It was early in the morning, too early Clint decided for him to be up yet here he was creepily watching James as he slept on the couch. He slept on his back with an arm thrown over his eyes and still in the same clothes he'd had on the previous night. Clint took a sip from his coffee mug and mentally debated whether he should just pour the whole thing on him. Now that would wake him up. He moved back to the kitchen to sit atop the counter. Clint ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He should go back to bed, Thor had been nagging him about getting enough sleep but he could never stay in bed long, always felt there was something to do. More so since S.H.I.E.L.D had been dismantled. HYDRA.

"Fuckers," he whispered to himself. HYDRA had taken apart what had been his first and second home. He felt so lost, at least when he was an agent he had a purpose.

"I thought you were going to wake me up," James said as he walked in, without the hoodie Clint noticed.

"You could tell I was in the room?" James raised an eyebrow as if to say 'Duh'. He searched the cabinets for a mug then poured himself coffee. After mixing in what he wanted he moved to the counter across from Clint and sat on it. Neither said anything for a bit, Clint was lost in his own thoughts and James seemed to content to watch him do that. "What do you do now?" The question brought Clint back to the kitchen.

"I consult for the FBI, CIA, Special Forces…" James snorted. "It's easy money though I do have enough saved up to support Thor's outrageous eating and shopping habits. Do you remember Cap?" Clint had debated with Thor last night whether they should call him or not. In the end they decided to just wait another day. James set the mug down and crossed his arms.

"You mean the idiot who kept getting in the way of my mission?"

"That would be him."

"No...I mean I remember that he's Captain America and I feel as if I know him but…"

"The good old fucking with your mind huh? At least my memories weren't taken."

"Who did it to you?"

"A god, Thor's brother. Used me to attack S.H.I.E.L.D Couldn't believe Fury ever trusted me again." James tilted his head a bit. Clint had been controlled and used too, it made him feel a little better knowing someone else who could relate a bit. "I used to hear stories about you. Thought you were a ghost. You how how difficult it was trying to get intel on you? Nearly impossible and that was using our best agents over the years."

"I don't understand you."

"What do you mean?"

"How can you sit here with me after all I've done? I tried to kill your boss and friends."

"But you didn't." Clint slid off the counter.

"I almost did." A bit frustrated and wanting to see what Clint would say, he decided to add, "I failed my mission." And was instantly shoved which wasn't a very nice thing to do because it made James drop his mug and hit his head against the wall but the anger in Clint's eyes kept him from retaliating for some reason.
"Yes you failed and if you hadn't I doubt we'd be standing here having this conversation but you did and we are. You know what pisses me off? When I look at you I can see it in your eyes that you think you're too far gone, that no one can help you. Been there, done that. You're not a fucking weapon anymore and as long as you're staying here I'm going to help you see that." Clint thought he'd spoken low enough but he heard movement from Thor's room. "I'm going to help you James, will you allow me to do that?" He asked a bit softer. James rubbed the spot of his head that had hit the wall. Clint understood him and that was enough.

"Yeah…thanks kid."

"Kid?"

"I AM older than you."

"Because you were kept in an overgrown freezer." Clint smiled as he stepped back.

"Or maybe it was because I was born before you, just throwing that out there."

"Hey old man what was it like growing up in the 1750's?" James had to laugh at that one. He slid off the counter to pick up the mug he'd dropped.

"Why did no one wake me?" Thor appeared in the doorway wearing Ninja Turtle pajama bottoms.

"Because you usually sleep like a bear."

"That I do." Thor paused to sniff then looked at James who was wiping up the coffee. "James, a shower would not hurt you my friend."

"I'll take one later." Thor looked at Clint who raised five fingers. Five, four, three, two and on one both made a grab for him. Thor managed to get his arms while Clint took the legs.

"What the hell!" James thrashed about, not that it did anything since he was being manhandled by a seasoned super secret agent and a god.

"You smell like…what is the term Clint?" Thor asked as they moved to the bathroom.

"Wet dog."

"Yes, you smell like wet dog." They dumped him in the bathroom and quickly shut the door before he could get out. There was banging and cursing and Clint was pretty sure something got broken in there but eventually the sound of water running caused them to to back away. Thor headed back to the kitchen to find cereal while Clint grabbed clothes for James and left them outside the door.

An hour later found both men trying to catch a mouse. Clint's preferred method of trying to stab it with an arrow wasn't going over well with Thor who was trying to protect it.

"Clint! Leave it be!"

"It doesn't belong in here so let me get rid of it!"

"It is only a mouse!"

"Jesus! Move outtta the way!" Clint tried going past the big guy who simply shoved him backwards as the mouse darted between his legs. Clint shoved him back which only made Thor laugh and push him again. What started as a shoving match ended up a wrestling match only seconds later.

"What are you two ladies doing?" Clint and Thor managed to stop pulling hair long enough to see bare feet. Looking up, James stood there in sweats and the old t shirt that had been left for him outside the door. He had found one of Thor's hair ties, allowing him to keep his hair pulled back so he could give the two on the floor his best disappointed look.

"Hey you don't stink anymore," Clint said as he sniffed and gave Thor one more playful punch before getting up. "Took you so long in there I thought we'd need Thor to fly in to the rescue."

