Achilles' Arrow

Chapter 2

The silence that followed the doctor's diagnosis was staggering. It was almost like the three could hear a pin drop because it seemed like the entire world was placed on mute.

Clint's hold on Harry tightened, but neither seemed to have become unfrozen. It was Tony who snapped out of it first, and it was one of those few moments in which the billionaire genius was angry.

"Do you really think this is funny, to mess around with my best friend's medical records? Some sort of joke?" Tony demanded.

The doctor sighed and presented Tony with the paperwork, "Believe me Mr. Stark, a lot of testing was done on the samples Mr. Potter gave us. We tested for everything we could think of and then some. But, as Sherlock Holmes said: Once you remove the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how truly improbable, must be the truth."

Tony shook his head, still disbelieving, "I don't know what sort of crack school allowed you to get your M.D., but surely they were very wrong to think you a proper doctor! A ten-year old boy can tell you it's impossible for a guy to get pregnant! I'm going to make sure Fury sees to your sacking personally, only because I'm going to take Harry to the best doctors' money can buy because taking care of him is far more important than seeing your demise, though it's very tempting!"

The doctor wasn't fazed by this, having to deal with erratic patients all the time, and remained calm. "Mr. Stark, I assure you that I would not have brought it up if it wasn't for the fact that we deal with the unusual on an almost daily basis; agents, superheroes, alien gods. We used different tests. From the latest medical instruments donated or bought by you, to the common ones you can buy at a local pharmacy. Not a single one came back negative."

"And I'm telling you-" Tony began, but Harry had finally gotten back to his senses and placed a hand on Tony's shoulder.

"Tony..."

Tony made a face- it was between a frown and a pout.

He saw the shock and pain in his best friend's eyes and hated it. But he also saw the truth in them...somehow, the impossible was possible. "Harry?"

They had a bond, and they could communicate with one or fewer words. He was asking what he could do to make it right, to make it better. He'd have to be able to...somehow.

"I...I don't think either me or Clint can drive right now. Think you can give us a ride home?"

"Of course Harry. Anything for you," Tony squared his shoulders and turned back to the doctor, "Have everything faxed over to me immediately."

"Of course, Mr. Stark," the doctor replied.

The three walked out of the medical department in silence.

Tony looked warily at Harry, unsure if there was anything he could say to make it all better, but nothing came to mind. His mind was still working on wrapping itself around the idea that his male best friend was actually pregnant.

They passed Clint's car in the garage, and Tony silently texted Happy to come with Pepper to pick up Clint's car for them. Tony got into the driver's seat while Clint got into the passenger seat and Harry in the back behind Tony's seat.

For the first time in his life Tony had no idea of what to say, but he could feel the silence weighing down on them. He quickly turned on the radio, but it did little to make the tension go away.

He looked in the rear view mirror and saw the fear, uneasiness, and worries in his best friend's green eyes. Harry met his eyes and tried to smile, but it was very strained. Then Harry went to look out the window instead.

Harry sighed as he leaned his head against the glass. It was a chilly New York morning, and the gray skies did nothing to brighten Harry's mood.

Pregnant.

He was pregnant.

He knew that his magic made a lot of things possible, but male pregnancy! Really? But he wouldn't deny that it was true.

He had been around Luna while she was pregnant, and he had sort-of lived with Ron and Hermione while she was pregnant. The last few weeks made much more sense if Harry added that possibility to the equation; the tiredness, the unsettled stomach, the tenderness of his skin, how certain smells made him feel sick.

Fear and uncertainty swelled up inside of him as the thoughts continued. He had no idea how to care of a child. He himself has one of the worst childhoods imaginable! If this thing inside of him made it to term, which he wasn't sure it would, would it be born normal? And what about him? Never in his time in the magical world had he ever seen or heard of male pregnancies, would he be able to make it?

What about Clint?

Oh god, Clint!

Harry dared a glance as his lover. He still hadn't uttered a single word. The blonde was rigid in his seat, his spine straight, and his hands were clenched into fist. He was looking out the window and his expression was unreadable.

Harry's stomach coiled with an odd sensation and his eyes stung with unshed tears. Clint didn't look at him...Clint was always looking at him- even when he wasn't supposed to, even when he was supposed to be working, but he wasn't now. All because of this...this...parasite!

Harry thought about how hard Clint had worked to get him, and he ruined everything. It was obvious Clint wanted someone he could have as much sex as he wanted without any of the repercussions. He didn't want to be a father, which was why he wanted a male lover. Why else would someone want to be with him?

