"Barton," Fury snapped. The sound of his footsteps getting closer made the spy roll his eyes. If only he were hidden in the eye-patch blind spot so he could sneak off, "Where is he?" Booming voice echoed around the inside of the corridor. Did he really not have an indoor voice?

"I'm afraid I don't know. Cap is a bit of a free spirit." He struggled to explain his friend's paranoid behaviour. But was it paranoid if he really was being watched? "You tell him where to be and you just have to trust he'll be there."

The Director scowled and leant closer, "What if he doesn't show?"

He tried not to take offence, he really did, but Steve was a loyal friend to him. To hear the man getting slated before even making an appearance was frankly insulting. Stone cold he stared into the man's one remaining eye, "He has never once let me down when I've needed him. Regardless of the situation." He turned sharply and strode off towards his quarters.

He glanced at his watch. Steve wasn't even due for another hour.


It was getting close to the time and Barton was beginning to get mildly anxious. No matter how much he trusted Steve there was always the risk that the assassin had decided against helping Shield.

A voice called over the speaker with an alarm blaring behind her, "Intruder on floor 3. West wing. Floor 3. Unidentifed male."

Clint leapt into action, grabbing his bow before it dawned on him who had just shown up. He sighed and rolled his eyes wearily. He really couldn't just do things the easy way. It wasn't in Steve's nature to use the front door especially when it was the door to a special branch of the government.

Clint flicked on his comms, "Fury, best get the Avengers to the conference room. I think that person I was telling you about has just arrived." He muttered evasively in case anybody was listening in.

Steve had only agreed on the condition he remained basically anonymous to Shield on a whole. That was going to be a challenge considering how he had basically just swung in through a window, setting off every alarm in the whole building sending every staff member into a frenzy.

The spy sighed and shook his head. This was either going to go really well or be an absolute travesty. He didn't know which to place his bets on.


Steve was already there when they arrived. However, he wasn't sat at the table, instead he was peering out the window over the large grey base. People moved around it like ants. His eyes scanned the area as though he was actively searching for something hidden in its midst.

Steve knew they were there but didn't move more acknowledge them. Director Fury, on the other hand, seemed more than happy for the assassin to just stand there so he could assess him and the immediate vibes he got from the large man. Eventually, Clint coughed in sign for Steve to just turn around already.

He stood, braced in his 'stand-to-attention' military pose, with tight shoulders and cool eyes like stone. He wore his all black outfit he usually saved for when he was out working but today he was aiming for professional with a side of Don't-ask-me-anything. All in all he made a pretty impressive sight.

"Director Fury. This is Cap and he's willing to help us take down Doctor Heelm." Barton finally introduced when he realised that the two other men were too busy inspecting each other to actually start communicating. He expected it from Steve, a secretive and sceptical super assassin, but not from Fury.

"And do you think you've got what it takes?" The eye-patched man stepped forward, glaring.

"I don't even know what 'it' is yet, sir." Steve fired back quickly.

"Clint seems to think you can hold your own. Says you're the best in the business."

Steve's gaze slowly slid across to where his friend was standing patiently, "I don't doubt I could do it. Although Agent Barton has an unrealistically high opinion of me." The ex-soldier responded, still not relaxed from his position.

"He trained me himself." Clint added to Fury.

And as though that sealed the deal and was proof to his capabilities, the director nodded and called up the other Avengers over the comms. As the man did so, Barton grinned across at Steve who nodded back gently in a controlled motion. The spy could honestly be an excitable puppy sometimes.

The first to enter was Dr Banner. He walked in confidently before his insecurities caused embarrassment to crash down on him when he realised he was the first. All eyes were on him. The Doctor instantly read the stranger's body language and recognised it immediately as something he often displayed himself: A don't touch me message. Instead, the scientist gave an awkward wave and introduced himself quickly. It seemed the assassin had no preconceived ideas about him or The Other Guy which was rare but definitely a relief. He hated walking into a room and being identified only by being 'that guy who broke Harlem. You know, the green one'.

Thor was next and, not as adept at reading body language, he barrelled towards the newcomer with all intentions of giving him a bracing hug to solidify their relationship as brothers in battle. However, Clint managed to snag a finger in a loop of his armour to tug him back. The blond was confused but accepted it as yet another bizarre human social convention. He slipped into a chair at the table next to where Bruce was standing.

Tony was next and, out of everyone he'd met so far, had the most hostile reaction to Steve's presence. He immediately slumped down into one of the leather chairs and glared at the stranger. Eventually he sighed and swivelled towards Clint.

"Is this the 'specialist' you found? He looks like an Action Man." He scoffed, doubting everything from Cap's abilities to his intelligence. He span back to gaze at the large man.

Suddenly the doors opened and Natasha marched in. Looking up, she froze when her eyes landed on the man in front of the window, "Oh shit."

Steve smirked slightly in response as he recognised her from a couple of cases he'd worked in the past.

"Wait, you know each other?!" Clint cried. Slightly disappointed that he couldn't just have a cool thing to himself for once. Someone always had to steal his thunder.

"Not exactly." Steve muttered as Natasha also spoke.

"Yes." She said at the same time, making their words clash. They peered at each other for a moment before she leant up against the table and crossed her arms, "A few times I've been hired to do a job but by the time I get there this joker has already been and gone. I didn't think you had even noticed me until that one time..."

"That one time you tried to kill me." Steve finished neutrally.

She shrugged when everyone's eyes flicked between them, "I was tired of him stealing all my jobs."

It wasn't very often Natasha had the word 'tried' associated with her. She was a 'doer' person. She gracefully dumped herself in of the the chairs at the table.

"But then, how did you and Clint meet?" Stark piped up, looking suspicious.

"He tried to kill me too."