Thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, added to alerts and favourites.

The next chapter is a little earlier but the following chapter will not be ready for this weekend.

Any and all mistakes are mine and mind alone.


XXX


Chapter 4:-

Holly woke hunched over the table, parchment stuck to her face and a kink in her neck.

Wearily she groaned as she wiped the sleep out of her eyes, ran a hand through her hair, grimacing at the knots and the fuzzy feeling on her teeth.

She had done it again.

Fallen asleep as she worked into the night over the many notes and files she had gathered since she had started this case.

Holly was pretty sure she had the damn things memorised by now, but that still didn't stop her from going through them with a fine-tooth comb looking for that all-important key that would give her some insight into the wild chaotic mess that was Hydra.

She just hoped that working at the Avengers Tower wasn't a complete bust, all things considering.

A glance at the clock on the wall had her groaning, half-four. She remembered seeing half-one, but her eyes had started getting blurry at that point.

By her estimation, she had a couple of hours sleep, and getting more sleep now that she was awake was an impossibility she didn't want to tackle.

Not that she slept comfortably anymore.

Nightmares had plagued her for most of her life, but they had gotten considerably worse since Hydra - since her time with them.

Don't think about it.

Holly pushed the thoughts of them under the multiple layers of ice her mind used to protect itself until she could shove them into the school trunk that lay under it.

Holly was sure if it were possible neon lights would be shinning over that box of 'things not to think about it'. It rattled as her mind brushed across it and she quickly pulled away.

She kneaded the side of her neck as she pushed herself to her feet. Stretching and working out the kinks.

Sleep was pointless now.

She glanced at the files again. Krum's information had been enlightening and together with what she had from cases in Britain, Ireland, America, Asia and the Middle East, she was starting to see a pattern forming. Holly couldn't say it made sense, but it was giving her the bigger picture to look at which was a step in the right direction of finding the puzzle pieces she needed.

The most recent cases were from three months ago, and Holly could see that one of those missing children was from a neighbourhood in New York City. Her own neighbourhood where she had decided to set up her base.

Hell's Kitchen.

Thank Merlin Andromeda Tonks had passed on that little bit of information, along with a copy of the police-file. It was thin at best, but it was a beginning that she could expand on. Usually, it was like pulling teeth to get information out of the muggle-police.

She made a mental note to go over there after work one day this week when she had the chance before flicking her wand at the files. Everything started to neatly arrange themselves before floating to her draw that sealed shut as soon as the last piece of paper settled.

Another flick and the copper kettle on the hob started hissing as the water bubbled and boiled, all the while her favourite mug lifted from the shelf and a tea bag joined it.

Another two flicks had various ingredients floating down from her cupboards, along with bowls, baking trays and other delights she would need to start baking.

She found baking therapeutic; it was normal and allowed her to distress from the whirling state that her mind seemed to have permanently settled into. It allowed her to switch off, just for an hour or so.

Besides, bringing baked goods to work was acceptable, and earned you brownie points, or at least that was what she had heard.

She loved this kind of magic the best, the simple beautiful things it was able to do, that she had never had the time to learn while being at Hogwarts.

But after the war, she had taken the time she needed to learn off Mrs Weasley who was a goddess when it came to hearth and home magic.

Confident that her charms would do what they needed to do, Holly left the main room and made her way towards the bathroom, itching for a shower and a clean set of clothes.

Bathing and showering were her one few delights and something she treasured as a way to relax her. She always found water soothing.

The Dursleys had always restricted how long she spent in the bathroom, and it was never as much time as she had craved.

It was why when it came to the bathroom, a few charms and spells had quickly transformed it into a style suited to an expensive hotel suite rather than her apartment.

Grabbing a towel from the small cabinet, Holly switched the water on.

Shower. Tea. Baking. Work.

A straightforward plan, but one that soothed her mind for a moment, before she stripped and stepped into the shower.

Her skin prickling as soon as the hot, almost boiling, water hit her.

Holly closed her eyes as she lathered up the shampoo on her hands and started scrubbing at her hair.

She would tackle today with her head raised and her shoulders back. She wouldn't think about Soulmarks, and contracts, she would be, ordinary.

Do her job.

In and out.

Nothing else.


XXX


Her nose twitched as the smell of freshly baked goods breezed through the air.

Causing more than a few heads to lift up from their work stations as the elevator doors slid open.

Her eyes darted to them as Potter stepped off the elevator onto the main operations floor. Dressed in similar clothing she had worn yesterday with the exception of a woolly jumper that was a deep maroon colour, bar the gold numbering on number 7.

Personal, meaning something only to Potter she filed away that little note for later. Her hair was tied back into a single braid, but a few strands had managed to work themselves free.

She was carrying a box.

A large box that her nose was telling her was the cause of the smell.

"Morning," Potter greeted with a smile that was too chirpy for seven-thirty in the morning.

"Please tell me you aren't one of those happy morning people?" Maria asked, her brow creasing at the woman.

"No, not usually, but I'm on my fourth cup of tea," Potter answered, her smile turning into a grin.

Maria filed that little piece of information away. One never knew when the small details would become necessary.

"What's in the box?"

"Isn't that a line from the film Seven?"

Maria resisted the urge to roll her eyes, and instead threw Potter a cold look that used to have Shield Agents jumping to follow orders.

Potter didn't even flinch. Instead, her grin widened and her eyes danced with amusement.

Potter wasn't easily intimidated, and Maria couldn't help but find herself speculating on how she and Fury would have interacted. Stark, Rogers, even Barton and Romanoff had tested the waters with the man on more than one occasion, and she had had to listen to many grumbling complaints of stubborn headed mules, but they had always risen to the challenge when needed. She had a feeling that Potter would fall into a category that Fury reserved for Thor.

Tread cautiously.

Though Maria couldn't think for the life of her, one reason why she felt that.

On the surface, Potter looked boring, and Maria would have hired her with or without the marks on her skin, but it was those marks that had her showing some level of interest because they made absolutely no sense with the woman standing in front of her.

Everything they were taught about soulmarks was they were world-changers. Potter baked, that didn't exactly scream world-changer in the way that history said they would.

Something didn't add up that had her instincts twitching and her mind turning over every piece of information she had on Potter.

"Cinnamon rolls, Danishes, and muffins," Potter answered.

