Clint panted and sighed in relief as he spotted the fancy car in the car-park, rushing over to it and trying the door, sending a silent prayer up to the sky when it opened easily.
He thought he lost Barney back at the circus, but that fucker managed to sneak up on him, right when he thought he'd actually managed to get away.
Finding the key already in the ignition, Clint cackled in delight, the cackle turning into a delighted humming as the car purred to life. He sped out of the car-park, forcing another delighted cackle out of his mouth.
And then he noticed the man sprawled out on the back seat.
A really, really handsome man.
Wearing a tight-fitting shirt with the top two buttons undone, and tight trousers, hair all… floppy (there was really no other way to describe it), Clint knew that he was in trouble.
Just as Clint noticed him, the man woke up, eyes fluttering open to reveal beautiful brown eyes, almost like looking into pools of hot chocolate.
"Awww no…" Clint hissed, as those gorgeous eyes widened in realisation and shock "… look, I can explain!"
Silently, the man raised his eyebrows, almost as if to say, 'Well then?'
There was no real, reasonable explanation for stealing a car that didn't sound ridiculous, so Clint decided to tell the truth. "I worked for a circus of criminals, and when I decided that I had to leave, my brother decided that I needed to be taught a lesson… I ran and in the process of my grand escape, I might've stolen your car?"
"… Really living up to the Circus of Crime name then?" Thankfully, the other man seemed to think it was funny.
"You're not mad?"
"I'm not happy, but you could have shot me in the head…" The man tilted his head to the side, "… besides, you're pretty cute."
Wait… was he being flirted with? Clint definitely didn't mind… but it was a bit unusual. "So…" he nervously began, "… what's your name?"
"Tony."
And then it hit Clint… why the other man looked so familiar.
"Please tell me I've not abducted Tony Stark."
"I prefer to think of it as a romantic adventure." Tony smirked, glancing out of the window.
"God, I hope the police fall for that."
Tony smirked again, "Go on then…" he kicked the back of Clint's seat, "…. Don't be rude. What's your name?"
"Clint." He grunted, making a sharp right turn. He knew he was far, far away from where he'd last seen Barney, but he didn't want to pull over just yet. He yelped as Tony clambered from the back-seat, into the front passenger seat, limbs flailing everywhere, "Woah, woah, woah! What are you doing?"
"Well, this is my car, and I would feel more comfortable sitting up here… more control, you know?"
Clint mock gasped, "You don't you trust me?"
"I've only just met you and you stole my car!"
"I prefer to think of it as kidnapping… technically you're still with your car."
"Oh, ha ha ha."
Laughing as well, Clint pulled into the nearest gas station and moved to get out, stopped only for Tony's hand grabbing his upper arm.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Tony frowned, "Where are you going?"
"…. I don't actually want to kidnap you, you know, no matter how much your family makes." Clint shrugged, "Besides, I figured you'd want your car back."
"I-uh… you might want to stay a little longer…. You know, just in case your brother comes looking for you."
Slowly, Clint nodded and re-buckled the seatbelt, watching Tony got out to fill up the tank, waving a flash gold card around, before getting back in.
"This has been a strange and confusing day." Tony muttered as Clint accelerated.
There was an awkward silence, before Clint nervously cleared his throat, "So, what the son of one of the richest men alive do in their spare time?"
Tony didn't look thrilled with the idea of being reminded about his family, simply shrugging, "I'm studying a lot of things. Engineering, advanced mathematics, physics… law, things like that."
"Law?" Clint frowned, "Okay, I didn't expect that one. Ever met Matt Murdock?"
Tony's face lit up slightly, as he nodded, "Yeah, the blind kid! I know him and Nelson, you do too?"
"I've met Matt a few times." Usually in a dumpster after the blind guy had played hero one too many times, but Clint wasn't going to say that, "Small world after all, huh?"
Clint then groaned as Tony started to hum, 'It's a Small World', only stopping to cackle and dodge as Clint swiped at him.
"Go on then…" Tony chuckled, "… where are we going?"
"I was thinking of just laying low for the day, just to be safe. Maybe find an old truck stop and sleep there for the night." Clint winced and glanced over, "Of course, I can do that on my own anytime and leave you with your car?"
"No!" Tony shook his head, "Don't leave just yet! I like talking to you, I-I… I like you Clint."
Clint glanced over, a soft smile on his face which was returned by Tony, "Yeah… I like you too Tony."
…..
