This takes place before one of the previous chapters where Barney had died. Just for additional information. So in this story, Barney is alive.
"Come out with your hands above your head!" Steve demands in a firm voice. All weapons from the team were trained on the building in front of them. They finally cornered him.
For about a month, they've been trying to track down this murderer, who had killed many people and was very high up on Shield's wanted list. The man has a hood covering his face when he turns the corner and slowly walks out. The gun in his waistband is immediately stripped from him by Clint.
"Dammit Clint." The man in front of him mumbles. Quiet enough for only Clint to hear. Clint freezes. He knows that voice. He would know that voice any day. "Barney…?" Clint whispers. Hands freezing. Tony sees this and thinks that the man with the unknown identity had done something.
His repulsors charge up and without a thought, Tony fires towards that strange man.
"No!" Clint shouts and jumps in front of Barney. There is an intense pain in his chest and he falls to his knees with a grunt. Barney's eyes widen and he leans over to help Clint up, only for Tony to shoot again. "Don't touch him!" He shouts while releasing another laser.
Clint stumbles to his feet to protect Barney again, the shot hitting his upper thigh. This causes Clint to fall into Barney's arms, who slowly lowers Clint to the ground. Clint cringes and grounds when his leg brushes against the hard cement underneath him.
Steve is ready to attack the man once he gets a hold of Clint, only to realize that the enemy may not be an enemy after all. The way his hands are gentle with Clint when he places him down. The mumbling reassurances that Steve can hear come out of his mouth and the way he leans over Clint and checks his breathing changes Steve's mind.
Steve approaches slowly. "Who are you?" He asks slowly.
Barney doesn't even look up. "Your friend is hurt. The wounds are gonna get infected, you can't leave him here. Your team has to go, take Cli-I mean him out of here."
Steve picks up on his mistake. "How do you know Clint?" Steve is slowly getting closer to Barney and he realizes it, getting scared as the distance between them shortens.
"Steve? S'fine, jus' m'brother…" Clint manages to slur out between the breaths of agony.
Steve is startled by the information. "You're Barney?" The question is blurted out.
Barney face palms. "I thought you didn't want anyone to know we were related. Idiot. Here," Barney chuckles and offers Clint his hand. The weak grasp from Clint is enough to stand him up, swaying dangerously.
Before anyone knew what was happening, Barney had pulled Clint into a hug and was squeezing him.
Clint grunted when the pain spiked but didn't mind. Barney knew that Clint didn't care about the pain and just continued the hug.
As much as Clint tries to hold the tears back, some fall. He tucks his head into Barney's shoulder in hopes that no one will see them.
Barney sighs. "I missed you bro, needed someone like you in my life for a while now." The sadness in Barney's voice is not missed.
"I couldn't find you, Barn. I tried, I really did. Every time I thought I got a lead, it was a dead end." Clint says, voice cracking from unshed tears.
Barney's eyes darken. "My past caught up to me. I realized what path I was going down and tried to fix myself, to be more like you. I didn't realize how hard it'd be." They pull apart and Clint almost falls over. "Ope, sorry there." Barney chuckles and catches Clint. In one swift motion, Barney throws Clint's arm over his shoulder.
"I'm guessing you've done this before." Steve says light-heartedly. Barney chuckles. "When we were children, he always was the one taking the punishment. No matter who actually deserved it." He grows somber. Steve feels the awkwardness between them.
"Way tah ruin the mood Barn." Clint chuckles. His eyes are vivid, he's conscious. It doesn't look like there's any risk of him passing out yet.
The team keeps their distance, backing away from the brothers reunion.
"I missed you bro, sorry you had to get shot." Barney says.
Clint chuckles. "It's okay," he pauses mid sense to wince when his leg buckles. His weight is put on Barney a couple seconds before it recovers, leaving Clint gasping in pain.
…
Barney stands over Clint's bed as he watches the work get performed on his brother. Clint's laying on his back and is having his leg wrapped with bandages covered in salve and balms to heal the burn and prevent infection.
When the bandage is pressed firmly onto the wound, Clint's eyes squeeze shut and his knuckles gain a white knuckle grip on the bed sheets. He bucks slightly in the bed and Barney resists the urge to punch the doctor tending to him. Knowing it won't end well because that doctor happens to be Bruce. Who would probably turn into the Hulk if he were punched.
Barney feels anger well inside of him for Clint not accepting the pain reliever. But he knows why, classic Clint. He doesn't want to feel groggy and out of control.
…
When Clint is allowed to hobble around with crutches, like he actually uses them, Barney and Clint sit next to each other on the couch.
"I thought you died," Clint says blatantly. "I mourned for you. I cried and I cried, I didn't sleep for a couple of days at times. It ruined me, Fury almost put me out on the streets again if I didn't fix myself."
With those words, Barney's guilt skyrocketed. "I know. I'm sorry." His voice cracks. "I tried to come back multiple times. Every time though, I ran into someone else that didn't like me. And each time they tried to fight me, it brought me farther and farther from you. I beat them though." Barney boasts. Puffing his chest out. Clint laughs.
"I'm proud of you Clint. You're working with the big boys now." Gesturing to Captain America and Iron right outside the hallway. Steve was reprimanding Tony for shooting, Tony was making his point by saying he thought Barney was going to kill Clint. It makes sense.
"I didn't think you'd make it this far without me," Barney says. Clint turns his head back towards Barney. "Turns out that all you needed was for me to leave." Clint glances sadly at Barney.
"My whole life Barney, it was you driving my dedication. Everything I did, you were on my mind. Every decision I made, I thought of what you would say. Whenever I doubted myself, I heard your voice telling me that I was right and not to worry. I missed you, I couldn't handle life without you." Tears were forming in Barney's eyes at Clint's speech. Clint on the other hand already had a couple of tears on his face. "When life got tough, which happened a lot, it was you that pulled me out. You helped me through rough patches and you kept me going forward. You are what got me to this position, it wasn't just me. So please, please don't doubt yourself. It's my turn to help you, you've helped me my whole life." Clint is left crying uncontrollably.
Barney is surprised when Clint abruptly jumps at him. Pulling his older brother into a hug. Barney relaxes and they hug on the couch, tears being shared. "It's okay Clint. I'm not dead and don't worry. You've helped me plenty throughout many rough patches. Probably the same as yours if you know what I'm talking about. Barney gestures a knife to his neck. Clint chuckles wetly, "Hah, understood that one."
Clint tucks his head into his older brother's shoulder, washing the life away for the present time. They are like that when Steve walks back in. Steve sees the brothers, neither noticing him, he promptly walks back out and leaves the brothers with each other.
I actually kind of liked the way this turned out. Clint's "speech" to Barney literally made me tear up, I have no idea why. I think I'm getting too emotional for this. I can't believe it's already almost Halloween! Have a great weekend and Halloween if I don't post another chapter until then. My weekend is pretty packed.
At the very end, if you didn't understand, their rough patches were suicide. I'm not sure if that was clear or not.
Anyways, thanks to all of those who have followed along. I'm grateful for you guys! Thank you Katie MacAlpine! You have commented on every chapter so far and let me tell you, I literally get so happy when it pops up. Also, thanks for including the heights of the actors, I didn't realize they were so tall.