Chapter 1: The new Recruit

Fury sat at the head of the table waiting for everyone who was on planet or near enough to come to the board meeting in the Stark Tower. So far the only ones to have shown up were Bruce and Tony. They worked in the lab down the hall. The others were out and about, he supposed- but he was becoming impatient. All at once everyone started popping into the room. Peter ran in blaming school and apologizing as he sat next down to his favorite Avenger, Tony. Tony just rolled his eyes and patted Peter on the back. Natasha came in quietly and sat nonchalantly next to Bruce, giving him a small side smile. The last two to show up were- Steve, and Bucky. Who was actually right on time, as everyone was- But Fury was agitated today and wanted this discussion over with and the training started with his latest recruit.

"Great." Fury started. "You're all here. We have a new Avenger coming onto the team." he paused to let that sink into the silent room. No one has been truly added to the "Avengers" since the founding of Bucky. " I want you all to train her in different aspects of what we do to get her ready for whatever comes up in the future. She will be showing up in about 10 minutes- I won't be here. Romanoff has met her already, last week. So she will have someone here to represent someone she knows." He gave a nod to Natasha. Gave a solid look at all the rest of the Avengers and stalked out of the room. He had other things he had to do. Not to mention he did not want to be here once she arrived. Fury knew at some point she was going to recognize him. It was just a matter of time. As little as she saw him the better at this point. The guilt made him walk a little faster.

"Nat?" Steve asked from where he was leaning on the table. He and Buck had never sat for the meeting since the moment that they walked in Fury started talking. He had his arms crossed casually in front of his chest. Peter looked excited to be included. Tony looked bored, but had already decided how to shake up the routine and was already thinking of the party he was planning on throwing so everyone could get drunk. Bucky was leaning on the wall looking outside of the group, as usual- blank faced. Bruce was paying very close to Natashaas she was speaking.

"She's nice." She said as she leaned forward, crossing her hands in front of her.

"Boring." Tony said. "Let's look her up. Name?" He was already about to start talking to FRIDAY. Natasha's eyebrow came up.

"No. The one order we have is to not look her up. I have learned enough about her that I think she is going to fit in well with the 6 of us." She glanced over at Bucky. Everyone knew that he didn't consider himself really an "Avenger" though they were all like a family at this point. " Also- there is only one place we can put her." Natasha turned to look at the two standing gentlemen. " If you are bothered by it…" she didn't give them a chance to say anything. "Don't let her know. She has a hard past. Just go with it, it is what Fury wants." Both men nodded but did not say anything. While she was speaking, Tony was already on the phone. He was speaking quickly and quietly in the hung up.

"Fine… now that that is settled... I have already set up a party so that we can get introduced." Tony was beaming. He was ready for another woman to be around. Someone fun to mess with and well… His thoughts were interrupted by the door opening. It was slow and clearly the person coming through the door was not too sure of what was going to happen once they walked into it.

They all turned at the motion of the door opening. The door was opening inwards towards Bucky who was standing behind it still leaning on the wall. His metal arm reaching out and stopping it from banging into him.

"Well." and Tony could not keep his surprise out of his voice. " The new recruit has arrived." This was going to be fun. The young woman stepped into the door completely and looked around at everyone. The door clicked behind her and she startled a bit. Turning her head around to see a ginormous ( well compared to her 5'5 height) man with a metal arm casually leaning against the wall. His eyes facing forward as if she didn't just walk in and almost hit him with a door.

"Sorry." she whispered almost inaudibly, taking out the lone headphone from her ear.. She knew that he caught it though- his eyebrow arched up. She was feeling very uncomfortable. It was her 22nd birthday today and she was no longer in that house. She was trying very hard not to think back on that- using her music to keep her relaxed. Moving forward, she thought to herself. She wore a sweater that was far too big for her, it was a dark purple and clearly had seen better days. Her whole form was swallowed by the over-large garment. Her jeans were ripped at the knees and clearly worn to bone as well. She still felt exposed.

"Harper!" Nat's voice was the only sound in the room. The moment that Harper saw that Natasha was there, everyone saw her noticeably relax her body some. But not all together.

"Nat!" She walked further into the room. " Is Fury here?"Natasha's eyebrow went up. " I...umm… nevermind." she didn't want to tell anyone that there just seemed something off about him and she wanted to talk more to him to see if she could figure it out.

