Ever since she was a little girl, she dreamed of flying. Her nights were filled with soaring through blue skies and amongst stars. It wasn't surprising, that she dreamt of freedom when she always felt so trapped.

Her parents were abusive, but she didn't really remember them. Her "father" was a drunkard and a gambler, hitting her to take out his frustration with his wasted, dead end life. Her mother was a prostitute. She slept all day and was out all night. She never really saw her.

They sold her to HYDRA when she was five.

The girl wasn't allowed a name, wasn't allowed a past, a future, or an identity. She had a number, and she had training. That was all. But every night, when she curled up and slept, she dreamed of soaring among clouds, below billions of silver stars. The stars, and flying. They kept her sane.
She spent twelve years underground, never seeing the sky, to become the perfect soldier, the perfect killer. And as they were about to give her a mission, the Director stopped them. They needed a test subject for a new serum.

They strapped her down onto a table, and injected it into her arm. She screamed in agony, and they only injected more. Her DNA changed, mutated, and she was incredibly lucky. There was one chance in a million of her living. The others contracted terminal cancer and died.

But she lived. She lived, and she grew wings. Black wings, with an estimated wingspan of twelve feet. Estimated, because she fell into a coma from the physical trauma.

HYDRA froze the experiment, and she was left that way for ten years. In a coma, but still dreaming of flying below the stars.

***

Ten years later

"We're in," said Captain America through the earpiece.

"Just copy the hard drive and blow the place. Free any prisoners." Bruce Banner said. He was back at SHIELD HQ, stressing and micromanaging from afar. "Just don't forget to-"

"Yes, we know," interrupted Clint Barton, aka. Hawkeye. "Free prisoners, copy hard drive, explode facility, and kill as many HYDRA agents as we can along the way."

Just then, Natasha spoke. "Guys, we have a situation here."

***
Natasha stared at the girl. The ice was blurry, so they could make out a face and a vague body outline, that was all. She began the 'unfreeze' sequence, her fingers dancing over the keys. After a nerve-wracking five minutes, the door hissed open and the girl slid out. She looked about seventeen, and she appeared to have a twisted back. It was misshapen under the heavy trench coat.

She sighed, scooping up the surprisingly light girl, and began to head for the exit, taking down every agent that got in her way.

"You have two minutes, Nat," said Tony over the headset, "then you're gonna be blown sky-high."

Natasha started running.

As the facility crumpled behind them, flames already licking through the rubble, they boarded the helicarrier. Natasha took the girl to the medical bay, and between her and Bruce, they pulled the trench coat off.

Underneath, the girl didn't have a twisted back. Instead, she had midnight black wings, glossy and beautiful.

"Wow," breathed Natasha. The team stared in awe. Bruce sighed at them, pulling out a syringe and injecting the girl.

"What was that," asked Clint.

"Epinephrine. It should wake her up." Tony answered for Bruce.

The girl opened her eyes, blinked twice, and from lying down, she launched herself across the room, landing in a crouch. She gazed suspiciously at the people facing her.

"Where - where am I? Who are, uh, who are you?"

Bruce held out both hands to her, palms up. She recognized the gesture, brushing one palm with the tips of her fingers. He helped her stand and she almost imbalanced backwards, before compensating for the weight of her wings. She twisted her neck to look at them, then spread them, careful to not damage anything.

"That's new. I sure didn't have those before the serum." She gazed suspiciously at the heroes. "You aren't HYDRA, are you?"

The heroes shook their heads, and introduced themselves. "What's your name?" asked Steve.

"Don't have one."

He frowned. "Well, why don't you choose one?" She though for a moment. "You only get to choose once, so pick a good one."

"Dragon," she said decisively. "The winged creature of mythology, capable of breathing fire and as intelligent as any human." She gazed at them. "Considered monsters by many, they were brave and loyal and fought to protect."

"Good choice," said Natasha. Dragon nodded, fluttering her wings.
"Do you have any other powers?"

Dragon shrugged. "Photographic memory and an IQ of 179."
***

Three Hours Later

Dragon stood on top of the helicarrier. It was resting on the sea.
The water was perfectly smooth, the silver moon was hung crescent-shaped in the sky. It was echoed in the still, flat water. Millions of stars glittered so close it seemed as though she could touch them.

Natasha nodded encouragingly. "Go on, Dragon. You'll be fine."

Dragon breathed in deeply, before sprinting towards the edge of the helicarrier. Her wings snapped open at the last second, and she glided into the air. At first, she just enjoyed herself by gliding, but soon she was diving and spiralling, trailing fingertips through the water.

Fury climbed up the last few steps onto the deck.

"She's a natural. She'd be a good addition to the team."

Part two?

Dragon x