The room was dark– not even a ray of light piercing through the sterile walls, the cold cement and rough bricks whispered the stories of the screams that were silenced there, of the souls that were tormented there. Strip bare of their everything– freedom, choice, soul, dignity and life in some cases.

Laying in the middle of that ice like floor was the shivering form of a young girl, her body curled up in a corner. Her clothes were disheveled, battered, and torn– mere threads keeping that fabric up– just as she was hanging from mere threads to her life, her morals close to snapping one or another. Her face was stained with tear stains and blood marks, bruises lingering on her jaw.

Her mind though, was more of a mess than her clothes, a swirl of emotions ranging from fear, and helplessness to defeat. To every emotion she had never thought she would experience– hadn't thought when she was still away, still safe in the warm embrace of the woman whose body had now gone cold.

"Please," she whispered, her voice a broken prayer– broken due to the realization that there truly was no one, who could help her... who would help her, "please, someone, anyone, help,"

Her innocent soul was being tormented in the worst ways there– had been tormented for the past three years, the pieces of her remaining self, chipping away like dust. Till the only one she can see, the only one she can feel was just a shadow of her former self.

Then again maybe she had become a shadow from the second she was born.

Her pleas and prayers were all unanswered– and not just then, at that moment where she had begged and pleaded, but for the years to come too. When she would be no more aware of the events transpired than anyone else outside that place. No one ever heard them– her please, nor mortals, nor gods.

Nor the monsters outside.

She was left there to be used there, which they did again and again in more ways than one.

While she let them do that.

Until there was not even the shell left of her former self. Just a completely new person– barely hanging by a thread to the person she doesn't even remember.

21 years later.

SHIELD Headquarters, New York.

Director Nick Fury stood at the head of the conference room, his eye patch a stark contrast against the sterile white walls that were illuminated by the fluorescent white and pale blue lights giving the otherwise normal room, a more refined and advanced look.

The Avengers sat around the oval table, their expressions a mix of curiosity and wariness. Meetings with Fury usually don't bring good news for them– they are always about how there is a new existential crisis for the world, to destroy the old bases or if they are unlucky that day– about how their missions had raised questions in the authorities.

None of them were huge fans of paperwork.

Never were, never would be.

"Listen up," Fury began, his gravelly voice cutting through the tension and silence, "We've got a new recruit joining us. She's not your typical Avenger, but she's got skills,"

A new recruit? Steve shared a glance with Natasha who shrugged in response, having no idea of what Fury was talking about. Though it was sure that none of them hadn't expected him to say this. They all were world saving heroes afterall, one of the group Fury had wanted to implement for so long– and to think he did trust somebody else and their skills to step in their team, their world– well it was difficult to think.

Clint, perched on the edge of his chair, raised an eyebrow. Expression shifting from guarded to curious, "Skills? What kind of skills are we talking about?"

Fury's lips twitched into a rare smile– a smile with the hint of both pride and mysteriousness, "You'll see soon enough. Her name is Nora Reyes,"

Natasha leaned back, her red hair falling over her shoulders, studying the empty chair at the far end of the table which would probably be occupied by their new team member. She trusted Fury's judgement, of course she did. But new people always bring secrets with themselves, and to be honest, she and the team had enough for a lifetime and to think that now– some stranger was going to enter her safe haven, her family, it just didn't sit right with her. After all, why make her join the Avengers? She could do very well as a SHIELD agent too, "Nora Reyes? Never heard of her."

"Exactly," Fury said, his gaze briefly flickering to her, "She's been off the grid, prefer working in the shadows, has been with SHIELD for three years, and in this mere time, she manages to prove her skills and– ambitions are enough for her to join Avengers,"

Just then, the door swung open, and the room fell silent. All eyes turned toward the entrance. And there, framed by the harsh fluorescent light, stood Nora Reyes.

She was unlike anyone they'd ever seen. Her silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, her lean frame making its way to the table, and her eyes—frigid emerald—look like they held some dark secrets...then again, who in Avengers don't? There was something special about her... a quiet air of mystery and something mystical, mixed with the equal amount of cautiousness.

"Hello everyone," Nora said, her voice a low, smoky timbre, her scent– a mix of petrichor and white lilacs mixing with the air, her eyes scanning the seats taking in her new teammates, "I'm Nora. Nora Reyes. Magic user, assassin, and now...your newest headache,"

There seated in the middle of the oval table was Tony Stark who leaned back, studying her, dragging his hazel eyes over her body, "Magic user, huh? So, what exactly can you do, hot stuff?" he asked, the ever-present smirk resting on his face.