Maria couldn't lie and say her mouth didn't water a little at the mention of cinnamon rolls.

As if sensing her desire, Potter opened the box lid and held out the box for her.

She narrowed her eyes, evaluating Potter closely as she chose her next words carefully.

"I'm not easily bribed."

"I didn't say you were, but they are freshly baked goods, and something tells me, they will be gone in seconds the moment I put them on the kitchen counter."

True.

Maria picked a cinnamon roll up and took a bite. An explosion of flavours burst to life in her mouth, and a groan threatened to escape, but she quickly quietened it, by taking another small bite.

Potter grinned, "I will go put them into the kitchen, and there is enough for everyone so, help yourself."

Maria watched her go as she took another bite.

She wouldn't complain if Potter brought freshly baked goods in regularly, not if how the cinnamon roll tasted was anything to go by, and from a glance at the small kitchen area that Stark had purposely built for her and those who worked under her, she wouldn't be the only one.

"Cinnamon roll?"

Maria turned to face Romanoff; the redhead raised an eyebrow at her as she came close.

"I'm allowed one weakness, and they are the best I have tasted," Maria shrugged.

"What do you make of her?" Romanoff asked.

"She's hiding," Maria answered as she finished her last bite.

"That was my impression of her."

Maria met Romanoff's eyes, looking down at the woman who was only slightly smaller than her.

"I'm not going to ask if you are going to look into it."

"That's because you already know my answer."

"Is it because of the marks?"

Romanoff tilted her head to the side, her eyes sweeping over Potter who was walking back towards them, "In part. I will protect Steve and Barnes no matter the cost, but something...just doesn't add up with her. She is a puzzle, and I don't think we have all the pieces."

"Let me know what you find."

Romanoff shot her a look, before nodding her head at Potter in the way of greeting.

"Steve and I will be out of the Tower all day. Call if something comes up," Romanoff said before she walked towards the kitchen.

Maria caught the slight stiffening in Potter's shoulders at the mention of Rogers before she forced herself to relax. Maria filed it away for later analysing.

She had no doubt that Romanoff would look further into Potter, and she had no doubt that if the woman found anything, unless it was a direct threat to Rogers and Barnes, that she would keep it to herself. The woman hoarded information and secrets like gold and had only ever really given information up to Fury and Coulson without prompting.

Maria inwardly sighed, she needed to contact Coulson, have him on the lookout for any Hydra activity, and any information they may have already stumbled across. She had no doubt dealing with the fallout of that grand revelation when Shields path crossed with the Avengers was going to be...complicated.

They had all mourned his loss.

While she was at it, she may even reach out to Fury, the man was in the wind, but that didn't mean he wasn't paying close attention to what the world was doing, or the undercurrents that governed it.

"Where do you need me today?" Potter asked.

"You will be working with Banner today; he is down in his lab," she answered.

Maria could almost see the relief oozing off Potter as she gave her the assignment. Potter had so far been good at not giving anything away from what she was feeling, only slipping up once and twice, but it seemed that keeping her distance from Rogers and Barnes was something Potter wanted.

Maria could accommodate that for the time being. Let everyone get used to being in the same building first.

Of course if something came up, then her hands would be tied. The whole reason she had hired Potter was to be extra eyes, ears and hands when needed.

"I will head there now."

"As a warning Potter, tread carefully with Banner, we have protocols in place and Banner's control is incredible, but should he show any signs of the Hulk coming out, you get the hell out of the lab."

Green eyes locked with hers, Maria couldn't see the expected fear in them. Potter's instead lightened with various emotions ranging from understanding and acceptance.

Point to Potter.

She didn't have many people working for her, ten in total with the new recruits, but Potter was the first to not show open fear when it came to Banner.

"I will keep the warning in mind," Potter answered slowly, before returning to the kitchen, grabbing a single plate and placing two Danishes on it.

Maria tracked the woman's movement as she moved away from the main operations room, barely glancing at the screens that were lit up with information as she walked to the elevator.

Romanoff was right, Potter was a puzzle, but one she wouldn't solve in a day.

Instead, she turned her attention back to the screens, "Jarvis have we found any energy signatures that are standing out at the possible locations?"

"No, Ms Hill, though I will continue to monitor the city."

It would be too easy if they found something straight away, Hydra had hidden with Shield for seventy years they weren't going to make anything easy for them now just because the rest of the world knew they were still out there.

They just had to keep looking.


XXX


Holly stepped off the lift, carefully balancing the plate and her Stark Pad.

A hissing sound echoed loudly in her ears, causing Holly to wince the moment she stepped through the doors.

Banner's lab was four floors above the main operations floor and one below the specially designed medical wing.

Her skin prickled as her senses stretched out, pushing back at the invading whirlwind of...noise. White noise, if white noise could ever be a physical force.

Not magic.

Technology.

Technology gave off an entirely different sensation compared to magic. Magic was like breathing, woven into the very fabric of the world, the universe, it was everything and anything. Technology was...different. It came from the outside, and while it at times could connect to that living, breathing force that was magic and it could produce its own beautiful feats of wonder, technology was artificial. Man-made, or alien made.

But that didn't mean that it didn't give off its own frequencies.

Like she could hear, feel and see the energy it gave off but she couldn't quite understand it, couldn't quite interpreter the signal or form the connection.

Dr Banner's lab was full of machines buzzing with activity.

Holly hadn't a clue what any of them did, besides the obvious laptops.

Hermione would have loved it.

How the Wizarding World could ever think muggles were beneath them, she would never understand.

She soaked in the scene before her, pristine clean work-stations, various machines, giant screens that had multiple images and things on them, until her eyes finally stopped at a man, hunched over a microscope.

"Dr Banner?"

He looked up at her in surprise.

"Sorry to interrupt. Hill said I was working with you today," she said uncertainly, "I come bearing gifts. I hope you like Danishes."

She lifted the plate in her hand slightly.

He blinked at her, his eyes widened as he took off his glasses and rubbed at them absently.

"Of course, forgive me, I was..."

"Lost in work?"

He gave her a sheepish smile as he put his glasses back on.

"Yes, exactly. And I do, um, like Danishes that is."

Holly smiled at him; put the plate down on the only clear workspace the lab seemed to have.

"Can I get you anything before we start?" Holly asked he looked a little haggard in her opinion, his salt and pepper hair long and sticking up at odd angles, not that she could ever judge someone on unruly hair.

