Finding Home

Chapter 4

The distinct click of the door drew my attention to the figures entering the room. Natasha, Steve, and Tony stood just inside the door, none of them daring to get too close.

"So, Kali, to what do we owe this surprise visit?" Tony was the first to speak.

Standing up from my spot on the floor, I brushed myself off and rested my hands on my hips. "This doesn't look like a visit to me, Stark."

"Well, you did abandon us. You can't tell me you expected us to welcome you with open arms, did you?" Steve tried to reply nicely, but I could hear the slight pain in his voice.

"I guess not. But I didn't expect this either. I've given you no reason not to trust me."

"You left, with no warning. No one could find you, not even Fury. Why?" Nat took a couple of steps toward me but still kept her distance.

"Мне показалось, что я ясно дал понять, что это потому, что я не хотел, чтобы меня нашли. (It seemed to me that I made it clear that it was because I did not want to be found.)"

I could see Bucky tense up again in my peripheral sight. Now I knew it was just because of the language; Russian still made him uneasy.

I turn to look at Bucky briefly and offer a reassuring smile. "Sorry, Soldier. I forget, sometimes."

Turning my attention back to the others, I reply in English this time. "I had my reasons. And I have no reason to tell them to any of you."

Bucky couldn't seem to take his eyes off of me now. I could tell he was still trying to figure me out. What our past might have been. Who I was exactly.

"Почему он это делает? (Why is he doing this?)" Nat whispered, nodding toward him.

"Он пытается понять меня. Но он не может. Благодаря Ваканде некоторые воспоминания были - (He's trying to understand me. But he can not. Thanks to Wakanda, some memories were -) " I trailed off as I look over and meet his eyes. I watch as his jaw tenses again.

"Sorry. I promise I'll work on remembering," sarcasm lacing my voice as I speak. "But if it's any consolation, I know which words to avoid." I wink at him.

The four of us just watched as Bucky let out a sigh and walked out of the room.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Nat whipped around and stared at me. Her hands on her hips.

"What was that about?"

"Nothing," I replied coldly.

"You and Barnes have a history or something?" she inquired.

"You could say that." I nodded.

"What kind of history exactly?"

"Забудь об этом, Наталья, (Forget it, Natalia,)" I answered sternly.

"Ohhh...? Must be something deep for you to be calling me by that name Shadow."

I couldn't help but smirk a little at her sarcasm. She always did prefer calling me that over anything else. Not to say she wouldn't use my real name when around others, but she always used Shadow when she was, well, my sister, and not the agents we were supposed to be.

"Shadow?" Tony's voice broke through our little argument.

It was kind of funny to me still, after all these years, to see Nat's composure change when we were together in a relaxed environment.

She wasn't the always ready weapon we were trained to be, but instead, she was more of the child she suppressed for so long. Knowing she was one hundred percent safe with me around, she didn't have to be ready to fight.

"At least tell us what you did while you were gone, Kali?" Steve spoke as he made his way to where I was standing — seemingly ignoring the conversation that had just taken place. "Did you work for the enemy? Did you share any of our secrets?"

Tony offered his input too. "Why should we trust you again? Especially since we're missing some pieces about who you are."

"I did freelance work. If someone was willing to pay enough, I didn't care what side the client was on. I never took out any of your direct allies, though, if that's what you're asking. And no, I didn't share any of your secrets. You should know me better than that, Steve."

"I never know what to think with you, Kali."

"And as for you, Stark?" I looked around Steve's towering form. "I'll gladly answer whatever questions you have, within reason."

"Shadow?" he repeated, just staring at me.

"I was trained in the same facility as the Black Widows. Just under a different program. There's no record of my training, my missions, or my life before my escape from Hydra. Just rumors and ghost stories. A shadow. Just as I was trained to be."

"That's it?" he asked, shaking his head.

"That's it... As far as the name goes anyway." I smirked at him.

"What about before you left? You were on Cap's team before disappearing, how can I know I can trust you?"

"I wasn't on any damn team, Stark," I snapped, "I helped Steve, because of Barnes. Unless you would have preferred, I let him destroy more than he did?"

"How exactly did you help? How do you seem to know so much about the Winter Soldier?"

"Research," I said coldly, not willing to go into actual detail.

"Fine. How do you know which 'words to avoid' as you put it? I thought the book was destroyed? No one knows how to trigger the Winter Soldier anymore."

"It was. Along with all the other information Hydra may have had on him and the program." I looked at Steve. "You're welcome for that, by the way." He just smiled in response. "I knew how to activate the Winter Soldier long before any of you knew he was real."

"And I'm just supposed to trust that you won't activate him for the sheer enjoyment of it?"

"Tony, let me ask you something. Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?"

"Well, no, but -"

"Then why would now be any different? You know me, Stark. Look me in the eyes and tell me you can't trust me."

"Fair enough." Tony nodded in understanding.

"Look, I may not be pleased about how I came back to the tower. And I won't say that I'm happy to be here at all with all this uncertainty surrounding me. But, if you'll have me, I'd like to stay. For a little while, at least."

I looked at Tony for an answer.

"You know you always have a room here, no matter what. Don't make me regret that. Deal?" He smirked a little.

"Deal, Stark," I smirked back.

"Welcome home, Kali." Steve wrapped his arms around me and gave me a welcoming hug.

I stood watching as Tony made his way out of the room, followed closely by Steve.