Chapter Eight - ShatterGlass

Glare

While he may not know what to do with it, Fury is not entirely surprised to find Clint's bird sitting on the back of his chair in the middle of his office on the Helicarrier, glaring at him. After spending a few moments weighing the relative merits of attempting to get closer to his desk with the bird still there, Fury decides discretion is the better part of valor and getting attacked by a bird would be embarrassing. (Because, damnit, those eyes were glinting evilly when he thought about taking a step forward, and its claws looked sharp enough to go through his arm. After going through his coat.)

So, he calls Coulson.

Coulson, God bless him, doesn't laugh.

He does, however, walk fearlessly up to the bird, and calmly holds out his arm. For one endless second, Fury is almost sure he's just sent his best agent to a certain mauling. Then, the bird seems to huff and toss its head, before slowly shuffling onto Phil's outstretched arm, seeming to make sure it didn't mar Coulson's jacket.

Then, with a nod and a short "Sir", his agent and the bird leave his office.

Fury would never, under any circumstances admit it, but he breathes easier the minute the bird's demonic glare is no longer turned on him.

Hide and Seek

Eventually, after Bruce has sequestered himself in his lab and Steve is God knows where, Natasha and Coulson rejoin Fury and Agent Hill on the bridge. It is quiet as a busy office space can be, but it doesn't matter, because they are all, noticeably or not, watching the computers dedicated to the search for their missing agent. It is Hill who breaks the quasi-silence.

"Sir, is there any possibility that we could remotely activate Agent Barton's tracker?"

"No, Agent Hill." Fury responded, "Those trackers are designed to only activate at the agent's discretion, in order to ensure that their cover can't be broken on accident. And with Agent Barton as he is -"

"Sir?" The agent in front of the computers interrupted hesitantly, "I'm picking up Barton's signal?"

The group fell silent in shock. "Um, I'm picking up two of them?" The agent murmured in confusion.

"...What?!" Fury growled.

Natasha, on the other hand, made a sound like a strangled laugh. "Only Clint. Only Clint." Phil cocked an eyebrow, "Did he do what I think he did?"

"I don't know, Agent," Fury ground out, his head pounding in tempo to his voice, "What exactly is it you think Agent Barton did?"

Phil replied calmly. "Magically copied his tracker, like that one time in Bangalore. Except this time he stuck it to Loki, so that once he activated them both, we would be able to track Loki because it would then, for lack of a better term, be 'set' to Loki, so that he would become the only one able to turn it off. Besides us that is. Of course, I could be wrong. Has one of the signals disappeared?"

The agent squeaked as the heavy stares of all four senior agents turned on him, and hastily turned back to his computer screen. "Um, there must have been a glitch, because there's only one signal now, sir."

Fury turned back to his agents. "Agent Coulson, find the Captain, tell home to get ready then report to the main hanger. Agent Romanov, get one of the Quinjets ready and waiting for the Captain. Agent Hill," here he paused, as if he was about to say something repulsive, "contact Mr. Stark. Get him the coordinates of both the Quinjets and the tracking unit. But only once Agent Romanov and Captain Rogers are on their way. Because I know that suit of his can go at least Mach 3, and our Quinjets can only go Mach 3 for a short period of time."

Precipice

Natasha is on edge. She knows, deep in her soul, that she shouldn't be, because she should always remain calm and collected, that Clint will be fine (has always been fine), but that doesn't stop the dread curdling in her stomach. Because she has no idea how to save him, how to help him. And she is dancing now, along the precipice that separates anger and fear, with only her innate refusal to fall left to guide her.

Because she owes him, will always owe him, for what he did. It has nothing to do with love, or caring, or any other childish emotion, but everything to do with the ties they forged in the blood of her past and the strength of his trust.

And for that, she will make Loki pay for daring to take him away.

Conviction

When he goes to face Loki, he is not afraid. Even as he blade of the staff enters his lungs and exists his chest, he is not, is never, afraid. Because this man, no, overgrown child, lacks. Not just conviction, or sanity, but also a chance.

Because the Avengers are coming for him. And even as Fury bends down in front of him and tells him not to die, he still manages to smile tiredly.

"They need the push, sir." Phil murmured tiredly. "And I'll be fine, sir, I'm just so tired."

And he's right, even though Fury doesn't know it. Because Fury doesn't know Clint's secret - that Clint can't die. Nor does he know that Clint can temporarily waive someone's death. Just once, but once is all Phil needs. It is all he needs to survive, so he would be fine, and that will be good enough.

AN: Sorry this is late, finals are a bitch though. Anyway, here's the next chapter, and the following one will start the main fight!

That said, I hope everyone likes this chapter! And to everyone who mentioned that it didn't change all that much, I am sorry. The next section will change more, that I can say.

Now, Reviews!

BlackFaithMasquerade - Yes, yes it would. And if Voldemort weren't a pile of poisoned goo, I would seriously consider it. As it is, I might still do it.

Shoshona the Rose - Yes, she does.

ShadowedHand - They will, eventually, and Clint is going to kick ass.

Anon - As you can see, Coulson is good! As for the other stuff, well, everyone will react differently to Clint, and I hope to portray that well.

Memory25 - Oh, Tony and Clint are gonna get on like a house on fire, and Steve, well, Steve is going to waffle, but I think its going to end well.

Guest - I'm planning on writing something like that anyway, but that had not come to mind, so thanks!

BlazeStyker - I'd feel bad for Loki anyway, but doubly so after the next chapter!

Cricycle - Thanks for letting me know about that, because I had no idea. When I go back through and edit the entire story, I'll change that but I'll start with this chapter!

Wackyninja - It really just depends on the chapter, but I do try to write dialogue, but it has to flow!

~Ja Mata Ne!