It was five days before anyone heard anything. Then Coulson called Natasha.

"I've broken it to Cheney, very gently, that The Avengers have rescued a HYDRA prisoner who wants to join their unit. They want to meet."

"Who do they want to meet?"

"All of you, including him."

"You haven't told them who-"

"Of course I haven't, Tasha. They suggested usual place, eleven tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll spread the word around. Anyone seriously objects, I'll call you back. If you hear nothing, assume we're go. We're bringing the lawyers."

"They're going to love that."

.

Nelson and Murdoch sat flanking Barnes, like the world's most unlikely bodyguards, a full five minutes early. Not everyone had turned up. Natasha felt a duty, as she'd found the lawyers. Rogers, of course, wouldn't leave Barnes's side, Wilson seemed to have attached himself to Captain America too. Bruce was here, probably only because he lived in the tower, Stark was probably watching the CCTV on a screen in the background somewhere. Rhodes straight up hadn't answered, Barton was out of state.

Cheney and his usual aide came in. Nelson stood up.

"Senator Cheney, thank you for agreeing to meet our Client. I take it you're aware he's a newly liberated prisoner of war."

"Prisoner of War?" Cheney said, looking at Barnes, not Nelson. "We were told HYDRA prisoner."

"Well, our client was at time of capture a lawful combatant, a US army commando to be precise, part of a chain of command, and was wearing his tags. His captors were affiliated with Nazi high command, so, yes. Our Client has been a prisoner of war since 1945."

"Though he has never been offered any of the protections afforded him by international law." Murdock added.

"1945." Cheney repeated.

Natasha stopped listening while Steve and the lawyers explained that Barnes was a Second World War veteran and went through his service record. Bruce added some footnotes about how cryo had kept Barnes young. She was watching the aide's hands. She was less than completely confident he wasn't guarding a small firearm on his left side. Though Natasha Romanoff had learned to be less than completely confident about more or less everything.

"Our position is, and will remain, that owing to the extent of the abuse Sergeant Barnes suffered," Murdock said. "he cannot be held legally responsible for any and all actions of his between 1945 and January 2015."

"Actions?" Cheney asked. "What actions?"

"Any and all." Nelson echoed.

"HYDRA ran him as an assassin." Coulson said. "He used lethal force against Director Fury, and Captain Rogers, and probably others we don't know about."

"Our suit is for full immunity and reinstatement of his natural citizenship." Murdock said.

Cheney took a deep breath. "What can he do?"

"As an Avenger?" Coulson asked.

"Trade blow for blow with Captain America at close range:" Natasha started. "deal as much damage, take as much damage. He's also an excellent sniper, competent with most firearms and some heavier arsenal."

"So he's a super soldier." Cheney said.

"Yes."

"That was an American project."

"Erskine was a refugee." Rogers said. "He started his work in Germany."

Cheney frowned. Natasha saw him adding up in his head. "Well, obviously, this represents something of a breach of trust-"

"How so?" Nelson asked, interrupting.

Cheney faltered. "Witholding this information from us."

"The Avengers aren't under contract to you." Murdock said. "At least, not yet. And, if you remember, one of the most contentious points in this contract has been their right to privacy. For this to be a breach of trust, the Avengers would have had to trust you in the first place."

"I mean that this is going to set us back with contract negotiations." Cheney said, slightly too loudly to be calm. Interesting.

"That's fine." Nelson said lightly. "We're in no desperate rush."

Cheney blustered a bit, then left.

Nelson and Murdock let out a simultaneous sigh.

"Could wish you hadn't named two people Sergeant Barnes was set on." Nelson said to Coulson.

"He didn't kill either of them, they can't do him for murder."

"Attempted murder is still illegal." Murdock sighed. "I think we can win this in civilian court, so if they want to drag us through the muck, they can, but in doing that, they'll forfeit any control over you."

"He wants control." Natasha said. "He wants that combat capacity, he wants the second super soldier."

"Barnes is more than a weapon to him." Bruce said. "He's a case study. He's another super soldier who didn't crash and burn."

.

"Clint, you should know better than that by now." Romanoff said, walking past him on her way to Steve. Barton shifted his own foot two inches. Romanoff moved Steve's left foot further out. She turned back to face the line: Steve, Bucky, Barton, Wilson, Rhodes. Bruce had pointed out that any physical training he did didn't translate to The Hulk, and no force on earth or Asgard could make Tony do this. "Good enough, matching my speed, down," Natasha folded at the waist, legs perfectly straight. Everyone copied. "Barnes, knees straight, I see you. Sweep out," She traced her outside arm along the floor away from her centre line. "and up." She started to unfold at the waist. "Slowly." She warned. She heard two people make hasty corrections, she wasn't quite sharp enough to tell who. "Whole movement over a count of six. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six."

"You get a kick out of this, don't you?" Wilson said.

"And again, same speed." She said. "Data from British contact sport teams shows that this reduces risk of injury. Strength and suppleness." Their heads came up again. "Other way this time, free hand is going to go towards the barre, so-" She demonstrated, flexing forwards, then sweeping herself slowly up in to a lateral hip stretch. "You should feel that all along here." She indicated with her barre hand. "But don't take your hand off the barre. With me this time." She folded, then started to un-fold. "Barnes, don't drop your hip inward. Once more."

"Okay, about face." She jogged up to the other end of the makeshift barre. "And from the top. Rhodes, is that really as turned out as you can go?" She stepped up to him, meaning to pull his feet in to a more acceptable first position.

Then the door opened.

"You joining us?" Barnes called to Bruce as he poked his head through.

"No-" Bruce started.

"You don't get to spectate." Wilson said. "You want to watch us do ballet, you have to do ballet too."

"Cheney just turned up." Bruce said.

"What?" Rogers completely abandoned his pathetic attempt at first position.

"He said he wants to talk about the contract."

"Tell him no." Romanoff said. "We're training right now, and all he's trying to do is avoid Nelson and Murdock. Insist on twenty-four hours' notice."