No one had noticed that she'd quietly entered the room midway through Nick Fury's meeting. He didn't even acknowledge her presence and he knew she was coming. Knew the moment she'd walked in and slid into a chair next to the door.

Marley tried to mute the din of voices in the room, in her mind, and focus on what Fury was telling them.

"We need to be ready for Hydra's next move," he told them from where he leaned on the table at the front of the room. "It may take some time while they regroup, but they've already begun the process. When they strike next, we'll need to be ready."

Tony Stark, the Tony Stark, smirked at Steve Rogers who sat directly across from him.

"Glad you're back, Cap," Tony sounded sincere.

"Glad we could compromise," Steve replied meaningfully.

Up until a month ago, the Avengers' future seemed to be in question. They were at war with each other and scattered. Half of them backed Tony Stark's Iron Man and the U.N. agreement they'd complied with. The rest had followed Steve Rogers' Captain America, either disagreeing with the direction Tony's group had gone in or loyal to the Captain who was trying to save his friend, a former HYDRA assassin.

Several of them who had backed Steve, including Clint, Sam, and Wanda, had been incarcerated following one hell of a battle and when the Captain came to break them out, for whatever reason, Tony Stark and those who had sided with him had shown up to help.

The U.N. was quick to point out that Tony and his allies had violated their treaty. With Nick Fury forced underground and S.H.I.E.L.D.'S fall, the UN became conspicuously silent. With HYDRA still a huge threat, perhaps they were reluctant to deal with the consequences of a growing group of extraordinary people. In the end, the Avengers survived, as did S.H.I.E.L.D. in the shadows, and they continued to try to save the world.

The Avengers had come back to Stark Tower, to live as one group and prepare for when they would be needed. That time would surely be soon as word from Thor came about a potential threat to Midgard, his name for earth, from another place. Something to do with what they called Infinity Stones. And then there was HYDRA.

Fury had warned Marley that she was coming in at a pivotal time. While Steve had been allowed to take his friend out of cryostasis and move him from Wakanda into the tower, Tony's deep-seated animosity towards the man who had unwittingly murdered his parents among many others was still an issue and caused friction in the group. Apparently, there were still hard feelings among other members in the group. And on top of all of that, they were adding a new player to the group.

Marley.

"One last item," Fury finally nodded in her direction. "We have a new member we're adding to the Avengers' initiative. Her name is Marley Cooper."

Several pairs of eyes turned in her direction and she braced for the onslaught of thoughts out of habit.

Oh, she's cute. Tony Stark winked at her while Clint and Natasha glanced at her with curiosity.

Oh, wow. A teenage boy, she thought his name was Peter, stared at her with his mouth agape, until Sam laughed and shook his head, nudging him.

Sam's thoughts were funny. Smart move, Fury. Bringing in a new babe to get everyone distracted. She can distract me any time.

Steve stretched back in his chair to give her an assessing look then a friendly nod. It was hard not to stare back at him. He was very handsome with his golden hair and strong features.

Wonder what she can do, Steve pondered. She's a little thing.

Behind him, James 'Bucky' Barnes, more infamously known as the Winter Soldier, didn't glance her way, didn't make eye contact. He seemed to be hiding beneath a fringe of dark hair. She couldn't hear anything from him either. Well, it was a small respite.

"Welcome," this from Tony who was smirking adorably at her now. "So, what's your thing? What do you do?"

"Pyrokinesis," Fury announced, his expression and tone conveying a level of seriousness that wiped the smirk off Tony's face. "She needs to be trained and looked after well."

"Fine. I'll order more fire extinguishers. No problem," Tony said with his trademark sarcasm. But his smile was friendly. He was so busy smiling at her that he missed the disapproving frown Steve threw his way.

She looks scared, Steve thought. I'll need to find out exactly what her capabilities are.

Sam was staring at her with great interest as well. So, she can set people and things on fire? Can she blow shit up too?

"That's it?" Clint asked. "Fire?"

"That's not enough?" Steve grinned at his friend.

