"Eli, Fury's calling a meeting." Natasha called as she ran into the gym. Hearing this I jumped down from my spot and rolled as I hit the floor. Back on my feet I grabbed my T-shirt and pulled it on over my tank top as I ran to the door.
"Well come on then slowpoke." I said enthusiasticlly as I ran past Natasha. That was all it took to send my best friend racing down the hall after me. Bursting into the conferance room we both braced our hands against our knees and gasped for breath.
"God Eli...how can you...run that fast?" She panted.
"Practice...lots and lots of practice...also, you owe me ten bucks now." I said flashing her a smile. We had completely forgotten about the meeting until we heard Director Fury clear his throat. Looking up we found the rest of our teammates staring at us and we stood up regaining our composure. Across the table I saw Fury glaring at me and flashed him an apologetic look. Sighing he let his expression soften and went back to conducting the meeting as I took my seat between Steve and Tony. Director Fury knew I didn't normally let my energetic nature interfere with my work, but as of late I hadn't been keeping myself in check. It seemed like if I wasn't keeping myself distracted at all times I was fighting with everyone around me. Lost in thought I barely noticed my vision shift from Director Fury to the empty seat between Bruce and Natasha. Closing my eyes tightly I tried to block the images that came flooding into my mind.
"Elisha, are you alright?" Steve asked from beside me. Snapping my eyes open I found my vision blured and it took me a moment to realize I was crying.
"I...I'm fine; just had something in my eye." I said. Looking around the table I saw that I hadn't convinced anyone.
"Agent Tanis, go get some sleep; we can handle this." Fury said. From around the table came worried nods of agreement.
"But Sir I..." My attempt to argue failed as Fury cut me off.
"That's an order Tanis." He said sternly. Knowing not to argue the matter further I stood and quietly exited the room. Back in my own room I picked up the picture frame beside my bed and sat down staring at the figure behind the glass.
"Wherever you are please come back; I need you." I said as tears began rolling down my cheeks to fall onto the glass. His smiling face peering up at me through the glass only made my heart ache more. Laying on my side on my bed I clutched the picture to my chest and began to sob. I wasn't sure when I fell asleep but the next thing I knew I was sitting bolt upright in bed gasping for air. Looking down I found myself drenched in sweat with the picture frame lying beside me. I knew I had had a nightmare and silently thanked my brain for blocking it from my memory. Getting up, I put the picture back on my nightstand and grabbed clean clothes and a towel before heading to the bath. After an hour long soak I got out and headed back to my room. On the way I overheard two soldiers talking about Loki and stopped dead in my tracks.
"What was that about Loki?" I asked turning to the men. Exchanging a strange look they stayed silent and I stepped forward. Grabbing the bigger of the two by the collar of his shirt I pulled him to my level and glared at him. From the terrified looks they were giving me I knew my bright teal eyes must have changed to silver, but I didn't care.
"I expect you to answer me when I ask you a question do you understand?" I hissed throught clenched teeth.
"Y-Y-Yes ma'am. I'm sorry; it...it won't happen again Miss Tanis." He stammered out as his friend stood back too afraid to speak.
"Now tell me what you said about Loki." I said.
"We h-heard the Captain and Iron Man caught him and he's being held in the Hulk's cage." He said and I quickly let go of his shirt before taking off toward the containment bay. Stopping briefly in the doorway I saw the rest of the Avengers standing around the room, but I was only concerned with the man inside the 'cage' at the middle of the room. Running forward I pushed everyone out of the way, but right before I reached the cage Bruce and Steve grabbed me and held me back.
"Where is he?! What have you done with Clint?! I swear if you've hurt him I'll kill you!" I shouted at Loki as I struggled to break free from Bruce and Steve.
"Give him back!" I yelled as the lights started to flicker wildly around us. My still silver eyes were locked with Loki's emerald ones as electricity began to crackle around my hands.
"Get her out of here!" Fury ordered urgently. With a deal of effort my teammates finally managed to drag me out of the room and down the hall to my own containment chamber. Unlike the one Loki was in mine was made of two foot thick steel with only one tiny window in the door. Once they had gotten me inside everyone backed away except Bruce who kept watch through the little window. I could feel myself losing control as I stepped backward into the middle of the chamber. Electricity was surging unchecked around me and I closed my eyes knowing what would come soon. The air around me started to buzz growing louder as the electrical particles sped up. Opening my eyes my gaze locked with Bruce's before I let out a loud shout of pain. At the same moment a burst of blinding blue light shot through the chamber before absorbing back into me. Collapsing in the middle of the chamber I caught my breath as Bruce opened the door and stared wide eyed with everyone else.
"Now I get why you're code name's Nova." Tony said looking around at the steaming walls.
"I'm ready to go back to my room now." I said still crouched on the floor. A minute later I was holding onto Steve's neck as he carried me to my room. I was asleep before we had even left the containment bay and everyone knew I would be that way until the next morning. It had been a while since I had lost control and it triggered a memory I had locked away years ago.
