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Katarina woke up before Natasha the next morning. She quietly uncuffed herself before getting ready for the day, Natasha had pulled some clothes out for her the night before, jean shorts and a vest top that would fit her. Taking a deep breath Katarina left the room, she was the worlds best assassin, she could handle the Avengers and co without Natasha and James around. She was Siren, nothing scared her.

She knew how to get from Natasha's room/floor to the common floor. It wasn't difficult, all she had to do was take the elevator down three floors and she was there. Seeing as though it was just before six o'clock in the morning Katarina was hoping no one would be there so when they did arrive she could be in control of the situation. JARVIS got to her, an AI who was everywhere yet nowhere, it saw everything. How was she supposed to combat that?

When she entered the kitchen on the common floor she saw someone she had briefly seen yesterday but hadn't spoken too, the CEO of Stark Industries, Virginia Potts. Katarina paused in the doorway, she wasn't sure how to continue. How did she think she could do this without Natasha or James?

Pepper saw the assassin out of the corner of her eye, the poor girl looked so young that Pepper's heartbroke. How was she considered the most feared assassin in the world when it looked like the mere thought of entering the kitchen made her uneasy?

"Hi, I'm Pepper," Pepper introduced, taking charge of the situation hoping to help the girl who she knew stole Natasha's heart. "Do you want some coffee?"

Katarina forced herself further into the kitchen and relaxed her face, hoping to look friendly. She could do this. "Hello Pepper, I'm Katarina. I've never had coffee before, is it nice?"

Pepper tried not to look at the girl sympathetically, James didn't like it she didn't think Katarina would either, although that simple statement made Pepper determined to help Katarina adjust to the wolrd. "It's kind of bitter taste, to be honest. Most people put sugar and milk into it to change the taste to something sweeter. There are other flavours and so many different kinds too, I'll make some more and we can see if you like it," Pepper smiled before busying herself with the coffee machine.

"Does-" Katarina started before stopping herself. She gathered her courage before continuing, Katarina had always been good at reading people and Pepper seemed nice enough and rather helpful. "Does Natasha like coffee?"

Pepper smiled at her, "She does. A little bit of cream and three sugars," She explained.

"Could you teach me how to make it?" Katarina asked hesitantly.

Pepper figured that took a lot for the younger girl to do. She recalled when James first got here it took him a long time before he talked to anyone but Natasha and Steve and even longer before he asked anyone else for help. She waved the younger girl over and started to explain how to use the coffee machine and the difference between instant coffee and fresh. It all seemed far too complicated just for a drink but Katarina listened intently, determined to remember everything she was being told.

Pepper had made her some coffee and was very patient with how long it took Katarina to admit whether she liked something or not. Katarina finally admitted to liking normal coffee but preferred it with the Vanilla flavour she tried.

Katarina was also surprised to feeling herself relax around Pepper and genuinely enjoying her company. Pepper was explaining things in the world and answering all the questions Katarina had.

They were talking about Pepper's favourite TV show, How To Get Away With Murder, when Natasha walked in. Katarina was about to explain exactly how one could get away with murder when Natasha burst into the kitchen looking slightly panicked.

"Hi, Nat," Pepper said from behind her coffee mug. Natasha seemed to calm down when she saw Katarina across from Pepper, bare legs folded underneath her and her own coffee mug cupped in two hands.

Katarina looked at Natasha and uncurled herself, "Would you like a coffee?" She asked making her way to the coffee machine. Natasha stared at her shocked, it was far too early for her sleep addled mind to make out what was happening. She glanced at Pepper to see her smiling in Katarina's direction with a warm, almost maternal, look in her eyes. Natasha nodded and watched Katarina make her coffee, exactly the way she liked it.

Tasting the coffee Natasha smiled warmly as the hot liquid made its way down her throat. "This is delicious," Natasha told Katarina drinking more. Katarina's eyes lit up slightly and she went back to her seat, listening to Pepper talk more about the show.

Natasha damn near melted at the sight. She still couldn't get over the fact that Katarina was alive, let alone here. She knew that Katarina had a long way to go before she'd be okay, and even longer before she fully understood the world, but just by watching this small display she knew that Katarina would get there. Natasha wouldn't admit it out loud but she was looking forward to showing Katarina new things. God, the girl was making the Black Widow act like a child with a crush, Natasha found herself shocked that she wouldn't have it any other way.

