*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*

*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*

Cerdian and Airis were smart Sirens. Back in the waters with their pod, they were warriors in the second line of defense. The first line had been wiped out by HYDRA or the Mutants of Evil - they couldn't tell.

But as Goldie's older siblings, they would always be there to tease her no matter what circumstances they were in.

Goldie whined as Cerdian continued to tease her about her scenting Sharon. She crawled onto Sharon's lap for comfort and protection from her brother's teasing.

"You know," said Airis, surprising Sharon, "our sister has a... What's the word?" She clicked her tongue.

"She likes you," explained Cerdian.

"A... A crush?" Sharon asked hesitantly.

Cerdian and Airis looked at each other and shrugged.

"I suppose," answered Airis.

"She's scented you," added Cerdian.

Sharon looked down at Goldie who was sitting comfortably on her lap. "Tell me more about it. Your mating ritual. That's what she's doing, isn't it?"

Cerdian nodded. "She sees the good in people. If you hadn't rescued her, I'm sure she would have chosen her kidnapper as her mate."

Airis snorted.

"I didn't really rescue her," said Sharon. "It was the organization I work for. We take care of and protect creatures in danger. This is a safe house. I'm here to protect Goldie from any danger."

"And if danger finds us?" asked Airis.

"I fight, she runs," explained Sharon. "If they're looking for Sirens, they won't come alone. HYDRA and the Mutants know how dangerous your kind are. My job is to make sure she lives."

"And if she wants more than living?" asked Cerdian.

"I'm not sure if I can give her that. I've never been good at relationships," added Sharon.

"She's starting the mating ritual," he explained. "It's more than a relationship."

"I don't know if I can give her what she wants."

"It looks like you are," retorted Airis, eyeing Goldie who was pouting at their lengthy conversation.

Sharon hummed, brushing Goldie's hair back. "I'm human."

"Makes no difference. Our uncle mated with a Cecaelia," said Cerdian. "She's - " He froze, looking toward the door. "I smell humans."

"Many of them," Airis added, standing up to face the door and glare at it.

Sharon shifted Goldie off her lap and grabbed a gun under the cushion and another under the dining room table. She tucked one into the back of her jeans and switched the safety off of the other.

"Guarded?" Sharon asked.

"Yes," answered Cerdian. "It seems a fight has come at an unfortunate time."

"Well, good thing I have orders to shoot on sight," Sharon retorted dryly.

Airis spoke in her native language to Goldie, commanding that she not do anything stupid and leave everything to them. She pouted and bristled at that, but sat still. The two warriors and agent waited for the ambush.

The door burst open and the agents of HYDRA filed in. It was a team of eleven, which seemed to be a mistake considering there were three Sirens and a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.

Sharon was on edge, but she couldn't help the tiny peak of hope and confidence in her when she glanced at Cerdian and Airis's deadly expression.

Within minutes of fighting and Goldie scrambling away from any hands attempting to grasp her, the HYDRA agents were taken down. Most of alive, some were dead.

Sharon tucked her gun away, noticing that she only used four bullets. She grabbed an emergency phone and radioed into S.H.I.E.L.D., explaining their mess. Once she hung up, the Sirens looked at expectedly.

"We'll have to move safe houses now. We'll wait for S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to come by and pick these HYDRA agents up first," she informed.