Many thanks to Lady Sieon and her Agent Stone for giving me a name. Let that be a message to all readers! I need names, so if you don't mind me using your quarters as landmarkers, please let me know!

S.H.I.E.L.D. Recruit Survival Tip #2: Remain aware of the ceiling tiles. Agent Barton likes to hide in them with NERF weaponry.

I sat on an overturned bucket in a closet. My clipboard was decked with a fresh sheet of paper and I wielded a pen. How exactly should I bring Agent Stone up to date?

Might as well start with her name and the subject:

Re: Your quarters

Good day Agent Stone,

TThat sounds ominous.

I hastily elaborated:

Don't worry- I've take care of your room (tidied and changed the linens).

Now that I thought about it, I left in a hurry. Maybe I forgot something. "...however if you find any NERF ammo, it belongs to Agent Barton and I'm sure he will be happy to have it back."

And here comes my spiteful side: (so keep it for a while, if you please).

Is it just me, or does that not actually clear up the situation?

Allow me to explain...

It all started yesterday morning:

"Good morning Agent Scott."

I smiled back at the older gentleman standing in front of my table, "Good morning Agent Clarke, what can I do for you?"

He had a bushy grey moustache and twinkly brown eyes with a crinkle factor relative to the breadth of his smile (which had just grown), "I can't just say hello?"

I leaned back and crossed my arms, "you're due back in New York and we have a new shift manager."

He nodded and took a seat, "You are quite astute Agent Scott."

"Want me to take over until you get this straightened out?" I asked, then did a double take, "You do that too?"

"Get others to ask me what I want? I didn't get this old without learning at least something," he replied, "I should warn you that Agent Stone is on my rounds."

"Agent Stone as in 'got stuck in the vent shaft' Agent Stone?"

"The very same."

She probably doesn't need that much detail. I settle with "I'm the laundry technician (temporarily) assigned to this corridor."

Now for the problem:

I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, and I swear it came from the ceiling. I heard a click. I leapt a few feet in the air with a hiss.

And then I was struck by a barrage of foam missiles.

I screamed bloody murder and dove back into the room.

I threw myself under the bed and had my Swiss Army knife in hand before I started running through scenarios.

…My reputation for being a 'fraidy cat doesn't need more help.

"As I was leaving your quarters this morning, I was accosted by Agent Barton, or rather, a round of NERF darts." (That sounds nice.)

A few moments later, someone knocked on the door: "Uh, sorry about that. I thought you were Agent Stone." I could hardly hear him over the taiko drum slamming against my ribs. It was really starting to hurt.

He apologized, and said he mistook me for you.

I took motor control back from the flight or fight response: "Want your ammo back?" I asked.

"Yea, if you wouldn't mind."

I actually had to force my legs by hand, but everything seemed better out in the open.

"Take them and go," I said, and Agent Barton started pulling off darts. Quoting skits and TV shows meant I didn't have to do a lick of thinking.

"Any way I can make this up to you?

"I'm sure there's something. I'll call it in later though." A ceiling tile four squares down had fallen open so an automatic NERF crossbow had a clear shot into the hall.

I thought it best to let you know of this occurrence, and I would also like to warn you- he had a few more rounds at the ready. In the coming days, I recommend you keep your wits about you.

And that about sums up that ten minutes.

I dropped Clipboard into my cart and, with a great feeling of trepidation, crept back to Agent Stone's room. I slipped inside, and put my note on her pillow. I gave the room another going over but I didn't see any darts.

Was I hoping they were all gone (for the sake of my career), or was I subconsciously missing one? I shrugged; she wasn't a new recruit, so if Agent Barton was lying in wait, she had her own arsenal.

Did the spacing work out? I'm never sure how Fanfiction's gonna display line spaces and stuff. Does it flow okay? Follow-able? Should I try this format again?

I'm still pondering stuff... Eh, I have a 8 hour car ride ahead of me. I'm sure to figure something out.

Thank you very much!

- ALC