After stopping at a diner in the middle of nowhere, the two got to know each other better. Clint learnt about Tony's troubles with his Father, and how the picture the media painted was nothing more than a fabrication. Clint, in turn, told Tony more about his brother and his own parents, his own struggles with his Dad before they died in that fatal car crash.
Before either of them knew it, it was 6:00am and the sun was rising in the sky. After being kicked out of the diner, the pair mulled about outside.
"So uh… what do you want to do now?"
Tony shrugged, "I mean… my Dad's out for a business meeting for the week. You can stay with me, I'm sure that Jarvis won't mind." There was a hopeful look in his eyes, and Clint pushed down the urge to grab him by his jacket and kiss him senseless.
He didn't do a very good job.
Tony's mouth was warm and soft against Clint's, and he could feel the other man gasp lightly as their lips locked together. After a couple of moments, Clint pulled back to see Tony blushing.
"Is that a… yes?"
Clint chuckled, swooping in for another kiss.
…..
Looking back, neither of them could deny that what they had was a relationship.
Of course, they never advertised it as such, not with Tony's father chasing Clint out of the house every time he happened to spot the 'intruder', but it became a subject of rumours.
And rumours have a habit of spreading.
It was two years to the day when Barney Barton came looking for his little brother, only to find Tony.
What better revenge?
….
Clint shivered, the cold of the hospital finally getting to him. He knew he should have grabbed a jacket before running out of the home, but with the news of Tony's vicious beating consuming his mind, he didn't think about something like that.
"I don't recall asking you to be here."
Clint flinched and turned to Howard Stark who was glaring down at him. He forced himself to remain calm, keeping his voice steady and low. "How is he?" he softly asked, rubbing his arms to try and get rid of his chills, "The doctors won't tell me anything."
"That would be because you're not family." Howard straightened up, "My son was almost beaten to death, something which I'm sure is related to you."
"N-No, I- "
"His ribs were almost completely shattered, his lungs were pierced and he's going to have to have extensive surgery to make sure he survives." Howard then leaned in close and smirked, "And it's all because of you."
"I-it was that bad?" Clint's fingernails started to dig into his arms. He knew it was his fault… Tony wouldn't even have been on Barney's radar if it weren't for him hanging around.
"I really think you should consider giving this sham of a relationship up… for his own good."
Before Clint could reply, Howard and his silent wife stormed away, leaving him alone in the practically deserted corridor.
Almost 24 hours later, a doctor walked over to him, a kindly smile on his face. "Hey… you're here for Antony Stark right?"
Clint silently nodded.
"Well, he's just come out of surgery and I think his parents might have gone home." The Doctor didn't sound happy about that, "You can go in and see him if you want? He's not awake yet, but I find that it can be comforting for them to have someone there."
"Thank you." Clint muttered, getting to his feet, "Thank you for letting me know."
Ignoring the Doctor's reassuring smile, he headed over to Tony's room. He looked so small, so… unlike Tony. He'd got so used to seeing that cocky smile, hearing his enthusiastic voice explaining the latest idea in his mind.
This version of Tony was unsettling.
Slowly, he walked over to the window, breathing in the warm air of outside, rather than the cold disinfectant of the private room. He walked back over to the bed, glancing at all the machines that Tony was tied up to.
Clint felt like he was going to be sick at the sight of all the bandages. Taking a seat on a plush chair near the head of the bed, he buried his face in his hands. When he finally managed to calm his breathing down, he re-opened his eyes, taking in his boyfriend again.
Or was it his ex-boyfriend now?
"I'm a fucking asshole." He whispered, "I know you're having a great time just sleeping away there, but you need to wake up, because I have so much to say to you."
Tony didn't move an inch.
"I'm such a piece of shit." Clint kept going, eyes burning, "I should have warned you… I should have stayed far away from you!"
More silence.
"Damn it." Clint sniffed, shoving the heels of his palms to his eyes again, "Damn it!"
When he calmed down again, he took a deep breath and took Tony's hand, frowning at the blue veins that stuck up through Tony's pale skin. The other man's lips looked white against the paleness of his skin, Clint shuddered to think about the wounds that caused that kind of major blood loss.
He needed to leave… and he knew he couldn't take Tony with him.
Clint knew what he had to do.
He clenched Tony's hand tightly, before letting go and pushing himself to his feet, leaning over to kiss Tony on the forehead.
"Sorry." He whispered, "I love you."
And then he was gone.
