AVENGERS TOWER, MANHATTAN, NY

"Well, shit."

Nick Fury sat at the head of the conference table in the missions rooms in the tower. After the first few missions, Tony had realised that they needed an official place for briefings as Clint seemed to get too distracted in the main living area. The team had gathered in the missions room, the day after their small group had returned from Niagara Falls, and they had the unfortunate task of having to tell Fury and Coulson about what happened.

Nick turned to Phil, and continued with his speaking, "If she's on the playing board then we know that we're in a lot deeper shit than we previously thought."

With a sigh and a small shake of his head, Phil turned towards Natasha who was sat between Clint and Bruce, "Why didn't you tell us that she had been at the performance?"

Normally, Natasha wouldn't have a single trouble in circumstances like this, but this was different, Clint was right; she was compromised. "I didn't think it would be an issue that was worth looking into," Natasha explained, maintaining unwavering eye contact with the senior agent, "She's known to show up at random places occasionally for no reason, I thought this was one of these instances."

Phil and Natasha held eye contact for a while after, the tension in the room rising as neither seemed to back down.

"Well, it doesn't matter now," Tony spoke cutting the tension, "But I think we should begin at the obvious place. Like, who the fuck is Izabelle?"

Phil and Natasha finally broke their stare down and relaxed into their chairs. Sighing at his two agents, Fury spoke up, "Izabelle is a highly dangerous, very powerful individual. She trained in the Red Room with Agent Romanoff, and is essentially the only girl that was evenly matched with Romanoff. She's had known ties with Hydra, A.I.M, Hand, and The Brotherhood -"

"-Of Mutants?" Sam interrupted.

"Yes, of mutants." Fury clarified.

"She's a level ten mutant," explained Natasha while she turned to her teammates, "She has similar powers to Mystique, such as shape shifting, and extraordinary strength and healing."

"If she's a mutant, why can't we let the X-Men deal with it?" Asks Tony.

"She adapts; also known as a mimic," Clint says with bitterness in his voice, "The X-Men can't face her without the threat of her copying their powers, that's why she's our problem."

The room falls into a brief silence while they take in the archers words.

"I get why she's a problem," begins Bruce, "But, why is it worse if she's involved with the Winter Soldier? Or at least thought to be?"

"Because we don't know who she's working for, why she's looking for Barnes, or what her intentions are." Phil rubs his temples slightly, "Basically, she's a time bomb and we don't know who has the detonator."

"What's the plan?"

HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA

Izabelle wonders around the farmer's market, keeping an eye out for anyone suspicious. It's been three days since she had seen Natalia and her little bird, she had hoped that the red-head would listen to her for once but she knew how much the bird despised her and knew she only had a short period of time before she had to move again.

She had last seen the Asset three hours previously, the plan was to follow behind him, making sure to clean up his trail and leave some red herrings along the way, but with the looming threat of the Avengers she knew that this would have to change soon and she would have to interact with the Asset and pray that he believes her.

Part of her regretted her indulgence of seeing Natalia perform, but she understood herself enough to know that she wouldn't miss it for the world.

A notification on her phone brings her out of her train of thought, the phone alerts her to a police report that matches the description of the Soldier in Kingston, with a small curse she puts her phone away and makes her way back to her car.

Checking that everything that she needs is accounted for, she quickly goes to her hotel and checks out. On the way back to her car she runs into a man leaning against the hood.

"You've been busy," The man teases as he eases of the car and casually approaches her.

"Ward, it's good to see you again," She smirks, "How have you been? Good, I hope."

The man chuckles as he stops before her, looking down at her he tells her, "We're going to get in the car, you're going to drive about half an hour North, and then we're going to be having a little talk, understood?"

"Of course, sweetie," Izabelle reaches up and plants a small kiss on his cheek, "Let's get going, we haven't got all day."

Izabelle stops the car on the side of road, the pair get out and walk to a clearing away from any prying eyes.

"There's some people that are not very happy with you, Izabelle," Ward stated.

"And I can imagine there's some people not very happy with you, Agent." Izabelle responds.

Glaring at the woman, Ward continues, "Don't think we didn't notice your little excursion to watch the Widow perform."

"What I do in my free time is my own business, I didn't realised I had to inform someone every time I went for a piss."

Ward chuckles darkly, "Just tell me where the Asset is, and I'll think about not reporting you."

"I'll tell you when I know where he is."

Ward sighs and looks up to the sky for a brief moment, "Don't make this harder than it has to be, Iz, I don't want to have to hurt you."

"Well, don't do anything that makes me have to hurt you then." Izabelle stares Ward in his eyes, an obvious challenge being be initiated.

"I don't want to have to do this," Ward almost sounds regretful, but they both know its insincere.

"Did you come alone?"

"Of course not, they've been following us since we left Hamilton."

"Perfect."

A brief look of understanding flashes through Wards eyes before it's overcome with panic as he watches as Izabelle morphs into a reflection of himself, only with bruises, torn clothes, and a split lip.

"It was lovely to see you again, Grant." Izabelle smirks in his voice as she moves with lightning speed, knocking him out swiftly.

Izabelle, or Ward, manages to move the unconscious man into the undergrowth before the back up agents arrive.

"What happened?" One enquires.

"That bitch got away again, but I think I know where she's going." The mutant lies.

"Where is she heading?" Another asks.

"She's heading to Detroit, she said something about the Asset just trying to throw everyone off his trail."

"Alright, let's get going. Are you going to follow us in her car?"

"No," Izabelle explains, "I'm going to head back towards New York, just to make sure she wasn't lying."

"Good plan," The Hydra agents begin to return to their vehicles, "Remember to check in once you arrive."

"Will do," Izabelle smirks as she watches them start their engines, "Hail Hydra."

"Hail Hydra."