Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel, the Avengers, or the X-men if I did I would be looking like a badass in the movies like the person who actually did write the Marvel comics.

Warnings: Contains language, awkward moments, and I think that's it…

Note: I am connecting the X-men here. The movies might not be able to use them, but I can because this is a non-profit fanficition. I do not have all my dynamics down how they are connected to Shield, but even if my information is completely wrong I will try my best to at least make it logical.

I apologize.

Chapter 4

Acacia was a lot of things, and mature is just scratching the surface. She had done everything for herself since she was sixteen and her powers surfaced. She was her own family and for the most part ignored her family. Sometimes she did contact her mom, but that was only when she was in an untraceable location. The rest of her family hated her. She provided her own housing usually and worked to provide her own food. She was a mature person, and because of that she could admit that she was terrified.

Shield is a very powerful and capable organization that had no problems with trying to eliminate its foes. She was one of them that had managed to escape every single thing they threw at her. Shield had even recruited the X-men to deal with her, but she had gained their trust and left. She had escaped numerous agents they sent after her and that was a struggle. One agent at a time was a struggle. However, she was now walking right into their headquarters without a care in the world.

It could be the end of her and she knew it. She was not stupid, but maybe this was her stupidest move in all of her life.

She walked out to the living area where Steve and Tony were arguing about something.

Steve stopped to look at her. Acacia was dressed in all black with formfitting leggings that fit her well without being too tight. She was wearing a shirt that reveal her midsection a little bit and he told himself it was impolite to stare. He had to admit though he really liked her leather jacket and black combat boots. It somehow suited her.

"Looking like a badass," Tony commented, throwing a thumbs up in the young girl's direction. She merely looked indifferent.

"Is this okay to wear to Shield or should I change?" Acacia asked. She still didn't want to seem suspicious.

"It should be fine," Steve answered. He started walking out of the room. "Stark has showed up in his pajamas before, so you'll be fine."

"All right let's go then," Acacia stated. "I don't want to be late."

"Are you riding with me or the Captain?" Tony asked her as she started to walk away.

"Normally I'd say Steve, but I have no intention of getting on a murder cycle."

"You mean motor cycle?" Steve offered. She turned around and shook her head.

"No. Hopping on one of those things is like setting yourself up to get killed. I'll just ride with Mr. Stark."

OO00OO

About thirty minutes later Acacia had entered the Shield building and she was having a hard time not letting the tension in her body show. She wanted nothing more than to run out of the building and avoid the various labs that scientists could use to tear open her body and study it, "for the greater good".

She had been sticking right beside Steve who was receiving various greetings from all of the workers. The men seemed to admire him while most women wanted to get in his pants. He, however, was completely oblivious to their true intentions. It made it clear to her that perhaps she was in the best possible hiding place.

Loyal, trustworthy, and above all the best solider were how she could describe Steve. She was sure that was how everyone described Steve. If one looked passed his appearance he only seemed to have things related to that trait. He was nice. She was not. He was willing to trust and she vowed to never trust again. She only had to continue the charade of being friendly to him to receive his undying protection. Acacia could feel guilty about it, but she doubted she would ever regret making that decision.

She arrived at what looked to be an informational desk and Steve started kindly talking to the female behind it. She would smile at him every now and then before turning to send Acacia a sharp look. Acacia simply ignored the half-wit female and waited for instructions.

"If you'll follow me right this way Ms. Smith," the woman urged. She stood up from behind the desk and Acacia followed her. Steve moved to follow as well, but the woman placed a hand to his chest to stop him. Acacia rolled her eyes at the obvious act just to touch him. "I'll have to ask you to wait here. If there isn't a problem we will be back in about five minutes."

Acacia followed her and then seamlessly filled out the information about herself. She had memorized it all in case this was going to happen.

"I don't trust you." Acacia looked back up at the woman. She had to be in her mid twenties with a straight blonde bob and green eyes. She was pretty and fit for work that was most likely not just paperwork.

"I wouldn't expect you to," Acacia stated, before sighing. "I'm young, inexperienced, can't fight, and have a low level education I wouldn't trust me either if I was a Shield agent. However, I'm not one and never intend to be one. I'm not here to take advantage of whatever it is this organization does. I simply took the job because I need the money."

"What if I don't believe any of that?"

"I can't exactly make you believe it. That's your decision, not mine."

"I'm taking your finger prints now."

She roughly grabbed Acacia's hands and pressed them to the ink she sighed just hoping all of this would be over quickly.

OO00OO

Nick Fury was a name Acacia had heard many times from agents that had tried to apprehend her, but now she could finally put a face to the name. He was a rough looking dark skinned man with a patch over his eye and a scowl that could make smiling babies instantly cry. She didn't want him as her enemy and he didn't seem to care about her presence, which was a good thing. His eyes were harsh and calculating as he seemed to look into the depths of Steve and Tony's souls.

"After a few of our many disasters we're finally beginning what we should have started to do long ago," Fury stated. "We're gaining allies from all over. Thor is working on the Agrarians, Banner is working with a few scientific organizations, and I've sent Barton and more recently Romanoff to other organizations similar to ours. We're preparing in case another threat to the world should arise again."

"Are you sending us to go make nice with people Fury?" Tony asked. He had his eyebrow raised in question.

"Actually they're coming to New York to visit us." His eyes hardened. "This group has been linked to Shield for a long time, but we have never been officially allies. They're known for their unique skill set and abilities as well as going against authority."

Acacia felt her heart race at his description and that could only mean one group of people. A group of people she really wishes she could avoid for the rest of her life.

"We have no need for people who won't follow orders in a time of crisis," Steve cut in. Acacia was so thankful that someone was protesting. "Them not working with us could cost the lives of hundreds."

"Them working against us could cost the lives of thousands," Fury countered. He took a deep breath as if to prevent himself from yelling. Acacia noted that he must have a very short temper or at least only a little bit of patience. "They aren't unlike you. They are advanced beyond normal humans. However, unlike you they were born like that and not given a special serum. Some are angry about it others ignore it, but they are still powerful. They won't be visiting for some time, but I thought you would appreciate the warning. Especially since some of them are a bit hard to deal with. I want them as allies and that is an order."

"Yes sir."

Acacia glanced at Steve and noticed how his mouth had tugged down at the corners and his eyes were a bit icier than before. His posture was perfect and ready to dismiss or become at ease. He was a soldier and perhaps she had overestimated him because as far as she could see that was all he was.

"Who is this?" Fury asked, and she met his eyes.

Well, shit.