Choices

Chapter Twenty

 "I can't believe you tasered an Avenger!" A man's exclamation is muffled as he is in the room on the other side of the door. Another man replies too lowly for me to hear as the lock to our room clicks.

 "I mean, really, you tasered and arrested two superheroes who have saved the world from an alien invasion twice!" The younger of the two men states.

 "Shut up," The other man grumbles as they enter our room. "Monica Potts and Clinton Barton, you two are free to go."

 "What?" I stand up.

 He unlocks our cell, "You two are no longer needed for questioning and this whole situation has been cleared up."

 "We're free to just walk out now?" I ask disbelievingly.

 "Yes, a man has come by to pick you up," He says as Clint and I follow him out of the room, "He provided the evidence that you are both S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and that you were trying to stop the terrorists who did blow up the rock. I thought S.H.I.E.L.D. only dealt with alien stuff?"

 "There hasn't been any lately. This is just a special case," I lie, not wanting to inform any civilian about how many extraterrestrial dangers we face on a weekly basis. That seems to satisfy the officer as he nods slowly. The pair continues to lead us towards our mysterious alibi.

 I don't know who came and freed us or how they could have done it too. Who else would know about the failed mission and have a good enough excuse to clear our names? But my questions are soon answered when we enter the administrations office. "Coulson!" I cry out in joy.

 "Agent Potts," He smiles briefly.

​ "Please sign here," The annoyed police chief pushes a clipboard over the counter towards me. I sign the document where it's required. Clint has to do go through the same procedure. "Now, we will retrieve your items and you'll be on your way."

 "Thank you," Agent Coulson nods. The three of us are left alone as he goes to get our belongings.

 "How did you know that we were here?" I ask Agent Coulson.

 "Your bracelet was still transmitting the distress signal when they impounded it. We traced the signal here," He answers.

 "Oh!" I forgot about the bracelet's signal when we went into hiding.

 "So, Clint, how was your week?" Agent Coulson asks casually as he rocks back on his heels.

 Clint doesn't respond, for he isn't looking at Phil. "Agent Barton? Agent Barton? Clint?"

 "He's become deaf, sir," I inform him, "Sometime during his captivity, I believe, he took an injury to his head."

 "Ah," Agent Coulson nods once, "That won't be a problem for long. Once we get him back to S.H.I.E.L.D., our doctors will fix that again."

 "'Again'?" I furrow my eyebrows.

 "He sustained a like-injury before, right before we recruited him for S.H.I.E.L.D. actually, that caused him to become deaf. We repaired his hearing. Then a few years ago, this same thing happened. So, we'll fix it again," Agent Coulson crosses his arms, "Would you mind getting his attention for me?"

 I nudge Clint with my shoulder before motioning towards Agent Coulson. "How was your week?" He repeats his question.

 Clint scoffs humorously before signing in response. "What did he say?" Agent Coulson asks.

 "Crappy, but with a different word," I can't hide my amused grin.

 "Ah," Phil replies before the police chief wheels in a large metal cart.