I sigh and roll my eyes. "Great. Here we go again. Barton, you're gonna think I'm a nut job."

"I assume that's what you told Loki. But he doesn't think you're crazy, so why should I?"

I give him an incredulous look. "You're basing your opinion on my sanity off of the psycho's analysis of my story?"

Clint just stares at me. I sigh again. "Alright, Barton. I'll tell you. But not here, and you have to swear to me that you'll tell no one else."

"And why would I do that?"

I look straight into his eyes. "Because I know your biggest, most dangerous secret."

Clint scoffs. "Oh really? I doubt that."

I raise my brows. "I can prove it, but like I said, not here. Too many ears."

Clint stares me down, probably trying to decide if I'm bluffing. "Fine. Let's go." He abruptly pushes past me and gets in the elevator, so I follow him. "JARVIS, ground floor," he orders. The elevator immediately begins moving, and we both stand in silence. When we reach the ground level, Clint steps out and heads for the doors. We push through the mass of people still swarming the place and walk outside, both of us breathing a sigh of relief. Once we've walked a good distance from the Tower, picking through debris, Clint looks at me. "Why did you say you're an American from another world, and why shouldn't I tell anyone?"

I study him for a moment. This is potentially very dangerous—anything I say could ruin the timeline if I'm not careful. But I need Clint to believe me, so that he won't tell anyone. Therefore, I have to tell the truth. "Because I really am from another world."

"What do you mean by 'another world'? Are you talking about another realm, like Asgard?"

I shake my head. "No, I'm literally talking about an alternate universe. A universe where Earth exists, but she's alone. No realms, no aliens, no superheroes."

Clint gives me a frown as he steps over a fallen lightpole. "So you're saying the Avengers don't exist in your world?"

I nod. "Yes."

"Then how did you predict the future accurately?" He looks almost triumphant, like he's cornered me in my words. I sigh. If only.

"Because you exist in a story. Or, a movie, I should say."

Clint's eyes widen. I can tell he wasn't prepared for that answer. It's my turn for a smug look.

"We are in a movie in your world? But we don't exist in real life?"

"No, you don't. But I gotta say, Marvel did an amazing job. Your personalities-"

"Wait, Marvel? Like the comic book company?"

My eyes widen in astonishment. "You guys have Marvel Comics here?!"

Clint nods. "They aren't a very big company, but I loved their comics when I was younger."

I stare at him, skirting a large piece of debris. "Marvel is one of the biggest names in the movie-making industry right now in my world! They are incredibly famous for their superhero movies. You know, you have a set of your own comics in my world," I say with a grin. Clint's eyes light up, though he tries to hide it by going back to interrogation mode.

"How did you really get here, then?"

I smile. "I really did come here through a door, but it wasn't magical. It was an unfinished work of technology."

"Unfinished? You were sent here in an unfinished piece of tech?" Clint sounds horrified. My face colors.

"Ah, no. I was...well, I was snooping around, like I said, and I sent myself by accident." I can't meet his eyes, my shame forcing me to look away.

"What do you mean?"

I hesitate, not wanting to answer. "My uncle...he is the one who built the machine. It was in his garage at his house, and I found it early one morning while I was looking around. I...accidentally turned the machine...door...thing...on without knowing it, and then I opened the door and stepped through it. And it transported me here."

Clint gives me an incredulous look. "You accidentally turned it on, and then you stepped through it without knowing what it could do?"

My face turns an even deeper shade of red. "Yeah..."

He shakes his head. "And the only proof you have of being from an...alternate universe...is that you can tell the future?"

"Well, there's that, and the fact that I don't exist in any records on this planet."

Clint studies me, then shakes his head. "It's a good story, I'll give you that. But it's far-fetched."

I sigh. "I know. If you don't believe me, that's fine. I understand. But you still can't tell anyone, Barton. And I mean anyone. Not Natasha, not Nick Fury, not your wife."

"I'm not married."

"Yes you are, and you have two adorable kids. One is named Lila, the other is...Jakob? Ok I don't remember your boy's name. But you guys live on a farm in the middle of nowhere, and you've been keeping them a secret to protect them." I look at Clint's astonished and angry eyes. We've both stopped walking, and are now facing each other on the side of the empty street. "Barton, I swear to you that I would never hurt them, and I swear on my life that I will not tell a soul about them."

