Breathe

Chapter three : Aecus

"How did you do that?" Rogers asks me once Fury walks away with his answer.

"You don't know?" I look back at him.

"Know what?" Natasha queries.

"I don't care what's to know, you're a great addition to the team." Clint pats me on the shoulder.

"So who are you?" The redhead asks, and a robotic voice replies.

"Vera Atrox, you may not remember her because she just got back from seven years undercover. But she's-" Tony Stark opens up his mask dramatically, but I decide to steal his moment.

"I'm Aecus, nice to finally meet you guys." I smirk and Stark looks devastated.

"You're Aecus?" Natasha looks awed, "The Aecus?"

"I knew it." Clint looks pleased with himself.

"I'm not following." Steve asks, confused.

"She's a living legend in SHIELD, every newbie wants to meet her." Stark replies, "Atrox here joined when she was 12, and climbed up the ranks faster than anyone. She also saved all of Europe from a chemical disaster when she was a level three, and that's just one of her great deeds."

"You're over exaggerating, and I'm not a legend." I tell the billionare, he gapes.

"You're being modest."

"No, I'm not." I reply, "I'm just an agent, nothing more, nothing less."

"I knew Fury wanted someone to join, but I never knew it was you." Natasha says.

"Is that bad?" I ask.

"No, I've been wanting to meet you for a while."

"Really?" I ask, she nods.

"I read you were avoiding the Initiative." Stark jumps in, I turn to him.

"I had just heard about it before I was sent on my mission."

"What happened over there anyway? I've seen the files, watched the clips. You're different."

"Stark, she just got back from seven years undercover, cut her some slack." Steve says sternly.

"No, It's okay." I look at the Captain before turning to Stark, "I was undercover at a HYDRA facility that no longer exists because I burnt it down. I was tortured, experimented on, and cut open. Why is my voice like this? Because they tried to take it out. I don't want pity, and I don't want to be babied either. It was a mission and it's done. The only reason I'm telling you guys is, because if I don't, someone else will. I can mimic any animal's ability, that's how I fought you guys. But I can fight without it, and I prefer to."

"We should get back to the tower." Natasha says, her expression unreadable.

"Will I meet the others?"

"Who? Banner? He's there, but Thor's back in Asgard. Senior over here will probably disapear, and Widow'll probably stay here."

"And I'm taking a vacation." Clint adds, I forgot he was here.

"You can stay here, but there's always an empty room at the tower for an Avenger."

"Avenger?" I echo.

"You got it kid."

"Welcome to the team." Barton beams at me.

"You made a good choice." Steve adds.

"You made us an odd number." Natasha looks glum.

"Now we're officially the odd squad!" Stark laughs.

"Don't make me regret it." I warn him.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

"Hi, I'm Bruce Banner."  The doctor puts out his hand for me to shake.

"I'm well aware of who you are, doctor.  And I'm impressed with your work, I tried to use the-"

"I'm sorry, I'd love for us all to be science siblings, but you're too sassy for both of us to be in the same room for long amounts of time."  Stark interrupts our conversation, I turn to glare at him.

"I didn't think an ego like yours could fit in this tower."  I pick up a couple schematics, "But I guess life's full of surprises."

"Thank you."  Banner smiles widely at my sassing of Tony, as I left him speechless.

"I always like putting people in their place, doctor, so it's no trouble."  I smirk at Stark before examining the papers in my hands, "A thermonuclear power generator?  Really?  This has a huge blast radius, and it will blow up."

"I never said it was a good idea."  Stark swipes the schematics away from me, and Bruce gives him the 'I-told-you-so' look.

"So what did you really want me down here for Tony?"  I turn to Bruce, "No offence, doctor."

"None taken."  He chuckles, "Tony always has a hidden agenda."

"Hey!"

"Just answer the question."  I say, Stark sighs.

"I might be able to help you recover all your memories from the past seven years." 

"He means we might, and Fury told us about the missing pieces."  He glances down at the table, "To see if we could help, we don't mean to intrude."

I stare at them both for a minute, the possibility to recover all the memories from the HYDRA base?  It would probably unlock horrors.  But it would yield good information, "Okay, let's get to work."

"Really?"  Tony looks surprised.

"Yes, why?"  I glance at him before shuffling through some notes on the table.

"Just since-  because you went through all of that."  Banner takes off his glasses before continuing, "We thought you might not want to remember."

"I get what your saying, and I could go into shock.  But having the chance at getting valuable information?  I can't turn that down."  I look at Bruce in all seriousness.  He's a kind man, he doesn't want anyone to get hurt.

"Where did they find you?  In a computer chip?"

"Tony."  Banner tries to stop him.

"Why are you so committed?  What has SHIELD ever done for you?  They've only sent you into battle to die.  You're just another soldier, doing exactly what you're told.  A robot."  He spits out the words with venom before sarcasm drips through it harshly, "But I admire your dedication."

"How are you any different?"  I sneer, my patience hanging by a thread, "Acting all high and mighty when you can barely sleep at night.  You wouldn't know sacrifice if it stared you in the face.  I get that you grew up badly, but you know what?  You aren't the only one with traumas."

"I'm sorry Dr. Banner, but I need to get some air."  I leave the lab quickly, not trusting myself to stay civil with the billionare any longer.