"This, everyone is, Harper Grey." She motioned to Harper while addressing the others. " Harper, this is everyone. Stark." She motioned to the gentleman standing near the end of the large table, who was outwardly staring at her in a way that made her think she was an experiment...again, and what was he typing on his cellphone rapidly- like he didn't need to see it at all while staring at her. No, she thought, we are forgetting now, new life. She thought.

"Nice to meet you, Stark." she stopped and put his hand up as a greeting and went back to his phone. Natasha went on. Motioning to everyone as she said their names.

"Bruce."

"Peter." The teenager looked about to kill over from excitement.

"Steve." Before Natasha could go on, Steve stepped forward.

"Nice to meet you Harper. If you need anything you can come to anyone in this room."

"Um...Thank you, Steve." she said looking up at the tall blonde. He was really muscular and very good looking to her. Very clean cut.

"Bucky." Natasha motioned with her head. Harper turned and followed the motion. He caught her eye and gave one nod at her. Not much of a talker. I like that. Harper thought to herself. She returned his nod with a short quick smile. Her eyes, when they did look at him,

looked wary and he recognized a slight haunted look that she was trying to hide. Interesting. He noticed that she had bright green eyes that stayed locked to his for a couple of more seconds before she turned from him.

"Uh, what happens now?" She asked the room and no one per se.

"We get you settled and ready for the party, of course." Tony stepped forward. " I'm afraid I was rude." he bent down and grabbed her hand, lifting it to his lips as he bent. " Hello Lovey." She lightly pulled her hand from his and took a couple of steps back.

" Party?" She asked.

" I get to come this time, right?" Peter piped up. Tony never removed his eyes from Harpers as he answered him.

"Not a chance kid." Harper was almost saddened by the shot down look on the kids face. She knew that feeling all too well.

"When's the party?" she asked, still looking at Peter.

"Starting...9pm." Tony was watching her closely. He clearly noticed everyone else was doing the same. Harper looked at her watch. It was 5pm at the moment.

"Okay. Let's do this. I am sure you all have something that you can fill your time up with. Who is showing me around? Nat? I know Fury told me that I needed to stay at the compound to train with you all."

"Well… I think." Her sentence was cut off.

" Buck and I will be showing you around." Steve said. Harper nodded.

" Can I have an hour before we do that?" She asked. She knew that they were all wondering where this was going. Why wait an hour when she can be shown around now. Steve looked at Bucky and then nodded. " Great." She walked over to the spot across from Peter and pulled the chair out, sitting quietly and pulling herself up to the table. " Well, Peter, it seems you would also like to get to know me. Since we have an hour open, let's chat." She turned to look at the others. " You can all stay if you would like. Though I am thinking that you are all pretty busy at the choice." They all said their goodbyes and headed out.

"We can come back at 6, Harper, to" Steve cleared his throat, " show you around." Harper agreed and turned her full attention to Peter who was absolutely nearly jumping in the chair of excitement.

It was 5:30pm and Harper was left sitting in the room by herself. The glass windows facing the direction of the hall opposite from the side she had come from were facing the lab. She had her earphones in ( both this time) trying to calm herself down by listening to her ipod. She wished she still had her cell phone, the music on her ipod was was drumming her fingers on the table, she could see Stark and Bruce talking and moving with purpose and movements that were very fluid. Harper was wondering again if she was going to upheave their team. She really didn't want to be here. The idea of again staying in a location with a hodgepodge of people (mainly men, again) frankly made her nervous. Her eyes stopped on Tony's as he was now openly looking at her, smiling. He was speaking and she was confused at why he kept staring. He was in his upper thirties or maybe early forties. Clean-cut facial hair and a mischievous glint that she noticed almost immediately when they met. Detach it Harper, give them all a chance. She thought as she turned to see Bucky walk into the room. He stood in the doorway, not entering.

"Where'd the kid go?" He asked and leaned on the doorframe. She turned and looked back at Tony, he was still looking over directly at her. He must have let them know somehow that she was no longer entertaining the young man. Too bad she couldn't just sit here listening to music uninterrupted. Harper, not breaking eye contact with Stark, said.

