Note: Bold Italics are Memoires

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Standing in the middle of a desert wearing a black mini dress and black boots that came up to my knees with twenty of my team mates staring at me like I was some piece of meat was not my idea of a great Sunday evening. We had a lead on Crystal, a terrorist who was torturing and maiming innocent people. Our informant scheduled a meeting with him, we were told he was reliable, but then again I didn't leave anything to chance. Both of my boots had knives and my cover partner, Philips, would have his guns under his coat. I'd rather have a gun, but this dress didn't leave much to the imagination and didn't have very many places to hide anything. I swallowed nervously as I was briefed on what to do…again. These SHIELD guys didn't leave anything to chance. They needed this guy for something, but they weren't breathing a word why. I didn't ask questions though…I followed orders. Agent Barton stepped to my side and touched my elbow gently before he escorted me fifteen feet away from the group. Barton or Clint…had become a confidant in the past five months. I couldn't put my finger on it…but there was just something about him that drew me to him.

"You sure you want to do this? We can fly someone else in…we have plenty of Agents who are trained specifically for this."

I nodded slowly and then once again, confidently. "I can do this. Walk in the park."

He smirked, the right side of his cheek twitching as he chewed on his bottom lip. He scanned the desert before his blue eyes landed on me, "You…you look amazing by the way. You actually have a body under those fatigues."

I cocked an eyebrow at that and he back tracked quickly, "I mean…you know…never mind."

I grinned and laughed as I pushed my hair back from my face, "If I didn't know any better I'd say you were trying to flirt."

"Is that what I'm doing? Good God…I kinda suck at it."

"I like it."

"James. Let's go. On the clock now." Philips yelled. I glanced over at him, he cleaned up nice. He wore dark colors, like me. We were going in as dealers wanting to buy Crystal's weapon. We just had to figure out what this weapon was exactly. Intel had failed up to that point. Crystal also had some pretty good connections and we needed to find out who they were.

Clint cleared his throat, "Eyes clear, ears open, bob and weave."

I smiled at the saying. I remember telling him that on the third day that he had been at our camp. We had just come back from a fire fight, I was black and blue, covered in half black fatigues, and nursing a graze for a gunshot. He asked me how people survived out here. I told him to keep his eyes clear, ears open, and remember to always bob and weave…and he would. He brushed my arm with his hand, the calluses made me shiver involuntarily. "And run like hell."

I smiled and gave a quick wink as I joined Philips in our jeep. He gave a swift nod before I turned remembering to put on my game face. I swallowed back nerves as I felt my hands begin to shake. Clint's face drifted into my thoughts and I calmed myself down.

'Think of things that calm you. That's how I get through a tough mission.'

I took a deep breath as I looked over at my partner. "Let's get this bastard."

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Staring at myself in the full length mirror I felt like I was in some kind of Halloween costume. Stark had done exactly what Fury told him to do…he made me a suit. He did and I hated it. It matched Natasha's…a lot. Except for the obvious changes…he had blue phantom like flames that were etched up the sides of my thighs and then up my forearms. You couldn't really tell that they were there until I turned. They appeared and danced in the light. All right…I admit…it was cool, but still. Obvious much?

"You aren't going to go into fireball mode and be left naked…right? Because that would be a bit distracting…for everyone." Stark said with a playful tone. I rolled my eyes and gave a short laugh.

"Whatever is on my body or whatever I'm holding on to…doesn't burn unless I let it. I can control the burn." I stretched my arms above my head and bent over in a yoga like pose testing the flexibility of the suit. "Sometimes."

"Don't really think you will need to be in that position…but God help us if you do." I stood up straight and shot Stark a glare.

"I could singe your hair right now…do you understand that?"

He squinted his eyes as me with a smirk. I was seriously wondering how in the world Pepper Potts put up with him. "Sounds like foreplay."

I gagged and threw pen at him, "You are a terrible person."

