Tracked Progress II
*avengers*wc*
There was something about the thief that chattered for two hours without encouragement that bolstered Clint through another round of SHIELD psych assessments. Caffrey was the first person that Clint had told about the tracking device. Natasha knew because she knew SHIELD and had put up with one for a year after joining. Stark knew because nothing electronic entered his building without him knowing. Steve knew because Stark was a blabbermouth. Pepper and Bruce knew because Steve had gone to them asking for help in getting SHIELD to take it out right now (Pepper) or failing that, finding another way to keep tabs on him (Bruce). Steve trusts him, Stark and the rest of the Avengers trust him and that has carried him this far.
Steve is going to lose the fight with SHIELD, because the only person who wants the tracker out as much as Steve is Fury who hates to have his agents benched because it messes with his plans. The tracker will come out when SHIELD and the oversight committee is sure of his stability and not before.
Clint stumbles his way through another day of Psych Evals and doesn't mention his nocturnal sojourn to the very end of his chain. None of the shrinks mention it either though Clint knows that it's been reported. They don't ask him his opinion of the tracker in his spine and Clint doesn't offer one. He has words now, thanks to Caffrey. The tracker isn't the best thing that ever happened to him, but it is a relief. He likes the knowledge that if Loki –or anyone else- crawls into his noggin, SHIELD will know. They will capture him if possible and execute him if not.
He had wondered if something in him was broken for wanting the comfort of the tracker. Then he heard the affection the thief had for his tracker, mixed with his yearning to be free. The thief liked the excitement of his job with the FBI and didn't regret the work he was doing.
Clint wanted to come and go as he pleased. He wanted to be cleared for missions again.
He also wanted to freedom to lounge in Stark's building and listen to his teammates without wondering when he was going to be sent out again. He wanted life. The tracker meant that he was still worth something alive and SHIELD wouldn't kill him.
*avengers*wc*