Author Note: so i haven't quite finished writing this one yet, but i figured i had some time so I'd post the first chapter now. Please enjoy!
Better Homes and Gardens By Clint Barton
Author: PeechTao
Preface
The target resided in the eighty-third floor of the Grand Hotel on Charter Street, nearly half the city away from the Stark Tower. Clint Barton was only too happy that it was within the same state, let alone the same country.
The target was a wealthy man, enjoying the high life of his get-rich-quick schemes that had him rolling in so much wealth he considered spilling over into other forms of crime. What brought Hawkeye and the other Avengers knocking at his door was the man's sudden purchase of nuclear grade zirconium. He was a small time fish in a shark's pond. Clint was not necessarily given a kill order. For now he was only meant to observe this Randall Grant and see what he was planning to do.
It was fortunate that at the time the building adjoining Randall's was undergoing some renovations. The top eight floors were abandoned, the construction workers disappearing by five or so, allowing Clint the opportunity to observe his target in relative peace and comfort. He'd picked a room in the hotel that abucked the corner of the building, allowing him a considerable view of the city and the room beyond. The mission was relatively as simple as long term observation. Nothing more. Besides that, unless Clint saw a major arms dealer walking in with a howdy-do to Randall, he was supposed to remain out of the situation. On the ground, Rogers was coordinating the rest of the team from the hotel bar in the target's building. He was sitting with Natasha, enjoying drinks and conversation. The bar had been the recent meeting place of a few well-known home terrorist groups. How Randall was grouped in with that, was a mystery.
Stationed across town at a secondary location were Bruce and Tony. According to SHIELD reports, Randall enjoyed the local Go-Go club as much as any man with too much money and too much time on his hands. Tony knew the place well. He and Bruce would be spending the night there.
At Clint's position there was a single window with a movable glass. He propped it open with a block of wood to let in a small breeze. He didn't like the stale air that the construction work kicked up. It tended to give him a dizzying, sick feeling. If he was going to spend the next few hours here, he wanted to be comfortable. Never could he have realized the danger lurking in that heavy air. At least, not until it came crawling up on him.
He felt the sudden wallop that had him reeling. His body twisted, righting itself before suffering the broken back the beam he hit would have caused. A fist sailed toward his face. Clint Barton allowed training rather than thought deflect it. A led pipe followed. It crushed his arm into his side. Clint rolled, keeping his mind from absorbing the pain signals that fired across his skin and bones. He swept out his leg, but the person retreated for the open doorway.
Clint got to his feet and followed. He tapped his comm. "Hawkeye in, one known assailant heading east in the Covington Building."
"Roger that, need assistance?" Captain America radioed back.
Clint edged himself along a wall, peering into the hallway. Clear construction plastic blew soundlessly in the breeze of the windows. Support struts littered the open doorways. In the room beyond he knew there was limited cover between the unfinished sixtieth floor renovations. Between the plastic and wood wall frames, there was hardly a place in which his attacker could hide. By the same token, there wasn't much Clint could do for cover himself. He checked his arm. He could use his bow well enough to make whatever injury he sustained not worth paying attention to.
"I got it handled." Clint relayed back, and then cut the link.
Well, that's all for now! tune in soon for the update:)