CHAPTER 6 - Wakanda
After the meeting with T'Challa, Clint found himself stalked by at least one Dora Milaje. The one who mostly followed him was Okoye. And if the Dora Milaje was not following him, one of the other 'Avengers' ended up following him. The main ones being Bucky and Wanda. Clint allowed it to go on for a few days before he actively tried to lose the followers. Escaping Sam, Rhodes, Scott and Hope was like child's play. Wanda cheated and used her power but Clint was at least able to get a decent head start. Losing the Dora Milaje was a tough one as well. Okoye was the best at keeping track of him but the others were quick enough to re-catch his trail that he hardly seemed to get away. The 'best' ones to catch him. T'Challa and Bucky.
"Am I ever gonna be able to chose?" Clint asked one day when T'Challa and Bucky were 'trading places.' He had actively tried ignoring the sights of this before. But after weeks of this going on, he was getting frustrated. No one was giving him a moments peace. Even in his 'room,' someone always had access to find or see him.
"What do you mean?" T'Challa wondered, looking over to the archer. Bucky frowned, turning as well.
"You all know what I want. Why can't I chose to do it?" Clint clarified, shifting to look at them.
"Your choice to die is stupid," Bucky snipped. Clint huffed. Of anyone, he had expected Bucky to understand his reasoning on this matter.
"But it is my choice. Right now you're all stripping me of that choice," Clint pointed out. Bucky snarled.
"We are doing it to protect you!" Bucky cried. Clint moved to stand right in front of him.
"You are taking away my choice!" Clint screamed back. "You're trapping me here! Basically holding me prisoner!"
"What the fuck!?" Bucky snapped. "Why do you really want to die so much?"
"SO I CAN JOIN MY FRIENDS!" Clint roared. Bucky paused, stunned. Even T'Challa found himself stilling. Did the archer seriously want that? Should they give in? Clint breathed heavy for a few seconds before reigning it back in. "I'm done trying to be strong. Done trying to keep on a god damn happy face while my world falls to shit. I lost everything I love. All I do is bring people more trouble and more danger. I'm doing you all a favor."
SMACK
Clint and Bucky stared at each other surprised before they both looked to T'Challa.
"You are a fool to think that will solve anything," the king hissed. "You are important to many people and you have a strength within you to power everyone around you."
"That strength is gone," Clint mumbled, most of the fight draining out of him. T'Challa shook his head.
"No. It is not. You disappeared for nine months. No one could find you. If you wanted to die, that would have been the proper time. But instead you continued on. You made it work as best you could," T'Challa mentioned. Clint looked away from him. He didn't want to admit that T'Challa was right. There was nine months he could have seriously given up and he didn't. Should he now, or should he keep fighting? "Do not let this one instance change your entire future. You have gone through to much for this to be your end."
"I'm tired," Clint whispered, unsure how else to respond. T'Challa sighed and moved to place a hand behind Clint's neck and pulled him forward till their heads rested against each other. Surprisingly, Clint didn't even twitch at the feeling.
"I understand. Many of us get tired once in a while. But we all must endure," T'Challa replied. Clint sighed and shook his head. There was no way they could help with this 'tired.' He just wanted it over. T'Challa frowned, backing away as if sensing that Clint still wasn't convinced. How could he help the archer? What should he do? There was one person who'd have the answer. "I believe we should speak with my mother."
"Queen Ramonda?" Bucky questioned, thrown by the sudden change in conversation. T'Challa nodded even as Clint shook his head and tried backing away himself. Ramonda had to have been too busy to deal with Clint's crap right now. He should just go back to his room and lay in bed till the world ends. "Why?"
"She may have something to help," T'Challa offered. That made the archer still. Someone else was going to mess with him? No, screw that.
"I'm fine," Clint growled, pulling hard on the king's grip. All he wanted was for everyone to just drop it all. Let him give up. Why was that so hard for everyone to do? Nine months ago they wouldn't have given a shit if Clint did this. So why now? T'Challa's face softened but determined.
