Chapter 11: Sunday pt3

Thor was such an awesome friend. He didn't care that Steve was a guy who started crying because of a girl. Steve wore his heart on his sleeve, and so did Thor. The big guy hugged him, and Steve almost broke down. Sam and Bucky weren't there, and no way was he bearing his soul like that to Tony. After their tender moment in the kitchen, Steve felt so much better. He was still shaken up over Sharon dumping him, but he felt better. He and Thor finished off the pizza bagels together. They hung out in his room for an hour or two, not doing much other than watching videos on the internet and making small talk. Some time later, Steve suddenly felt a little selfconscious about himself. It was way past the morning, and Steve was still in his frumpy pajamas from last night. Thor hung out on his bed while Steve went to take a long shower. He washed himself good, left alone with his thoughts.

Steve wasn't mad at Sharon. He couldn't be mad at her. She was gentle when she gave him her reasons, and Steve understood. The way she left him when he wanted to care for Tony just showed how different they were anyway. Now that Steve thought about it, she really was just along for the ride during their relationship. Steve used to be a scrawny, sickly boy before his blessing of puberty kicked in. Sharon only showed interest in him after his muscle packed on. Steve was just so happy to get some female attention that it didn't even matter to him. She was the captain of the dance squad and super hot, so why not? This epiphany helped immensely, and Steve felt a big weight leave his chest. He stepped out of the shower a long while later, feeling clean both physically and emotionally. Now with a new surge of energy, Steve felt the need to get out of the house and do something. He got himself dressed in a blue t-shirt and jeans, a white zip-up hoodie and a red baseball cap. He came back to his room to find Thor reading some of Steve's old Superman comics. Thor, noticing his lighter mood, smiled at him.

"Are you feeling better, friend Steve?" he asked.

Steve smiled and sighed while he put on his socks.

"A lot, Thor. You uh, you wanna go out and do something?"

Thor set the comic down and jumped up from the bed.

"But of course! It pleases me to see you in good spirits once more!"

Steve grabbed a pair of blue tennis shoes.

"I'm still not completely over it, but I'm good enough. What do you feel like doing right now?"

Thor scratched at his stubble, thinking hard for a moment. Then he smiled hopefully at Steve.

"Three Kicks To The Head Part Four just came out. Can we go to the theater, my friend?"

Steve's smile spread. Of course. How could he have forgotten about the new entry in one of his favorite film series?

"Yeah. Come on. You drive."

Thor was practically running out of the house when he grabbed his coat. Steve said goodbye to his mom and the two of them hopped in Thor's car.

They made it to the theater at a good time. There were a lot of people in line to see the movie, but since it was the afternoon and a Sunday things weren't too hectic. Thor offered to pay for the snacks while Steve bought the tickets. Thor's appetite never failed to make Steve laugh. Not too long ago, the two of them just ate two whole trays of pizza bagels. Steve was perfectly fine with a small bag of plain popcorn and a medium drink, but not Thor. The Asgardian ordered himself a large bucket of popcorn with extra butter, two boxes of chocolate covered peanuts, a jumbo drink, and a small pocket pie.

"Jeez. You sure you don't want more, Thor?" Steve joked as they stepped away from the counter.

Thor looked down at his bundle of snacks and back at Steve.

"You think this will not suffice?" he asked.

Steve was waiting for him to laugh, but Thor wasn't smiling. Steve covered his mouth, trying to stop himself from laughing.

"Oh my god, you're serious."

Steve chuckled all the way to the room where the movie was playing. Thor's face was just priceless.

Four hours later, they both left the theater happy. The movie was just as over the top and dumb as the other Three Kicks To The Head films, but that's what they loved about them. Just for the hell of it, they snuck into another movie to pass the time. Some animated feature about a talking cat who ran away from home. Steve wasn't impressed but Thor found it cute. It was early evening by the time they went outside, and Steve was much more at ease. Thor ate all of his food within the first half hour of TKH4, and of course he was hungry again by the time they made their exit. On their way to the car, Steve heard Thor's stomach and shook his head.

