A/N:

Hi everyone,

If you get the chance please let me know what you think of the story so far. Plot suggestions are welcome and appreciated; I have a general idea of the story line but let me know if there is anything specific you would like to see!

Enjoy!

Nim woke with a start as the ground rumbled beneath her mattress. The walls of the greenhouse were light, indicating it must be at least midday which would be the middle of the night for her. She groaned in annoyance and got up look outside. The earth shook again as she reached the door and flung it open. The sight before her was confusing to her sleep-muddled brain. Avengers Tower could be seen in the distance and it was on fire.

Wait, what.

The Tower was on fire; smoke poured from a hole in the side of the building. Police sirens raged in the distance as flames licked the sides of the tower, climbing up the outside. Nim cursed and wrestled on her suit. She jumped off the fire escape and ran toward the scene. As she neared she began to make out a fight around the base of the building. Luckily all civilians had cleared the area, no doubt running away screaming. There were no gawking rubber-necks to be seen. Captain America stood suited up among his teammates (sans Bruce), fighting off people dressed in black combat uniforms with a red symbol on their shoulders. It appeared to be a skull with six tentacled curving out from the neck. There had to be at least fifty of them and the Avengers weren't doing well.

As she watched Falcon swooped down to take out a group approaching Black Widow. They seemed to expect him, however, as they latched onto his metal wings and pulled him down to crash against the asphalt with a long screech of metal.

Nim winced and wasted no more time in joining the fray, whipping out her twin mythril knives from her utility belt and launching herself at the nearest enemy. She slashed the man across the back and kicked him to the side, launching onto another with her gathered momentum. She tackled him to the ground and rolled to land in a crouch. To her surprise the first man she attacked came at her again, the only sign of her previous attack a rip in his suit through which she could see a glint of metal. She spun him around to get a better look and that's when she realized the wound was not dripping blood, but oil.

They were robots.

Extremely human-like robots with flesh covered anatomies but robots nonetheless. They were toting an assortment of firearms and were very skilled in using them. Nim knocked a pistol out of her face before the hand could pull the trigger and slid behind one of the abandoned cars in the street.

There was no more time for observations.

She slashed and weaved through their masses to reach the team at the center who seemed to be drowning under the onslaught. She caught the Captain's eye from his sheltered place around the corner of a building and he nodded to acknowledge her presence before flinging his shield in an arc to crush three robots before it bounced back to his arm.

The Avengers had seen her alter ego KnifeSlinger once or twice on the news and accepted her as another vigilante, nothing more, but right now they would take all the help they could get.

It was awhile later when an angry roar deafened them and the Hulk came thundering into the fight. Nim jumped back as he careened toward her position and missed a fist to the chest by inches. She heard the Captain frantically speaking into his comms unit.

"No I didn't call a code green...yes…" he directed his attention to Nim and his eyes widened. A gun sounded off from behind Nim and she whirled to deliver a roundhouse kick to the 'bot sneaking up behind her. The Hulk, while destroying a large portion of the street lights and surrounding businesses, seemed to be turning the tide. Soon they were taking down the last of the robots, none of which slowed their attack or tried to flee.

Iron Man and Falcon landed nearby as those on the ground limped over to them. Nim turned to leave, her job done, when she felt a throbbing in her left shoulder. Bewildered, she turned her head to see that in the chaos of battle she hadn't noticed she had been shot in the shoulder. The adrenaline was wearing off and she was beginning to feel the pain. Ruby blood pulsed out of the rip in her suit in time with her heartbeat, trailing down her arm to drip onto the asphalt. The injury was so close to her heart if it had been another three inches to the left she would have been dead before she knew what had happened.

"KnifeSlinger's hit," Widow's flat voice snapped Nim out of a haze and she whirled back around to face the approaching team members. Black Widow studied her shoulder before meeting Nim's eyes, her gaze blank. Everyone else's emotions ranged from concerned to curious, Captain America seeming the most bothered by the turn of events.

"That looks bad, you need to get patched up," he told her, a frown gracing his features. He stepped toward Nim and she held up a knife in warning; he immediately retreated and held his hands up in surrender. Bucky, who had been watching her warily, stepped forward to stand with the Captain.

Nim didn't dare speak in fear they would recognize her voice. How had things gone south so quickly? A few hours age she had been dreaming in her bed and now she needed to give the Avengers the slip or face being compromised. They would ask questions she wouldn't want to answer, possibly even lock her up as a danger to the public. Maybe give her a psych evaluation? She knew she wouldn't pass one of those.

"She's been inconveniencing the police for quite awhile now, I'm sure they'd appreciate us bringing her in," Stark had popped his face mask and joined the conversation. "Don't tell me I'm the only one curious to see who's under the mask."

Nim's gloved fist tightened around the knife. The blood continued to drip from the bullet wound. Her eyes flickered from one figure to another and she backed toward a side alley she could see in her peripheral vision. She took a breath and bolted toward the alley but she was slow from blood loss and Wilson beat her to it, blocking her path. They were talking again but she was in full panic mode now and couldn't focus on their words.

They couldn't find out who she was… what she was; a dangerous freak.

Strong, fast, trained, uncontrollable.

Like them but broken.

Broken broken broken- SETH NIM TIDE NIRA. Her father's shadow throwing a glass bottle at her head- Being forced to spar at battle school until her legs gave out- Fighting with her brother about whether to go back home or stay away- stay safe Seth- Running away- Running- Always running-

She dropped to the ground.