I opened my mouth to scream and shout,
I waved my arms and flapped about.
But I couldn't scream and I couldn't shout,
couldn't scream and I couldn't shout.
I opened my mouth to scream and shout
waved my arms and flapped about
But I couldn't scream I couldn't shout,
The song was coming from my mouth.

Chapter 3

Natasha thought the funeral was the most pathetic thing she had ever been required to attend. There was no body so they were to bury an empty coffin. Natasha saw no point in that. She was expected to stand in front of an audience and speak her mind about Clint. But how could she? No one would understand anyway.

Yet there she stood in her little black dress ready to pay her respects along with all the other agents and friends of Clint's. There was an empty chair beside her, Dom's chair. She knew Dom wouldn't be showing up. She never shows up for funerals.

"People like us, we're soldiers, we die all the time."

The last she had heard from her was after they returned to SHIELD. Domino had filled out some paperwork of their safe return and necessary clean up crew. Then she left without another word. No call, no text, nothing. She knew that Dom wouldn't be returning to SHIELD, not if Clint wasn't there. Things got back to normal. But the absence of both her friends was heavy in Natasha's heart. She knew she would grow fond of her loneliness eventually. She always does. People in her life die over and over again. She learned to accept that and move on.

A few weeks later Natasha had gone over to Clint's old apartment to pack up some of his old stuff. His apartment wasnt that big, small rattle place he calls home. Natasha's been there a few times. But she never stays long. Once or twice she would come by and drop off some paperwork.

"He's really gone isn't he?" a voice came from behind. Natasha's head turned towards the open door and saw a woman carrying a baby. Neither of them she recognized.

"I'm.. Sorry?" she asked uncertainly

"Clint Barton. He's dead isn't he?" the woman asked. Natasha saw that tears had began forming in her eyes. "Such a shame... He was a good man."

"You knew him?"

"I knew of him." the woman answered. "The man had a good heart. He bought the entire building himself and gave it to us, all of us."

Now Natasha understood why Clint choose to stay in this building. It was his apartment—was.

"They doubled and tripled our rent. Some of us couldn't afford it. So they kicked us out. Luckily Clint was there. If it wasn't for him, young Daniel would have grown up on the streets." She chuckled as the baby squealed in delight in her arms, "You see, Daniel's father left us. Leaving me with the children alone. We could barely afford the rent before they doubled it."

Natasha was surprised. She didn't expect Clint to be a people's person. In her own heart she ached guilt. While Clint helped them, she killed them.

"How do you know him, hun?"

"What?"

"Clint. He never mentioned a woman in his life. Then again the man rarely speaks. We're you two... Together?"

Natasha blinked, "What? No um... He's a colleague of mine."

"Colleague? He never talked about where he found employment. I heard he died in the line of work."

Line of work? No he died because of me. Natasha silently thought. But she couldn't tell this woman. She couldn't tell anyone, so instead she just nodded.

"I'm sorry for your loss." the woman sighed. The child in her arms started to grow anxious so she excused herself and left Natasha alone.

She walked around the apartment unsure of what to touch and not touch. Beneath his bed she found a safe box. She debated wether or not to open it seeing she would be invading his privacy. Then again he was a dead man, if she didn't open it someone would have. The fiddled with the lock until she grew tired of guessing. Nothing. She pushed the box aside and ran her fingers through her hair in frustration.

"Clint you are impossible." she breathed. Then she paused. Picking up the box again she realized it required 3 2-digit numbers. A date perhaps. She tried his birthday, nothing. The day he joined SHIELD, nothing. The day they defeated Loki, nothing. Then she tried the day they were sent to Budapest and the lock clicked open.

She reached inside and found a dog bowl along with a collar.

"Arrow"

Natasha would have laughed at the name if she wasn't shocked at the fact that Clint had a dog. Reaching further inside she found en envelope that contained his will. Natasha was surpised to find that he had signed his belongings over to 3 people: Domino, Barney, and herself. The only family Clint Barton had.

After her short visit she had walked down to the nearby bar. Clint's favorite place to be when he was upset. She was surpised to learn that Dom still comes over every night and fills up on liquor. Natasha signed at her friend's drinking habits, then again it would be hypocrital for her to insult her about it. Dom comes by th bar the same time every night. Natasha thought of approaching her many times but never brought herself to do it. Now as she gazed at her empty seat, she wished she could have heard Dom's final words to Clint.

