova wasn't someone who would, say, lose a screwdriver.
"Okay, got that taken care of. I got supper figured out and I have the sketches of the grenade launcher done for War Machine. What's left on the agenda for the week?" Nova spun in a circle in her chair again, her eyes sliding over the various tools and instruments that made up her lab. Her warm brown eyes slipped right over him and James wondered idly if she was stupid or just incompetent. Only an idiot would disregard him so easily.
James could quite literally kill her without ever flinching. It wouldn't even be classified as a workout. If HYDRA had wanted her dead, he wouldn't have been taken out of cryo freeze to complete the task. Any asset would work. All he had to do was walk over and decide the best way to end her life. She'd never know he was there. Her attention was solely focused on her work and she seemed oblivious to his presence even after noticing he was in the room. She'd never know it was coming. It would be quick. Clean. Almost easy. There wouldn't be any mess. She'd be there one minute and dead the next.
Of course, that wasn't completely possible at the moment. He couldn't kill her and not just because his arm was malfunctioning. Not that he would really need any extra strength. There were cameras all over her lab, documenting everything. He had an idea that it was for scientific purposes, not in case of an attack, but it was still something he would need to think through. At least four cameras were trained on her at all times and he could make out more along the ceiling, watching and waiting for something to happen.
FRIDAY was also aware he was in the lab and he couldn't risk losing the trust of the Avengers when he'd only just gained their recognition. They were the only thing standing between him and every other agency in the world coming out to kill him. He could never make up for the damage he'd done over the years with HYDRA, could never apologize enough, but he could start by not killing the innocent woman before him. The instincts would never really leave him, but he could make sure that that part of him stayed, carefully held back by years of conditioning and iron will.
"Do you mind if I turn some music on?" James almost jumped when Nova's focus settled on him like a laser, her chocolate eyes on his face. She didn't even glance at the assembly of weapons that were strapped to him. He wasn't even sure she knew they were there. It was possible she had no idea. Most normal people wouldn't notice, he'd made sure of it. That was something he'd never forget how to do, no matter how many times he got his brain wiped. "Not that I don't love awkward silences and all, it's just I work better in a loud environment. When I was at Sci Ops, that's what the science training academy for SHIELD was called, there was always someone making noise. If there wasn't, I took my music with me wherever I went anyway. It's kind of a habit. If it bothers you, though, I can put my headphones on. But they're kind of a bitch when someone tries to call me or get my attention, hence why I usually have music over the loudspeakers. But I can put up with it, if you want."
James stared at her for a moment, now curious as to what she was talking about. There were very few people in his life who actually asked his opinion on things. Steve, for all his good intentions, tended to assume that James was alright with whatever he came up with. Usually, that was the truth. Natalia never asked anyone what they thought and James liked that she seemed to treat him just like she treated everyone else. The closest James got to someone who would ask his opinion was Evangeline, who asked him questions but tended not to wait for answers if he didn't feel like answering. Unlike Evangeline, James got the feeling Nova would sit there all day, waiting for an answer. She wouldn't fix the problem until he gave his opinion on how to fix it, as if she actually cared about his personal feelings.
It wasn't just a yes or no answer either. Those were the kind of questions he preferred. A quick move of his head could answer any yes or no question efficiently and he wished she'd just asked if he was all right with music. Then he could have just nodded and it would be over with. Now, though, he had to find an answer and his voice, two things he didn't particularly like to do.
Forcing his mind to work quickly, she'd already waited for two silent minutes while he stared at her, James came up with a fairly succinct answer. Setting his jaw determinedly, he forced himself to sit still, suppressing the gut reaction to check his weapons again. Unless he was running a mission, it was dangerous to talk while in HYDRA. Punishments were swift and severe. The Asset didn't have feelings or emotions or opinions, he was a weapon to be used at their leisure. It wasn't the same here, no one would hurt him for speaking, but the animal part in him bared its teeth at the thought of even daring to open his mouth. It had been easier with Evangeline; she wasn't dangerous and she was technically a civilian. She knew how to fight, but she didn't so long as she didn't have to. Nova was different. She was a scientist, like so many he had known. The scientists could be just as cruel as his handlers and he wasn't sure what she would do if he said the wrong thing. She was an unknown variable and it put him up in arms, no matter that he knew that, theoretically, she could be trusted.
"Music is fine," he forced out behind clenched teeth. Sweat beaded along his brow and his muscles clenched, waiting for the woman's reaction to his words. If she made one wrong move, he would be gone before she could touch him.
Nova grinned immediately, spinning her chair back so that her back was toward him, fingers clicking away at the keyboard in front of her quickly. "Awesome! If something annoys you, just let me know. I like all kinds of music, but you'll definitely hear Tony's influence. He has a more eclectic taste. Personally, I just like background noise and singing along. Not that I'm good at it or anything, but I do like singing. You'll notice I suck, but that's fine. Do you have a favorite genre? I know that the music nowadays is pretty different from the music you grew up with. Then again, I don't really know if you remember the music back then either… I mean, I've heard most of your memories have been recovered, but no one's really sure how much and maybe I'll just play a bit of everything and you can let me know if you like something. That way, I can play more of that."
The breath he hadn't been aware he was holding blew out between his teeth silently, relief flooding through him when she talked enough that he didn't have to answer any of her questions. At least this time she wasn't waiting for him to answer. Not that he knew why she wanted to talk to him in the first place. Most of the new recruits kept their distance, watching him like he'd explode at any moment. Not to mention all the times Barton had told him he was a terrible conversation partner. Nova didn't seem to notice or care.
"Okay, FRIDAY, throw on one of my mixed playlists. We're going to find music that James likes!" Nova called up to the AI. James' gaze snapped to the back of her head, surprised that she'd called him by his first name. Most people called him by his last name or Sergeant. Steve called him Bucky and some of the Avengers (Tony Stark) had taken up that name as well. Then again, Stark only used it as a snide comment on the past he had trouble remembering. Very few people called him James. Barton, when they were alone together, Natalia when she was being super serious, and Eve because he'd told her to. He hadn't introduced himself to anyone else and no one had asked him what he preferred. Then again, meeting new people was fairly rare in his life as or the moment and Steve tended to introduce him to anyone new. "Don't pick one of the fast ones yet, pick one with slower music. Maybe some Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby. That was around his time, right? Oh, and don't put it on an endless loop, switch to a different playlist when it ends. Maybe we'll find something he likes in between."
The names Bing Crosby and Dean Martin sounded familiar in a way that had James frowning. Were they from before the war? Did he remember them? He had heard of Frank Sinatra from Steve, who was still trying to catch up on the times, but the other two were people he knew Steve hadn't mentioned. Who were they?
"Yes, Dr. Maddox," FRIDAY answered. James tensed as the music started up in the background, slow and sweet as it filled the air. For a moment, he considered that he would almost prefer her talking than the music. At least if she was talking, he could still listen for threats. With the music filling the room with a melodic, crooning voice, James wasn't sure if he would be able to.