"You can't be serious." said Steve.

"It was a long movie and I did not eat much. Perhaps we could go somewhere for food?" asked Thor.

Steve rolled his eyes when Thor said he didn't eat much, but he quickly remembered Thor's Asgardian background. They were 'feasts and ale' type people, so Steve decided to humor him.

"I'm not super starving but I could eat. What do you say we have a fat night?"

Thor arched an eyebrow as they got in the car.

"What is a 'fat night'?" he asked.

"We go to the store and just buy a big load of junk food. Like, cavities and heart attack type stuff. We go back to my house and just pig out while watching TV. Sound good?"

Steve's fat nights were a rare occurrence. He was all about eating hearty and healthy, and he hardly ever indulged in eating junk foods. His fat nights only happened once or twice a year, but he figured today was as good a time as any. What with his recent break-up and Tony's drama. Thor beamed at him, obviously thrilled with the idea.

"A most excellent plan, Steve! Let us go!"

Thor tested the speed limit, driving quickly to a corner store near Steve's house. With it being Sunday evening, there weren't too many people in the corner store. It was kind of a small place, but Steve liked the snacks they had here. Much cheaper than the ones at the supermarket. The minute the two of them walked in the doors, Thor took off to find an aisle that had Poptarts. Steve laughed quietly at him while grabbing a shopping basket. Being friends with Thor was quite an experience. Tony, too. Steve went to the refrigerated section, scanning the drinks. He put a few red and blue Gatorades in his basket. Then Steve looked to his left and saw a familiar figure eyeing the soda selections. He was wearing a purple wife-beater and baggy gray sweats.

"Clint?" Steve asked, cautious in case it wasn't him.

Clint's eyes turned and looked at Steve. Steve frowned. Clint's eyes were partially red in the corners and his hair looked ruffled. Clint smiled widely at Steve, and it was almost disturbing to see.

"Steve? Heyyyyy, you." he said excitedly.

Steve sighed, irritated. Clint wasn't talking like his normal self and his eyes were red. He'd hung out with Tony enough to know he was either high or drunk. Steve approached him slowly.

"Clint, are you okay?" he asked.

Clint giggled, grabbing a bag of chips off the shelf behind him.

"I...I am fucking great, Steve." he replied.

Steve looked around. His partner wasn't there.

"Clint, where's Natasha?" asked Steve.

Clint licked his lips and looked down at the floor.

"You know we're not always with each other, right? She does go home, ya know. She had some farmily business to attend to and-"

"Don't you mean 'family'?"

"Don't you ever fuckin' interrupt me again, do you understand?" Clint ordered with a glare.

Steve jumped. He didn't mean to do that. He nodded and nervously put his arms up in surrender. He knew people on mind-altering substances were unpredictable. Clint's glare turned back into a goofy smile.

"Oh relax, Captain, I'm just fuckin' with ya. Anyway, she had to go home and I was bored as shit. I may have snuck into my brother's liquor cabinet and had over half a bottle of...shit what the fuck did I drink?"

Clint then seemed to stare at nothing, his mouth hanging open. Steve snapped his fingers in Clint's face, bringing him out of that.

"Clint are you here by yourself?"

Clint nodded with his eyes closed. He slapped Steve's shoulder.

"Eh, Steve,...I miss Tony."

Steve raised an eyebrow. He thought Clint hated Tony for whatever happened yesterday, but apparently that wasn't the case. Steve shook his head. It was a shame some people had to not be sober to drop their inhibitions.

"You do?"

Clint sloppily spun around and began walking the other way down the aisle. Steve followed him, putting his hand on Clint's shoulder from behind.

"Clint, you do?" Steve repeated.

Clint paused and nodded.

"Yes I fuckin' do. He's so much fun, ya know?"