The day dragged on, everyone had a chance to speak. Natasha had never seen Nick Fury in a suit until today. Nor did she ever see him cry. She could have laughed at the image of hard-as-stone boss tearing up. Everyone would have if this was any other occasion. Coulson and Hill were there too. Coulson seems to be having it worst than most others. After all had been Clint's supervisor for years before Natasha had joined.

Most guests happened to be shield agents, young recruits to be more exact. Natasha thought it was ironic how Clint hated dealing with new recruits yet most of the people who appeared at his funeral were his own students.

Most of them had said the same thing: He was a great teacher, inspirational leader, hero. Clint would have laughed and said he was just a guy with a bow. Clint had never believed himself to be a hero. He never thought he fit in the Avengers. Speaking of the Avengers everyone on the team showed up. Even Thor and Loki had traveled from Asgard to Earth to pay their respects. Each of the Avengers had something special to say, even Loki. Natasha would have thought his return would spark security and safety threat. But Loki didn't seem dangerous at that point. In fact he just looked hurt. Nat wondered what his relationship with Clint was. Surely it stretch more than the 48 hours he had him for a mind slave.

Finally it was Natasha turn to speak. She walked up to the podium and unfolded a piece of paper she had subconsciously crumpled throughout the entire ceremony. She started to speak but her throat was suddenly dry. The scribbled letters on the page seemed to form something other than readable words. She stuttered into the mic, unable to get the first word out.

"Cl... Cl.. Clint-"

"Clint Barton was one of the most highly respected agents of SHIELD." a deeper voice came behind her and a comforting hand has appeared on her shoulder. She turned her head and recognize the face of Clint's older brother, Barney Barton who also came dressed for the occasion.

"He was known throughout for his impressive archery skills as well as being one of the top ranking assassins in the world." he continued reading from the paper. Then he turned to Natasha and gave her an encouraging smile gesturing for her to continue.

"When I first him met him, I didn't think of him as any different than any other avenger man with a gun. He proved me wrong." the words came easier than before, "He showed me there was more to him than just fancy arrows. He had a sense of humor many don't know about. He was more than my partner. He was my best friend. In his own way he changed me. Made me a better person. I learned a lot from this man, young as he may be but wisdom he lacks not. Clint Barton had been by my side for both the good and bad times. He has watched over me like a guardian angel. Now he is an angel. Clint Barton was an amazing man. He never thought of himself as a hero, but he was no doubt one even thought he may not have recognized it. Clint Barton was more than just a man with an arrow, he was my partner, my best friend, and my savior. So today I'm here to say farewell and thank him for all the things he has done for his country, the world, and for me. Clint Barton may you rest in peace. Your friend and partner, Tasha."

Near the bottom of the page were 3 words she had scratched out. 3 words she couldn't bring herself to say over an empty casket.

Everybody's eyes were tear soaked by the end of her speech. Everyone except Natasha's. Her face was the only one that remained dry, emotionless. Natasha stepped down from the podium as Barney took her spot. He delivered a speech of Clint's time in the circus, nothing Natasha hadn't heard before. She was surprised Barney would even show up for his brother's funeral. After all for as long as Natasha knew him, he had an unsettling grudge against Clint. But now he was standing there delivering words Natasha never thought she would hear him say. She wished that Clint had heard them, it would make it life complete. She wished he knew that Barney, after all they've been through, still loved him like a little brother. After all he was the only real family Clint had left.

After his speech he stepped down and was immediately approached by Natasha who pulled him aside and out of earshot of everyone else.

"Something wrong Romanoff?" He asked cocking an eyebrow.

"Why did you help me?" She snapped

"You're angry because I helped you in your moment of stage fright?" Barney laughed. Now this was more like the him.

"I wasn't having a stage fright! I was just taking a breather. Why did you show up anyway? I though you would be more than happy to see your brother dead."

"I am happy. At the same time he's still my brother." Barney's face grew serious, "As much as I hate him I can't ignore the fact that we are blood related wether we like it or not."

Natasha was rendered speechless.

"But what would you know? You're just another orphan they picked off the streets."

And with that he walked off leaving Natasha both shocked and speechless.

A/N: Wrote this at midnight, sorry if it's a bit rushed.