She was glad that Katarina seemed to find a friend in Pepper, she knew Pepper was one of those people who would do anything for a friend and that was exactly what Katarina needed. When Natasha woke up that morning to find Katarina gone she nearly cried, thinking it was all a dream. It was only when she saw the handcuffs still attached to the bedpost that she pulled herself together. She blamed how emotional she was on stress and quickly got up to find Katarina. Seeing her in the kitchen with Pepper made her think back to Italy, how on particularly lazy days she would get up sometime just before noon and see Barnes and Katarina in some sort of domestic setting that would warm her heart. She thought she'd never see that again and just stood in the doorway watching the scene, not even bothering to hide her shock.

The coffee was great too, almost as good as a professionals, but Natasha might be biased, she would probably think anything Katarina made her was brilliant just because Katarina made it. Oh if only the Red Room and Hydra could see their prized possession now, pining after another prized possession, they would've killed her for weakness before she could protest. Natasha looked over to Katarina to see her full attention on whatever Pepper was explaining, a look of pure concentration on her face, with her head slightly tilted in confusion. Yeah, Natasha was smitten with the younger assassin.

When James entered the kitchen after his run with Steve he couldn't believe his eyes. Katarina was actually engaging in conversation, in English, he was proud of her. He knew exactly how hard it was going to be for her, he was still struggling and he had known a life before Hydra, Katarina hadn't. Well he knew Hydra had her from a very young age, so young she wouldn't be able to truly remember a life before Hydra.

He wanted to talk to her about so many things but knew it would all be emotional, too emotional right now. Katarina needed to be slowly eased into things and having lived life without being allowed to express emotions or know how to deal with emotions meant he would have to be very careful and patient with any emotional subject. He had something he wanted to get off his chest though, something he wanted to tell her that he thought couldn't wait, something he wanted, needed, her to know.

They'd get there, but for now Katarina had more important things to worry about. Her memories would keep invading her dreams, James' still did, and she would need to talk to someone about them eventually or they'd eat her alive. Natasha wanted to be the one she could talk to but the red in her ledger still got to her so she knew she wasn't the best option, James was still going through the same thing and he wouldn't be able to deal with his and Katarina's ledger. Perhaps Pepper would be able to help, she seemed to, unofficially, have taken the role of Avengers therapist, maybe she'd be able to help Katarina.

"Have you eaten, Katarina?" James asked, surprisingly James was the best cook in the tower, after him it was Steve. If they weren't ordering out, James and Steve were cooking.

Katarina didn't even try to hold back her eye role at James' mothering, it was going to take her a long time to get use to how James acted now. Having someone fuss over her felt strange, no one had ever really cared about that before, and if they did they couldn't show it. "Yes. Pepper made us both a bowl of fruit," She elaborated seeing him open his mouth, assuming correctly that he was going to ask her what she'd eaten.

Pepper let out a tiny laugh from beside Katarina, it was amusing to watch feared assassins turn into mother hens and a smitten girlfriend? Pepper was going to have to get the full story from Natasha soon, around this girl, another one of the worlds most feared assassins. She began to wonder when this became a normal part of her day to day life, being surrounded by gods and assassins, super soldiers and some of the smartest people in the world.

"Want to check out the gym?" James asked a stupid grin on his face. He had missed sparring with Katarina, he was hoping she'd say yes and by the tiny smirk on her face and glint in her eye she was eager to spar with him too.

Natasha watched as James led Katarina to the gym, both walking as fast as they can without actually running, with a smile on her face. "Lets go watch, I've not seen them spar together in a long time," Natasha said following the two ex-Hydra assassins.

When Natasha, Steve and Pepper entered the gym, Katarina and James were already dancing around eachother. The whole thing like a well choreographed dance of ducking, bobbing, weaving, kicking and punching. When James aimed a roundhouse kick for Katarina's head, she expertly ducked under it and twirled back kicking him in the chest. James stumbled back with a smile on his face he swung for her with his metal arm. Katarina dodged it whilst glaring, she always had mixed feelings about the arm, it was great when it wasn't used on her but when they were sparring it was an unfair advantage. Luckily, Katarina had been up against it so often that she was used to it.

