Chapter 2:
A searing pain was brought him back to conscienceless. He cried out and jerked up. A strong arm held him down. He kicked out trying to hit whoever it was off. There was a curse and the person pulled back just enough for Clint to push up. The wave a pain washed over him and he tried to breath through it.
"Stitches." Came a muttered reply to his actions.
"Huh?" He moved his head enough to take in the room around him. It was probably a cheap motel judging from the crappy bed and lack of any other furniture. He was on his stomach and the man that had saved him was sitting along the edge, a first aid kick scattered out next to him.
"Oh." He said, and let himself lay back down. He felt the man's arm return to the middle of his back. And he gritted his teeth as he felt a needle dig into his skin.
He must have slept through most of it because he only had to deal with the pain for a few more stitches. Then the man tapped a bandage over the wound. Then he pulled his arm away.
It took a lot of effort to get himself up and sitting against the headboard. Watching the man the whole time. The man had moved and was standing against the wall. His gaze sharp and watching Clint. But Clint was almost positive the man didn't see him as a threat.
"You got a phone?" He finally asked when the silence started getting to him. The man raised a brow.
"I need to call my friends." Clint said. The man tilted his head, as if he as thinking about it.
"You betrayed them." The man said, but there was an uncertainty in his voice. And Clint held on to it, because if this man was Hydra but had saved him because he was an Avenger then maybe he wanted to do the right things. And if the man doubted Clint betrayed his friends then Clint might be able to convince him that he needed said friends.
"No." He said, " I didn't."
"Hydra believes you did." The man said crossing his arms, he was still wearing the black clothes from the fight. But his gear was missing.
"They're wrong." He snapped frustrated.
"Your friends?" The man asked.
He took a breath. "I was undercover." Again the man raised brow. And it was really bad timing but Clint's brain told him the man was attractive when being aggravating.
He groaned and tried to push that thought away.
"So, do you have a phone?" He asked.
"No." The man said in a flat tone. Clint sighed and looked around the room. Most motels had a phone in the room. He hadn't wanted to use that one because they were traceable and he wanted to be able to reach out and explain before he had Shield breaking down doors.
He growled and glared at the man, when he found the spot on the wall where the phone had been. Because the cords had been ripped out of the wall and the phone was smashed to pieces on the floor.
"Really?" He asked. The man just looked at the pile on the floor then back at him, a small shrug of his shoulders. Clint groaned and lean back against the headboard, eyes closed.
He must have fallen back asleep because he woke up some time later to the other man pressing a cup of water against his lips. Despite a voice in the back of his mind that sounded an awfully lot like Nat, telling him not to. He took a drink. "You need to eat." The man said as Clint finished the water.
More awake he picked up on the smell of greasy food and his stomach rumbled. The man gave him an amused look, then seemed to think better of it and his face went more neutral.
Clint rolled his eyes and pushed up. The other man must have laid him down after he fall asleep because he was flat on his back and the blanket had been pulled over him.
He was almost tempted to say thank you, but then he remembered the smashed phone.
After that Clint was handed his food and they both ate in silence. Though he noticed the man watched him non stop. It was weird, because Clint didn't feel threatened by the staring or intimidated. He wasn't sure but he felt like the man was simply watching him.
"I'm Clint." He said around a small bit of taco.
"I know." The man said.
He groaned, "And you are?"
The man stopped eating. There was a look in his face, one that caused Clint to dropped his food as flashes of blue and Loki worked their way through his mind. Because the look reminded him of him, when he had finally woken up, Natasha next to him. At first he had been disoriented and confused, and the angry and lost. The look on the man's face was the same he had seen in the mirror for weeks after that battle was finished. He tried to open his mouth to say something. But it was like his brain had take leave. The man grabbed his food and stormed out of the room. Well stormed ins a silent way. His body was all tight and angry but Clint didn't hear a damn sound as the man walked.
Left alone, he finished his food. Tossing the trash on the chair next to the bed. Then laid back down. He was still exhausted and in enough pain that he knew sleep was a good idea.