He chuckled as he picked the pen off the floor and went back to his station. Movement by the door caught my full attention. Clint gave a low whistle from the door way and I felt myself blush. I cleared my throat and picked up my bag of day clothes. Giving a nod to Stark, "Thanks Stark."

"Anytime Fireball," he mumbled as I passed him. Fireball was my new name that Tony had so wonderfully bestowed upon me. To the team though, I would be known as Flame. Clint and I walked down the hall together in silence for a few moments. He kept looking over at me and then glancing away. I fought the small smile that threatened to show as I began thinking about the first time we met. He thought I was a guy. I laughed a bit and his face instantly lit up.

"What?" He asked half amused and slightly confused.

"You remember when we first met? You were griping about the guy shoved all of your crap out of the Humvee and was going to kick his ass?"

He laughed broadly and I watched him amazed. I hadn't seen any of that since I had arrived. He nodded toward the armory locker. "I remember you telling me that if I didn't shut the hell up you were going to shove my bow up my ass."

"You listened." He opened the door to the armory and I followed him to the end of the room. My eyes scanning over the weapons…small, medium, large, larger, and massive.

I wasn't sure how I was going to fit anything in this suit. I was still weary of carrying a gun.

"Didn't really have a choice…you kinda scared the hell out of me that first day." He said as tossed me a belt and a thigh holster. I eyed the holster and shook my head.

"Clint, I'm not even sure I can shoot a gun. If I go all fireball then I might explode the bullets. That would endanger me…you…all of us."

"I know," he said as he grabbed a special edition 9MM off of the rack. He grabbed six clips and a knife about six inches long. "You'll need these. Should be more than enough room on your belt. It's already filled with bunches of goodies. I'll send a manual to your room."

"You aren't listening to me now," I warned. He turned and held out the 9MM, I stared at it.

"I trust you."

"I don't trust myself."

"That's why Cap and Thor are setting up a little somethin' special downstairs for you right now." He brushed past me with the gun, clips, and knife still in hand. I followed him.

"What are you talking about?"

"You'll see." He winked at me and I felt my heart beat faster. The Clint I used to know was beginning to make an appearance. I kinda liked that.

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"Holy shit," escaped my lips as we entered the cargo hold. Steve and Thor were applying what looked to be the last of the thick, heavy padding against the crates. The padding rose up six feet above the crates to create a dome. They were all held on by thick straps. This had to have taken forever to accomplish. I smiled and covered my mouth to prevent any happy giggles from escaping. I was part of the Avengers now…I need to keep my cool. But honestly, it felt great to be part of a team again. To be needed and wanted.

The guys both turned and looked at me as Clint brushed past he whispered low in my ear, "We trust you. Sort of."

I grinned as I walked slowly but confidently toward them while gazing around the arena. I have to admit, the longer I had this damn suit on the sexier I felt in it. Although, I was pretty sure I wouldn't feel that way after a battle. Steve blinked a few times and stuttered for a moment, "Y-you look…"

Thor cut his eyes toward him and quickly finished Steve's comment, "Like a true warrior. I am honored to serve in battle by your side."

Clint sighed heavily as he handed the 9MM to me along with a clip, "We will be behind the crates over by the door. You'll need to go full fireball, as Stark calls it, in order to test this theory."

"I…I don't like to go full fireball…things happen that I don't like." I paused and felt three pairs of eyes watching me closely. I shrugged and gave a huff, "The last time I went full fireball…I burnt down a house and blue streaks appeared…in my hair."

Clint gnawed on his lip as Thor crossed his arms. He looked over at Steve and he gave a short sigh. "We don't want to make you do anything that you aren't comfortable with."

Clint scoffed, "She's about to go head to head with a terrorist. We are past comfortable Cap."

Steve narrowed his eyes at Clint and stepped forward. I placed my hand on his chest and he paused shifting his blue eyes down to my brown ones. I felt Clint tense behind me. Thor's eyes darted back and forth between us. "He's right…I need to try. Tranquilizers work on me…if you need to use them."

