Author's Note

Special thanks to everyone who read, reviewed, and favorited my story so far!

The quinjet dipped lower towards the navy ocean, the strong winds disturbed the water and created waves as the back of the jet opened up.

"Agent Phoenix, you will be dropped here, then you will travel to the vessel and clear the landing area. There will be four guards and two cameras you must take out, then call down Captain Rodgers, Black Widow and the rest of the STRIKE team. Understand?" Director Fury reminded Phoenix as he walked her towards the opening.

Nervousness began bubbling in Phoenix's stomach as she approached closer to the exit that hovered only inches above the water. She didn't want to mess this mission up because not only could the hostages be killed, but this mission could give her a good impression to the Avengers… Phoenix shook her head slightly, she needed to focus.

"You're going to do great, Phoenix." Steve walked next to her, clapping a hand on her shoulder and giving her a winning smile.

"I'm not feeling that way to be honest." Phoenix admitted, rubbing the nape of her neck.

"Well, I've heard about your past missions and I know you are more than capable." Steve reassured her. "And based on your training, I expect an easy victory." Steve winked at her. Phoenix just stared back stunned. Had he been the one scouting her for the mission?

"Let's get those innocent people out!" He boomed, clapping her back again before moving back into the quinjet.

Phoenix began to bend the water to form a bubble around her, then she glided off the edge of the jet and plummeted into the dark ocean. She watched the quinjet blast back into the sky, far above the vessel. Phoenix began to push the bubble through the water, moving to the side of the ship next to where she was told the landing area was. Raising slightly above the water, Phoenix bent the water bubble surrounding her to from a pillar of water that pushed her up and over the edge of the vessel.

Once she landed, she wrapped the water up her body, forming tentacal-like arms and a protective barrier around the rest of her body. Phoenix first stretched one arm of water to take out the two cameras, causing the guards to turn their attention to her. As they brought their guns up, ready to fire, Phoenix used her other arm of water to create an ice shield. The loud popping began as the bullets began chipping at her one arm to keep up her shield, Phoenix swung her right arm, creating a strong gust of air to push the guards over the side, sending them plummeting into the ocean. Then, she bent a large wave, pushing them up against the side of the vessel, and froze them there.

"All clear, you guys can come down." Phoenix reported into her earpiece, then she began checking the perimeter for anymore guards and taking out more cameras.

"Knew you could do it." Steve said landing on the area she had just cleared, and he was quickly followed by Nat and the rest of their team.

"No thanks to you, Spangles." Phoenix teased, jokingly punching his arm. He gave her a quick smile before beginning to give orders to the crew.

"Nat, you and me are going to go around and clear the rest of the guards, while Phoenix will go with the rest of the STRIKE team to free the hostages and bring them to the quinjet. Phoenix, rendezvous with Nat and I after clearing the hostages." The team nodded before splitting off.

Phoenix quitly ran to the spot she was told contained the hostages. She looked over to who she was working with, which was three very buff men.

"Alright team, you guys can bust down the door and I will get the guards out of the way. After we get the hostages out, I'll send you all up to the quinjet. Understood?" Phoenix briefed them.

"You got it boss." One man said in a Brooklyn accent while his friend gave a thumbs up. When she looked over to the last, whom she knew to be Brock Rumlow, he just gave a small nod, not even looking up at her.

She positioned herself next to the metal door and the three men took out thick iron rods from their belts and connected them, making a battering ram to break the door down. The three men backed the ram up before sending it hurtling into the door, immediately slamming the door open. Phoenix ran in, bending air to send the three guards flying into the opposite wall. Then, taking water from the ocean, she pinned them to the wall with cuffs made of ice. Phoenix walked over and took the guns from their raised hands before facing the rest of her team, who had just freed the hostages.

"Everyone follow me!" Phoenix commanded, marching out the door and back towards the landing zone.

"Everyone stand close together in a circle! Im sending you guys up to the quinjet." Phoenix informed as she took a large stream of water from the ocean and wrapped the group in a bubble, shooting them up to the quinjet. As soon as she was sure everyone was on the jet, she jumped off the edge of the vessel, letting the water absorb her before shooting her up in a torpedo-like stream of water, lifting her high above the ship.

She soon spotted Steve, who seemed to have just finished beating a group of enemy soldiers. He looked back towards her as she began to lower her piller of water to meet him.

"On your left!" Steve let out in a panicked scream as his eyes grew wide and worried. Turning, Phoenix saw a missile in the process of exploding only inches from her face. Crossing her hands in front of her face to stop the flames from reaching her, the stream of water dissipated from under her feet and she began plummeting unconscious towards the steel floor of the ship. The ground kept growing closer and closer until the two finally met with a sickening slap.

Small puddles of water surround Phoenix as she lay flat on the ground, the ringing in her ears blocking every other sound out as she came to. She slowly rolled onto her back, looking up towards the pitch black sky. The pounding of rapidly approaching boots vibrated on the floor, sending jolts of pain throughout Phoenix's body. Two enemy soldiers approached her, their guns fixed on her injured form. Her eyes widened as she tried in vain to bend something, anything that could protect her until small, quick footsteps approached.

Black Widow jumped up towards the two guards, doing some kind of swinging movement around one and flipping him into the other. She tied a rope to each of them and hoisted one over the edge of the vessel, leaving the other stuck against the side.

Phoenix pushed herself against the side of the vessel, letting out a loud gasp as pain seared throughout her body. As she looked up from her lap, she was met face to face with Steve and Black Widow. She gave them a small smile as she attempted to push herself up from her sitting position, almost falling forward in the process.

"Take it easy, Phoe." Steve soothed, wrapping an arm around her torso to keep her up, before turning his head towards Nat and announcing, "We need to get her up to the jet." She gave a curt nod before calling Fury and telling him to pick them all up.

"N-no. You guys… should finish the… mission." Phoenix breathed as she swayed in Steve's arm.

"We don't leave friends and teammates behind." Black Widow stated cooly, her eyes darting between the sky and Phoenix's eyes. Her usually monotone seemed an octave higher than usual.

The air around them began to swirl as the quinjet touched down on the ship, a door lifting on the side to allow them access to the medical section. Steve helped Phoenix limp onto the jet before laying her on a gurney, pain still raking through her body. The warm welcoming hug of sleep finally took over Phoenix as she was wheeled off by nurses into an unknown operating room.

Author's Note

Incase anyone was wondering—yes, Phoenix's power is based off of Avatar: The Last Airbender ;) Leave reviews for any improvements you have in mind!