Starks Pheonix {2}

Twenty

Izzy stayed off to the side on the jet, lost in her thoughts about it all. It had only been a few days, almost a week, but to her, it already felt like an eternity. She was glad to be back with them, even if they didn't know yet.

When the ancient one told her that erasing who she was, would change her future, she didn't care. All that mattered to Izzy, was that Stark was safe. She would happily spend the rest of her life in the shadows, protecting him, even from himself it would seem.

Stealing a glance at each of them, Izzys eyes strayed to Thor, knowing he would not remember the conversation they had, before he left for the Sokovia mission.

She had asked him about magic, and all possibilities, that he knew of, it was how she managed to track down the ancient one. She hoped he would have known more, but apparently, it was his asshole brother who knew magic best.

Trailing her eyes across them all, she stopped on Stark, seeing him in a quiet conversation with Bruce. She focused, listening in to what they were say, but it was another conversation that drew her attention.

'Do you think she's a threat? Be honest..'.. Clints voice was hushed.

'I don't know. There's something about her that seems familiar..'.. She heard Nat sigh... 'When I look at her, I feel about her, like I do with you. Family. I can't explain it..'

'Its not just me then. When I first saw her, I just wanted to rush over and hug her. That's weird, right?..'.. Clint asked.

'No..'.. Izzy fought a smirk, hearing Bucky. It didn't matter how low they all spoke, she was the daughter of a super soldier, she could hear every word... 'I felt happy to see her. I'm with you two on this, she's familiar, but I don't know how..'

'Tony..'.. Steve called him, and she glanced over, seeing Cap shoot her a look... 'Can Ultron listen in here? In the jet?..'

'Yes he can..'.. Izzy rolled her head in their direction... 'Anywhere that has accessible comms, with a two wave frequency at least, and considering that we're all still alive, he's waiting for us to come to him. He could crash this jet down at any time. My question is, why hasn't he done it yet?..'

'Who are you?..'.. Steve stood, coming closer to her as he frowned... 'You can at least tell us that..'

Izzy scoffed, and got to her feet, folding her arms as she faced off with him... 'I'm not putting any of you at risk, by saying anything right now. I told you, I will answer all your questions, once this is over..'

How do we know that you're not here to screw us over? Or that you're not working for Ultron..'... He took a step closer, trying to stare her down.

'Because Captain, I'm with you all, til the end of the line..'.. She kept her eyes on him, seeing him falter in his facáde... 'But I will tell you this, not that long ago, I changed my name. My middle name, is Sarah. That's all you're getting out of me here..'

Izzy moved past him and over to the table, checking out the maps of the salvage yard, and the blueprints for the Churchill cargo ship, that belonged to Klaue.

Steve felt as though he got sucker punched in the gut, hearing that name. It was his mother's name. Whoever this woman was, she knew him, and knew him well. Turning to look at her, he took in her features. Though her face was half covered with a mask, and only her mouth was visible, he stepped forward, taking her arm and pulling her to stand.

He stared at her, seeing familiar eyes staring back at him. Those eyes, he had seen a million times before, when he looked in the mirror.

Izzy could see him starting to put it together and she shook her head, turning back to the table... 'Shelve that shit til later Rogers, we got to focus on Ultron. Anyone got any issues, questions or queries, I suggest you email human resources, cause I don't have time to deal with your dramas..'

Tony watched the woman, intrigued by her. His body reacted to her every time she moved, spoke. More than anything, he wanted to haul her close, and kiss her until he forgot him own name. They all knew her somehow, that was clear, and she definitely knew them. Something had happened, and his guess, was that they had forgotten her.

'So, Nix. You single?..'.. Tony asked, moving to the other side of the table. He saw her smirk, but she didn't look up at him.

'I'm engaged, and no, I'm not telling..'.. She traced her fingers along the blueprints... 'Here. Nat you're more flexible than the guys, so you enter through this airshaft. Clint, you take this walkway. It'll lead you down to the engine room first, and you can enter in from the right. Steve, Thor, Stark, you three take the main entrance down into the cargo hold. Sam, Buck, you two remain up top. Sam you got the wings, so fly. Bruce..'.. She looked over, seeing him nervous... 'You're staying on the jet. I'll take the perimeter around it. If Ultron has those kids involved, they'll try to come for each of us. The fast one, he could come straight for the jet, as a target..'

'Then me or Buck can stay with it. We're faster than you..'.. Steve rested his hands on the end of the table, looking across at her and she smirked over at him.

'Trust me Cap, I can handle the twins no problem. The kid may be fast, but he's no match for me. Ultron doesn't know me, so he won't expect me to be here. If the girl gets too close to Bruce, she could trigger him..'.. She nodded to Banner, sat in the corner.

'Then she could trigger Bucky..'.. Izzy pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed at Steve's words. She had to remind herself, they didn't remember.

'That's why I want Bucky outside on the deck. If the girl gets too close, Sam can swoop in and grab him, flying off into the sunset together. Having Buck inside, would make it too easy for her..'.. Izzy gestured to the blueprints.

'Look, I get that you don't trust me, none of you, but just trust, that I'm here to help. My family is in danger because of this..'.. She looked around at them all... 'My dad, my uncle, fiancé, sisters, brothers. They're all in danger, I'm here to help you, to save them, ok?..'.. She stood up, seeing them all shuffle and nod at her.

'Ok. So, what's the game plan Nix?..'... Izzy rolled her eyes as Stark called her that again. Yet another name to add to the pile she already had.

😘