"Someone named MJ called." she said. Adding, and turning around to meet his eyes " He practically hopped out of here." Bucky didn't say anything. It seemed like that was probably his norm.

"Ready for that tour then?" He took a step forward. He seemed to be looking for something. " Luggage?" He asked absentmindedly.

"Have none." She said and jumped up, she walked quickly to where he was standing. " Ready." she said after taking a deep breath. Before he could respond she went out into the hall and waited for him.

He came out, closing the door and looking uncomfortable over the circumstances. "Where's Steve?" She asked, following him down the hall.

" Just us." He was walking rather quickly and her short legs were finding it hard to follow his long strides. He took note and slowed his pace. She started walking beside him. He noticed she was only tall enough to make it up to right under his shoulder. Her clothes didn't say much about her. He couldn't help but wonder what her form was under that hideous giant thing she had on. Male curiosity he told himself. He stopped at a door and opened it. He waited for her to step inside.

Harper came face to face with Tony and Bruce again. Bruce gave her a small smile and continued to examine some weird looking stick in the corner. Tony on the other hand, sauntered, Yes- sauntered, over towards her like he had all the time in the world and his work was unimportant at the moment.

"Ah- Harper." he said. " This is my lab. Well…" he paused. " the one I share. I will have to show you my hidden lab some time." He shot her a charming smile.

" Ah- Stark." she mimicked his flourish in her voice. " Seen one, seen em all." Tony laughed.

"Fun." was all he answered. Then added, " Call me Tony, kid." and then got a call on his phone and took it by comm in his ear. So that is how he was letting them know that Peter left. Do they all have the same comm on them? She wondered. Bruce was smirking and enjoying the conversation between the two.

" Alright, ready for the next stop." She turned abruptly, embarrassed that she did that. Shocking that she did not get slapped for it. You're not there Harper, she reminded herself again. Sighing, and speeding out of the room, not waiting for her tour guide. Bucky just stuffed his hands in his pockets and followed her out and down the hall. He had to speed up to catch up. Interesting how when she wants to move fast she can, he noted. He explained that there are two floors of apartments and that is where the Avengers stayed. Natasha and Bruce, who pretend there is nothing happening, share one of the apartments. ( On Floor 24.) Floor 23 was actually Tony, he likes to be closer to his personal labs and the flats that he already had built up for his tech. " Who stays on the top floor?" she asked, she had been listening carefully and was also deciding that this place was most definitely a maze. He showed her the communal area where the 'party' would be later. And they had already been to the training rooms and now we're stepping up to the elevators. The elevator opened. He stepped in and pressed 25. As the elevator started closing, Bucky said.

"You…" she felt that was not the only was shifting awkwardly on the balls of his feet. After a moment he added. " Steve and I as well." The ding of the elevator made her jump causing her hood to fly backwards off of her head. Bucky noted that she had blonde hair that was jammed up onto her head, lots of strands framing her stopped shifting as he noticed from the corner of his eye that she had a deep purple bruise on the under part of her ear and was moving backward up the neck towards her the back of her moved quickly and pulled the hood back up. The door opened and she was struck by how nice the apartment was.

The elevator opened to a large open living area. Anyone with eyes could tell men lived there. There were brown leather couches surrounding a large tv on a large wood entertainment center. It was decorated sparsely. Her eyes left the living room and moved over to a large kitchen that had a large island. The kitchen was from her dreams. She loved cooking and listening to music while doing so. Oh the food I could make in there. She was not allowed in the kitchen back before unless he was there to ' watch her' she shook her head- and she spotted a hallway to the right by the living room.

Bucky just stood there awkwardly while she took in the apartment. Hands still shoved in his pockets. Where was Steve?, he couldn't help but wonder.

"What do those two doors lead to?" She asked curiously looking at the two doors that were to the right of the living room. "Bathroom and laundry."

"Can I go out onto the balcony?" She had just noticed that there was a large sliding door in the kitchen going out to the top room of Stark Tower. He noticed that she was excited by her. At that exact moment Steve exited from a door further down the hall. The empty bedroom or in this case, her bedroom now.

