This was not going as planned. Admittedly all of her plan was get in, get the information, and get out without anyone noticing but this was obviously not happening. Auria walked slowly, trying not to look conspicuous as the alarm went off once more. She had an ID card on her shirt, and a slightly startled look on her face as if she was rushing with the other workers to wherever they were supposed to go when there was an intruder alert. At least Auria assumed that's what this alarm meant since she was the intruder.

Auria hadn't been able to force herself into wearing a lab coat, her skin had crawled at the sight of it, but there were guards in the building as well. She hoped no one would look twice at her plain clothes. A scarf was securely wrapped around her neck, hiding the bruise. Now she worked her way inward, passing through doors and taking the stairs instead of the elevators which she was pretty sure would lock down the minute she tried to use them. If Tony Stark didn't have facial recognition in his elevators then she would eat her own shoes. As it was she was pretty sure he had it everywhere because the minute she slipped past the guards and into the building an alarm had sounded.

So far, no one had come after her though and she worked her way to where she hoped access to a computer was. She swerved out, looping her leg over the stairs railing and leaning over to where she could see how many levels were left and how wide it was. It was too narrow to fly up, but it looks as if the stairs would never end. She pulled herself back in with a huff, jogging up the steps. She stopped at a door hoping she wouldn't have to run up anymore stairs and darted out, back into a hallway and towards the labs. She tried to look as casual as she could while being unable to breathe but everywhere she looked were bright lab coats and gleaming metal surfaces that were making her tense up. It felt as if her skin wanted to up and crawl away without her at the sight that seemed far too familiar.

The scientists were darting around but not to exit. They were working efficiently, evidently saving whatever they were working on was more important than an intruder. Whatever it was they were so focused on she was thankful for it because it was easy to duck into one of the dark labs and find one of the high tech boards. The lights came on as she entered but she hoped no one would notice in the mayhem. Her nerves were on edge as she stood in the bright light, open and exposed but it was to late to run now.

"Die free," she whispered encouragingly, her new motto from a movie the boys had made her watch, and she plucked off her fake I.D. badge to swipe in the computer. Thanks to one super sixteen year old genius it flickered on and opened for her. She typed in the codes she had memorized, hoping that no one would interrupt. The table lit up, projecting upwards until floating before her was one dark skinned curly haired angel of a computer nerd chewing on her hot pink painted nails.

"Auria!" Nudge exclaimed happily, waving and Auria smiled back. She raised an eyebrow and Nudge sighed, fingers already flying over whatever she had before her. Data and plans flew past too fast for Auria to understand but Nudge seemed to barely blink.

"Ooohh, he's good. I think I love Tony Stark," Nudge exclaimed and Auria just raised her eyebrows in question. She dropped her knife into her hand and turned halfway to watch the door.

"He had it set where even though you got this far, you really couldn't get into the system. Like, layers upon layers of computer code and so much information it is amazing. It makes it seem as if you are in, when really you are just on the surface. I wish I could talk to him! I don't even undersand all of this!" Nudge exclaimed excitedly, and something new popped up. Numbers flew past, meaningless to Auria but Nudge giggled.

"So, can you do it or not, kid?" Auria asked and Nudge rolled her eyes. She popped her lipgloss before answering, her hands still moving.
"Not a kid, and of course I can. Oh, he is funny too!" Nudge told Auria and she rubbed her temples.

" told me to say thank you for appreciating his humour," a cultured female voice told them out of nowhere and Auria froze, blood running cold in her veins as her eyes searched for who had spoken. She hadn't seen anyone enter but then it spoke again and she looked up to find speakers along the roof of the ceiling.

"He also stated that he is quite impressed, although, stealing is wrong," it told them and Auria dove for the computer. Nudge's mouth had fallen open, eyes widened in fear but Auria was already moving.

"No! I should've known-" Nudge started but Auria cut her off.