"No, no, thank you. There is a small kitchen on the left if you want to make yourself a drink though."

"I will just get a glass of water. Thank you. Any particular rules about the lab I should know about?" Holly queried as she walked over to where he had indicated.

He gave her a tired smile.

"No, I will go over all the machines with you and when to avoid them. Food near the machines isn't advised, though the workspace I have cleared will be fine."

Holly smiled at him as she moved over to the workspace she had already placed the plate down.

"You didn't have to go to any trouble."

"It was no trouble; I usually have my notes spread out there when I am working on anything particular."

Holly sat down, picked up one of the Danishes and took a bite as Banner continued.

"I won't be overwhelming you. I know Maria has put you here mostly to ensure the medical wing is well stocked and to run background checks on potential Doctors and nurses we want to try and get to work here."

"I think I can manage that," Holly said softly, "So are you allowed to tell me what you are working on, or is that something I'm not supposed to know yet?"

She took another bite of her Danish.

"No, no, it's fine," Banner started, running a hand through his hair salt and pepper hair, "It's not anything particularly interesting. Just looking at the compounds of Extremis on a more molecular level."

"Extremis?"

She took another bite and chewed slowly.

"It rewrites the human DNA - has been used most recently in a bastardised version of the super-solder serum - with less than pleasant side effects. It is somewhat unstable."

Holly wrinkled her nose, "Sounds complicated." She put the last mouthful of Danish into her mouth, rose from her seat and moved back to the small sink to rinse her hands.

"Not a fan of science?"

"My Professor hated me," Holly answered with a shrug as she dried her hands on paper towels. Potions was as close to a form of science that she had gotten to once she left primary school, "I found the subject fascinating - but six years with the same teacher whose methods were more mockery than actually teaching and it eventually wears you down."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's in the past. Besides I was more accidental explosions than genetic manipulation."

She grinned as she sat back down.

"How do you get accidental explosions?"

"It's a lot easier than you think. Like did you know microwaving foil equals fire?" She joked.

"That I did know," Banner replied, looking around his lab nervously, "Perhaps I should point out where the fire extinguishers are."

Holly smiled, "Oh, don't worry; my explosions are all deliberate now."

"That isn't exactly comforting."

Holly chuckled, as she switched on the Stark Pad and signed on as she had been instructed to.

Holly studied the scientist in front of her as she waited for her Pad to load everything up. He looked tired; tired in the way that Remus looked tired after a full moon.

She wasn't about to compare transforming into the Hulk as the same as changing into a werewolf, but Holly couldn't help but wonder whether the transformation itself had the same physical strain on the body. Banner was only eleven years older than her and yet he looked older. Remus had looked older than he actually was.

There were other similarities that she could see between the two men, both intelligent and passionate about sharing their wisdom in the world, and did it in a way that made you want to learn rather than feeling like a lecture. Banner had so far not treated her as though she was stupid despite not having the background in his chosen fields.

Instead, he set her mind alight with questions and inquisitiveness about the muggle world and how far their science had reached.

"So tell me Dr Banner, what exactly are you looking for and who exactly do we need?"

"An actual Doctor would be useful."

"Aren't you?"

"I have seven PHDs, and I know biology and human biology. But I didn't go down the route of Medical Doctor. Despite some of my solitary days offering aid to those that needed it," the man answered, pushing his glasses up on his nose.

He continued, "I can look at chemical compounds; look at the effects on a molecular level. I have an understanding of pathogens. But medically, I can treat minor injuries. You have a bullet in you; you do not want me digging it out of you. I'm not a trained surgeon."

"So we are looking for trauma team?" Her head tilted to the side as she scanned through the list Banner had already started putting together, names and specialities listed alongside.

She clicked on one name and their file opened, giving her access to even more information that she had been anticipating.

Was this what it was like living in the muggle world, information, personal and secretive stuff so readily available at the touch of a button about each other.

"For now, yes. Those trained to deal with the type of injuries that we could sustain. We can find specialists and get to them if we need to, but a trauma team on hand would be useful."

Holly tapped away on her Pad.

"What about anyone medically trained in the field?"

Banner gave her a look, "I don't think we have thought about that, at least not yet. Mind you who would be crazy enough to sign up? When we deal with alien invasions?

Holly smiled slightly, "The world is full of all sorts. Are there any names that stand out to you? I can set up a triage system for those who you need immediately and permanently on hand. To those that would be willing to work with you on retainer while still having their jobs at their chosen hospitals."

"Not that I can think of, on the top of my head, I have worked through the list for the last few weeks, but I can't say who would be a good fit."

"Not to worry," Holly said, "I will hopefully be able to narrow it down, avoiding those that have any red flags."

Holly randomly picked a name of the list and loaded their file.

"Right, so the first name is Doctor Fredrick Dawson. Huh, Doctor Dawson is currently working in New York at Metro-General Hospital, so he's a local. Means moving him to New York won't be an issue as he's already here." Holly paused, "That's one less hurdle to tackle if we want him to join the team."

Holly could feel Banner looking at her, so looked up at him and met her gaze with his own.

"What?" she asked softly.

After some time he spoke, though Holly could hear the restraint in his voice, "How are you?"

"I'm fine thank you."

"I meant after yesterday."

Holly grimaced, "I know you did. Honestly, I am fine, I would rather just not. You know?"

"I know the contract may seem as if you are being cut off from them, but that is not its intention."

Holly stiffened her breath catching ever so slightly. Her heart speeding up ever so slightly.

Her hands felt clammy, and the knots that had settled into her stomach wiggled and wormed and tightened.

Her throat felt dry, but she forced the words out, "It doesn't really matter does it? It doesn't change anything. The paper is signed; I would rather just get on with my job unless me working here is going to cause problems."

"You working here isn't going to cause problems," he assured.

"Okay," Holly answered, turning her attention back to the screen. "Jarvis can you pull up Doctor Dawson's finances, and social media. We are looking for anything that requires a closer look."

"Of course Ms Potter."

Holly pushed away from the thought of the marks that floated to the surface; she didn't need to think about them.

She was just here to do a job.

Nothing else.


XXX


Bruce watched her.

