Chapter 2: Where I come from

When Clint woke up he instantly felt pain throughout his body. He had a splitting headache, his mouth was dry, and his stomach was rumbling from lack of food. He couldn't even remember the last time he ate. It must have been four days ago. He wasn't sure. His neck was sore and stiff. He felt weak, tired, and he had trouble keeping his eyes open.

Trying to sit upright, Clint forced his eyes open and took a quick look around the room. He was in a large room. Modern furniture, a nice big comfy bed, and pale beige walls…He was not in a lab or a hospital, and he wasn't hooked up to any machines. He may feel achy and in pain, but obviously his injuries weren't severe enough to warrant him being hooked up to machines or a hospital bed.

Sighing, Clint rubbed his eyes and then looked around to see if he could find a washroom. And yes of course, this room had its own bathroom. So carefully, Clint got up. Holding onto to the bed post and side of the bed, he made it slowly towards the washroom, and tried desperately not to fall. His legs and feet were asleep, and it made it hard to walk. He wobbled all the way there. But they slowly started to wake up. It just took more effort on his part to make it to the washroom.

As soon as Clint got to the washroom and closed the door, his main bedroom door opened up, and in walked Tony with a tray of food. Usually one of the other Avengers would do such a thing with their 'guest' but Tony was the one that wanted to be present when this Clint first woke up. Cap said he wanted to come, and even Bruce. But Tony insisted he talk to him first.

Hawkeye of course, had no interest at all to talk to his double. He was still in denial that last night even happened. And the way the young man was beaten and bloodied, it was obvious he was running from someone or something. It was just too much for Hawkeye to be near his duplicate. So for now, Hawkeye stayed away, until Tony got more information and figured out where the kid was from.

Placing the tray of food on Clint's nightstand, Tony took a seat on the edge of the bed and waited patiently for Clint to come out. The moment he heard the washroom door click and open up, he immediately stood up and put on a small friendly smile, he wanted to make a first good impression.

As soon as Clint saw Tony, Clint's heart sank. And Tony could swear that the kids face literally turned white as a ghost. Clint was frozen in fear. He couldn't move or speak. He couldn't believe what he saw was real.

But then Clint had to remind himself of what had happened to him in the last 24 hours. This was not the Tony Stark that he had known. This was someone else. This was his duplicate. This was another dimension entirely.

At the same time Clint's bad memories of the argument he had with his Tony from his world came back to him at full force. There was his Tony, The Tony from the last parallel dimension he just escaped from, and now this…Tony. 3 different Tony's. He suddenly had a headache just thinking about it.

"Are you okay? Tony asked concern evident in his voice. Clint gulped nervously. He wasn't prepared for this. It had been weeks, maybe months since Clint last saw Tony. His Tony that is…he knew this wasn't his Tony. This Tony knew nothing of the argument he had and the evil, stupid things he said to his Tony before he got into this mess. This was his Tony's duplicate. He wasn't even sure how similar this Tony was to his own. Which is why the very first words out of Clint's mouth was to ask an awkward question…

"Are you're parents alive or dead?" Clint asked calmly. Tony blinked severely times. Trying to make sense of what was being asked here. The first thing Hawkeyes double asks him is…'if his parents are alive or dead?' No hellos' or how are you'…just… 'Are your parents dead or alive? Shaking his head in confusion, Tony finally spoke.

"I'm sorry, what did you ask me?" Tony said, trying not to sound hurt. Clint rubbed his hand through his hair nervously.

"Um…I just need to know…are they alive or dead…I'm sorry if I offended you or anything. And I know it's a really weird question to ask…but…it will help answer some of my own questions about this place. So please…answer it…?" Clint didn't want to have to beg. This was getting uncomfortable and awkward.

"They're dead. Have been since I was a kid…they died in a car crash. Any other personal and uncomfortable questions you want to ask me, Hawkeye?" Clint bit his lip nervously as Tony called him Hawkeye. Another name he hasn't used since he was last home on his world. Since the 'incident' happened.

"Please…don't call me Hawkeye. I prefer to be called Clint. Just Clint. Not Clint Barton. Just Clint. Besides, it might be easier if you call me Clint, and that way you can call your Clint, Hawkeye…so we won't get confused…" Clint suggested. Tony just shrugged his shoulders and non-caringly agreed.

'So, me telling you about my folks help?" Tony asked, trying not to sound mad, but calm and neutral. Clint nodded his head as he went to walk over to a chair next to a dresser near his washroom. Once he sat down, he rubbed his hands on his legs nervously and scratched his head.

