Problems: From Rookies to Babies.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

They were on a mission in Canada. Nothing too bad about this one it seemed. Or so it was meant to be pretty easy. There was word of a device being set up there by some unknown group, that was putting off strange readings. For one, they had no intil on the group, for another they had no idea what kind of device. Both things they needed to know about. Why? Because it’s SHIELD and they need to know everything.

It wasn’t top priority however. A training mission, really. Scout and Scoot as Coulson would call it. Since the events in New York, (and, you know, living and all) Fury had been placing him on smaller training missions, when he wasn’t keeping an eye on the Avengers. He had been officially moved to the ‘Ambassador to the Avengers’ as Sitwell laughed.

The point being? This was a simple training mission that won't stay so simple. Because of the need for eyes from a distance, Clint was pulled along as well, which suited Coulson fine, really, and it might have suited Barton fine as well.

But as I said, the mission was simple that didn’t stay simple. One of their rookie Agents got himself into a spot of trouble, captured by a dart to the neck and dragged inside. Another Agent followed him in, tracking. Phil knew she was a good tracker, but he didn’t like the next problem that followed.

Communications ceased to function once the Agent’s stepped inside the small base set inside the hill side. Great.

“Barton. Lost Meyers. Lost Hutchinson. Do you have eyes on Jackson?” Their third rookie who was with them.

Comments

[istillbelieveinheroes]

"You sure?" He said softly, looking at the man, studying him a moment. It was a long mission and they had just lost an agent. Another one had been Aged a bit. They lost the bad guys and there was going to be a pile of paper work to deal with when they got back.

And he was baby sitting.

To which he looked down at the baby, giving it a soft smile as he ran a hand over her back lightly. So small. "Doesn't seem like she'll make much of a fuss. We've got a SHIELD base about a day from here by car. We can head that way. They can figure out what to do for her there. Might be a long trip."

[from_a_distance]

"Yeah," Clint said again, smiling in a way that is more gentle and fond than the one he usually gives Coulson. "Yeah, I think I can handle that. Do we have...stuff for her?"

He really has no idea what she'll need.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

He'd looked up at the right moment to see the smile. Something about it made him smile a bit warmer as well, though he looked away, using the baby as an excuse. He shifted her close to his chest, holding her careful and took a breath. Looking around at their location he frowned.

"There was a baby seat inside. If they've had this child for even a short while they should have things to keep her alive. We can procure those to get us to base." They could take her by helicopter but the poor thing was traumatized enough as it was. The medic thought better of it.

[from_a_distance]

"Okay," Clint responded with a nod. "I'm gonna trust you know what we'll need there," he added, moving toward the car.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

He paused, frowning down at the baby. "It should be logical, right?" A hopeful sound, because no, he wasn't really sure. But he could take his best guess. He moved towards the car, nodding to the place they just took over.

"You want to hold her while I go gather up some things?" He offered, hiding the smirk form his face.

[from_a_distance]

Clint's eyes went wide, but dammit, if Coulson could handle the baby, so could he.

"Um...yeah, sure. Why not..."

[istillbelieveinheroes]

Oh yes, this was a challenge, wasn't it? He smirked, moving closer and pulling the sleeping baby from his chest, cradling her a moment and smiling down at the small thing. "You've already held her. She's asleep now, so it wont be too bad this time." He teased, offering the child over to the archer.

that icon *chinhands*

[from_a_distance]

"Of course not," Clint said, like he hadn't been thinking that at all. "It's just a baby..."

But when he took her from Coulson, he moved ridiculously carefully, like he thought he was going to break her. It was so very different to just carrying her to get her away from that lab.

I could say the same about that icon.... mmm

[istillbelieveinheroes]

He let her go, letting Clint take... extreme caution in holding her. It made Coulson smirk, that smirk that says he is more then amused in a situation. He drew back, grinning and sliding his hands into his pockets.

"Well then. Not so bad. Give me ten minutes to find some things and we'll be off." He offered, starting to step backwards and away. Yes, perhaps savoring the image of Clint with a baby. He might have also just pulled his phone out to snap a fast picture of it.

The baby, at this very moment... was still in his arms.

[from_a_distance]

Clint was not taking his eyes off the baby. If he did...who knew what might happen. She might explode or something. Or leap from his hands. Or start screaming her head off.

None of which she actually did just now. Probably because he was holding her perfectly still. As long as she was asleep, he would be okay.

He thought.

Maybe.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

Wow. Seriously, Barton is this your first time holding a small human? But seriously, he was doing good. Phil snapped a picture then took off, taking an agent off what ever he was doing and making him come along. They disappeared down the hill towards the opening.

The baby? She stayed still, for the most part. Bit those tiny hands had balled up, and she tried to wiggle, just a bit...

