When the nineteen year old had joined the Avengers, he didn't think anything would change. Phil was going to still be his best friend/actually adopted father. Natasha was going to be his sister. Fury was going to roll his eye and scoff at his antics, and Hill was going to pat him on the head, ruffling his hair everytime he passed.
He didn't know that he would join the Avengers by being a toy for Loki to take down his home, and kill the only one who believed in him. He didn't think that Fury would kick him out of SHIELD, so he could have time off from the hatred of the unknowing ignorant agents. He didn't know that Hill would scare away from him everytime he passed her. And Natasha was less his sister and more of a partner.
He didn't think the other Avengers liked him either. He wasn't good with people, he didn't know how they worked, not like his bow. He never used to be in a 'team living' thing. All he had was 'Tasha, but she had her own apartment and Clint usually stayed in the rafters of the Helipad.
Clint didn't like change, because when something changes, he gets hurt. So when Febuary 14th rolled around, and everyone, besides 'Tasha (cause love is for childern) was all in Valintime's gush, he just curled up with his bow, the first gift he had been given (it was from Phil, his first birthday with Phil) and hoped this day would go bye fast.
"Happy Birthday." Clint muttered to himself, feeling sick, because this was the first birthday in four years that Phil wasn't going to be here.
Tony was miffed, he was supposed to have a nice date with Pepper at the tower, just him and her, and he even made a nice dinner. Everyone had promised they wouldn't be in their way, but of course the youngest of them was in the kitchen looking for god knows what.
"What are you doing, Barton?" Tony boiled. "Pepper will be here soon."
"Cool your tits, Stark. I was just looking for something to eat." Clint snapped, dragging out a box of Strawberry poptarts, that were meant for Thor. Everyone knew that, and Tony noted upon it, only to get a glare. "I don't care, not know. But nice to know, you remember things about your teammates."
Stark snorted, why couldn't the kid find a girlfriend or something. Even Natasha had plans to attend. Bruce was talking with Betty, and Steve was visiting with his old lover Peggy Carter, who was in the hospital slowly dieing. And what had he meant about remembering stuff about their teammates. Tony just pushed it out of his mind.
Natasha was the last to come home from her last minute mission, she felt terrible leaving just a day before Clint's birthday, and tried to finish it up to make it back in time before it was Febuary 15th. She wasn't sure how the other's had celebrated Clint's birthday, but her best guess was that they all forgot. She had told them all about a week ago, and kept telling everyone, but of course, the youngest's birthday was over looked by the day of love.
Good thing she had bought a small gift from Clint's favorite place in the world - Budapest. Of course it was a horrible memory, and almost got them both killed. It was the best memory they had together, their first.
She got back to the Tower 11:55, almost midnight. Even though the late hour, everyone else was still up and watching tv. Everyone but Clint. She say a glimpse of movement, and saw him curled up in the rafters above the Avengers. Even though she could practically feel the hurt and betrayel radiating off the marksman, he was still their protecting his team.
"Hey, what's in your hand? Your boyfriend give you a gift?" Tony teased, only fueling Natasha's spectualations. Though the comment did grab Clint's attention, hope glowed through his vibrant blue eyes.
She throw the small box up too Clint, who caught it with ease, even though he had to go upside down to snatch it out of the sky. He gave her a smile, and she noticed he was with out his hearing aids. So she held up her hands and signed 'Happy Birthday'.
He let a smile go on his face and lifted himself onto catwalk he was on. He opened the box to find a small necklace with the Budapest flag on it, and ab arrow and a gun charm on either side of it. He put it on his neck and beamed down at his best friend. At least somethings haven't changed.
