CHAPTER 1 - On the Road Again
Returning back from the 'dead' was much stranger that Clint expected it to be. Laura was, of course, ecstatic to have her husband back. Pietro nearly blasted Clint to another state in his haste to hug the archer. Arrow was even ecstatic to have his master home. The pup barking and jumping around the archer nearly made it hard to hear anyone's greetings. Thankfully, none of the Barton kids had been told what happened. So, Nate just simply asked if Clint was done being busy. New Asgard was not fully set up but all of the 'Avengers' were no longer needed. With new laws in place to fit in on Earth, Thor quickly slid into his role as All-Father/King. Beside him stood Val, a noble warrior that many Asgardians respected.
Returning with Clint, Loki was unsure what his own role would be. Most of Asgard (or what was left) still either didn't trust or like him. The trickster had made too much history with so many that it was hard for anyone to realize he was changed, even after traveling with him for nearly a year. Steve offered to allow Loki to be an Avenger if the trickster wished. Tony was forced to once again mention that the Accords were still active, even if the others had been cleared, but Loki had already declined the offer. While it would have been nice to have a trained magic user readily available, outside of Strange (who had already ditched them for his Sanctum), Loki just couldn't do it. In the end, Loki asked to join Clint and his family in 'retirement.' And before Clint could even attempt to agree, Laura claimed he was welcome to come.
Wanda, Steve, Bucky and Natasha all were given a free pass to return to Wakanda in which Tony would keep the JSC off their backs. Everyone knew that they'd go back into basically being vigilantes but Tony refused to stop them. So, that's how Loki found himself traveling with the Barton family and Pietro in their RV.
"You know you'll never actually retire," Laura joked as the family said their goodbyes and headed off to find a new home. Pietro snickered at Laura's statement. It was true. Clint hadn't settled well before and it only took two seconds for the archer to join Steve's side in the Accords deal. None of the kids or Laura could even attempt to speak to him about it. He just said he'd be there. "Second Steve calls again, you'll be off."
"Last time I didn't die," Clint softly retorted after checking to make sure the younger kids weren't in hearing range. Lila (12) had gone into the back to take a nap (beauty rest) with Arrow while Cooper (15) and Nate (2) seemed to be watching TV (a TV that always had signal thanks to Shuri). Laura winced at the archer's statement. Loki and Clint had only returned less than a week before. It was still painful for those left behind to think about it. But Clint couldn't help focusing on it. What would have happened if he had died?
"Technically, you didn't die. Just your soul was removed from your body," Loki pointed out. Clint gave the Lie-smith a quick glare before focusing back on the road. Totally not the point that Clint was trying to make.
"Either way. I'll tell him no," Clint stated as if he could hold up this argument. Pietro snorted at the archer.
"And get Rogers 'I'm disappointed in you' stare? Yeah, right. You'll be running to get to him," Pietro replied. Clint sighed deeply. There was no good way around this. No matter what choice he made, if Steve ever called Clint would be disappointing someone. Might as well have it be Steve though. He needed to think of his family and after these Accords deal that made them lose their home, no. There was no way he could go back.
"Loki could always go in my place," Clint tried, a pleading glance at the trickster's way. Loki let out a huff of disbelief but Clint could hear the edge of wonder. Maybe Loki would.
"I have no loyalty to the Captain or to Midgard," the Lie-smith mentioned. Clint gave him a sidelong look. After the time Clint had spent in Loki's memory, the archer couldn't actually believe him. Loki rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. Strangely enough, Loki actually didn't mind that Clint had so close of an insight into him. It actually made him feel almost 'loved.' "I said no already."
"And if Steve mentions Thor will be fighting?" Clint wondered, trying hard to not give Loki a disbelieving face as he needed to pay attention to the road. Loki's hands dug into his arms, betraying his true feelings on this matter. Laura smirked, knowing where Clint was going with this. Loki likely would give in just as easily as Clint would.
"If the oaf wants to, I can't control him," Loki gritted out, turning to look out his side window. Clint snorted. He could hear Loki's uncomfortable tone. The trickster didn't like the idea of being able to help Thor but chose not to.
"If Uncle Steve calls, Dad can go," Cooper announced, moving up to the front of the RV to join the conversation. In his hands was a bag of popcorn. Apparently he had been making a snack when he heard what they were discussing.
"What?" Laura asked looking over to her eldest middle child. Cooper shrugged. As the typical 'man of the house' whenever Clint left on missions, Cooper had grown into a strong young man.
