He slowly opened his eyes and rolled over onto his side. "I know you're in here," he called. "You weren't just trying to get a peek at me without my shirt on, were you?"
She rose up from her perch on the floor, smirking as she folded her arms in front of her. "I've seen you without a shirt before."
He pulled himself up to a sitting position. "Have you now?"
She nodded. "Yes. How did you know I was here? I didn't make a sound."
He cocked his head to one side as he regarded her curiously. "Your silence was louder than any sound you could have made. Thicker. I think you wanted me to know you were in here."
She looked into his eyes. "That's right. Somebody taught me that a long time ago."
He gazed back at her without blinking. "I think it was me."
She smiled. "You're right again. Do you remember that?"
He nodded, raising his left arm in front of his face and flexing the fingers.
"Are you very sore?" She asked gently.
He shook his head. "Nah. Bruce has me pretty drugged up on painkillers though." He thought for a moment. "Where's Steve?"
"He's right outside," she assured him. "He never left. Only took a short walk down the hall at the point where you started screaming."
"Right," he said with a nod.
"Do you want me to go get him?"
"Um, I don't know… not yet, I guess."
She moved closer to him. "What else do you remember, from before?"
He looked down at his hands. "Lots of things. I remember stories from a lifetime ago…"
She nodded. "Go on."
"There are some things I remember that I know are false, but yet I wish they really happened," he continued. "But mostly… there's just things that I know for sure happened, only I'd do anything to make it so they didn't." He sighed. "But I can't."
"James.."
"Don't, Natalia." He looked up at her.
She frowned. "We have a long history. There's no need to be so formal. It's Natasha."
"Natasha…. I don't know who I am."
She tentatively placed a hand on the metal part of his shoulder. "Who do you want to be?" She asked softly. "Let's start there."
He shook his head. "It's not that simple."
"It is. I've found that out."
He laughed. "You sound like Cap."
"Steve knows what he's talking about," she said.
His eyes softened. "Innocent Captain America," he replied.
"Innocent-yes," she agreed. "Naïve- no."
"I guess… you're right about that," he said quietly. "But there's no redemption for me."
"There was for me," she said. "I still have a lot of things to make up for. But… things are good for me now. They can be good for you too."
"How? With S.H.I.E.L.D.?" He laughed. "Or maybe with the Avengers?"
"I don't know," she said in a low voice. "Maybe you just find something different that works for you."
He nodded thoughtfully. "Now you really sound like Steve."
She was about to say something but was interrupted by a knock at the door. "It's open," she called.
Steve poked his head through the door. "You're awake," he said.
James nodded. "Come on in, Steve."
He shut the door behind him and walked closer. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt," he mumbled.
Natasha shook her head. "You weren't interrupting anything."
He nodded to James. "How's it feel?"
James bent his elbow back and forth a few times. "Good. Like my left arm," he said.
Steve smiled. "Good." He leaned his head in close, noticing something for the first time. "Your red star. It's gone."
"Oh yeah," James said. "The Russian star didn't really suit me this time. I went for something… a little more close to home."
"It's my shield," he observed.
"Yup." James nodded. "I asked Tony to paint the flag colors. Figured it'd be nice to have a reminder that there's still something worth fighting for out there." He jumped down from the table. "Steve, you know, I'm real tired. Can you take me home now?"
Steve nodded. "I only have my motorcycle here though. Just give me a minute to ask Fury for a car."
"I'll go arrange that," Natasha offered.
"Thank you," James said.
