Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel, just Kendra and anything else new.
Authors Note: Welcome back, redoing this story as a backstory to Kendra before she meets Steve Rogers and creating her friendship with Clint. Hope you all enjoy!
We Have A Job To Do
Kendra was exhausted, tired, injured and pretty much annoyed with everyone. It was a wash last night, nothing when to plan in which Barton ended up coming in and saving her ass after she gone through some kind of episode. She hadn't experienced that in a very long time. He own body feeling unlike her own, as if someone was controlling her. He had some harsh words as they climbed onto the jet before getting back to base this morning.
Scanning the keycard she walked into the gym and noticed she wasn't alone and suppressed a groan. Barton was currently occupying his own Archery range. Bringing back another arrow, he let it fly. One after the other she watched as it pierced the targets directly in the bulls eye.
"You let your guard down yesterday Andrews." Clint quipped, arrows flying, "I thought I taught you better than that."
Kenda picked up some tape from her bag and began wrapping her knuckles, "I know what your thinking, but I am fine. I had an off day. It won't happen again."
Clint rolled his shoulders back and set his bow on the table, "You were outnumbered, your powers unstable. You couldn't tell friend from foe."
She had no answer as he continued.
"The next time you go into the field without a correct state of mind I'll put you back in the labs, without hesitation. You understand me? I can't have you on my team if I can't trust you with your own mind, I can't risk that."
She gulped, "It won't happen again."
"Good. Now that we have that covered," He jumped off the platform and walked over to her, "I figured since I got you down here we could go a couple rounds."
Kendra took a sip of water, "I thought you would be on Rogers detail. Keeping tabs on the recently thawed Popsicle."
Barton laughed shaking his head, "Not likely. Besides, I have enough to handle babysitting you."
Kendra narrowed her eyes, "Oh, ok Barton. You do want to fight." She motioned him to come towards her, "Let's go."
"Now don't get all butt hurt on me Ken," Barton walked over and grabbed her tape and began taping up his own knuckles. "We haven't even started yet."
Kendra got the hint and smiled, it was on. Taking her stance in front of him she raised her fist and it began. Barton was fast. She almost didn't see the side punch to her temple. Bringing up her arm she blocked his classic start. Ducking she kneed him in the stomach. He counted and grabbed her leg and flipped her over onto her stomach, hard. He sat on her back. Clint shook his head, "What did I say about letting your guard down?" She struggled beneath him. "I mean if you want to accept defeat- "
She automatically rolled, kicking him off before getting herself up. "That's not going to happen. Not one of your rookies Barton. Not that easy."
Clint smiled and winked, "Good." He reached quickly behind his back and threw a knife. While it barely missed her, it did managed to hit the target directly behind them. Kendra looked between the two and frowned.
"Shit Clint" she cursed. "That could've hit me."
"Well it didn't. Now." He reached again, "Time for some fun."
He watched as she drove, flipped, threw herself down and at times blocked the daggers he was throwing. Kendra dodged everything he was giving her and it was starting to feel personal, "Damn it Clint. Stop it" She warned, her rage building.
He ignored her, "This is part of your training Kendra. It's not always going to be enemies out there." He walked over to the table and picked up his bow
Kendra wasn't having it, "Stop." He grabbed the arrows, "Clint I mean it, I am warning you."
"Sometimes you are going to fight friends Kendra." He pulled back his arm ready to fire.
She couldn't believe this. He was going to shoot her. It was about to get real serious in here. She didn't want this, she kept her emotions under control but felt it slipping. Her body illuminating a small glow around her persons.
Barton smirked, "Atta girl, lets dance." He pulled back the string, turning toward her.
"STOP!" She screamed, her body blasting an energy spear instantly destroying the arrow. Knocking Clint backwards onto his back. She fell forward gasping her breath. Clutching her stomach, Clint got to his feet, dropping the weapon and running over to help her.
"Shit, Ken. Hey I'm sorry." He reached to check her wound when pushed him away.
"What the hell was that Clint, some type of test of my allegiance. I could have killed you." She pushed herself up without his help and nursed her side. Her whole body felt drained.
Shaking his head he stepped forward, "I just wanted to get you working on control of these powers. On the field."
"We aren't on the field right now Clint," She spat out, "Jesus, what is the matter with you."
"I didn't mean to let it go that far. Kendra." Barton admitted, "However we have to play all fields here. Even fighting our own if we become compromised."
She scoffed, "So you wanted me to kill you. That's great."
Clint sighed, "No. You just don't get it. I wanted-" He paused just briefly, regret forming behind his eyes, "- No, I needed to see if you would fight back. Anything can happen here. Fury needs us on our top game right now with everything going on."
Catching his tone, Kendra walked over to the bench and began tossing her belongings into her gym bag, " You know what agent Barton. Word to the wise," she warned, "I don't need you putting me through Fury's dirty work. I told you all 3 years ago, I'm not some fucking lab experiment you can poke and prod at your disposal. Give Fury my regards, I'm taking a sickday."