"Unless I tell your far-fetched secret."

I sigh and look away. "I know I told you that, but knowing myself, I don't think I could tell anyone about them even if I wanted to." I look back at him. "But you still can't tell anyone who I really am, because it may ruin the timeline."

Clint frowns. "What timeline?"

"The one you and I are living in right now—the timeline of events that have and will happen in this universe." I purse my lips. This is so dangerous, but it's necessary. "There is something coming, something that will devastate the Earth. But there is hope against it. And that hope lies only in this timeline. Certain events must happen in order for the Earth, and the rest of the universe, to be saved. If I mess up the timeline, I could very easily erase the sliver of hope we have. But if I can manage to keep the secrets of the future, even the terrible ones, then I can potentially save the entire universe." I look into his eyes, begging him to believe me. "You just have to trust me. You know I know the future, so for the sake of the Earth and her people, please keep my secret."

Clint studies me, arms crossed and eyes calculating. Finally, he gives a short nod. "Alright. But if you ever tell anyone about my family, I will not only reveal your secret, but I will hunt you down and kill you. I don't care if you're Asgardian or alien or from Earth, I will find you and kill you."

I stick my hand out, meeting Clint's cold eyes with an accepting gaze. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Barton. And I'm telling you right now, I won't tell a living soul about your family."

Clint takes my hand in a firm shake. His eyes soften a bit. "I don't really believe you anyway, so I don't see any harm in keeping your secret," he says with a slight smile. I raise an eyebrow, the tension in the air abating.

"Well, thanks...I think."

Clint grins. "Now that we have that cleared up, I'm hungry."

I return the grin, my growling stomach in full agreement with him. "Tony ordered Chinese takeout. Let's head back."

That night, Tony informs Banner and I of the decision regarding Loki, the Tesseract, and the scepter. It has been decided that Loki and the Tesseract will return to Asgard with Thor- Loki for much-deserved retribution and the Tesseract to rebuild the Bifrost. The scepter will remain on Earth to be "kept safe", according to Pierce and his goons. I am sure to keep the disgust and annoyance off of my face, but I can't help but feel animosity towards the Hydra agent.

After the meal, which was surprisingly good, Tony insists that I watch the original Alice in Wonderland with him. I smile and give in, but my mind is on other things. Thor and Loki are leaving tomorrow morning, and that means I will be the only Asgardian left on Earth-besides that other man from the Agents of SHIELD TV show. Ugh, now I wish I had finished the series. I could have learned so much more. After the movie is over and Tony has proudly congratulated me on my "culturation", which I'm pretty sure is not even a word, I excuse myself and head up to my level, the 85th floor. It's nearly 9 pm now, and I look out over the city as I stand at one of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the small living area. The sky is dark, but no stars are visible because of the abundance of twinkling lights in the city below. I assume Loki is in his room, and I don't know where the other Avengers are. Most of them are sleeping on this level, though, for obvious reasons. So I am alone in the dark room.

I sigh. I have so much to think about, so much to prepare for. I need to ask Tony if I can stay here for awhile longer, just until I can get a steady job and my own apartment here. But...what can I do? I know a job as a waitress won't be high enough pay to support myself in an apartment in NYC, and neither will a job as a secretary. But those are the only two jobs I've ever had. I need help.

Suddenly, I have an idea. I could work for Tony, and request to live in the Tower as my pay! I know he will probably say yes, being the kind of spontaneous person he is. I make a good secretary/receptionist, and living in the Tower would be the perfect place for me, seeing as I am Asgardian. Fury could easily keep an eye on me if he wanted to, since I am sure he knows of my existence now, and I would be able to live near my heroes. Aging would no longer be a concern, and I could even offer to work at the new Avengers Facility when Tony builds it in a few years, and work directly with the Avengers!

A smile lights my face as I consider the possibilities. For the first time since I stepped into this crazy world, I have a plan of survival. And I believe it will work.

Author's Note: Hello again, me dearies! What do you think of this? I sure hope you enjoyed it! Writing Clint is a lot of fun.

Thank you so much for reading!

Signing off, AuthorsDream.