Steve walked around Clint and faced him. His eyes were closed but he was still smiling.

"He's fun. He's funny. He's just...fuck, Steve, I'm sauced up. Don't tell him I said that, okay?" he said with a thick laugh.

Thor showed up behind Steve. His own basket was full of bags and boxes of assorted chips and candies. He paused when he saw Clint.

"Are you alright?" he asked when he saw Clint's state.

"Thorrrrr! Jesus Christ, why are you so big, man?" asked Clint when he opened his eyes.

Thor frowned.

"Are you intoxicated?" he asked.

"Hell to the yeah."

Clint turned around, walking a different way. Amazingly, for a teenager who just drank over half a bottle of the sauce, he wasn't stumbling. Steve and Thor ran in front of him, blocking his way.

"Hey it's you two again! You know what? I had a great fucking time during the party. Shit, why are you two so damn big?"

"Clint, this behavior is unacceptable." Thor said sternly.

Clint giggled again, running a hand through his messy hair.

"Awww, you care about me? That's sweet. No seriously, you guys are just so sweet. I like you. You two, Bruce, Sharon, Sam, Rhodey, Pepper. I like you all. Especially Tony. I miss him. Don't tell Tony but I miss him. I... I wanna see him again."

Clint bit his lip.

"Mmmmm. He's a good kisser."

Steve and Thor looked at each other. Steve lowered his head and slowly shook it. Just like Tony yesterday. He may not have said it, but Steve could tell Tony was sad that Clint left. Even if he did hit him. Steve wasn't sure what to do, but he knew he couldn't leave Clint alone right now. Not drunk like this in public. Thor looked back at Clint and nodded.

"I had a feeling. Why must you be drunk to admit this?" he asked.

Clint lifted his hands and shrugged.

"I'm fucked up. In more ways than one. Hey, you guys wanna go start a fight?"

Steve tightly grabbed Clint's arm. That was enough. He remembered his story about the time he was cartwheeling and nearly got hit by a car. While it was a funny to hear, Steve wasn't looking to experience another Drunk Clint story first-hand.

"No, Clint. We're taking you home."

Clint wiggled his eyebrows, letting Steve take him outside while Thor purchased the food. Including the handful of snacks Clint had grabbed.

"Oooooh, what're we gonna do, Captain? Seriously, what's with all the red, white and blue you wear?"

Steve rolled his eyes. It wasn't the first time he heard that question. He leaned Clint against the trunk of Thor's car while he opened the door to the backseat.

"Steve, you're like, so nice. And hot."

Steve's eyes bulged and he paused for a second. Well, this is news to me.

"Yeah you heard me. Both you and Thor are just...sexy as fuck!"

Clint put his hand on his chest, slowly sliding it down to his crotch. He grabbed himself through his sweatpants and bit down on his lip again.

"Tony is hotter, though. He almost made me cream myself yesterday, ya know. Mmmmm. I miss him."

Steve said nothing as he helped Clint in the car and strapped him in. He had absolutely no response to that. It was way more than he wanted to know. Plus seeing Clint like this was unnerving. This wasn't the typical Clint Barton, and he felt bad knowing how Clint would feel about himself in the morning. Thor exited the corner store a minute later, carrying four full bags of snacks. He set them in the back next to Clint before getting in the driver's seat.

"How is he?" Thor asked as they pulled out of the parking lot.

Steve put his hand on his head.

"Chatty." he said simply.

"Where do you reside, Clint?" asked Thor.

Clint lolled his head back against the seat and swirled his finger in the air.

"Literally like, around the corner from here. One-story gray house with a big green door. You can't miss it"

Thor nodded, heading down the street.

Steve turned and looked at Clint, who was chuckling softly with his hands on his thighs.

"Hey, can I tell you guys something? I feel like I can talk to you, ya know?" he asked.

