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The woman stared at him with those eyes. He'd heard the stories, the tall tales. The famous Black widow, able to break even the strongest man. But she would not break him. She wouldn't because he was not just one man, no he was something stronger. A cog in a multistoried structure, a fire ant among thousands. They would prevail because it was their destiny. They would be great because it was their right! It was his right. Who were the Avengers to tell him otherwise, who was she to tell him otherwise. He glared at the former Shield agent sitting across from him in the interrogation room, his face throbbing in pain from what that monster had done to him. Her red hair glinted like the blood of her many enemies; he wondered if she would bleed like all those she'd cut down in her sordid past. She smiled, her feet propped on the edge of the table, her eyes flat. As if he was not even important enough to interrogate properly. To show common and rightful respect. Bitch! He sneered, "You will fail."

She snorted. Insolent cow. "When we rise again it will not be through secret government agencies. You will not see us coming, it will be too late. And your organization, your precious Avengers, will fall."

At her raised eyebrow he continued, spittle flying from his mouth in rage. "You don't believe me, yet you already beget your downfall. You are the poison, we're the cure. We are always watching, waiting to strike. The arm will be made stronger than the leg. Hail Hydra!"

The Black Widow got up and walked out of the room. She never said a word.

Natasha met Clint, Steve, and a newly arrived Sam Wilson on the other side of the one way mirror.

"They have more spies imbedded as we suspected, we're going to have to go back over our list of suspects. And they're still looking for Barnes it seems. Judging by the comment of the arm being made stronger, it looks like he did escape back in London and is staying off their radar so far."

Sam crossed his arms as he leaned against the back wall of the room. "He's been staying off mine too. The trail went cold in Portugal." He looked over at Steve. "Sorry man."

Steve shook his head. "It's alright. I know it got a little more difficult without an extra pair of eyes out there. Thanks for looking." Examining his friend closer, he noticed bags under the former pararescueman's eyes. "You should get some rest; there's a room available at the tower if you want it."

Sam nodded. "Ok, thanks."

Clint turned to Natasha, "Speaking of another pair of eyes, it looks like Foster is tolerating Tony for once. They're working to have Darcy moved from the hospital and into the tower. Guess who they left babysitting her while they chewed out the hospital administration; Hulk."

Nat's eyes widened. "What, why? I know he was there when Lattenson attacked but I thought he would have left already."

Clint shrugged. "According to Thor he wouldn't leave when they asked him to. Stood his ground and even huffed at Tony when he asked him to leave the room. I guess Darcy made another friend."

Steve shook his head in wonder, knowing Hulk's propensity to smash first and ask questions later; which in theory he had with Jeffery Lattenson. "Is that safe?"

Clint shrugged. "Tony has Jarvis and the suit watching them. But from what it sounds like, Darcy is probably the safest out of all of us right now."

The morning after the attack, Darcy was in her new room (with outside guard attached) eating another cup of pudding and browsing on the tablet Jane had brought her the other day when a barely there knock sounded at her door, almost as if the person outside didn't really want to come in. But who wouldn't want to see her, so far she was 5 for 5 in making friends with the people she'd met recently (she totally wasn't counting Jeff). "Come in," she called. She hoped it was Thor, she still didn't know who the father of Sylvia's baby was! He better not have watched without her either.

A head of fluffy slightly unkempt hair appeared first, followed reluctantly by the rest of one Mr. Bruce Banner as he eased his way into the room. Which explained a lot and nothing at the same time. "Hello."

When he said nothing to follow the greeting, Darcy decided to give it a try. "Hello number six."

At his puzzled look, she laughed inwardly and mentally rubbed her hands together. He wouldn't realize it until it was too late. Friendship, mwha ha ha! She focused back on Dr. Banner who stood uncomfortably in the door way as if he wasn't quite sure what to do with himself. This was gonna take some work. Poor man. She waved him over with her spoon. "You don't have to stand over there, come sit in the visitor's chair."

Still saying nothing, he walked over and settled himself on the edge of the seat as if he was afraid of breaking it. Darcy watched him and waited. She didn't have to wait long.

He ducked his head and cleared his throat. "Did he, ah, hurt you?"

