Disclaimer: Still don't belong to me.

Notes: (i) Don't read the notes if you don't want to. (ii) If it were not obvious already, this will be Clintasha, though I hesitate to classify this as romance as I see their relationship as more of a unhealthy reliance between two equally fucked up people who are otherwise incapable of a normal relationship. (iii) I've decided to label POV in this chapter because it does change multiple times and it'd probably be confusing otherwise, especially because I'm not as good as establishing voice as I'd like to be. However, I'd appreciate feedback on formatting and style if you have any. (iv) On that note, Clint is hearing impaired in this fic, as he was for sometime in comic verse, italics (except when used for emphasis) indicate ASL. Dialogue in ASL will be written in standard English grammar structure for general flow and ease of comprehension.

More important notes: (i) I will try to update in a timely manner but I just started law school and the purpose of this is to de-stress! I will try to work faster given feedback and input but generally, expect updates around once a week from now on. (ii) This chapter focuses upon the rest of the team because I want to lay out some ground work and establish a 'voice' for everyone. This being in the Avengers section after all. Next chapter will be entirely Clint's POV with backstory on the character and his relationship with Natasha.


Chapter Two aka On Some Level, We're All Fucked Up (Judgmental Pricks)

Tony POV

"Am I the only one who finds this deeply disturbing? No, right? Pepper?"

"I believe she was indeed doing as she said, Man of Iron. I can see that there are many small pieces of glass here. I seems that the Hawk actually injured himself falling through a window. She means him no harm. We need not be alarmed for his safety." Thor had moved towards the bed which appeared to have been covered with some garbage bags and a vast number of bloodied tissues. There was also, in fact, a small mountain of tiny glass shards, a pair of tweezers, and a tube of crazy glue.

"You've got to be kidding me," he said picking up the tube of glue. "I knew she was bonkers with this crazy spy stuff, but he too? Do they not know about modern medicine? Is this even safe?" If this last week has shown Tony anything, it was the fact that were actually people a hell of a lot more messed up than he. Between Afghanistan and then Vanko, Tony couldn't help but question the effect that he had on those closest to him. Obadiah had worked with his father for years, practically watched him grow up, and the man had no hesitation in wanting to kill him. Come to think of it, he really only had three real friends, Pepper, Happy, and Rhodey, granted, he and Pepper where now a whole lot more than friends, but of the three, two were ever even close to him because they worked for him. This so called Avengers bunch that he just got cobbled into however, made him realize that Pepper could have down a whole lot worse...

"Well, actually, glue is a very effective alternative to suturing. It generally reduces scarring, though I'm not sure about those tweezers, or you know, having her digging that out over the last two hours without any anesthesia." Bruce actually looked a bit green as he finished his words, and that had nothing to do with the other guy.

Just look at them! Yes he, Tony Stark, may be slightly anti-social at times and not all that well versed in the niceties of everyday interactions, but here was a man who has avoided society like the plague. Albeit with good reason. Imagine taking out city blocks just for getting doubled parked or wreaking the house after having too good a time. Does that happen? Or look at the Capsicle. If he didn't know any better you'd think the guy woke up thinking they were still fighting revolutionary war, not WWII. Tony felt uncomfortable just looking at him, not just over the change in technology but of life in general. Even in his own time, the guy had to be a prude, and all those notions of morality and bravery and blah blah blah. Didn't Wilfred Owen already throw those out the window at WWI already? Not to mention Blondie. Half the time no one even understands alien thunder god hammersmith and half the time he doesn't understand anyone else. Not to mention those two. The term fubar had to originate somewhere. How bad is it, that one of the greatest perks of being a part of this team so far is how much better his teammates made him feel about himself?

"Agent Barton didn't seem overly concerned when I walked in. I thought they were, you know, before I saw this. Then he just yawned and said he needed a shower. Should we clean this up?" Pepper, always the practical one.

"Yeah well, not it. I mean, are we even sure he doesn't have a disease or something? This can be infectious material." But truth be told, the sight simply left Tony queasy. "Or you, Super soldier or the demigod can do it. You'd be immune, right?"

The Cap hadn't really moved from the door way or said anything, but Thor asked, "And how shall I dispose of this? Is all this material refuse?" Was Asgard actually a renaissance fair in merry old England? How can anyone even say that word with a straight face?

"Yeah, let's just wrap it all up and throw it in the incinerator. I think I'm going to be sick. I think the Cap is already sick."


Bruce POV

"Steve, you okay?" Steve was never one of many words, but there was always something assertive even in his calm manner. Here was a guy whose physical presence would always be felt and seeing him slumped in the doorway meant something was off.