He didn't want to cry and show any more weakness in front of either of these strong men, and so he held the tears back, but he didn't want to think about his problem anymore. He just wanted everything to go back to being normal.

There was still a lot of waiting before they made it home where he would be forced to talk to Clint eventually. That coiling feeling ate at him again and he shook his head. He didn't want to think about it so he shook his head and thought about something else, something happier.

He thought about the time he first agreed to go out with Clint. Those were some of his most fond and happiest memories.

.:~*~:.

Harry smiled as he entered the library that Thursday morning.

He waved and greeted the librarian with another smile.

The woman greeted him too and commented that she was worried something bad had happened to him since it had been awhile since he stopped by. He reassured her that everything was fine, that it was just that his boss in the antique shop where he worked was retiring and sending off all the merchandise to a friend all the way to Poland, and he was busy cataloging everything as well as helping pack and selling some last minute things. Not to mention looking for a new job.

She smiled kindly at him, and wished him luck.

He nodded and went in search for the book he wanted. Hermione and Ron would be shocked to learn how much he actually read and how much he actually loved books. Especially the older ones that held that ancient parchment scent.

Normally Harry would wander around and look for something that would catch his eye, but today he had a certain book in mind. It was one he had been eyeing for a few weeks now but, with all the craziness of him helping his old boss and an influx of last minute costumers, he barely had time to finish his last book let alone look at another. But the book in particular received glowing praise from a fellow coworker when asked for his own opinions on it, and Harry finally had a free morning to come and get it.

Harry needed to use the stepladder to get the book, but he finally reached it and took a big whiff of the familiar book smell he loved so much. He began reading the cover and the back when he noticed a man coming into the aisle. He had noticed the man before while he was talking with the librarian, but, as he was looking through some self-help books, Harry hadn't pay too much attention to him. He had a book in his hand, but he placed it back on the shelf and made his way to Harry.

"Hey, I noticed you here in the library a few times now, and couldn't help but say 'hi'."

Harry was a bit nervous because the man was taller and was looming a bit over him. His instincts flared a bit at the possible danger, but he thought it was just the paranoia from the war. A part of him wanted to listen and run, but he also doesn't want to be rude to a complete stranger, so he hesitantly said 'hi' back.

The man then proceeded to drag a reluctant Harry into a small conversation, during which the guy eventually asked Harry out on a date. Harry politely apologized, and explained that he already had someone.

The guy frowned before saying that he believed Harry just needed a little more convincing because Harry didn't sound sure about his claim- though it was really just because Harry was nervous about the guy. Harry, sensing that the man wasn't going to leave him alone, apologized and says he has to leave before attempting to duck out from under the guy's arm and walk away.

The man frowned, angry that his attempts for a date had been brushed off, and reached out, grabbing Harry around the wrist tightly before he could get out of reach.

"I wasn't done talking with you," the stranger stated angrily.

Harry turned, facing the man again and, wincing, attempted to pull out of the man's grasp, causing the man to squeeze harder, and bruises to start forming. Harry gasped in pain, "E-Excuse me! I'm sorry, but I'm just not interested!"

The man frowns and opened his mouth, about to speak, when he got cut off by an arm sneaking out from behind Harry to grasp and squeeze at the man's wrist tightly, almost to the point of breaking the guy's wrist, until the man finally let go of Harry.

"I believe he said he wasn't interested," a very calm voice stated from behind Harry.

Harry turned with a gasp to find Clint there, an angry look in his eyes, and his jaw set.

"C-Clint!" Harry gasped at seeing his savior.

Clint gave Harry a quick wink. "Hello, sweet cheeks," he said before turning to the guy who was harassing Harry. The guy paled at seeing the older man's bulging muscles before quickly leaving out the door.

Clint looked in the guy's direction, wanting very much to go after the punk, but Harry, needing comfort, quickly stepped into Clint's arms, burying his face into Clint's chest, close to tears. Clint decided that the guy could wait, and turned back to comfort Harry, hushing him gently and whispering soft nothings into his ear until Harry manages to calm down somewhat.

After a while, Clint held Harry at arms-length to examine his face before gently clasping and holding up Harry's wrist for examination.

Clint frowns at the bruises and swelling already coming to existence.

"We will need to ice them when we get home. Fortunately your wrist isn't broken."

Harry nodded, tears drying on his cheeks, and Clint quickly checked out Harry's book for him before guiding Harry out and to his car.