"Who, Jeff? No, you stopped him remember?"

"No not Jeff, Him- The Other Guy."

"What other guy?" she asked. "The only other guy in here besides nurse hatchet was you."

"Hulk." Bruce said in a strangled voice. "Did the Hulk hurt you?"

She was confused. Why would he want to know if Hulk hurt her? He was Hulk. She stared into his eyes and the truth smacked her in the face. He felt guilty. Nope, she was putting that notion to rest immediately. "Nope. He was totally cool."

At his dubious look she continued. "No seriously, I don't know that I've met a calmer, gentler person. He saved me from the creepy nurse guy, then he sat with me while Tony and Jane and Thor's arms put the fear of-well them, into the hospital security team. We watched birds fly by the hole in my wall until I fell asleep." She'd then dreamed about her and Hulk petting bunnies and testing poptart flavors but she didn't think she needed to share that with the nervous man currently sitting beside her.

Bruce released the breath he'd been holding as she told him what happened. He'd been worried. He hadn't reacted well when he'd heard her scream and saw the man hovering over her holding that syringe. He remembered punching him to get him away from her and then feeling the other guy take over. After that, it was just flashes of the other guy's memory. Darcy screaming and breaking glass. When he woke up as himself again, shivering both from the lack of clothes and laying on the floor, he'd beat a hasty retreat wearing the extra hospital gown he'd found in the bathroom and carrying the tattered remains of his clothes. Hawkeye caught him in the hall but said nothing as Bruce made his exit via the stairwell. But he came back. He kept hearing her scream in his head and felt he needed to make sure she was alright. It was why he'd decided to visit in the first place. He'd seen the scars on her back when he treated her on the quinjet. Jane hadn't seen them, too worried about the new wounds to notice old scars. But he knew what they were, knew what they meant. That's why he had to see for himself that she made it through ok. He looked at her now, sitting in her bed happily eating chocolate pudding as if she didn't have a care in the world. "Sorry if the other guy scared you."

She shook her head as she licked a large dollop of pudding off her spoon. "He didn't."

"But I remember you screaming."

"Well yeah, some freak was about to syringe me to death while he held a piece of glass up to my face- of course I was screaming. It had nothing to do with Jolly Green."

She snorted at his perplexed look. "Yes, me and him are on a nicknaming basis. He calls me 'Little'. I'm still working on his."

Bruce shook his head and said gently, "Darcy you have to be careful. He's dangerous and not something to play around with."

She blew a raspberry. "He saved me. He's my friend and he's not dangerous to his friends." She stared him in the eye. "He's also not something to be ashamed of. I've met monsters, he's not one of them."

Bruce's expression softened. "Are the monsters the ones who gave you the scars on your back?"

She froze in the act of lifting more pudding to her mouth. "Not talking about it. Ever." She hoped he'd leave it at that. Because if he didn't she'd have to be mean to her new friend and she got the feeling he needed more friends. She also got the feeling he pushed people away because he was afraid of himself. His comments about Hulk so far tipped it off.

Bruce nodded, he'd figured as much. But he still tried. "Ok, that's ok. But if you ever do need to talk about it, just know that you're not the only one who's been through it."

She gave a slight nod as she shoved more pudding in. She was leaving her past behind if it was the last thing she ever did. Shaking off her pensive mood, Darcy smiled and gestured with her spoon. "Come on, help me think up a good nickname for 'the other guy', cuz I refuse to call him that the next time I see him and 'Hulk' just seems kind of mean spirited."

He sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "There isn't going to be a next time Darcy."

"Totally is. He's my friend; we have a date to smash things and everything."

"Darcy-" He was interrupted by the door opening.

Tony strolled in as if he owned the place, which he did. He nodded at Bruce, "Dr. Zenmeister," and casually tossed a StarkPad into Darcy's lap. "If I have to look at that busted knockoff one more time I'm gonna pull all Bruce's hair out."

Darcy scoffed as she examined the admittedly state of the art StarkPad. The nerve! "Ok one, an iPad is not a knockoff. Two, it's not that busted- it's only had a few unexpected trips down the stairs. And three, you only saw it for the first time yesterday. Also, not your own hair?"

