Chapter 4- Brothers

Clint heaved forwards, retching reflexively as he shook from his dream. He hated dreaming of them, of Taro, Kahiko and Lakopa. Yet whenever he slept deeply enough, they filled his dreams. It had been eleven years, he should have forgotten them by now but he hadn't.

He'd joined the Avengers and moved into the now called, 'Avengers Tower'. But they still didn't know what he was, he just couldn't tell them. He was a monster, just a freak.

After years of research he'd finally discovered what he was, he'd found it while digging through a few stacks of Mythical Creatures books...Alu'Tel'Quessir, a sea elf. One from the Great Sea apparently, because elves from there matched his own pigmentation. He'd laughed so hard the first time Tony called him, 'Legolas', the elf from Lord of The Rings. If only Tony had realized how close he was to the truth.

Clint climbed out of his bed and grabbed a t-shirt and shorts to slip on, he did so and stumbling to his bathroom, yawning. Still half-asleep he just twirled his fingers absentmindedly and water began to pour out of the shower head.

He had realized when he was seventeen that he had powers over water. Which was odd because in his studies about his race, Sea elves were the least magical of the elves.

He took his shower and then hurried downstairs and into the kitchen, where he expected the rest of the Avengers to be. He was stunned when he saw Fury in front of them, the eyepatched man looked at him grimly and nodded for him to take a seat as well. There was such tension in the room that you could've cut it with a knife. Tony broke the silence first.

"Thanks for finally dragging your birdie ass down here. Fury wouldn't tell us why he was here until you arrived."

Tony sighed, then raised an eyebrow at Fury, prompting him to speak and explain why he was here. Fury cleared his throat almost nervously and he sent an apologetic look in Clint's direction.

"We're having problems with Trickshot again."

Fury finally sighed and Clint bristled instantly at the sound of the villainous name Barney had thought of for himself. It was official, he hated Barney. Clint snapped to his feet and glared at Fury openly.

"Then I will take care of Barney the same as last time! You don't have to bring them into it!"

Clint practically snarled at Fury, pointing at the Avengers when he said 'them'. But Fury just frowned as he shook his head.

"No, Agent Barton. Trickshot has endangered multiple lives this time, you can't defeat him alone."

Fury explained calmly and Clint grabbed the first thing he saw off of the table and chunked it as hard as he could in Fury's direction. The coffee cup shattered when it collided with the wall beside Fury who barely even raised an eyebrow. Steve and Tony instantly surged to their feet when they saw the look of maniacal rage in Clint's eyes.

"Eyepatch! Who's this 'Trickshot' anyway?"

Tony asked and Fury sighed, grimly. Looking to Clint, to see if he wanted to answer but said archer was now practically a statue in his seat as he looked at the ground.

"Trickshot, also known as Barney Barton is..."

Fury began but Clint finished for him from his seat, his voice was monotone and held no emotion as he spoke.

"My older brother."

The Avengers grew silent at these words, Natasha just raised an eyebrow, she already knew he had a brother and what Barney had done, but not his name. Steve was the one ho spoke first.

"You have a brother?"

Clint laughed, but it wasn't the kind-hearted archer's usual laugh, this one was cold and harsh, more of a cough or a bark than a laugh. Clint just shoved himself forwards and out of his chair and he pushed past the director and his friends to leave the room. He wasn't thinking as he bolted up the stairs as quickly as he could.

-TimeSkip-

Clint found himself just staring at the ceiling of his room, hours later. He kept trying to tell himself that by the end of this fight with Barney, the man wouldn't get jail time again. They would probably have to kill him. Clint was fine with the idea, really he was. At least, he tried to tell himself that. But every time he tried telling himself that he pictured his older brother. Not evil Trickshot, but the circus boy named Barney Barton.

The Barney who would yell and whoop from across the training field the first time he got a bullseye on a target. The Barney who made sure he gripped his bow correctly, the Barney who cried when he accidentally shot a squirrel during one of their practice sessions.

"It didn't deserve to die, Clint. It was my fault, it was weak and I aimed wrong. Never kill the weak and innocent Clint."

Barney had whispered as tears streamed down his cheeks, Clint had been only six at the time and he remembered hugging Barney around the legs tightly. Barney had laughed at him and ruffled his hair.

"Thanks kid."

He'd said, smiling through his tears. Clint had always loved Barney's grin, it was always so trademark and laughable. That's when he realized. He couldn't kill him, no matter how evil Trickshot was. Somewhere inside him, he was still Barney. His big brother Barney.

Clint ran his hands through his messy locks and yelled in frustration. Why couldn't he do it?! Why was he so goddamned weak?! Clint thought angrily, not realizing that in his anger, his voice had risen several octaves and now sounded like it did he he was underwater. But he didn't care.

"I'm sorry, Clint."

He remembered Barney's apologetic face as he stumbled into their tent, holding his side and limping. Nine year old Clint began to cry and he threw himself at his brother, he'd thought something horrible had happened.

"Sorry, I'm late."

Barney had added and Clint had shook his head, tears furiously running down his face as he punched Barney in the arm.

"Idiot! Don't stay out so late next time!"

He'd snapped and rolled his eyes at the sheepish smile on Barney's face. Now twenty six year old Clint just stared at his ceiling in frustration.

"I'm sorry, Barney! I'm sorry too!"