Author's Note: Hey, guys! Um, so, this is my first story. I'm not sure how long this is gonna be yet, so please bare with me, if you will.

Anyway... Given the fact that this is Clint Barton and Tony Stark, there will be swearing. Possibly lots of.

This is a slash story for the IronHawk pairing.

I apologize for any OOCness.

I own nothing.

Last thing, a lot of this chapter is in italics. Those are flashbacks of sorts.

Was I naïve to think that you loved me?
Was it silly to feel like this was really real?
How could I think you and I could have everything?
It was a foolish thing for me to believe.

Prologue:

Clint laughed again, reaching out and placing his hand lightly on top of Tony's. "How are you so perfect?" he asked with a wide grin on his face. It was his and Tony's first date and he couldn't be happier. The genius was actually good company and he was having a lot of fun. "Seriously, I didn't think it was possible to be as amazing as you."

Tony smirked and leaned forward over the table. "It's a secret, Robin Hood. You're gonna have to work harder than that to get it out of me." Clint leaned forward, too, so that their faces were only inches apart.

"Is that so, Stark?" Tony nodded. "What can I do to find out?"

Clint pulled the trigger again, the bullet soaring through the air until it ripped through the paper target on the other side of the room. He reloaded and shot again.

Tony pulled Clint up from his seat, dragging him onto the dance floor. They'd been going out for a few months now and things were going smoothly. Clint didn't seem to be having commitment issues get in the way of anything. They were happy.

'What happened?' Clint thought as he shot the gun again, glaring at the paper target the bullets seemed to just tear through.

Tony smiled as Clint opened the gift like an excited child. It was their first Christmas together. They'd been dating for eight months without a hitch. Clint's face lit up as he saw the brand new Stark Industries bow, personalized just for him. With a wide grin, he smacked his lips against Tony's in excitement. Tony lifted a hand to Clint's cheek and stroked it gently with his thumb. "I love you, Clint Barton." he said, staring into the archer's eyes. It was the first time he had said that.

Clint's eyes widened slightly, but his smile just got bigger as he pulled Tony in for another kiss. "I love you too." he mumbled against Tony's mouth.

Full of anger and hatred, Clint shot the target again. He was making good progress, certain he must've emptied three clips into that thing already.

Tony looked down at his feet, a small frown on his face when he finally managed to bring his eyes up to Clint. He swallowed hard. "We can't keep doing this, Clint." And just like that, Clint's heart broke. A year and a half of his life wasted with a man who never even loved him. He didn't even say anything; he just walked out and went to the roof to think. He stayed there for hours.

Clint wiped at his eyes with the back of his head before shooting again. It had been six months since Tony dumped him and he hadn't seen any of the team since then – Natasha included. He had gone to Fury when it happened and asked to be transferred, so he was. They were getting ready to ship him back to New York, though. They had given him some lame excuse like his stress leave was over.

Finally ending his shooting spree of sorts, he packed his bag and went home. Due to a lack of options, he would be moving back into Stark Tower and he was honestly scared to have to see Tony again. He didn't think he could handle it. He would try, though, because he knew he was needed in New York.

Clint got on the plane and stared out the window beside him the whole way home.

"You're leaving?" Tony asked with a frown. "Me breaking up with you wasn't me giving you permission to leave. Stay." Clint just shook his head.

"I can't, Tony. I can't stay here, not now." The genius pouted. "I'll be back. I just need some time. Take care of yourself."

Clint wiped at his eyes again as he stared down to the Earth beneath him. It felt just like the flight out there; he had been crying then, too.

"Director, I need to get out of here. I haven't talked it over with the team, or anything, I just need some time to myself after Tony and I…" His voice trailed off.

"I can send you out of state for a few months. You're coming back, though. You, as an Avenger, are important here. We need you, Agent Barton."

Clint frowned as the plane started to land and he started to gather his things. All he had on him was a single duffel bag that held everything he had brought with him. The archer slung the bag over his shoulder and left for base, conflicting emotions visible on his face.

Three hours and a meeting with Fury later, Clint was standing back outside Stark Tower. It was JARVIS who let him in, the robotic voice actually sounding happy as he greeted him. He went straight to his room and unpacked. He could socialize later.

Unfortunately, Natasha came in thirty minutes later. She hugged him and told him he should've called, but that she was just happy he was home.

"I missed you too, Nat," he said quietly, his arms wrapped around her waist. "You know, I've been traveling all day and haven't eaten much. Wanna go to dinner?" Natasha just nodded. The two left.

Two hours later, around ten, they were just getting back. Tony was up and, surprisingly, not in the lab. Clint froze at the sight of the genius and Tony's eyes widened. Natasha wasn't sure what she should do there, so she backed out of the room.

"Clint," Tony breathed out softly. "You're home."