Echoes of Blue

Chapter One

The night sky was a deep navy blue, a perfect backdrop for the chaos unfolding below. Lia Moon crouched atop a dilapidated building, her blue eyes scanning the streets of the abandoned Hydra facility. The air crackled with the remnants of magic, the kind she wielded herself. Tonight, she was on a solo mission to gather intel on Hydra's latest schemes, but fate had other plans. "Time to make some noise," she whispered, her voice barely a breath above the wind. With a flick of her wrist, a shimmering blue aura enveloped her, and she launched herself from the rooftop, gliding effortlessly toward the entrance.

As she landed, the facility erupted in a flurry of activity. She could hear the shouts of Hydra agents echoing inside, but they were quickly drowned out by a series of explosions. Lia's heart raced; it sounded like someone else was already here.

Drawing on her powers, she created a protective shield around herself as she slipped through the entrance. Inside, chaos reigned. Agents were scrambling, but it wasn't them who had caused the destruction. Through the smoke, she spotted familiar figures — the Avengers.  "Cap, we need to get to the core! They're trying to initiate the self-destruct sequence!" Natasha shouted, her voice steady amidst the chaos. "On it!" Steve Rogers replied, his shield raised as he charged toward a group of agents.

Lia's instincts kicked in. This was a perfect opportunity to ally with heroes she admired. With a determined stride, she joined the fight, her blue magic manifesting as energy that crackled around her hands. She released a bolt toward a group of Hydra agents, sending them sprawling. "Who's this?" Clint Barton quipped, an impressed grin breaking his focus as he fired an arrow that exploded on impact. "Don't ask questions! Just follow my lead!" Lia shot back, the thrill of battle igniting her spirit.

As they fought side by side, a rhythm developed. Lia's magic complemented the Avengers' physical prowess, weaving through their movements with ease. She launched debris at Hydra agents while Natasha executed perfect takedowns. The camaraderie grew, laced with laughter and banter. "Nice trick, blondie!" Clint called out after Lia sent an agent flying with a wave of her hand. "Thanks! But you might want to work on that aim!" she shot back, her laughter ringing in the air.

The fight reached a fever pitch as they closed in on the core. Steve turned to Lia, "Can you disable the security lock?" "I've got this!" she replied, her focus sharpening. She extended her hand, forming a glowing blue orb that pulsed with energy. The lock shimmered and then clicked open. "Let's go!" Natasha urged, and they barreled into the control room.

Inside, they found a chaotic control panel, alarms blaring. Lia's heart sank. They didn't have much time. With the others covering her, she concentrated, channeling her magic to override the self-destruct sequence. The air thickened with tension as she worked, beads of sweat forming on her brow. "Come on, come on..." she muttered, her hands glowing brighter as she pushed against the system's defenses. "Hey blondie, we've got company!" Tony Stark's voice yelled. She glanced up just in time to see more Hydra agents storming in, weapons drawn. "Almost there!" she gritted her teeth, willing the panel to cooperate.

With a final surge of power, the alarms silenced, and the red lights turned green. "Got it!" she exclaimed, collapsing back against the console in relief. "Nice work kid!" Tony's voice was infused with admiration. "Now let's get the hell out of here before they regroup." With swift teamwork, they fought their way out, Lia now more energized than ever. As they emerged from the facility, the night sky greeted them, the sounds of battle fading behind. They had won — for now.

As they emerged from the facility, the cool night air hit them like a refreshing wave, the chaos behind them fading into the distance. The Quinjet loomed ahead, and the Avengers gathered to regroup, adrenaline still coursing through their veins. "Okay, who is she?" Tony Stark gestured toward Lia, a curious expression on his face. The rest of the team turned their attention to her, eyes filled with intrigue.

Lia straightened, feeling a mixture of pride and vulnerability under their scrutiny. "I'm Lia Moon. I've been working solo for years to take down Hydra," she replied, her voice steady but laced with emotion. "I've seen firsthand what they're capable of, and I won't stop until they're dismantled." Natasha crossed her arms, her gaze piercing but impressed. "So you've been doing this alone? You've got some serious skills." "Yeah," Clint added with a smirk. "Not everyone can handle a bunch of Hydra agents on their own." "Thanks," Lia said, a shy smile breaking through her confidence. "It's just me and my magic against them. But I've always wanted to be part of something bigger." Steve stepped forward, his expression earnest. "We could use someone like you on the team. You've got heart, and that counts for a lot." Tony nodded, a grin forming. "Welcome to the Avengers, Lia. Just remember, we have a strict no-drama policy." He joked, as he gave her a small nudge with his arm.

As the team shared a light laugh, Bucky lingered at the edge, his expression thoughtful as he observed Lia closely. There was something about her that felt familiar, yet he couldn't place it. Steve noticed Bucky's hesitation and gave him a light nudge in the arm. "What's up with you? You look like you just saw a ghost." "Who is she?" Bucky asked, his voice low and careful. "I don't know, but I think I've seen her before." "Bucky, she's been working alone this whole time," Steve replied, his tone reassuring. "We just met her tonight." "Maybe so, but..." Bucky's brow furrowed, still searching for the connection that nagged at him.

Before he could continue, Tony clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. "Well, we've got a new member! Welcome to the Avengers, Lia!" "Thank you, I'll do my best," she replied, her heart swelling with a sense of belonging.

As the laughter died down, Lia felt a sudden urge to step back, to put some distance between herself and the whirlwind of emotions. "I... I think I need a moment," she said, her voice slightly unsteady. "Where are you going?" Tony asked, raising an eyebrow as he noticed her hesitation. "I just need to—" she started, but Tony interrupted. "No, no. Get on the Quinjet. You're part of the team now. We don't leave anyone behind." His tone was playful but firm.
Lia paused, glancing back at the group. The prospect of leaving them behind felt wrong. "Okay, I'll come," she replied, a small smile breaking through her uncertainty. Bucky watched her closely, still trying to reconcile the feeling that tugged at him. She seemed strong, capable, yet there was an undercurrent of something deeper — something that made him want to protect her.

As they walked toward the Quinjet, Bucky fell in step beside Steve, who still looked at him with curiosity. "You okay?" Steve asked, concern etched on his face. "Yeah, just... keep an eye on her," Bucky muttered, his gaze lingering on Lia as she climbed aboard, ready to embark on this new chapter of her life.