On the way he sent a quick text to some of the other agents who owed him favors. He made it clear that he wanted a piece of that bastard, but they were free to do as they wish up to that point.

Getting into the driver's seat, Clint drove Harry to his apartment instead of Harry's, and Clint guided Harry inside. After getting an ice bag for Harry's bruised and swollen wrist he began attempting to make soup for him.

Harry, having been in the living room area, began to smell something burning, and headed into the kitchen to investigate. In the kitchen, he saw Clint at the stove, a Campbell's chicken noodle soup in the pot, and one of the noodles was stuck in Clint's hair.

Harry began to giggle because the soup had exploded in Clint's face.

How he managed to do that, Harry had no idea. And Clint was glaring down at the pot of soup, as if it was the soup's fault, when he hears the giggling and turns to look at Harry.

"What were you trying to do, Clint?" Harry asked with mirth and trying to stop from giggling more.

Clint, abashed, gestured to the soup, "Trying to make soup for you."

Harry tried to contain his laughter, but it is in vain, and Harry fell into a giggling fit.

Clint pouted and asked, "Think this is funny, do you?" Before attacking Harry's sides with tickles, making Harry giggle even harder and attempt to get away.

After Clint believed Harry had been punished enough, he stops, and Harry begins to push Clint out of the kitchen.

"Go watch TV or something. I'll make some soup for us," Harry said.

Clint looked warily at Harry before frowning, "You're my guest. You shouldn't be the one cooking."

"I don't mean to offend Clint...but if you burned soup that comes in a can, and all you have to do is warm it up...I fear of what your diet consists of. Don't worry, I'm a decent enough cook. I promise you won't regret it." Harry said with a smile. A smile that Clint just couldn't resist and nodded, agreeing to let Harry cook for him.

And, thus, Clint was introduced to Harry's cooking.

When Harry opened the fridge to see what he had to work with, he was a bit surprised to see the variety of fresh produce. Something he brought up when he presented Clint with a home-cooked chicken noddle soup that tasted like heaven in the archer's mouth. Harry blushed a bit at Clint's moan when he tasted the soup.

With his eyes still closed, Clint replied, "Oh, my friend 'Tasha has someone deliver fresh ingredients every week. She knows how bad the both of us are at cooking, but does it to make sure I don't wither away. But seriously...this was made from the things in my kitchen?"

Harry blushed and grinned slightly, "I said I was a decent enough cook."

"Decent? Harry...this is...like Ambrosia. It's...amazing!" Clint praised, and Harry turned a shade redder.

As they eat the soup, Clint enthusiastically moaning every once in a while, Harry silently ate his while discretely stealing glances of Clint. Shifting, Harry sat closer to Clint's side on the couch, resting his head on Clint's shoulder.

Harry, fidgety, occasionally took more peeks up at Clint's face before, after a while, he seemed to come to a decision and leaned up to press a kiss against Clint's lips, licking away some of the soup that he had on the side of his mouth.

Clint responded, kissing back, and Harry, feeling Clint respond, shifted himself to sit in Clint's lap without breaking the kiss. The kissing started turning heavy, and Harry, feeling his groin touch Clint's, whimpered softly before pressing harder, wanting more contact there.

Clint, while loving the actions, groaned before placing his hands on Harry's hips, holding him still so he couldn't continue. Looking up at Harry, Clint smiled before gently kissing the tip of Harry's nose.

"As much as I would love this with you, I don't want it as a form of payment. You and your love are worth so much more than that."

"Clint..." Harry said, at a loss.

Clint shook his head and smiled at Harry, giving him a peck on the lips, "I'm working really hard for you, Harry. And I want to have earned you, your body, and your love fair and square and on my own terms. So please, for me, let's wait."

Harry was completely surprised by Clint's tenderness. The care that he had shone Harry from this evening and now- stopping him from a decision he might regret in the morning- warmed Harry's heart. He bit his lip and took a good long look at Clint.

"Alright, I'll let you take me on our first date then," Harry replied.

"Good. You're bunking over, though. It's late and I'll rest better knowing you were safe," Clint said.

Harry frowned at this and shook his head, "You've already done so much for me today. I couldn't possibly impose on you like this. I should just go home."

"No way, besides, you made me dinner. It's the least I can do to offer you my bed," Clint said.

"Soup hardly counts as dinner, Clint. And even if I did agree to stay, and I haven't yet, I wouldn't take your bed. I'd sleep on the couch."

"My guest, my place, my rules," Clint answered as he crossed his arms and faux-glared.