"It's totally a knockoff. I had the concept first. And my hair is too luxurious and manly to betray in such a way. Bruce's on the other hand, it's like it taunts you 'Shave me, shave me while he sleeps and replace me with a toupee just to see if he'll notice…"

Bruce leaned forward, "You do realize I'm sitting right in front you and can hear everything you're saying, right?"

Tony looked to Bruce in anticipation. "Gettin agitated Doc?"

Bruce snorted as he leaned back in his chair, a little more relaxed than he was when he first entered the room. He knew if he changed unexpectedly Tony would keep Darcy safe. "Nice try Tony."

"Who said I was even trying?" Smirking Tony turned to Darcy. "Good god kid, how many of those puddings have you had?"

"Not sure. They keep giving me pudding every time they wean me off the pain meds more. I been sleeping less and since I have nothing better to do but watch daytime talk shows and troll Avengers fans online, pudding is kind of a great addition. I'm probably gonna regret it for all the working out I'll have to do later though. Eh, maybe I'll join a gym…"

Tony grinned, this should be good. "In what way are you trolling Avengers fans?"

"Oh the usual, you just wait for a few people to get into an argument over something petty like what Thor puts on his pancakes or whatever, then you casually throw something crazy yet specific into the mix. Like he only eats waffles with marmalade or he doesn't like breakfast at all. Then you sit back and watch the madness unfold."

Bruce coughed a startled laugh. "Sounds like something you would do Tony. You sure you two have only just met? She seems to think The Other Guy is harmless too, I was just trying to convince her that he isn't."

Darcy shook her head. "I never said he was harmless, I just said he wasn't dangerous to his friends. He's sweet to his friends."

At Bruce and Tony's flabbergasted looks she amended with a grin. "Well ok, to me, he's sweet to me. I will call him George; and I'll hug him and I'll squeeze him…"

Bruce sighed and Tony laughed outright.

An hour after Bruce and Tony left, Darcy opened her eyes and turned to the chair next to the bed. "You know," she sighed, "it's starting to get pretty old waking up with a stranger sitting next to my bed. Seems I'm getting pretty popular these days. What's up hot stuff?"

The man sitting there holding what looked like a sketch pad of some sort, cleared his throat and straightened in the chair. "Hello Miss Lewis, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I had only meant to come in and check on you. The others are busy getting things set up for you back at the tower. Then I noticed the way the light was shining in from your window and I couldn't resist drawing a quick outline and you looked so peaceful sleeping I thought I could just be in and out without bothering you. I'm very sorry. My name is Steve by the way."

Darcy stared at him, a smile tugging at her lips. Normally it would be weird to wake up to someone drawing a picture of her, but something about this man felt safe and familiar. Like an old childhood teddy bear that would protect you from the monster in the closet. He was a good apple, this Steve. With all his innocent earnestness, it practically rolled off him. She sat up with a slight wince and stuck her less injured arm out to shake his hand, which was large but gentle. "Nice to meet ya Steve. And my name is Darcy, not Miss Lewis, as Jarvis will soon learn if he knows what's good for him."

She shook her fist at the ceiling and believed she heard amusement in Jarvis's voice when he replied. "You may try, Miss Lewis."

She snorted and turned back to the handsome man sitting next to her. He made her think of apple pies and sunshine, which was unfair cuz she just knew she looked like roadkill. It was probably why Jane wouldn't let her look in any mirrors. "So what brings you here Steve? Curiosity? Intrigue? Secret nurse fetish?"

He choked and started clearing his throat as she giggled. "No," his voice cracked a bit there. He tried again. "No. What brought me here was an apology. Miss- Darcy, I am so sorry that you went through the things you did at the hands of hydra. You shouldn't have ever been in their custody because they should no longer exist. The fact that they do is my fault and I just want you to know that I will do everything in my power to make sure that they're taken down for good this time."