"You, my friend, are not fine," T'Challa responded in return before twisting to stand beside Clint. The archer stiffed. He really didn't like the feeling of someone so close that wasn't one of his friends. Many would argue that T'Challa was a friend, but to Clint. Him and all the others were simply acquaintances. "Come, or I will drag you."
Clint snarled but moved as T'Challa led the archer deeper into the palace. No use fighting the king now. T'Challa was determined to fix this. Hell, maybe Clint could just do some quick convincing to get them all off his case and then still go through with it all. Bucky trailed along after, curious. How exactly would Queen Ramonda have something to help? What could help the way Clint was feeling? Queen Ramonda happened to be in Shuri's lab, watching over her daughter's work on fixing Clint's issue. She was curious as to what her son and daughter were doing for their new guests. Helping the archer was a good thing, but she was confused as to why this was happening to Clint.
"Mother, sister," T'Challa greeted upon his entrance. Ramonda gave T'Challa a small head bow in greeting but Shuri barely even looked to her brother. Shuri was having a hard time trying to figure out how to block the tracker in Clint's serum. Mostly, it was due to the fact that she couldn't find the trace herself.
"Not now! I am very busy," Shuri snapped. T'Challa chuckled, releasing Clint to head closer to Ramonda. Clint tried to back up but stopped when a metal hand set itself gently on his back.
"I am not here for you sister. I must speak with mother," the king replied. Shuri paused, looking up to see Clint and Bucky flanking T'Challa.
"Is something wrong?" she wondered, not liking the looks that the archer and Sergeant had on their faces. Clint huffed, crossing his arms and looking away. Bucky turned and gave the archer a small glare but T'Challa remained unaffected, looking to his mother.
"Nothing that needs concern for you, sister," T'Challa answered without looking. Shuri huffed before turning back to work. She could work and listen at the same time. Well, she could work and spy at the same time. Same thing.
"My son, what do you wish to ask?" Ramonda questioned, glancing over everyone before focusing on T'Challa. Clint winced when her gaze flicked to him but otherwise they all seemed unaffected by her looks. His wince made Ramonda carefully look the archer over. There was something wrong about him. Like he was standing on the brink of something, about to fall. Ramonda really didn't like that feeling and she knew of one way that could possibly heal it.
"My friend is having some trouble that we wish to speak to you about, privately," T'Challa called as Clint shifted on his feet. Bucky turned to look at the archer just as Shuri's attention snapped up again and she looked to her brother. A new problem? Could she do something?
"Sounds interesting. What is going on?" Shuri asked. T'Challa sighed, looking to his sister with slightly angered eyes. He had already said she needn't get involved. Ramonda chuckled at her children, drawing her eyes away from Clint.
"It is not your concern, sister," T'Challa repeated. Shuri opened her mouth to argue more but Ramonda figured it was best to get moving. No need to waste time.
"We shall discuss this elsewhere," Ramonda prodded, waving her hand to get them all to leave Shuri's lab. T'Challa nodded and headed out with Ramonda's arm wrapped around his, Clint and Bucky traveling behind with Bucky still holding his Vibranium hand into the small of Clint's back to make sure the archer actually moved. Clint nearly snarled at the Sergeant but just gave up. He had no control over what was happening anymore. They walked a good distance away before Ramonda spoke again. "I wonder, does this have to do with the one Shuri is helping?"
"Yes, mother," T'Challa replied. Clint and Bucky refused to comment. Ramonda knew that Shuri was working on a problem for one of T'Challa's friends but she hadn't asked who. In fact, if she hadn't seen Clint herself, she likely wouldn't have assumed it had anything to do with either of them. The still considered Queen nodded with a pleased hum, her head twisting to look Clint over more carefully. Clint felt a chill run down his spine as the she did so. When she seemed to have finished, she simply nodded her head and turned back. They continued walking without saying any words. For the longest time, T'Challa, Bucky and Clint didn't mind. But it was soon apparent that Ramonda wasn't going to ask questions. She instead had twisted their path to go to an area that the trio knew Clint and Bucky hadn't been allowed into. Clint went to stop, ready to fight Bucky if needed. But the archer's stillness had Bucky pause, confused.