Sitting opposite him, she took a sip of her drink her brow furrowed as she focused her attention on the Stark Pad in her hands. They had already spent the morning working on the list of potential Medical Staff he had suggested. Throwing her ideas into the mix of potential candidates as she searched into their backgrounds with Jarvis and looked for things he wouldn't have had the patience to take note of.

So far, she had found three affairs, one drinking problem and one Doctor who owed a substantial amount of money to less than savoury people.

Bruce prided himself of having a good understanding of human nature. He had to over the years since the lab accident. He had learnt to read the situations he was in, in case anything set him off.

He couldn't afford to not understand human nature.

To not see the potential hurdles that could trigger him.

He couldn't afford to lose control for a second.

From what he was observing Holly Potter was meticulous and focused, yet there was something under the surface that shone through when she smiled slightly, green eyes dancing with amusement as she bantered with him, it was light and soft-hearted, more poking fun at herself than anything else.

She was a conundrum.

He had thought by now that she would have directed her questions towards Steve or Barnes, but she had surprised him.

She hadn't asked one.

Had visibly tensed when he broached the subject. And that reaction told him more than she perhaps realised.

Instead, her questions were about the various machines within the lab. Green eyes shining with delight as she absorbed his explanations and asked yet more questions.

She had taken an interest in what he was working on, but Bruce could see it was from the angle of an untapped passion for understanding the world around her. Whoever had taught her and neglected to fan those sparks of a curious mind into flames, and Bruce couldn't help but wonder what if they had done so, would Holly Potter's name be amongst the world changers of scientists.

But the real thing that he found peculiar was, despite the alertness of the surroundings she had, being aware when one of the Stark scientists poked their heads through his doors before even he was aware of them, she was the first person outside of the Avengers that knew who he was and treated him normally.

As if she wasn't in danger every second, she was in his presence. There was no fear, no tensed coiled stance that she had shown visibly yesterday when she had stepped into the meeting room with them all.

Though Bruce supposed, he couldn't blame her. She had acted like a cornered animal though still retained enough control not to strike out at them.

But not only was she relaxed around him, but the Hulk was also relaxed around her. He didn't so much as twitch when she came into his personal space to hand him his green tea. He had watched through angry green eyes curiously before something seemed to soothe the rage inside of him ever so slightly for the Hulk to fall back without a fight into the corners of his subconscious.

Bruce found the whole thing oddly unnerving.

Comforting, yet unnerving all the same because the Hulk was never soothed. Was always pressing along his conscious thought, fighting for dominance and control.

"What about Doctor Helen Cho?" Holly asked suddenly, looking up at him. Bruce felt the intense weight of her eyes pressing along his skin, before she continued, "She's a world-renowned geneticist and the leader of the U-Gin, so it wouldn't be full time, but she could be on a retainer."

"I-um, remind me again what her work was?" he replied, removing his glasses to wipe them clean.

"From what little I can understand, she had developed the Regeneration Cradle, which can heal wounds by grafting a simulacrum organic tissue to the patient and having its bond to the patient's cells."

"Synthetic tissue," he said, as he found the file on his device. He remembered the fascination he had felt when he had first read the paper explaining the method.

It would change the face of medicine. Provided it could be made on a large scale and disrupted evenly across the world.

Bruce knew it would be next to impossible because creating the devices would cost a lot, and those involved in their production would want to make a profit. Something he doubted Dr Cho would have much control over if it ever reached that point.

"Reach out, to her. The worst she can do is say no," Bruce added with a frown.

"I am already drafting the email now, which should be ready for you to check over and send after lunch."

Bruce blinked in surprise.

"Why don't we stop for lunch, we have been checking over the list for the last four hours, and the medical professions say you need to take regular breaks from looking at screens, I think we are well overdue."

"They do?" Holly asked, with a frown, her eyebrows squished together as her head tilted to the side, and her lips pressed together.

"Umm, yes they do. Have you never heard that before?"

"No, not really. But then while I can use technology, it doesn't rule my life like it seems to for most people."

"That is oddly refreshing in this day and age. We are very dependent creatures on technology."

Holly gave him a slight smile, "It's not all bad, and I'm certainly not against it, but it doesn't rule me either."

"You still need to take that break."

"Right, you are Doctor Banner."

"It's Bruce, you can call me Bruce."

"In that case, you can call me Holly."

"I can do that," he agreed, returning her smile with one of his own.

Yes, Holly Potter was a conundrum. An interesting one, but a puzzle never the less.


XXX


Steve watched the droplets of rain splash against the window. Despite the dreary grey weather, the view from the window was still beautiful and had him almost wishing that he had brought his sketch pad with him.

But he wasn't there to indulge his artistic desires, he wouldn't waste the precious time he had.

"What's wrong?"

He turned to look down at Peggy who was sitting comfortably in her chair next to her bed, even as frail as she was right now, Steve couldn't help but see her for how she was.

Strong and fierce.

"What makes you think anything is wrong?"

"Because I know you, Steve."

He made a little huff of agreement, moving away from the window and sitting down in the chair opposite Peggy. He had made monthly trips ever since his first visit, their talks about various things when Peggy had the energy to do so. Some visits he just talked, while she smiled and nodded, but he could see in her eyes she wasn't entirely sure what they were talking about.

Other visits involved him listening as she spoke about her life, her life that had continued after his crash into the ice.

"Your jaw ticks when you are thinking too hard, did you know that? It gives you away. You should work on that."

He smiled tightly, "I will do that."

He leaned forward, holding his hands together, fingers crossing as he rested them on his knee.

"Are you going to tell me what is wrong?"

"I just have a lot on my mind."

"You always did like to take on the weight of the world onto your shoulders."

"It's complicated," he countered, rubbing a hand across his chin. And it was, complicated.

"Steve."

He met her gaze, the way she said his name, the same way she had said it so many years ago. It would be so easy to just pour it all out, Peggy had always had a way of getting to the heart of a problem and while talking to her had left him tongue-tied more often than not, he still ended up telling her more than he told other people.

"Ah, Bucky," Peggy guessed, understanding filling her eyes.

"What makes you say that?"

"You always get a certain look in your eyes."

"Peggy..."

She waved him to be quiet, "No, you have nothing to feel guilty about. I know how we felt about each other, but I also know that Bucky had your heart long before you met me."

He sighed, "It's not just Bucky, not anymore."

Peggy frowned at him.

"You've met someone else?"

"Not exactly," he muttered, dropping his eyes from hers.