Her eyes met his, and for a moment they persisted studying the man in front of her, it was quite obvious that the magazines might be able to capture his captivating looks (they weren't able to, just to be honest) but not the aura he exudes. The one, which oozes so much confidence that might make you second guess yourself, "More than your suit can, Tony. But for now, let's keep it under wraps. Fury's orders."

"On first name basis we are now, are we?" he asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Just thought of returning your favor," she said, her lips twitched into a half-hearted sharp curve.

Fury cleared his throat, a silent indication for them to stop their banter. Nora obeys his order back off, taking a seat on the nearby silver chair.

The Avengers exchanged glances, curiosity burning in their eyes. Each member had faced their fair share of extraordinary circumstances, but some newbie matching Tony Stark's art of sarcasm was new, without hesitating at that.

Maybe having a new teammate wouldn't be that bad after all.

Or maybe, it can be a disaster, who knows.

Steve leaned forward, his blue eyes steady, warm and welcoming, "Welcome, Nora. I'm Steve Rogers,"

Nora nodded, leaning back on her seat, "Captain. I've read about your exploits. Impressive shield work,"

Clint twirled an arrow between his fingers. "Hawkeye. And don't worry, we won't hold it against you if you've never heard of me,"

Nora's lips quirked at Clint's remark as she cleared her throat, "I've heard of you, Mr. Barton. Sharpshooter extraordinaire, Mr. Fury talks a lot about you and agent Romanoff,"

Bruce adjusted his glasses, giving her an awkward smile "Dr. Banner, I specialize in gamma radiation research,"

Nora's gaze lingered on him, "The Hulk, right? Impressive transformation."

Normally, if someone would mention that, Bruce would feel the other guy getting angry, obviously annoyed that Bruce was getting called Hulk, rather than him. But somehow, from the moment she entered the room, there was a calmness that had surrounded him, the type which made him comfortable enough to relax himself. Enough that he didn't have to control his emotions in fear of turning into Hulk right there and then. His gaze looked toward her with curiosity , just who was she.

Thor, towering and godlike, gave her a warm smile, he didn't particularly minded anyone joining the team– though it would of course mean that he would need to be cautious, he had learned early about the extent mortals could be deceiving, and no thank you, he didn't want to experience it back, "I am Thor, son of Odin! Welcome, Lady Nora." he said politely.

Nora inclined her head with a small smile, "Thank you, Thor. Lightning and Mjolnir. Got it."

Natasha leaned forward, her red hair falling over her shoulder, she kept her voice semi-polite but her gaze was filled with sharpness and hostility, "Black Widow. Espionage and combat. What's your game?"

Nora's eyes flickered with an unknown emotion before she put her walls back again. "Natasha, have heard a lot about you, a little bit too much if I might say," her voice might be having a little annoyance, " your reputation precedes you,"

Tony leaned back with his trade-mark smirk, looking her over, his gaze– accessing, scrutinizing, "Who don't know me?" he said with a shrug, "but just in case of someone living under a rock. Iron man, Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist,"

Nora hummed a response, and Tony raised his eyebrows at the lack of her response specifically toward his introduction.

Nora's expression remained unreadable, as she turned her head to look toward Fury, "Director Fury. You're the one who pulled me into this circus of gods and extraordinary mortals, I hope you remember just what exactly I had asked in return,"

Fury nodded, his hands entwined on his knee, of course, she had joined SHIELD with very specific conditions and he was never the one to back out from his words, "Circus or not, you're here now. We need every ace up our sleeve, and don't worry, Reyes, I do remember everything,"

The Avengers watched her and Fury's exchange, intrigued, though one look from Fury and they knew they were not getting any answers... nor the easy way at least. And although Fury was the one recruiting her, they had their doubts, on her abilities and her loyalty.

Tony especially watched her with a calculating gaze. A new variable had been just added to the team, a beautiful one at that, if he might dare say. She was an enigma... yet. He had already asked JARVIS to find any information there was on her.

And even though he didn't like variables– they just always open a wide array of options, that sometimes turns frustrating. He couldn't help but feel maybe getting to know this beautiful variable would be worth it.

Blame his gut feeling for thinking so.