The next morning, I woke up early on the couch to the lovely sunrise, the smell of burning food, and the shouts and curses of Clint Barton. Hurriedly, I jumped up and ran into the kitchen to where Clint was trying to waft a pillar of smoke from the stove out the small window.
"Why isn't the bloody smoke alarm going off?" I called to him, grabbing a folder off the counter and joining him in trying to clear the smoke.
"No clue!" Clint said. Finally, the smoke was clear enough to where we could stop waving our arms like a bunch of monkeys.
"You know what?" I said. "Maybe I should cook from now on."
"I guess you're right," he said as he grabbed a poptart from the cabinet. "We can go get more groceries tonight, but you start your training today."
"Training?" I asked, confused.
"Yeah. You joined SHIELD, after all. We can't have an untrained agent running around."
"Alright," I said. "I need to get some more clothes, though." I was still wearing the ratty clothes that Agent Peter had given me. As quickly as that friendship had gone down the drain, the flannel he had given me was very comfortable. I might start wearing them more often.
"Sure thing. You can borrow a shirt and some sweatpants from me, if you like. Shoes too," he said through a mouthful of poptart. "But let's hurry up, or you'll be late." Then just as he walked out of the room, the smoke alarm began it's never ending beeping. "Oh come on!"
As it turned out, Clint's sweatpants were way too long on my short stature. They were so long, that they still dragged when I rolled them up at the waist 4 times. Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do about it. I was standing in the middle of a large open room, only about 4 other students stood next to me, facing an instructor who was going over the basics of fighting. Once his introduction was finished, he paired us off with one student, being me, with him.
"Alright, Twig," he said, "let's see what you've got." He then held up his hand. "Punch my hand as hard as you can."
"Are you sure?" I asked. When he nodded, I balled up my fist and swung as hard as I could. He didn't even budge.
"Here," he said, grabbing my hand, "don't tuck in your thumb, that's how you break. Wrap your thumb around your fist like this. Next, don't swing with just your elbow. Put most of the force in your shoulder and upper body. This will pack more power in your swing." He held up his hand again. "Now, hit me."
Doing as he said, I swung with all my might, but I barely made him move.
"Again."
I swung again.
"Again."
My arm hurt, I suspected my knuckles were red, but I punched him again.
"Again, Twig."
You want me to punch you? I thought to myself. Alright. I swung my arm as hard as I could, but halfway through I swing I channeled magic through my forearm and into my fist.
The instructor went flying backwards into the wall. Immediately, I knew how much trouble I was in. He slowly rose up, and walked over to me. He was silent and his face was blank, but I could practically hear him yelling at me. I closed my eyes in anticipation. Suddenly, he placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Wonderful," he said. "Go get yourself some ice for your hands. And don't stop fighting that way. If you do that, you'll be unstoppable."
Later that night, I crumpled into a sore lump once in Clint's car.
"Hard first day?" he asked, chuckling.
"You have no idea. Once we were done with fighting, he took us out to work on endurance. We ran five miles!" I complained.
"Well if you don't want to work hard, then quit SHIELD. Then again, you'd also have to quit the Avengers. And then there's also the thrill of being a secret agent."
"Shut up," I muttered. He was right. He knew it, and so did I.
"Why'd you join in the first place?" he asked, starting the car and pulling out.
"I dunno, it just seemed like a cool thing. I suppose I don't really have much to lose. That, and my friend always said I have a 'saving people thing'."
"Alright. Let's get you some new clothes though, you stink."
"Gee, thanks."
"Hey Harry, I've got a question for you," Clint said as we drove to the nearest clothing store.
"What do you want?" I replied.
"Why did you agree to join the Avengers?" he said. "I mean, all Fury has done so far is just try to kill you, or capture you."
"Well, I guess it's just because I have nothing to lose. I mean, theoretically I could settle down and open a little coffee shop. But on the other hand, I don't have anything here. I don't even have a birth certificate. I don't even have any money. Without these, I would end up starving on the streets."
