Chapter 17 - Identification

Katta watched Fenris tipping the coordinates to the Harlovsen headquarter in the Quinjet. They hadn't talked since Fury had ordered the boarding. Natasha came her way and took the seat directly next to her, closing her belt.

"You Harlovsens never miss an opportunity to impress me."

Katta looked up in surprise. She would have expected accusations or threats but no words of admiration. Natasha proceeded.

"Honestly. You smuggled him into the building, under our every eye. His disguise was perfect."

"Thanks," Katta muttered. Natasha chuckled as she waved Banner over. He approached them with a medical kit, and Natasha helped her get rid of her shirt.

"It is already healing," Bruce stated, amazed. "Of course, your blood." He started working on her wound, cleaning it. Katta bit her tongue as the disinfectant burned away the crud. Meanwhile, Fenris had finished and took his seat on the opposite while the autopilot took over.

"Alright, children, Quiz time," Tony announced, waking everybody out of the silence. He turned towards Fenris. "You're another Harlovsen. Why haven't we seen you at the family BBQ?"

Katta shut her eyes close. Silence spread through the room. As if Fenris would answer any of his questions.

"Another question. How did you manage to get employment in one of America's best-secured institutions?" It was again Tony. Katta curtly smirked. If that was their best-secured institution, then congratulations for sucking.

"Good question. We did the usual background checks but already were in our system." It was Bruce's voice. In his place, Katta would be pissed. He'd worked the closest with Fenris and noticed not a thing.

"Katta!"

She opened her eyes. Sam. "We want an explanation. After all, we're a team, now."

Katta leaned back in her seat, looking at the Avengers, who observed her demandingly. She contemplated on whether to tell them what they wanted to know. Not that they deserved any of it. Her eyes wandered over until they met the only one who wasn't looking at her. Barnes sat in the corner of the machine, examining his hands.

"Promised". She'd promised to him to explain the situation. Barnes looked a lot calmer than before. Good. A wacky winter soldier in a plane might not be the best thing.

Katta rubbed her eyes and sighed. Might as well them about everything - When they messed up, she wouldn't live very long either way.

"When Olaf, Arne and Erik tried to free me, I cancelled the mission and gave them the agreed sign to not come back. This is something only the target can decide, and usually, the others have to stick to that." She looked at Fenris, whose face showed a mixture of stubbornness and unease. He cleared his throat and took over from her.

"We sensed the extraterrestrial radiation already weeks before your instruments did, and they matched with the one we recorded when Loki was on earth the last time. Magnus and I decided to overthrow the agreement and inform Katta so that she could deal with the situation," Fenris said. "It wasn't part of the plan for me to stay. You managed that all by yourself." A slight smirk played on his mouth.

"You knew about the radiation all the time and didn't say anything," Bruce muttered in disbelief. Steve leaned forwards in his seat.

"Why didn't you flee right away?"

"Yes, Captain. Why didn't we flee?" Katta asked and chuckled, tired. "Could have something to do with the records you store about my brothers."

"And who is Magnus?" Sam asked.

"My brother. You'll meet him at the Headquarters." Fenris shrugged.

"And all the time, you made us believe you were the nerd that had a thing for our assassin. A bit weird when I think about that now," Tony gagged. Katta couldn't help a laugh bubbling out of her. She nodded at Fenris. "I'm glad we're past that."

〰〰〰

When Bucky left the Quinjet, all he saw were meadows as broad as he could see. In the middle stood a little shack that looked like it would collapse every other moment. Katta and Fenris were leading the way, eagerly discussing something in what he thought could be Norwegian.

Seeing them now was so different from seeing them at the S.H.I.E.L.D Headquarters. They were cousins. Family. Knowing it, the similarity was undeniable. Bucky wanted to blame it on the fact that Fenris's concealment had been one of the best he'd seen so far. But somehow, he'd been too occupied being annoyed by Fenris's steady contact with her. Why did it bother him so much that Katta had dazzled him? He should have expected it. After all, she'd been a trained H.Y.D.R.A agent in captivity. Of course, she would have sought a way to escape. He would have done the same - with more bodies on his way out.

Bucky exchanged a look with Steve.

"You're good?" he asked.

"Depending on how you define good. Loki is back, and we're somewhere in Norway with people we'd do good not to trust. On the other side, what choice do we have? Furthermore, it is partly our fault." Steve sighed.

〰〰〰

Katta breathed in and filled her lungs with the familiar smell of fresh air and grass. It was so different from the polluted New York City smog. She was finally home. A breeze of air stroked over her face, and the grass rustled under their feet. They had landed on a broad field - no population within the range of several kilometres. Years ago, Magnus had managed to officially make this place a nature reserve.

Fenris stopped next to her and looked down. His hand found its way to her shoulder and he slightly squeezed it. "I'm glad you're home now."

"As I am. Feels like years since I last set a foot on this ground."

She walked towards the tiny shack, made out of old wood and pushed the door open. Her hands stroke over the wooden commode in one corner of the room, coated in dust. The floor was covered in hay. Katta pulled out a drawer and felt inside it until her finger stroked over a little bump - a button. She pushed it down and a smile tugged on her lips as the hidden speakers began creaking.

"What is this?"

Tony stood in the door, the rest of the group behind him. Katta didn't answer, instead, she waited for somebody to answer her request to enter. It didn't take long.

"Identification?"

Katta again pressed the button and leaned forwards. "Kattalina Harlovsen." A moment of silence followed.

"Katta? FENRIS?"

Fenris moved next to her and sighed. "Don't make us wait. We're not exactly inconspicuous."

It clicked, and the drawer was pulled back into the wall, revealing a hidden staircase. Tony clicked his tongue. "This is some serious James Bond shit going on here."

