Natasha

The room was silent, Alexie stared at Natasha and he was quiet. Steve had his eyes on her and she was frozen and her legs didn't want to move. Her heart was in her ears and she kept her hands from shaking. How could Alexie be alive, he was supposed to be dead. She thought that Red Room had run out of curve balls, apparently not.

Bucky stood closets to the glass and he widened his eyes "Oh shit" he murmured under his breath. Fury stood next to him and glanced at him, he would question him on it later.

Natasha swallowed and she fought her emotions and her lip wanted to start trembling, but she kept it still. She took a few steps forward and Steve stood up, he looked at her, she glanced at him and took a seat. Steve didn't know what to do, he stood by the door. He stayed there and he kept himself reserved, he didn't want to have a burst of anger or anything else. Natasha looked at Alexie and he just smiled at her. She opened her mouth slightly "You're dead" she said softly

Alexie nodded "I did to" he looked at his hands "but here I am" he looked at her. Natasha swallowed and she slightly pursed her lips together and stared at him "You died, I saw the report I saw the crash site"

Alexie looked at his hands "Moscow is good at lying"

Natasha shook her head "There are pictures of your burnt corpse"

Alexie shrugged "Someone else beloved"

Natasha sighed "Don't call me that"

Alexie frowned slightly "Why not, you're my wife?"

"Ex-wife, you died" she said bitterly.

Alexie chuckled "I was killed, well allegedly, I became a higher agent for KGB, I needed all my connections cut"

Natasha raised an eyebrow "Yeah, and that means we're not together"

Alexie smirked "I know, but I still love you"

Natasha closed her eyes, she couldn't believe this, not only was everyone else hearing this, but Steve was hearing it. She didn't dare look back at him, she didn't want to see him right now. Alexie sighed "I missed you, but I didn't know how to find you"

"Well while you did that, I went on to kill every target they ever assigned me"

Alexie swallowed "You don't think I am just as mad as you"

"Are you?" she asked bluntly

He sighed "You're just as stubborn as the day we met"

Natasha sighed "Stop it, it was a long time ago, and I've moved on. I accepted that you were dead and moved on"

"That doesn't mean I've accepted it"

"Well you better get to it" she said harshly.

Alexie chuckled and he smiled "You haven't changed at all"

Natasha couldn't believe he was acting this way, he used to be kind and loving, she didn't know what he was like now. "The fact that you can't see that I have changed is the reason why you are blind"

"Blind?"

"You can't see it, you think that I am the same person that you last saw, the killer?"

"Oh but you are" Alexie leaned forward and smiled.

Natasha stared at him, her emotions still bottled up and she could hear Niko's words: You're true self.

He chuckled softly "You know that I speak the truth"

Natasha glared at him "It's a lie, I can choose for myself"

"What have you chosen that has been all on your own?" he asked he scoffed "Joining S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers, all these things have been chosen for you, your just in the same situation as you were in back in Red Room"

Natasha shook her head "I've made plenty of choices by myself"

Alexie rolled his eyes "Like what?"

Steve almost walked forward and smacked him, but he refrained from moving forward and kept his face plain and empty. Bucky looked at him through the glass, he didn't realize it, but his metal hand was gripped tightly on the small metal ledge around the window. He took his hand away and he glanced at Hill, she had her hand under her chin and she looked at him. He turned his attention back toward Natasha.

She stared at him "I chose to be the way I am, I made the decision to stay around, I accepted that I was needed, and I chose to love someone"

Alexie chuckled cruelly "Love? Really, who is it that could have stolen your cold heart?" he said bitterly

Natasha stared at him "I don't have a cold heart"

Alexie chuckled "The record says otherwise"

Natasha's eyes became cold and dangerous, she glared at him. He saw her and he smirked "I was right"

Natasha grabbed him and punched him in the face three times, one after the other and his nose broke from the second punch and the third cut his lip. His eyes were wide and he rolled his jaw "Wow" he said and she punched him again.

He spit blood onto the table and chuckled "There you are"

Natasha sat back in her chair, she took a deep breath and she stared at him "I wish you had stayed dead, this didn't have to happen to you"

"But it did, and Niko freed me and I killed them all" Alexie said suddenly feeling his anger boiling over. "I killed every one of those fuckers, and Niko killed every person in Red Room. Then we went our separate ways as friends, and then here we are"

Natasha shook her head "You used to be kind, sweet is a word I would use"

Alexie chuckled "I was a naïve and childish man" he sighed "This world is full of nothing but backstabbing bastards" he huffed bitterly.

Natasha closed her eyes "You didn't deserve this"

"Things happen, and usually to good people. I wish I could be naïve and foolish, but I can't" he said with gritted teeth. "I wish I could just forget everything, but I can't. Nothing is fair and I've accepted that, so I killed everyone who ever brought me pain, and you know what I feel?"

"What?"

