Clint was happy. Actually happy.

He'd not only managed to find a house where he was cared for and wanted, but he also had found great friends and joined a club at a good school. Life was good, for once.

That was why he couldn't relax.

He knew that if he relaxed into this good life even a measly little bit, everything would collapse around him. That his great, dream like life would disappear. He couldnt take that chance. Not this time. He'd keep this life up as long as possible.

Though, he found that that possible wasn't long at all.

One day, after lunch, Thor had walked up to him. "Friend Clint." Thor spoke, his voice mellower for once.

"Thor." Clint didn't want to know where this conversation was going. He had a fairly good idea though.

"I wish to inquire as to your reasoning for not trusting our friends with such information as your brothers...friends." Thor spit out the last word and Clnt couldn't blame the big guy. The people their brothers hung around were not human, let alone friends.

"Look. You know what I told you?" Clint started, facing the taller man. "About why Barney went to join that gang?" Thor nodded after a moment of thinking. "Well, I really don't want my friends to find out about my past. It's not their burden to carry, whether they'd carry it at all."

"But they have the right to know." Thor countered. Clint got frustrated.

"Look, how would you feel if you found out one of your other friends not only came from a foster home, but also got beat up constantly?"

"Well, if they took meaningless pity on me, it could be rather frustrating." Thor concluded. Clint nodded.

"And you know as well as I do that Steve, Pepper, Jane and maybe Bruce would be the types to have that meaningless pity."

"Yes. I suppose you bring a good point to light." Thor crossed his arms. "But, I still believe it best that they know. They are your friends. If you tell them that you do not wish for pity, I believe they will follow your wish."

Clint sighed. He suddenly remembered why talks with Thor were like therapy. The guy may act like a big, loud, oaf, but he was truly smart. Not to mention understanding. And from what Clint remembered of Thor the guy had come from a pretty good family. Why was Loki in a gang again?

"He joined for reasons I find troublesome, though not worthy." Clint froze. Shit, he'd said that outloud? He was beginning to act like Tony; no brain-mouth filter.

"What reasons would those be?" Clint asked, following the flow. Might as well get an answer now that'd he'd asked. Thor looked hesitant to answer though. "C'mon, I told you all about my family and Barneys reasons. You can't tell me Lokis?" Clint pressed. He saw the moment Thor relented.

"Very well." Thor nodded and stared off into space. "My brother...he is adopted. Though he'd always been a bit of a loner and rather...different from the rest of us, I doubt he'd thought anything like that." Thor sighed. "He took the news rather terribly. He went on a rampage that resulted in my father sending him to a bording school. When he got back, Loki was different. He lied more often and rarely came home. Eventually I found he'd joined a gang. I tried to talk him out of it but he'd merely laughed and said 'Why should I listen to the words of someone I'm not even related to?' and left." Thor shook his head as if to clear it. "I believe him to be my brother no matter who his parents be. We grew up together, played together. He refuses to see it that way though."

Clint stayed silent a moment. He looked Thor in the eye. "Sorry to hear that. But thanks for telling me."

"It was merely a fair exchange, yes?" Thor got a small smile then. "I do believe it best to talk of your problems, though. If only so the others do not find out in a way that will upset them."

Clint sighed. "Look, what if I tell one of them? Only one. At least for now." Thor looked sceptical. "You know, like to see how well one would handle it. Test the waters. If that one person can handle it well, then I'll consider telling the others as well."

"Alright." Thor beamed at him. Clint felt the need to put his sunglasses on. "YES! I DO BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MARVELOUS PLAN OF ACTION, FRIEND CLINT." Ah, so he'd gotten his 'god voice' out again.

"What would be a marvelous plan of action?" Clint felt himself jerk in surprise. It wouldn't of been noticed by anyone else- he'd mastered the art of not being surprised- but of course it was Natasha. "Sorry." She smirked at him. "Didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't scare me." Clint shot back. Thor looked amused. "What? Somethin' funny?" The archer whirld on the college student. Thor chuckled.

"No. Not at all. Though I do believe you hath found yourself the right person to talk to." Clint lost his angry look. Tell Natasha? About his shitty life? Clint gave it thought. Thor was right, Natasha would be the perfect one to talk to. She wouldn't get all pitying nor would she feel awkward about the talk. If anything she'd slap him on the head and tell him to stop being such a girl.

"Yeah." Clint said aloud. Natasha looked at him. "You're right. Okay, I'll talk to her." Thor beamed then ran off as Jane called him to say goodbye. Clint remembered lunch had ended a few minutes ago.

"Talk to me about what?" Natasha asked, looking miffed to have people not only discuss but decide on something involving her. "Speak, Barton."

"One," The boy said, holding up a finger. "I'm not a dog. And two," He stuck another finger in the air. "We're gonna be late for class." He turned to go. "I'll tell you after school or something."

Natasha grabbed his arm.

"Not so fast, hot sauce." Clint raised an eyebrow at the sudden nickname. He'd get her back for that. "I want to know now. Besides we both have club activities after school. Me dance and you archery. So speak."

"Again, not a dog." She raised an eyebrow this time. He wouldn't say so aloud, but she was kinda terrifying. "And what about class? Don't you love english class?" Clint hated the note of desperation in his tone, but he really wasn't up for talking.

Natasha wasn't having it though. "We aren't doing anything other then reading today. I checked." She raised a hand when he opened his mouth to speak. She still refused to release his arm. "And if I read in class, I won't have anything to do in study hall."

Clint sighed. He was smart enough to realize defeat when it reared its ugly head. "Fine. Do you know somewhere we could go so we don't get seen by the teachers?"

"Hm." The red head thought for a moment. "How about the lighting booth in the theatre? We can talk without worry in there."

"Isn't the door locked?" Natasha smirked her 'superior' smirk, as he'd named it, at him.

"I can pick a lock as simple as that." Clint found that statement oddly hot.


Authors Note: This will be the last one 'til Monday. I'm going to my moms, as I said. I'll post more when I get back.

Later!