"Agent Crowe, you're required on bridge." Agent Hill barked, finding me lounging idly on my bed.
"Is this about the level seven disaster?" I asked wearily. I disliked being at their beck and call. Just getting to a good part in a book? Forget it, I was called on duty to take down some baddy. In fact, I'd just gotten in from disbanding another drug cartel that looked to become too powerful. Surely I deserved a break.
"Which I don't know anything about…" I continued, smirking at the disapproval on her face at my obvious snooping. Not that it was hard to find out, confined to a ship isn't really conductive to secrets. Especially secrets about being at war with godlike figures from outer space.
I leapt out of bed, brushing past her before I could see the stern women scowl at me, opening her mouth to reprimand me. The expressions I knew so well. Didn't these people smile?
"Agent," Fury greeted me as I reached the bridge. He was standing with several people around him, some of who were even wearing normal clothes, rather than our uniforms.
"Director Fury." I nodded at him, though didn't snap to attention. Petty, I know, but sometimes petty is what a girl needs. I looked around at the others. "Agent Romanoff." Of course the marvellous Black Widow was amongst this group, if it were about the disaster. Even though I'd been trained since birth, even though I'd been brought up in a facility; she was still better than me. I sighed internally. Even her hair looked better than mine. Not to mention her eyebrows.
There were two men with Fury and Natasha Romanoff who I didn't recognize, and I glanced at the imposing Director before examining them. One was of medium height and a slightly stocky build, his dark hair ruffled as he pushed his glasses up his nose.
"Doctor Banner. Bruce Banner." He smiled tightly at me and I nodded at him, before scrutinizing the next man. He was tall and blonde, hair parted neatly and broad shoulders that spoke of rigorous military training. Good looking… if you liked buff. Growing up amongst buff meant it wasn't my thing.
"Nice to meet you ma'am." He nodded formally. "Steve Rogers."
"Captain America." Natasha murmured quietly to me, and I have to admit my eyes widened slightly, impressed. "And the Hulk." She nodded towards Doctor Banner, who was discussing gamma rays with Fury. He didn't look as intimidating as I knew the Hulk to be.
"Agent Crowe," Fury began, after Doctor Banner left for his laboratory. "As I'm sure you're aware, a project has been stolen from S.H.I.E.L.D. by a hostile – and alien – force. Captain Rogers, Doctor Banner and Agent Romanoff are on the case to recover it, after its location is discovered by the team we have here." He gestured to everyone in the room, and my eyebrows rose slightly. "You will be joining their team temporarily, and will assist them in any way possible."
"Yes, sir." I replied to them, though I could feel a frown trying to build on my face. I was never asked whether I would like to work for S.H.I.E.L.D., and it bothered me. 'Why me?' seems childish, I know, but when you have had no choice since you were seven years old, it is a question one finds themselves thinking often.
Okay, so maybe I had a little choice. After all, S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't dictate which underwear I put on in the morning, but you know what I mean.
I walked over to the rail where Captain America was leaning with Agent Coulson, jumping up to perch on it. I only now came up to his shoulders, an unfortunate normality for my short self.
"… Near mint." I heard Agent Coulson proudly telling the superhero. I looked around the room. Some faces were familiar, but not many. I didn't go out of my way to make friends as I was growing up, as I never felt like I fit in, despite accompanying many other agents on missions. Then again, that could have had to do with the fact that co-workers who are two to three times ones age never are particularly chatty.
"We have a match!" A man at one of the computers called out. "67% match… wait, no, 79% cross match."
"What location?" Agent Coulson hurried over to the man.
"Stuttgart, Germany. Not very subtle, is he?"
"Captain?" Fury turned to face us from his controls. "You're up. Agent Crowe? Collect Agent Romanoff from the lab, you two will be flying Captain Rogers."
I nodded before spinning on my heel and heading back towards my room, grabbing my holsters and knife before trotting off to the lab, like a good little agent.
It was infuriating.
Natasha led the way back out from the lab, leaving Doctor Banner to his work, meeting up with the Captain once again before to the landing pads of the Helicarrier. I couldn't help but stare at Captain America in his… uniform? I'm sure it looked like spandex, but I wasn't about to reach out and touch it. I must say it fit him quite snugly, although it wasn't exactly subtle. He was still totally not my type though.
Why did I even bother considering that? I'd never dated anyone. Slept with one or two men, yes - all in the line of duty mind - but never dated. No emotions for an agent on a job.
Shaking my head, I took co-pilots seat, programming in the co-ordinates I'd gotten from the screen, before we took of to meet the infamous bad guy – my life in a nutshell.