"Hey there." Steve said as he closed the door. "This hall leads to the bedrooms. Come, I'll show you." Bucky didn't move, she walked through the apartment and down the hall. There were two doors right across from each other right when you took a step into the hallway. " That room is mine." Steve motioned to the right side, it was the only door on that side of the hallway . She turned and again Steve spoke, "Bucks room." That means the room he just exited was. His eyes shifted as she looked at the door beside him. " Yours." he said with a smile. He took a step back, when she didn't move-it hit him that it must have been weird for her to see him exit what would be her room.

" Oh, Nat asked me to place your stuff in there." He said.

"I don't have any.." she tailed off. " Nevermind, may I go in and see it?" she asked cautiously. He took another step back. And she approached. She looked back down the hall to where Bucky was standing towards the end of the Hall with his hand on the back of his neck. Just being quiet and watching. She stepped into the room and closed the door.

"We seem like creeps." Bucky became animated and made a turn. " I have never lived with a woman besides my mother...dammit." Steve came down the hall, agreeing. Sure, they have had women here but for a short spur but not someone who will be seeing them almost all the time.. They both went into the kitchen to give her space. " She told me she didn't bring anything with her. Why do you think she has nothing?" He continued, as he bent down in the fridge and grabbed a beer. Steve sat on the bar stool on the other side of the island and caught the beer Buck threw over his shoulder.

"Nat showed up and told me to put them all in there. She didn't say why…" he cracked open the beer and downed half the can. Couldn't get drunk anyways. " She will tell us when she is ready I guess." He shrugged. They both sat in the kitchen feeling awkward and quiet, drinking their beers. Thinking of the woman down the hall.

The room was the prettiest room she had ever been in. Her bed was situated on the far wall. It was made in a light purple that gave her a nice feeling when she looked at it, I guess that was why Natasha asked what her favorite color was. She thought. All the furnishings were matching. Two night stands, armour, and a mirror stood in the room around her. There was a door to the far right of her. She went over to the door and opened it. A Bathroom! She was so excited the tub was a soaker. She couldn't wait to relax in it. Another one of her favorite things to do was to just sit and soak in a hot bath. Standing in the bathroom she looked into the mirror. Her appearance made her want to cry. She had the old hoodie, thank god for that. It was still far too big and was falling apart- but it was the only thing she had left from that day and the only thing she continued to carry with her. She took down her hood and moved her neck to the right. She was stiff. She could see the finger marks within the bruise. He made sure to give her a strong birthday gift. She pulled her hair tie out and let her hair fall about her shoulders. She shook her blonde hair out. It was long, almost to the middle of her back. She liked it though. It was the longest it had ever been. She pulled the hoodie off and revealed the purple tank top. She sighed and decided to go through the stuff that Natasha had gotten for her. All of it was her style. Natasha definitely got her. She smiled, she really liked the redhead. She looked at her watch. It was almost 8:00pm. Wow, that tour took a lot of time. She thought. Guess she should get ready for the party. She didn't have her phone anymore. He made sure she had nothing. Doesn't matter because I still have the sweater, she thought, and hugged it to herself before placing it on the bed next to the bags.

Harper walked out of the bedroom. "Hey guys." she said walking down the hall. She stopped at the entrance to the Hall- awkward to go further. She didn't want to enter their space. Both of the men had turned towards her when she spoke. They were staring at her. I hate attention. Stay invisible. That way you stay safer. "I um…" she shifted and pulled her long hair over to the right to hide the bruise forming. " I don't have Nat's number and I would like her help with something. Could you call her for me?"

"You don't have a cell?"Bucky asked, taking in her form. Those Curves! He thought, Why the Hell do I keep 'noticing' things about her? Shouldn't she have a cell? She looked to be in her twenties. He was born in 1917 and he knew he was really 'technically' old- Stuck at 24 years old, but even he had a cell phone. Ah! Fuck! His thoughts shifted, I made her even more uncomfortable. He thought when he saw her start shifting more than she already was. He didn't have many conversations with women- It was usually him wanting to be satiated and her wanting to be with an "Avenger" a win-win for a night. Harper put her earphone back into her ear and pressed play on an ipod. Steve shifted her attention.

"Oh- I forgot, Nat asked me to give you this." Steve stood up from his stool and set his beer down. He reached into his back pocket and reached out his hand with a phone. Harper was shocked. This was all too good for her, wasn't it? She padded across the living room and up to Steve.