"Take it! Go!" she shouted and Nudge started crying silently as she clicked off and left her to face them alone, taking whatever information she had gathered she with her. Auria yanked out her card, breaking it in half as the doors burst open. Nudge had faded but her voice took a moment longer as she screamed, "Max says-"

And then that too was gone and Auria was alone. Just one knife, a broken card, and herself against Iron Man, the Hulk, Captain America, and the mystery soldier, James 'Bucky' Barnes.

"So, whose Max?" Tony Stark asked conversationally as he strolled in and Auria smiled politely at him, sheathing her knife and tucking her hands into her pockets. They all watched her carefully and expectantly as she opened her mouth to answer with a smile.

"None of your damn business."

~3~

She stood before them all alone, smile still in place as she tried to radiate confidence. Bucky could tell she was terrified. Her hands were clenched into fists in her pockets, and her shoulders were tense. Her eyes had moved, casually it would seem, but she was looking for any possible exits that she hadn't noticed before. There were none.

Tony laughed outright at her, to which she smiled again, but other than that everyone was silent. There they were talking about her and now she was before him again as if Bucky and Steve had summoned her. For some reason Bucky wanted to tell the others to move back and to give her space. To quit outnumbering her because he knew how that felt and he could see the panic growing in her eyes, but here she was breaking into the tower and stealing information. It wasn't her side he should be on.

"Well, it is when it's my computer you hacked, my tower you broke into, and my team you are stealing information about my team," Tony told her, strolling forward. Bucky looked to Steve. He was the leader he should step in but Steve only moved over to lean against a table, letting Tony handle it. Bucky glared at him. Everyone knows that Tony Stark was not tactful. But it shouldn't matter, she broke in and for all intents and purposes she was the enemy. But he saw the way she flinched inwardly before standing straight and walking up to meet Tony. They were the same height and she stared him straight in the eyes not backing away from the cocky man.

"Hello there, Mr. Stark, I'm afraid we haven't had the pleasure of meeting before. What a pleasant surprise to find you here," she told him sunnily and he grinned, crossing his arms as he tried to figure her out.

"I like your attitude, but you are clearly outnumbered and you aren't tricking anyone. So, why don't you just tell us the truth?" Tony demanded and she clenched her jaw, the cheerfulness draining from her expression and leaving it hard. Wrong move. Her eyes flashed and he could feel the tension in the room as for the first time everyone realized she might be more dangerous than they had assumed.

"No one has to get hurt here we just want to know what you are here for," Dr. Banner told her soothingly, stepping forward to ease the tension. His quiet demeanor and earnest personality almost always calms but when her eyes fell on him she stiffened, backing away a bit. frowned, hurt by the way she watched him warily but he was used to it.

"Sorry, Doc, hurting is what I'm good at," she told him coldly, and Steve finally moved to confront her.

"You aren't going to hurt anyone here, Miss," he told her and Bucky moved quickly to his side, knowing that yes, yes she would. When she saw him she backed off again and he was caught once again by her eyes and they stared at each other. They didn't move but it was almost as if they were two animals circling each other, sizing each other up. And they didn't like what they saw.

"Hello, James Barnes," she whispered softly and it felt as if the air was knocked out of his chest. Steve turned to him in surprise, concerned at the way Bucky tensed before angrily turning back to face her. For some reason Bucky stepped forward first cutting him off, and Steve worriedly watched letting Bucky handle it when all he wanted to do was send Bucky somewhere safe. He stepped closer to her, moving in front of Steve, and she tensed more, unsure of what he was going to do. But she didn't move away.

"Who are you?" he asked her and her eyes flickered unsure. That wasn't what she was expecting. He understood that emotion all to well.

"You should probably be asking what am I," she answered and he narrowed his eyes down at her grim countenance.

"I know what you are, " he told her and her eyes widened in shock. She started trembling as he watched her, grey eyes trying to hide her fear but for the first time since he met her she wasn't hiding behind anything and he was almost stunned into speechlessness at the sight.

"You are lost."

She breathed out at his words, surprised but then her defenses were back up, a smirk on her face and her eyes were shuttered once more. She took a step back, eyes widening dramatically as she looked around as if for the first time.