The two had been sparring for over half an hour, sweat glistened on their skin, but neither showed any signs of slowing down or being tired. Peppers jaw dropped when Katarina flipped over James and swept his legs from underneath him in one swift movement.

"They're really good at this," Pepper whispered. She knew it was an obvious statement but felt like it needed to be said.

Natasha nodded, pride rolling off her. "They've been doing this for a long time, Barnes has been Katarina's partner for god knows how long,"

Glancing back at the fight they saw James' metal arm wrapped around Katarina's neck. Katarina was completely relaxed though, she stomped hard on James' foot then elbowed him as hard as she could, hitting his stomach making him double over and release her. Katarina grabbed his arm and spun around, using the momentum to toss him over her shoulder and slam him into the ground.

"You're not using your powers are you?" James joked, shocking Katarina, she'd never known him joke before. Natasha was on the side, cursing herself for forgetting that Katarina had telekenisis now.

Jumping over his legs, Katarina decided to banter too, "I don't need to use my powers to beat you, Old man," Then began a flurry of attacks forcing James into a defensive. James was loving every second of it, Steve usually sparred with him but he treated him like he would break any second. Katarina had never held back and never would, she didn't know how to, she had always been forced to give every fight her all or best case scenario she'd be punished, worse case was she'd be killed.

The two only stopped sparring when Steve told them it had been an hour and practically forced James to stop.

"I'm going to have a shower. Can I talk to you afterwards, Katarina?" Now why did that make her so nervous? Katarina nodded hesitantly before following Natasha out of the room to shower herself, just before leaving she remembered Pepper had been watching the fight and was still in the room, she quickly said a thank you for the morning before rushing after Natasha.

Katarina took her time in the shower, abusing the fact that she could and had warm water. She had the water as hot as her body could handle and watched in fascination as the scolding hot water turned her skin pink. It was only when the steam from the shower fogged everything up too much that she forced herself out. Natasha had again left her some clothes out; a white button up shirt and light blue skin-tight jeans, she was beginning to think that Natasha was just leaving out clothes she'd like to see Katarina in.

Once she was finished Katarina found James waiting with Natasha, just thinking about whatever James wanted to talk about already had her exhausted. She could tell by the way he was fiddling with his fingers that he was nervous, she supposed he was trying to make up for not being able to show any emotion by broadcasting his every one now. She silently wondered if that would happen with her but it was something her brain couldn't compute, she'd never shown emotions like he was, every move was calculated, a subtle manipulation.

Even now she was catching herself before doing something manipulative. Like whilst talking to Pepper, she very nearly told her a fake story that Pepper would be able to relate to, office work or something equally as dull. She managed to stop herself just in time though, reminding herself that Natasha and James wouldn't want her manipulating their friends, emotionally or otherwise.

Katarina silently followed James of off Natasha's floor and in to the elevator, which proceeded to take them to the roof. Stepping onto the roof she immediately began to calculate ways of escape and her best vantage point for a fight. James sat on the ledge, legs dangling off, as he stared out into New York City, remembering it from before when he and Steve were just two stupid kids trying to survive and getting sucked into a war. He remembered all his friends and family who were all dead or not far off nowadays. James shook his head ridding himself of those thoughts, he couldn't do anything about the past now but by god he would help make the future a better place.

"Sit with me?" He asked and Katarina did, keeping a distance between them she sat down gracefully and looked over the edge to see exactly how high up they were. Even with all the experimentation done on her she knew she would not survive falling off the tower.

"Language?" He asked her knowing that with a talk like the one they were about to have she wouldn't want it in a language everyone would understand. No one was around to hear them but Katarina had been instilled with a healthy, read unhealthy, dose of paranoia. She knew better than to let secrets out and exactly how to keep things private.

Looking out into the city she replied in perfect Bengali, "Ki āpanāra samparkē kathā balatē cā'ō?" What do you wish to speak about?

James sighed, he'd hoped she'd pick English, but he supposed it was too soon for her to be completely trusting. Still, why did she have to pick Bengali? His was rusty. He could put together what she was saying but wasn't confident in his ability to formulate a reply, and he knew he'd butcher the accent.

