[ Author's Note: Okay.. this chapter is a little rough so don't judge too harshly. I've been super busy but I still wanted to get an update out to you guys. Thank you so much for the support you've shown me! Keep those comments coming, though. They're what has been fueling this story.
-KB ]


For one of the first moments since his original imprisonment in the compound, the boy allowed for a genuine grin to twist over those pale lips. Finally he not only succeeded in his evaluation, but even managed received an outstanding obligation for it. A warmth overtook his chest as he took a cautious step forward, staff still resting loosely within his grasp. So this is what it was like to feel appreciated. Little did he know, though, that Fury was going to more than elevate his mood— and instead the Director of SHIELD was going forever to alter the course of his life.

"Come on boy, get your butt out of there." Fury called to the poor stunned subject of their trials. With all other entrances thoroughly inaccessible thanks to the crystalline barrier, their white coated window was the only option. The Director ushered Frost over with an idle wave of his hand, and extended an eager hand to the other. However, before he could even instruct the frostling to power his own way up the wall, an icy grip had soon found his own. Wait a moment . . . Glancing downward, there was no frozen pillar. Not even a glistening ladder. "Great, just what we need: another flying menace." The one-eyed man roared with amusement.

"Huh?" At first, Jack hadn't even realized the gust of wind. It felt so natural to him, like taking a much needed breath, or persuading his heart to beat. A subconscious act at best. Yet here he was drifting in midair, held aloft by the invisible forces he now had dominion over. "I'm flying!" With a cheerful proclamation, the spirit slipped away from Fury and drifted upwards. "I can fly!" Shifting his weight, the lanky child banked a hard right before circling around to the center. Though before he could try anything else the winds suddenly tucked from beneath him, buckling as the currents ricocheted throughout the room. A sudden yelp was given as Frost tumbled down to the flooring below. In desperation, the boy called forth one final gust to lessen his fall, though he still rolled across the icy floor with good momentum.

Surely there was some concern from the group above, not that Fury would have caused you to believe that. He lounged against the window frame, arms dangling lazily as he rolled his eyes. "You can fly, yes. You also drop like a rock. We'll have to work on that back at headquarters." As he spoke the teenager lifted himself with a small groan. The landing may have been rough, but he managed to shake it off like the flakes he dusted from his uniform. Within moments the boy was back to the wall, this time using the crook of his staff to hook the windowsill and give him a means of reaching the others.

"What do you mean, headquarters?" He asked, sapphire eyes alight with curiosity.

"Well you aren't staying here, Frosty." The Director rashly replied, snatching the child by the back of his shirt before helping to haul him over the edge. "These doctors are crazy. Just be glad you're human." Giving a small chuckle, Fury eyed Remons.

"Oh come now! Our Avian hybrid is proving to be an equally fascinating specimen. She's a fair flyer and certainly knows her way with a weapon." The scientist beamed, trying to justify the fact that his own creations couldn't quite match up to the multi-million dollar SHIELD project. Though his confidence soon gave way to a sigh as he added, "if only she wasn't always so darn interested in people's teeth."

Again that singular eye, as dark and deep as obsidian, rolled in slight annoyance. "I already told you that we would give this . . . erm, fairy, a fair chance to enroll with SHIELD next week. Until then, I'm tired of hearing about your deranged mutual petting zoo."

It was then that Jack decided it would be best to not raise his voice. But, mutant petting zoo? Is that what he really was? A mutant? The boy mulled over the idea in his head, trying to understand whether he should feel ecstatic or disappointed. At least until a heavy hand clapped down upon his shoulder. Without reservation, the child did jump at the touch, though he quickly relaxed to find that it was the very man who was proving to be his saving grace.

"Why don't we take our leave?" Asking in earnest, Fury waited for approval from Frost before guiding the teen to the exit. "I'll be taking over full responsibly of Frost from here." –and with that last command, one of the highest ranking officers of SHIELD disappeared with experiment in stow. He would meet no resistance, though, not from Remons or the other lab coats. Instead, would left only faces of shock and annoyance as this wasn't the first time that Fury had bullied his way around the compound.

"So, I'm going to live somewhere new?" There were a million and two questions buzzing around the child's head at the moment, though he could only muscle up the courage to ask Fury this one. With stave swung casually over one shoulder, the boy paced himself just before the other.

"Yup. You're going to live in place a lot more-homey than this." Just shortly after entering the hallway, Mr. Eyepatch had steered them towards the main exit corridor of the compound. The standard white paint reminded him of tofu. Bland and unpleasant. Not to mention the concrete flooring, only providing more reason to think of this place as a prison or museum rather than lodging for life forms. There was no way he was letting this newly 'born' elemental grow up in a place like this. As they continued down the wide hallway, metallic signs introduced the off-shoots and proudly proclaimed the other experiments that were given life within their walls.

"Bunny?" Jack again prompted in question, pointing a pale finger towards one of the signs. The animal name he had called out was not only written there, but also depicted a small picture of the creature in forest green color.

"I told you, Remons has a sick fascination with wild life. Birds. Rabbits. They're all bundles of genetics to him. I don't even want to know what massive fur ball he might have cooped up down there."

Of course Frost wanted to ask more, to learn all he could about the place he had been born into, but the words wouldn't come. His mind was reeling, trying to absorb all of the new information he had been presented with. Nick Fury must have noticed to, as he gave a toothy smile down to the frostling. "Don't worry kid, once we catch up with Barton and Coulson I'll explain everything."