"We are not on my world. I'm pretty sure of that now. For the week I have been here on my own, I have figured that this is some kind of parallel universe, dimension. An alternate world. Another way I know this…is when I saw her again…" Clint began, but grew quiet as he suddenly looked pained and guilty about something.

"Natasha…she's alive." Clint finally finished. Tony gave him a strange look but said nothing. "In my world she is dead. And in my world your parents are still alive. But this is not the only parallel universe I have been too. I have been to one other. I barely escaped from it. In that world…your parents were dead…but you…you were different. In that world…you would not and were not…nearly as kind to me as you are here…now…" Clint then felt his mouth getting dry and tried to moisten it. He saw Tony staring at him intently. Listening to everything he was saying.

"In that world, I was stuck there for 6 months. The Avengers team there….were no heroes. But monsters…or at least my duplicate was…The Clint Barton of that world was a monster, and he tortured me, beat me. What he did to the other members of the team was horrific. I never did find out if the whole team was just as evil, because I never had a chance to meet them. I only met you. You're duplicate. And you were cold, bitter, distant, and didn't care about anything or anyone. The plight of your team meant nothing to you. In fact, you didn't consider them your teammates anymore. The fact that, that worlds Barton was such a monster…didn't faze your duplicate, not one bit….

The other members…I don't know what happened to them. But you were also nowhere near as rich there, as you are here. In that world…I was in a hell. I wanted to get home so badly and when I finally found a way to jump worlds…I…I honestly thought I made it home. It had been so long. But then I saw her…I saw Natasha….she was alive. And I knew I was lost again. In another world. Far away from home…" As Clint Finished explaining everything that happened to him, Tony couldn't help but sigh. All of this was making him tired and he tried rubbing his tired eyes to stay awake.

"Tony…?" Clint finally asked, trying to get Tony to look at him again. Tony's eyes then snapped opened. A confused look on his face…

"This other world you were in. Was my duplicate…'helping your duplicate'? Was he a monster?" Tony asked calmly.

"No. Just cold and bitter and distant…he…was unfriendly…but no monster…he didn't torture me, or assisted in helping my duplicate. Like I said, he just didn't care. Cold and bitter. He kept to himself and said the Avengers were dead to him. There was no saving them, and he was… I know he was…afraid of Barton. Barton of that world…was allies with Loki. Not by force…. but willingly. They were literally buddies and partners. You…I mean your duplicate…was too afraid to fight him. You didn't have the money or resources, you have here. Your duplicate wasn't nearly as creative or as smart as you. All the money he had left came from his parent's inheritance. His company was nearly destroyed by Barton and Loki, and he was literally hanging on by a thread.

And Before I jumped worlds, I saw Barton kill your duplicate. Killed or seriously wounded I am not sure. Barton, and your duplicate…were the only other Avengers I ever saw. The others…that worlds Barton had joked… were caged and kept as Loki's slaves. You don't want to know what they did to Thor." Clint said nervously, he then found his anxiety coming back and he forced himself to calm down. He tried to hide his shaking hands.

"I'm worried that Barton will come here. He was obsessed with me. For some sick twisted reason, and before I disappeared, he promised he'd find me…and make me pay.'' Clint finished. ''For what, I have no idea? That Barton, was just crazy as hell. And so was Loki. If they discover this dimension and universe, you can be sure they will find a way here." explained Clint.

"As for my actual home and universe…everyone is pretty much the same as they are here. There are only minor changes. Like Cap having black hair instead of blond hair like your Cap. And you…well …the Tony Stark I know is a genius, just like you and had the same experience in Afghanistan as you did, he built the Iron Man suits like you did…only difference is your parents are alive in my world." Clint said carefully.

"If this Barton and Loki find their way here, we need to be prepared for their arrival. We won't let them conquer this world like they did in that previous would you were in." Tony assured him.

Clint gave Tony a small smile. "I hope so Tony. I really don't want what happened in that last world, to happen here too." Clint then stared at the floor with sad defeated eyes.

"I'm never going to find my way home." He muttered to himself. "Come on Clint. Don't be like that. No one likes a pessimist." Tony said sternly. Clint looked up at him confused. But before he could say anything, there was a knock on the door, and a moment later, two other Avengers walked it. 'It was Captain America and Bruce Banner.

Authors Note: Well I hope you enjoyed that chapter! More coming soon! Please review!