Chapter Text
8 Months Ago
"I want to talk to you about the Avengers Initiative."
Danny looked at this so-called Barton, blinking once. Twice. Four times, before his tired, sleep deprived brain was able to comprehend what he had just said.
"I'm sorry, the what?" He asked.
"The Avengers Initiative. Follow me."
Danny instinctively followed Barton to his and Dash's own kitchen and sat down, trying to rub the tired out of his brain. Needless to say, it didn't really work.
"Coffee?" Barton asked. Danny only nodded into his hands, holding back a large yawn.
"I'm here on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D." Barton said. "Which is a government branch made to be the last line of defense against who knows what. Usually aliens or supervillains and such."
"What does the government want with me then?" Danny asked, putting an edge to his voice, immediately becoming more awake. He didn't like the government. Not after what they did to him.
Barton noticed this, and stepped around it.
"I said I was a part of the government. I never said you were going to be, so calm down."
"It's my house, I don't have to be-oh, thank you," Danny said as Barton placed a cup of coffee in front of him. Dash crossed his arms.
"What's going on? Why do you need Danny if you've already got S.H.I.E.L.D?" He asked.
"Our director thinks we need a response team. Considering he's got pretty decent instincts, I kind of agree with him. It wouldn't be a bad idea to have some feet on the ground and take care of things while the politicians try to take their heads out of their asses," Barton replied.
"So I'm gonna be your secret weapon or some shit?" Danny asked, his frown returning.
"No," Clint said, taking a drink straight from the pot of coffee. "You're not going to be the only one. We've got a list of people that we think would be good for the team."
"Like who?" Dash asked.
"Classified. That is, unless you agree. But I'm sure you'll really enjoy the people you might have to work with."
Danny looked at Barton and sighed, going over his options. This was going to be a long night.
Present Day
"Mr. Fenton," a balding man in a pristine suit greeted him at his door while he was leaving for work. "My name is Agent Coulson. Your job has granted you paid leave. It's time."
"Time?" Danny asked. "Time for what?"
"S.H.I.E.L.D. needs you. Meet me on the roof when you're ready."
Danny just looked at him as he walked away, turning back to the inside of his apartment he shared with his husband, Dash. It still felt really good saying that. His husband. Eight months and the feeling of saying it still made him smile. He knew it always would.
He sighed and shook his head, trying to shake off the whiplash from the events that were just placed in front of him. But then he smiled. He needed to be positive about all of this, even if he didn't really want to leave Dash.
"Hey, babe!" He called. Dash poked his head around the corner, spatula in hand and his bright pink apron tied around his waist.
"What's up?" He asked. Danny walked towards him, setting his lunch box on the counter.
"Do you remember that guy from like eight months ago, right after we got married, and he was saying-"
"-Do you mean Barton? Yeah, I remember him."
"Well, they…It's time. They need me to go in."
Dash's face fell, and he turned off the stove and set his spatula down. He turned back to Danny, giving him that concerned husband look, and hugged him.
"Stay safe, please," Dash said quietly. He sounded vulnerable, and Danny knew this must have been heart breaking for him. What if something happened? What if Danny didn't come back? What if Danny came back, but as a ghost and not a halfa? So many things were probably swarming in Dash's head right now, and Danny couldn't blame him. It was like the battle with Pariah all over again.
But…If he was being called in, that meant the Earth needed him. Not just S.H.I.E.L.D.
"I will," Danny replied. "I'll call you whenever I have the chance."
"You better," Dash said, trying to lighten the mood. He pressed his lips to Danny's, letting them linger for a moment before finally letting Danny go. He watched as Danny sighed and psyched himself up momentarily. He looked like he didn't want to go, and Dash really didn't want him too, either.
He let his invisibility and intangibility wash over him before flying up to the roof to meet
Coulson. A million things swarmed his mind. Should he let the secret identity out of the bag? Did they need him as Fenton, or as Phantom? And if they needed him as Fenton, was it for ghost hunting or astronomy? He had now way of knowing.
When he got there, the agent was standing there, this wind blowing his jacket around a little bit, but otherwise he looked almost inconspicuous. Danny let his invisibility and intangibility go. The man didn't flinch, as he looked behind him at the small ship, then back at Danny.
"Ready?" He asked nonchalantly.
"I guess," he replied. "Lead the way."