D.C, USA - 24th September 2008

"Agent Hughes!" Maria Hill shouted from across the room.

"Maria, you're ba-" the speaker was cut short by a firm hug from the former. Pulling away from the hug, Maria looked at the young woman before her, taking in her features after not seeing her for months. Strawberry blonde hair tied into dutch plaits, and bright blue eyes staring back at her.

"Yep. Hope you didn't miss me too much El", she said with a small smirk.

"Miss you?! Never!", Eleanor returned with an even bigger smirk, causing her to be punched in her right shoulder.

"OW, was there any need for that Agent Hill", she joked whilst rubbing her arm, exaggerating the pain she was feeling, earning an eye roll from the other Agent.

Maria Hill wasn't the type to be 'buddy buddy' with coworkers, she was high up in command and was respected by most people in the organisation, and that was not earned by becoming best friends with everyone. That being said, after working with the now Agent Hughes when the girl was merely 14 after her father's assassination, Maria felt a sense of responsibility for the girl.

Eleanor had continued to live with her aunt up until the age of 19, Maria had kept in touch with her the entire time, and it was her idea to fill her father's shoes by joining SHIELD, which Eleanor happily accepted. This was also an excuse for the two to not be living halfway across the world from each other anymore. This was two years ago and the pair had only grown closer since, developing a sister-like relationship.

The two were interrupted by Coulson appearing at their sides, seemingly out of nowhere. "Hill, you're needed in the briefing room, Fury needs to discuss the results of your most recent mission", he said with a small smile on his face. Everyone loved Coulson, it was like the man could do no wrong.

"Of course, I'll be there right away, I'll catch up with you later Hughes", she said turning to the younger girl, both giving each other large genuine smiles, happy to see each other again.

Eleanor watched Maria walking away before turning to face Coulson, "Lunch?". It was rare that the two got to spend time together as Coulson was sent around all over the place, so Eleanor thought it would be a nice opportunity to have a catch-up.

He gave a small chuckle, "Sure". The two started walking towards the cafeteria in the Triskelion.

"Any news on Barton?".

"Actually, he contacted us a couple of hours ago, no clue what mess he's gotten himself into, only telling me that Fury is going to be livid".

She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion, how badly Barton had to have messed up for him to be so cryptic, prolonging the inevitable rage that would be directed at him by Fury.

Clint and Eleanor were friends, they had been on a few missions together and in general, enjoyed each other's company. Sometimes they met in common areas with coffee to get through the copious amounts of paperwork together. She didn't let it show, but she was concerned at the idea of her friend facing the wrath of Fury, but still, she dropped it so she could enjoy lunch with Coulson before cleaning up Barton's messes when he returns.

---

Whilst in the middle of eating her salad and pizza slice, and enjoying a general and light-hearted conversation with Coulson, she received a text.

"My office. ASAP".

She internally groaned after seeing who the message was from, and was also annoyed at her lunch for being cut short. Correctly assuming Clint was the cause of this, it was another reason to be annoyed at him.

"Sorry Coulson, but duty calls", she said whilst giving him a small salute as she was standing up, earning a small chuckle in response. Collecting her half-eaten lunch, she trudged over to the bin, reluctant to throw her meal away, but remembering who she was supposed to be rushing to, she launched it.

Eleanor didn't run to Fury's office, but she also did not want to be late whilst he was in a bad mood, and so she did the awkward 'not quite walking but not quite running' shuffle over to the lift, speaking the name of Fury's floor.

Walking with purpose, she arrived at Fury's door and gave a small tap out of politeness. She received an "Enter!" from the man in question. Entering, she saw Clint and Fury. Both men stood, Fury behind his desk, and Clint in front of it. It looked like Barton was holding his own against Fury, which slightly impressed the younger Agent as she knew first-hand how hard this was to do.

"What'd Miss Everdeen do now?" she said with a small smirk whilst walking over to stand by Barton. Both Clint and her had read the very newly released "Hunger Games" book, giving Eleanor a new nickname to taunt him with. Fury, however, had not, and so he quirked his eyebrow in confusion, before shaking his head.

