I hadn't intended for it to be this long, but it sort of took off and here it is. I hope you all enjoy it. I really appreciate you guys, no doubt about it. Thanks in advance for reading and/or reviewing!


Bodies littered the old factory with each sound of a gun or slice of a blade. Clint stood atop the factory and watched his fellow assassins rampage the tiny village and the building that held what they came for: three cases of plasma bombs. The tiny bombs, though seemingly useless, could generate enough energy to destroy a large city. It was perfect for Luciao, and Clint felt a happiness that he would be pleasing his commander. His moment of peacefulness, or what he had learned to feel as such, was disturbed be a rustling of trees behind him. His watchful eye caught a cascade of blonde hair before it disappeared into the trees. Clint's muscles quivered slightly as he moved from tree to tree until he stopped and let his body drop gracefully before the figure. It was a woman of about twenty-three. The blonde hair he saw was matted with blood and mud from her escape. Instinct took over, as it often did, and he felt the cool metal of the gun before he could think. She was screaming violently, begging him to spare her. She was beautiful, in a motherly, warm way that sent shots through his heart, and it was this that caused the moments hesitation before he sent the bullet through her heart. The gunshot caused a blotchy pattern on the woman's lavender dress, and Clint tilted his head as her horrified face was burned into his memories. He remembered each and every one of his kills.


Clint's mind raced as he woke up, his eyes focused on three blurry figures hovering over him. The fuzz cleared and he recognized the faces of Natasha, Tony, and Pepper. He heard a groan escape his lips when he tried to lean forward and the room started to spin.

"Easy there, Robin Hood," Tony put a firm hand on his shoulder and pushed him back down on the firm, but comfortable cushion on the couch in his room.

"What the fuck happened?" Clint tried to process and think, but all that he could remember was suddenly feeling light-headed when they arrived back to the tower.

"You fainted," Pepper put hands on each side of his face, her voice amused and soft.

He felt the blood rush from his face. He fainted?

"What happened to you?" Tony's eyes darted from Natasha to Clint. "Sex too rough?"

Clint barked out a laugh that turned into a slight hiss at the pain in his head. "You're full of shit. I honestly don't know what happened."

"He took us..to his parents' grave," The red head spoke quietly but with the same firmness she always carried.

The memory sent little pains through his entire body and he sat back, swallowing the emotion that dared to erupt. Tony and Pepper nodded to Natasha's reply and stood in unison, their body language speaking more than they ever could about their relationship.

"Try to get some rest," Pepper kissed his forehead and left the room, trailing Tony behind.

"Not too much though. Group training session tomorrow," The bearded man called over his shoulder as he followed Pepper out, receiving a glare from both women.

Clint felt hesitant fingers trace the scar under his chin before lips touched he. He opened his eyes, meeting the piercing blue of Natasha's.

"You're worrying me, Barton. You know how much I despise worrying," The slight accent she carried was thicker with her emotion. When he gestured for her to join him on the couch, the red head fitted herself against him as he wrapped strong arms around her. There was no romance, no sexual tension in this embrace, only compassion and a friendship that they both never expected.

"Do I sense the fearsome Black Widow becoming a softie?" The Hawk's rough voice lingered in the room along with Natasha's tinkling laughter.

"Shut it, Barton, I can't help it," She gave his arm a slight shove before situating herself again.

He smiled, despite the overwhelming need to push her off and run away. Clint could feel the memories clawing back to the surface, their white-hot pain to shoot through his bones. A silent prayer and slow breaths seemed to calm him before Natasha took notice and asked, "Are you...okay?"

"Peachy, other than apparently fainting like I belong in the South during the war," His snarky comment didn't hold as much bite as it usually would, but Natasha didn't press. She of all people knew better than to press on sore wounds.

They laid together for awhile, no talking between them necessary for communication. Clint was the first to break the silence when he said, "We should probably go find the others, I'm starving." He felt the curls of his best friend's hair move against his chest as she nodded and rose.


The group sessions were Clint's favorite. They molded their skills to perfect the team advantage, while still maintaining enough for their own personal flairs. Tony had designed a special facility for their training, especially since Bruce was learning to control the Hulk, but accidents were still a present thought. This mission was designed to further air control between Tony and Clint, and how Thor could manage in both the air and on ground with the others. Steve, his Captain America outfit gracing his body, spat out orders with authority and clarity to everyone.

"Barton, I need you atop that railing," He pointed to brass rails surrounding the building. "You and Tony will need to maintain a pattern in order to keep the flying bots from reaching Natasha and I." Steve pointed to Bruce, who was taking off his shirt to prepare. "I need you to protect our outer regions. We're going to be busy with the middle." He nodded and with a loud grunt, his formed into the Hulk. Clint enjoyed watching his friends shift into battle mode, the way they would keep clear heads but always, always held concern for each others safety.

JARVIS' voice rang out through speakers placed on a street lamp near them. "5...4...3...2...1..GO," and with that they took off.

Tony and Thor were in the sky in moments, leaving the others on the ground. Clint's body was sleek and precise as he worked his way up to the railing before positioning his bow with an arrow, eyes surveying the scenes before him. Fighter bots began to appear in an avalanche of sorts on both the air and in the sky.

No time was wasted as they began to take down their targets, each of them using both their power and that of their companions. Clint called out to Tony and shot an arrow towards an incoming bot. Tony smirked and attached a bomb to tip before it hit the bot and exploded. The two men nodded with an agreed excitement before Clint strung his bow and shot another bot. To make the experience within a spectrum of reality, Tony had included bots to simulate people. A 'woman' below them screamed and Clint shot and arrow towards the bot that was harassing her.

Then he felt it. It was dull and sneaking at first, spreading through his body with determination and angst. Clint faltered and leaned against the metallic railing. A coldness gripped his heart and his lungs, sending him to his knees. He fought the pain that flashed through his body that destroyed the fight in his bones and muscles. He heard a scream but wasn't sure if it was his or not. As if a final act of mercy, everything went black.