Phoenix <Book 1>

Part 1 Chapter 3

Ashlyn sat in her room with her head between her hands, "Come on Barton." She wiped a lone tear away and stood up, pacing around her room, when someone knocked on her door, "It's open." Phil walked in, "How are you doing Ash?", she glanced down, "You want the truth or a lie?", he looked at her, "The truth." She nodded, "I'm worried, upset, anxious.", she shook her head, "All because my partner is missing." Phil looked at her, "He isn't just your partner." She glanced down, "You're right, he's my best friend." Phil gave her a look and she stood up, "I gotta go, Fury wants me in the bridge." She stood tall and walked out, hiding her emotions from her face.

"That guy really grows on you doesn't he?", Ashlyn looked around, "I just want to know what his play is." Everyone glanced at Thor, "He has an army called Chitari, they are not know of any world." Ashlyn farrowed her eyebrows, "How-", she shook her head, "Okay, so your butt hurt brother has an alien army to take over Earth. Why?", Thor looked at her, "I believe he is using their services in exchange for the tesseract." She nodded, "Which we don't have." Steve looked at the two, "Why did he let us take him then?", Ashlyn nodded, "He can't lead an army from here, he has to have an agenda." Natasha could tell that Ashlyn's wheels were turning. Ashlyn spin on her heels and walked away, Loki has a plan and she needs to figure it out.

•••••••••••••••••••••• 1 Year Ago ••••••••••••••••••••

"You're needed in New Mexico." Ashlyn looked at Nick, "What for Director?", he showed her a picture of a hammer and a blonde man, "2 days ago this man showed up in New Mexico with this thing falling from the sky. Nobody can move it, you and Barton are going down for extra security with Phil.", she nodded, "Alright, I'll get my pack." He nodded and she jogged off, "Ashlyn, Barton is up high and you're down low. Be careful." She nodded at him and she sighed. She feels like something is about to happen, something bad.

Ashlyn was standing down on the floor by the hammer when she heard grunts, "Ash, blondie coming in." She nodded and hurried away, running right into the man, "Step aside." She raised an eyebrow, "I can't do that." She got into her battle stance, "I will not hit a lady." She smirked and punched him, "Then this will be easier for me." The two began fighting and Ashlyn had caught his left arm and did an flip over it and kicked him in the back of the head, "Why are you here?", he looked at her, "My name is Thor and that is my hammer. I'm the only one that can lift it." She raised an eyebrow, "Then please, do so." She stepped aside and Thor walked passed her. He walked toward the hammer and pulled, but nothing happened. "Alright, shut this down." Ashlyn rushed forward along with a few other agents, Thor turned and punched Ashlyn in the nose and she quickly turned to the Phoenix. She put her hands on Thor's head and put him to sleep, "He better not have broke my nose." Clint chuckled and she smiled up at him.

Ashlyn stood with Thor and the Warriors 3, "Get the civilians out of here. Please." She looked at Sif and the woman nodded, "Come on." The Warriors three grabbed Erik Selvig, Jane Foster, and Jane's apprentice. Thor and Ashlyn stood side by side looking at the destroyer. "Why are you standing with me?", she looked at him, "Because someone has to." He smiled at her and the two began there fight with Loki's Destroyer.

••••••••••••••••••••• Present Day •••••••••••••••••••

Ashlyn paced around the bridge when Tony walked over toward her. "How are you holding up?", she nodded, "I'm fine." He gave her a look and she scoffed, "God that wasn't believable at all was it." Tony gave her a soft smile and she glanced down. "You love him, don't you?", Ashlyn looked at Tony, "It doesn't matter, everyone I've ever admitted to loving is killed right in front of me." Tony glanced down at the 5'5 female and her blue eyes held tears, "I just want him back, no matter the cost." She turned and her strawberry blonde hair flipped over her shoulder showing the all to familiar 'Phoenix' tattoo. She rolled her shoulders and a red glow surrounded the tattoo. "If anyone can find him, it's you." She turned slightly, "Then there's slight hope." Tony frowned and watched Ashlyn walked away.

••••••••••••••••••• 17 years ago •••••••••••••••••••

Jeremy Walsh, Amanda Walsh, Jackson Walsh, and Ashlyn Walsh were all running. "Poď!", they rounded a corner and Ashlyn had let her family in front of her when the man smirked at her and she quickly went inside and hid. "Poď von, malý Phoenix. Ja vám neublíži.", Ashlyn held her hand over her mouth, but her parents screams filled her ears, "Kde je Phoenix? Kde je ona!", no one spoke and three gun shots filled the air, "Zabil si svoju rodinu maličká. By ste je zavraždený." She jumped out, anger and sadness in her body, she was glowing red and her tattoo was flaring, "Neurobil som nič. Vrah." She threw a energy ball at the man and he laughed, "Little Phoenix, I know you are not from here.", she glared, "I am. You destroyed my family home, and murdered my family." Red filled her eyes and they glowed and the man laughed, "Yes little Phoenix grow angry." She glared and flicked her wrist, the man's worst nightmare filling his head and he began screaming. Ashlyn smirked and shot energy into his chest then pulled it back out, "Užite si peklo." She gasped has the man died and she fell to the floor.

••••••••••••••••••••• Present Day •••••••••••••••••••

Ashlyn was spinning a pen on the table and Nick was looking at her, "What's on your mind?", she looked at Nick, "You know that case from 17 years ago? The one where the man died in a room with a burned family and his insides were burned?", Nick looked at her and sat down in front of her, "Why is this coming up?", she rolled her lips and tears fell down her face, "That was me Nick."  She glanced down, "He was chasing me and my family and I let them hide first, he only wanted me. If I had of gave myself up, I would have saved my family." Nick looked at her, "You don't know that." She glanced down, "I killed him, at the age of 17, and I felt nothing but grief for my family." Nick placed a hand on hers, "It's alright." She nodded, "I know, I just, why didn't I give myself up?" Nick looked at her, "Because you thought your family was going to be okay." She glanced up, "Clint is one of the last people I have that I truly care for. I need to find him." Nick nodded and she stood up. Nick knew what she wanted to do, and to her she needed to do it.

Ashlyn walked into the detention level, and quietly stood to the side of the cell, "Not many can sneak up on me.", she looked at Loki, "I'm not like most people." He nodded, "No you're not, which is why you're here." She nodded and grabbed a chair, sitting down in front of Loki, "Where's Agent Barton and Doctor Selvig?", he smiled, "Ah, I should've known. ", she looked at his face, "Loki, where are they?", he smirked, "You don't care about Selvig." She nodded, "Your brother does." Loki scoffed and she looked at him, "What did you do to him?", he nodded, "Barton? I broadened his mind." She looked at him, "What happens after you're done broadening his mind?", Loki smirked at her, "Is this love, Agent Walsh?", she looked down, "I owe Agent Barton, a debt." Loki looked at her, "I know all about that debt. I know about your dripping red ledger. I know about your fears and your past." He walked closer to the glass and Ashlyn stood up, "I know all about your family and about what Barton is hiding from Fury. I will make Barton kill you in the way you fear most, and when I let him go he will see you in your last moments." She faked some tears and turned, "You are a monster." He smirked, "No, you brought the monster.", she turned, "That's your play. Banner.", she turned to run off but stopped, turning back and curtsied, "Thank you for you cooperation." She turned and ran out of the detention level.