Steve was taken aback once more. Unless he was with Natasha, Clint just seemed so closed off from everyone. He had no idea Clint found him attractive and apparently a potential confidant. He felt a stab of guilt knowing it was wrong to ask him while he was drunk, but Steve was damn sure Clint wouldn't talk to him like this sober.

"Okay. What is it?" he asked, giving his best reassuring smile.

Clint smiled back.

"I won't tell you how Natasha and I met or what we are to each other, but I will confess how I know how to work the pole like that. Why I'm so bendable and shit."

Steve and Thor arched their eyebrows. Would this boy ever quit surprising them?

"Carry on." said Thor.

Clint licked his lower lip and put his hands behind his head.

"You tend to learn a few things when you grow up in the fuckin' circus."

Steve was speechless. Circus? Circus?! Whoa. Just, whoa.

"How exciting!" Thor yelled, and Clint flinched, grabbing his temples.

"Jeeeeeesus! Why are you always so goddamn loud?!" Clint shouted.

Steve saw Thor clamp his mouth shut and look down somewhat.

"I apologize. 'Tis something I cannot control at times."

Clint grinned and slapped at the air.

"Oh, it's alright you beefy fucker. Just remember I'm loosey goosey as shit right now. Anyways, yes. I grew up with circus parents. I learned all types of acrobatic shit from the time I was able to walk. My father even showed us how to shoot a bow like him."

Clint scratched behind his ear and laughed.

"His stage name was Trickshot."

"Do uh, do they still perform?" asked Thor.

Clint's eyes closed and he laughed a dark laugh.

"Nope. They're kinda not around anymore but like, that's a different,..." Clint gulped, "That's a different thing, know what I mean? And you know, right now I'm not tryin' to get dark and shit. So yeah, I fuckin' live with Barney."

"Who is Barney?" asked Steve.

That name wasn't familiar to him at all. He also wanted to ask Clint to tone down his language, but that would've been a waste of breath.

Clint scoffed, and Steve cringed at the smell of alcohol in his breath.

"My shithead of an older brother. There he is right now."

Steve turned back around in his seat. They were pulling upon the house Clint described. Standing in the doorway was a man who looked a lot like Clint but in his late twenties or early thirties. He was wearing a dusty brown jacket and camo pants. Steve took a deep breath. Barney didn't look happy.

"Hey Thor, you mind keeping the car running while I help him out?" Steve asked.

Thor nodded.

"Aye, my friend. Farewell, Clint."

"Your hair smells like ham."

Steve struggled not to laugh as he got out the car. He opened the back door, slung Clint's arm around his shoulder and pulled him out of the backseat. He saw Thor frowning and sniffing his hair as he walked with Clint up his driveway. Barney was there at the door, his eyes glaring fiercely at Clint.

"He's drunk again, isn't he?" he asked.

Steve nodded. Apparently this wasn't the first time Clint came home like this.

"Who are you by the way? This is the first time I've ever seen Clint with someone other than Natasha."

Steve smiled as best he could and stuck out his free hand.

"Steve. I'm uh, a new friend of Clint's."

Barney looked skeptically at Steve, and he brought his hand back down.

"Take it easy, Barney. He's just helping me home. By the way, you might wanna get a better lock for that special cabinet of yours." said Clint with a lopsided grin.

Barney curled his lips back, practically snarling at his brother.

"I uh, I should get going now." said Steve.

He let go of Clint and backed away slowly. Barney said nothing. He only grabbed Clint roughly by the back of his shirt and pushed him inside the house. Then Barney looked at Steve with a blank face before slamming the door. Steve quickly walked back to Thor's car, getting in with a worried expression.

"I take it his brother was none too pleased?" asked Thor as they drove away.

Steve shook his head no. He saw Clint in a whole different light now, and it was so confusing to him. He only hoped he would be alright.

"Lets uh, lets just get back to my house."

A/N: How do you feel about the characters? What do you think is next?