Disclaimer: I own nothing (Sadly)

Not Betad, every mistake is my own

Note: English is not my first lanuage.

Clint prevents an attack on Pepper because he returned sooner from his mission than planned. Soon they are both fighting for their lives as one of Tony's enemies turns Jarvis against them.

The day started relaxing for Pepper. Clint and Natasha were away on separate missions. Tony had taken Steve, Bruce and Thor sightseeing, claiming she deserved a day off. The top ten floors of the tower were silent. Pepper decided to enjoy the peace and calm while it lasted. She enjoyed having the avengers around. She could see a change in Tony. He laughed more, he socialized more and there were fewer explosions from the lab. Tony had really hit it off with Bruce and Clint. This resulted in a lot of scientific arguments, Bruce, and bickering and pranks, Clint. Still she couldn't help but be thankful for the archer. He was like the little brother Tony never had.

The sun was out. Pepper grabbed a book she hadn't had time for in ages. A nice quiet afternoon in the sun on the balcony sounded like heaven. She loved Tony, but sometimes he was a bit much.

She had been reading for less than an hour, when something broke her concentration. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she couldn't focus on her book anymore. She stood and walked back inside. In the kitchen she got a glass of water.

Something bothered her. She walked to what the avengers now called the common room. The big living room. Shadows fell. A hand pulled over her mouth. An arm moved around her waist, holding her in place. Panic shot through her. She shook her head. Panicking wouldn't do any good.

Pepper bit the hand over her mouth. Her attacker removed the hand. She elbowed him in the stomach, surprised when he released her. She turned around to face her attacker.

'Ow, bitch.' The man grumbled.

Pepper backed off. She looked around. She lived in a house with two assassins. There had to be something she could use as a weapon in the living room. The man made another grab for her. She ducked and threw a punch.

The punch did nothing other than hurt her hand. If she came out of this alive, she had to ask Natasha for self-defense lessons. She turned to escape the room. She ran.

A bang echoed. Pepper froze. She had seen enough to know that that sound only came from a discharged weapon.

'I didn't want to do it like this. You have given me no other choice.' The man snarled. 'Turn around.'

Pepper did as she was told. She turned slowly. The gun was pointed at her chest. 'If you do as I tell, you don't have to get hurt.'

Pepper snorted. 'So this is about Tony than.' She wasn't CEO for nothing. Her mind was whirling. Tony hadn't cooperated with his life on the line. Would he be more willing if it was her life? The answer was probably yes. But even Tony wouldn't do certain thing. For nothing.

A set of handcuffs were thrown her way. 'Put them on. Behind you.'

Pepper picked up the cuffs. Her hands were shaking. She tightened the cuffs around her wrists. She was trembling.

'Turn around.' Her attacker made a show of aiming the gun.

She slowly turned around again. Her eyes were scanning her surroundings. There had to be something to help her escape.

Pepper sensed her attacker come up behind her. He pushed the gun into her back. With his other hand he tightened the cuffs. There were uncomfortable, but not necessary painful. She heard the rustling of cloth behind her, but she was too scared to look behind her.

The cloth was pulled into her mouth making a gag. His finger came too close to her mouth not to bite. She had no idea what appropriate behavior was if you were in the process of being kidnapped. So she took a page of Tony's book and aggravated the man. She bit down. Hard. She tasted blood through the gag.

'Bitch' Her attacker screamed at her. He stepped around her and slapped her. Pepper was unprepared for the blow. She fell down. With her hands behind her, she fell down hard. As she fell her eye caught something. In the ventilation shaft above her. Clint.

Tony had gotten a kick out of the fact that Clint used the vents and other unconventional methods to get across the tower. He had taken it upon himself, and Jarvis and Bruce, to make more possible routes for Clint. Just in case. Pepper was glad Tony had had that forsight.

The archer held his finger to his mouth, implying she should remain silent. She didn't dare nod, but she hoped her eyes conveyed her motives.

Her attacker moved toward her. She shuffled back, using her legs to get her further away. The man kept coming, walking right under the ventilation shaft.

Clint dropped himself right behind the man. A well aimed hit resulted in the man crumbling to the ground, unconscious.

Clint hurried to Pepper. He quickly, with surprisingly gentle hands, removed the gag.

'Are you alright?' Clint asked, while he helped her sit up. He expertly removed the cuffs as well

Pepper nodded. Tears from relieve started in her eyes. She didn't want to cry. He had saved her. There was no reason to be upset. However the stress caught up. Tears flowed. Clint surprised Pepper by pulling her in a hug.

'Ssh, you're safe.' He mumbled comforting words. Never losing her attacker for his sight.

'I'm sorry.' She mumbles against his shoulder.

'Don't be.' He gave her a smile, before looking back at the attacker again.

'Do you think you can manage?' Clint asked her. 'I'll deal with him.'

Pepper nodded. The archer released her, picked up the discarded handcuffs and walked to the man. He pulled the man upright. He tightened the handcuffs around the attacker's wrists tightly. The man's hands were tight strongly behind him. He patted down the man.

'Nothing.' Clint muttered.

'What does that mean?' Pepper asked.

'He was probably hired. He has nothing on him to trace him back to whoever hired him.' Clint was clearly not happy. He stood and walked to the kitchen. Never letting Pepper out of his sight. He filled a glass with water.

'What are you going to do with that?' Pepper thought it was a strange time to be thirsty.

Clint didn't answer. He just threw the water in the attackers face. The man shook awake.

'That will work.' Pepper muttered.

'Who are you working for? What were you hoping to achieve?' Clint asked. It looks could kill the man would have been dead. Pepper knew that if Clint hadn't been on her side, she would have told him everything he wanted to know.

The man just glared back at Clint. 'Tougher man than you have tried withstanding me. You're better off just telling me what I want to know.' Clint's tone was menacing. Clint pressed a pressure point in the man's shoulder. He knew from experience that that would send pain through his whole arm.

'I have way to make you talk. Some of them won't even leave a mark on you.' Clint whispered in the man's ear.

Pepper couldn't hear what Clint had said, but she saw the man go pale. He looked at her, she gave a smirk. She hoped it hid how nervous she was, how much Clint was scaring her.

The man looked back at Clint. He opened his mouth. Clint gave an all-knowing smirk. Just before blood spattered all over him. The man dropped dead. A bullet hole in his head. Clint was immediately on edge. Scanning the horizon looking for the sniper. Bow and arrow ready.

He spotted the sniper. He aimed his gun.

'Security protocol activated.' Jarvis sounded off.

Shields rolled down the windows. The room darkened.

'Jarvis. Could you turn on the lights?' Pepper asked.

'Negative. No authorization.' The IA answered.

'What do you mean no authorization?' Pepper asked. She and Tony had the same authorization. She had access to everything. Least of all turning the light on and off.

'He means that he isn't Jarvis.' Clint answered.

Tada :)

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