Hey guys, new chapter. This one had more of a somber tone than I've had so far in this story but I promise I'll move to lighter things in the next chapter and going forward for a bit. I just needed to set up some things as far as Kate went.
P.S. KitKat is what we call a friend of mine who's name is Kate or Katherine, so shout out!
As always, please review :)
The elevator opened on their floor as Kate and Clint walked into the main living area where Natasha was waiting.
"You have to say something to me at some point." Kate pleaded after enduring the whole walk home in silence. She hurried to get in front of Clint forcing him to stop. "C'mon, I feel like I'm walking to the gallows. Say something, please!"
Clint regarded her calmly. "What do you want me to say?" He asked. His expression changed as he walked forward causing Kate to back up. "How about you tell me what was going through your head when you decided to leave the Tower? Was it to meet that Spider-Kid?"
"No, it wasn't." Kate said bristling. "I was thinking I wanted to have 5 minutes to myself. Ever since Thor and the others arrived, I've had Bucky, or Tony, or Pepper, or someone watching over me. At least before the whole H.Y.D.R.A. thing you trusted me to be on my own."
Clint sighed. "I know you aren't used to being around everyone. But with Loki being here—"
"Spare me." Kate said. "You don't have to tell me how dangerous he is."
Kate turned away to go sit on the sofa.
"Okay, I don't have to tell you." Clint said walking after her. "It might be a good idea for you to explain what you told Pepper earlier today." Kate closed her eyes for a minute. "What did you mean when you said you had been able to keep an eye on me?"
"I misspoke." Kate replied not looking at him.
Clint moved in front of her, sitting on the coffee table to meet her gaze. "No, you don't misspeak." He said. "You always know the words you choose. Kate…"
"Just drop it." Kate replied rubbing her eyes with one hand.
Clint frowned and he waited for her to meet his gaze. He saw the unshed tears in her over bright blue eyes. "Kate, when I asked you if something happened before New York—"
Kate smiled sadly as one tear rolled down her cheek. "I lied."
~ Coulson's expression was grim. "I need you to come with me." He said. He paused. "Clint has been compromised."
Kate froze, the words echoing through her skull as she tried to wrap her brain around it. "No, he was just watching a space cube, no hostiles. What happened?" She asked.
"We had an unexpected complication." Coulson said. "Someone came through the gate."
Kate paused. "Phil, are you okay?" She asked.
Coulson nodded. "Why do you ask?"
Something felt wrong and Kate took one step back away from him. Lucky growling, the pattern of his speech, this wasn't Phil. As she took one more step back into the doorway of the house, she heard a soft pop, like a dart gun, followed by a thud.
Spinning around she saw Clint standing in the living room, a tranquilizer gun aimed at Lucky, who was on the ground. When he looked up, she froze at the cold blue of his eyes, they almost looked inhuman.
Turning back to "Coulson" she backed up as she watched his image change in a green light to reveal a tall man with raven hair dressed in green leathers and armor that were not from Earth. She stopped moving back when Clint gripped her shoulder with one hand, holding her in place.
"Hello Miss. Barton." The man smiled coldly. "I am impressed that you saw through the disguise so quickly." He stopped right in front of her. "Your brother tells me that you know how to find things." ~
As she finished speaking, Kate regretted even opening her mouth. "That expression right there is why I didn't want to say anything." She said looking at her brother. "I knew you would blame yourself."
Clint closed his eyes for a second before looking back up at her. His voice strained, asked. "The memory I had of aiming the arrow at you…"
Kate didn't reply.
Clint stood up, eyes blazing.
Kate shot up and ran in front of Clint, putting her hands on his shoulders to stop him. "Clint no! You can't kill him, Cap's orders." She said.
"I don't give a shit." Clint said in an eerie calm voice that she hadn't heard in years. "I'm going to do what I should have done instead of letting Thor take him back to Asgard."
"He's Thor's brother, and…" Clint paused and looked at her to finish. "I know what I would do if they ever came after you."
It was subtle, but she felt Clint's shoulders loosen under her hands. Kate let her hands drop and she saw Natasha relax over Clint's shoulder. Without a word, Clint pulled her into a tight embrace, not saying a word.
"I'm sorry KitKat." He said quietly after a minute.
"It's not your fault." Kate said softly, hugging him back tightly.
Clint loosened his hold but didn't release her. "It's Loki's." He said.
Kate took a deep breath, knowing her next words weren't going to go over well. "Actually, I'm not so sure it's his either." She said.
Clint took her shoulders and held her back at arm's length looking at her like she was insane. "What do you mean?" He asked.
"I've had a lot of time and reason to think over that encounter over the last 14 hours." Kate said carefully. "It struck me while Thor was telling us what happened last night, but I couldn't put my finger on it." She chewed her lower lip as Clint and Natasha looked at her. "You might want to get the others for this."
…
Kate looked at her phone while they waited for FRIDAY to get the Avengers together. She had a missed text message.
Sorry I missed you at the park – P
I forgot to text you. My brother got back early and busted me. Wasn't technically supposed to be out of the tower. See you at school tomorrow? – K
See you there :) – P
Kate put her phone away as the elevator dinged and the others walked in. Natasha sat down next to her on the sofa as everyone filed into the sitting area.
"What's this about?" Steve asked curiously. "FRIDAY said you had new information?"
Clint perched on the arm rest next to Natasha and they all turned their eyes to Kate.
"I know I've been pretty crazy since Loki came here." Kate said carefully. "So, I'll spare you the details, but I came into contact with Loki when he came to Earth the first time. The reason I'm telling you this is because I think the Mind Stone was used on Loki before he came to Earth."
Everyone paused in surprise.
"What makes you say so?" Thor asked.
"FRIDAY, do you have that footage I asked for?" Kate asked.
On que, a hologram appeared in front of them. It showed Clint and Dr. Selvig from S.H.I.E.L.D. footage before and after the Mind Stone was used.
"Look at the difference in their eyes." Kate asked. "Now look at Loki when he arrived vs. how he looked at the end after the Chitauri were gone."
"Incredible." Bruce said quietly. "You remembered that from one encounter four years ago?"
Kate shrugged but the others noted the slight tension in Clint and Natasha as Bruce mentioned it.
"If he was under mind control…" Steve said thoughtfully leaving it open.
"We would have to find out for sure." Natasha said. "Thor, would he tell you?"
Thor sighed. "Loki and I are on better terms but it's difficult to say." He said.
Kate chewed on her lower lip. "I could get him to tell me." She said. Everyone looked at her quickly. "It would have to be alone though."
"Absolutely not." Clint said instantly.
"We'll find another way." Steve added as well.
Kate shook her head. "Fine." She said heading towards the kitchen for a drink. "You let me know when you come up with something that works."
Once she was in the smaller kitchen, she paused to listen.
"That attitude never gets old." Tony commented amused.
Kate smiled. Tony was probably the only one who thought so.
"Clint, can I ask you something?" Bruce asked. "Her memory…the way she recalls such specific details from so long ago quickly…has she ever been tested for something like hyperthymesia?"
"Perfect recall?" Tony asked in surprise.
"No." Clint said. "Fury wanted to have her tested but…"
Kate paused as she listened to them, not having known that.
Bucky spoke grimly. "It would put her on the radar of some very dangerous people."