"Thanks." she took it- uneasy.

"All our numbers are in it under our names if you need us." She nodded. She opened the phone and found Natasha's name. She pressed the call. The silence with the three of them stretched- both men drinking their beers and looking at everything but her.

" Hey Nat." She said when she answered. She then whispered into the phone. " I can't accept all this." she , " The party?" She paused. " Oh yeah,I wanted to know if you could come help me with something." more silence. " I will go take a shower. See you in about 10 minutes." She hung up and looked at both the men. "Thanks again Steve." she motioned with the cell phone and walked back to her room.

It was too quiet in the damn apartment so both of them heard the shower turn on in her room. Steve sat back down. "Harper's prettier than I thought she would be. I couldn't see her face clearly with the hood on earlier." Funny Bucky thought she was probably very pretty, what had him think that at the time though? He downed his beer and finished it. He stood up and walked quickly towards the elevator. Just as he made it to the elevator, there was a ding and the door opened. Natasha walked out of it.

"Oh good you're both here." she pushed Bucky back with a hand on the shoulder. Is Harper in the Shower?" They both nodded. "Before I go in there. I need you both to hear me out. Tony will be the one working on helping her control her gift- she has locked it away so deep- fear probably. She has never had freedom. You both should understand that. There had to have been something that happened earlier today" She got quiet when she heard noise and then continued. " I am not sure what all happened but I got a bad vibe from the place and people she was around-Fury knows-wouldn't tell me anymore than that." Bucky thought back to the bruise he saw in the elevator- but stayed quiet.

"Got it." Steve said. Wanting very much to help her assimilate to being here and with them. He would go to any lengths to help anyone-especially a woman. Bucky was thinking about what there could be, he recognized that people share when they are ready. Out of everyone here, there was no way she was going to find that confidant in him- no one did, hell, he thought many of them didn't even like him that much.

"It's a half hour to the party. Go get ready. We will see you there." she smiled a sly smile and walked towards the hall. " Which one, boys?" she said as she reached the hall, pointing at doors as she walked.

"Last one." Bucky said and they watched her go into the room. They both looked at each other. " Well this should be fun. We are all gonna be awkward as hell." They both laughed. " Let's go." He slammed Steve on the shoulder and they both went to get ready. They left at exactly 8:00pm to go down to the communal space.

"I should not wear this." Harper was saying while looking in the full length mirror in her bedroom. "I feel like I am overdressed, Nat." She turned to the redhead wearing a short black number. It was a pretty dress and did match with her own she guessed.

"You look amazing, I bet the men can't keep their eyes off of you tonight." Harper blushed- but had to push the idea that this is 'not a good concept' out of her mind. She was young, not bad to look at, and worthy of a good time, right?

"Why not at you?" she arched an eyebrow as she turned from the mirror and walked back to her bed. Sitting down to put her blackstilettos on. Natasha pulled herself up on her arm from where she was laying on Harper's bed and supported her head.

"Me… because they are used to me now. You're going to be the new shiny toy." she said as she took in Harper's appearance. A slight smile gripping to be pulled out of the young assassin. "But Harper.." she paused for a second. Then she dove into the speech that she prepared. " Give them all a chance. You're very safe with every single one of the gentlemen out there. Stark, included- even if he is screwing with you. Screw right back. I know your personality- show them all of that tonight, okay?" Harper made her resolve and promised herself she is no longer the girl from before. She was going to be a new woman. She smiled at Natasha, shifted her hair to the otherside of her neck to put her other heel on.

"What the HELL HAPPENED?" Natasha moved quickly and pulled her head to the right gently to see the handprint bruise on the side of her neck. Harper moved away from her fast and put her hair back. " You're not leaving this room until I know." Natasha said going over and leaning on the door frame like she had all the time in the world.

"Natasha, listen. I…" she stopped and grabbed her ipod. She put one of the earphones in and started pacing. Natasha just stood there acting like she was very bored. Really she wanted to freak out, but knew that she couldn't. Once she saw Harper reach for the ipod it took everything to look bored. Nat already realized that was how Harper stayed calm- in control. After a moment Harper looked at the red head through the mirror and turned around, resolved. And for the first time Harper let herself think of what had happened earlier today.