DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters from the 2012 'Avengers' movie. They belong to the people who created them in the first place and the actors who played the parts. I just need to borrow them for a while. I'll put them back when I'm done, more or less intact. Maybe.
DISCLAIMER 2: This story is based on a story written by 'darkntwisted'. I loved the premise and had to continue it when Tasha wasn't captured in the first part. I really enjoyed the story that darkntwisted wrote but mine will not contain as descriptive sexual violence, if at all. I haven't decided that. Thank you to darkntwisted for allowing me to do this. I hope you enjoy what I come up with. If any of our story lines converge the plagiarism isn't intentional and will hopefully be forgiven.
This is a beta free zone. Please be nice. Also PLEASE review. I really want to hear what my readers think of this story.
Thanks.
Chapter One
It had been three long months since Tasha, aka Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, had disappeared. Clint's, aka Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, injuries had healed both physically and mentally. He still had nightmares on occasion, forcing him to relive that horrible hour at Tasha's tender mercies. There had been several missions since then all of them successful. All of them except for the ones when they thought they'd located Black Widow. Each time the Avengers were always just a little late.
The remaining Avengers were moved back into Tony Stark's Avenger Tower. The first time Clint had walked into his quarters the memories overwhelmed him. Several minutes passed before he'd managed to get control again. For the first while it happened everything he entered his quarters but slowly even that began to fade.
Clint hadn't seen Sarah since the last time she'd watched over him at night. He missed her, almost as much as he missed Tasha. Once they were back at the tower, though, he found small signs that she was back on the job, keeping his quarters clean. That gave him a small degree of solace. At least Sarah hadn't disappeared on him entirely.
Still, the longer the search dragged on, the more Clint found that the others' constant watch over him was grating on his nerves. No matter the mission Clint was never allowed to go alone. More than once he'd had to drag Steve or Thor with him when he could have done it faster and quieter on his own. His teammates' intentions were good but Clint was too much of a loner to not feel like he was trapped all the time.
In a last ditch attempt to maintain his sanity, Clint came up with a plan. A quiet three day trip to the Rocky Mountains where he could climb, hunt and be alone. It sounded like heaven. At the moment though, he was in front of Nick Fury and the rest of the team, defending his plan.
"I don't like the idea of you being out in the wilderness alone, Clint," Fury was saying. To Clint this was a formality. He was going whether the Avengers gave him their blessings or not. It was that or he was going to strangle Tony, and maybe even Bruce and Steve. He hadn't made up his mind about them yet.
"At least let me come with you," Steve suggested. The remaining Avengers were sitting in Tony Stark's living room, lounging in chairs. Clint was closest to the door. If he had to he could bolt. He wasn't too sure how far he'd get but he'd sure the hell give it the old college try. "It's been a long time since I went camping. I'd love to go."
"There won't be a lot of camping involved, Steve," Clint grated. He already had his pack set. He had no tent, just a sleeping bag, climbing gear, water and his bows and arrows. That was all he planned on using.
"Still," Steve pressed. He'd seen the archer in action and knew he didn't need to be babied but he'd seen first hand what Tasha had done to him. He found it very hard to not be protective of the man.
"NO!" Clint barked his calm reserve finally cracking. He stood up and began to pace around the room. So much for a quick getaway. "You're missing the point. This trip is for me to spend some time alone. That means no one else comes along."
"I can't allow that, Barton," Nick said as he shifted in his chair. "I interrogated Black Widow after she attacked you. She's obsessed with you, with making you suffer. We both know her training and what she's capable of. I can't in good conscience let you go anywhere without an armed escort."
"This isn't your choice to make. I'm going. The only thing up for debate is how I get there. If I go on my own I'll be gone five days, not three," Clint said as he stopped pacing. He was closer to the door, preparing to run. This was that important to him.