"You're very stubborn, you know that?" Harry asked.

"So are you," Clint countered.

"Okay...how about we compromise?" Harry tried.

"I'm listening," Clint said.

"We share your bed. Nothing happens. We just...sleep," Harry said, though a blush made its way up his neck to his cheeks.

Clint kissed his cheek and murmured, "I'd like that."

And that night they spooned, as Clint hugged Harry protectively to his chest. He buried his nose in Harry's hair and fell asleep peacefully with the object of his affections also sleeping peacefully in his arms.

.:~*~:.

Harry was snapped out of out his reverie when Tony pulled up to their house. Tony opened the door for Harry and helped him out. Harry muttered a thanks and looked over at Clint, who was still in the car.

What had he done? He'd ruined everything he had with Clint.

He didn't remember it being so cold, but then again it really wasn't. He couldn't really feel right now. He was numb...or in the process of numbing. He absentmindedly allowed Tony to lead him inside, and subconsciously heard as the other car door opened and closed and Clint's footsteps behind them.

Harry sat on the couch with his hands folded on his lap, refusing to look up. He did though, when Tony came up to him and gave him a glass of water. He couldn't say anything this time, so he just nodded in thanks, and Tony gave him a tentative smile that wasn't really working.

Tony hated being in a position like this.

He wasn't used to being powerless or unable to do anything, and yet, that was what he was right now. He couldn't completely fix this for Harry and, as much as he hated it, he had to let Harry and Clint deal with things first. The billionaire looked up at the archer who had finally entered the house, and he cleared his throat.

"Uh...Happy will drop off your car in a while. If you need anything, I'm on speed dial and I'll be here in a flash. Uh...I'll be back to check on you guys later..." Tony said awkwardly before heading out.

He was about to open his car when Clint ran out to him. "Uh...can...can I come with you?"

Tony furrowed his brow, "I think you and Harry should talk."

"I...I...can't. I don't know what to say...and...I'm scared here, Stark. Please," Clint was practically begging.

Tony knew about Clint's past as an orphan at the circus. He had no idea of what it meant to be a father, and the news of a male lover getting pregnant must not be easy. He sighed with sympathy and nudged his head to the side to signal him to get in. The archer gave a sigh of relief and got in.

.:~*~:.

Harry listened to the silence in the house as he prayed for Clint to come back.

He could hear the drip, drip, drip of the sink in the kitchen, and the tick, tick, tick of the clock on the wall. But the rest of the house was silent minus the few gusts of wind that impaled the house, and the silence boomed in Harry's ears as he prayed for Clint to come back through that door. To give him a chance to apologize, to promised to make it better.

He heard as Tony started his car, and the engine came to life. As the engine's rumbling got farther away, Harry realized that so did his best friend and lover.

Hot, fresh tears slid down his face before a sob broke through him and his stomach coiled horribly. Harry ran to the bathroom and emptied his stomach.

When the fit subsided, he glared at the toilet before flushing and slapping down the lid loudly. He went to rinse his mouth, and caught eyes with his own reflection. Harry hated what he saw. He was pale, scrawny, thin and...and...and infected! That's what he was! He was infected with a horrible parasite!

"This c-can't be real," Harry clutched both side of his head and shook it back and forth.

More tears making their way down his cheeks. Then his eyes widened and he looked into his reflection, shocked. That was it...this was just some horrible nightmare. If he just lied down and went to sleep, it would all be better when he woke up again. It would have all been just a nightmare.

He splashed some water on his face before going up to his room.

He went to their bedroom's connected bathroom, and searched in their medicine cabinet. Even though the war was over for a while now, the nightmares continued, so he had prescribed sleeping pills for those nights when Clint was off to work and Harry had to sleep alone.

Harry looked at the medicine in his hand. How many would he need to make this nightmare disappear? He sat on the bed and reached for the water bottle he kept nearby. He'll just take all of them, yeah, that would be enough to get him to sleep through this horrible, devastating, cruel nightmare.

Harry took all twelve of them and, with little difficulty, passed them down as he swallowed all the water he had left.

His face itched as the tears began to dry.

Harry grabbed Clint's pillow and hugged it tight to his chest as he lied down on the bed and waited for the pills to take effected; waited for Clint to come back, waited for this nightmare to be over.

.:~*~:.

As soon as Clint went to refill his glass, Tony slapped the hand away from the bottle.

