Disclaimer: I still own nothing (Sadly)

Not Betad, every mistake is my own.

Note: English is not my first lanuage.


After the battle of New York Clint left. The team thinks it's because of the guilt from what loki made him do. But is it ever that simple?

Clint-centric, but features the team


'The last person to access our files. The only one to check all the files is Coulson.'

'No!.' Clint and Natasha shouted together. Of the whole team, the two of them had been the closest with the agent.

'That isn't possible.' Clint said with so much conviction nobody dared doubting him.

'I believe you. The last time someone's file was opened was this afternoon, about an hour after we brought you back to the tower.'

'So someone stole Phil's passwords. How come nobody noticed that a dead agent logged in on their server?' Bruce mind was working in overdrive.

'Whoever it was hid their trail very well. I doubt anyone would have noticed if I hadn't.' Tony wasn't even boosting, it was just a fact.

'A better question is: whose file did they open?' Clint asked.

'You think it's starting?' Natasha looked at her partner.

'The file was opened after I returned to the tower.' Clint started.

'After you were dragged to the tower you mean.' Tony shot.

'That is not important. I am here, aren't I? Whose file did they open?'

Tony checked his tablet again. He sighed. 'I would try and blackmail you into not feeling guilty. But that is not going to work is it?'

'Probably not, but I can promise I won't take off without telling anyone.' Clint knew he probably would regret making that promise, but one look at Natasha's grateful smile he found he didn't care. He had hurt her with his leaving. He wouldn't do it again if he had any say in the matter.

Tony smiled. 'Deal.' His smile faltered. 'The file that was opened was Bruce's.'

Bruce's eyes darkened. However he surprised them all.

'Alright. So what now?'

'Alright? That is all you have to say?' Tony spoke before Clint could.

'Yes. Steve is still safe from exposure. Natasha won't have to look over her shoulder. Ross can't kill me. He needs to capture me and with Captain America, Iron Man and two master assassins around me, that will be a hard mission. I don't have that much enemies that would risk fighting all of you to get to me, so… What now?'

Natasha could see the guilt lessening in Clint's eyes. It wouldn't be completely gone until this was over. For now she was just grateful to Bruce.

'We lure Barney out.' Clint suggested.

'How do you.' Steve started, before being interrupted by Natasha.

'No, it's not going to happen, Clint. Forget it.'

'It is the fastest way and you know it.' The archer defended.

'Do you remember the last time we did that?' The widow shot back.

'It's not the same. It won't happen like that again.'

'Are you kidding me? If it's not the same, it's worse. It is not going to happen.'

'Wait, wait, wait. What are you crazy kids talking about? Would you mind filling us in?' Tony was feeling left out again.

'Clint wants us to use him as bait. The last time that happened he ended up with a pierced lung among other things. He was out of rotation for more than three months.' She fixed Clint with a glare that would have most men running for the hills. Clint just stared back.

'What do you propose then? Wait for Ross to show up and ask him where Barney is? Ooh and who the mole is while you're at it.'

She seemed to be considering it. Clint groaned. 'You can't be serious.'

'It's a reasonable plan. Better than offering you up.' Steve interfered. Both glares turned on him. He was starting to regret butting in, but he stood his ground. He was a soldier. He had faced scarier things than these two assassins. He thought so at least. 'Look we can always use the bait thing as a plan B.'

Natasha glare intensified, Steve didn't think it was possible.

'Or as plan Z.' Tony mutter. Clint turned his glare to the billionaire.

'Look,' Bruce pacified, 'let's wait a bit. We can find out if Ross will come here. You can rest and heal. If nothing happens, we can always go for plan B or Z, whichever you prefer, later.'

'Fine.' Clint nearly shouted before storming out of the room.

Natasha deflated. She looked like she wanted to follow him.

'Let him go.' Tony warned her. 'He promised he wouldn't leave without telling us again. Beside Jarvis will let us know if Agent Barton makes a move out of the building. Right Jarvis?'

'Yes Sir.' The automated voice told them.

'He won't leave. He is probably on the roof blowing of steam.' Natasha sighed. That is not how she had planned on convincing Clint to stay with them.

'Well that went well.' Steve echoed her thoughts.

'As well as could be expected.' Tony agreed.

'You expected any of this?' Bruce sounded doubtful.

'You know what I mean.' Tony said.

'He should be in bed resting.' Bruce grumbled. He was still in doctor's mode and he hadn't missed that the archer was almost dead on his feet.

'You can try.' Natasha told the doctor. 'But he is stubborn and he won't appreciate anyone coming up there to check on him. Least of all me.'

Bruce just nodded and left for the elevators. The ride up to the roof was easy. Tony had made the roof more accessible for Clint when he first invited the archer to live at the tower. Bruce wondered about the archer. Of all the Avengers Clint was the most mysterious. He realized how little he knew about the marksman.

A ping pulled Bruce from his musings. He stepped out of the elevator and saw Clint immediately. When he looked at Clint, on the edge of the roof, he found the archer had earned his name. Nothing seemed to escape his notice.

'Bruce.' The archer hadn't turned around. Even after all this time the hawk was still attuned to his team.

'Clint, you should be in bed.'

'Why are you for waiting for Ross to show up? You of all people shouldn't want plan A to happen.' Clint changed the subject.

'That is why you are so upset? Because I didn't support your plan?' Bruce asked and promptly answered his own question. 'Of course you are. You didn't see this team fall apart because we had somehow lost you after all. You didn't see Natasha go through all the motions without actually living. You don't realize how important you have become to all of us.'

'But how?' Clint sounded so vulnerable. Bruce realized with a pang that Clint probably hadn't had someone caring for him in a long time. If ever, Natasha and Coulson aside. 'You don't know me? You had known me for just a few days before I left. How can you be so..' He seemed lost.

'Caring?' Bruce helped. Clint just nodded. 'It has nothing to do with how long you know someone. The Avengers, we are some sort of odd family. That day, the fighting, it showed us you belong with us.' He sighed. 'As for how why I am waiting for Ross to show up. It is not a bad plan. I trust you guys. Nothing bad is going to happen to me.' I hope. He added in his head. 'Don't you trust us?' He spoke out loud.

'It not you I don't trust.' Was the soft reply.

'I know.' Bruce was always smarter than most. 'We trust you. For now that should be enough.'

Clint looked grateful. He still didn't know what he had done to warrant such loyalty, but for once he would just accept it, as it was offered. He stood up and walked towards the doctor.

'You look dead on your feet. Come, you should get some rest.'

And for the first time Clint followed doctor's orders without complaining


More talk :)

I'm getting somewhere. I like the thought of an emotionally hurt Clint. After everything he needs to find faith in himself.

Hope you enjoyed the this chapter

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