"Nothing, I don't feel a damn thing. I hate that I'm like this, but I like it to" his eyes were wide and wild. Natasha looked at him, he wasn't the Alexie that she knew all those years ago "Thank you for your corporation, Niko is alive, thank you" she stood to leave.

Alexie watched her stand and walked toward the door "Natalia" he called after her.

Natasha stopped next to Steve and looked back at him, Alexie swallowed "Who is it?"

She raised her eyebrows and she kept her eyes on him "Whose the one?"

"Yes" Alexie said keeping his eyes on her.

Natasha swallowed and went with it, she looked at Steve and put her hand on his face and kissed him tenderly. Steve closed his eyes and his hand went to her hip and he felt his heart jump, his ears burned and his cheeks turned bright red. He felt everything he was feeling disappear and he let all his worries leave his mind for the moment. Alexie stared at her and he put his hands into fists. Natasha took her lips away from Steve's and walked out the door. Steve opened his eyes and looked at Alexie.

He didn't know what to think, Captain America? Steve walked forward "Sorry, your just a pawn, you were never Niko's friend, he used you"

Alexie shook his head "No, he's my friend"

Steve sighed "I wish that was true, for your sake" he turned to leave and walked out of the interrogation room.

Bucky looked at Fury "well, that was awkward"

Fury shrugged slightly "Take him back to his cell"

The agents left the room and went to get Alexie. Fury looked at everyone "Ok, Niko is still alive, time to find him, he could be anywhere by now"

Everyone left, Bucky stared at Alexie as he was taken out of the room, and he stared at the empty room. He let out a sigh and he rubbed his eyes. He felt a hand touch his arm and he looked at who it was. Hill stood before him "You ok?"

Bucky looked at her "I feel like everything we just did was wasted"

Hill sighed "It seems Niko will never die"

Bucky looked at her "I promise you, he'll die"

Hill shrugged "Bucky, I wish you wouldn't be like that"

He frowned "Like what?"

"Promising that he'll die, I don't want you to kill anyone, and to hear you talk about it like it's not a problem is…scary" she walked away from him. Bucky stared at the glass and he sighed, she was probably right. He knew he didn't take it lightly, but Niko was just going to keep causing problems, and he needed to be taken care of, being captured or being killed would do, but he knew that Niko would rather die than be captured. Fury stood next to him "Conference room" he ordered.

Bucky nodded and looked down and took a deep breath.

Steve walked down the hallways looking for Natasha. He looked around and he couldn't find her, he could see Alexie and the agents escorting him walking down the hallway he was standing in. He blinked and looked around. He saw a glimpse of red as a door closed. Steve chased after her with a quick walk. The door opened and he saw Natasha staring at herself in the mirror, she apparently didn't hear him come in. She was shaking slightly, Steve walked toward her slowly. He titled his head "Nat?"

Natasha moved her head and looked at him in the mirror and he got closer. She closed her eyes and she held back tears, she turned around and she leaned against the mirror and slowly sank to the floor. Steve quickened his walk and stood next to her, he looked down at her and slowly knelt next to her. Natasha was trembling and her lip was quivering, Steve looked at her with his blue worried eyes. Natasha swallowed and looked at him "He's supposed to be dead" she said softly

Steve lowered his head with a sigh "Who has stayed dead recently?"

Natasha sighed "The one person that I knew was dead"

"I guess we never truly know"

"You would have after you saw his burnt body" she said

"I saw my best friend fall away from me and went into a white abyss, he's still around. Alexie is no different"

Natasha put her head back and closed her eyes, she grimaced in pain and she squinted her eyes tightly, tears flowed out of them and she took a deep breath. "I wish that he of all people would have stayed dead"

Steve frowned "What was he like, before…" he pointed backwards "That"

Natasha sighed heavily "He was a lot like you actually"

"Really?" Steve asked curiously

"He was patriotic, kind, and he was actually funny"

Steve looked back at the door and he knew that Alexie was in the hall outside "KGB really did him in"

"They have an act for doing that" Natasha said bluntly with a huffed breath.

Steve looked at her and slowly placed his hands on her arms "Do you want to get off the floor?" he asked

Natasha looked at him and the look he was giving her and she smirked "Not funny Rogers"

Steve shrugged "Well, we could at least get you to your feet"

Natasha felt Steve begin to stand and she stood with him, She was on her feet and she was stable, but Steve still held her hand and his other was placed warmly around her waist. They both walked toward the door and it opened. They both stood still as Alexie walked past with the agents all around him. Alexie saw her and he quickened in breathing as he wanted to tell her something "Natalia?"

The agent almost shoved him forward when Natasha stopped them "What?" she asked

Alexie looked at her and glanced at Steve "The house by the lake, the one with the large trees in the back, I know you remember it, try not to think of me in distaste, I know that what we had will never be, so just remember it."

Natasha swallowed "I remember it"

Alexie smiled "See you soon Captain America" he said bitterly at Steve.

