Bad things coming

Nick Fury stood beside Clint Barton, one of SHIELD’s best agents, the two of them facing the holographic screens featuring the members of the World Security Council; the only people within SHIELD with more authority than Fury himself. Clint was in handcuffs, keeping his head down to avoid looking at the semi-circle of faces in front of him. Fury had his arms crossed, frowning as he listened to them speak.
“We have decided that, in response to Agent Barton’s actions and the tests and questioning he underwent upon his return to SHIELD headquarters, we have no choice but to declare him unfit for action.” A grey haired face said.
“And until we believe he is in a suitable condition to resume taking part in field work, Agent Barton will remain in isolation to prevent further harm to his fellow agents.” Said one of the women.
“What?! That’s bullshit! I already told you I didn’t do it! I was– ”
The face of a balding man cut Clint off, the rest of them mimicking his angry face as he spoke. “Unless you want to lose your Clearance Level and spend the rest of your life working a desk job Mr Barton, you’d best just go along with the punishment you are given.”
Clint went to argue again, but quickly fell silent when Fury put a hand on his shoulder.
“Director Fury, you may escort Agent Barton to …his new home,” the woman said. “But once he’s there, we will have someone else attend to him.”
Fury sighed, not happy with their decision, but decided it was best not to push the matter right after the archer’s outburst. He didn’t want to make matters worse. “Yes Ma’am.”
He couldn’t help but frown as Clint looked at him with pleading eyes.
“C’mon…” He said, slowly leading Clint from the room, quietly apologising to him once they further away from the room.


“You can’t just leave me here Sir, you know I didn’t- ”
“I know,” Fury said as they reached the isolation room. “I know you wouldn’t do that Barton, but I can’t go against their decision, it’ll only make it worse.”
“I was framed.” Clint told him. “I don’t know how, or what exactly happened but- but somehow…”
Fury nodded slowly, showing he understood. “That’s my guess too, but unfortunately, until we can prove otherwise, I have no choice but to leave you in here.”
“But Sir… Nick…”
“I’m sorry Clint,” Fury sighed, gently pushing the archer into the room.
Once Clint had turned to face him, Fury switched to Sign Language. I’ll get Ro-man-off to help. He told Clint silently, spelling out the female agent’s name, unsure if there was any other way to sign her name.
“You… know how to sign?”
Fury nodded. “She taught me; thought it might come in handy.”
Clint nodded in return. “She’s usually right…” He replied, sighing and sitting with his back to the wall once Fury left.


Once he'd reluctantly locked up Clint, Fury headed back to his office, where he quickly made contact with Natasha. Unfortunately, she'd already been sent out on a mission just hours before by the Council and was unable to return whether she wanted to or not.
Fury swore and knocked over a few things in frustration before sitting at his desk with his head in his hands. He stayed that way for a few minutes before he had an idea. The Director quickly reached for his phone, looking for a certain number before calling.

"C'mon Stark, pick up..." He muttered to himself.

Tony looked up from his latest update at the sound of his phone going off, he frowned as he walked over to where he had left it laying. He wasn't sure who would be calling his private line and he looked curious when he saw the number.

He pressed the button and answered it. "Director Fury? What can I do for you today?" He asked, wondering why he was having a call from Fury.

"Stark? I need your help." Fury replied, not bothering with 'hello's or any other small talk. He didn't bother with it much anyway and didn't think it was a good time to start doing so. "I need you to do something for me. Agent Barton's in trouble and Romanoff's stuck undercover."

Tony frowned again, he could tell something was really wrong. "What do you need me to do Fury?"

"Keep an eye on Barton." Fury replied, telling Tony instead of asking. "I have a feeling they're going to try keep me away and I need to find out what the hell is going on..."

He could tell Fury was desperate by the fact he made it an order. "I'll do it Fury, but... How am I supposed to watch him? I don't have clearance with SHIELD..." Tony replied, after New York he hadn't had much contact with anyone from SHIELD and most of SHIELD didn't like him anyway. "

Fury stayed silent for a minute before finally sighing.
"...then welcome to SHIELD." He eventually said. "Normally someone like you -uh, a tech guy- would only get about Level 5 access to things...it should be enough to get you in. I hope."

Tony slowly blinked, the full weight of Fury's words sinking in. He had been drafted into SHIELD to help is teammate, his ran a hand through his hair. "What building will he be in Fury?"

"Same us the labs, but underground." Fury replied as he turned to his computer, updating Tony's files to save problems when he showed up. "There's an area down there where the supposedly 'rogue' or 'dangerous' agents are kept until it's decided they're 'better'..."

He went quiet for a moment as he focused on fixing up the files.

"...now that I think about it, I'm not sure I like the idea of them being below the labs"

Tony frowned at that, "They get to decide if he's 'better'? And its below a lab... Fury it sounds like they're going to use him in some experiment... Is there anyway you can have him sent to Stark Tower? Or at least away from a lab?" While he had been talking he had gotten the suits under lockdown and himself ready to go to SHIELD.

"No. I can't" If I got a say in what was going on he wouldn't even be in there." Fury said, sounding frustrated. "It's there because it was the best place to put it when the place was first built apparently. In this situation though...yeah, I'm a little concerned. Even if they let me move him though, it'd probably only be to the actual prison...where a lot of people who probably hate Barton are."

"Then I guess it'll help if I'm either assigned to Barton or the lab above." Tony sighed as he finished locking up everything and grabbed his bag.

"The lab's more believable. They'd question why someone like you is assigned to Barton. ...No offense." Fury replied. "Besides, knowing them, they have their own guy keeping an eye on him."

Tony nodded with a small sigh, "Which building do I go to Fury?" He walked out of Stark Tower and towards his car.

"It's part of the main building. Kind of hard to miss it, unless you're blind."

"I have problems, but great eyesight." Tony quipped.

"Good." Fury replied, referring to the comment about Stark's eyesight. "Thank you. Oh and Stark... Be careful. We have no idea what exactly's going on. Yet."

Tony paused for a moment when Fury told him to be careful, "I'll be careful." He replied, his voice showing he knew it was going dangerous.

"Hopefully when we speak again, it'll be under better circumstances." Fury said to him. "Just don't-" He suddenly stopped and ended the call as one of the agents who worked with the Council walked into his office. He cursed under his breath, hoping Stark was actually able to get in and help.

Tony frowned slightly as the call was cut off, Fury probably had been called away for something. Tony just climbed into his car are took off towards where he was going to be working now, the drive wasn't too long and soon Tony was walking into the building. He just hoped Fury have set everything up, or else this was going to be short. He went over to this desk, "Hello?"

"Hello and welcome to-" the young man at the desk started before looking up from what he was reading, jumping and accidentally dropping the file when he realised who was there. "Oh! Mr Stark! Uh...what can I do or you sir?"

Tony flashed one of his winning smiles, "Well Fury told me to report here."

"Fury?" He sat up straight then, as if he expected Fury to suddenly show up. "What- uh what for?"

"Well I'm now a member of your science branch." Tony answered, shrugging it of like it wasn't important.

"Uh...okay. I guess they're doing something important then," he mumbled, handing Tony a pass. "This should do until they give you your own I guess."