Mirror ∞ Marvel ∞ bk. 1

Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

"Aw, coffee, no!"

Clint Barton put his hands on his hips. His grey, baggy sweatpants were now soaked in black coffee and his white tank top felt damp as well. He jumped back, ripping the burning wet socks from his feet in an effort to save his skin while spitting more expletives.

He padded across the kitchen tile floor of his Manhattan apartment, muttering to himself. How was he supposed to catch the damn girl if he couldn't even make his morning pot of coffee. Flashes of images from Loki's control of his mind passed over him again. He grabbed the wall to steady himself. It only lasted a moment, but it was enough to throw him off his guard.

The sound of claws on the tile floor came crashing towards him. Clint sunk down in his coffee-soaked clothes and let the yellow lab nuzzle him. "You're a good boy, Lucky." He scratched the dog's head.

Sometimes Clint wondered how Lucky managed to do everything he did with just one eye. He certainly didn't seem to need two working eyes to act as an emotional support animal. That being said, he couldn't take Lucky where he was going.

Clint took his phone from his pocket and dialed the name "She-Devil". He smirked to himself as he looked at the Caller ID before putting it against his ear. He continued to massage Lucky's ears as they sat against the wall near the door to his apartment right off the kitchen.

"Hey, Barbara." He smirked as he talked into the phone. Then his smirk dropped. "No, no, don't hang up the phone!" He rolled his eyes. "Bobbi. Fine. It was a joke. I see your humor hasn't improved in recent times... Yes I have a reason for this call. I'm going on mission - don't interrupt me - I need someone to watch Lucky... I'm cleared enough. Fury wants the 084 brought in and my contacts say she's in D.C. I wanted to head down there today.... Nat's barely better than I am! I'm not going to just hand this mission to her..." He held the phone from his ear and rolled his eyes down at Lucky. "Listen, are you going to come watch the apartment, or not?" He sighed. "Thanks, Bob. I'll see you in an couple hours."

As he hung up the phone, he looked down at the now-sleeping Lucky in his lap. He looked at the clock on the microwave nearby. 8:15. Nat was coming over any minute. Then he sprung up in alarm. "Coffee!"

Lucky startled as Clint pushed himself up off the floor. He grabbed a roll of paper towels before cursing. There were only four sheets left. Laying those four sheets on the spilled pot of coffee, he dug around in his sparse apartment for more. Finally he found them. He stripped off his shirt and pants so he stood only in his boxers, throwing them into his bedroom, and scooped up the mess. He was spitting curses at his soaked socks when he heard the door open behind him.

"You look busy," Natasha commented as she entered, tight jeans and black coat looking very put together. "Do you always dress like this for breakfast?"

"I know this looks bad-"

"Clint, you're always a mess. I'm not concerned," Natasha assured him as she locked the door behind her and placed her Starbucks venti on the counter. She unbuttoned her jacket and hung it beside the door. "I'm not concerned more than usual, at least."