Steve shrugged "I'll visit" he said calmly

Alexie was pushed onward and Steve and Natasha stayed in place. She exhaled and closed her eyes. Steve looked at her and he saw that she was thinking. He began to walk with her down the hallway. Natasha glanced at him "I…" she began to say but stopped.

Steve looked at her "I know, you need to go"

Natasha looked at him and she sighed in relief "I'm sorry, but I have to know"

Steve nodded "Its ok, I'll hold down the fort, at least this time I know where you're going"

Natasha smiled sadly "I'll be back in a couple days"

Steve nodded and brought her close to an embrace "Can you leave tonight?" he asked

Natasha kept her face buried in his chest and she felt his heart and how safe she felt, she nodded "I can leave tonight"

"Good" Steve said

Natasha chuckled "I'll miss you to"

Steve laughed softly "Well, I think we should go back to the facility and start a plan on finding Niko"

Natasha looked up at him and nodded "Yeah, maybe our friend Yelena can help lead us to him, they are enemies"

"Ok, get Miss Foster right on it" he said

Natasha nodded and walked away from him and headed toward Jane's lab. Steve watched her walk away and he took a deep breath. He bit his lip slightly and turned around, he went to catch up with Sam.

Bucky

The Helicarrier was in a frenzy and the conference room was the only room that was quiet. Bucky was standing at the back of the room and eh was waiting for Fury. He had his hands together and he looked down at the floor. He couldn't believe another one came back from the dead. It seemed that everyone that was involved in Red Room had a way of surviving. Bucky rubbed his eyes and let out a long sigh. He remembered Alexie, it was during one of the last times he ever saw Natasha.

The Mansion was warm, but the room had a cold aura around it as he stood by the large fireplace. The small table in front of him had the usual on it, he stared at it. He blinked a few times to get the grogginess away. He heard the door open and he lifted his eyes toward it. Kudrin walked in with her usual strut, Bucky stood up a little straighter. Kudrin stopped on the other side of the table. She looked at him "Glad to have you back"

"Nice to be back" he responded calmly

Kudrin smiled and her lips were thin, it was not a very happy smile "Since you left, our subjects have increased in many areas"

Bucky walked around the table and stood next to her "How many are left this time?"

"Three" she stated

Bucky nodded "Is…"

"Natalia is one of them" Kudrin quickly answered, she knew he was going to ask that. Bucky nodded. "I know she is your favorite" Kudrin said

Bucky sighed "I was told not to have favorites"

"Well clearly you didn't follow it, Natalia had much more training with you than the other two"

"She needed extra work" Bucky said

Kudrin started to walk away, he followed her toward the door. They left the room "More like you liked seeing her"

Bucky scoffed slightly "I was doing the job you assigned me and Natalia needed more work"

They both stopped and Kudrin stared at him and sighed "Right"

She continued onward and he stared at her for a few seconds and continued after her. Kudrin glanced back "Even if she is your favorite, the results are something to be admired."

They came to a long balcony above the trained floor, they both stopped at the railing. Bucky looked down and there she was, the red head that he particularly liked. She stood in the center of the training floor and eight men stood around her, they were twice her size. Bucky frowned "Eight?" he asked

Kudrin rolled her eyes "She can take on up to twenty at once, we counted"

Bucky almost smiled, but he kept the emotion behind his cold stare. He saw a man standing in the far corner. He noticed that he was not fighting "Who's he?"

Kudrin saw the man that he had seen "Oh that is Alexie Shostakov, our Natalia's fiancé"

"Fiancé?"

"Yes, all part of the plan for making her under our control"

"How exactly do you plan on doing this?"

"Killing him, then moving him on, she will feel even more obliged to do more, perfect for the graduation"

Bucky sighed and Kudrin looked at him "You disagree?"

Bucky was silent for a long moment "No"

Kudrin smirked "I have a thing for favorites"

Bucky looked back at her and she raised an eyebrow "For breaking them"

The doors opened and Bucky was brought out of his memory and he saw Fury walking in. He began to move, but Fury put his hand up to stop him. Bucky stayed in place, Fury walked up to him. He had his hand over his mouth slightly "What do you know?" he asked

Bucky saw that Fury wasn't happy, he tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. "You might want to sit down"

Fury pulled out one of the chairs and sat down, Bucky sat next to him. They both stared at each other and Bucky was slow to speak. "Alexie Shostakov was a KGB test pilot"

Fury listened intently and Bucky continued "He was married to Natasha when she was eighteen or seventeen, I really don't remember, and they did marry each other. About a few months into being married they faked Alexie's death, he became the Red Guardian. The Russian Captain America"

Fury sighed "Ok, what happened after that?"

