90
You don’t learn until debriefing just how heavy the prisoner casualties were. You already know Agent Woo didn’t make it, but you’re a little surprised by the look on Coulson’s face as he reports it, because if you didn’t know Coulson had no emotions, you’d think he was almost upset about it.
Maybe it just takes something important to crack his façade.
The weirdest part is when he says something about not being able to win every time. You thought that winning every time was your job, and you never thought you’d hear anything different from Coulson, of all people. The guy even demands perfection in your paperwork. He’s not the kind of guy you thought would forgive an entire mission failure like that.
After debrief, you hover in the corner of the conference room until the others have all left. Coulson glances up, notices you, asks, “Can I help you, Barton?”
“I’m sorry about Agent Woo,” is all you say.
He gives you a tired smile, thanks you, and for the first time that day, it feels like maybe you’ve gotten something right.