AN: Hello! Kinda doubt many people will read this but oh well, this is for fun. Sorry for the first chapter being so short, the next one should be longer. I will try to update fast but I can get kinda busy with school sometimes. This story is set after the Avengers. Anyway I hope you enjoy it and please review! (Sorry there's no Loki in this chapter, hopefully by the next.)

Oh no, where did all the years go
And was it really worth all of this
Heartache that was handed to me
Holding on just don't make sense
But the hardest part of letting go
Is tryin' to find a way
To let you know
~ Cry by Jason Walker

Lara gripped the handhold above as she advanced upward to move her foot higher. She had gone back to Bolivia to do some rock climbing, to ease her mind. It had been a few months since she stopped Natla from triggering the Seventh Age, and she was having trouble dealing with the truth of her mother. Lara didn't have much expectations of finding her mother alive after all these years, but, still, she had hoped.

Lara reached a small cliff protruding from the high mountain. She settled down to take a break and to go over her thoughts. She gazed out over the scenery, remembering why she loved rock climbing so much. She looked down to her hand, which still displayed Thor's iron gauntlet. She had kept them, to remember the journey. She had lost Mjolnir in the battle with Natla, but perhaps it was for the best. Mjolnir may have been the most powerful weapon on Earth.

She had felt an odd emptiness settle inside of her once it was all over. What was she to do now? She had accomplished her main mission in life. Of course, there were still tombs to raid, but it seemed pointless now. Lara hated this feeling of depression. It was something she was not use to. She had always remained strong, and was able to push the emotions away. A small part of her blamed herself for Mother's death. She always had, even once she discovered Amanda's interference. Now, not only her mum's passing haunted her, but also Alister's.

She finally noticed the tears slipping down her face, and she quickly wiped them away. Lara took deep breaths, hoping to remove the sadness from her mind.

"Lady Croft?"

She jumped, surprised by the sudden voice coming from her headset.

Lara fingered the communicator and pressed it closer to her mouth. She replied, careful to hide the grief from her voice, "Yes, Winston?"

She had requested no interruptions unless necessary. It must be important, she concluded.

"There is someone desiring to hold on audience with you." Winston informed.

"Who?" Lara asked, curiously.

Winston paused for a moment before continuing. "He refers to himself as Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."

"S.H.I.E.L.D. as in Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division?"

"Yes. Do you know him?" Winston sounded surprise.

"I've heard of them, but I've never met Director Fury. They had something do to with the recent 'alien invasion' in Manhattan, did they not?"

"I believe that is what Fury wanted to discuss."

Lara thought over it for a moment, wondering why Fury would want to speak about that with her. "Is he there now?"

"Yes. Should I tell him you're on vacation and escort him off the estate?"

Lara contemplated the idea for a moment, but she had to admit; she was curious about what Director Fury wanted. She sighed, "Give him one of the guest bedrooms, and tell him I'll be there in a couple of days."

"Are you sure you wish to do this, Ms. Croft? You do deserve a vacation." Winston questioned, thinking only of his mistress' needs.

Lara smiled. She was lucky to have Winston. "You know I've never been good at relaxing. I will welcome some action." She wasn't sure if her last statement was true, but she wanted to convince her butler.

"As you wish, Ms. Croft. I will inform the Director." Lara heard the click of her headset as Winston signed off.

Lara stood, beginning the process of stretching her muscles again for the climb down. As Lara found a foothold for her descent, she questioned in her mind what she had just gotten herself into.

xOxOx

Lara parked her black motorcycle in her manor's garage. She swung her leg over the seat, and made her way to the door. She had dress in a casual grey shirt with black pants. Her boots stomped on the hard floor as she entered the main hall of her manor.

Lara stopped to gaze at the large picture of her parents above the stone fireplace. She began to zone out, thinking of past memories with them before everything fell apart. Winston broke her from her daze with a greeting.

"How was your trip, Miss Croft?" Winston asked, taking the bag from Lara's hand.

Lara forced her gaze away from the picture to look at Winston. She smiled, "It was lovely. I enjoyed the climb."

Lara removed her eyes from Winston to see an African-American wearing black clothes standing in the main hall. Lara nodded towards him in greeting. "Director Fury."

He returned the nod. "Ms. Croft."

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting. I needed a vacation." Lara looked to Winston. "Would you mind setting a pot of tea on for us? Thank you."

Lara moved to the white couches close to the fireplace. "Please, sit."

Fury sat. "Right down to business?"

"Not to be rude, but I'm quite curious as to why someone like you has come to speak to someone like me." Lara answered.

The agent with one eye nodded. "What do you know of S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

Lara crossed her legs before answering. "Not much. Other than they just prevented the world from being taken over by aliens."

"You sound skeptical?"

Lara shrugged. "I wasn't there to experience it firsthand."

Nick Fury paused, considering his next words carefully. "Now, what do you know of the Avengers?"

Lara watched as Winston brought in a tea tray with many assortments on it. "Anything else, Lady Croft?" He asked as he set the tray down.

"No, thank you. That will be all, Winston." Lara excused him. Lara waited until he left the room before she continued with her response. "You mean the group of 'superheroes' that aided in defeating the aliens?"

"Now you really sound skeptical." Fury said with smile. "And I find that amusing after everything you've been through."

Lara raised her eyebrow at him as she poured a tea into her cup. "How do you know about what 'I've been through'? Have you been spying on me, Director?"

"I wouldn't say spying, exactly." Fury explained as he reached for his own cup. "Just keeping a close eye on you."

"And why would you need to keep a close eye on me?" Lara took a sip from her cup.

"For future needs."

Lara set her tea cup back down, and gave Director Fury a bewildered look. "'Future needs'? The Avengers are a group of superheroes. You can't possibly think I would belong in it."

"Not really superheroes. Just people with special abilities or extraordinary talents, except for a Norse god of Thunder, maybe." Fury clarified. "Which in that case, you would fit in just fine."

Lara hesitated, comprehending the spy's words. "What exactly are you saying, Director?"

"We have reason to believe there will be another invasion. One much bigger than the last." Fury revealed. "I want to make sure we are well-prepared for it. So, Miss Croft, what I'm saying here is I would like to invite you to the Avengers Initiative."

Fury stood, awaiting Lara's decision. Lara remained silent for a few minutes, considering her options. She looked down to the gauntlets that still covered her hands. Lara gazed back up and looked Director Fury in the eye.

"Count me in."

Thank you for reading, and im sorry if there are any grammar mistakes or spelling mistakes.