Clint merely returned the quip with an eye-roll before turning back to Fury.

"Barton decided to go against direct orders". Eleanor quickly turned her head back to Clint.

"Do you have a death wish?!", she exclaimed whilst throwing her hands in the air.

"Give it a rest Hughes, it was worth it". She gave a small sigh whilst shaking her head slightly.

"Your mission was to take out the dangerous KGB operative, not let her waltz into HQ, Barton" Fury seethed through gritted teeth. Eleanor looked between the two men in confusion, she had been left in the dark about this certain mission.

"I didn't let her waltz in, she's being restrained isn't she?!" Clint started, his voice raising towards the end of his statement, Eleanor's eyebrows shot up for a second at the small out-burst, raising your voice at the Director was never a good idea. She was right, Fury's face had settled into a furious glare. "I couldn't kill her Fury. She had a look about her".

Tilting her head, Eleanor said, "A look?".

"Yeah, a look. I could see the pent up guilt when she asked what I was doing there, like she didn't want to do any of it. She'd lost hope. I couldn't take the shot".

She nodded in understanding at his explanation, which did not go unnoticed by Fury.

"You agree with him?", He said calmly, but with a hint of frustration. At this point, he had sat in his chair and was glaring up at his two agents.

She looked down at him, eyes widening slightly before composing herself again.

"Well...", she said with her voice an octave higher.

"Well, what?", Clint said quickly, desperate to have someone on his side, other high-level agents were in agreement with Fury. She internally sighed at being rushed, sure, she understood that Clint was on edge but if he wanted her help he needed to not stress her out and make her screw up her argument.

"Well I think we should hear her out", she said whilst looking at Clint. She could feel Fury's eye burning a hole in the side of her skull. Clint on the other hand was very happy with this new development.

Hearing a few seconds of awkward silence she decided to continue, "But we do need to think about what we want to gain from this". This would have to be a well thought out plan to be able to get Fury on board, he would just turn the two away without thinking twice if there were holes in the plan.

Clint quickly replied with "Her defection to SHIELD", causing a scoff from the Director, he half thought that Barton was joking.

"Has she said she wants to join Barton?".

"Well not directly but...".

"So what are we to do if she declines your generous offer", Fury crossed his arms over his chest in a smug manner.

"She won't decline, she has no other choice".

After hearing this Eleanor couldn't help but butt into the conversation, "Well, that's not a way to live is it?".

This caused confused looks by both men, in turn causing her to roll her eyes at how such smart men could be so dumb at the same time. "Leaving one organisation she was likely forced into, only to be forced into another one? Doesn't seem fair to me. She should join if she wants to, not because she's being threatened into it".

"People like her don't get choices Hughes", Fury said whilst pinching the bridge of his nose.

"She's got skill, it'd be a shame to waste it Fury", Clint said, he took what Eleanor said into consideration, but he went back to grovelling anyway.

"I'll talk to her, fresh eyes on the situation and all", Eleanor offered confidently, looking directly at Fury, thinking that her new level of confidence and authority would be enough to sway him. Unfortunately, she was wrong.

If looks could kill, she would be dead.

"There is no way I'm putting you into a tiny room with her".

Causing yet another eye roll from the young agent. "I am capable of doing my job Director". She was beginning to get worked up now, she loved Fury, but sometimes he still saw her as a kid, which she did not like in the slightest. She was trying very hard to get out of the 'baby of SHIELD' role. She was a perfectly capable Agent, and he knew this, she couldn't understand why he couldn't show this.

"Just let me talk to her, we can see what she wants, she might even have information". A last-ditch effort was being made, and she was praying that it would work.

There was silence for about 30 seconds, a few anxious side glances being shared between her and Clint.

"Fine", was all he said before walking out of his office, gesturing for the two agents to follow, to which they promptly did, almost having to jog to keep up with the Director's fast walking pace.

Clint put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed twice, their little way of saying 'thank you'. She gave him a smile before returning her focus back to following Fury down to holding. Hopefully she didn't just stick her neck out for nothing.