"Well he was killed, and the KGB moved on, apparently Niko saved his life and they started killing everyone that made them"

Fury sighed "This is incredibly messed up"

Bucky shrugged "Well Red Room does that"

Fury sat back in the chair, he let out a tired sigh "Well, I guess there's nothing really left to discuss"

Bucky smacked his lips "Well, Niko is a problem"

"Well it seems we can't kill the guy" Fury said

Bucky sighed "Well I guess what Alexie was saying was true. All of it, Shadow Games will come down on us"

Fury sighed "Shadow Games? More like Red Room, Niko has become what he hates, Shadow Games is just a made up name, and Red Room is truly what he is"

Bucky couldn't argue with him there. "Well it seems the past just won't stay away"

"Yeah, let's get to work"

Bucky nodded "Jane told me before you came in here that she was working on finding him"

"Well I'll pay her a visit" Fury said standing to leave.

Bucky stood after him "Sir?"

Fury gave him a look that he was listening "If you don't mind, I think I'll go talk to Steve"

"Go, I can handle things here, be careful of Romanoff, she might shoot you"

Bucky chuckled "I wouldn't put it past her"

New York

The sky was dark from clouds, but it was only evening. The sun was starting to set and the warehouse that was on the waterfront was busy. It looked abandoned, but there was work going on within. The suit was attached to a table that sat up and it pointed to the ceiling. He looked at it, he had it changed a while ago, when he first got it, it was the red, white, and blue color scheme. He had it changed to red, grey, and black. He stared at the large Silver Star on the chest, he saw dents in the chest from past bullets. He stood before it and looked up at the black helmet. The used to be white A was covered with a scorch mark and additional carving to make it faded. He didn't see himself as Captain America, the real one was alive. He turned around and grabbed his shield that was sitting quietly on the table, he held it in both hands and looked down upon it. The outward ring was black, then there was silver, then black again, the star in the center was Silver with a black background. He swallowed and sighed deeply and he set the shield down next to the table and the suit that hung upon it. The abdomen of the suit was silver and red, it looked exactly like Captain America's current suit, but different colors.

He turned around to the map of the city that he had required recently, he marked areas that wouldn't work with his plan, and he found the perfect spot, he just needed to do it now. He wanted to wait a couple more days, get more organized. Be even more prepared. He had to succeed, or what he was about to do would be worthless. He often thought about it, but he kept it deep down, like everything else. Nothing was easy anymore, nor simple. Everything was just harder as time went on, he was one to complain, but he didn't understand why they had to become the way they were. He had killed the ones who had betrayed him and his men, but what they did to them, he could not forgive. He didn't shift blame, he wanted to fix what had been corrupted, how a country could betray its own soldiers that was one thing that he couldn't forgive. He wouldn't forgive it, and it was the one thing that kept burning within him, the betrayal and the pain. How? The one question he asked more often than he should have, he wasn't naïve, but he wasn't cynical either. He knew how things should be and he couldn't accept how things had become, it was time for things to change, it had to or it was going to get worse.

Steve

Ever since the interrogation, the facility had been up in a roar of work, Steve and the other Avengers minus Natasha was all standing in his office. Steve was sitting at his desk and they stood around the office, Sam was leaning against the wall, Vision was looking out the window, Wanda was sitting in one of the chairs that was sitting to the side of the desk. Rhodey and Tony stood shoulder to shoulder, Hill was slightly sitting on Steve's desk, and Allen and Sharon were sitting in the other seats in front of the desk. The newest person that was involved in this was Bucky, he may have been working with Fury for almost a year, but he had never worked with the Avengers. He was standing closest to the door, he had his arms crossed, and he could feel the eyes of everyone else on him, the only ones that didn't feel judging were Steve and Hill.

Tony was uncomfortable with silences and he spoke first "Well so Niko's alive, we can find him again"

"It took us almost three months to do so, and that was five hours after he took Barnes. It has been weeks, he could be anywhere" Sam spoke

Tony looked at him "Well we can do it"

"We also had clues and evidence to help, we have nothing now" Wanda said to the billionaire.

Tony scoffed "We have the best tracking equipment in the world and why can't we find him?"

Everyone was quiet, and Bucky stepped forward and came into the conversation "Because I trained him"

Tony looked at him, Rhodey sighed. "Why is that you've trained everyone?"

"I only trained two people, Natasha and Niko, no others"

"Yeah and one is the biggest thorn in our side" Sam said

Steve glanced at Sam, but stayed quite, he was listening, but his mind was on Natasha at the moment.

"Yeah, he's a pain in the ass, but I taught him to disappear" Bucky said

"Well since you're the teacher, can't you find your crazy student?" Tony asked

Bucky swallowed "I can, but it will take a while, five hours took you three months, a day took me almost six"

Rhodey looked at Tony "Barnes can find him, and maybe with us helping him, we can do it faster"

Tony rolled his eyes slightly "The guy with the metal arm did it by himself, why not just leave it to him, Niko is his problem"

"He's ours too" Hill said

Tony looked at her "Defend the assassin, go ahead, he shot Fury"

Bucky stayed silent, and Hill stood away from the desk "And he also stopped Moscow from being blown to bits, he also helped save Natasha, he also stopped Niko the first two times"

"If stopped you mean made him run, it was quite, nothing was done" Tony said to her

Hill chuckled "Funny, you sound like Ultron" she said bitterly

Tony clenched his jaw and his lip twitched slightly with anger. "Ultron was not what he was supposed to be" Tony said

"Yeah, well next time leave it to people to defend things, not unknown alien AI"

"Hey, Niko is the problem, not past mistakes" Allen said from his chair.

