Captain's Hart

Chapter 1: Prologue

* A/N I do not own Avengers, Marvel, or anything related to the movies. I only own my own character. Contains spoilers for the Avengers and Captain America: Winter Soldier movies.

In the quiet neighborhood, the stillness of the night was broken by the boisterous laughing coming from The Cavern, a small pub located at the end of the street. Normally the streets were bustling, but at this time in the night, it was dark and bare. A man stood in the shadows, watching the back door intently as he breathed softly, hiding the crystals his warm breath made in the cold winter night.

18 year old Arianna Hart stepped out of the pub, dumping the trash into the bins and dusting her hands. She checked her watch, and was relieved that it was time for her to clock out. Just as she was about to turn back inside, she paused, sensing a presence. She slowly swiveled back around, her eyes scanning the dark alleyway as she slowly reached behind her to grasp the doorknob. Just then there was a rustle, and she almost screamed as a man tackled her just as a gunshot sounded, pulling her behind a bin. But he blocked her mouth and she was left breathless from the sudden movement as hazel eyes briefly met blue eyes, before the man quickly stood up and shot an arrow in the direction of the gunshot.

She blinked, unsure if she was seeing the scene correctly, as the man ducked down beside her, only to quickly draw another arrow, duck out the side of the bin, and shoot it again. This time, instead of returning to cover, he slowly lowered his bow and stood. Arianna watched warily as he flitted away briefly, presumably to check his target, before he was back in front of her staring down at her without emotion. She also stood very slowly, watching him as carefully as he seemed to watching her but her eyes kept flitting around to check her surroundings as well.

Just as she straightened her back, she became aware of another presence at the entrance to the alley and she tensed. "No need to worry. We're safe... well safer." The new man's voice chuckled. Finally, the archer turned away from her, moving his stance to be facing the new man and Arianna slowly turned around to faced the man. He was unassuming, his build clearly saying he wasn't a fighter but fit enough that if Arianna hadn't been trained in various martial arts, he would probably be able to subdue her. Arianna's eyes narrowed, not liking how she was sandwiched between the two men. The newcomer seemed to notice her discomfit, and he waved his hand. Immediately, the archer moved away, heading over to stand next to the body of Arianna's would-be killer.

"Arianna Hart. My name is Phil Coulson, I work for the Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate, or SHIELD." Arianna raised her eyebrow. "You might want to just stick with the acronym." She muttered, and she heard the archer snort. Phil Coulson chuckled: "Yes, I've been told."

"You might want to listen then." Arianna retorted. This time the archer gave a louder snort, and Coulson sighed, before he continued: "Now, I'm sure you know what we must be here for." Immediately Arianna tensed. "Actually, no." She responded flatly. "Miss Hart, have you heard of the CIA?" Arianna gave a small sarcastic smile even as she cringed inside. "Yes, everyone has. A not-so-secret organization of spies for our country."

"Very funny." Coulson sighed. "Miss Hart, let me explain what SHIELD is. We are an independent organization of agents dedicated to security and peace." Arianna frowned as she glanced at the archer and then her eyes flickered down to the body before she refocused on Coulson. He nodded. "There are also others out there like him- it's the reason SHIELD exists really. To protect innocent lives from people like them."

"While I suppose I am grateful you saved me, why are you telling me this? Why was that man targeting me in the first place? I doubt even if you save random girls, you don't normally send an archer and tell them about this... SHIELD." Arianna glanced at the archer again.