"I was just thinking, Agent Coulson was killed today, the man had really respected me, but I was cold and dismissive. There has been so much death and destruction. I've been so critical of this generation, of all their selfishness and cowardice, but what I didn't see was myself. There is camaraderie here, and bravery, and I've been too self-righteous to see any of it, I..." Not an entirely inaccurate observation but definitely not the called for response. Steve could be nagging and self-righteous but of all of them he had a good heart, that much Bruce could tell. His condition forces him to shy away from confrontation and keep his emotions in check but everyone, Bruce and Steve had the most in common. They were still capable of admitting they cared.

"Hey Cap, and I thought I was the sappy philosophical one. Don't be so hard on yourself. It's been a crazy week and this is your first real assignment back. It's a different time, we're a lot of these things you say, so don't idealize it and blame yourself, we're a team now right? Things are going to be okay. However you messed up. However we all messed up. It doesn't have to stay that way."

"Thanks, Dr. Banner."

"Call me Bruce, and don't mention it." It felt funny to be the one giving reassurance to anybody, especially when his presence was a constant threat to anybody he cared about. But Bruce knew how the Steve must feel, to wake up and suddenly feel so out of place.


Steve POV

"Well Bruce, I don't mean to be presumptuous but thanks, and um, I think, of this group here, you'd be the one to understand you know? I mean, how long have we all even known each other? And I mean no disrespect. We're a team now and everyone here... I can't find the words." Why can't he find the words? Because he does respect everyone here and together they've just saved the world but still something is just off. Because Tony Stark for all his self sacrificing antics was still a jerk. Because Thor with all his moralizing and manners and proper language was still an alien demigod. Because it's obvious that Clint and Natasha's day jobs were to be assassins and even if they were on the good side, he's not sure he can wrap his head around that. Because there was something inherently wrong with somebody who could walk around like a god damned porcupine with glass sticking out their back like it was no big deal and something just as wrong with someone who'd calmly pick it all out like a game of operation.

And that's what's wrong, because, he, Steve, for all his sense of guilt was still a judgmental prick.

"Captain America, I'm Captain America, but I'm not. Captain America is more than this. He's more than Steve Rodgers." And he's not sure if he can continue this little monologue but for the fact that Bruce actually gives him an understanding nod. Stark would've made some snarky quip by now. "And I know I'm being selfish and it's uncalled for, but when I look around here, I don't see human. That, that, is not human," and he gestures towards the bed. "Looking around here, you and I, that's all I can see. And I need someone to see that." To see, despite the overwhelming evidence, that Steve was normal, sane, and human.

"Agent Romanoff?" This may not have been the best time and place for him to have just said all that. For what it's worth, she did not look anymore angry at the moment as was her usual demeanor.

"I'm sorry to interrupt this special moment here, but anyone pick up his ears when they were doing clean up?" Natasha was clad in a fluffy white robe and her towel dried hear was frizzy and stuck up at odd angles. Clint on the other hand simply looked worried with a towel wrapped around his torso, and remarkably unscathed except for a number of bruises and a battering of old scars on his chest, granted, those were rather numerous.

"Ears?"

"Ears?" Apparently Bruce was just as confused as he was.

"Yeah, hearing aids? Small flesh colored plastic things. Please tell me you guys didn't throw them away. And where are my tweezers?"

"Eh, Tony said something about an incinerator?"

"You've got to be kidding me." She turns toward Barton and they proceed to have what he presumes to be a conversation in sign language. Her expression is one of increasing frustration and anger but Barton actually seems to look amused.

"Nice hair Nat! What's with the super secret gesturing?" Tony, Pepper, and Thor where back and Natasha doesn't seem all to happy with Tony's question or any part of his presence. Calling her Nat definitely won't help his case.

"Did you yahoos just incinerate his ears and my tweezers?" Definitely didn't. The woman had no superpowers, so why is it that she was undoubtably the scariest one of them all?

"I don't take your meaning Lady Natasha. I was told by the Man of Iron to help dispose of the refuse. I was unaware that there remained something of value to you or that the Hawk's ears was amongst the pile..."

"Not his actual ears, Sherlock, his hearing aids. They were his last pair."

"Oh my god! We're so sorry! Tony?!"

"Yeah, I guess those would've been, eh, incinerated then, cause that's sorta what happens in an incinerator." And here's to hoping that none of them are next.


Bad, good, maybe so? Would be nice if you'd let me know! Wow, I'm such a loser. Anyway, please do let me know. It will induce me to type faster. As mentioned above, next chapter will entirely be in Clint's POV. The majority of future chapters will likely cycle between Clint and Natasha POVs but I think this chapter needed to be done to situate things. It's also good perspective to see things from the other side, although people say it takes one to know one. I don't think these two would willingly acknowledge how messed up they are, or even really know.