Clint's POV
He was taking it easy from his last hit. The mission itself had gone well all things considering. Still his ribs ached from a bad fall.
He was in Venice again. A city he had avoided since the fall of the Foundation. Dante was still around somewhere but he didn't want to see the man. They had a falling out after the fall of the Foundation. He had tried to forget that life. He couldn't no matter how hard he tried. The seeker life stayed with him.
Springer who was a squirrel like titan refused to let him wallow in self pity. It stayed out of its amulet much like Charon had. Springer though couldn't talk but they had a telepathic bond.
The only titan in his arsenal that could talk was Murasame. The demon sword that kept him alive. Part of him wished he never took the sword from the man. His life had become infinitely more complicated since that day.
Murasame wanted him to find the other bead holders. Specifically he wanted him to find the holder of the gem of duty. This person was supposed to be his anchor. Not that he wanted or deserved one.
He winced when a man in a suit bumped into him. On instinct he lifted the man's wallet at the bump. His shoulder was screaming in pain but that was nothing new. The coils in it were so badly damaged it was a wonder he was alive.
It was impossible for him to call on any titan or use any of his powers without pain. Still he fought through it and continued against his better judgement to survive. It was getting harder and harder to make that decision though.
When he turned into an alley he decided he was enough in the clear to see his catch. He opened the wallet and the first thing he noticed shocked him. The man in the suit worked for the American government. He would recognise the shield anywhere. Lovely if the man could identify him he was in for a world of hurt.
The name though he had only heard in rumors. Shield. It was a defense group that acted in the countries best interest. No one knew where the main base was. Anyone that turned in one its agents got a big pay day.
Part of him wanted to turn in the agent. It was no skin off his nose. He would be quite a bit richer for it. Then again he really didn't want Shield breathing down his neck. He had enough problems avoiding the Organization. So instead he chose to check for money.
He whistleed in surprise. There was at least 200 dollars in the wallet. It would make for a nice few days if he spent it right. With that he tucked the wallet into his jacket and started for his hotel.
Coulson's POV
He was not having a good day. First he spilled coffee on one of his best suits. Then their operation went side ways. He was still waiting to hear from his men on if they made it out. To top it all off some ass had stolen his wallet.
Vaguely he remembered bumping into a boy on his way in that morning. It had been fast and he never felt his wallet being lifted. Some of his men were having a field day with it. What kind of secret agent got their pockets picked? Fury was going to have his head.
His thoughts turned serious when the screen came alive. A voice came across it sounding breathless," This is Storm calling Overwatch. Overwatch do you read?"
Caulson said calming not letting his tone betray what he was really feeling," Storm this is Overwatch. What's your status?"
They heard a strange cry of," Raypulse!"
A yelp came from Storm before he replied," Surrounded by hostile, sir. These guys aren't human. The mission is a fail and my team is down. I'm the only one left."
Caulson felt his heart clench at those words. He knew that protocol dictated that they drop the mission. That he hoped his men made it back. This was supposed to be an easy assignment.
"Overwatch I'm sending you all the Intel we gathered. No matter what happens thank you," Storm said sounding resigned.
Like every agent he knew the risks. He knew that protocol said he was to be left there. Phil Coulson couldn't accept this. This was men he trained and fought alongside for years. There was a scream from the comms then nothing but static.
All of his men in the command post hung their heads. They knew that the team has been lost.
"Sir, we have the transmission. It went through right before..." one of the techs said. Leaving off what everyone knew.
His team in their final moments had completed their mission. He pulled up the information. He was supposed to read it when they got back. So that they could plan a counter attack.
The files read:
Loke Lambert aka Clint Barton
Age:18 born in United States
Has citizenship with Ireland and United States
Trainers: Swordsman (Circus), Trickshot (Circus), Dante Vale (Foundation), Metz (Foundation)
Known titans: unknown
Known abilities: unknown
Summary: Loke Lambert joined the Huntik Foundation at the age of sixteen. Under the tutelage of Dante Vale he became one of the most prominent enemies of the Organization.
Six months after joining the Foundation fell during the attack on their headquarters. Lambert was assumed dead until Hawkeye showed up as a hit man. Kill on sight orders were issued by The Professor.
Phil looked at the picture unbelievingly. This was the kid he had bumped into. Several questions ran though his mind. What powers? What in the hell was a titan? Maybe he should find the kid. If only to get back his wallet.
He said glaring at his techs," Get me all the information you can find on one Clint Barton also known as Loke Lambert."
It didn't take long for a report to land on his desk. This one had more information but it was equally unsettling. It read:
Clint Barton
Age 18 born in United States
Description: 5'10 blond hair blue grey eyes. Scars on right shoulder. One just above his heart from a knife.
Known affiliations: None
Status: Alive
Summary: Much of Clint Barton's past is unknown. His parents were killed at a young age. He was then sent to an orphanage. When he was nine he and his brother ran away from the orphanage and joined the Circus. There he trained in all forms of Circus acts before settling on archery. At 11 he earns the name the Amazing Hawkeye. It is said that he never misses.
He leaves the Circus at nearly 16 years old. From there he disappears for six months. After that he reappears as an assassin for hire.