Tony looked at Hill "Leave it to who, people like your boyfriend?" Tony said pointing at Bucky.

Hill swallowed and stared at Tony, Tony nodded "Yeah, leave it to the man who killed people for a Nazi death cult"

Hill bit her lips slightly "That man saved our lives"

"Only to get into your pants" Tony said

Bucky didn't really know what happened next, he was standing still and then he was grabbing Tony and pushing him into a wall and held him up with his metal hand. Tony's face was beat red and a vein was bulging at the side of his temple, he struggled to breathe. Bucky gritted his teeth "I did not do it because I wanted in her pants Stark" he held Tony there.

Everyone else rushed him and Sam was the first one there and Bucky smacked him away and Sam flew into the other wall. Hill put her hand on Bucky's shoulder. Bucky looked at her and he let go of Tony. Tony hit the floor and he gasped for breath and coughed hoarsely. Bucky looked at everyone "Is the only thing you do is fight with one another?" he asked them.

Tony stood and he had his hand on his throat. Steve was at his feet "Calm down!" he ordered

Bucky looked at him and obeyed, even though he didn't want to, he suddenly felt like he was being scolded again. Steve was his friend, but when he did something stupid, he talked to him about it. Tony swallowed, Steve looked at them both "Stop it, this is getting us nowhere. We need to start a plan, not fight amongst ourselves"

Tony tilted his head "Well Captain, what do you got?"

Steve stood there and he looked at Tony and with the deepest sincerity "I don't know"

Tony sighed, Bucky saw Sam walking back into the group, he didn't look too angry about the punch. Bucky looked at him and Sam shrugged. "But if we work together we can find him" Steve added.

Tony nodded "I'll be at the Tower, message me when you have any news, I'll start on my end"

Tony left the room and Steve sighed as he looked at everyone "Ok, we know what he looks like, start with the area, landscape, anywhere he could have gone to get shelter. After that, towns, and cities"

They all nodded and walked away, Bucky and Hill stayed in the office. Bucky looked at him "Sorry, I don't know what came over me"

Steve waved him down "I have grown to tolerate Tony, he's helpful, but sometimes he gets…yeah he just does that"

"Well you have both known him longer than me" Bucky said

"I'll contact Gerald and get him on the same game plan" Hill said

Bucky nodded and Hill walked away, leaving them alone in silence. Steve exhaled and sat back down "Ok, well, we have an unknown amount of time before Niko pops up again"

"That's how I caught him the first time, he surfaced and I followed"

"I don't think waiting for him to do something is a good idea"

"It isn't, but how good he is, it's the only thing that will help with time, Niko can't stay unseen for long, every once and a while he needs to do something, hence why his organization has been involved in so many bombings over the years, he needs the attention"

Steve shook his head tiredly "It's getting late"

Bucky nodded "it is, we'll keep working, tomorrow, do you want that drink?"

"Yeah, timing could be better"

"When is timing ever good, besides we can brainstorm together again, like we used to"

Steve smiled "I would like that, ok tomorrow"

Bucky nodded and turned to leave. Steve stayed at his desk and he looked at the black screen and his mind instantly went to Natasha.

Peter

The sun had already set on New York and Peter was on his way to the place that Devil of Hell's Kitchen told him to meet him. He swung high into the air and landed on the side of a crane. He looked down and he saw the warehouse, there was lights coming through the glass. He raised an eyebrow, not very sneaky. He let go and he fell to the ground, he landed and he stayed in a crouched position. He turned and there he was, his red suit seemed like it was all black. "Well you showed up" he said walking past Peter. Peter stood and nodded "Well I just couldn't resist the warehouse with Russians, kind of a dream job."

Devil looked at him "Well it's a good thing I brought you, there's a lot in there"

Peter looked at him "How do you know that, were you stalking them affair with binoculars?"

Devil smiled softly "Not exactly"

"Well how do you want to do this, fists and glory, Baton and Sneaky, or Fist and Baton?"

Devil looked at him, "you go in through the roof, and I'm going to walk inside"

Peter's eyes went wide "You're just going to walk right in" he exclaimed

"Yeah"

"And if they have guns?"