"If Uncle Steve really needs help from Dad, he should go. They wouldn't allow anything to happen to him," Cooper pointed out. Everyone winced as they thought of Hela removing Clint's soul. No Avenger could have stopped that from happening. Loki followed it by letting out a soft chuckle.
"If Captain America is calling on your father for help, he must be desperate," Loki stated, his voice light and partially sarcastic sounding. Clint glanced at him, his eyes slightly narrowed. If Loki was childish, he would have respond to Clint by sticking out his tongue.
"Seriously, man?"
"Does that mean you were in New Mexico?" Laura snipped, her own voice daring Loki to continue bashing her husband. Both Clint and Loki stiffened. While neither of them mentioned anything to the other Avengers about the full truth, they also weren't entirely sure if it was good to state now. It was something that likely should have been shared with the others. Thanos was coming. Honestly, it didn't matter if Loki said as much. They couldn't stop him. Laura looked between the two. "Did I miss something?"
"Uh..." Clint started, glancing at Loki once again. This was mostly the trickster's story to tell, not Clint's. Loki frowned. He hadn't admitted anything to Thor or Odin about this but... After speaking with Frigga in his memories, maybe it was a good idea to mention it to someone.
"Clint was the best choice that day. He's smarter and stronger than most people realize," Loki admitted. Laura's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected Loki to complement Clint. The archer gripped the steering wheel a bit tighter. That was not what he thought Loki would mention. "It was thanks to him that I was able to lose."
"You wanted to lose?" Laura wondered. Loki nodded, shifting in his seat a bit so he could look at Laura.
"I was also influenced by the Mind Stone, or Scepter as you people call it. While I could not actively fight the control, by taking Clint and letting him do as he wanted, the whole attack failed," Loki mentioned. And that's what Clint wanted Loki to admit. But still, the last part was unexpected.
"Clint made the plan to steal back the Reality Stone. Even with a lot of people not believing him, he was able to infiltrate Hydra, fix Bucky's programming, and when the plan began to come undone, he was able to salvage it," Pietro added. Laura smiled, draping herself over Clint's seat to give him a quick hug. Clint smirked but said nothing. He couldn't believe some many people wanted to constantly compliment him over something. It felt good, but wrong.
"Fury and Phil always said he didn't give himself much credit. When Clint first joined S.H.I.E.L.D, he went through handlers like the kids go through chocolate," Laura laughed. Cooper chuckled, knowing how much chocolate they all went through. Pietro barked out a laugh. Loki couldn't stop himself from smirking as well, glancing at Clint. The archer had a face that made Loki freeze. It was a face he knew rather well. One that he himself sported a good deal of time in his youth. Something was not only upsetting Clint but he also didn't seem comfortable with the praise.
"Coulson was my last shot," Clint told the group, shifting his grip on the steering wheel. Everyone stilled. Clint had never mentioned this to anyone, except Natasha. Only Fury, Coulson, Natasha, Hill and ex-Director Peggy Carter knew how close Clint gotten to being removed from S.H.I.E.L.D. "If he rejected me, I would have gone to jail."
"What for, Dad?" Cooper asked. Clint sighed. He really didn't want to get into this. But Cooper was old enough to understand and Laura was looking curiously at him. Even Loki had his eyes glued on the archer.
"Murder," he whispered. The whole RV fell silent at that admission. "I... I wasn't always on the side of good. Started out when I was sixteen. Was still in the circus."
"You lived in a circus?" Pietro called. Clint nodded, making the speedster snort lightly in surprise. Laura tightened her hands on Clint's shoulders. Loki even set his lips into a firm line. He hadn't gone all that deep into Clint's memories. Mostly he had just stayed within the memories of S.H.I.E.L.D.
"It's how I got my name. They called me 'The Amazing Hawkeye, World's Greatest Marksmen.' What I didn't know then was that the circus was a cover for a ring of thieves. Barney, he got involved with them pretty quick. Being an ignorant little brother, I trusted him. Buck, my mentor, and Jacques, the Swordsman, they supposedly forced Barney..." Clint explained, cutting off at the end.
"That's when your brother nearly killed you?" Laura mumbled, remembering the day that Clint explained many of the scars that where plastered to his body. Clint nodded his head. Loki's mouth opened slightly in surprise. He hadn't realized just how much they were similar.
