Flame

Chapter 2

Phoenix P.O.V
I sat in my room aimlessly bending a metal bar that i had ripped from the wall with my mind. I loved my room. It was full of stuff. There was large bed by one wall and a standard desk which, apparently, any boarder at SHIELD HQ had to have. But the rest of the room was full of junk and odd bits and bobs - some normal everyday objects like coke cans and food wrappers, others odd objects that Dr. Banner had made me so that i could stretch my mind to limits that i never knew i could break. The ceiling was also high so that i was able to swoop and soar with my big eagle wings without getting stuck or knocking things over.
Just as i had twisted the pipe into the shape of the Fury's face the door slid open revealing Stark. "Nice pipe you got there. Meant to be Fury is it? I'm sure he'll love that."
"That's exactly why i made it for him." Me and Stark had become very much like father and daughter. Ever since the day he had met me in the alley he had taken me under his wing and protected me, not that i needed it of course. When i first entered SHIELD Stark had been shouted at by Fury for bringing in a stranger but as soon as he had encouraged me to show Fury my skills i very much became part of the family. Because of the background i came from i was prickly and awkward and found it hard to make friends. i wasn't used to people as the only ones i had ever really known had wanted to hurt me so i was very hostile and cold at first. Fury put me in the group called The Avengers. And as i was with Stark i was happy. i soon got to know everyone and began to relax. Dr. Banner and me got on very well and we were both interested in technology and science and he in particular was very curious about what the scientists had actually done to me in Australia. I also became friends with the Black Widow or Natasha Romanoff. We were closer and then close and enjoyed teasing the boys together. The amount of tricks and jokes we had played on them was to many to count.
Stark came and stood in front of me and said, "You're to come to the council room. Fury said it was urgent."
"Is it about that bratt Loki? Is he here? Can i kill him yet?" I jumped up sending junk spinning out in all directions across the room.
"Calm down Squirt! It' not that. Even Loki wouldn't be stupid enough to come to SHIELD HQ."
I hung my head resolutely. "I suppose so," i mumbled.
"Come on we better go or Fury'll do his nut!"

*****
We walked into the council room to find all of the Avengers assembled. Natasha was sitting lazily in a chair her feet up on the glass table talking to Hawkeye. He was another of the ones i liked as me and him both loved bows and arrows. We had even exploded a target yesterday after we had tried an experiment with some new arrows that had been shipped in.
Dr. Banner was standing staring out the window and Stark went over to join him. Captain America was by the door polishing his shield. Even though me and Steve Rogers had a lot in common we seemed to tease each other the most. Of course we got on but we always had a cheeky remark to say about the other. I was feeling quite bored at the minute so with a quick flick of my head i sent the shield spinning across the room where it lodged itself in the opposite wall. No - one stirred for they were used to my sudden mind control tricks. The only person who said anything was Natasha who said cheerfully, "You know Phoenix if i had your powers i would have sent that damn shield out the window." She put out one hand for a high five and grinning cheekily i did.
"Perhaps i will next time," i said slyly sneaking a look at Steves face. He was grinning but the next minute he dived at me knocking me over and we were soon scrapping on the floor in a playfight. Natasha was soon on her feet egging me on and i ended up laughing so hard i gave up and Steve rolled away laughing too. "Teenagers annoy me such a lot you know Phoenix."
"Hey, I'm nearly as old as ... i just don't show it as much." He rolled his eyes Stark said, "She's right you know Rogers. She's not got quite so many wrinkles."
At that moment the door slid open and Fury walked in and upon catching us all falling over with laughter he shouted, "That's enough! We are on the brink of a war and you think it's a joke!?" I glared at him about to say a laugh and a joke was just what we needed on 'the brink of a war' but Stark gave me a warning look and i bit my tongue. He knew my hot temper and the results of it.
Glad Fury had got our attention he said, "I have asked you here to welcome a new member to the Avengers crew. She has come all the way from England and is one of the best agents over there." I cocked my head and narrowed my eyes as Fury stepped aside to reveal a tall slim ginger haired lady standing in the doorway. With one hand on her hip she sauntered over to Steve's shield still lodged in the wall pulled it out and said in a plummy English accent, "Who owns this?" Rogers shyly put his hand up and she threw it with all her might across the room where Steve caught it looking a little winded.
I noticed that a dull red flush had begun to creep up his neck and i couldn't suppress a grin as i leaned over to him and whispered, "She's very fetching isn't she Rogers? i can see you and her getting along very well." Rogers went a deep shade of puce and i leaned away from him grinning only to do a double take in shock as i saw the ginger lady in the doorway had suddenly grown a pair cream colored point ears and a long cream tail. She smiled timidly and said, "Well i hope we will get on well Rogers." I lifted my chin started straight at her. Somehow i didn't really think i liked this newbie.
Stark piped up beside me, "Looks like we've got another mutant in our midst. You're not the only one now squirt," he said nudging me. I looked incredulously at him. "i prefer genetically different or or with certain.... characteristics rather than mutant! Makes me sound like a mutt."
"Whereas she is a mutt," Natasha whispered in my ear. I grinned again.
But unfortunately ginger lady's ears caught what was said and the next minute a ball of flames had flown past my left ear and smashed through the wall behind us. i gasped annoyed. What was this girl thinking, coming in here and showing off like that? I wasn't having any of it.
Fury was just saying that the British lady was called Flame Wolf or Shadow Wolf and has soon as he had finished his sentence 'Flame Wolf' made another spark of fire appear glowing faintly on her fingertip. I narrowed my eyes and concentrated everything on that flame and with a woosh it was gone. Flame's eyes snapped up glaring at each of the avengers in turn but all were listening intently to Fury. i was the only one who met her gaze and i widened my eyes innocently. I quickly took a dip into her thoughts and saw that she was confused by what had happened to her flame, why it had gone out when it had never done that before. i smiled in spite of myself. Wolfy girl over there had better watch out. I loved playing with fire and she could be sure sparks were going to fly.