"That's where you come in, they're just expecting me tonight"

Peter sighed "Ok, see you inside with the lovely mob of Russians"

Peter leaped up and fried a web and pulled himself forward, he shot toward the warehouse and he landed softly on the roof. He stood and slowly walked across it, well walking in seemed suicidal, but at least it was a plan. Peter found and latch at the middle of the warehouse's roof, he grabbed the handle and pulled it open slowly. He looked down at the dark hole, he jumped down and landed on a metal floor, he could see the Russians below and they were heavily armed. He slump his shoulders, his first outing with the horned red suit man and he was going to die. Peter climbed over the railing and lightly jumped to the side of the warehouse and he got to a good position.

The doors opened and the Russians jumped and aimed their weapons at who was coming. There he was and he just walked right in, Devil stood before them all. "You guys should have left" he said

"We still have chance to start again" one said

Devil knew all the weapons they had, he smirked "I brought a friend"

Peter looked directly at an empty space "Well if he wanted to give me away, he just did, wait did he just call me friend?" he said excitedly.

Peter frowned and tilted his head "Why did I just say that to no one?"

He turned his attention back toward the situation. The Russians looked around, not one saw him on the wall in the corner. They all laughed as Peter didn't do anything, Devil stood there and he listened to Peter's heartbeat, it was steady. One of the Russians went to fire and a web flew out of the corner and hit his hands. The gun clattered to the floor "what the hell!" he exclaimed.

Devil ran forward, the Russians were too occupied with the fact that white webbing was covering one of their friend's hands. One saw him and aimed, Devil threw his baton at him and it hit him in the face, he pulled the trigger and fired as he fell back. The line of gunfire killed three, Peter jumped off the wall and kicked one of the Russians into a truck. Devil grabbed his baton and smacked one across the face and brought his foot around and hit him. The man twisted and hit the floor, Peter ran and rolled past a Russian and he felt his head buzz and he jumped into the air and twisted, he saw the Russian about to fire, he fired a web and yanked him forward. Bullets hit the floor and hit one of the men's feet. Howling yells echoed through out of the warehouse and Peter and Devil went at it.

Devil rolled and kicked a man in the lower stomach, he stumbled and Peter swung his body and his foot hit him in the face, as he kept one foot on the floor. Peter came back ready and he blocked a punch and hit him in the ribs and jumped up and grabbed him with his ankles and twisted him to the floor. Peter pushed back and flipped to his feet, he ducked a baton and he heard a guy get hit and he fired a web and hit a Russian and he pulled him around and swung him. He flew through the air and hit another Russian, his gun went off and fired as he hit the ground. A bullet flew toward Peter and he flipped out of the way. Devil blocked two punched and punched his attacker in the face and he fell to the floor. Devil stood over him and wailed on, his fists smacking his face one after another. Peter looked around and he felt the familiar buzz and he ducked and a knife went over his head, he moved to the side and a Russian holding a knife stumbled forward. Peter fired a web at the knife and it made him slam into the truck. His hand stuck to the hood and the knife wasn't moving either. Peter walked forward and the man saw him up close and he felt freaked out as a guy in a red suit stomped toward him. Peter punched him in the face, his eyes were squinted and he heard a gun fire and he moved and another fired and a bullet hit him in the chest.

The whole world stopped, Peter felt the air leave his lungs as he fell back and smacked into the floor. He gasped for air, but he couldn't breathe, he coughed and blood came to his lips. He tried to move and he couldn't, he groaned as his chest burned. Everything was silent and he saw Devil walk over to him and he knelt down and put his hand on his chest, Peter gasped in pain as the burning pain shocked him and his face grimaced. "Don't move" he said to him

Peter felt his head buzz and he fired his web forward and hit a Russian in the face before he stabbed Devil. Devil turned as he did, not even seeing that Peter fired a web and he punched him in the ribs and he saw the web hit his face and he kicked him away. Devil didn't see anyone else and turned his attention toward Peter. Peter groaned and he felt his chest was wet with his warm blood. Devil sighed "I know someone"

Peter saw his lips moving but he saw everything fade and his voice faded.

"I know you liked it"

"So Spider, what now?"

"Be careful Peter"

"I hope it's worth it"

The sudden pain of having someone on his chest made him open his eyes and he gasped for air. He sat up and he was in an apartment and he wasn't in his suit anymore, at least the top half. His eyes were wide and he looked around and he felt hands pushing him back down onto the couch. He felt is sweaty head touch the pillow and it was cold, he coughed and struggled to suck in air, he saw a bright light and someone behind it, the light flashed over his eyes, he saw long black hair and he heard her voice, it was soft, but quite strong as well, "Well you didn't bring a blind guy with you"

Peter saw the light go away and he saw an African American woman kneeling next to him. He peered over and saw Devil standing there, his mask was on still. Peter saw her get his attention "Hey, you're not mute are you?"

Peter heard a chuckle "far from it" Devil said

She looked at him and then back at Peter, "At least you were out for the bullet, but the wound was pretty bad, interesting, you're already healing."

Peter finally got his vice back "Well this was not how I expected spending my night"

She smirked at him "Mine either, yet you beat up bad guys, Mr. Spider"

Peter chuckled and his chest ached "That's not my name"

"Then what is it?"