"Come, we shall discuss more when we arrive," Ramonda called without even looking to see that Clint and Bucky had stalled. Bucky raised an eyebrow in surprise at her but still said nothing. Clint shifted forward, walking side by side with the soldier without Bucky holding a hand on his back. At this point, it was curiosity that was driving the duo on. What did Ramonda have planed? They walked for a while in silence, the area getting slightly cooler and darker. A good ways into the palace, T'Challa began to tense up. Even he hadn't been down this way before. In fact, he wasn't certain where this led to. And Shuri and he had thought they knew every bit of the palace.
"Mother?" he questioned. Ramonda smiled. She had wondered when someone was going to ask about where they were going. And of course, it had to be her son who did so first.
"Vibranium has many different aspects to itself. We forge it into our metals, but we also put it in our clothing and tattoos. It gives the flora and soil enrichment to grow and imbue some of us with special traits," Ramonda explained as if that had any meaning as to what they were supposed to be talking about. Bucky and Clint traded looks. For what used to be a very isolated country, they sure did like to give out their secrets to those they may consider friends. Especially, at this point in time, two dangerous friends. "But, when brought to the heart of the Vibranium in Wakanda, one finds peace."
"I fear I do not understand, mother. I thought we would discuss my friend's issue," T'Challa muttered, subtly nodding his head toward Clint. Ramonda said nothing but just continued to lead the group down the same passage. As they went, Bucky and Clint began to feel strange. T'Challa must have been feeling the same way as he shifted as he walked. Something was wrong. Ramonda seemed to be the only one unaffected. What was she doing? Could they seriously trust she had their best interests in heart?
"You will see that this can help," Ramonda finally replied after T'Challa gave her another glance. Frowning deeply, T'Challa nodded to Bucky and Clint that it was better if they just followed her. If he felt something was seriously wrong, he'd get them out. When they walked for another five minutes, Clint found himself seriously wanting to stop. His body was feeling awkward. Not really in a bad way or anything, just weird. And considering everything that had been happening to him lately (never mind what Wanda has said about another change hurting him), there was no way he really wanted to mess with that. Ramonda paused, looking back at the archer. She released herself from T'Challa who backed away, confused. Bucky glanced to the king before focusing on Ramonda and Clint. What was she planning on doing? "Come, here."
"Queen Ramonda?" the archer questioned, his voice sounding odd to Bucky and T'Challa. Maybe it had been a bad idea to go to her for help. Bucky frowned, moving subtly to try and block Clint from the Queen's attention. Ramonda didn't seem fazed as she simply waved her arm to get the archer to move to her side. Uncertain but not willing to get her upset, Clint moved closer. She smiled and then wrapped her arm around his arm just like she had done with T'Challa before. Then she looked to Bucky and T'Challa.
"If you feel uncomfortable, you may stay here," she informed. T'Challa frowned as Clint spun his head enough to give Bucky a begging look. He didn't want to be left alone with Ramonda. He'd had enough of that already.
"What is going on?" Bucky wondered a bit more aware that something was happening and it might not be good. There was no way he was going to leave Clint to whatever she had planned. Ramonda just smiled and began walking, seemingly dragging Clint along with her. Bucky frowned but followed after, ignoring the strangeness. Clint might need him. T'Challa hesitated a moment before following as well. What did his mother have planned? The further they went, the more Clint seemed to be sagging into Ramonda's arms.
"I promise you, this will help," Ramonda whispered to Clint as they went, patting the hand she was gripped onto. Clint's face slowly went pale and he had a hard time staying focused. This was a bad idea. But he couldn't find the energy to pull back against her. To break from her grip and walk back the way they had come. What was she doing?
"Mother, what is happening?" T'Challa inquired a little while later, his voice strained. Ramonda smiled, looking down to Clint who hardly seemed to be aware of his surroundings. It had taken longer than she had thought before her son would have been bothered. She knew that Bucky was getting pretty bad as well, but Clint... He seemed more unconscious than anything. But he was still partially awake.