"You know my only regret is that you didn't get to live your life, Steve. I lived mine, and it was a good life. Challenging, hard, but good," Peggy said softly, her hand reaching for his and resting lightly on top of them.

"You have been given a second chance, don't waste it."

"I don't know what to do," he admitted, his shoulders sagged. He didn't know what to do, and he was always supposed to know what to do.

"You can't plan for everything. Life is meant to be uncertain; it's part of the fun."

Steve swallowed slowly.

He wasn't sure he could silence his mind long enough to not plan.

Bucky, Holly. Soulmarks. Underneath everything else they were there, spinning away and he wasn't sure he could stop it. Even as he planned for Hydra, they were there scratching away at his defences.

He wanted things to go back to how they were with Bucky.

He didn't know what he wanted with or how to handle Holly.

"Steve?"

Steve snapped his head up to look at Peggy, recognising the change in her tone almost instantly, and his gut tightened and twisted.

She was looking at him with wide bewildered eyes.

He swallowed the lump forming in his throat, pushed back the croak that threatened to break through and smiled.

"Hello, Peggy."

"You came back."

He could feel his eyes burn slightly, "I couldn't leave my best girl. It would be rude to keep her waiting any longer."

Peggy's smile widened, brightening up her whole face.

"I missed you."

He smiled and gripped her hand in his.

Listening to her complain about Colonel Phillips and the higher-ups.

She had good days and bad days, and sometimes during his visits she could give him such insightful wisdom that he didn't always realise he needed until he heard it, before reverting back to lost days and forgotten memories.

It was heartbreaking to watch.

Heartbreaking to see a disease eating away at a person who had been so full of life so strong and courageous and he was absolutely powerless to stop it.

He stayed until the nurses came to tell him she needed her medication and rest.


XXX


Holly silently hummed to herself as she worked through the various boxes of new medical supplies that had arrived just after lunch.

Bruce had been required to sign for them before he had disappeared to search for Tony Stark for whatever particular reason Tony Stark required him, leaving Holly to her own devices in checking off the ordered items, restocking the shelves in the medical wing and correctly storing whatever wasn't needed straight away.

She ignored the itch at the back of her mind about being in the medical wing. Ignored the memories stirring.

Instead she focused on the methodical mundane task that soothed her tired mind and allowed her not to think. The sheer amount of information that she had processed so far was overwhelming.

And it was only her second day.

Well technically first once you got past all the complicated mess that had happened yesterday which resulted in little work being done.

Holly had no doubt in her mind that it was only going to get more intense.

Tucked away with Bruce for the day was a welcome relief, allowing her the time she needed to get her bearings.

She wasn't sure it had been deliberate or whether by chance that her first task had kept her in the medical wing for most of the day, but besides a brief forty-five-minute lunch, trips to the bathroom and teas being made her company consisted of the Bruce alone.

Despite his shy nature, Holly could see he was passionate about his chosen fields and was patient enough to explain things to her. Not that Holly had a clue about half of the things he discussed, though she had come to the general conclusion that gamma radiation was to be avoided.

As much as she had kept up to date with the muggle world, Holly was still miles behind when it came to understanding science.

Magic, magic was her bread and butter.

It was the air she breathed.

But even though she didn't fully understand it, Bruce made it exciting and got her mind working in all sorts of directions and asking questions.

Holly found herself relaxing, just a little around him.

It didn't stop the glances he directed at her that was filled with curiosity, caution and concern.

Holly wasn't sure why he was concerned. She had signed the contract, and as far as she was aware, that ended the situation.

The less she thought about it, the better.

But he didn't ask, besides voicing his one thought that morning.

Holly sighed.

She had been on her own for such a long time, had avoided connecting with people by choice as she had hunted in the shadows for Hydra and that now Holly was back in the light working with people again, part of a team, as much as she could be, she was finding herself overwhelmed. That was all.

Made even worse by the fact she was very aware of them.

She wasn't here to make friends...she could be a part of them and still keep her distance.

She was here for information.

She was here for her mission.

She was here for Hydra.

Holly couldn't forget that, not if she intended to obliterate the organisation into a thousand different pieces.

Everyone forgot you were supposed to burn the necks after chopping off the heads. It would stop them from growing back.

Until you found the one head that mattered.

The head that was immortal.

Thankfully she had experience in killing things that didn't have the decency in staying dead.

So she would simply have to stamp everything down.

Keep her distance; avoid forming the connections that a part of her was clearly pining for.

Just do her job.

Help that way.

In and out.

"You're not Banner."

"What the fuck!" the words ripped out of Holly's mouth instinctively, as she spun on her heels and launched the Pad in her hands at the intruder, allowing her hands-free to reach her wand.

It took every ounce of willpower she had to wrestle with the urge to reach for it. The purr of the Elder wand whispering in her mind, I am here. I am here. Use me.

Every ounce of strength she had not to have it in her hands and firing spells off before her conscious caught up with her.

Her pulse was racing, and all she could hear was the pounding of her heart, her eyes narrowing at her target as she sized him up.

He dodged the Pad, and the device hit the wall with a sickening crack, and Holly couldn't help but mentally grimace as it fell to the ground screen cracked.

Black jeans, black long-sleeved t-shirt, shoulder-length dark hair that was longer than strictly fashionable in the muggle world, framing a strong jaw. Her eyes trailed over the rest of him.

James Barnes was physically intimidating for a muggle.

She looked up and found blue eyes looking down at her. Their gazes locked and Holly could see amusement sparkling in them. His lips turned upwards ever so slightly as he recognised the evaluation and her attention.

The hair on the back of her neck rising.

Her stomach dropped.

Fuck.

The universe really liked fucking with her.

James Barnes was standing right in front of her.

James Barnes, who hadn't said a word to her yesterday while she had been in the same room as him signing a contract, was now right in front of her.

Holly wanted to turn and run in the opposite direction.

"Sorry," he said, taking a step back. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't scare me," she all but growled out, more in anger at herself than at him.

Easy Potter, take a breath. Ignore it. Ignore it, and it will go away.

He blinked at her a couple of times, clearly surprised, before he bent down and picked up her broken Pad.

Holly grimaced again.

Damn it! She had only had the blasted thing a day.

"I was looking for Banner."

"He's not here."