"Basically you're only with us for pizza rolls and a good time?" Clint chuckled, making light of the situation.
"I mean, there is also the fact that I have a 'saving people thing' and this seems like the best way to help."
"I guess. But I guess it doesn't really matter. Later this week you'll be sworn into secrecy anyways."
"Sworn in? What all does that involve?"
"Oh not much," he said, "just swearing on you life, signing numerous documents, everything like that."
"Sure," I said. "Why not."
"Anyways," Clint said, pulling into a parking space at a local Target, "we're here."
"Alright. What all am I supposed to buy?" I said, unbuckling my seatbelt.
"Well, luckily, Fury has agreed to supply money to get anything you should need to get settled in to your new home. This includes things like a bed, blankets, soap, anything you want. I'm pretty sure you could even buy a car if you wanted."
"Alright. Let's get this started then." I grabbed a shopping cart, and Clint grabbed one as well.
"You know," Clint said, "I've always loved Target stores. They have everything you could ever need."
"Alright. Let's get started with clothes first," I said, considering clothes were the closest thing to the front of the store. In truth, I had never before seen a shopping store as big as this one.
"Sure. What size pants do you wear?" he asked.
"Uh," I reply. "I'm not sure. I've only worn my cousin's hand-me-downs before now, I'd never been properly sized.
"Well, lets see these." Clint pulled a pair off the shelf and held them up to my waist. Unfortunately, the pant legs pooled around my feet onto the floor. "Definitely too big," he said. Numerous pants he pulled off the shelf, all of which were too big, or too long. Eventually I was just tired of it. We had been standing there.
"Here," I said, pulling a bunch of random pants from the shelf. "I'll just resize them."
"Sure. Now time for shirts, what's your size?"
Groaning, I replied "probably small."
"I think you're right," he replied. Choose whatever ones you like. I'll go grab some socks. You can get your own undies."
We spent only about ten more minutes in the clothing section, and soon we were on our way to the housing and furniture section of the store. I had gotten five pairs of pants, ten tshirts, four flannels, socks, underwear, and two pairs of shoes: one pair of boots, and one pair of tennis shoes. In the housing section, I chose a small, simple double bed they had, and a plain black bed set. From there we chose a small writing desk, swivel chair, and a small rug. I explained to Clint that anything else I decided I wanted, I could simply transfigure it myself.
After we left the store, Clint drove us to a small coffee shop where he pushed me into the bathroom to change of of the 'completely disgusting' clothes I had been wearing all day. ONce I successfully fixed the clothes so they fit perfectly, I exited the bathroom. Clint, who had been impatiently waiting for me, immediately started clapping.
"Wow," he said, handing me a cup of tea he had ordered, "you almost look like a respectful human being now."
"Thanks, asshole," I replied.
"On the brightside, I can actually breathe around you now," he teased.
"Clint, I swear, I am going to hit you," I threatened.
"Sure, go ahead. Do whatever you want, as long as you let me watch when you do your magic on the closet."
"Fine, it's not like I could stop you anyways."
"You're right-" Cling began, only to be interrupted by his phone ringing. "Barton here," he said, answering it.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes sir, we will be right there."
As Clint hung up and turned to me, he said "I need you to do your teleport thing and get us to the base. There's an emergency."
"Yeah, sure, let's go into an alleyway though," I replied, pulling his arm out the door. I didn't know what was wrong, but I could sense it was urgent. As soon as we disappeared from view of the general public, I apparated mid stride, pulling Clint along with me.
So I think this is probably thee soonest I've gotten a new chapter out. I've pretty much gotten an update and writing schedule set up, and for once it seems to be working. Leave a review, they're so awesome. Also, I got a review about m weak plot. Yeah, I'm aware. I'm just writing this for pleasure, so I'm not really planning anything. If any y'all have a suggestion or something you want to suggest, go ahead and let me know. It will probably happen. Except shipping, I don't really feel like adding shipping. Eh. Thanks!