"Vibranium helps instill peace in one's body. As we draw closer to the heart, those who are uncentered or changed, will be set right," Ramonda stated. Bucky and T'Challa traded looks. That didn't really seem like an answer.
"Wait, you're gonna mess with me?" Clint growled, his voice weak and hard to hear. Ramonda reached over and patted the arm she still held once again. If he could, Clint would have pulled away. It was like Ego and Mantis all over again! He was going to have no choice in whatever the hell she was planning.
"No, I am recentering you. Things will feel much better after this visit," Ramonda informed. Clint shook his head, trying to focus. She glanced back at her son and Bucky. T'Challa seemed to be powering through just fine but poor Bucky seemed to be getting affected as well. With a sad sigh, she slowed until Bucky caught up to her, then she wrapped her arm around his metal one. Bucky stiffened, glancing to her. This had been a trip for Clint. Not himself. But, he was feeling heavy and strange. Though, no matter how he felt, he couldn't leave Clint alone. "You will feel much better. I promise you."
Ramonda led the group further into where ever she deemed the 'heart of the Vibranium' was. It was maybe another two minutes or so before Ramonda was basically carrying Clint the rest of the way. But none of the others were aware enough to notice or help. It wasn't much long after that the hall opened into a large atrium that looked out over an expanse of Vibranium.
"Mother?" T'Challa croaked. Ramonda smiled and let go of Bucky who dropped to his knee, confused. He hardly had the mental capacity to look around. Had she tricked them? Could she be working for Hydra? But if so, why bring T'Challa? What would Hydra want with him?
"I promise, this will help all of you," she repeated as she dragged Clint over to what seemed to be some sort of chase. As gently as she could, she laid him down upon it. It was then that T'Challa and Bucky noticed that Clint was unconscious. But before they could comment on it, Ramonda had turned back and reached for Bucky. Groaning, Bucky got to his feet and followed her gentle prodding over to another chase. There was no way her could argue with her. He wouldn't leave Clint trapped here alone and there was no way Bucky would be able to carry the archer away. T'Challa worked to head to a third, unsure what else to do. He had to trust his mother. "You three rest. I will come by and check on you later."
"Mother?" T'Challa once again called. Ramonda smiled, moving to gently rub a hand down T'Challa's face. Then she turned and left.
"Not... Sure... I... Trust... Her," Bucky gasped out. T'Challa frowned, looking over the duo. Carefully, he leaned back in his chase. His mother knew what she was doing. He hoped. Following T'Challa's lead, Bucky did the same.
"We shall heed her and rest," T'Challa reported, hiding his own nervousness over this whole thing. Bucky grunted and after a moment, dozed off.
"You may wake," a female voice whispered through the darkness. Clint groaned, fighting his mind to actually wake up. Slowly he was able to open his eyes. Ramonda was sitting beside him, a soft smile on her face. "Are you feeling better?"
"Tired," Clint croaked out. Ramonda's smile shifted slightly as if tense now. She ran a hand over his face before sighing. Clint tried to twitch away but he couldn't. Something was still wrong with him. And he wasn't sure how he should react to that.
"You may need to rest here some more," she softly stated. Clint fought to wake up even more but Ramonda simply passed her hand over his eyes and out he went again.
"What is going on?" Bucky demanded as soon as Clint was 'put back under.' "We're fine now."
"Your friend is far more uncentered than either of you. It will take time," Ramonda replied.
"Mother, I do not understand, 'uncentered?'" T'Challa asked once again. He wasn't going to let her get away without explaining herself this time. While he did indeed feel better, Clint had not seemed all that improved.
"Every being is born with a starting point that is their center. As one grows and is forced to change, some lose that center. Your friend has lost so much of his center that he was about to lose himself," Ramonda explained. "The Vibranium heart tend to run at a frequency that resonates with one's center. The longer one spends here, the closer they return to their center."
"So, you're in essence healing him? And us?" Bucky wondered. Ramonda nodded her head.