"Spider Man"

She nodded "Suit fits the name"

Peter sighed "At least you get it" he looked at her, she knew the look "Names Claire"

Peter nodded "Well I guess I am officially off the helper list"

Devil shook his head "Far from it, just try not to get shot next time"

Peter chuckled "At least I am the only kid in my class who has gotten shot"

"Class?" they both asked in unison.

Peter rolled his eyes "I'm in High School guys"

Claire looked at Devil "Way to go, recruited a teenager to your cause huh"

"I wanted to do this" Peter said

"Sure" Claire stated, not believing him.

"I just met him a few times, I don't even know his name, just Devil of Hell's Kitchen and Daredevil."

Claire frowned "Really, you chose to dress up and fight criminals all on your own?"

"Yeah" Peter said confidently with pride, well the best he could while being injured.

Claire sighed "Well you two have something in common"

Peter looked at Devil, but his mask was off now, he had chestnut brown hair and his eyes seemed off, like he was looking at him, but his eyes weren't. Peter thought back to how he reacted at the same time he did with the Russian. His eyes widened "You're blind!" he exclaimed

Claire sighed "He figured that out fast"

"Yeah, but I can see"

"How?"

"Long story"

Peter sighed "Well I guess since you've seen my face"

Claire sighed "Well Matt, he needs to stay the night"

"Ok, I'll be back in the morning"

Claire nodded and Matt walked away. Peter sighed "Wait, my aunt… ah he's gone" He looked at Claire "you got a phone I could use?"

Claire looked at him.

Steve

The hectic mood of the facility seemed to carry over, even into the room. Steve was standing against the wall, he watched as Natasha walked back and forth and she was grabbing things that he had no idea where they came from onto the bed. He watched as she seemed to be caught up and didn't even notice him standing there. He didn't try to talk either, he really didn't know what to say to her, it's not every day that someone you loved comes back from the dead. He crossed his arms and Natasha walked past him again and she had two Glock pistols. She put them on the bed and loaded them with fresh mags and the hammer shot forward with a metallic click. She did the dame with the other one, she glanced over at him. It seemed like she finally noticed him, but he knew that she saw him. She walked past him again and he didn't care to try and stop her. She walked into the bathroom and she stared at herself in the mirror, she turned on the sink. The water rushed forward with noise and she felt the water become hot. She cupped her hands and caught some and threw it onto her face. It burned slightly, but she did it again.

Steve walked into the doorway of the bathroom, he stood there, he watched as she washed her face. Natasha closed her eyes as the warm water left her face and small drops made their way down her cheeks and rested at her chin. She looked at herself and she swallowed. How could all this still happen? Why Alexie?

Steve saw Natasha turn around and she dried her face off with a towel. She placed it down and she leaned against the sink, she looked at him. Steve gave her a comforting smile, she slightly moved her eyebrows as a thank you. She didn't say anything and he didn't expect her to. He looked at her eyes, they were brilliant as always, but they were full of pain, not tears, but pain all the same. He leaned away from the doorway and walked forward slightly. Natasha felt her heart flutter as he got closer, Steve stood before her. He was close, so close. She looked up at him and she saw his blue pools and they were like they always were. She closed her eyes and she could feel his breath on her face, it slowly poured over her and trickled down her cheeks, she opened her eyes and she put her arms around him. Steve brought her close and wrapped his arms around her, he held her tightly.

Natasha buried her face into his chest, he smelled so good, his heart was beating strongly, and how it made her feel safe. She glanced up at him, his eyes were looking right at her. She clenched her jaw slightly, she wanted him to say something, something to make her feel a little better, like he always did. He smiled and spoke "You're beautiful" he said softly

Natasha loved hearing those words, and he was the only one who ever told her that. She smiled sadly at him "I love you"

Steve exhaled slightly, he blinked "I'll be here when you get back"

Natasha sighed and nodded "I won't be long this time"

Steve closed his eye and inhaled deeply as he held her in his arms "I know, we'll figure it out"

She nodded "I know we will"

They held each other for as long as they could.

Soon Steve was alone in his office and Natasha was gone, she was already in the air and heading to Moscow. He sat at his desk and he stared at the file in his hand, he read it, it was all the same. He heard someone coming and closed the file, he saw the door open. He placed the file onto the desk, Bucky entered. He walked forward and he was calm "Hey Captain" he said with a smirk

Steve stood and he walked around the desk and met him halfway and he brought him into a hug. Bucky chuckled "At least we're the same height now"

Steve chuckled "It took you long enough to catch up"

Bucky smiled as they came out of the hug. "Need any help?"

Steve sighed "If you want to read paper work, yeah"

"I think I'll leave that to you"

Steve smirked "I thought you would"

Bucky followed Steve to the desk, Steve sat down on the edge of it slightly. Bucky stood and he smirked. Steve swallowed and thought of something to talk about "Buck, I want to ask you something?"