One by one, they stepped down the stair, ducking so they wouldn't bump their heads. Finally, they reached a vast, bright foyer. Katta looked around, searching. Then, Magnus came hurried into the foyer, a serious expression planted on his face.

Out of reflex, Katta pulled her shoulders higher, bracing herself for the lecture stomping her way. Magnus puffed, glaring between Katta and Fenris.

"A little message would have been nice," he pressed between his teeth. "I detect a flying object on the radars, that looks exactly like Tony Stark's Quinjet, aiming at our headquarters. I was so close–" He raised his right hand, only a little gap between thumb and pointer finger. "-- to send this plane crashing to the forest."

Magnus stretched his hand out and grabbed Katta's wrist. He raised it, glaring at her. "What did I implant this chip for, Kattalina? Next time, just message me 'Magnus, I'd like to die'. At least I'll know, then."

Katta nodded. "You're finished, ranting?"

Magnus shook his head. "You!" He looked at the Avengers, who'd by now assembled in the foyer. "Be sure, that I have my ways, murdering each one of you as long as you're in our halls. Don't think I wouldn't." He then made a short pause and looked at Stark. He mustered him and then nodded.

"Your security systems are not half bad."

Katta breathed in relief. She'd expected it to be worse. Magnus turned back to her and stretched his arms out. Katta buried her head in his shoulder as he embraced her.

"The things you're doing Katta. One day, I'll die from concern." He squeezed her a bit tighter, and Katta winced as a sharp pain coursed through her shoulder. Magnus pulled away and furrowed his brows, while his eyes quickly hurried over her appearance until they got stuck on her injured shoulder.

"I redeem my statement. You'll die from carelessness before I die from worrying for you." Magnus shook his head. Erik entered the foyer, a broad grin on his face.

"If this isn't my favourite sister." He walked her way until he stopped next to Katta. He immediately spotted the injury. "A shot wound. You're getting careless," he hummed, looking at her shoulder. "Any painkillers?"

"No, They had no in the jet," Katta answered, shifting her weight to the other foot. He sighed. Then, his attention shifted.

"The Avengers," he mocked, glaring over her shoulder. "I'd say I'm sorry for kicking America's ass, but that would be a lie. And I don't lie. Most of the time, I don't."

"Mister Harlovsen," Steve answered grimly, nodding his head.

"Let's abbreviate this," Fenris interrupted, waving his hand. "Katta, we need to tend to your wound. Anybody else harmed?" He looked up. Nobody answered.

"How much time do we have?" Magnus asked. Katta shrugged. "Maybe until tomorrow? I don't know how long it takes Loki to find us."

Magnus ground his teeth together. "So it is really him."

"That is a discussion for later. The wound must heal as soon as possible. You know the meaning of this," Fenris waved off. Katta felt a shiver running down her spine. That meant nothing good.

"Ugh, fine. Avengers, I'll show you bathrooms, so you can freshen up and then eat. Katta, head to the infirmaries. Afterwards, you can rest and we can come up with a strategy. Everybody fine with that?" Magnus asked. Erik snipped his fingers and pointed towards the next door. Steve and Bucky walked his way when Fenris cleared his throat.

"Barnes. We need to talk. Now." Katta looked at him in surprise.

"Why him?" Tony asked, suspiciously. Fenris completely ignored him and looked at Barnes. He hesitated for a second before he shrugged and made his way.

"You head-on," Fenris said to Katta. "I'll join you in a minute."

She muttered, but turned around and left the Foyer. One after one, the Avengers left with Erik until only Fenris and Barnes were left.

"What is it?" Barnes asked. Fenris mustered him. There was something about this man, he didn't like at all. Probably the way, he'd constantly been on Katta's heels in the S.H.I.E.L.D compound. Wherever she's been, he'd been sneaking somewhere near.

"First, you stop sneaking around. This is not a mission, but our headquarters. Especially, you stay away from Katta, unless I ask you to." He made a short pause to see if his message got across.

"I didn't follow–"

"Wrong answer," Fenris snapped. Barnes looked at a point somewhere over his shoulder and then nodded.

"That we discussed this. Katta's first night in the Avenger's Tower cell. I've seen the video footage. You've been there when she had one of her nightmares."

Barnes nodded his head. His gaze burned over Fenris's appearance as if he wanted to melt his flesh with pure willpower to have a look into his thoughts.

Fenris sighed. "So you know how to deal with this trauma flashbacks and how to handle active 'Winter Soldiers'."

"Get to the point." Ouch. Still seemed to be a difficult subject. Fenris inhaled deeply, and then quickly explained.

"We'll trigger Katta's H.Y.D.R.A self to tend to the shot wound. Tests have shown that it somehow speeds up the healing process."

Barnes stared at him, his fists clenching. "You purposely force her back into her trauma?"

Fenris raised his hands. "Yes, and you will help us get her back afterwards." Fenris stepped closer, trying to tower over Barnes. He didn't seem impressed at all, instead, he deeply inhaled and let his gaze wander through the room. Fenris attempted another try.

"Listen. I don't know how you managed to do it, but somehow she seems to trust you. And if we want to make it quick, we need her trust. As much as we can get. So please, help us, will you?"

Barnes seemed dumbfounded. "What makes you think she trusts me?

"Come on," Fenris chuckled. "You're said to be a spy. Open your eyes sometime soon and start to perceive your surrounding. Let's go, right? We don't have much time."

Fenris walked away but soon stopped when Barnes didn't follow. He looked over his shoulder and met his gaze.

"I-I never wanted to hurt her."

"I know," Fenris answered. "You wouldn't be alive if you tried."

An almost invisible smirk pulled on Barnes's lips and he moved his way, following through the different corridors. Fenris pushed a door open and entered a small room. One of the walls was made of glass. Barnes carefully bend forwards and looked through it.