The Avengers Episode 1: A New Chapter
S.H.I.E.L.D Base, Nick Fury's Office-
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Hawkeye tapped his fingernails against the desk, awaiting the arrival of the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D, Nick Fury. Hawkeye's left hand was tapping, his right under his chin, supporting him if he drifted off to sleep. "Sorry for the delay Barton." Fury entered. Hawkeye looked up, his boss stood there, his eyepatch covering an eye lost in battle, his long leather black jacket and bulletproof tunic eye-catching, as was the gun holster beside his elbow.
"No probs Nick… sir… Director Fury sir." He mumbled, jumping up and straightening his back. "What have I done wrong now?"
"Nothing. That I'm aware of. I called you here for a different reason. Your new Avengers unit." Fury said. Hawkeye blinked, he wasn't sure if his boss was just joking. "Uh-huh. Your eyepatch on too tight there?" Fury laughed, for a short burst before he became serious again.
"No. We already have a team picked out, all the team needs now is a frontman." Fury replied.
"Frontman?" Hawkeye repeated. "That sounds fine to me. Now who are my followers, hopefully not a bunch of C-Listers." The first to enter was the Black Widow, Natasha Romanova. "I'd better not fall into that category Barton." Widow said. "C-Lister I am not."
"Pleasure to see you again Clint!" Doctor Bruce Banner entered, his black hair had been swept to his left side, which brought out his face, his circular spectacles slid down and Bruce pushed them back up the bridge of his nose.
"Bruce! M'man!" Hawkeye rejoiced, he slammed his old friend's shoulder, then the final two entered, Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch and James 'Rhodey' Rhodes, War Machine, Iron Man's friend was in his slim black armour, the cannon on his shoulder, the visor raised showing Rhodey's face. Wanda was dressed in red and black. "Hello Clint." Scarlet Witch said, Hawkeye shook the hex-caster's hand before patting War Machine on the back. "You did a good job here Director Fury." Hawkeye said. "Off to the HQ I suppose." Hawkeye led the group out of the meeting room. "Avengers Assemble etcetera, etcetera." Widow said as she followed her teammates, nodding at Fury before leaving.
Soon-
The Avenjet, a high-class repurposed S.H.I.E.L.D Quinjet, flew in the skies. Hawkeye checked the Auto-Pilot, Black Widow in the passenger seat. "The HQ is in Malibu, California?" Hawkeye queried, Widow looked over, she concurred. Bruce walked in behind them, passing a sat down Rhodey and Wanda.
"Malibu? Did you know Malibu was originally settled by the Chumash, Native Americans whose territory extended loosely from the San Joaquin Valley to Sa Luis Obispo to Malibu, as well as several Islands off the southern coast of California?" Bruce had to shove a fact in there. Hawkeye cocked his head.
"Believe it or not Brucey. I didn't know that." This came as no surprise to Black Widow, who let it show, and hurt Hawkeye's ego, the politer and subtler Doctor Banner didn't expect much either but remained his look of politeness.
Malibu, California: The Avengers Facility-
The Avenjet landed, the HQ was beautiful, the centre-piece was the white building holding the signature 'A' sigil for the Avengers on the side, it had smaller buildings attached, the living quarters of the current team members and places to socialise, and the Facility was surrounded by long, green grass, if you went far enough the grass would stop and turn to sand, allowing you to overlook to the Malibu Beach below, the Avenjet landed in the grass. Hawkeye strode up to the main entrance, he saw what looked like a card-scanner, he un-zipped a pocket in his sleeve and revealed his Avengers Identification Card, with an image of Clint, his name, the signature of Fury and the President, he ran it up the card-scanner and access was allowed, "c'mon gang. Follow the leader." Hawkeye said, Widow, Scarlet Witch, Bruce and then War Machine entered, the décor was something to be marvelled at, it looked like much of S.H.I.E.L.D's expenses had gone into this HQ, they must have expected a lot from Hawkeye's team, the Team Leader then provided a tour, following which the team retired to the lounge. The lounge was as sublime as expected, a long rectangular window which let the team view the grass, and the beach. "What a view." War Machine commented, in awe, he stepped out of his black armour, a massive television screen was also inside, allowing the team to watch the latest television content when not beating the West Coast's criminals. "The main Avengers may have Stark Tower, and Avengers Mansion, but nothing compared to this Facility." Scarlet Witch said.
"I can tell Tony had a hand to play in the design, look at that television!" Rhodey smirked, Hawkeye leapt onto the sofa, throwing his bow and quiver, they both landed perfectly in a gap between the corner of the wall and a bin, of course he was the Master of Marksmanship. "To the new Avengers." Hawkeye said, raising his arm, Rhodey copied, as did Widow, then Bruce, then Scarlet Witch.
"To the New Avengers!"
Meanwhile, the Ginormous Juggernaut had just been taken into S.H.I.E.L.D custody, he flew above California, taunting the S.H.I.E.L.D guards that dared to be in the same compartment as him, even when his arms and thighs were bound, and his helmet removed, there was a creaking, his shackles began to tear…
NEXT: The New Avengers versus the Juggernaut! Will Bruce Banner transform into the Hulk the first time with his new team, even so is it enough to defeat Cain Marko?!