"It took a bit of time to figure out the knobs. So is this how you two spend your free time?"

"Actually on some days yes." A loud laugh came from Thor who slapped Clint on the back a bit too hard.

"Today we must go to the store where there is food," He told James.

"A grocery store?"

"Yes! A grocery store."

"You two shop together?"

"Only because if I send him by himself he ends up buying a bunch of candy. There's a bucket around here somewhere filled with the stuff. All the neighbor kids come over to get some from him." A knock on the door seemed to confirm what Clint said. As soon as he opened it a small girl stood there holding a stuffed bear.

"Clint will you play double dutch with me and Jada? No one else wants to play. Oh and can I have some candy?"

"Give me a minute sweetheart." James watched as Clint and Thor darted back to their rooms leaving him with the little girl with big eyes. She walked inside, took him in then said,

"Who're you?" James was suddenly aware of his metal arm as the little girl's eyes widened in excitement when she saw it.

"I'm James, a friend."

"You have a metal arm! That's so cool! Are you a robot?"

"No."

"An android?"

"No."

"What about a part human Iron Man?"

"A what?"

"Alright Jess let's go." Clint turned to James. "We'll be outside if you need us. I have extra sneakers for you to wear if you want. And if you see that mouse kick his ass!" Thor gave Jess a handful of candy then lifted her to his shoulder as they headed out. For a moment James just stood there in the silence, unsure of himself. The two had just left him, hadn't tried to force him into interacting with others which he greatly appreciated. He shuffled over to the window to look down. Thor was tossing a football with a few boys in the street. Every time a car came they paused the game and started it again when it had gone by. Meanwhile Clint was doing double dutch like a pro and had a small gathering of kids and adults cheering him on. When he finally stopped he was mobbed by a bunch of girls. When he happened to glance up and saw James at the window he gestured for him to come down. James quickly backed away.

"There's too many people out there. They'll ask questions. I shouldn't be seen in public." He crossed his arms and plopped on the couch only to see a mouse on the arm of it watching him. "What? You think I should go down there?" It blinked at him. "But I can't." There was a squeak. "Of course I'd like to meet new people but…." The mouse twitched it's whiskers. "You're right. I need to stop making excuses and get out there. Thanks." The mouse squeaked once more before hurrying away. James grabbed the shoes and slipped the hoodie on before going out. He was a bit nervous as he went down the stairs and almost chickened out but once he was at the building entrance, he opened the door. By now more kids had joined in on double dutch and Thor was playing a new game where they were throwing a ball over the street. Clint was off to the side chatting with a few other men. When one saw James, he nudged Clint.

"James these are my friends and neighbors." Clint made introductions all around and after the initial suspicion wore off, the men warmed up to him. He talked with them about things he knew like Clint's double dutching skills and how most of the girls seemed hell bent on marrying him one day. Clint kept the conversation steered away from any personal questions about him, simply telling them he was a friend that he and Thor were helping out. As the others eventually moved off to run errands or gather up their kids, James sat down on the stairs. Clint sat next to him and for a minute or two both watch Thor toss kids into the air.

"How'd you end up with him for a room mate?"

"I don't know," Clint leaned back a bit to rest his elbows on the step behind him. "He'd come to Earth off and on and because we all stayed in contact after the whole alien thing, we'd take turns housing him. For some reason he started staying with me more. Whenever he'd buy stuff it ended up at my place. He'd buy clothes with a card Tony gave him and store it in the second bedroom. By the time I was shopping for food for two people I realized it was too late, I was stuck with him."

"You're good friends."

"Very much so."

"Captain America…..Steve and I were once."

"You remember?"

"Just a small memory. It came to me in the shower. Something from our childhood." When he didn't offer more information, Clint sat up and gave his shoulder a squeeze

"Ever had a Snickers ice cream bar?" When James gave him a blank look he said, "You're missing out. Thor can down five of those boxes by himself. Shakespeare!" He called, earning a chuckle from James. "Grocery store!"

The grocery store trip was interesting for several reasons. One being Thor couldn't stay out of the candy aisle. Every time he disappeared that's where they'd find him. Reason number two was that Clint loved gliding around on the cart getting angry glares from the other customers. James had to keep apologizing for him. The final reason was that it amazed him how much the store could fit inside. Of course he never had to do things like shopping when he'd been with HYDRA so it was fascinating seeing the many items you could buy. In the end that's exactly what James did. He grabbed the list and cash from Clint and went off on his own to get what they needed. When it was time to go, he gathered the other two up so they could head back to the car. James thought he'd made pretty good timing in nabbing Clint because a couple of security guys had been eying him for awhile. Once in the car, Thor tore right into the ice cream.

"You must have one!" He told James who had somehow ended up driving.

"Pass one up," Clint held a hand out. They munched on ice cream the whole way back so that by the time they got the groceries inside there was no more which led to Thor going right back out to get more from a small place down the street. Clint's phone began to ring as soon as he had stepped out of his shoes.

"Yep," he answered.

"Honey I haven't heard from you in days!"

"Kinda been busy Tony."

"I highly doubt that. I even made you a present." It sometimes surprised Clint how well all of them had stayed in contact and become good friends since New York. