There was a hiss as the arrow cut through the air, straight and true as it smacked square center of the stationed target at the end of the range. Clint Barton never missed, even if it was something as mindless as target practice for the sake of not succumbing to boredom. He reached for another, fingers twirling the notched end within his quiver before pulling it free and lining it against his bow. The Avenger drew it back, holding his aim steady as he listened to the slide of the door behind him and the entrance of another person, who, from the familiar sound of the soles of their shoes against the hard floor and the atmosphere they drew in as they gave the archer the proper amount of distance, Clint was able to identify.

The arrow was released, slicing down the narrow range and burying itself right alongside the several other that were already planted at the center.

"Stressful day?" Clint asked over his shoulder, his arm lowering so that his bow rested by his side.

"No more than usual." Came Coulson's calm reply, the next few steps forward bringing him alongside the Avenger. He was looking down the range, seemingly unsurprised at Clint's marksmanship. It had become something of legend when the archer first joined SHIELD, and once his skills were sharpened he had immediately been opted forward for the Avenger's Initiative, something to this day Coulson was glad he had pushed for. Clint still had issues adapting to this lifestyle of being recognized everywhere he went, but he was a hero that could be counted on, and his skills as an agent would always be vital for high risk missions.

Clint rested his gaze on his superior, observing him a moment in an attempt to read him. It was always difficult to do seeing as how Coulson himself had trained Clint when he had first stepped into SHIELD, but he liked to think he knew him better than most, and even when the issue wasn't easy to see, he knew if there was some way he could help, Coulson would let him know.

"Must be something eating at you if you wandered down here." Clint replied as he folded down his bow and bent down to reach for its case resting by his leg.

"Is that why you're down here?" Coulson countered, a small knowing smile tugging at his lips.

Clint snorted softly, but there was really no point in lying. Yes, he was done here because something was weighing heavily on his mind, and consequently it was the same thing as usually, the same thing he couldn't seem to get past no matter what others told him to try to ease the guilt.

"Obviously." He answered, placing his beloved weapon in its case and snapping it shut. "City isn't exactly a place to go adventuring in unless it's late at night, and well, there's not much to do around here."

Coulson nodded in understanding before speaking.

"Maybe I can dig up a mission for you later, something to get you out and back in action. It's mostly been small game recently, things we tend to give out to lower level agents for the sake of keeping you and a few others around just in case."

"In case of another alien invasion?" Clint asked with a smirk as he rose. "You have a Hulk, thundergod, super soldier, and egotistical metal man for that."

"You act like you played no part in saving the city."

"I got to blow shit up, fun but hardly along the lines of what I'm used to. I don't like this celebrity lifestyle sir. It's not me."

"I know you don't, but I need you in the city regardless in case things get worse here than out there."

Clint gazed at Coulson curiously now, easily reading between the lines, and when the senior agent gave a small jerk of his head as a signal to follow, Clint did so without uttering a word.

The two of them silently made their way along the winding corridors of the SHIELD HQ, sliding by other agents who were hurrying along, as well as some recruits that stared a bit wide eyed as they caught sight of the two well known agents.

Clint ignored all of this, his thoughts to himself as he walked alongside the other agent until they were both inside one of the many private briefing rooms inside the headquarters. Here they could have their privacy, and the archer only wondered more about what was happening that made Coulson push towards the secretive side.

As the door shut securely behind them, Coulson turned, arms crossing over his chest in a business like manner as he began speaking.

"We've caught wind of Extremis, new potential subjects being let loose in the city."

Clint blinked in surprise, one hand coming to rest on the long table beside him as he leaned against it.

"Thought Stark said Killian was dead. There's been nothing from AIM since then."

"Meaning it may not be AIM. Could be rogue scientists, could be Extremis survivors wanting to rebuild their own, I don't know."

It was always concerning to hear Coulson say he 'didn't know'. He was the go to guy for information, and if there was a threat in the city with nothing behind it to explain it's source, it could prove to be a serious problem.

"How'd you find out?" Clint asked, his expression falling serious.

"Agent Martell heard an argument, thinking it was a mugging or a fight he stepped in. He reported seeing a glow to one of the man's skin, a glow bright enough to reveal the bones in his hand and wrist. panicked...he drew his gun and brought the guy here."

"Shit...he's here now?"

"No." Coulson said with a shake of his head. "Had to let him go. We had no grounds to keep him here after questioning."

At Clint's disapproving look, Coulson continued.

