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]

"I don't regret it anymore." He said with a smile, closing his eyes for a moment. He liked to think, even if he shouldn't think of the man too deeply, that he liked having Barton around. He would have missed that if he wasn't here with SHIELD.

"As for Babies. I suppose that stopped with SHIELD. Dating is next to impossible after all. And this is the life I do best." He chuckled, teasing a bit there. After all, you can't date someone and tell them you are an accountant.

[from_a_distance]

"You're really good at that," Clint said with a nod.

"Do you ever think about it anymore?"

He'd hate to think Coulson felt like he was losing something to stay with SHIELD.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

HE blinked at that, as if trying to bring up the right response. Though he wasn't sure what that was. Then after a moment he shook his head. "I wouldn't make a good father." It didn't really answer the question of if he thought about it. "Wouldn't be enough hours in the day."

[from_a_distance]

Clint accepts it, though, since it's the same reason he had for not answering that question.

"Yeah, me either."

[istillbelieveinheroes]

"Really?" He asked, glancing at him now. "I think you'd make a good father, once you know how to hold a tiny human." He mused, a slight smirk. "You make the time for things. I can see you managing it."

[from_a_distance]

He shook his head. "I don't... It wouldn't be a good idea."

He didn't want to turn out like his dad.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

Sore subject. He noticed that. Drawing his hand away from the baby he reached it out to pat the mans shoulder, giving it a small squeeze. "You're notorious for not giving yourself enough credit, you realize." But he didn't push. He thought it might be asking for too much.

Besides, it's not like Barton was going to go out, find himself a girl and settle down. Though, that would be nice for him.

... Yes.

[from_a_distance]

"I know my limitations," Clint said quietly, though he smiled a little at the touch.

He glanced over at Coulson a moment, and then said, "You'd make a good dad, though."

[istillbelieveinheroes]

"Only because I wouldn't want to be my own father." He said with a small flat smile. Only to pause and glance back as the child started to fuss, her fist waving. He let Barton's shoulder go and reached back again. The child oddly calming once she had his finger again.

"I wouldn't have the time for kids anymore." Much like he was used to when he was young. "Good fathers would be there." He said with that flat smile, then a small shrug of a shoulder, wiggling his finger around. "Something would come up and I'd off to help save the world and miss a recital."

This was more of him then one might know about his past, only it's barely anything at all of it. Still, those are worries.

[from_a_distance]

"I think if the worst you do to your kids is miss a recital now and the, you're still doing pretty well," Clint commented, watching the interaction with amusement.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

HE gave a small huff, smiling a bit more at that. "Our line of work's no good for a family. Barely good for meeting people let alone a family. I don't think there's really much to worry about there. I'll be sticking around to toss you orders for some time."

Or so he hoped. If he didn't get the man killed on some foolish mission. Ug, bad thought. He wiggled the sleeping babes hand again.

[from_a_distance]

"You meet people at work, don't you?" Clint asked. He couldn't think of anyone at SHIELD that he'd pair with Coulson--well, other than the obvious, but that wasn't going to happen--but maybe there was someone he hadn't considered.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

He snorted at that. "Most of those people thing I'm an android, no thanks to you, or a LMD. I heard one that I was from mars?" He shook his head on that one, then shrugged, peeking back to the baby, though his gaze lingered on Clint for a moment. "Can't really see anyone there wanting to...hmm, communicate with me let along date me."

Where did they get off track to this topic anyhow?

[from_a_distance]

Clint was going to blame that one on Coulson...

"Most of those people are idiots then. If they took any time to talk to you, they'd want to date you.

"I mean...get to know you. Better. Get to know you better."

Smooth, Barton. Very smooth.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

"Oh?" He asked, glancing back to the man driving. In his mind he kind of wished that was true, at least for one person. Though he was sure the man as just humoring him right now. "Bet you cant name a few." Then added, after a short pause... "You're more the type around the base. Heard a few whispers inquiring about you. I could always point them out to you, if you need."

[from_a_distance]

Clint was actually a little surprised by that. He knew a lot of people were intimidated by him, and he hadn't ever really made any effort to see who wasn't. He shook his head.

"Nah, I'm...not really interested in any of them."

[istillbelieveinheroes]

Too interested in Natasha to be interested in others, he suspected. Though he knew they had this weird complex thing going, he wasn't sure to what point. He never pushed or asked either.

"So, that's it? Just sticking to the same old people?" He tried letting go of the babies hand again, rolling his shoulder as he did.

[from_a_distance]

Clint glanced over at him, smiling, his gaze lingering a little. "The same old people aren't so bad from where I'm sitting."

[istillbelieveinheroes]

He chuckled at that, smiling a bit sadly. "You ever thought about it? Talking to her about it?" A pause, oh he thought he was clever. Thought he'd figured it out. "Natasha I mean. See if--ah... no. Sorry. Not my place." He said, waving his hand off at that, shifting in the seat, turned a bit to look back at the sleeping child. The tips of his ears burned, just a little.

[from_a_distance]

Clint frowned in confusion. "Talk to Tasha about what? About...?"

And then he laughed as it clicked. "Oh, god. You think... With Natasha? God, no. Nuhuh. I would...she would kill me.

"I mean, I love her, but not like that."

[istillbelieveinheroes]

He raised a brow at the laughing, though he did love the sound. He tried to ignore the fact that he wanted to watch the mans face as he did so. Instead he focused on the baby. "Oh? I always thought you and her had something going."

There was odd relief there but also an odd feeling he couldn't place. "Guess I don't know my specialists as well as I should."

[from_a_distance]

"Well, you know...we hooked up once or twice a while back, but it was never going to be anything serious."

He looked over at Coulson for a moment. "She's not who I'm interested in."

[istillbelieveinheroes]

Hooked up. Well, he couldn't blame her. Or them really. Couldn't blame him either. Still... he didn't react to that, just watched the kid who looked angry again until he gave a finger back in return.

"So you do have someone who holds your interest."

[from_a_distance]

Clint smiles faintly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, maybe."

[istillbelieveinheroes]

He smiled, catching the sight of the neck rub. It amused him, somewhat, to think that Clint had a crush on someone. He wasn't sure who, if not Natasha, but he didn't keep an eye on the man 24/7. "And you haven't said anything to them yet?"