Meanwhile, in New Mexico...

[agent_cupid]

"Are you sure we're in the right spot, Boss?"

Clint eyed the starry sky over their head with a skeptical look as he maneuvered the SHIELD-issued SUV down the abandoned stretch of desert highway. The skies overhead were clear and bright and utterly empty except for a quarter-full moon and thousands of stars. It was a beautiful night - something they didn't see many of when on base in New York City, so it was nice, despite the fact that it was the middle of the night and they were in the middle of the nowhere.

Oh yeah, and they were chasing aliens. Because that was a completely normal thing to do these days.

"How did this become our lives? Seriously? Are we actually out here looking for little green men?"

Comments

[agent_cupid]

"You always take me on the best dates, sir," Clint quipped in return as he dusted the sand off his jeans - a futile attempt, but he tried anyway.

"Also, that was so not convincing. You're slipping, Boss-man."

Clint made a face at the mention of EMT's. "I'm fine. The SUV took the brunt of the damage anyway. And that guy," he added, jerking a thumb at the blond giant he'd accidentally hit. "I can help with the base, though."

[phil_coulson]

"I try." Coulson's response was automatic, and he shook a little dust from his tie before giving up entirely. He still liked the desert more than Starksitting, but not by much.

He didn't respond to the latter part of Barton's teasing, but he took a slow breath so his hands stilled and his features were neutral again long before the first car pulled up. He gave Barton an assessing look and considered arguing, but in the end he just nodded. "Come on then, let's get back to work."