STRIKE Team Omega

The Triskelion was a place where rumors flowed like the wind, whispering from one corner to the next. Between the reinforced concrete walls and the fluorescent-lit hallways, stories and speculations flew as fast as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s covert operations. And in the last few weeks, one particularly intriguing rumor was beginning to gain traction, a rumor involving one of the organization's most feared and respected agents: John Hawke.

It had all started quietly. A few agents in the mess hall were whispering about the incident that had occurred between John and Jasper Sitwell. The explosive confrontation between the two men had been a public event, witnessed by dozens of agents and officers. But now, new stories were beginning to emerge. They said that after that tense encounter, something else had happened. Something that had left Sitwell visibly shaken, as if he had been confronted by a more sinister and private threat.

A group of lower-ranking agents were gathered at a corner table in the mess hall, whispering between bites of food. Among them was Kyle, a field agent who had just been promoted to Level 6.

"Did you hear what happened with Sitwell?" Kyle asked, leaning forward, his eyes bright with curiosity.

"Yeah, right. The confrontation with John, right?" Sarah, a communications specialist, replied as she glanced around, making sure no one else was listening. "But I heard there was something else. Something that happened afterward… at Sitwell's house."

The others leaned closer, interested.

"At his house?" Jordan, one of the new recruits, asked, his brows furrowed. "What do you mean by that?"

Kyle glanced around, making sure no one was paying attention, then lowered his voice even further.

"They say John… broke into Sitwell's house in the middle of the night. He left no trace, of course, but Sitwell woke up to find a message on the bathroom mirror. Something threatening."

Sarah's eyes widened in shock, while Jordan shook his head in disbelief.

"Really? How do you know that?" Sarah asked.

"One of the security agents said Sitwell had been paranoid the last few days, always looking over his shoulder. And he'd canceled all his off-site meetings, calling in sick. I think it had something to do with John."

"If it's true, that's scary," Jordan muttered. "But it makes sense. John's not the kind of guy who forgives easily. Especially after Sitwell almost put his team at risk."

The rumor began to spread quickly. At first, it was just a buzz among the younger agents, those who still saw figures like John as having an almost mythological aura. But as the days passed, the rumor infiltrated higher circles.

In the hallways, Maria heard whispers about John's possible break-in. She knew how the rumors could be exaggerated, but there was something about Sitwell's change in behavior that made her suspicious. He was quieter, avoiding conversation and always tense.

During a strategy meeting, she decided to bring up the subject with Clint, who was always up to date with the internal happenings of S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Clint, I heard something strange about John and Sitwell. They say John made a visit... unofficial, if you know what I mean." She said casually, as the two reviewed a report.

Clint, who had always maintained a good relationship with John, raised an eyebrow and gave a slight smile.

"You know how these rumors are, Maria. They grow out of control. But honestly, it wouldn't surprise me. John is loyal to his team. If Sitwell put them in danger, it wouldn't go unanswered." He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "And I bet John is smart enough to make sure no one knows anything. If he did something, he left no evidence."

Hill shook her head, thinking about John's reputation as one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most effective and ruthless operatives. At the same time, she knew that any wrong move could put him in the crosshairs of someone like Pierce, who wouldn't hesitate to use something like that against John.

Elsewhere in the Triskelion, in the intelligence sector, Natasha Romanoff, the new agent of Strike Team Delta, had also heard the rumors. She wasn't one to listen to gossip, but the story about John and Sitwell had reached her during training. The former Black Widow knew how these power struggles could play out. Intrigued, she approached Clint about it after one of their missions.

"Clint, I heard that John had… a conversation with Sitwell," Natasha said as she cleaned her weapons after the mission.

Clint laughed.

"Do you mean the mess hall confrontation or the supposed nighttime visit?"

Natasha shrugged, her face serious but with a slight smile on her lips.

"Let's just say I heard about both. And if the rumors are true. John really knows how to send a message." She paused, considering. "What do you think? Would he do that?"

Clint looked at her, still smiling, but with a more serious tone in his voice.

"Look, Nat, John is a soldier, but he's also a man of principle. If he felt Sitwell put his team at risk, I wouldn't be surprised. But he knows where to draw the line. The problem is, Pierce has his eye on him now. If he makes a false move, Pierce will use it against him."

Natasha nodded, understanding perfectly. In espionage, nothing was black and white. John could have done something to protect his team, but there was always the question of consequences, especially with someone like Pierce behind the scenes.

Meanwhile, Sitwell continued his routine, but anyone who watched him closely could notice the change. He was more anxious, talking less to his colleagues and avoiding interactions with John and the Omega team. Even in meetings, he avoided eye contact with any of the team members, especially John. The incident in the mess hall had left a public scar, but John's private visit had shaken him in a much deeper way.

Rumors of the break-in at Sitwell's house had been circulating, but no one had any proof. Nick Fury, as usual, kept quiet on the matter. He knew more than he let on, but he wouldn't interfere unless the situation became uncontrollable.

Even so, the mood at the Triskelion was changing. The relationship between John and the higher authorities was strained. Agents at all levels whispered about the power John seemed to wield, both in combat and in internal S.H.I.E.L.D. politics, and about how Sitwell had been humiliated without being able to respond.

Sitwell himself, aware that John had the skills and resources to do more than just make a late-night visit, had decided not to confront him again. He knew that if he provoked John one more time, he might not come out unscathed the next time.

But more than anything, the rumors served to further increase the mystique surrounding John Hawke. He was already seen as a legend among agents, but now he was something more, a feared figure whose actions were never fully understood or known. And in the world of S.H.I.E.L.D., that reputation could be both a weapon and a burden.

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