"They all packed up and left me for dead. Still don't know who saved me or what exactly happened. Just woke up in a hospital handcuffed to the bed," Clint continued.
"That's when Uncle Phil got you?" Cooper asked. Clint shook his head.
"No. Thank god for being a curious kid. The escape artist at the circus had taught me how to get out of handcuffs. Once free, I ran. For a long time I lived on the streets, using my archery skills to try and earn enough money to at least get one meal a day. Most times I was lucky enough to eat once a week. Then, during one of my 'shows,' some mobster or something came to me. They offered me food, shelter and money if I went with them. I thought it might have been another circus or something. Boy was I wrong," Clint chuckled darkly. He shook his head. "They waited till I was strong enough before they demanded 'payment' back for working for them. Their version of payment was me carrying out hits for them."
"Oh," Laura gasped, her hands flying to cover her mouth in surprise. Pietro shifted his weight, really not liking where this was going. Cooper paled. His father was his idol. How could he have been this mean?
"Like the circus, they didn't take too kindly for me refusing them. I got tortured real bad. Nearly died a few times as well and watched as others were killed for my refusal. Eventually I couldn't help but actually do it. After that, my life went into a downward spiral. By the time I escaped my... I guess captors. I was in too deep. I had made too big a name for myself in the assassination business and had made a lot of enemies. Had to continue to accept jobs just so I had enough money to stay on the move. But, this time I made sure all the jobs I accepted had a criminal record or criminal activity. That's what got me on S.H.I.E.L.D's radar. I kept them running after me for nearly six months before I couldn't run from them anymore. I got caught. But instead of killing me, or locking me away, Fury offered me a job. I'd get protection, a stable home spot, and whatever else I needed. Course, my other choice was to rot in so deep a pit that no one would even notice I was gone."
"So you joined S.H.I.E.L.D," Loki finished, understanding dawning on him. Apparently the trickster wasn't alone in 'crappy' upbringing. Clint nodded.
"Jail isn't really a safe place for a nineteen year old. S.H.I.E.L.D offered me a good deal," Clint added.
"And now, look where you ended up," Laura praised, skipping over the fact that S.H.I.E.L.D had been revealed as Hydra. Yet again, she reached over the chair to give the archer the best hug she could give. Clint shrugged. A lot of shit happened in his life. But that shit turned him into the man they all saw today. And if Clint was being honest with himself, he wouldn't change a thing.
"Are we gonna go back home?" Cooper wondered, desperate to change the subject after such a morbid topic. Laura gripped Clint tighter and the archer's face blanked out. Pietro let out a soft groan, not liking where this was gonna go. Loki couldn't help but frown at them.
"Too many people know about it, kiddo," Clint mentioned, his eyes flicking up to the mirror in order to see Cooper's face. The boy shrugged, not really understanding that S.H.I.E.L.D hadn't protected Clint from making enemies, or keeping old ones off his trails. Now that all the files were out there, Clint was in even more danger of retaliation from someone.
"So," Cooper replied. "That place was a fortress. Uncle Tony even added in more security to keep us safe."
"The town already knows who we are," Laura softly mentioned, not really able to disagree with Cooper. Going back home would be completely amazing. Clint frowned, wishing he could turn and see Laura's face. She had never mentioned this before. Then again, if she had, Clint would have made them all move long before this mess. "We wouldn't have to start from the beginning again."
"And the first group who comes after us for revenge? It's not safe," Clint mumbled, his resolved cracking. If the town already knew about him and he hadn't been bothered by them, maybe it could work. The town had actually realized who Clint was after the first Avenger's press conference only days after the Battle of Manhattan. Amazingly enough, no one reacted to it outside of asking Laura to say 'thanks' to the archer. At the next town meeting, the mayor asked that no one talk about Clint living in their town and to leave him be.
"Clint, people will find us sooner or later. The world knows you have a family. We'll just add more security. I'm sure Tony would help, even with what happened," Laura told the archer. Clint gritted his teeth. They were all valid points.
"And, you won't be alone. Me an' Loki are there now," Pietro pointed out. Clint sighed, his eyes flicking quickly to see Loki blankly looking out the windshield.
"Loki?" Clint softly asked, wondering if the trickster would even be willing to help protect his family. He knew Pietro would and if he called, any of the Avengers would be willing to as well. Loki stiffened. "You okay with this?"