Bucky nodded "Anything"

Steve sighed "Is it true?"

Bucky looked at him, and eh continued "Is it true what you did to Natasha" Steve knew that it was, he just wanted to hear Bucky's part.

Bucky sighed "Yeah, not proud of it either"

Steve nodded "What Red Room did…"

"They were nothing but animals Steve"

"They hurt her"

"Every day, it happened to all of them"

"She really hates you"

"I would too"

"So when she ever failed something…"

"The punishment followed as it was"

"So she failed at fighting"

"They beat her? Yeah."

"She failed at the…seduction part"

Bucky looked at the floor "Don't do this to yourself Steve"

Steve sighed "They really did that huh"

Bucky nodded "Yeah, how else do you think she was so cold for years"

"I will admit, I have some anger toward you"

"I want you to, I deserve at least that"

"Bucky, did you ever touch her?"

Bucky kept his eyes on him and didn't blink "No" he answered

Steve nodded "Ok"

Bucky sighed in self-hatred "It's all my fault"

"Not it's not"

"Yes it is, Natasha was my favorite, I gave her the best tips and the best training, and they broke her for it"

"What do you mean?"

Bucky exhaled and he shook his head "Miss Kudrin, she knew that Natasha was my favorite, she they did extra things"

"What kind of extra things?"

"Having her get married and then pretending to kill her husband, extra beatings, more training. It's probably why she made it though"

"You can't blame that on yourself"

"Maybe if I didn't treat her like a favorite, half the things that happened to her wouldn't have happened."

"She may have died if you didn't"

"No, she was stronger than those other girls, after our first few lessons she could have gone out and did field missions and would have been fine, the best really. No, everything they did to her besides the graduation was because of me"

Steve placed his hand on his shoulder "Don't blame yourself Buck, it happened yeah, time to move on"

Bucky looked at him "You're right, as usual" he smirked

Steve smiled back "It'll be better with time"

"I wish I had the optimism that you have"

"Well you jerk, just try and make it work" he said smiling

Bucky smiled and exhaled sharply "You're a punk"

They both chuckled and things were good considering the circumstances. Bucky took a deep breath "That drink tomorrow, we'll brainstorm over a beer"

Steve nodded "You got it"

Bucky left the office with a smile on his face.

New York

The excitement had died a long time ago now. He opened the warehouse door and he looked inside and he saw all the Russians on the floor, most were awake, others were still out cold. He walked in and the Russians turned and aimed their guns at him. He put his hands up "You boys seemed to have run into trouble"

The group of Russians, frowned at him "Who are you?"

"Me? I'm no one"

"Yeah, you seem like it"

"Well who took you boys out?"

"None of your business"

He nodded "Well I would guess it would be the Devil of Hell's Kitchen, I heard about him on TV"

"Just stay out of our business"

He shook his head "No, you are my business"

The Russians frowned and they stared at him "What the fuck…"

He pulled a rifle out of his coat and fired at them. The Russians were taken off guard and bullets hit them and blood went everywhere. He shot them, he shot one in the head three times and he shot another. The Russians aimed and fired as they scattered. He stood in the open and just shot them all. He reloaded the rifle and he walked forward with it ready, he saw a Russian laying on the ground, blood was leaking out of his mouth. He looked up at him "Who are you" he said coughing.

He stood over him and aimed at him "Just no one" he fired and the bullets tore into his head. He turned around and a Russian charged him, and he moved and they met and the Russians shot him point blank. He gritted his teeth and he grabbed the Russian and head butted him. He grabbed him and threw him across the warehouse. He stomped toward him and he turned over and yelled as he stepped on his leg and broke his leg. He grabbed him and the Russian saw his fist come back and launch forward.

He let him go and he turned around, he saw four Russians standing there, they had knives out. He nodded and took is coat off and he casted it aside. He put his hand to his gut and he looked at the wound, nothing but a welt. The Russians ran forward and he stood his ground. They surrounded him and he grabbed one and broke his arm and kicked him across the warehouse into a wall. He dodged another strike and he grabbed the knife and tore it from the Russians' hand and he head butted him and stabbed him in the chest. He stabbed him four more times, he turned and sliced another on the hip and brought the knife down and into the back of his head. He turned and a knife went toward his gut, he put his hands forward and stopped the strike, the knife was an inch from his stomach and he gripped the arms as tight as he could and the bones crushed inward. He yelled in pain and he punched the Russian in the chest. He grabbed his neck and snapped it quickly, he turned to the last Russian. He blocked a punch and hit him in the hip and he kicked him to the ground. The Russian crawled away from him as he walked forward. He had blood coming out of his nose as the man walked forward. He got to the wall of the warehouse and he had nowhere to go. His eyes were wide and he yelled as the man blocked out the light.

Author's Note: Here's another one, I would love some feedback. Review.