The Second Born Curses- A Winterborn Series

Agent Katra Barton

Bruce's POV

"What are you doing here all alone, Doctor Banner?" A feminine voice asked, pulling me out of my reverie.

I had decided to grab some lunch and put myself in a far away corner on the helicarrier. Well, as far as someone like me could get. I hated being alone but sometimes it is best to be alone, especially when I need to ponder over new inventions and in this case, urgent new inventions.

The woman was the same woman from Calcutta- the sarcastic one who also seemed to just... understand my situation and maybe... even me. Though that was impossible; nobody but me had a problem that involved turning into a huge green monster.

I stared at the woman. With short black and red hair, pixie face and brown eyes, she would be considered too young for this line of work if I did not know that they started quite young.

"Just thinking, sorry. I've forgotten your name. There's, ah, been a lot of agents in my lab." I answered, ashamed at forgetting such a kind woman's name.

She just waved it away, smiling, "no problem. Agent Katra Barton. But you can call me Katra."

Something about her was different than the others. Something kinder, more sad and full of turmoil. This woman felt like a kindred spirit and, as much as I didn't want to admit out loud, she was beautiful.

"Then, err, you can just call me Bruce. There's no need to call me Doctor Banner." Katra grinned and sat next to me. Out of reflex, I shifted further away from her.

When she had sat next to me on the plane, I thought she was doing it to be kind and was actually terrified of me. Despite her stating to me that I was the least scary thing out there, I couldn't help but doubt her intentions.

"Well then, Bruce, what are thinking about?"

"I was, err, just working out another algorithm for finding Loki and the missing agents in my head. I might be able to increase the strength of the signal to find them." I answered, dialling back the scientific information that I was actually thinking about. Something told me she understood only half of scientific research.

Katra nodded, shifting closer to me and giving me a one armed hug, careful not to knock anything off my tray. Surprised, I sat there, frozen to my spot.

I had treated patients before that had hugged me out of sheer joy and relief, but those were people who had no idea about the other guy. This woman knew about the other guy and yet still hugged me.

"Thank you. My brother is actually one of the missing agents so you doing this and working with someone like Tony Stark, means so much more to me than I can ever say or do. I am in your debt."

I found myself feeling embarrassed but quite pleased, especially when my life has been nothing but darkness since the accident and the other guy has been destroying any chances of me getting close to anyone.

"You're welcome. I'm happy to help you... and, of course, everyone, err, else." I amended, realising that I'd implied that I would gladly help her more than anyone else.

We sat there chatting for a while and I learnt quite a bit. Agent Katra Barton was the younger sister of S.H.I.E.L.D's famous Clint Barton aka Hawkeye. She also happened to be Miss Romanoff's friend and one of the top undercover agents in her field.

The more she talked, the more I became fascinated with her. From then on, we made this a regular thing and for that, I was grateful.

I woke to an uncomfortable feeling all over my body. It felt like pointy, sharp objects were digging into every part of my body. A soft breeze blew over my naked body.

Wait... naked?

I sat up and looked around, noticing that I was indeed naked. And that an thin old man was standing over me; I immediately covered up my crotch.

"You fell out of the sky." The man stated, unafraid so it appeared. My first thought that came to mind was if the Other Guy... I hurt anyone during the time that the Other Guy took over.

"Did I hurt anyone?"

"There's nobody around here to get hurt. You did scare the hell out of some pigeons though."

"Lucky." I said, grateful for that.

"Or just good aim. You were awake when you fell."

"You saw?" I felt dread filling up within me.

"The whole thing, right through the ceiling. Big and green and buck ass nude. Here-" the old security guard threw me some clothes, which I immediately began to pull on, "didn't think those would fit you until you shrunk down to a regular size fella."

"Thank you." I replied, grateful to such a kind hearted man. He seemed like a genuine person.

Just like Katra is.

I was beginning to worry a lot about her, despite only knowing her for a few weeks. Katra was the only person who knew what the Other Guy was capable of, but still held a hand out for me to take with a smile.

"Are you an alien?"

"What?" I was confused at the question after it had pulled me out of my thoughts.

"From outer space, an alien?"

"No."

"Well then, son, you've got a condition."

Finally, I managed to pull the jeans on without much trouble and stepped down from the pile of rubble in the warehouse, pulling on the shirt the man handed to me.

"So, which one is it?" I blinked.

"Sorry?"

"Are you a big guy that gets all little, or a little guy that, ah- sometimes blows up large?"

"You know- I'm not even sure." I answered, thinking over it carefully.

"You got somewhere to go?"

"Stark Tower. I- no." Confusion filled my head, blank gaps in my memory. The old man wearing the security guard uniform looked at me, waiting for my answer.

"Yes." I finished.

"I'd expect some confusion of the mind, since your body's kind of all over the place, but it has to be one or the other."

He gestured for me to follow him; I did. This man was full of wisdom and was still unafraid. Once again, Katra's smiling face popped into my head.

"I know where I could do the most good, but it's where I can do the most harm."

Tucking in my borrowed shirt and looking at him whilst we walked, I finally noted that we were in an old abandoned warehouse from across the sea, near a harbour.

"Well, that's no different than anybody else." He paused.

"Me? I'm here in Jersey where I can't do much of either." He raised his arms in an exaggerated shrug, while I moved around to face him directly, "And since I'm not likely to move on from this placement, you may as well- pilfer my ride."

The man gestured to an old motorcycle parked outside of the warehouse, near to where we were standing. Feeling touched but still slightly confused, I peered around.

"I don't know which way to go."

The man threw me his keys and took of his hat, taking one long hard look at me.

"Your mind's already made up, son. The rest of you will follow."

Thanking the kind man, I started the motorcycle and headed towards the centre of New York. Figuring that would be the best place to start looking, I drove like a madman and remembering a similar word of encouragement from Katra.

As I went over the bridge to cross into the heart of New York, my heart and mind was both telling me to hurry. To get to the battle. To save Katra.

Don't worry, Katra. I will protect you. No matter what.

My "borrowed" bike gave a roar of protest as I kicked it into the next gear to go faster, weaving in and out of traffic. As long as this old motorcycle kept going, I knew it would be fine.