His eyes trailed over her, as he rose, evaluating her just as she had him, his own attention pressing along her skin. Holly raised her eyebrows challengingly at him, and threw him a look that conveyed 'I'm not impressed'.

"I can see that. You not being Banner," he answered, with a slightly upward turn of his lips, "I will come back."

Holly tilted her head, as he placed her Pad on one of the sides, she spotted the blood on the screen, and her stomach twisted ever so slightly.

Well wasn't she a bitch, of course, there was a logical explanation of why he came looking for Banner in the medical wing, her instinctive desire to help another pushed itself forward and Holly was speaking before her mind could catch up.

"Wait."

He paused and looked back at her.

"You're bleeding. You came here looking for Bruce, I have some basic training, provided it's minor," Holly nodded towards his hand, "I will be able to have a look and at least bind it."

"Smashed a glass, it's got some pieces in it."

Holly blinked, "Well, you're in luck. I'm an expert of pulling glass out of myself, but I will get Jarvis to let Bruce know so he can double-check everything if that's okay."

He inclined his head with the barest of nods.

"Take a seat."

Holly turned on her heels and took the few moments to gather what she needed to still her racing heart.

She had never been able to turn away from another in need, Holly didn't need to over analyse why either, even though it would have been safer to keep their distance.

"Jarvis, can you let Bruce know I need him in the medical wing please."

"Of course Ms Potter."

Holly gathered everything she needed, grateful that she had spent the last two hours putting things away correctly, so she knew where everything was.

Turning back around, she could see that James had opted for one of the chairs rather than a bed, and Holly was perfectly fine with that.

She placed everything down on one of the silver medical trolleys and moved it closer to him before she washed her hands, dried them and put on the medical gloves.

"Are you okay for me to start Barnes?" she asked.

He looked at her, with those ocean blue eyes that seemed to have more darkness than any brown eyes she had ever seen before. But then the ocean was far deeper and darker than anybody really knew. His stare had been intense yesterday, but now just with the two of them it was more. Sharp, full of swirling...emotions for the briefest of breaths that Holly had no hope of being able to decipher before something fell down in front of them, and they turned back to evaluating her.

Holly could admit he was attractive. She had noticed yesterday, but standing closer to him, she could see it in more detail.

"Bucky."

"Huh?"

"My name is Bucky."

Holly nodded once slowly, swallowing the lump that was forming in the back of her throat.

She just needed to breathe.

She just needed to breathe.

"You know I can honestly say I didn't picture my day with me throwing my Pad at someone who required medical aid, and who also happened to be my boss as well."

A slow smile crept along his lips, she tracked the movement only stopping when she realised what she was doing.

Huh, he had a charming smile.

Don't go there.

"I'm not one of your bosses."

"I'm pretty sure your name was on the list that Hill gave me. Avengers Tower kind of gives a clue as to who runs the show."

"I'm not an Avenger," he replied, his smile dropping.

Holly could hear what he wasn't saying as clear as day, and it made her heart clench tightly.

Damn it, it's just an effect of the marks. Nothing more.

Yet it still didn't stop her from smiling warmly at him.

"You may not have been at the Battle of New York, but you're here now, trying to make a difference to the world, just like the others. I would say that makes you an Avenger," Holly said softly, "I'm sorry I threw my Pad at you."

"I think I deserved it...for not scaring you."

"I wouldn't say you deserved it. But now I know you're just poking fun at me."

"Only a little," he chuckled in agreement.

Holly shook her head, "I'm I okay to look at your hand?"

Their eyes met again.

She waited patiently.

Holly knew he had his choices taken away from him, in every aspect of his life; she wasn't prepared to do that for a second. Regardless of how small the decision would be to everybody else.

She knew, even if it wasn't to the extent that he did, what it was like to have very little control over oneself.

Holly waited for his confirming nod before she took his right hand in hers.

Were her hands shaking?

Was it obvious?

Merlin, she hoped not.

Holly lifted his hand up so she could get a closer look, carefully unfurling his fingers, until she could see the cut.

Bucky was radiating heat, she was breathing it in with every breath she took, and it rolled over her skin, chasing away a chill she could feel in her bones. Holly was acutely aware of his eyes watching her, close enough to feel his breath on her face as she leaned forward. But although she was holding his hand in hers, he kept his distance.

His whole body shifted just enough that they didn't touch anywhere but his one hand in hers.

She studied the cut, reached for the saline solution, and paused; it would be so much easier if she were able to use magic, but wishing was pointless.

"Do you have any known allergies?" she asked, glancing up at him.

"No."

"Okay, this is going to sting, but I need to make sure the cut is as clean as it can be, to reduce the risk of infection."

He chuckled in amusement at her, "Super solider serum takes care of that."

"Huh, I guess it will take care of the healing as well."

"I won't need stitches; I just need the glass removed."

"Otherwise you will heal around it," she nodded in understanding, "Right. Best get to it."

She didn't wait for him to respond. Instead, she poured some of the solution on a gaze pad and swabbed as gently as she could around the wound, before reaching for the pair of tweezers.

The first piece was large enough that it didn't take much for the tweezers to grip to and she pulled it out.

She winced in sympathy, but Bucky didn't even so much as twitch.

High threshold of pain.

She could relate to that, but even so, she still found paper-cuts hurt like a son of a bitch.

"You have quick reflexes," he noted, his head tilted to the side as he watched her.

"My cousin used to play a game when we were younger. A little like run rabbit run. I was always the rabbit," Holly answered without thinking as she pulled another piece of glass out, "Well technically, he called it Holly Hunting, but it amounted to the same thing."

Holly stilled. Why had she just admitted that somebody needed to zip her mouth shut before anything else poured out?

"Plus I spent six years on my school sports team, trying to catch a ball before the other team did. It keeps you on your toes," she said quickly covering her previous comment. That had been what she had initially been planning to say.

He was watching her again, eyes seeing every detail, Holly wasn't entirely sure she was able to keep everything from slipping through. She had always been confident in her masks, in her facades that she wore, that she wrapped around her and sunk into, but Bucky and his all too seeing eyes was making her question her skill set.

She shifted at the thought.

Breathe. Just breathe and keep it together.

She pulled another piece of glass out.

"Where did you learn to do this?"

Holly nibbled on her bottom lip, choosing her next words carefully, "School, I used to study under the school nurse there during my free periods. You never know when it comes in handy."