He had driven them to the nearest bar he could find, which was a small pub a few blocks away. He allowed Clint to have one drink, knowing the staggering information he had been given, but wouldn't allow Clint to have another one.

"What the hell, Stark!" Clint argued.

Tony gave the bottle back to the bartender and told him to leave them alone.

"You still need to talk with Harry, and I'm not going to let that happen while you're drunk. Nothing good can come of that."

Clint sighed, but didn't protest. He knew Tony was right.

Though it was a weakness, he told the billionaire of his insecurities, "How am I supposed to care for another life? I'm an assassin! All I'm good for is ending life! Not raising it!"

"You've taken care of Harry. You'll be a fine dad," Tony said.

Clint shook his head, "I've never had a family; never been in one. The closest I've had is this little chaotic thing we have with the Avengers, but that's a bunch of adults who know to not go poking around in the past. I wouldn't know the first thing! Harry will leave me for sure!"

"That's not true. Harry loves you. He wouldn't have stayed if he didn't. I wouldn't have allowed him to stay if you didn't," Tony told Clint and the archer knew that was true, but it did little to calm his stomach.

"What if-" but Tony cut him off.

"Clint, listen, I have as much of an idea on how to be a dad as you, so there's little I can tell you that will make you feel better. If there's one thing I learned it's to look at what you got and not complain about what you don't. You have us, the Avengers, you have Harry, and, in some time, you'll have a little mini-Harry to care about you, too. But you're going to have to man up. Think you can do that?" Tony asked.

Clint let out a shaky sigh but nodded. "Can I get a lift back?"

Tony nodded and they drove back to the house.

The genius was about to leave, but Clint asked if he could stay. He could wait in the living room while Clint and Harry talked in their bedroom, but he felt that both Harry and him needed a third party around to help. Tony agreed and together they entered the eerily quiet house.

"H-Harry?" Clint called out and mentally cursed himself for stuttering.

If he was this nervous, he couldn't imagine what Harry was going through. He also mentally kicked himself, too. As much as he needed that drink, and truthfully wanted some more to calm his nerves, he really shouldn't have left Harry alone like that so soon. He needed to be strong, for the both of them.

"I'm going to see if he's upstairs," Clint told Tony and the genius nodded.

"Harry?" Clint called out again. When he made it to their room he saw Harry on their bed, asleep.

The blonde sighed, "Too much today, huh babe?" he dipped the bed with his weight as he sat down. Even though he would like to postpone this conversation for a while and let Harry rest some more, he really needed to talk with Harry. "Harry, love? We need to talk. Please...wake up."

Clint shook Harry's shoulder a bit in the hopes of waking him, but the raven wouldn't budge. The archer frowned, and a bad feeling crept into his stomach.

"Harry?" Clint called a little louder and shook Harry a little more roughly. The movements of the bed caused something to fall and make a 'clink' noise as the object hit the floor.

With owl-like eyes Clint immediately knew what it was before he picked up the empty medicine bottle.

He knew that Harry had nightmares and would need meds to help him sleep when he was out on a job. He feared for Harry's health and kept track of them and any other medicine the brunette took. He felt his blood run cold when he realized there should have been twelve more pills in this jar. The lack of pills and Harry's motionless body did nothing to calm the archer. He screamed Harry's name before calling out Tony.

Tony barged in and his eyes immediately zeroed in on Harry's motionless body on the bed.

"What happened?" Tony demanded.

"He...he..." Clint couldn't find the words as he was still trying to wake Harry up.

"CLINT!" Tony yelled.

"Pills. Sleeping pills. All of them!" was all Clint managed to say as he clutched Harry to his chest and cried into his hair.

"Damn it! Clint, snap out of it and get Harry in the car. We've got to take him to the hospital. We weren't gone too long. He's going to be fine," Tony commanded.

Clint just nodded and picked Harry up while Tony called the hospital and forewarned them to be ready before sending off some text to Pepper and the other Avengers.

He exceeded his own record with how fast he got to the hospital.

This was one of the few times Clint was extremely thankful that he was friends with Tony Stark. Tony did his thing and demanded the best attention money could buy, and Harry was carried away to get his stomach pumped.

The nurses rolled Harry away quickly and the billionaire and archer followed mindlessly as far as they could until the nurses held them back. Still they watched helplessly as the gurney carrying Harry disappeared, and they waited.

They waited for the other Avengers to arrive. They waited for news of Harry condition. They waited for their Harry to wake up.

Until next time...

Thanks to Catzi for being my Beta and helping me co-write and plot this out.