I Am Still Right Here
rating: M
warnings: Injury, character death
characters: Clint Barton, Natasha Romanoff
summary: Natasha remembers Loki's bargain.

prompt: Johnny Cash's cover of 'Hurt' is my Clint theme song, so I couldn't resist. What have I become, my sweetest friend? Everyone I know goes away in the end.

I Am Still Right Here

She takes his eyes.

It's all she has the strength to do, the grace to do, and the cold hilt of the knife is solid in her hand as she whirls and strikes before his boot catches her knee and breaks it six ways to Sunday.

As she lies shuddering on the floor, chest heaving, the knife slips out of her numb fingers. She stays down on the concrete and watches him loom over her, looks into the dark gashes where an unnatural blue once gleamed.

It's not enough, but it's the only peace she can give him.

Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair

You are someone else
I am still right here

end