Not exactly a lie though not quite the full truth. Holly had spent free periods in the Hospital Wing, learning what she could from Madam Pomfrey.

"Didn't think of following through with it?"

Holly gave him a sad smile, "My path was pretty much picked out for me the moment I was born." She shrugged, "Besides I suck at the bedside manner side of things."

"I'm sure practise makes perfect for bedside manner."

"Uh-huh and how exactly do I get that practise?" she asked, her eyes narrowing as she gave him a pointed look.

"I would say you would need to find a willing guinea pig," a half-smile played on his lips.

"And where exactly do I find that willing guinea pig?"

"I might know a guy."

Holly smiled at him, letting her own amusement shine in her tone, "Does that line ever work?"

Amusement danced across his face. The smile turned into a smirk that was full of wicked promises.

It was the kind of smirk that made a heart race and thoughts turn to desire.

It was a smirk that screamed danger and trouble.

Holly couldn't help but raise her eyebrow challengingly at him, a smirk crossing her own lips.

Better to go on the offensive than allow her mind a chance to get flustered.

The man needed to come with a warning sign.

Their eyes met his twinkling with amusement, and she had no idea what he saw in hers.

"Barnes, what happened?" Bruce asked as he stepped inside the medical wing.

The moment passed, Bucky's eyes sliding to Bruce, twinkle disappearing and a distant coolness replacing it.

"I broke a glass I was holding. Holly was just getting the glass out."

"I think I'm done, but I figured it was best for you to double-check, in case I missed anything."

Bruce looked between the two of them, but stayed silent, before putting on his own medical gloves and swapping places with her.

Bucky's eyes followed her, like a predator sizing up prey. Only she wasn't prey. And she would be damned if she was going to be treated like one. She threw her own look back at him, and his lips twitched again, ever so slightly, before he winked.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Holly swallowed slowly.

Well aware that Bucky tracked the movement.

"Holly has removed all the glass, so I will leave you in her capable hands in binding it," he paused, "Dare I ask about the Pad?"

"I threw it at him," Holly answered, with a straight face, as she moved to wrap Bucky's hand in a bandage.

Bruce hummed, "I see."

"I will sort her replacement," Bucky added, surprising the both of them.

Holly blinked at him.

"You don't have -"

"I do. After all, I not scared you, which caused you to throw it at me. Good defence move."

"Well, it's not the only defence move I have...next time you won't be able to dodge it," Holly challenged, without thinking, and then her eyes widened in surprise.

She hadn't meant to say that.

She had absolutely not meant to say that.

Bucky smirked, his eyes burning into her, "That sounds like a promise."

"I didn't mean -"

"Too late. No take-backs."

Holly blinked.

"I look forward to it," Bucky's eyes sparkled with mischief and something else Holly wasn't entirely sure she could name, "I will see you tomorrow, Holly."

Holly frowned.

Wait what?

But Bucky was already leaving the medical wing, swiping her broken Stark Pad as he passed.

She glanced at Bruce, who was watching with an equal amount of bewilderment dancing in his eyes.

The universe was fucking screwing with her.

This was not keeping her head down.

And yet something inside her purred.


XXX


He hadn't sought her out.

At least he didn't think he had consciously.

Bucky had been trying to work out a way for their paths to cross because he did want to talk to her. Wanted to at least try and make sense of this complicated tangle they seemed to find themselves in.

Despite his gut warring with itself as to whether he should or shouldn't.

Bucky knew he couldn't trust himself with Steve, so why would it be any different with Holly.

He was a danger to them.

To both of them.

And yet he still wanted to reach out to her. Even if it was just to explain, to talk to just...something.

He hadn't planned to cross paths with her today.

But perhaps it had been for the best that he hadn't planned it out or that it had happened by pure chance, as natural as breathing.

A part of him had frozen for a second the moment he had seen her standing in the medical wing, Banner nowhere to be seen.

He had drunk in the sight of her, giving himself those few passing seconds to observe every detail that he could.

Because despite everything Holly was a mystery, and he had always loved puzzles. They pulled at his subconscious, and before the war, he hadn't hesitated in seeking them out, in following the trail of bread crumbs.

It was probably because once upon a time, he would have actively thrown himself at working her out that he spoke out without thinking.

Bringing her attention to him, because despite the fact he was learning to accept he wasn't the same person and that his past couldn't be rewritten and the Bucky Barnes he used to be was long dead.

He wanted to be a regular guy just for a second, even if meeting his second soulmark was the least normal thing going.

When he had first awoken from the depths of darkness to the confusion of being free from Hydra and realised that he was, in fact, free he had been overwhelmed.

When he had seen her name written across his skin, it had felt like a bottomless volcano churned, boiled and bubbled beneath his skin as lava moved through his body with every beat of his heart.

Uncontrollable rage.

At Hydra.

At Holly Jamie Potter.

He had lashed out at the first thing he came across; thankfully, it had been a team of Hydra Agents sent to recapture him.

He killed them all.

He had seethed for days.

Wondering how, how they had taken something sacred and twisted it to their purposes.

Another link in the chain to the leash they had kept him on.

But Steve's name was still there.

Right alongside the new name of a woman he didn't know. Hydra hadn't taken it from him completely.

It was what had dragged him out of the shadows, pulled him to the Avengers Tower before he even realised that was where he was heading to.

Not that either of them had spoken about it.

Both of them content in ignoring it, just as they ignored the brokenness between them, in him.

Steve had Holly's name written around his heart just like his own was. Something Steve admitted he had woken up from the ice with.

It had allowed Bucky to swallow down his rage.

In the months that had followed his anger all but disappeared.

It wasn't Holly Potter's fault that her name curved around his heart.

In the months that followed him seeking refuge in the Tower, he forgot about his second soulmark as he wrestled with his demons.

The mark confused him and made him curious on those sleepless nights where he found comfort in tracing her name with his fingers.

It wasn't something he had to focus on, worry about because the likely hood of them ever crossing paths was slim to none.

Except she had walked through the front doors applying for a job, seemingly oblivious to who she would actually be working for.

The curiosity had returned tenfold and pulled at him the moment he had seen her.

An itch he couldn't scratch, a tug he couldn't ignore. Wiggling its way to the front of his mind.

He hadn't meant to scare her.

Of course, he hadn't expected her to react like she had either.