Darcy said nothing at first, just tapped her fingers against her chin as she stared at Steve; he looked so guilt ridden. She took a deep breath and released it. "Let me ask ya something Steve; are you the dickwad who created Hydra? Cuz if you are then fine it's all your fault, but if you're not then what the fuck dude? You can't and definitely shouldn't take responsibility for choices somebody else made. If you did that you wouldn't sleep at night. Like at all. You're not the asshole that created an organization bent on hate, oppression, and world domination. And you're definitely not one of the assholes who bought into that crap. You're one of the good guys that fought it. Ah, didn't think I'd caught on that you're the good ole Captain, eh? I was a history major for like 5 minutes my first year in college. Dude you saved me, never feel guilty about saving my life, my life is my best feature hands down. Now since we got that out of the way, why don't you tell me what got you into drawing, cuz from what I can see you're brilliant at it. Seriously I look good in that sketch; and since Jane won't let me anywhere near a mirror I'm wondering how you edited out what I am assuming to be horrible facial disfigurement."

He chuckled and relaxed a little. "Thank you. You have an interesting way of putting things, Miss Lewis. Sorry, Darcy. And you are not horribly disfigured. I'm sure Doctor Foster just didn't want to alarm you with the bruising around your eyes and nose."

Hmm, seemed she had another person to break of "proper manners". "So they tell me. "Now, show me how you did my eyes cuz I always feel like they look squinty whenever I don't have my glasses. Probably because I'm so used to wearing them all the time. But I don't have to, wear them I mean. I mostly need them whenever I'm transcribing for Jane cuz lord knows she invented chicken scratch. Don't get me wrong, she has beautiful handwriting but that's only when she's paying attention. Otherwise its good luck, Chuck."

"Sure," Steve positioned the sketch pad towards her so she could see how he drew her eyes. "It's about figuring out what the overall shape of the eye is that you're drawing. I remembered your eye shape because Jane showed us a picture of you after you were taken."

They sat in comfortable silence, the only sound the scratching of his pencil on the pad, before he spoke again.

"I've been wondering about something you said when we found you; you called me your 'shoulder angle' and Tony your 'shoulder devil'…"

"Oh that?" She hesitated but he didn't seem to be digging for information, just genuinely curious. "Well growing up we were all taught in history class how you played a major part in saving the world and ending the war, even at the expense of your own life. They'd even show us some of the propaganda films in school, the ones of you and the Howling Commandos. You were like the ultimate good guy. When I'd need moral guidance I'd ask myself how 'the Captain' would handle it. As for Tony, well he was the total opposite of you when I was younger. My aunt and uncle called him the devil. So when it came time for me to put the good morals away and fight dirty I'd ask myself how Stark would handle it. You represented my conscience and Tony represented my…not conscience." She winced. "Sorry to say that I listened to Tony's advice more than yours, but there were times I kind of had to."

"Why?"

She shrugged as if it were no big deal, even though inside she cringed at the painful memories. "Knew some bad people, it's not really important now. Cuz now I listen mostly to you. Although that's probably weird now that I've actually met you, isn't it?"

He shook his head. "I don't think it's weird. And I'm sorry there were times you had to listen to your 'not conscience' more than your regular one."

"It's ok; if I'm in the company of superheroes I must have done something right."

Steve smiled at her. "Yeah, you must have." In truth she reminded him a little of both Peggy and Bucky (and disturbingly Tony for some reason). Bucky. Natasha and Thor had each told him how he'd tried to help Darcy. That Darcy claimed he'd tried to save her. Steve wondered what had triggered Bucky to break free of his brainwashing this time. He'd been a strong man even before the war that had ultimately changed the course of his life forever. He remembered searching for him in that Hydra facility like it was yesterday. The fear and worry that his best friend was gone forever; the joy and relief when he'd found him alive. The pride and humor when Bucky realized Steve had managed to get himself enlisted after all. The overwhelming sadness after that fateful train mission.

Now Bucky was back, but was he really Bucky or the Soldier? The only person who could really give him any answers was the man himself, who of course they couldn't actually find. Perhaps that was why Steve had found himself sitting in Miss Lewis's hospital room, drawing and trying to gain some insight into who she was. And how she had gotten through to Bucky during her captivity.

The girl in question sent him a wink full of mischief and asked, "So do you? Have a secret nurse fetish?"

Steve blushed again; he had a feeling he would be doing that a lot around her.

AN: The George comment is a quote from a Bugs Bunny cartoon btw, in case anybody was wondering.