Fury narrowed his eye, clearly unsettled by how easily the alloy target had corroded. "Good, but don't use it in the spar," he said firmly. "That steel was reinforced with our highest-grade compounds, yet it melted like butter meeting a hot knife. One slip and we're scraping teammates off the floor."
Clint spun the remaining glowing arrow between his fingers before letting it dissolve into crimson mist. "Understood. Non-lethal mode only," he said with a lopsided grin. Viper let out a sharp hiss-like chirp, as if amused by the declaration.
Alex nodded. "Venom arrows go on standby for real missions. For training, focus on synergy, positioning, and timing. Let Viper guide your instincts—if you follow its cues, you'll feel your shots line up even before you consciously aim."
Clint's eyes flicked to Viper, and for a brief moment, the world around him seemed clearer—every movement, every breath, every shift in posture from Steve and Hill translated into possible shot lines in his mind's eye.
"Okay, now that you've got your partner too, we're having a little spar. Want to join?" Alex asked.
Clint nodded. "Yep, nothing beats practical experience."
"Okay, I'll pair with you. My illusions will be perfect against your new abilities," Hill said, smiling as she gestured for them both to take their positions while Alex, Steve, and Fury stepped to the side.
Clint and Hill moved into position, each instinctively feeling the rhythm of their respective partners. Viper coiled low, tail flicking like a spring ready to release, while Luma hovered beside Hill, wings quivering with anticipation.
Alex raised an eyebrow, watching them closely. "Remember—this isn't about winning. It's about learning control, coordination, and reading your opponents… or your partners. Mistakes will happen. Adapt."
Steve crossed his arms, leaning against the side wall, while Fury gave a small nod of approval. "Alright, show me what you've got," he said, voice calm but edged with curiosity.
"Begin," Alex commanded.
Immediately, Hill's illusions flared outward—phantoms of herself darting in multiple directions, each trying to probe Clint's defenses. Clint's fingers twitched, and Viper responded instantly, a blur of bronze and gold, guiding his aim with subtle shifts and taps against his mind.
The first few arrows shot out, each narrowly missing the illusionary forms as Clint adjusted instinctively, but one of Hill's projections managed to brush past him, forcing him to sidestep awkwardly. Viper hissed in warning, and Clint re-centered, letting the familiar guide him.
"Focus on the flow," Alex called from the sidelines. "Let Viper anticipate for you, not just react. Trust the bond."
Clint gritted his teeth, concentrating, and the next volley of arrows snapped through the air with near-perfect timing. Two illusions dissolved under the strike, while a third faltered as Hill's concentration wavered slightly. She laughed, shaking her head. "Not bad, Hawkeye!"
"Your turn," Clint shot back with a grin, manifesting three arrows at once, each one aimed not at Hill herself but at the spaces her illusions occupied. Luma darted between them, trying to mislead his aim, but Viper's senses predicted the movements perfectly. Every arrow struck its mark on the phantom targets, leaving Hill momentarily impressed and off-balance.
Alex's eyes gleamed. "Good. That's synergy. You're learning to read your partner, anticipate the flow, and act without hesitation."
Steve nodded, impressed despite himself. "Looks like they're getting the hang of it."
Hill grinned, recovering her composure. "Okay… let's see if you can handle this." She spread her wings, and the illusions multiplied rapidly, a shimmering cloud of indistinct forms filling the hall. Clint's eyes narrowed, and he adjusted Viper's positioning in his mind.
The air hummed with tension as the arrows began flying again, weaving through the illusionary chaos with precise calculation. Viper's guidance allowed Clint to hit the right forms while avoiding the distractions, though a few phantoms slipped through, brushing past him just enough to test his reflexes.
Alex stepped closer, smiling faintly. "Not perfect yet, but the progress is remarkable. This is exactly why practical sparring is crucial. Feel each other, predict, adapt. That's how you survive real combat."
"And now that you guys have your partners, as well as some grasp of your abilities, I will be leaving," he said.
Fury nodded. "Thank you. We'll call when we spot Loki," he replied.
Alex gave a small nod in acknowledgment and left.
Steve exhaled slowly, watching Alex disappear through the doors. "Well… that was intense," he muttered, flexing his gauntleted hands. Aegis shifted slightly, as if sensing his lingering tension.
Hill folded her arms, Luma's wings quivering faintly. "Intense? That's an understatement. I feel like I've run three miles mentally and physically at the same time."
Clint smirked, letting Viper coil around his arm. "Welcome to our new normal. At least we know what we're working with now. These partners… they're game-changers."
Steve nodded. "Yeah. But we still need to refine coordination. Even with their help, one wrong move and—well, it could get messy."
Hill smiled faintly. "That's why sparring like this is perfect. We're learning their instincts as much as they're learning ours."
Fury, arms crossed, stepped closer. "Alright, enough talking. We still have to get other avengers, Coulson have went to get Tony, but there is still Bruce we need to get here" He said as Hills nodded.
"Dr. Banner is back at his lab, where he is… well, you should see it yourself," she said, leaving them curious about what she meant.
The next day, they arrived at Bruce's lab.
"Fury, Clint, and Hill… and you are?" a woman asked as they entered.
"She is Olivia Hambert, a doctor and expert who works with Dr. Banner to help him with Hulk-related problems," Hill explained. "And he is Steve Rogers—you might have heard of him… Captain America?" She gestured toward Steve Rogers as she introduced him to Olivia.
"You must be kidding," Olivia said as she looked at Hill and the others.
Hawkeye entered and added, "No one's joking. By the way, where is our Hulk?" He asked as Olivia glanced at Captain America, his image still vivid in her mind from when she had seen him at the museum.
"I am real… just woke up after being frozen for so long," Steve said eventually.
Olivia nodded.
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