"If you are so worried about it all, I can do some protections spells on the grounds and your family," Loki whispered, his voice sounding much more caring that the Lie-smith intended it to be. This time, Loki's eyes flickered to Clint in time to see the archer's surprised face. Loki shrugged. "I did the same thing for the Warrior's Three and Sif every time we adventured."
"But not Thor?" Laura wondered. Loki shrugged again.
"Mother's magic was greater than my own, he was safe," Loki admitted, turning back to look out the windshield again. Clint smirked.
"I'm guessing none of them knew?" the archer chuckled, remembering how much the group had heckled Loki. The trickster snorted.
"Norns, no," Loki huffed in amusement. "Not my fault they couldn't sense it."
"Is it true that you are a mommy to a horse?" Nate's youngish voice carried as the boy came up front. Loki paused, turning to the kid. Clint couldn't help but suck on his lips to not laugh hysterically at Loki's face. Pietro let out a snort and Laura again covered her mouth to hide her smile.
"Uncle Steve was teaching us some Norse mythology," Cooper explained, his own attention focused on Loki. Clint snorted, unable to hold it in any longer. Loki sent the archer a quick glare before focusing on the children. He wasn't going to just leave it as this. While Loki was proud of his children and loved to speak of them, it seemed only right that he should give something truthful of Thor. But the trickster paused for half a moment. What had happened to Sleipnir? Had his child still been left in his stall? Had Hela gotten to him before?
"As true as Thor dressing as a bride," Loki answered, throwing off the questions about his son. This got Clint to give in, cracking up. Loki smirked trying hard to think of anything other than his son. He'd have to send a message to Heimdall asking about him later. For now, any chance Loki had at making fun of his brother was one that he'd always exploit.
"He mentioned that a few years back. We thought he was joking," Clint cackled.
"Nay. Mjolnir was trapped deep in Jotunheim. The giant, Thrym, demanded Freya, a goddess from Vanaheim, to marry him. Heimdall and I suggested that Thor act as the bride to get close to Mjolnir. We got Thrym drunk enough to not notice that Thor wasn't Freya. When the ceremony started, Thor got Mjolnir back and..." Loki explained, pausing at the end with a glance at Nate. He really didn't want to have to explained the rest of the story. Especially since the kids seem to love Thor.
"Slaughtered them all!" Nate happily finished before pausing at looking everyone over. "What does 'slaughtered' mean?."
"He actually gave them a very harsh speech and threatened to have Odin bring war upon them," Loki lied, figuring he could just explain the myth was different from the truth. As the trickster turned back around, he noticed Laura mouthing a 'thank you' to him. It felt good. Something Loki hadn't been fishing for when avoiding the truth of what happened.
"Like Uncle Steve does to Uncle Tony?" Cooper jokingly asked, keeping up with Loki's lie to protect his younger brother. Clint snorted as Loki smiled. Pietro laughed.
"Yes, just like that. Now, it's getting close to lunch. Why don't we go decide what we want and maybe decide on a movie to watch tonight," Laura suggested, pushing Cooper and Nate toward the back of the RV. As they left, Pietro slipped to stand between Clint and Loki.
"Gonna be nice to head back to the farm," Pietro sighed. Loki glanced at Clint. He hadn't know that the home was a farm.
"Well, not when you realize we're actually gonna have to make it a working farm. Laura lost her job and... Doubt I'll get money from the Avengers now that I'm retired," Clint pointed out. Pietro groaned loudly. Clint chuckled. "We'll discuss it more when we get there."
Yay! I made the edits on time! Okay, as there are edits that follow the series from before, you may not understand some references. I'll look into maybe reposting the edits here but for now, Archive of Our Own already has After Loki on it and soon will get Clint is What.
Darius is doing good. Currently making a food mess in the house... But, good. We had an adventurous weekend. Sunday we saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra which was an amazing show! We sat front row so the band members could really see us and tended to wave to Darius when they had a second to do so. Monday night we went to Monday Night Raw. We sat third row TV side. If you watch Raw then look for the woman in purple and blue hair with glasses. That's me. Darius is the child in the purple Firefly Funhouse shirt. Had a troublesome week just because of lack of sleep for all of us, but we seem to be catching up pretty good now. Baby Jason is doing good. Yesterday, everyone had him laughing by playing various games. This morning, he threw up on his parents after being put in the car. Hopefully he isn't ill.
And that's it. See you next Friday (or Saturday) with the next chapter.