Hello, everyone. This is a sequel to 18 Paper Airplanes, so if you haven't read that, I suggest you do before proceeding. I couldn't get Erian out of my head, and lots of people liked her, so here we are.

The chapters are short because I didn't write it for a chapter format. I don't know how long this will end up being, or how often I'll be able to update, but stick with me. I hope you like it. We'll learn some new things about Erian this time.

And before I forget, again - This is dedicated to the real Kirbee, who leaned over my shoulder while I was writing and said, "Put me in it. Make me die."

Disclaimer: I own only Erian.

Enjoy!

K.S.

Erian was irritated. She knew what Barton would do right now – he would nest somewhere, probably the roof or the rafters. But she wasn't Barton, and nesting held no appeal for her. It was too much work to take the ceiling panels down and climb into the ceiling.

So Erian stayed where she was, sitting on the floor between the bed and the wall. SHEILD had given her a perfectly nice set of rooms, just down the hall from Barton's, in fact. But she couldn't get comfortable, couldn't relax.

She couldn't let her guard down. Erian hugged her knees a little closer to her chest and rested her chin on her folded hands. Director Fury was not happy with Barton for bringing Erian in, but Barton had been right when he said SHIELD would put up with a lot from their best agent.

And here Erian was, sitting alone in her darkened room, waiting. For what, she couldn't have said, but she knew she was waiting. And finally, there was a knock on the door, and Erian smiled.

"It's open," she called softly, and Barton opened the door.

He glanced around the darkened room, and asked, "Where are you?"

Erian stood up, rising out of the small space between the bed and the wall. "Over here."

Barton smiled when he saw her. "Nice hiding spot."

Erian gave him an irritated look. "I wasn't hiding. I was thinking."

He nodded apologetically, and walked across the room. Erian perched on the edge of the bed, looking at the wall instead of Barton.

He sat down on the other side of the bed, and Erian felt him watching her. Before she became tempted to snap at him, Barton said, "I've just been yelled at, again, for bringing you in."

Erian pointedly ignored him, studying the wall as she replied, "What else is new?"

Barton shrugged. "Nothing, really." He studied her for a moment, and Erian felt the weight of his gaze. She refused to look at him, and he finally added, "They're making you an official agent."

Erian laughed. "How can I be an official agent of an organization that, officially, doesn't exist?
Barton shrugged, and she finally turned around to look at him. Erian paused at the look in his eyes, and he said quietly, "Are you angry with me again?"

She shook her head. "Not specifically."

He rolled his eyes. "Very well. Sulk. I'll be . . . doing something."

Erian raised an eyebrow. "Keeping secrets, Clint?"

Barton smiled. "No, just can't think of anything to do."

She caught herself smiling back as he left.