Clint chuckled as Tony fumbled with his bow. Tony, like the child he is, wanted to shoot an arrow. "At least one!" He claimed and Clint couldn't bring himself to say no or list all 5 reasons he'd make the worlds worst archer. But those bright eyes and childlike enthusiasm he usually reserves for science melted him. Now Tony was trying, very determined to even pull the bow back.
Reason number one Tony Stark makes the worlds worst archer: He has no upper body strength. Or at least not enough for this. While he may have put on some muscle from the use of the Iron Man suit, it wasn't the same as lifting weights everyday. Clint even lowered the poundage on his bow to 45. The absolute lowest it can go without making it string. Normally his is within the 100-200 pound range.
Tony cursed as his hand gave out, nearly punching himself in the face. "Dammit...how the hell do you do this? No, don't tell me. Magic. Your a magical being and like Thor it only answers to you." Clint smiled, arms crossed. "That would be nice but nope. We can stop-" "No! I'm gonna get it!" And he resumed trying to pull the bow back leaving Clint to shake his head.
Then Clint was shocked as Tony finally managed to pull the bow back, be it shakily a his arm wanted to give out at any second. "Ahha! Look at that Clint! Told you I could get it." Clint smirked weakly. "Yeah, if only there was an arrow in it now." Tony groaned before his arm gave out, making the bow string snap, startling Tony.
Reason number two why Tony Stark would make the worlds worst archer: There isn't a calm part in his body. For archery you needed calm. Calm is your weapon. Calm,control, timing. And Tony...well...he was never one for calm or control. Too impulsive and Tony would die before admitting he lets his emotions get in the way. When someone is in danger and there's no time to yell "Get out of the way!" he'll throw himself in front of them. Timing he could do...if he's patient...which he's not.
Clint continued to watch as Tony got an arrow putting on...or trying to. "Ahh..." Clint sighed, walking over, putting the arrow on the bow like it was the most obvious, natural thing in the world. Tony gave him a playful glare before looking at the target and attempting to pull the bow back. A bit more successful this time but Clint was willing to bet he calculated the exact amount of strength needed.
Reason number three Tony Stark would make the worlds worst archer: He over thinks. Constantly. His mind never stops buzzing or teeming. Always on the go and firing every piston to go 0 to 60 in less then five seconds. Never letting him get a moment to sleep peacefully (thou nightmares get in the way of that too often as well) or forgetting he's a human being and needs fucking food and water for gods sake.
Reason number four Tony Stark would make the worlds worst archer: He forgets to take care of himself. He gets little to no sleep every day. The most he gets, if any is around 4-6 hours, if he even tries to sleep and lets not forget how he fainted in the lab because he forgot to eat for four fucking days. He was lucky he wasn't working on something really dangerous. For Clint at least, you had to be in top shape, sleep, eat and be ready for the next job. The next job could be waiting 8 hours for your target. Could be days. As a sniper it's rough. Just being an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D is rough. Not only does Clint work out for four hours every morning (which includes some pretty advanced yoga) but he eats fairly healthy which he knows Tony just won't do, unless that health food is coffee. Which is not a food.
Then he watched as Tony managed to shoot the arrow and fall to the ground as the bow made it's snap and Tony yelp in pain, dropping the bow, holding his arm. Clint rushed over. "Let me see." Tony sighed but Clint could see how pained he was. Tony held out his arm as Clint inspected it. There was a large welt from where the bow string hit. Already shiny and red and raised. He nodded. "Com'on, I got some cream for it." Tony sighed. "Guess this happens a lot." "Yeah. It happens when you don't have an arm guard. Sorry I didn't give you one, didn't think you could actually shoot one." Tony smirked weakly. "well there, I did." Clint smiled. "Yeah. You sure did."
Reason number five Tony Stark would make the worlds worst archer: He's Tony Stark. Tony stark is not an archer by any means. He's Iron man. He's already saving people in his own way with a suit he built to save his life. Tony stark is everything he just listed but...
Reason number one why Tony Stark is fucking amazing the way he is: He may not have upper body strength but the use of the Iron Man suit leaned him out amazingly. Gorgeous. His muscles wernt huge like him or Steve or Thor but the were lean and long and fucking gorgeous. The times Clint has wanted to pin Tony against the nearest wall and started kissing down his neck and feel every inch of that tanned skin and lean muscle under his hands.
