Chapter 3

Daisy had finally calmed down, using the breathing techniques that May had taught her, by the time she was in the quinjet. She had strapped down immediately so she could get her thoughts together, but sat close enough to May in the pilot seat that she could hear her over the hum of the engines. She knew that May was piloting only because Bobbi had flat out refused. She was super curious about that, by the way. What was up with Bobbi and Hunter's reaction to her working with Hawkeye? She had already asked May twice, but just got the emotionless stare and a small uptick of her lips. That wasn't foreboding at all.

She felt the jet start to descend and braced herself for meeting her new partner. She had heard of the archer, Simmons had been giddy when she found out that Daisy was working with him. He was a SHIELD legend apparently, and she of course knew of him from his work as an Avenger. She knew that he worked with the Black Widow; good he would be used to badass women for when she got there. What she didn't know what to expect in working with him. She had heard very conflicting reports about him.

Mack had said that he was a sniper, emotionless and no-nonsense type. Fitz said that he was a prankster, would even attempt to prank Fury when he was bored. Phil had just said that he was one of a kind. And after an awkward exchange with Bobbi, who didn't look happy about having to say anything about him, had just said that he was a human disaster. Thanks guys; that helped a ton.

The jet finally landed with May's usual grace, and she was out of her buckles as May stepped out of the cockpit. Daisy was nervous, I mean this guy was an Avenger, and she had been a groupie once upon a time. She just hoped that didn't bleed through her professionalism. She adjusted her gauntlets, and checked her thigh holster for her weapon. May stepped up to her side and looked at her quietly for a moment.

"Be careful. Barton… he's good, but doesn't really have a sense of self-preservation. Side effects of working with the Black Widow and the Avengers while being the only unenhanced human." May said in her monotone. This caused Daisy to look at her startled.

"Why do I have a sinking feeling that I'm going to be the most responsible one on this mission, which is scary in itself?" Daisy said back at the older woman. May just put a bland smile on and hit the ramp release. The ramp lowered and revealed a rusty, red 1970 Dodge Challenger. And leaning up against that beautiful, wonderful car, was Hawkeye. Daisy was honestly… kinda let down.

Hawkeye was leaning against the car with a thermos of coffee, in a bull's eye T-shirt and ragged jeans that had seen better days. He had sunglasses on and was slumped like he had a horrible hangover. Daisy immediately found herself frowning at his unprofessionalism. This was supposed to be one of SHIELD's top agents?

May seemed nonplussed and started forward. When May started forward his head turned and he looked directly at them, and an easy grin slid over his face. He looked at May who had stopped in front of him, and then opened his arms for a hug from May. Daisy's mouth dropped at his boldness, but it grew to a smirk when May didn't move and just crossed her arms. Daisy didn't hold that smug smirk long because the mad man leaned forward and hugged May anyway. Daisy finally caught up to them by the time she finally pushed Hawkeye off of her. He just continued to smirk at them and sipped his coffee, which Daisy could smell from a couple feet away; must have been strong stuff.

"Agent Daisy Johnson, this is Agent Clint Barton," May said without preamble. Clint scoffed at May but stuck out his hand for Daisy to shake anyway.

"I'm not an agent anymore, Melinda," he protested as he shook Daisy's hand. "I'm just Hawkeye, Clint Barton now." He flashed a pleasant smile at Daisy and she took a moment to really look at him.

He was good-looking, though he was probably ten years her senior, so no, but he had tussled blonde hair with a scruffiness about him that was sort of endearing. He had scars along his arms and face that didn't stick out so much as just give him more character. His fingers were taped over an injury with some Band-Aids covering his arms. His shirt was faded and had several stains on it, showing that he probably wore it a lot. She finally looked back up at his face, covered by his sunglasses.

"Nice to meet you, Hawkguy. People have so many different things to say about you. Didn't know one of them was you showing up hung-over to my mission," Daisy said in a professional yet slightly judgmental voice, her frustration at being taken away from her team to work with some hobo that liked to play superhero.

The bastard just smiled, "If I was hung-over, I wouldn't have shown up and May would have kicked my ass. Plus, SHIELD uniform might stand out in the Midwest towns we will be going to."

Daisy simply looked at May, who looked to be suppressing a smile, and then pointed her gaze back to him, unimpressed. "I've assumed you've been briefed on who I am?" She was moving to get into his car.

He seemed to pause and shrugged, "Uh, I think the file is in the back somewhere."

Daisy looked at him incredulously, then to May. Her look clearly asking May for help. May simply shrugged and walked back to the quinjet. Daisy through her head back and groaned. Clint got into the driver's seat and turned the car on. He adjusted the radio to a classic rock station, grinned at her when he saw her face and pulled out of the runway. Daisy looked out the window and glared. Lincoln got to go to Paris; she was in bum-fuck nowhere with an unprofessional, hobo-looking Avenger that liked KISS. She was going to kill Coulson.