There was a hand on his shoulder shaking him. Clint didn't really feel like being awake so he swattered at hand. "Go away."
He was pretty sure he heard the man sigh and then the shaking was back. More insistent then before. He groaned and opened his eyes, going straight for sending a glare at the maybe ex hydra agent. The man didn't look bothered by the glare, just shoved a phone in front of Clint's face and raised his brow in a way that Clint was sure, the man was asking 'Want to wake up now.'
Clint excitedly moved to sit up, only when the pain rushed through him and he had a second of not being able to breath did he remember he had been shot. His rescuer lunged forward to catch him as he swayed from the pain. The soldier wore a pitying expression and Clint had to bite back an annoyed retort. After he was shifted by the other man's strong arms, were Clint's brain went to that not so smart place of checking the man out again, he was placed against the headboard and handed the phone.
"Where did you get this?" He asked already clicking the screen on and typing Nat's cell number.
"Stole it." Clint could hear the shrug in the man's voice.
He was tempted to ask if whoever the man stole it from was okay. But he chose not too.
As the phone rang, his stomach was in knots. What if Nat really thought he was a traitor? Surely she knew him better then that right?
Then where there was no answer and the phone went to voicemail other worries hit him. What if she was hurt? Or worse? Rumlow said Fury was dead, what about Nat?
He heard the click, telling him to leave a message. Taking a breath to calm down he did.
"Hey Nat, I think I'm in trouble." He took deep breath, " I don't know what's going on, but I need you talk to you. To explain." He stopped, thinking of what else he wanted to say, "Nat, I need you to be okay. I'm having a shitty few days and I really need you to be okay." With that he hung up.
He tossed the phone on the bed next to him and sighed. Leaning back against the headboard he looked at his roommate/rescuer/really needed a name for the guy. The man was watching him, a his lips tight and a strange look in his face.
This time it was Clint that raised his brow. He saw the other man's mouth twitch. Clint gave him a smirk, and for a moment he thought the man was going to smile, but the soldier seemed to think better of it. Clint watched as the man stiffened instead and then pushed off the wall.
"We need to move."
He was lost at the change in the man, but agreed with the statement. Staying still for as long as they has was dangerous and he was a little surprised the man had stay. It wasn't the smart play, putting yourself in danger for someone you don't know. Clint had no idea what game the man was playing. A part of him was worried it was a ploy to get close to Clint to get to the rest of his team. But another part, the part that told him to not to take the kill shot on Nat when he was ordered too, was telling him to stay with this man. So for now he would listen.
"Where are we going?" He asked. He left the phone on the bed, as regrettable as it was. He knew that someone would eventually try to track it. He just hoped the next call he placed Nat was expecting him and answered. Then he shifted over and as slowly as he could he pushed himself off the bed and on to his feet. The soldier watching him the whole time.
when he was on his feet, the other man most have figured he was okay enough because he tossed a small pack back at him. Clint winced when he caught it, a flash of pain from his back at the movement.
"Clothes and weapons." Was all the man said before he picked up another bag and started for the door.
"Wait." Clint called out. "I had something with me."
"In the bag." The soldier cut him off.
Before following the man out, Clint quickly unzipped the bag and moved things around until he felt the small orb wrapped in a shirt. Then he reburied it and moved as quickly was he could to follow the other man.
It seemed while he was napping the soldier was busy, besides the phone and backpacks, the man had acquired a car and to Clint surprise camping supplies and food. It seemed the man was planning on sticking with around. Which was good for Clint, because without Shield or his friends, he would be screwed on his on. At least until he was healed. Then at least he would have a chance.
Neither said a word, as they got in to the car. The soldier behind the wheel and Clint in the passenger side. He stared out the window as they drove away from the run down motel and then as they drove out of the small town. His head was resting against the cool glass as they drove and he felt himself drifting off.
"James." The soldier said quietly. Clint Turned to face him.
"Huh?"
"My name." The man said.