The Kids in the Dark

Home Again

Barton unlocked the door to his apartment and pushed it open. He was beyond exhausted. Jacob had fallen asleep in the car and guess who had to drag his sorry butt up to his dorm in the agency? He did.

He's going to owe me, Barton thought cynically before entering his small living space, hanging his keys on a hook beside the door. He walked through the hall and into the kitchen, rooting through the fridge for a beer.

The apartment was not lavish, as one would expect from a secret agent. It was nothing like the movies. There was a living area across the hall from his kitchen that had his TV and wifi and other valuables. The kitchen was a tiny space, which was fine with Barton. He didn't do much cooking, especially not with his schedule. He'd eat at the agency or go out. At the back of the house was his bedroom and bathroom.

Barton found his drink and shut the door with a small snap. He was just popping the cap off of the bottle when he realized something was wrong.

The lights were all on in the apartment. How could he have not noticed this when he came in? Tired, the agent concluded. But there was something more. There was the faint sound of the television playing in the background. Some sort of action movie, according to the faint dialogue and music. A strange, spicy smell haunted the room.

Barton slowly felt for his revolver tucked into his waistband. Withdrawing it smoothly, he pointed it out in front of himself, towards the living room where the TV was. He flicked the safety catch off with a faint click.

Barton took a few cautious steps into the hall, aiming his weapon in either direction before making his way across. He pressed his back against the wall beside the door to the room. Someone was in there all right. The question is: who and why? He was about to find out.

Barton swiftly cocked the revolver before pivoting himself into the doorway of the room, aiming the gun at the frame in his room. Barton was just about to let a bullet fly into their brain when the form turned around.

Rebecca Arkensaw was sitting on his couch, a Chinese take out box in her lap. The presence of a gun didn't even faze her. She gave him a sly smile.

"You're late for movie night," she stated simply.

Barton didn't realize he had been holding his breath. He let his inhale out in a sigh of relief as the tension drained out of him. He flipped the safety catch back on his gun so he could take the bullets out and uncock it.

"You must have a death wish," he said, shaking his head in disbelief as he worked on his gun.

"It's the job," Barton's girlfriend teased with a grin before eating a piece of shrimp from the box with her chopsticks.

They'd planned this night long ago, hoping that both of their schedules would allow it. In all the excitement of the day, it must have slipped his mind.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart, I got caught at the hospital," Barton apologized sincerely. "Time got away from me."

His girlfriend on the couch just smiled and chuckled. She wasn't mad. She worked with SHIELD as well. She knew how unpredictable a day could end up being. He was lucky to get home at all.

"That's alright," she said, but with a sly twinkle in her eyes. "I've gotten you back for it."

"How so?" Barton asked with a grin as he slipped off his coat and threw it across the back of a nearby chair.

"I bought you a brownie, but I ate it on the way home. I don't feel so guilty now," she admitted with a grin. Barton laughed his deep chuckle.

"And how'd that brownie taste?" He asked teasingly.