"You are right! How did I ever get here?," she exclaimed and Bucky bit down the flare of dull anger he felt at her dismissal.

"I'll just let myself out then! See y'all around boys," she told them, slapping Bucky on the back as she stepped around him before jauntily heading towards the door. Bucky froze at the contact, not wanting his reflexes to react badly but he was stunned to realize he was just surprised at the touch.

Everyone froze in surprise as she jauntily saluted Steve with two fingers on her way past, eyes watching her in disbelief.

"I really like her," Tony decided as the doors shut in front of her, blocking what seemed a very casual attempt to escape.

"Of course you would," Bruce told him softly, sighing as he leaned against a table out of the way.

"You aren't going anywhere," Steve told her firmly, every inch of him Captain America after she had touched Bucky. She might not have known quite what that meant but Steve didn't care, "Now, you are going to quit evading."

She punched the locked doors with her knuckles but it was half hearted as if she hadn't really expected to just walk out. She turned to face them, eyes flashing almost sulkily and for the first time Bucky wondered just how old she was. He knew she was young, but the way she held herself and the trouble in her eyes made her seems like such an old soul, almost ageless.

But now, with her arms crossed and her lips pouting she seemed younger than he liked for someone with so much of a past. Steve's sad blue eyes met his for a moment and Bucky could tell he had seen the same thing before Steve turned back to her. Bucky noticed that he tried to relax out of soldier to put her at ease.

"What's your name, Miss?" Steve asked her, going for friendly and her eyebrows rose. She snorted, rolling her eyes heavenward and everyone shifted awkwardly as she once again put them off.

"Miss. So, polite. I'm glad your stint in the Avengers hasn't corrupted you completely, Cap. Heard that happens around Stark and I would hate to have the last drop of chivalry die since everyone believes it has," she told them, trailing off as her fingers idly tapped on the wall ignoring Rogers' baffled look. Her eyes traveled across the group, noting Stark's haggard face and the shadows under Banner's eyes. She must have interrupted them in the middle of something important. It didn't seem as if they had been sleeping well.

"Just out of curiosity, when did you know I was in the building?" she asked Stark and he grinned at her from out of his dark beard. He was enigmatic, bustling with energy in a way that reminded her of the flock. His maturity seemed to be about there as well she mused as he bounced on the balls of his feet at the question.

"Oh, immediately," he answered her, for once pausing instead of heading into a wild explanation. He watched her intently, almost testing her to see if she would know the answer.

"Guessing its the AI. Facial recognition throughout the entire building, Mr. Stark?" she answered, annoyed at how pleased she felt when he grinned at her impressed. The Captain seemed annoyed at their banter, once again off topic but she couldn't help but find his faint exasperation endearing. Captain America seemed earnest, open, and direct. But that didn't mean he wasn't dangerous, just very... sweet? She internally rolled her eyes at herself at the thought, lips twisting ruefully.

"Alright, Steve, you can calm it down," she told him and his blue eyes found hers intensely. She suddenly regretted her choice to needle him but backing down wasn't really her style. If you are going to cross a line, might as well do it spectacularly. She straightened up, saluting firmly and Steve's jaw clenched. Barnes was still where she left him and though he was quiet now she could never dismiss his presence. Instead he was a dark shadow always at the edge of her vision, and her body was always aware of the predator lurking. She saw and nearly felt him stiffen as well.

"Sorry, yes, sir, Captain Rogers, sir. Steve was way too forward of me" she told him apologetically, and she saw the annoyed glint in his eyes. She had seen this expression many times before. He was so done with her. So, was Barnes it seemed and she was relieved that he was staying away. He had gotten close, way to close, and left her vulnerable. At first she had thought he really knew about the Experiments, about what they made her, but then his words had hit even closer to home, loosing whatever pain was always in her chest.

