Bad Aim Chapter 3
By: Cadet Deming
I don't own the rights to The Avengers, Marvel and Disney do, so please don't sue. Rated T for adult language, situations, and violence. Thank you so much to the people who read and review. It's much appreciated and motivating.
A.I.M. Headquarters
Clint Barton roamed the empty evening hallways. It seemed peaceful. The hustle and bustle of the day was gone. There were a few scatterings of workaholics in various labs and offices, but overall things had calmed down.
As a SHIELD agent, he had found his assignments alternated between long periods of waiting and short bursts of excitement. He wondered if this place would be any different.
His phone rang and he eagerly answered when he saw it was Natasha Romanoff, his long-time girlfriend.
"Hey Nat, where are you?"
"You know I'm undercover, and can't answer that."
"How was your day?"
"That's classified."
"What time is it where you're located?"
"That's classified."
"What are you wearing?"
"I'm not having phone sex with you when I'm on duty."
"Jesus, give me something to work with here. You know these phones are encrypted."
She sighed. He missed her sigh, her voice, and the rare times she actually smiled. He wanted to say how much he missed her and cut through her veneer of professionalism, but his machismo prevented him.
Natasha said, "I'm sorry. I'm on a tough assignment. It's civil war here in Latveria. I can't tell you anymore, now that you're a civilian."
Insecurity flickered in his brain. They had been through so much together, what if they drifted apart over something as mundane as having different employers?
He wanted to push that out of his mind and tried to say something to cheer her up. "How about when you're finished with whatever it is you can't tell me about, you and I go away on a nice vacation. Somewhere quiet and relaxing, like the Florida Keys, or Martha's Vineyard, or Broxton, Oklahoma?"
"If we can both get the time off. How was your day?"
He deadpanned, "I can't tell you. It's classified. I signed a non-disclosure agreement. I think I signed away my first born child too. That and my soul to Satan."
Clint sensed she was at least smirking, however wryly.
She said, "I miss you."
He smiled because she said it first. They made small talk for a few more minutes and wished each other goodnight.
He put the phone in his pocket and questioned if he envied Natasha and the espionage lifestyle. He had a feeling his new position would entail much more waiting and zero excitement.
Clint took out the iPad that A.I.M. had provided for him and used it to scan the rooms in the building. It linked him to every security camera.
If his eyesight wasn't so sharp, he would have missed that one of the back doors was open a crack. It was just enough to let in a sliver of fluorescent street light. He motioned with his hand on the screen to show a close up.
Squinting, he saw two symmetrical scrapes on the door. They could be normal wear and tear, or they could be signs someone had opened the lock. Clint alerted Bob, the one security guard on duty that he was checking it out.
Clint hesitated between taking the elevator or stairs to the first floor, but decided the stairs wouldn't light up to announce his presence. He walked lightly, and heard footsteps below him. He calculated how many floors beneath him the noise came from.
Clint asked, "Is someone there? Identify yourself please."
Instead of answering, Clint heard the person run and clang a stairwell door open.
His instincts kicked in, and Clint used his crossbow to shoot a grappling hook over the railing. He grabbed the rope and slid down to the level where he heard the door squeak. The rope burnt his hands, as he didn't have gloves on.
He entered a hallway in time to see a man clad in purple and black disappear around a corridor. It reminded him of his old uniform. Clint drew his gun.
He called for backup and turned the corner and bellowed, "This is Clint Barton, Director of Security. Come out or I'll have you arrested!"
A shot rang out, and Clint narrowly jumped to avoid it. A dart landed in the wall behind him.
Clint bluffed, "We have you surrounded. Surrender now, with your hands over your head."
The man stepped out of the shadows. He appeared to be about 6'2", and wore body armor. Half of his face was concealed by a mask-like visor.
Clint asked, "Who are you?"
The man said, "If I wanted people to know who I was, I wouldn't be wearing a mask, would I?"
"The police will find out."
"Paladin. Just call me Paladin."
"Who are you working for?"
"Whoever pays me the most. Do you even know who you're really working for? Because I don't think they'd want you to be bringing in the police."
Clint pegged him as a mercenary. "You're breaking and entering, and you took a shot at me. I think it's obvious who law and order will side with."
Paladin said, "Relax. I only shot at you with a tranquilizer dart."
There was something cocky about Paladin's stance. It wasn't like he was surrendering at all. He said, "You said we, but you're the only one here."
"The cavalry is coming."
Paladin smiled too much for Clint's taste. He smelled burning and the room filled up with smoke. Clint's eyes were technological, so they didn't water like a normal person's would. He switched his sight to infared and tried to muddle through the chaos.
He pointed his gun in front, but Paladin managed to grab him from behind and disarm him. He caught Clint in a chokehold and growled in his ear, "It's your turn to answer my questions. Where is the Draken-X?"
Clint said, "I don't know what that is, and I wouldn't tell you if I did, asshole."
"Asshole? Was that professional? I'm just doing my job."
"So am I."
Clint twisted him over onto his back. He expected him to stay down, but his opponent flipped back onto his feet and knocked him off balance. Clint crashed to the ground. He kicked at Paladin, but he moved to avoid it.
Clint grabbed his gun and pointed it at Paladin. At the same time the mercenary pointed his stun gun in his face. They both panted.
Paladin asked, "Out of professional curiosity, how the hell could you see in smoke with bare eyes?"
Clint grinned, "Technology. Where'd you learn to fight like that?"
"Years of Jiujitsu. And watching Jason Statham movies."
"Are we supposed to bow to each other now and say we've met a worthy opponent?"
"I bow to no one. Unless they pay me enough."
Clint tried sizing him up, but it was hard with half of his face covered. He hesitated before asking, "What is Draken X?"
"You really don't know, do you? It's doom in a bottle."
"Doom for who?"
A gunshot whizzed past Clint's shoulder. Security Guard Bob called out, "I'm here boss!"
Another ball of smoke exploded. This time Paladin disappeared successfully. The only thing he left behind were more questions.
To be continued
