The German and the Soldier Chapter 1

In the two weeks since Nicole had come to reside with the Avengers, things had definitely gotten more interesting for S.H.I.E.L.D. Now, Steve watched as Nicole beat the shit out of the training dummies. Even with the blindfold she wore blocking all vision she was still scarily accurate and it only served to make him a little more cautious around her. It didn’t help at all that she was triple-jointed. She sighed as she took the blindfold off, gasping as she dodged a punch he threw her way. Nicole hissed and grabbed his arm, throwing him over her shoulder. He let her slam him into the ground, looking up at her.Tony whistled as he walked in, carrying a sheet of paper.

"Two weeks and you still can't land a hit on her? Are you taking it easy on her?"

Steve gave him an annoyed look. "Why are you here again?"

"For her. Natasha and Clint finished designing her outfit."

Nicole rolled her eyes. "Oh gott.... lets see it."

Steve looked on as the two looked over the sheet. She seemed to mutter something before she nodded. Tony turned and left soon after, leaving her to go back to Steve.

"I don't zhink ve vere done."

"No we weren't." He sighed but gasped when the ship suddenly shook, knocking Nicole off her feet. He caught her as they both hit the floor, and instinct took over as he brought her under him, almost as if to shield her from something. She held tightly onto him until the shaking stopped. He looked at her curiously as he held himself over her. "Are you okay?"

She nodded slowly, looking up at him with uncertainty in her emerald eyes. "V-vas war das?!"

"I'm not sure..." he slowly got up, helping her to her feet. She pushed her hair behind her ear and started for the door. He followed quickly, only to meet Natasha in the hallway. The spy nodded, motioning for them to follow. The two exchanged a glance before following her to Tony's lab where they found the others gathered. Fury crossed his arms as he looked at their messy workout clothes and rather disheveled appearances.

"Took you guys long enough."

“Forget zhat! Vhat zhe fick blew up?!”

Bruce shook his head, pointing across the lab at a table where some cloth lay. Nicole walked over curiously, but ended up grimacing at the outfit set there.

"Dear gott... Zhis is meine outfit?" Steve walked over to look over the 'uniform'. Military cargo pants and a matching turtle neck were set with a leather corset like top colored like the German flag. There were also leather gloves and some straps, as well as some combat boots. Nicole grimaced, facing Tony as he handed her what seemed to be a half of a pair of sunglasses with crosshairs on the lense. She sighed and looked back the clothing.

"Vhy green?"

"You're military. Besides if it was black you'd look too much like the others."

"Fick..."

Steve shook his head and look back at his comrades. "This stuff durable?"

Tony nodded. "All of the leather is covering bullet proof metal, including the rather German corset. The rest of it was infused with carbon and titanium. It's lightweight but strong as hell."

Nicole eyed the corset again, narrowing her eyes. "It's missing somezhing..."

Natasha tapped her chin. "Steve has a star on his shield and uniform. Perhaps that cross from your shield could be put on it?"

Tony nodded, holding up the emblem. "Just waiting for her to get in here to do it herself."

Nicole hesitantly took the Iron Cross from him, turning to the corset piece. She carefully placed it over the center, jumping back when it immediately attached itself. The others chuckled at her, while Steve eyed the cross with slight disgust, no doubt still trying to understand how different this German girl was compared to the ones he had seen oh so viciously fighting for Berlin so many years prior. But she just looked sadly at the schwarz, rot, gelb, running her hand lightly over the colors. "Ich kann nicht umhin, mein lieber Vaterland."

Natasha nodded slowly, resting a hand on her shoulder. "You'll do fine."

Steve looked at the girl with slight pity, suddenly realizing not only that she was very different from the Germans of his memory, but also that she was very much homesick. Turning to Fury, he nodded toward his fellow soldier. "Perhaps a trip home would help her training?"

"Understood. You have three days."

"Thank you sir."