LOYALTY || T. ODINSON

✴ ONE ✴

Agent Kalli Mitchell crouched down on the catwalk, leaning on the railings for support as she observed the scene in her line of vision. She brushed away a few strands of hair from her face as she listened to Agent Clint Barton and Agent Chris Anderson bicker between them about something Kalli couldn't care less about. Kalli rolled her eyes every time her two fellow agents attempted to bring her into the conversation; she also threatened to cut their hands off if they continued to poke her shoulder blades.

Kalli allowed her mind to drift to her sister-like friend, Natasha Romanoff. The brunette and the redhead had a lot in common, both coming from horrific pasts they refused to talk about, both having the same cold stare and intimidating presence. Clint got them confused as twins until he noticed the black, curving Marks covering Kalli's arms and not Natasha's, that told him something was distinctively different about Kalli Mitchell; for Kalli is a Shadowhunter, an Angelic hybrid.

Kalli met Agent Chris Anderson through Clint Barton. When Kalli and Chris met, it was a rocky start. For the best part of Kalli's first year at SHIELD, Kalli would shut everyone out on a daily basis and complete her mission solo. Well, that was until Director Fury allocated Chris Anderson as Kalli's partner. The day that happened, holy hell came to town. Nobody went anywhere near the dark-haired woman for the rest of the month, even Natasha didn't try her luck. Eventually, Kalli came around and Chris was slowly welcomed into Kalli's life, however, Kalli still distanced herself from Chris.

"Will you pair be quiet?" Kalli said with a chilling tone, her British accent as clear as day.

Chris jumped at Kalli suddenly piping up after a few hours after she threatened them. He wasn't expecting her to talk again until something major came up from the main floor below them. "Will you stop that?"

"Stop what?" Kalli asked, not removing her gaze from the scientists below them as they ran around like ants. Kalli's concern briefly spiked when the evacuation order was given out, however, she never let her emotion surface. "Scaring the shit outta you? Yeah, I don't think so."

"Barton, Mitchell, Anderson; report," Director Fury spoke through their ear pieces.

"Time to go to work," Clint sighed, walking to the end on the catwalk and sliding down the rope that was connected to the ceiling above.

Chris followed after Barton, who was shortly followed by Kalli.

The three agents approached their boss with caution; the look on his face didn't bring Kalli the best feeling in her gut. If anything, Director Fury had a look of pure worry in his eyes. "I thought I gave you three this detail so you could keep a close eye on things," Fury announced with disappointment, the three of them following behind him as the approached the platform that held the Tesseract.

"Well, we see better from a distance," Clint replied.

Truth be told, none of them wanted to be too close to the object due to the gamma radiation. Even though they were low levels, neither of them wanted to take the risk.

"Are you seeing anything that might set this thing off?" Fury questioned.

Chris observed the platform as the ascended the steel steps as a NASA scientist called for Doctor Selvig's attention. "No one's come or gone. It's oven is clean, no contacts, no I.M.'s," Chris clarified, but was struggling to recall the information passed on to them.

Kalli saw his struggle and provided Fury with the basic knowledge they received. "If there was any tampering, sir, it wasn't from this end," Kalli finished, gazing up at the glowing, blue cube being held for observation.

Fury raised an eyebrow at the woman's statement. He couldn't believe what he had heard. "From this end?" He repeated, making sure he heard her correctly.