Steve stared hard into my eyes and he faltered for a moment before he stepped back, "I'll go check with Banner."

"Thank you."

Thor spoke up, deep voice booming, "I shall accompany you Rogers."

I watched as the two walked out of the cargo hold and I turned to Clint. His hands rose to his hips and he stood there a moment in silence. I slipped the gun into the holster on my right thigh and adjusted the belt that rode low on my hips. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail, my bangs grazing the sides my cheeks. He watched me, blue eyes burning into me, the room felt thick, and I had the urge to run. I wanted to run like I had been for the past five years.

"Your hair is so long now."

His voice pierced through the quiet, bounced off the metal crates, and flew up to the rafters. It filled everything and I felt my heart twinge at the memory of us sitting side by side in the desert watching the stars together as I told him about my home in Georgia…my family…my life.

"You stopped smoking."

He rubbed his neck and bobbed his head slowly, "Someone told it was going to kill me."

"You listened."

He crossed his arms as he moved his gaze over my face. His eyes softened, the stress melted away from the lines in his face, and I saw him, "I always listened to you. Even when you thought I wasn't."

The door opened with Banner, Stark, Steve, and Thor entering. I rolled my eyes all of a sudden feeling like an experiment. "Seriously guys? I really don't want an audience."

"Just here to support the good Doctor," Stark said with a smile as he set up behind the crate that Steve directed Banner to. Thor remained behind them, arms crossed, eyes flickering between Clint and I. We were standing…close. Too close. I stepped away toward Steve. He met me half way.

"Ready when you are Sparky."

Clint spoke loudly, louder than he normally should or would, "When you are full Flame, take your gun out and point at the backside of the arena. Shoot into the padding. It won't ricochet. We will be behind those crates if something happens."

"And we will shoot you if you go bat shit crazy," we looked at Stark who was smiling while holding the tranq gun. I shifted my eyes back to Clint and gave him a nod toward Stark. He smirked and nodded before taking off to wrestle the gun away from him. Steve ran a hand over my shoulder before he followed. I smiled and waited until they were all behind the safety of the extra crates.

I met Clint's eyes seeing the tranq gun tucked securely into the crook of his left arm. I snapped my fingers and blue flame appeared automatically. I turned and lifted my palms and flex my fingers making the bright illuminating ball of blue flame grow in size. I gritted my teeth and shoved it away from body. It hit the padding and caused the crates to skid back a few inches. I heard murmuring behind me and I let the flame slink up my arms. I could feel the icy hot burn that engulfed me rapidly. I heard shouting and I whipped my head around. Clint was out in the open with the tranq gun. He eyed me closely, "You got this Marcy?"

I felt a surge of power run through my finger tips as I grabbed my 9MM and lifted it out of my holster. Banner's eyes were wide as they all peeked around the crate in order to get a better look. I'm sure I looked like a sight. My body engulfed in a series of blue hues, flames dancing gracefully across my hands, my eyes were surely a bright blue now…hair a flame in blue.

"Marcy. Answer me or I will put you down. Clear?"

I laughed lightly. The high that overwhelmed me while I was covered was liberating. The adrenaline was pumping through my veins and I could feel every nerve. I loved it. That scared the shit out of me. Lifting the gun behind me and I pulled the trigger six times. My eyes glued to Clint's as I slid the 9MM back into my holster. I walked slowly feeling the flames dissipate as I approached him. I blinked a few times feeling the cold burn leave my eyes. Rubbing my finger tips over my palms, I felt the flame disappear. Clint lowered his gun. "You would have put me down huh?"

"Only if you made me," he said before his eyes trailed over hair. I brushed past him and Steve gave me a swift nod followed by a smirk.

Banner called out to me as I neared the door, "Where are you going?"

"Talk to Fury. We have a terrorist to catch!"

"Hot damn…" was the last thing I heard from Stark as I rounded the corner.

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Thanks for reading! :o)

Reviews are welcome.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything. At all. Nope…nothing.

I did however create Marcy James…she is an original character.