Coronation Of Flame (A Marvel Fanfic)

Flashback 18: Home Sweet Home?

Also, while I'm here, TAYLOR SWIFT AND TOM HIDDLESTON ARE DATING AND I AM DYING! It's something I never knew I needed until now.

Enjoy,

LittlePond

Flashback 18: Home Sweet Home?

Aurelia Tempest did not miss America.

She had for the first part of her stay at Sokovia. But then the Maximoffs happened, then she had uncovered parts of herself that she never knew existed, never knew she could experience. And then the woods of Sokovia had become more welcoming than the concrete jungles of the USA had ever been.

The plane touched down and settled, the engine's low growl died down to a purr and the lights turned off. Various chip packets lay sprawled across the plane's floor, and she didn't bother to pick them up. That was a job for another time.

Apart from the irregular gravel of the landing yard, the first person she saw was Whitehall.

Whitehall spread his arms and hugged her. It almost felt like home.

"Aurelia," he greeted once they let go. Aurelia nodded simply, her arms crossing her leather jacket, "Whitehall." Whitehall placed a hand on the small of her back, and began to guide her back into the base where agents of all kinds turned their heads to see Daniel Whitehall's prized pupil.

"I trust you had a good stay at Sokovia," he remarked, his hand still had not left her back.

"Yes, it was," she began, before images of her stay at Sokovia flashed through her mind, "...fantastic." Whitehall looked at her with surprise written across his face in capital letters. "How did you like Strucker's prized pupils?" he asked, hand finally leaving her back, and she let out a small exhale in relief.

"They were great."

"Really?" Whitehall asked, raising his eyebrows. It reminded her of Pietro, a memory which she shook off. "Yes," Aurelia answered, confused as to where he was taking this conversation.

"I've never heard you use words other than 'good' or 'easy' to describe your missions."

She scowled, closing her eyes from the blinding white of the base's walls, already she missed the dull concrete. "Get used to it."

They continued to walk, any agents that were about to walk down their path immediately averted their paths to avoid them. "What's been happening since I left?" Aurelia asked, hooking her thumbs in her jeans' pockets.

"Nothing much. New recruits, new missions. But we have a new general. Already, he is one of the best to date."

So a challenge then?

Aurelia wondered how well he could hold up against her. She smirked with the sass of a certain speedster, "Oh really? What's this kid got?" The same smile that Whitehall used in his experimentations appeared, "A lot HYDRA can utilise. He has broken several records- none of which were yours."

Phew, Aurelia was beginning to feel legitimately threatened by this general, the assassin nodded, taking in the new information, and trying desperately to forget the Maximoffs.

At least for now. At least until she got to her rooms.

"That's a relief. What's this kid's name?" Aurelia questioned, turning into another hallway. "Jason Griffin. I was just going to take you to him. He's very eager to meet the famed S.H.A.D.O."

"You told him?" Aurelia asked, rolling her eyes. They took a sharp right, to the rooms for those agents higher up in the pecking order. "He is going to accompany you on your next mission," Whitehall announced, hands clasped firmly behind his back, either from fear or excitement. "A partner?" Aurelia scoffed, the only people worthy of her in a fight nowadays were the Maximoffs and Hunter, "You're giving me a partner?"

She didn't think Whitehall could scar her pride as much as he had just done. The great S.H.A.D.O, turned from a solo act to a duo?

"Yes. This particular mission requires two agents; you and Jason are the best qualified." Hopefully, Aurelia and this General Griffin would only have to work together for this one mission and then go their separate ways. She wasn't going to have another friendship so soon after Hunter and the Maximoffs.

Jason Griffin sat on his overweight mattress, cross-legged, a rather thick book between his hands, it's cover was decorated in angelic clockwork designs.

Aurelia had never really enjoyed reading, unless it was about astronomy or biology, if not, then it seemed to be a chore. And she was willing to bet that if the book's front cover was clockwork, then it was most certainly one of those foolish fiction stories.

Whitehall strolled into the room and gestured between the two agents, "General Griffin, this is Agent Aurelia Tempest, better known as S.H.A.D.O."

Once the general dropped his book and stood up, Aurelia got a rush of nostalgia. Griffin was a very...built person. His wavy fawn hair was cut for the gritty missions of HYDRA, and accompanying eyes the were same colour as brownies.

"It's very nice to meet you, Agent Tempest," Jason stated in a business like tone, holding his hand out in one swift, liquid like motion.

A hand which Aurelia forcefully took and grinned sourly, "Right back at you Griffin."