It had taken a moment for her to flare up and push him back to whatever distance it was that she kept everyone else. Her nerves had buzzed, nearly shaking her to pieces as she slapped his shoulder and her skin had crawled when she had strolled away as if waiting for his attack. He was dangerous, completely and in every way, and yet she always was a bit stupid. She had to be dismissive, make her point and so she had acted as if he was just like everyone else, making a joke before trying to head to the door. She had slightly hoped the shock would give her time to make it out before she could run for an exit but the doors had shut in front of her face, locking with an almost silent snick.

She turned back to face them annoyed, skin starting to crawl at actually be locked in. There were no outside windows here, no other doors, and even the vents were small and thin, controlled by the intelligent computer system. She assumed they could gas her if they really wanted to, but their aim was to discover her intentions not just kill her.
Now she was locked into a room with a super soldier, a crazy billionaire, and a freaking lab coat. And whatever Barnes was. She was pretty sure he didn't even know.
She bantered mindlessly, probably pushing the wrong buttons considering she was now a hostage, but she couldn't help herself as she tried to think of an escape. First, she needed to get out of this room and she needed them to unlock the doors before that was happening.

"Tony," Steve said, almost pleading as he turned to the man to handle whatever was happening with her. It seemed he thought Tony and her spoke the same language and she grinned when Stark smirked in his direction.

"What, Spangles? She is quite right, I mean you just met. You don't even know her name, and you are the epitome of chivalry. Maybe it hasn't been dead after all, just on ice," Stark told her, winking when she fought down a laugh.

"Look, what's the worst that she can do, she is outnumbered, outmatched, and no offense, kid, but really Cap you could probably take her by yourself. So, no one is willing to talk while in here, Banner is about to drop, and everyone else is on edge. I want some caffeine. What about everyone else?" he asked gesturing around and Banner huffed amused at him. Captain rubbed his forehead as if fighting off a headache but he didn't protest.

"Come on, lets move this party to the kitchen," Tony told them and the doors opened obediently behind her. She glared up at the ceiling, somehow trying to show the computer her displeasure when Tony moved to walk past her. She turned, not letting him behind her back and she noticed the edges of his eyes crinkle for a moment as he noticed, his face suddenly serious and far too intelligent as he looked at her with what could have been sympathy before his charm was back again. She wondered if she had just seen the real face of the superhero behind the playboy.

"State of the art coffee room for breaks, scientists live on coffee, but the break room can also whip up anything from the state of the art kitchen facilities," Tony explained wandering off down the hall. He certainly wasn't good at this prisoner thing she thought. But he didn't really have to be she added as she turned to see that Captain America remained in the center of the room, alert eyes on her.

Bucky Barnes still stood next to the table, slightly slouched now in a way that didn't display relaxation at all. More hunched, like an animal trying to protect itself or look smaller and harmless. It was not working. Banner moved across the room, giving her a small smile that she didn't really notice as he passed by, careful not to get to close. She held her breath as he walked after Tony, rubbing the back of his neck as his white coat swayed around him.

"After you, Miss," Steve told her, gesturing for her to proceed him politely but he was firm. It wasn't quite a demand but she still bristled. She straightened quickly, turning smartly to walk after the others, heading towards the only door still lit up bright. Through the glass walls on the labs she noted they had been emptied. The silence around them was only broken by the soft hum of machinery and the sound of Tony moving around in the break room.

She heard the footsteps behind her, solid and careful to keep a constant pace that matched hers. He was careful not to alarm her, but kept close enough that he could grab her arm and she fought the urge to snap angrily at him. Barnes was following, she could feel his eyes, but his footsteps were silent. She walked willfully, as if she wasn't in their control and doing exactly what they told her too, but her eyes were roving, searching for a way out. The labs were all close off from the outside, secure work areas. No where to go. If she ran it would be child's play for them to catch her.