"That's not acceptable," Nick stated, carefully watching the man. He knew the archer was strung tighter than his bow. Refusing him would have dire consequences. Fury just wasn't sure he was ready to give in. He had to have some reassurance that they could find the man if they needed to.
"Too bad," Clint retorted. Turning, he headed towards the door. It didn't surprise him to find Thor blocking his way. He'd seen the blond god trying to flank him before he'd turned.
"Clint Barton, you should listen to Nick Fury. He has your best interests at heart," Thor stated, folding his arms across his impressive chest. The god looked very much like a brick wall. Frustrated, but not wanting to hurt the man, Clint turned around to face the others.
"Please, I need this." It was too close to begging for Clint's tastes but he was desperate. In all honestly the others could keep him here. The reality was hard to swallow.
"We should let him go," Bruce Banner said from his seat. He'd listened and watched. He knew how important this was to the archer. Even though he too had an over protective streak when it came to Hawkeye, they all did, they weren't helping him by keeping him under lock and key. At some point the man was going to snap and injure as many as he could before they brought him down by any means necessary. Bruce didn't want to be responsible for that or witness it.
"It's a bad idea," Tony stated. "Natasha is still out there, so is Gordon Cave."
"I know!" Clint shouted. This was worse than he'd imagined. He desperately wanted to go grab his pack and disappear. At this point he wasn't even sure he'd come back.
"Let him go," Bruce pressed. "What's the worst that can happen?"
The room went completely still. Clint felt his face burn hot. Automatically he dropped his eyes to the floor. They were all thinking the same thing. The worst thing possible, before death, had all ready been done to him. Staring at the floor, Clint refused to look at any of them. He could sense their thoughts even from a distance, the shock and the horror of Hawkeye being raped by a woman, his partner.
"Not a word, Stark," Nick Fury cautioned when he saw Tony about to throw his two cents in. That was the last thing the mortified archer needed. Sighing, he turned his attention back to Agent Barton. The man was the picture of dejection. "All right, Barton. We're going to put a subdural tracker in you in case we need to find you quickly. Also, you must wear your com and have it on at all times."
They were not concessions Clint wanted to make. Dragging his eyes up to look into Nick Fury's one good eye he reconsidered arguing. The man was not to be moved. "Thank you," Clint breathed, his shoulders slumping in relief.
"I'll have a helicopter take you where ever you want. First, Dr. Banner, please take Hawkeye below to place the tracker," Fury stated. That decided, he nodded at the gathered Avengers and left the room. He had other things to deal with now, including the ongoing search for Natasha and Gordon Cave.
"Lead the way, doc," Clint said, a smile slowly spreading across his face. He'd gotten permission. He was going to the mountains. The relief was so profound his knees were weak. Thor stepped out of the way and the two left Tony's quarters.
"This is a very bad idea," Tony said. He watched Clint and Bruce leave. Iron Man had a very bad feeling about the whole scenario.
"He'll be fine," Steve said. He hoped his voice held more confidence than he felt.
"Sure," Tony said as he too left his quarters. Pepper was going to kill him if he let anything happen to Clint. Tony wasn't sure he appreciated HIS girlfriend being so concerned with the archer but he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut. Grumbling under his breath, Tony headed to his own lab. There was something there he really needed to work on.
OOOOO
Behind him, Clint could hear the helicopter retreating. Taking a deep breath, he revelled in the aroma of pine needles and earth. The fresh air was invigorating. Clint felt the weight that had been on him since waking up on Tasha's carpet slowly lift from his shoulders as he took in the panoramic view around him.
Grinning, Clint shouldered his pack and arrows, leaving his bow hanging in his right hand. Still grinning like a school boy, he took off at a sprint from the rocky outcrop the helicopter had deposited him on. It felt so damned good to be able to run. It seemed like it had been an eternity. The grin turning to a full fledged smile, Clint ran down the slope from the out cropping to disappear into the forest beyond. It wasn't exactly home but at the moment it was close enough.