Phoenix <Book 1>

Part 1 Chapter 2

Ashlyn was standing above one the face trace techies and she could tell she was making him nervous, "Agent Walsh, leave him alone." She glanced at Nick, "My apologizes." She spun on her heel and went to walk out when Natasha, Bruce Banner, and Steve Rogers walked in. Steve walked over to Nick and gave him a ten dollar bill and Natasha crouched down by the same tech guy that Ashlyn had been standing over, "How long am I needed here?", Ashlyn looked at Bruce, "Just until we have located and taken back the tesseract, then you're in the wind." He nodded at her, "Where are you guys on that?", Ashlyn gave a soft smile, "That's a question for Phil." She turned her head toward the other Agent and he began explaining it, "Call all the labs you know and have them sync for gamma radiation, that will make our map smaller." Nick nodded, "Romanoff, lead Banner to the lab." She nodded and gave a smirk, "You're gonna love it doc, we got all the tools." Ashlyn gave a soft smile to her friend and Natasha asked if she was okay with her eyes and Ashlyn gave a small nod. "Ashlyn, get down to the detention level and make sure the cell is secure." She nodded and walked away, "Oh and lead Mr. Rogers to his room." She smiled, "It would be my pleasure."  She nodded her head and Steve followed.

Ashlyn had changed into a sports bra, shorts, and tennis shoes. She was punching a punching bag, and to Nick Fury it was exactly like what he had seen walking into the gym to get Rogers. He stood watching her and she let out an agitated growl and the punching bag flew across the room with a burned area where her fist connected. "You alright Walsh?", she nodded and sat down, getting a drink of water, "I'm fine, just a bit agitated is all." He nodded, "I can see that." She softly smiled and glanced down, "I just want him back." Nick nodded, "Barton, I should've known." She sighed, "Whatcha got for me Boss?" He looked at her, "Stuttgart, Germany. Loki has been spotted." She nodded, "Iridum."  She jogged to one of the shower rooms and quickly washed off and changed, walking out quickly, "Who's all going?", Nick smiled, "You, Nat, and Captain. Stark will meet you there." She nodded, "Alright." She hurried out and Nick couldn't help but to stare at the busted and burning punching bag, "She loves him sir." Nick looked at Phil, "Anyone can see it, anyone but the two of them." Phil nodded, "Is that why you always send them together?", Nick looked at Phil, "I send them together because they work well together. Natasha works well with them too, but Nat works better on her own." Phil nodded and the two walked out, Nick wondering just what had made Ashlyn so agitated back there.

•••••••••••••••••4 Years Ago•••••••••••••••••••••••••

Ashlyn sat in a chair, her hands secured behind her back with zip ties. She was in her S.H.I.E.L.D suit and watched has the Russians began their winter soldier brain washing. They were saying a series of Russian words and the man was trying to fight against it.  "Prekrati! Ty yemu bol'no! Net, khvatit!", she was screaming out trying to help the man, "Soldat?". The man looked up, "YA gotov podchinit'sya." Ashlyn's eyes were wide, "Ubit' devochku.", she struggled with the zip ties and she finally burned them off, "Chto eto? Kto ty?" Ashlyn stood tall, "YA Feniks, amerikanskiy agent." She looked at the man and his metal arm, "YA sozhaleyu, Baki, no ya klyanus', chtoby pomoch' vam. YA obeshchayu, v odin prekrasnyy den' "., with that she disappeared and arrived in her abandoned family home in Sokovia.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••Present••••••••••••••••••••••

Ashlyn stood by the drop door of the QuinJet, she was the only one who knew of the memory that set her off in the gym. She knew that Steve Rogers was Bucky Barnes best friend, and she knew Bucky Barnes was alive. She just couldn't tell Steve that. "You alright Ash?", she nodded, "I'm just thinking." Nat looked at her, "About Barton?", she shook her head and answers in Latin, "De Ave Maria.", Natasha nodded, "You better start thinking about Loki then." Ashlyn nodded and quickly turned to her Phoenix form, her eyes red and her hair looked like fire. The fiery aura was around her and her outfit had changed, "Take your elder has an example." Loki raised his staff and Ashlyn jumped, her swords raised and they deflected the Ray and it bounced back to hit Loki in the shoulder. Steve jumped down beside her, "The man out of time and Phoenix." Ashlyn smirked, "He isn't the one out of time." Loki shot at the QuinJet and Natasha dodged it, Steve began hand to hand combat with Loki and Ashlyn tossed up a forcefield around the civilian, "Gehen Sie finden Unterschlupf. Schnell." Steve had been talking to Loki about the last time he was in Germany and Ashlyn shook her head. "I can't get a clear shot, the guys all over the place." AC/DC filled the air and it made Ashlyn and Natasha smirk, "Agent Romanoff, Ash, did ya miss me." He shot Loki with a blaster and landed, arming his body with all his weapons, "Make a move reindeer games." Loki surrendered and Tony lowered and disarmed all his weapons, "Smart move." Ashlyn moved forward and put cuffs on Loki, "Stark.", she glanced up, "Captain." She gave a soft smile but her eyes glanced around, "He isn't here anymore Ash, he's long gone." She frowned and the trio boarded the QuinJet, and Ashlyn joined Natasha. Natasha pat her friend on the shoulder and Ashlyn gave a soft smile, "Uverena, chto ty v poryadke li ty?", Ashlyn nodded but looked down with a tear running down her cheek, "Da, ya v poryadke." Natasha didn't believe her friend and Tony watched her, she wasn't like herself. Tony looked at Natasha and his eyes asked the question, 'This because of Barton?', and Natasha sent a small nod. Ashlyn's tablet was still showing her the face trace for Clint and Tony looked down. How could he help her when she wouldn't admit she needed help? Natasha gave him a soft smile and Steve looked between the pair confused. What was he missing?

•••••••••••••••••••• 4 Months Ago •••••••••••••••••

Ashlyn sat on the top of Stark Tower, she had a small break, along with Clint. "You doing alright?", she nodded, "Yeah, the doctors said I healed perfectly and much quicker then was expected." He gave her a smile, "I'm glad, why'd ya do it anyways?", she glanced at him, "Why'd I jump in front of the bullet for you?", he nodded and she gave him a smile. Her brain spoke the words she wished she could, 'because I love you', but she gave him the answer she thought he wanted, "Because you're my partner." She turned to look at the skyline and Clint's face filled with disappointment, "Thank you." She smiled, "You would've done the same for me." He nodded and his brain spoke the words he wished he could say, 'Because I love you', but he gave her the same answer, "Because you're my partner." The two smiled at each other and inside Tony Stark was shaking his head. Those two are clueless.