"Yak spravy?" How are you? He asked in Ukrainian. He still struggled with the accent but languages were never really his strong suit. Not like Katarina and Natasha, he'd lost count of how many languages those two were fluent in.

A smug look crossed Katarina's face at his butchered pronunciation, she had always been better at languages then him.

How are you?

What a loaded question. She didn't know the answer, she was so used to people telling her how to feel or not to feel that she didn't understand her own emotions. She supposed right now she was numb to the whole thing, the fear of the current unknown had not hit her yet, nor had the happiness at finally being free, the guilt from all the lives she'd ruined, none of it.

Katarina shrugged, "Ne znayu," I don't know. She replied taking sympathy on James by using Ukranian as well.

"YA shkoduyu," I'm sorry. James mumbled, staring out at the horizon.

Sorry? She thinks that might be the first time she's heard those words, or at the very least it's the first time someone actually meant them. But what was he sorry for? She turned to look at him and raised an eyebrow prompting him to continue. His seemingly random apology confusing her and she still didn't like to be confused.

"YA prychyna , shcho vy buly tam . YA vzyav tebe , ya dopomih yim navchyty vas , ya borovsya vas . YA prychyna u vas ne bulo dytynstva . Vybachte," I am the reason you were there. I took you, I helped them train you, I fought you. I'm the reason you did not have a childhood. I am sorry.

Katarina stared at him blankly, she didn't understand where he was coming from. He had as much control of the situation as she did, why was he blaming himself?

She thought of all the training she did for undercover operations. The lessons that taught her how to say exactly the right thing when, to look at any situation and manipulate it. She knew it wasn't a good thing to do, James wouldn't like her using any of it on him but she wanted him to stop looking like a sad puppy.

"Yakshcho vy vybackayuchys' za tse , to ya povynen skazaty , vybachte za te vy potrapyly v Italiyi," If you are apologising for that, then I must say sorry for getting you caught in Italy. She told him, catching his shocked look, whether from her response or the fact she clearly remebered Italy she didn't know.

"Ale vy buly vyklykani!" But you were triggered! He protested.

"YA dumav , my vybachatysya za rechi , shcho znakhodyat'sya poza nashym kontrolem," I thought we were apologising for things beyond our control, "Vony kontrolyuvaly vas tzeh," They were controlling you too. She continued softly, using the voice she had used on many missions to try make people feel better.

Katarina saw him wince but continued on as though she hadn't, "I yakshcho vy vybachatysya meni za tse , i ya vybachavsya dyla Italiyi ta bahato inshoho , to my povynni otrymaty Natashu i skazhy yiy , shcho my shkoduyemo pro nashu rol'v yiyi pidhotovky," And if you are apologising to me for that and I am apologising for Italy and much more then we should go get Natasha and tell her we are sorry for our role in her training. She wondered if she was getting to him. She guessed, and rightly so, that this was what he needed to hear to forgive himself for his percieved sins.

They sat silently on the roof for a little longer before James silently said, "U nas ne bulo vyboru," We didn't have a choice.

Katarina didn't say anything, she had a feeling it was only said for himself. Katarina found herself hoping she had helped him, she imagined he would be doing a lot to make this transition easier for her. She wanted to repay him somehow.

"What shall I call you?" She asked him, surprising him by using English. He was happy she did though.

"What do you mean?"

"I used to call you Soldier, but you are not him anymore, not just him anymore. Natalia wishes to be called Natasha and she calls you Barnes, as do others, Captain America calls you Bucky or Buck and I've been calling you James in my head. Everyone calls you something different, which must confuse someone who used to only be Asset or Winter Soldier. So, I was asking, which name would you like me to use?"

James stared at her in shock and she just stared back waiting for him to come back from his own thoughts. He cleared his throat as if expelling some thoughts or emotions, "James works. I would like to be James for you. And you are going by Katarina now?"

He knew the answer, "Yes. Siren is not a proper name, apparently. I was Alexandria for a short while, I believe, but she was innocent and I am not. Katarina is the only other name I own,"

A/N: So I don't actually know any of these languages, I use Google Translate, so if they are incorrect I'm sorry.

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