"We had no choice Barton, but he is being tracked. I've got two agents keeping an eye on him, one of which planted a tracker on him shortly after he left. He refused to give any information, but from what he did say I can gather he has quite the distaste for SHIELD, possibly with an opinion that has been planted there by someone else."

Clint gave a small hum as he nodded, not surprised that someone with Extremis would have a dislike for SHIELD.

"Have you told Stark?"

"Not yet." Coulson sighed. "I need to run this all by Fury before I risk getting anyone else involved, especially someone who's not the best team player."

"I'll hit the streets then, see if I can find anything else out. If he was being so hush hush then I doubt he's the only one out there."

Coulson nodded.

"Be careful Clint. From what I've seen of Extremis, it can be very unstable. I don't want a crater blasted in Manhattan."

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"How'd they find out?"

The voice on the phone was undeniably irritated, sharp as if they were more along the lines of ordering rather than asking a question. Jason lifted his head, glancing around himself before speaking.

"I was arguing with some asshole trying to start a fight, ten seconds from burning his face off when one of SHIELD's bitch slaves turned up and pulled a gun on me."

"At least you were smart enough to comply then."

There was a pause, Jason falling silent as he waited for his orders.

Killian was viscous when it came to slipping up, but Jason was one of the few that worked closely with him, at least earning him some leeway at times. He performed to the best of his ability, and it usually ended with an approving smile.

"I'll send a car. Wouldn't be surprised if you're being followed right now. Head to your apartment, trash your clothes, heat up to melt down anything they may have put on your skin, and be at the corner of 22nd in forty five minutes for your pickup."

"Yes sir." Came Jason's reply, his phone snapping shut in his hand as he took one last look around him. He couldn't spot anyone tailing him, but if Killian assumed it, then he would take the precautions he needed to to keep from leading SHIELD straight to the others.

Thankfully it wasn't a long walk back to where Jason had left his motorcycle parked, the slick red speed bike a welcoming sight for him. He climbed atop it, strapping on his helmet before kicking it into gear and zooming off.

During the drive to his apartment, Jason was on the lookout for the stereotypical black car with heavily tinted windows that may be following him, but from what he could tell at least, there was no one sticking close enough to be noticed.

Knowing his place of residence could possibly be ransacked, Jason packed away a small black box into his backpack, adding a small bundle of cash and a gun as well before zipping it shut. He stripped his clothes, tossing them into a bin before stepping into the shower and turning on an icey spray of water.

Jason's body temperature was naturally a feverish degree, as were other's that held Extremis. Only, it had been perplexing at first that his temperature be set five degrees normal than the average rate, and after the first couple of random flare ups that nearly resulted in half the lab being lost to an explosion, Jason learned that a stronger strand of Extremis had been used on him in an effort to save his life. Though it had worked, and had left him significantly stronger, loss of control still happened. And when it did, it was a scary and painful process to bring things back to a tolerable level.

Even now, as the glow across his skin brightened with each second, Jason closed his eyes and tried to remain focused, the cold water pounding on his back beginning to sizzle against his skin. He could feel his temperature increasing, the stirring heat expanding throughout his body and bringing with it some strange urge for violence.

Jason didn't push it, only allowing himself to reach a point where anything touching his upper body would melt, and then turning towards the water so that the coolness of it could help to cool him down.

Forty minutes later he was at the designated corner, watching passerbys behind dark shades until a red car pulled up and the rear door opened.

Jason quickly slid inside, shrugging off his jacket so that the could air within could touch his skin.

"Hot hot hot head..." Killian tsked as he shook his head at the younger man. "You really need to find better places to beat people up Jace."

"Or maybe SHIELD just fucking vanish off the face of the Earth." Jason grumbled as he sat back.

Killian gave a wide smile at that, showing white teeth and a bright glint to his eyes that was more chilling than pleasant.

"So glad you think that way." He mused as he leaned forward and clasped his hands. "See we've been working on an operation for quite some time now, and well, it's about time to start...putting things into motion."

He was always so animated when he spoke, granted he wasn't angry, and Jason found himself watching Killian with interest, curiosity driving him to silence as he waited for the other man to continue.

"Operation Rundown. Sounds nice, right?" Killian asked as he spread his hands as if waiting on agreement, though he continued speaking before anyone could interrupt. "And it's actually very simple. You want SHIELD gone, I want SHIELD gone, and so we begin by removing their main wave of defense."

"Main wave?" Jason questioned.

"The Avengers." Killian grinned.