It had been easy enough to dodge the Stark Pad that she threw in his direction, as she spun on her feet and turned to defend and attack.

There was a wry tightness in her eyes, green eyes that were as captivating as much as they were burning with sheer ferocity as they met his head on and refused to blink. He saw a brace to her feet, stiffness to the shoulders, a stance of someone expecting a fight, who was always expecting a fight. Her jaw, clenched tightly in gritty determination, twitching as she pressed her lips together. Her hands fidgeted enough to make him think she wanted to reach for another weapon.

He had no idea what weapon she intended to pull, but the way that she moved from one fluid action into the other told him that she had training.

The part of himself, that he desperately tried to ignore, but couldn't, whispered that she was a potential threat.

The Soldier stirred...Challenge?

No!

Bucky.

He was Bucky.

He was not the Asset. Not the Solider.

Her attention, her caution, her evaluating eyes had pulled him under, had made him stand just a little straighter, made him want...he didn't know precisely what he had wanted, but it had been sudden and intense enough that he hadn't been able to walk away.

He had stayed.

He had bantered.

He had asked questions.

He had learnt, just a little about her.

He had smiled.

That one had surprised him the most...but it had made him feel human.

He had wanted to touch her, and she stood close enough that it would have been easy enough to do so.

He made sure he didn't.

Made sure that the only contact they had was his right hand in hers as she carefully removed the glass.

But he had felt her heat, heard the quickening beat of her heart, had smelt her scent, she smelt like fire and lightning, ozone and rain and something else. Something he couldn't name or place, but it had smelt divine.

But then Banner had come into the medical wing, had eyed them up in surprise, and Bucky knew his encounter would get back to Steve even if he didn't mention it.

Bucky knew he was going to have to talk to Steve eventually, just as he knew Steve was sooner or later going to have to speak to her.

They were all going to have to sit down and talk, he wondered if that was possible or if the signing of the contract had burned all the bridges down.

Bucky couldn't tell what Steve thought about her, or even what was going on between them...one complicated knotted ball.

He couldn't say precisely what he thought about Holly, but she pushed and hissed, and bit, and then smiled and laughed and challenged.

She had issued more than a few of them.

He took the bait and rose to one of them.

That had surprised him even more.

Holly surprised him.

She hadn't been what he was expecting. She had her secrets, he had read them quickly enough, though she was better than most in keeping them tucked away, some things left marks.

She couldn't hide the way she moved with sharp edges.

Like a predator.

She couldn't hide the way her eyes had evaluated him and filed away the details.

Showing she was trained.

She couldn't hide the fierce determination that had blazed to life in her eyes when she challenged him.

She wasn't someone that would bend easily.

The others had a right to worry, she was...dangerous.

But not because she was Hydra.

Bucky had no idea what she was, but he knew she wasn't Hydra.

Hydra would have tried to have broken down her defiance, would have tried to have extinguish her fire.

Would have tried to make her like him.

He looked at the broken Pad in his hands as he sat down in the safety of his room.

"Jarvis."

"Yes, Sergeant Barnes." The A.I hummed to life.

"Can you request another Stark Pad for Holly; make sure it has everything on it that her original one did."

"Of course Sergeant."

"And Jarvis, can you not tell Hill."

The A.I paused for a moment, "Of course sir, I will have it ready for Ms Potter to collect tomorrow."

"No, I will collect it. Give it to Holly myself."

"As you wish sir."


XXX


Right jab.

Left jab.

His body fell into the natural movements, as he focused his attention on every hit he made on the punch bag.

He could feel his muscles contracting, his lungs burning with every breath he took.

Right cross.

Left hook.

In time with every beat of his heart, fluid motion as his body moved in a rotation of torso and hips and arms.

"Is this where you have been hiding this afternoon?"

His stomach knotted at the question, he didn't need to turn to look at who it was, he had known she was there the moment she had entered the boxing gym.

"I'm not hiding," he said through gritted teeth, each jab hitting a little harder.

"You always go to one of two places after you have been to see Peggy. Today it's here."

"I'm fine, Natasha."

"Clearly."

"I'm. Fine."

"What's going on, Steve?"

"I needed to clear my head," he admitted, because goddamn it! Steve knew Natasha wouldn't leave him alone until she had answers.

Right cross.

Left jab.

"If her working at the tower is going to be a problem, we will find another solution," she said quietly.

Steve stopped.

Hands holding the punch bag, his forehead resting against it before he turned to look at her.

Natasha's eyes were burning into him with concern.

"It's not her."

"Then what is it?"

"Everything," he said softly.

Natasha's face softened as she took a step towards him.

"Bucky thinks we made a mistake with the contract. Bucky isn't talking to me, hasn't been talking to me properly, I don't know..." he ran a hand through his hair, "I just don't know. And then she turns up, and everything just gets more complicated."

"You couldn't have prepared for this Steve. None of us could have."

He swallowed the lump forming in his throat.

"I should have."

"This doesn't lie at your feet. You couldn't control this. That's the whole messed up notion of the marks. It takes away a choice. Nobody in their right mind would choose to have one. You and Bucky were lucky enough to make it work, first as friends and then..." Natasha stopped, gave him another look, "But as Thor said you make it what you want to make it. Your marks match. And what that means between the three of you is your choice, nobody else's."

He didn't answer. He just locked gazes with her.

"I won't pretend to understand what you are going through. What Barnes is going through, hell what Potter is going through," Natasha started, taking a step closer to him.

"We both know our enemies will use against us the first chance they get. All we can do is plan for it."

Steve blinked repeatedly, pushed himself away from the punch bag and walked towards his bag to grab a bottle of water.

"The contract..."

"Is for her protection just as much as it is for you," Natasha said, "So no, in my opinion, it wasn't the wrong call to make."

"So why do I feel guilty?"

"Are you feeling guilty over the contract, or are you feeling guilty over how Barnes feels about the contract? Or is it even Barnes' feelings your feeling?"

Steve sighed, "I don't know."

"Wilson would say you need to get to know her."

He snorted because that was exactly what Sam would say.

"It is okay if you don't want to. You're allowed to do what is right for you."

"I don't know what is right anymore."

"And that's okay too. We can figure that out," Natasha said, as she settled down on the side of the platform ring, her arms crossing as she watched him her eyes full of understanding, "I will stay here with you until you are ready to go back to the tower."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want you to be alone."