Alex paced back and forth on the jet floor. Every so often, she'd stop and adjust the gear Clint had given her to wear. It fit perfectly in some places, but the arms and, well, seat of the suit were a size or two too big. Other parts clung so tightly she wondered why any woman would ever wear it.
"You're doing fine," Clint told her with a half smile.
She offered a nervous lift of her lips back to acknowledge she'd heard him, but she was already regretting agreeing to come. Her stomach was boiling. Why did she have to go again? To be fair, she didn't like the idea of Clint going alone. What if something happened? It was Safeguard. Dogs everywhere. S.H.I.E.L.D. had guns, but they only had three people. Four if you counted Banner, but Alex doubted he was going far from the plane and his anger smell was only ramping her up.
She eyed the two other agents on the quinjet—Sanchez and Parker. They were decked out in full raid gear, like that was going to be enough.
They didn't have a clue.
She sighed. They were going to need her, the other her, if things went south. She had no idea how she was going to help when she couldn't even bite, but she'd cross that bridge when she came to it. What were the chances that this little chat wasn't going to end in disaster? If Petro was there, or Barney… This little game of human she was playing would be over.
It was worth it if it kept the others safe. But acknowledging that didn't stop the way her insides were twisting over themselves. They were about to see her, the real her. Would Clint and Bruce still treat her as an equal or would she just gain a new handler? They still had the collars.
She set a hand over the switch, pressing gently just to be sure it was there. Maybe she should've left it behind. She didn't want one of the handlers to take it. But the idea of letting it out of her sight for a second made her heart stop.
The moment they landed, it was like her blood was jumping out of her skin. Her feet got heavier with each step toward the front door. Sound faded into a flat ringing. The sun got brighter and details sharpened like a TV with the contrast turned way up.
The heat started at the small of her back.
"You okay?" Clint's voice echoed in a muffled, underwater way.
Alex swallowed. She nodded. He didn't look like he believed her. He shouldn't.
She forced her breathing to slow. Keep it together. Hold. Freaking out wasn't going to change what happened. It'd just make her screw up. So she swallowed over the roiling burn in her gut and straightened her shoulders. A quick glance at Clint and she stepped through the automatic front doors.
The lobby opened up, all gray marble and white vases. The room was wide with floor to ceiling windows and a single metal desk lined up with the entrance. A nervous looking woman with brown hair pulled into a high-top bun sat behind it. Everything looked so clean on this side. Almost… innocent. Then the mixed stench of piss and bleach hit her nostrils and everything came flooding back.
Teeth tore at her face. Bullets burst through her neck. The sound of snarling reverberated off cement walls.
"Hey." Clint was eyeing her, concern etched fresh in the downturn of his lips.
Stop. You have to stop.
She shook her head and waved him off.
"I'm sorry. All our available canines are currently sold," the woman said, readjusting a pad of paper on her desk.
"Oh, we're not here to buy," Bruce said.
"We have an appointment with your boss," Clint added.
Her eyes flicked over the men, landing finally on Alex and then back to Clint. "I'm sorry, Mr. Rayner is away on business."
"Oh we know." There was a glimmer of mischief in Clint's eyes.
Bruce lifted his hands in a shrug and clasped them back together. "What about your next boss?"
She turned toward the computer, sour sweat smell pouring off her skin.
Alex was positive she was going to lie. "Uuuum. Looks like he's out too. If you want I can leave a message for–"
"Yeah. Tell him S.H.I.E.L.D. is looking for him." Clint rested his hands on the front of his belt.
She went pale as a ghost, sudden recognition springing onto her face while she gawked at Bruce and Clint.
"Really? And what do I owe the pleasure?"
Barney came strolling around the corner with a wolf-looking dog at his heel and Alex's heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. He stopped, eyes immediately locking onto her. Before anyone could move, his hand was up, gun pointed forward–BANG!
Everything happened so fast.
Parker dove for him, Clint firing a shot at the lunging dog. The receptionist dropped behind the counter with a squeak and Barney went down hard. His gun skittered across the floor as Alex fell. She sucked for air, a sudden burst of pain exploding in her gut. Bruce was on his knees next to her.
"I got you. I got you."
He pressed both hands over the quickly reddening fabric of her shirt.
"No," she choked.
But it was too late. The side of his finger rolled against the hole in her shirt, brushing the torn flesh below.