"Your friend, Wanda I believe. She made mention to my daughter that this one was near breaking. By centering him once again, he will once again be fine," Ramonda informed.
"Thank you," Bucky whispered understand what Ramonda was saying. This centering of Clint's body was fixing all the damage the stones had done. The losses. The serum. The magic. Everything. While it may not help his mind and feelings, at least there was a better chance of Clint physically feeling normal. They could only hope that feeling normal would make the archer want to stand up and fight once again.
They ended up being there for another two hours before Clint was actually able to sit up and speak to them all. He looked about how Bucky seemed when they first arrive. At first, he wanted to get up and leave. But seeing how well T'Challa and Bucky looked, he agreed that it was okay for him to wait a little while longer. An hour after that, he looked close to how T'Challa had been. All three men figured they could go now but Ramonda was not going to finish. Clint still needed more help from the Vibranium heart. A final hour later and Ramonda deemed him ready to leave.
"I don't understand. How did this happen?" Wanda asked, checking Clint over with her own magic. Clint sat there, trying hard not to push the witchling away but his patience was wearing thin. His magic was lashing at it's mental cage in its attempt to syphon off Wanda's looking.
"Vibranium has many secrets," Ramonda replied, giving Clint a humorous look. The archer didn't understand exactly what she meant but he had discussed with her, in the chamber, about how Loki had made mention that he hadn't been alright. Loki had also made mention that Clint's magic was working hard on fixing what was wrong. But, there was only so much it could do apparently. Especially in such a 'short' amount of time. Loki had told Laura that Clint wouldn't be fully okay for the rest of his life. It wouldn't effect him in daily life, just he'd have a harder time coming back after anything like the Reality Stone or mind control or things of that nature.
"Okay, can we stop this now?" Clint wondered, pushing gently on Wanda's hands. He hadn't expected all this attention on him now. Ramonda had discussed with him different techniques to keep himself centered, techniques that his natural magic should enhance. "It's fine."
"Other than the fact that now if Hydra gets a hold of you they can fuck with you again," Rhodes pointed out with a dark mutter. The room went still. That wasn't something anyone had wanted to think about.
"His mind is stronger now. It will be harder for them to erase anything," Ramonda informed. She then looked to Bucky. "Same for you. Your mind is centered now, so they will be hard pressed to change it."
"Thank you," Bucky whispered, awed over what she was saying. He hadn't even thought of the implications of what happened with him while down there waiting on Clint to heal.
"That trip should have been done to you on your first stay here," Ramonda mentioned. "I apologize that I had not done so."
"No, thank you for doing it now. It means a lot," Bucky told her. Clint nodded his head as well. While he still was tired, it felt better feeling like this. His body seemed more alive. More willing to to what was needed, even if Clint's mind did not. He just wondered how they would all respond to him saying he was still done. All Ramonda had done was make it more difficult for Clint to get what he desired. A way to join his friends.
"I am pleased that you both are safe now," Ramonda let them know before nodding her head and walking away. She figured her job was done. What was left of Clint's issues had to be dealt with by his friends, not by magic or Vibranium.
"Wow... That's kinda cool," Scott stated. "I kinda wanna go check it out now."
"I wouldn't recommend it without help," Bucky replied. The ex-thief frowned. If going there helped someone, why would it be hard to get to? "I had an issue getting all the way there."
"As did I," T'Challa added. "Going there was very difficult. If Mother had not spurred us on, I do believe none of us would have made it that close."
"Do you think all of us should go?" Sam questioned. T'Challa and Bucky traded looks. It wouldn't hurt but seeing as Ramonda didn't do it for all of them, they should abide by her.
"I believe my mother would know who needed it," T'Challa explained. Sam nodded, a little upset that he wasn't going to be able to check it all out. He knew a lot of people that could use a visit to something like this. A lot of veterans could use the extra help.
