"Because I'm doing this for the thrill of it, killin' it
Never not chasing a million things I want
And I am only as young as the minute is,
full of it
Getting pumped up from the little bright things I bought
But I know they'll never own me."

Tennis Court by Lorde.

Easton was, as the kids say, well and truly shook.

The helicarrier was more than she'd ever imagined it to be, even beyond her wildest dreams. Filled wall to wall with high range tech, bustling agents and the one and only - Nick Fury.

Easton had heard countless stories about the mystery that was Nick Fury from her father, but he mainly just rambled conspiracy theories at her about what might've happened to his eye. Was it a grenade? Did someone rip it out? Did he get a contact lens stuck behind his cornea that required emergency surgery? Does he just wear the eyepatch as a fashion statement? Who knows.

All Easton knew for sure was that she was terrified of disappointing him.

Easton's gaze moved from Fury, who was working with his frontline agents to track down Loki, to the awkward exchange that was Phil Coulson asking Captain America to sign his trusty trading cards.

"I mean, if it's not too much trouble," Phil panicked, worried he'd come on too strong to his favourite hero.

"No, no. It's fine," the captain smiled, catching her gaze as she wandered over.

"You know," she began, "he's kind of your biggest fan. He's been collecting those cards for as long as I can remember." Just as Easton made eye contact with the hero, making her almost internally combust, he let out a chuckle.

"Why is this damn tech not working!" Nick Fury interrupted, "I need eyes on Loki and I need them now!"

Easton gestured to the Captain that she'd be back, and made her way to the desk where Agent Sitwell was struggling to find a match.

"May I?" She asked timidly, gesturing to the software.

The agent looked up to Fury with concern, while he cocked an eyebrow at the young girl before him. Looking to Agent Coulson who nodded with a smile, Fury gestured for Sitwell to rise.

"Give it a shot, Stark."

Easton reluctantly engaged with the software now that all eyes in the helicarrier were firmly placed on her. Her fingers worked their magic and within what felt like seconds she'd managed to find a match on Loki.

"I got a match on Loki," she announced, "its seventy-nine percent, but it's the best seventy-nine percent you're gonna get."

"Location?" Coulson called out, making his way around to the desk she sat at, Fury following in tow.

"Stuttgart, Germany. 28, Konigstrasse," she gestured to the screen, "he's not exactly hiding, not that he could looking like that."

Earning a chuckle from both Rogers and Coulson, Fury announced that the Captain and Natasha would be going to Germany to hunt down her match - little did they know that her father would be joining them.

Seventy-nine percent, Easton thought. If I send them to Germany on a seventy-nine percent chance and I'm not right, I may as well have the ground swallow me up. Scratch that, she thought - i'll jump.

Natasha moves to ruffle her hair before leaving to suit up, and she received a curt nod from the Captain who followed her lead. Easton's cheeks blushed red, as Phil Coulson appeared beside her.

"And you said I was his biggest fan," he joked, as she stuck her tongue out in response, "good job up there by the way, Q."

Easton blushed again, as Nick Fury made his way towards her.

"That was quite something, Stark," he spoke, making Easton feel small as his tall frame towered above her.

Easton knew immediately that Sitwell's calibration was off on the software, and that he hadn't quite connected the satellite fully with the dock. It was simple stuff to her, she'd been practically raised in the lab. She thanked her lucky stars for her father's relentless teaching, and figured that no A could ever match up to that moment on the helicarrier.

"It was nothing really," she insisted, "I'm glad I could help, sir."

Nick Fury laughed, "you know, Agent Sitwell has been here at SHIELD for 8 years, and somehow you're here for 8 minutes and manage to correct his lateral calibration and wireless signal."

Easton was confused as to why Fury had left Sitwell to struggle, "you knew about the calibration?"

"It's my job to know, Stark," he replied, gesturing for her to walk with him, "I was testing you, so congratulations - you passed."

Easton beamed and walked with the director down the halls of the helicarrier, Phil Coulson following behind them.

"Agent Coulson was the one who told me about those tech-wiz talents of yours, Stark. And I hear through the grapevine that you ain't too shabby with a bow and arrow either?"

Easton gulped, and looked to Coulson who smiled. She cursed him in her head, not wanting to embarrass herself in front of the director.

"Well, I guess. I mean, I-I shoot arrows in my basement everyday after school?"

Coulson scoffed, "she's being way too modest for her own good, sir. If you asked me, I'm pretty sure she could give the Hawk a run for his money."

Fury ushered the two of them into a training room with key-card access, making Easton feel increasingly nervous. The room was like nothing she'd ever seen before, a world away from her rather modest basement setup.

Holographic systems designed to replicate approaching attackers appeared as the Director sat at the control panel. He handed her a bow and a quiver of midnight black arrows, and gestured for her to enter the simulator.

"Show us what you've got, Miss Stark."

Easton looked to Phil, who gave her a less but encouraging smile. She removed her cardigan, placing it on the table and attaching the quiver around her body, entering the simulator in her black jeans and a matching tank top.

The simulator closed shut, and Easton armed herself with an arrow. Before she knew it, attacker simulations came towards her as she released the arrow from her bow. One after the other, she destroyed the figurines. Sweat dripped down from her forehead, as she weaved her way through the course, emptying her quiver as she went.

Easton took no time to look through the screen at the director or Agent Coulson, focused on aiming her bow in the direction of the figures drawing towards her. She struck the final arrow into a figure running behind her, seeing it combust before her before she could even catch her breath.

Turning back to the screen, she saw both Director Fury and Agent Coulson clapping her efforts. Her cheeks flared red, as she made her way back to the control panel through bated breathe.

"I guess owe you 20, Agent," the director praised, "when can you start?"

Easton looked bewildered, catching her breath as she peeled her cardigan back onto her shoulders.

"Start what?"

Director Fury opened a locker labelled 'Stark', which contained both a SHIELD stealth suit and a glimmering black bow.

"Welcome, Stark. To the Avengers Initiative."

_______________________________

I'm back bitches!!

It's taken me years to get back into writing this book, but I'm determined to get it finished as Easton's story is not even starting yet!!

Thankyou for being patient with me, and look forward to a new chapter soon!

Em 🤪