Shoving past him and out of the gym she walked down the hallway and ripped off the tape from her wrist dropping it in a trashcan as she made her way out of the building.
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The next morning Kendra woke up with a gasping cry. Clenching the sheets she took in her surroundings. He had come back again, the man, the one who haunted her dreams and tortured her with visions of death and rage.
Even though she had always had the nightmares, never had they been this frequent and so close to one another. She told no one, not even Clint what had been plaguing her mind. It did indeed risk her own safety and others. Even with professional help, there was no reason why they never left or why they stayed the same. She didn't know the man in her nightmares, she would have remembered.
With a shaky hand she reached over to her nightstand and grabbed the glass of water. Gulping it down in one sip before kicking off the sheets; beside her on the table was a notebook, opened with fresh markings.
There were coordinates written down.
It wasn't uncommon. Her body wasn't hers during the nightmares, much like when she lost control of her powers. Though sometimes during sleep she would write down random phrases, words.
Noting to check them later she got out of bed and made her way over to her dresser. It may be 5 in the morning, but she knew there was no sleeping after her dreams. Reality was her only escape. She pulled a sweater over her body when her wrist com began to beep on nightstand. Walking over she picked it up and checked her message. Briefing Room –Coulson
How the hell did he always know she was already awake?
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She held a cup of coffee in her left hand, the newest assignment portfolio in the other; she took a sip when she felt her portfolio being taken from her arm. Rolling her eyes she refused to look at him. "Barton I am not in a mood for your games, it's too early."
"Forgive me?" He said walking in front of her and blocking her way, "For yesterday? I was out of line when I should have trusted you" He asked before reaching over and stealing a sip of her coffee.
Pondering a moment she pinched her nose and sighed, "As long as you stop shooting arrows at me we should be fine."
Clint smirked, "No promises."
Laughing she went to move past him when his hand struck out quick. Turning her to face him, he reached out to grab her chin. His smirked turned into a frown quickly when he saw the shadows in her eyes, he gently turned McKenna's head to stare into her eyes, not ignoring the deep circles that surrounded them.
"Hey, what's wrong?" He whispered.
She waved him off, "It's nothing Clint. Just had a bad nights sleep." She could see the worry embedded on his face. "Hey." She reached out and touched his arm, "I'm alright. Trust me."
Behind Clint, a voice cleared their throat. "Agent Barton. Andrews." Their boss stated unamused, "Nice to see you guys awake. Mind joining me in the briefing room, we do have a job to do."
Kendra walked around Clint, stopping into front of the older agent. "Good morning Phil." She gave him a peck on the cheek before walking passed him into the briefing room, Clint following closely behind her.
Looking over all the files on the table, Kendra found herself intrigued on the magical hammer that seemed to have fallen out of the sky. Agent Coulson going over something about wormholes and breaks in the atmospheres.
"As you can see here," Coulson pointed to the picture, "There have been some unexplained occurrences. It appears that a wormhole has formed in New Mexico."
Kendra's ears perked up and she pulled the file closer. The coordinates were the same in her notebook. "I know this place." She whispered.
Coulson stopped speaking. "Care to share with the class Agent Andrews."
Kendra shrugged, "I know this place, or, at least I think I have been there. When we get there I'd like permission to take a team and investigate on my own-"
"Actually," Coulson interrupted, "Agent Andrews- you will be staying in New York. There is come work to be done at Starks Lab, I need someone to configure the data we will be compiling once we get it from the home base."
Kendra looked up with a sharp on focusing on Coulson, "Seriously? Starks? Configure data? What are you saying? Are you benching me?"
Coulson held up his hand, "Commander Fury and I agreed, after your last assignment-"
She shook her head in disagreement, "Look, I know I haven't been myself recently but that doesn't mean I am a risk-"
Coulson stopped her, "Tony specifically requested you to be the one handling the information. He wants no one else."
She narrowed her eyes, "Bullshit. Don't use him like this. I know Stark isn't even remotely interested in helping out with whatever the hell we have going on."
Coulson shrugged, "Starks business with SHIELD is his own. But he is still one of the most brilliant minds out there. If he request the aid of one of our agents, he has our full support."
She slammed the file shut, "You need me in New Mexico, Coulson. What are you keeping from me?"
Coulson refused to answer and opened the door to the briefing room, "Agent Andrews you have a car waiting outside to take you to Stark's headquarters. I suggest you take the ride, and Agent Barton?" Clint looked at Coulson who gave him a short look, "Please meet me on the helipad in 5 minutes." Coulson grabbed his things and left the room.
McKenna stood up and shook her head, "This is bullshit." She said slamming her fist on the table, "Coulson knows that I need to be there with you guys. Why would he decided suddenly to pull me. Unless?" She narrowed her eyes at Clint.
"Barton," She warmed. Clint stood up and tucked his file under his arm.
"Look, you have been under a lot of stress lately and frankly a risk that needs to take some time."
"You can take your own goddamn time, so much for trust. Have fun in New Mexico." She grabbed her belongings and walked out of the briefing room, slamming the door shut behind her.
Authors Note: Nice to be back with Agent Andrews again.
