1.

She was lying on the floor, again. She always fell out of her bed those days. Her nightmares had become frequent and were getting worse. Nightmares of a strange Norwegian God.

He was clad in green and his hair was black. Of course she knew who he was and she knew why she was having those bad dreams.

She had been in New York when all of that had happened. When the war between worlds had begun. That day, she had lost everything... Her family, friends... And now she was alone. A nineteen year old girl, left to cope alone. And the nightmares still tormented her sleep. Anne got up. Her head was a drum. She hadn't slept in so long. But it was useless trying to fall back asleep now that she was awake. The young girl rubbed her eyes and moved towards a big punching bag in her room. She had been training. For what she never knew, but she felt she must. Her bow and arrow lay in a corner, waiting for her practice routine to build up to them. Anne had many combat skills. Most concerning martial arts, but bow and arrow was her favorite. She felt alive when she held them in her hands and it was the only thing to remind her of her father. He had been an instructor.

How well she knew the movements and how coordinated they were. Wing Chun, Eskrima, Nin jitsu... And again. She had learned them after she lost her father with some help and now she was an expert.

When she finished, she suited up, took her bow and arrow and climbed out the window. If she couldn't have revenge, she could at least make it up by helping the other people of New York. She had taken a fancy to Vigilantiesim. Anne liked the rush she got from fighting bad guys and putting them behind bars. It helped her to feel calm and sane minded. That evening seemed the same as them all. A robbery and her... She stopped them easily, as she always did, but soon, she felt as if she weren't the only person there anymore.

It had been a while since she felt watched. It had happened every evening for a month now... That feeling... Creeping up on her as only darkness and fear knew how... She didn't understand why, but she could actually sense someone was there, observing her, checking her every move.

But why? Hadn't she been helping? Why would anyone want to spy on her? That evening, she got her answer.

It happened while she was returning home. The feeling came to her once more... She did not wish to linger on it much, but it became stronger every time she moved.

"So, what's next vigilante? You just kick some ass and go home? That must be glorifying."

The voice was that of a woman's, but none the less, it stopped Anne in her tracks. So she was being followed. She should have listened to her first instinct.

"It doesn't have to be glorifying. I'm just happy to help."

Anne turned around. A very young woman was standing there in front of her, leaned against the wall. She wore a black jump suit and some black army boots. To Anne she looked like the typical spy you see in movies, little did she know she was much more. The woman had short bright red hair and brown eyes and she looked fairly annoyed, ad if that kind of mission didn't suit her.

"Why were you following me?"

"To see what you were capable of. Fury's thinking about putting you on the team."

"Sorry to disappoint, but I work alone."

"Sure... And that must be fun."

She stood right up and came towards her, but Anne had already set an arrow in her bow and pointed it at her.

"Calm down, Robin Hood! I'm just here to talk!"

But Anne's eyes were locked on her target, with nothing but coldness and suspicion in them. But the thing that troubled black widow the most was that there was also no hesitation in them. She could strike her down easily without even blinking. Natasha would have never thought to find such decision, such bitterness and such cold in such a young girl. It almost frightened her.

"Then talk!"

Her voice was threatening. The woman felt sure now that if her conversation wasn't convincing the girl would kill her.

"You're good, kid. And you got Nick Fury to notice you."

"Who is Nick Fury?"

"The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."

Suddenly, the girl burst out laughing, a laugh so cold it was almost cruel and Agent Romanoff started doubting her mission to recruit her.

"You know, every time you give me answers it just seems like you give me more questions! So, I'm going to ask you again... Who are you and what do you want?"

The grin had been swept off her face and now only anger shown.

Natasha felt a bit shaken. Fury had sent her to do that job because he promised it would be easy, but now it seemed to be getting dangerous.

"SHIELD is an agency of people meant to protect the world. And Nick Fury wants you to join in our Avengers program."

Finally the Black Widow saw a glint of something in the girl's eye that she could use to her advantage. Doubt.

"Avengers? You mean..."

"Yes..."

"Why me?"

Yes. Why her indeed? She didn't seem to be anyone special. She was good with a bow, but didn't they already have Barton for that?

"I don't know, I guess he thinks you're good enough. I think he could explain it better if you come..."

Uh oh. Wrong move. She had used that too hastily and now the same threatening glare was staring upon her now, but with even more force. The girl wasn't gonna go without a fight.

"COME WHERE?!"

Her voice was so powerful and so threatening that Natasha actually felt fear shivering down her back.

"To SHIELD headquarters."

The girl laughed again. Agent Romanoff hadn't felt so afraid since she recruited Bruce Banner, and he was ten times bigger than her.

"Oh. I don't think so. If Fury wants to talk, he can come to ME."

Anne was going to release. Natasha could feel.

"I'm sorry, but I don't really think you have a choice!"

As quick as a spider, the black widow was on her. But as soon as she attempted to fight, Anne blocked her. She caught the agents foot in mid air and spun her around, making her fall.

Did that just happen? Thought Romanoff. Did she just beat me?

Natasha tried attacking again, but each time, the girl stopped her, as if it were the easiest thing in the world. The only thing Nat had managed to do, was to knock the arrow out of her hand so she couldn't shoot. But that seemed meaningless now. The girl was beating her at her own game. She had always been the best in combat, and now some nineteen year old girl seemed almost bored. Finally, even Anne started to attack and her movements were so agile and so graceful, and so coordinated, that at the first chance, she pinned the agent to the ground and held an arrow to her throat. It had been so easy for her. So incredibly easy.

"Sorry I won't be able to make it to your funeral, but..."

And then silence. Natasha saw the girl instantly change expression from the surprise and then fall to the side, an arrow in her back. Then, all of a sudden, Clint dropped down right in front of her.

"Seemed like you could use some help."

"Tazer arrow?"

"Yeah."

"Great, lets get out of here."