Marvel : Abra Kadabra System

Chapter 23: Hawkeye's Recruitment, Adam's First Official Mission

The S.H.I.E.L.D. training facility was a hive of activity. Agents moved with practiced efficiency, their faces grim. Adam, now officially a "consultant," found himself observing a new operation. The target: a highly skilled marksman, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent gone rogue, being pursued by Natasha Romanoff. Clint Barton. Hawkeye.

"Alright, Clint. Time for your big moment. And by 'big moment,' I mean 'getting caught by Natasha and then reluctantly joining the good guys.' Don't worry, I'll make it a little less painful. And maybe a little more… sparkly."

"Adam, Fury wants you to observe," Natasha's voice came through his comms, cool and professional. "Barton is highly skilled. Dangerous. Do not interfere unless absolutely necessary."

"Understood, Agent Romanoff," Adam replied, a mischievous glint in his eye. "No interference. Unless 'absolutely necessary' involves a well-timed illusion or a spontaneous glitter bomb."

He watched the pursuit unfold. Clint was a master of stealth, his arrows finding their targets with terrifying precision. Natasha, however, was a force of nature, her movements fluid and deadly.

Adam, invisible, moved through the facility, keeping pace with the chase. He saw Clint cornered in a ventilation shaft, aiming an arrow at Natasha.

Adam knew Natasha could handle herself. But he also knew a little help, a little chaos, could make things more efficient. And more memorable.

He focused on Clint's bowstring.

[Illusions & Holograms activated. Target: Optic Nerves. Effect: Bowstring to Rubber Band.]

For a split second, Clint's taut bowstring seemed to transform into a flimsy, brightly colored rubber band. Clint blinked, shook his head, and in that moment of confusion, Natasha disarmed him with a swift, elegant move.

"What the…?" Clint muttered, staring at his bow.

Natasha, holding him in a chokehold, glanced at the bow, then at Adam's invisible position. A faint, knowing smirk played on her lips. "Having fun, Stiels?" she whispered.

Adam, unseen, chuckled. "Always, Natasha. Always."

Clint was apprehended, looking bewildered and thoroughly annoyed. Adam watched as Fury arrived, offering Clint a position in S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers Initiative. Clint, predictably, was reluctant.

Adam decided to make his official debut as a S.H.I.E.L.D. consultant. He waited until Clint was being led away, looking grumpy.

He activated his Invisibility, then reappeared directly in front of Clint, startling him.

"Clint Barton, I presume?" Adam said, extending a hand. "Adam Stiels. Consultant for the Avengers Initiative. And soon-to-be your new best friend. Don't worry, the rubber band thing was just a warm-up. I've got way better tricks."

Clint stared at him, then at Natasha, then back at Adam, his jaw slightly agape. "You… you did that? The… the bowstring?"

"Guilty as charged," Adam grinned. "Just a little something to spice up your recruitment. Fury thought you needed a little nudge. And I thought you needed a good laugh. You look like you haven't smiled since… well, ever."

Fury, watching from a distance, sighed, running a hand over his bald head. Coulson, beside him, just looked resigned.

"He's going to be a problem, isn't he, sir?" Coulson muttered.

"A very effective problem, Agent Coulson," Fury replied, a hint of grudging respect in his voice.

Adam turned back to Clint. "So, Hawkeye. Ready to join the circus? We've got a grumpy billionaire, a big green rage monster, a thunder god who talks funny, and me. It's going to be a blast."

Clint, still reeling, managed a faint, reluctant smile. "You're… insane."

"Comes with the territory," Adam winked. "So, welcome aboard. Just try not to shoot me with any actual arrows. I'm sensitive."

[Achievement Unlocked: Gain New Ally (Clint Barton). Reward: 150 System Points. Achievement Unlocked: Make 10 Heroes Angry at You (Clint's initial annoyance). Reward: 50 System Points.]

Back at his agency, Adam debriefed Jemma and Skye. "Alright, team. We've got a new Avenger on the roster. Clint Barton. Archer extraordinaire. And he's already thoroughly confused by my existence. Mission accomplished."

Jemma nodded, already pulling up data on Clint's S.H.I.E.L.D. file. "His combat metrics are impressive, Adam. A true master of his craft."

Skye grinned. "So, when do I get to hack his arrows? Can I make them play 'Flight of the Valkyries' when they hit something?"

"Later, Skye. Later," Adam chuckled. "First, we prepare for the big one. Loki. The Tesseract. And the alien invasion. Because, let's be honest, that's what all this has been building up to, right?"