He got tony to his room, letting him sit on his bed as he got the cream and bandages for the welt. Tony looked around curiously. Even thou this was one of the personalized levels he made for each avenger,he treated it like he was in someones elses home. Clint came back with the cream and gauze and anything else needed or he used when that happened on the range. He sat down next to him, gently taking his arm. He opened the cream bottle. "Now this might sting a little. I have to rub it in." Tony sighed. "Just do what you gotta do bird brain." Clint smiled weakly, starting to rub the cream into the welt. Tony hissed, nearly trying to take his arm back but lint stopped him. "Stop moving. I'm sorry it hurts but it's important." Tony bit his lip and Clint hated himself as he saw tears welling up.
Reason number two Tony Stark is fucking amazing the way he is: He was like a child. Not childish but child like. He was always full of wonder and enthusiasm but when something happens to him or a team mate, he refuses to cry like the stubborn five year old he is. Because he cares too much when he says he doesn't care at all.
Clint put the cream down, starting to put some gauze around it as Tony watched curiously, speaking up. "So whats the worst injury you've gotten with archery?" Clint let out an amused laugh. "I've only ever gotten injured from my own bow a handful of times and every one was because of someone else being stupid or distracting me. The worst I think was when my own arrow went thru my hand." Tony winced. "Ouch. How exactly did that happen?" Clint shook his head. "It was a clusterfuck of a situation. A few of the new agents thought it would be fun to try mess with me while I was practicing. One thing lead to another then it happened. I didn't even feel it happen...at first. Taking the arrow out thou.. that was rough." He showed Tony his right hand,the rounded, somewhat jagged scar tissue. Tony frowned, taking his hand. "I've never even noticed this." "Who notices other peoples palms?" Tony smirked weakly. "True."
Reason number three Tony Stark is fucking amazing the way he is: He's the most selfless person Clint had ever met. Always willing to help his family of superheroes. He made each of them personalized floors and so far as making sure there favorite foods were there and stocked. He made those floors there's to such a degree of detail it was amazing and heart warming. He's already put his life literally in the line of danger for each of them without thinking. Tony Stark indeed has the biggest heart Clint has ever seen.
Clint saw there hands were still together from him inspecting an old scar. He suddenly noticed just how close they were. Tony was still looking at the scar with fascination. Only a few more inches and he could kiss him, just gently. Make him feel loved and beautiful and everything he thinks he isn't.
Reason number four Tony Stark is fucking amazing the way he is: Even with all these facts out there, he still thinks he's worth nothing. He has no idea how beautiful, how selfless, how fucking amazing he is and for some reason, it makes him all the more amazing.
Suddenly Clint's door opened and Steve was standing in the door way looking concerned. "Tony.." Tony stood up, away from Clint, going to Steve. "Just a little...welt. Nothing major." Steve looked bout to protest, seeing the gauze wrapped around his arm then Clint stood up. "It looks worse then it actually is but it's still needs to be covered." There was a pause then Tony spoke up excitedly. "I shot an arrow today." Steve chuckled, an arm going to his slower back, holding him close. "Very good. I'm proud of you. It's time for dinner." Tony nodded, kissing Steve's cheek before walking down the hall. Steve spoke to Clint before leaving. "You coming?" Clint let out a sigh. "Yeah. Just give me a minute." Steve nodded before leaving, closing the door.
Reason number five Tony Stark is fucking amazing the way he is: He capture the heart of Captain America. If that's not a feat in itself, Clint didn't know what is.
All he knew was that it hurt, seeing Tony holding Steve's hand, smiling to him, kissing. Everything they did. When he was along with Tony, he could pretend he belonged to him. He could protect the troubled genius from the worst but then reality sets in again, his heart breaking again as Tony has to return to Steve. But to see Tony smile so happily. The pain of his own heart breaking was worth it to make sure he was happy.
An: I was feeling depressed and wanted to write a depressed Clint fiction because he's my depressive muse. Emo birdy is emo. Reviews are welcome.
Also for people who don't know Archery terms. Pounds refers to the amount of pounds of force it take to pull a bow string back to shoot the arrow.