"Alright then. So, what's the plan now?" Scott questioned, ready to change the subject. Everyone looked to him. "Well, I mean, Shuri is still trying to get that blocker thingy but if Clint can now be-"
"No. I'm not going to have someone fuck with my body again. Shuri can finish making that external blocker," Clint snapped. He had allowed Ramonda to mess with him but he couldn't willingly do it again. It was enough. He was done with all that.
"So, no more cryo?" Sam countered. Clint frowned, thinking about what he had said before Ramonda brought him to the heart of the Vibranium. His mind even reminded him of Bucky's arguments for going in cryo when he first arrive. While he may not die from it anymore, it was still a good decision to make.
"I..." Clint muttered before sighing. Something in him made him want to stop. But he plowed on. "I'd love to say no but. It will be the safest place for me to be for everyone."
"Even in cryo, your blood will give off a signal to Hydra. They'll still be able to get you and in cryo, you wouldn't be able to fight them nor run away. It'd be stupid," Hope snipped. Clint sighed. It had been something Steve had argued with Bucky. Looking over to the soldier, Clint could see the man was raising an eyebrow like 'I dare ya.' "You can't still think that's going to be a viable option?"
"Honestly? Yeah, I do," Clint retorted. Oh, he dared. "Just cause it's gonna be harder for someone to fuck with me, I'm still done. I can't do this."
"Clint," Wanda softly called. Clint shook his head. They wouldn't understand. No matter how often he told them. They just wouldn't see reason.
"No. I'm done," the archer growled before getting up and walking away. T'Challa sighed.
"I had hoped that would have helped his mental state as well," T'Challa mumbled. Wanda shook her head. This likely wasn't anything they could have done for him.
"He has been leading up to this for years."
For the first time since T'Challa found him wandering the palace halls, Clint found himself alone. He was honestly surprised at the relief he felt from it all. The past nine months he had secretly wanted someone to find him. Someone to show that they cared about him. But... Now that he actually had people watching over him, he couldn't stand it. Growling to himself, Clint headed out to the walkway. He stopped at the edge, looking out over Wakanda.
"When did my life go so god damn insane?" Clint muttered to himself, leaning on the railing in distress. No matter what his friends said, he still thought cryo was going to be the best option. Maybe the techs from Wakanda or Hydra could make a mistake and have it that he never woke again? Slowly, he looked down over the edge. His mind calculated the distance to the ground. After a moment he sighed. The distance was just short enough to still be survivable with the serum coursing through his blood. "Fuck."
"Is there a problem?" an unknown voice wondered. Clint frowned, turning around. A Wakandan was standing there, staring curiously at him. Most of the time that Clint had wandered the palace, none of the other Wakandans had spoken to him or the 'Avengers' beside him. Maybe this guy hadn't gotten the message or maybe the whatever that had stopped them was released or something.
"Not really, just thinking," Clint evaded, turning back to look out over the city. The Wakandan moved to stand beside him as if they were best friends or lovers. Clint felt his skin itch. Something about his closeness felt wrong. Felt like he should fight to get away from the man. But that made no sense.
"If you wouldn't mind me asking, about what?" the man asked. Clint shook his head, not wanting to talk any more about what has been happening to him. The man hummed. "Does it have to do with the serum in your blood?"
"What?" Clint cried, jerking up to look at the man just as a needle pierced his neck. Gasping, Clint grabbed for his neck and stumbled back a step. The Wakandan smiled lightly at the archer as whatever was in the needle began working. As Clint dropped to his knee, the man leaned closer.
"Hail, Hydra."
I am in pain! Earlier this morning I had stitches put into my back because I had a mole removed. Now, seemingly every time I twitch there is a large spark of pain. Dang meds wearing off.
Darius has been good. Can't remember if I mentioned this but he's been itchy for a while now and people had thought it might have been poison ivy or something. Finally called the doctor. Apparently it's eczema. A bad case of it. Thankfully we now have him on proper medication so it should get taken care of soon. He's been behaving better too. Typically only giving us attitude when he is tired. Course as I typed this we got into a fight of him either staying inside or being outside. He is currently outside with hubby and hubby knows not to let him in unless he comes in too. I hope.