She entered the break room sulkily, nearly gasping in relief at the large window that spanned the entire back wall, and nodded appreciatively at the large espresso Tony now held before him instead. She tried not to stare at the window but if anyone noticed she had relaxed a bit she hoped they assumed it was just the sight of outside.
They were high, way to far to worry about her jumping out a window of course. Auria grinned at the thought wandering over to stare out the glass as if interested in the view. She tapped the glass, testing the thickness and keeping her frown internal when she felt how thick it was. She turned to accept the offered coffee, having watched their reflections.

"Quite the view, of course, better from the top. So, since everyone is all prickly and temperamental what do you want to tell us? I'm sure we'll get around to getting what you don't want to tell us but this will go quicker the longer you cooperate," Tony told her and her eyes slightly narrowed.

"Hmm, world's righteous superheroes threaten a poor young girl with torture. How scandalous," she told him, taking a sip of the coffee and glancing at the others. Steve seemed bothered, tightening his strong jaw and frowning slightly but Barnes was indecipherable. Banner had taken off his coat, folding it over a chair and now that he wasn't wearing it Auria noted his button down shirt tucked in and the way he nervously fixed his glasses on his face. Without it, he almost seemed like a puppy, watching her for a sign of acceptance but she still looked away.

"Oh, not torture, that would be Nat. She is away at the moment so we would resort to waiting for the Maximoff kid. Sweet girl, creepy mind control thing. She's busy right now but I'm sure we could find you a room," Tony told her and her eyes narrowed at him, losing all signs of nonchalance. He seemed startled and Auria tried to fight down the look she knew was predatory. She turned away but not before noting Tony and Steve sharing a look, clearly taking in this knew side of her.

"So, do these things open? I would suffocate in here with all of these wonderful science experiments and glass cells" she asked, banking on her random question to seem as if she was deflecting when in fact it was the most important thing she had said.

"They could but really, when people try to kill you as often as they do us its a pretty good idea to keep your home safe. You'd think we weren't nice and friendly like," Tony told her and she made a face at him. So had Steve.

"So, what am I willing to tell you? All sorts of things I suppose. I have a fondness for chocolate, I am straight up addicted to any kind of iced coffee, I have a penchant for annoying people, my favorite color has to be blue although black is a nice alternative. I can eat about anything, I am five eight, and my astrology sign is a Leo," Auria rattled off quickly, noting their surprised and then annoyed expressions. She was surely using up even Tony's store of amusement, and she strode over to the counter to place her coffee mug down. And then, before stopping for breathe she let her knife fall into her palm and turned to fling it at the window, the blade barely scratching the surface.

It got their attention though and suddenly Tony's suit was encasing his hands, the palms glowing in preparation of a fight. Barnes had moved quickly, but stopped his first instinct of protecting Steve when he had caught sight of the knife's path. Then he had turned to her, moving to stop her if she had another weapon. Steve on the other hand had pulled his shield over from where it had been sitting on his back. Barnes moved swiftly and easily, wrapping his flesh hand around her wrist and twisting her arm behind her back. But she had expected this.

She turned with the motion kicking up jamming her knee into his side. He jerked at the impact but didn't loosen his hold. His face didn't seem to register the attack and she cursed as she saw the distant look in his eyes. She twisted anyway, using her surprising strength to drag his arm down and forcing him to step forward. Steve moved in, diving into the fight and she cursed as his strong hands pinned her arms to her side. But her eyes still fell on the shield, now in reach. She jerked back, feeling Captain America's nose crunch from the impact and causing her vision to flicker.

Then she went dead weight, dragging him down. Barnes moved to secure her, but she slipped down and rolled away. They seemed unwilling to use force but she didn't have that luxury. She leapt up, twisting in air to kick at Captain. But to his surprise it wasn't aimed at him, but at hooking her toes around the edge of his shield to send him falling forward. Barnes was on her in an instant, wrapping his hand in her hair as he pulled back, just enough pressure to cause her to lift her head up in pain and effectively ending whatever attack she had planned. But she was used to pain and so she gritted her teeth and yanked, feeling the strands rip from her scalp with a groan.

