Chapter One
Pietro woke up to the sound of music. Extremely loud music. His first thought was that Stark had thrown a party but this music was more elegant, like an orchestra. He exited his room, Wanda had woken up too and was tying the rope on her robe.
"What is it?" The younger twin rubbed her eye, attempting to get rid of the tiredness she was feeling.
"What. The. Hell. Tony, turn it off!" The, now angry, Russian assassin yelled from her room one hall down.
"It isn't me." Tony grumbled. "F.R.I.D.A.Y. lights." The lights turned on and a unanimous groan sounded through the living quarters. "At least, I don't think it's me."
Vision appeared through the glass windows, passing peacefully through. "Vision, who is it?" Clint grabbed a bow and arrow with his eyes half closed. "And where can I get a clear shot?"
"You will not need your weapons, but you should probably come see this." The Vision started floating down to the lower level. He floated back up, "you need to be quiet." The Avengers groaned and placed down their weapons. They grumbled their way down to the lower level where a green hill stretched out for miles surrounding the facility.
Pietro had been the first to look around and notice that Lailah was not among them, his half-awake mind did not process that this might be the source of the noise. Eventually the whole gang emerged from their rooms in the sleepwear. Steve, Barnes, Clint, Natasha, Scott, Sam, and Rhodes stood together in the common area.
"Tony, I swear if this is like what you pulled in April I'm gonna-" Sam was cut off by Natasha putting hand to his mouth. As they stepped outside the music boomed.
It was a soft melody that made Wanda sway from side to side. There were no speakers, no gadgets, only Lailah, standing in the middle of the field her arms moving gracefully from side to side. The music grew and a resonant chord rang out across the yard, the sound gave Pietro goosebumps. Lailah moved with the music as it died down, she was the conductor, but with no discernable music source Pietro walked closer, he walked slowly, usually this would have bothered him, but his need for speed was trumped by the beating of his heart as he heard the final chord sound from the invisible orchestra. Lailah held her hands out in front of her, slightly shaking. Her blonde hair was caught around her neck, her eyes closed and a wide smile painted her face. Pietro took a moment to memorize this look, even though she had been here half a year this was the most relaxed he'd seen her.
When she first came to the new Avengers Headquarters she hadn't known anything about herself, the only memories had been since 2012, after the attack in New York. She was searching for answers, while also aiding the Avengers recently. But she had been in awe of the hero's that stood before her, she had just saved their life and she was speechless in front of a man whom Pietro had just learned to 'not hate'. Tony Stark let her in with open arms after he heard about the incident in Texas. Lailah had, what Dr. Banner called, Energy Manipulation. She could give out bursts of energy and take away energy when she touched any person. Her past was a mystery, she was a mystery, one that everyone was eager to solve.
"That was beautiful." Pietro said quietly, not wanting to startle her. She slowly opened her eyes.
"I had a dream about a concert, I was sitting on the stage and watching this orchestra play this song, and when I woke up I tried to recreate it." Lailah dropped her hands. "Look." Pietro turned his head and he caught a glimpse, his mouth dropped open in awe. There were instruments, multiple, of every kind. They were lined up in a curved semi-circle around Lailah.
The other avengers walked up to them and saw the band.
"This isn't energy manipulation," Steve noted, "this is energy creation." Lailah shook her head.
"No, I took the energy to make this, I just…made it." She swayed.
"Where did you take the energy from, Lai?" Natasha scratched her nose.
"Myself. Can I go to sleep now?" Pietro placed a hand on her back to steady her.
"Lailah, try to bring the energy back to you." Wanda suggested. She had been particularly interested in Lailah's powers, mostly because she didn't understand them. Not that anyone did, it almost drove Tony insane when he couldn't figure out what she was.
"How?" Her eyes drooped closed. "Can I try it tomorrow?"
"Try it now." Wanda said calmly. "Focus on the energy, pull it towards you and absorb it, like you're hugging it." Lailah moved her arms and the instruments turned into a distorted, see through, blob. It floated toward Lailah, she opened her arms and the energy flew quickly at her. She screamed and fell, Pietro went to his knees and Lailah's head rested in his lap.
"What happened?" Tony had out a scientific device, he was waving it around the energy blob.
"My best guess is once she takes the energy out and morphs it, it no longer becomes hers." The billionaire yawned and put away his device. "Let's deal with this tomorrow." Pietro picked up Lailah and started to carry her back to her room.
Scott leaned to Sam, "that was awesome. I want that power."
"What? And give up being Ant Man?"
"You're extra sarcastic when you're tired." Scott and Sam were the last to leave the field.