A/N: Wow! Less than an hour or so after I post my first chapter, I geta review! Wow! Okay, ignore me blushing in the background. Thank you to those who reviewed! If it's okay, I'd like to respond generally to the reviews.

This fanfiction... right now it's pre-Avengers. It may even continue through the movies. I might wait until the Black Widow movie (so excited for that) comes out to make things solid once, ya know, Hawkeye gets sent to take down the Black Widow.

Also, I got a note about how Fury wouldn't make Melissa an agent right off the bat. Thank you for pointing this out! For now, I'm going to leave it, but I'm putting it in my notes for when I'll go back and clean it up. I didn't know what I wanted to write for the trial part of her becoming an agent, so I'm going to do some research and then I'll try to update it soon!

Thank you again! Enjoy!


November 28, 1996 - S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ

"You're all set, Agent," I said, flicking the security screens away. "They'll only have word-of-mouth to recount your existence in the operation."

"Thank you, Agent!" the man said. "Don't know what I'd do without you."

"See you in at the debriefing next week."

"See you."

The line clicked off as the agent made his way home. He'd call if he needed me again.

My comm blipped as a call came in. I frowned. Did the agent need me so soon?

"Everything okay?" I asked, checking the security cameras again. The agent was walking innocently on. Did he just want to make conversation?

"No!" a new voice cut in. "Agent Price, I need an escape route!"

"Um… okay?" I replied, quickly tracing the call. "Please tell me that wasn't an explosion, Barton."

"Exploding arrow. Yes, it was an explosion!" Agent Barton growled. "How do I get out of here?"

"There's an exit to your left up the stairs. If you take out the lights, I can guide you to the roof and leave the baddies scrambling in the dark."

There was a faint sound of shattering as the screen went dark.

"Done. Get me out of here."

"Okay. Luckily for you, these cameras are not equipped with night-vision, so you'll have to be careful. From where you were standing, you'll need to do a 180 and take five steps before you reach the stairs. There are thirty-three steps and then a landing of maybe five feet before you reach a door. From there, you'll need to take the staircase as high as it goes and go down the hallway on the right."

I watched Agent Barton's progress as he looked curiously up at the roof and shot an arrow.

"What's that supposed to do?" I asked.

"Grappling arrow. It'll get me to the top faster," he said.

"You closed the door behind you, right?" I asked, watching as he rapidly ascended.

"Um… I think so?" he replied.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm not sure. But I think-" Whatever Barton thought was cut off with swears as the baddies rushed in, looking around for Barton. His swearing, unluckily, caught their attention.

"Yeah, sure. Attract the bad guys by swearing at the top of your lungs, Barton," I replied, checking my nails even though he couldn't see me. "Good work there, special agent."

"Shut up," he grumbled, flipping onto the stairs and shooting a few arrows down.

"Just keep going up. You're only seven flights away."

"Great. Just great. I'm not fit enough for this."

"Yeah, right," I scoffed. "A special agent not fit for duty? Sure."

"Hey! Everyone hates stairs!"

"Touche."

Barton ran up the stairs, firing down at the guys with guns as he went. He kicked open the door and looked left and right.

"Uh, which way do I go again?"

"Right, Barton. Make sure you take the third left and then open the door immediately to your right."

"Okay. That was the second left, right?"

"You're at the third right now. Go left and then right."

"Okay. Woah, that's breezy."

"You're at the top of a thirty story building, Barton. In November in… you know what, I'm not even going to guess where you are."

"You're not even a little curious?" he asked, stepping to the edge and looking down before returning to the door and bolting it shut.

"Nope. I figure that you'll tell me eventually."

"Yeah, you're probably right. Maybe not for a few years, though."

"Gee, thanks, Barton."

"Anytime, Price," he teased. "So are we going by last names now?"

"Guess so. Adding on 'agent' takes effort."

"Yeah, but you'd have to be comfortable with someone to be able to do that."

"I guess so," I replied.

"Like, you wouldn't call the Director 'Fury', would you?"

"Gosh, no. That'd be weird."

"There you go." Barton looked around and spotted the camera and waved. I tried to stifle my laughter. "Think if I jump off of the building I'll make it to the ground without an injury?"

"Uh, no," I replied. "Unless you use a grappling arrow. But even then, you'd have to let yourself freefall for… well not very long otherwise you'll go splat and that'd be bye-bye Barton. My job would get so boring."

"Good to know someone will miss me."

"No, I'll just miss the information you snagged. I'm assuming that's what you did?"

"Ouch. But yes."

"Information keeps the world going 'round," I replied. "So what's the info you got for me?"

"Not for you. For S.H.I.E.L.D." Barton took a running start and launched himself off of the building. I involuntarily gasped.

A few seconds later he was on the ground, running.

"Next time give me some warning so I can write your eulogy," I grumbled. "And I'm technically S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Yeah, just not high enough clearance yet."

"So why didn't you get some techie with high enough clearance?"

"'Cuz you're the best, Price," Barton said, slowing to a walk. "Can you get me a flight back to HQ?"

"I'm assuming you have a change of clothes at your safehouse?"

"Yup," he replied, popping the 'p'. "I know how to get there. Just send the information to my S.H.I.E.L.D. number and try to get the soonest flight you can."

"Will do, Barton. You want first class?"

"That would be great," he replied, breaking into a grin and nodding at the camera.

"Alright. Booking a flight. You'll stop by and say hi when you get back, right?"

"Sure. See you, Price."

"Bye, Barton."

I shut the line down and found Barton's location, looking for the nearest airport and soonest flight like he'd requested. It took me awhile to reroute a few people on the flight, but I managed to get him first class on a flight in an hour. With a flick of my hand, I sent the information to Barton's S.H.I.E.L.D. phone.

My messages buzzed a few moments later.

Thanks, Price. Hopefully I won't bleed out on the plane. ~ Barton

I smiled at the signature. Who does that anymore? It was cute, nonetheless, and I quickly replied.

That wouldn't be any fun. You promised to come visit. I don't want to see any ghosts.

Yeah, me neither. His reply was quick. I smiled and shut my computer off for the day, resolving to text him after I checked on his mission briefing.