His grip reflexively tightened at first and then released quickly in horror, letting her drop towards where Captain was on his knees. She grabbed his shield, twisting it in front of him and then using it to leap over him, putting him between her and Barnes. It seemed the others had left the soldiers to handle this, trusting their strength to quickly subdue her but now they were watching in surprise at her holding her own. Banner stood by, anxiously watching and she was pretty sure he wouldn't pull out the big guns just for her. Tony on the other hand was deciding whether or not he was willing to crisp her and he was about to decide.

She slid her remaining knife out of its sheath at her back. It was hidden from sight, in between her wings and the tight shirt that smoothed out the shape, and her leather jacket that sloped over to hide that as well. Now everyone froze as she held the knife to Captain America's throat. She gulped in fear, hoping that this would really really work because there was no way they were holding back now. Hurting her would be fine now that she had threatened someone, especially their leader. Barnes moved closer and she immediately regretted her decision to threaten Steve Rogers as he stalked forward dangerously, murder emanating from him like a cold wave.

"Stop," she ordered, her voice steady as she gently pressed the very edge against the Captains throat. She kept her thumb against the blade, unwilling to actually kill him even if it was her only option, but she was willing to shed a few drops of blood. A single drop welled up, but it was all that was needed to stop Barnes in his tracks, his blue eyes steel hard as he stared at the single red bead on the edge of her blade. Stark slightly lowered his hands and she weighed her options now that they were all out to kill her. Of course, she would get the most advanced team of super humans out for her. Why couldn't she just make friends for once?

"Sir, there is something wrong, no, there is someone, sir, I cannot stop-," came the voice from earlier, slightly panicking as it tried to explain before cutting out completely. Relief flooded through her as Tony Stark turned to the cuffs on his arms, trying to frantically stop whatever was happening but he was too late. The window was opening. She had been hoping that she could wrangle the shield away, which was desperately stupid, and use it to break the windows but now she nearly sobbed in relief as wind blasted through the room, lifting her hair from her skin.

"I am sorry about this," she apologized to the man in front of her before shoving him hard as she removed her blade. She took the moment of confusion to dart away, leaping over the blast that came from Stark's glove but she felt it singe the skin of her calf. Barnes was quick, but he wasn't interested in her. He caught Steve immediately, hands moving to make sure his throat was intact, that his pulse was strong, that he was alive.

Certain of him, he turned to find her, hands not moving away from Captain's skin. He caught her eyes as she turned, fury burning his veins and cooling his face in a way that made no sense until he met her eyes. The tears he found there hit him like a punch to the gut, throwing him into a state of muddled emotions that hurt as they battered against his mind. Steve was breathing calmly before him, and moved to stop her as she casually stepped back out of the open window.

"No!' Steve screamed, diving forward to grab her but she was gone. Tony leapt, quickly following her into a dive out the window, his suit armoring him on the way down. Bucky and Steve moved together, almost in sync as they moved to the window. Banner coming around to watch as well. They stared in shock as up swooped wide storm grey wings, framing the girl. Her hair was lose, wild around her as her wings strongly beat the air, carrying her past their window in a flash. And then Tony was behind her, helmet opening as he shouted at them as he passed.

"Wings! She has fucking wings!'"

Bucky watched her climb, faster than he could believe but still slow in comparison to Stark. Even though, she was ahead of him, jacket gone and arms by her side. And then she dove, quickly closing her wings and letting gravity and momentum carry her towards the ground faster than his eyes could almost follow and his breathing stopped. Her wings opened with a snap at what seemed like the very last moment, stopping her from hitting the ground and she twisted around a corner, darting out of sight and through the buildings so low Tony could barely follow.

"She is gone guys, I don't know what happened! She must of landed somewhere and slid through a building, I can't find her anywhere," Tony told them over the speaker. They all stood together, speechlessly staring as Iron Man returned, obviously still in disbelief. He looked at all of them deliberately before opening his mouth and then closing it.

"Speechless? Didn't think I'd see the day," Steve joked but, it was full of wonder as well. Instead of returning the barb Tony only stared at him for a moment before answering.

"Wings."