AN: So sorry for the long wait!


Clint woke up to the humming of an engine. Before opening his eyes (and revealing to everyone who may be present that he was awake) he checked out the area blindly, a habit formed out of years of waking up in unpleasant environments. He was lying on a comfortable, yet small bed, together with another person, probably Natasha. His danger sense didn't spike, so he figured it was okay to stay in bed for the moment. Not wanting to open his eyes, he let the wonderful dream he had last night pass before his eyes again: He had found Avy. She was alive, happy and she was there. With him. He smiled.

Then Natasha moved slightly, and it felt so not-Natasha, that he cracked an eye open. And the first thing he saw was red hair. Strawberry-red hair.

He fully opened his eyes and shook his head several times, trying to proceed the fact that it hadn't been a dream, that Avy was here, sleeping in the same bed he slept in, just like they were kids all over again, just like he hadn't lost her.

Her ginger hair, contrasting to the white pillow it was spilled on, surrounded her sleeping face. She looked so young, so innocent, so much like the eight-year-old-girl she had been the last time he saw her that he felt a little tear in his eyes.

Just like every time, when he had seen her sleeping peacefully, he promised himself that he would protect her. Only this time, protecting her would involve having a serious talk with Tony Stark. The guy might have saved the world, but that didn't mean he was allowed to date Clint's little sister.

Just as Clint started feeling a bit like a creep for staring at his little sister while she slept, she stirred and woke up.

Her blue-grey eyes found Clint's similar ones and she smiled.

„I feared it was a dream. That I only imagined all this." She said.

„Me too." Clint admitted.

„Good it's none." She said, and Clint smiled.


Two hours and a suprisingly delicious breakfast later (who would have known Avy could cook that good?) they sat together to finally do what they should have done hours ago: Discussing what exactly they were up to do.

„So, you're meeting this governmental guy?" Clint asked.

„Today in 1300 hours. I'll talk to him, figure out what exactly he wants Stark Industries to do, then have a bit small talk with him. After that, I will go meeting the a representative of the opposition tomorrow in 1500 hours and listen to him. So we will get to see both sides."

„And I will have your back." Clint said.

„That's the plan."

„It's risky. There have been a few demonstrations on the Tharir place again, and it got bloody."

„That's why you are here."

Clint smirked.

„I wish we would have met... I don't know. In the middle of New York. Somewhere I don't have to fear for you getting hurt."

„I do, too. It would have been nice to just sit together and talk. But I was in Egypt before. It's really unlikely that anything will happen."

„I learned not to trust probability."

Pepper chuckled and said.

„It will be fine."


When they landed and got of the plane, the sun was shining. The private airport seemed empty, only a few workers greeted them. It was a peaceful scene.

Suddenly Clint tensed. His danger sense was going wild and he instinctively stood in front of Avy, protecting her from whatever alerted him.

She looked at him confusedly, and then something in front of him exploded. In the same moment, gunfire erupted from somewhere.

He grabbed her arm and searched for cover. Finally, he found small wall that would do for now and dove behind it while grabbing his gun and beginning to fire.

He tried figuring out where the bullets came from when Avy patted his arm. She looked at him, afraid but calm, and he remembered what she had said on the plane „Dad taught me to shoot". He thought of it a moment, than smirked and gave her the small gun he always hid in his shoe.

She started firing, and for a moment he just watched her, making sure she could handle it. At least for the moment, it seemed like she could.

Knowing this, he started looking around, trying to get used to his surroundings. He counted at least one sniper and a couple of guys with machine pistols. Then he looked back at the plane and saw the pilots still in it. The perfect escape.

He motioned to Avy to go there. She looked at him questioning, but then understood what he wanted and got ready.

When he shouted „GO!" She started running while he provided cover fire.

She just reached the plane when it exploded in a ball of fire.


AN: A bit action here. I hope you like it!