[from_a_distance]

Yes. Yes, it is his first time. Not many people are lining up to hand their babies over to an assassin.

"Oh, hey hey hey, no," Clint whispered when she started to move. "Don't...do that. Just...stay cool, munchkin..."

He shifted, then, to hold her against him instead of out away from his body.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

Good point. Still, it's a cute site. Phil will have to show Natasha. She's sure to tease him too. In a good way.

Yep, stay cool. She tensed up, hands into fists, and her face was scrunching. Oh, you're not the same man, are you. That's not cool. As she got brought in closer, she wiggled more, feet kicking a bit as she started to fuss.

[from_a_distance]

"No no no no no," he said, trying to keep his voice calm as he started to rock her a little, swaying gently. "You're just...fine. You're gonna be fine. Coulson's coming right back..."

Oh, god, what were you supposed to do for squirming babies that didn't require diapers or bottles?

Yeah, he's totally gonna try singing. Very softly. Hey Jude, because his mom used to sing that to him.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

She started to scream, at first, crying and fussing and fidgeting, though the rocking helped and... once he started to sing, softly, she started to settle down a bit, crying just softly, as if she really wanted to cry a lot but his singing was so soft she couldn't cry too loud or she might miss it.

After a moment she'd let out a single loud cry, then be soft again, angry face scrunched up, fists balled up, but not loud. As long as he kept singing.

[from_a_distance]

Okay. Yep. Totally keeping up with the singing. The little angry fists can stay as long as she doesn't scream. Clint's just gonna keep singing, his swaying turning almost into dancing with her.

"Judy, Judy, Jude," he sings, wondering how long he can keep it up.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

He doesn't have to keep it up too terribly long. The other Agent and Phil are returning, headed up to the car. Phil popped open the trunk and the other Agent moved for the back seat, securing something inside.

Phil? he moved over to sit a bag down, raising a brow at the man. He thought, perhaps, he heard singing as they approached. He did in fact see the dancing. Or at least the swaying.

The child was calmer. Fussing still, angry fisted but not crying as much. "How're we doing?" Phil asked with a smile at Clint.

[from_a_distance]

Clint was so very, very glad to see him right now. He headed over to Phil, holding the baby out for him, and by no means even considering stopping the singing.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

Phil didn't take the baby back right away, looking at the man as he tried to pass her off. "You look like you're doing a great job, Barton." He said with an amused tone. Though as he spoke he noticed the babies head turn towards his voice. She was calming down more already.

"Don't be so upset, little bird." He whispered, leaning over the baby a bit and letting Clint hold her a moment longer. "He's not bad. He's very good. He's singing for you even." He teased as he said "He doesn't sing for me. You must be special."

[from_a_distance]

"You don't scream if I stop singing," Clint pointed out, singing his answer to the tune of the song. He tried again to hand the baby off, really worried he was going to drop her or upset her somehow.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

Phil chuckles and spared the man, reaching out to pick up the bundle again and tucking her in close. He made soft shhhing sounds and rocked a moment, the child doing what she did before. She relaxed. It barely took a minute. Her fists relaxed and she stopped fussing so hard, sniffling form crying.

"You should really like him. He saved you, you know." He chided the child, then looked to Clint with a slightly exasperated look. "You alright?"

The trunk closed on the car. "Everything's loaded, Agent Coulson. Do you need an escort to base?" Phil gave Clint a look that said 'do you think we need help?' before smiling at the kid again. "We should be alright. Agent Barton knows where we are going. Continue work here and get this secured. Report in to Agent Sitwell with any findings."

[from_a_distance]

Clint rolled his eyes a little at the question. "Yeah, fine," he said, heading for the car, opening the door to the back so they could get to the car seat.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

Phil grinned at that, peeking at the baby and following. A soft humming of Hey Jude now coming from his lips as he looked her over. The child was nearly sleeping again.

With access to the cat sear, he took a moment to settle her in. The sooner they get back to a base the better, right? To Clint he asked "Hey, Jude?" As in 'you were really singing that?'

[from_a_distance]

Clint arches an eyebrow like, 'Yeah, and?'

"I didn't think Hit Me with Your Best Shot would have the same effect," he says, getting into the driver's seat.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

He chuckled, closing the door and making sure she didn't wake up. He moved to the passanger seat and got in. "I like the song. Just didn't realize you could sing." He was teasing now as he added. "You never sing for me." A smirk, glancing back to the baby.

He was tired. Both physical and mental. Mostly mental. Any little bit of teasing helped him hide what he was really feeling. They lost an Agent and that was on him. He'd take the blame for that even if it wasn't his fault. He should have trained them better. Lost an Agent and another is undergoing some weird change.

Now there is a baby he stupidly volunteered to take care of. He was trying, very hard to keep himself... lighthearted. Trying very hard. Thus Clint might be the only one who would, or could notice that.