You read minds too? Don't you?

That from Wanda caught her off guard. The Scarlet Witch they called her. Marley's gaze flew to her and Wanda gave her a knowing but friendly smile.

Marley swallowed hard at being caught. She hadn't shared that with Fury. She wasn't comfortable with anyone knowing that yet.

It's okay. I won't say anything. Believe me, I understand.

Marley wanted to smile in her direction but in a room of spies, super humans, and super soldiers, she didn't dare. She'd give herself away for certain.

Thank you, Marley told her mentally.

"Anything else?" Nick glanced around the room with his uncovered eye, finally stopping on Marley.

When nothing was said, he dismissed the group.

Tony stood and looked to be heading in Marley's direction. Fury and Steve both intercepted him.

While the bulk of the room began to drift out, Natasha looking back at her like a puzzle she wanted to solve and young Peter smiling and waving at her as he walked out, Wanda stopped by her chair.

"Let's have lunch soon. Once you're settled in," she offered.

"I'd like that."

Don't worry. These are good people. We will take care of you.

"Thank you," unthinking she said it aloud. "I'm just grateful to be here."

At that, Bucky glanced up, cutting intense blue eyes her way. She immediately dropped her gaze to the floor.

He was as handsome as his best friend, maybe even more so. Marley just hadn't been prepared for him to turn that intensity on her and no idea why he had. There was no way he could have discerned that she was hiding something, right?

Staring at the floor did give Marley the opportunity to focus on the conversation taking place in the front of the room where Bucky still sat.

"I'll put her in my wing with Wanda and Vision. Safest place for her," Tony told the other two men.

The idea of being near Wanda sounded good. Marley hoped to make friends.

Fury's expression was passive while Steve was shaking his head.

"Until we can assess her abilities and her control over them, I'd feel better if she were in our wing," Steve said firmly.

Tony rolled his eyes. "No offense, Cap, but you have enough on your plate right now dealing with heavy metal over there."

Leave Bucky out of this, Steve's thoughts were sharp.

Bucky watched the conversation with no reaction.

"Or you're just jealous because you two and Sam don't have a pretty girl in your wing, is that it?" Tony teased.

"Stark, of the two of us, who is more worried about wooing pretty girls?"

"Wooing?" Tony snorted. "So cute. Okay. I'll give you that. But I still think it's a better idea to keep her on my floor." I'll keep a close eye on her, Cap.

Folding his arms across his substantial chest, Steven wasn't budging. "We're on the top floor. She can take the corner rooms. Logistically, it makes better sense for her to be there if there are… accidents."

Steve had no idea how close to home he'd hit with that remark. Marley blew out an exhale. At this point, she didn't care where her room was. She just wanted to go and hide in it.

"Doesn't she get a say?" Bucky's voice brought the conversation to a halt.

Marley looked up to meet Bucky's gaze, his eyes kinder this time before he shifted his gaze back to the others.

"He's right," Steve said, staring right at her. "Our manners are terrible. Sorry. Why don't we show you the apartments and let you decide which one you want? Sound okay?"

Marley nodded, thinking that was entirely fair.

She waited to catch Bucky's glance and mouthed 'thank you' to him. He nodded, finally rising from his chair as she did.

Tony appeared to have something else he wanted to say but he glanced her way and decided against it.

If anything happens to her because of Barnes, I'll beat your ass, Cap.

As if Steve could read his mind as Marley could, he regarded Tony warily.

He's worried about Bucky. He thinks he'd harm an innocent woman. Unbelievable.

Fury looked up and met Marley's gaze head on.

Good luck, Marley. You're going to need it with this outfit.

She stared after Nick Fury in shock. He'd known about her mind reading all along? Damn. He didn't miss anything, did he?

Tony grinned at Marley. "The room on our floor? Has a huge hot tub. You'll love it. I know that's the one you're going to choose."

Steve shook his head, but he was smiling, trying to make her feel welcome. She followed Tony from the room with Steve and Bucky trailing behind them.