Phil could see even for one as young as this kid. The kid was bad news. Yet something ate at him. Officially the kid disappeared for six months. The exact same six months that Loke Lambert had spent with the Huntik Foundation.
He has heard rumors of all the good the Foundation had done. So what made him change so suddenly to this dark path. He drummed his fingers on the desk in thought. This kid could be an asset if they could find him. Or he could be a monumental failure. Either way he needed to be off the street. Especially with that kill rate of his.
With a sigh he started spouting off order. He would inform Fury later of his plans. Better to make sure everything was in place first.
A brief flow drew his attention to what was in his pocket. He pulled out the bead that he always carried. It was a sky blue bead with the kanji symbol for duty in it. While he couldn't remember when exactly he first got it. He knew it was important.
Now it was glowing. Something it had never done before. He wanted to know why.
Clint's POV
Another job done. It was his last one to do in Venice. If he was truthful with himself. He would say he was looking forward to leaving. There were too many memories in this city. Many of them happy. Others not so much. It was too much for him to stay in the city for long periods of time.
He was currently at a local bar. One he had frequented to gain information and jobs. He knew everyone that came in and out of the bar. It wasn't hard to know either.
This was a seeker bar. They all knew each other. Either by reputation or by name. It was one of the few left standing not run by the Organization. A safe haven for any seeker looking for information or just a drink.
So when a man in a suit entered his hand went for his knife immediately. He could see other seekers doing the same. Suits meant Organization and that spelled trouble for everyone. Not just him. Though he was on their top most wanted list.
The man seemed to be looking for someone as he searched the room. It didn't take long for their eyes to meet. The man made him uneasy and the feeling of the room spoke the same. No one wanted this suit in their bar.
The man made his way over to him after ordering a drink at the bar. Without his permission the man sat across from him. Clint could feel the puzzle box that was Springer moving around now.
His titan always had a way of knowing when he was uneasy. Sadly that particular titan wasn't the best in a fight. Chess partner and puzzle box yes. Fighter he was not.
His left hand had already enclosed on Freelancer. It would take a lot out of him but he would summon the titan as necessary. Even from his position with the man in front of him he could see the other seekers doing the same. They wouldn't let some outsider take one of their own. Not without a fight.
"Who are you? What do you want?" He growled out.
The man in the suit had blond hair not unlike his. His eyes were darker though more of a brown than his own blue grey. He didn't even take a sip of the drink he had ordered. Instead chose to watch Clint. This made him even more uneasy. It was like he was staring directly into what was left of his soul.
Finally the man said in a calm voice," I'm here to offer you a job, Mr. Barton."
It was only through years of training that he didn't flinch. No one in this country knew his true name. Most saw him as either Hawkeye or Loke Lambert. So for this unknown person to come in and call him out. It was discerning. Now more than ever he wished he brought his bow. Now matter how much trouble it would have caused him.
Instead of showing his fear he gave the man a hard glare and said," I don't know what you're talking about. Names Loke Lambert rank 1 freelance seeker."
There were seven seeker ranks. Each had its own perks and missions it could take alone. Rank 1 was the best of the best. He was the youngest to ever achieve rank 1.
The man didn't even seem to react or even be surprised. All he saw was a cold calmness. This guy was unsettling. If he wasn't Organization he would lead them right to this bar. One of the few safe heavens left in their world.
The man looked around noticing that everyone was on edge. He said," I am not here to cause trouble for your friends. As I have said I'm here to offer you a job."
Clint growled out," I have a job and you had best leave. Suits aren't welcome in this bar."
Again instead of an angry retort the man just stared at him. He could hear murmurs of agreement from the others. No one liked a suit. Organization or not this man was trouble.
"Suits are an issue? Would you rather I have come to offer you this job in jeans and a t-shirt?" The man asked.
Clint's eyes narrowed. This guy was making fun of him. Something else was bothering him. At first he had been able to ignore it. This wasn't the first time the bead glowed or warmed. This was the first time it had done so with such intensity. Clint could feel Murasame growing agitated. That was even more rare. The last time that had happened he had to flee the country. Murasame had killed thirteen people because they had severely injured him.
It didn't take long for the crow to appear on his shoulder. If the man in front of him was surprised he didn't show it.
"I didn't call you, Murasame," he said softly. The demon was free to enter and exit his body as it please. It rarely did unless it was time for food. He almost always used him as eyes in the sky on missions. More than once it had saved his hide.
Murasame's gold eyes glared at him as he said," Shino! It's a gem holder. It's Sosuke."
It took a moment for him to process what the insane demon had said. Murasame insisted on calling him Shino. This as far as he could tell was the name of the previous holder. Sosuke had the gem of duty. So that meant!
His eyes widened in shock. He couldn't stop the reaction. This suit was supposed to be anchor? Hell no! He would never accept him.
He glared fully at the man in the suit now. No way he was going to work for another head holder. Much less his supposed anchor. He heard about the closeness between Sosuke and Shino. They were like brothers and trusted each other more than anyone else.
If it had been before the betrayal of Swordsman or even before the fall of the Foundation he might consider it. Not now though. Not after all he had been through. He trusted no one.
Anything left to be said would have to wait. The alarms in the bar went off signalling an Organization attack.
"Seekers prepare for combat level four! Civi get your ass out here!" The bartender was in full emergency mode.