[ 𝟏 ] 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃 | 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐟𝐟

𝟎𝟖.

I awoke from a brief nap to the sound of voices drifting up from downstairs. Since that particular experiment years ago, my senses had been hyperaware, attuned to even the smallest disturbances. Most days, I could block them out, but tonight, the lingering effects of the nightmare from our last mission made everything feel sharper, more intrusive. Still, despite the puffiness in my eyes and the lingering ache in my chest, I felt more rested than before.

The room was dim, bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. With a sigh, I slipped my feet back into my shoes and made my way downstairs.

The first faces I saw were Clint and Laura, their warm smiles offering a quiet reassurance. In their presence, I felt the echo of something long lost—parental figures, the kind I had been forced to live without. Laura, though still new to me, didn't trigger my usual wariness. Like Clint, she radiated an unshakable sense of security.

Turning toward the kitchen, I spotted the familiar faces of the team, but my gaze caught on someone new—an imposing man with an eyepatch. Though I had never seen him in person, there was something unsettlingly familiar about him, like an old memory just out of reach.

"Hey, Sleeping Beauty," Natasha greeted in a hushed tone.

Steve glanced up and gestured toward the man. "Meet Nick Fury. You know who he is, right?"

I nodded, perching myself on an empty spot on the counter. "Former director of SHIELD?"

"Was," Fury corrected. His voice was calm but edged with authority. "Nice to finally meet you. I've heard some interesting things."

I arched a brow. "Pleasure, Mr. Fury." The idea that someone like him even knew about me was a little unnerving.

He gave me an approving nod before pouring himself a glass of water. "Ultron took you folks out of play to buy himself time. My contacts say he's building something. The amount of Vibranium he made off with, I don't think it's just one thing."

"What about Ultron himself?" Steve asked.

Fury exhaled through his nose. "Ah. He's easy to track, he's everywhere. Guy's multiplying faster than a Catholic rabbit. Still doesn't help us get an angle on any of his plans though."

"He still going after launch codes?" Tony asked, lazily tossing a dart.

"Yes, he is, but he's not making any headway."

Tony smirked. "I cracked the Pentagon's firewall in high school on a dare."

"Yeah, well, I contacted our friends at the NEXUS about that."

"NEXUS?" I asked, tilting my head.

Bruce glanced up. "It's the world internet hub in Oslo, every byte of data flows through there, fastest access on earth."

"So, what'd they say?" Clint asked, more focused on his darts than the conversation.

Fury took a sip of water. "He's fixated on the missiles, but the codes are constantly being changed."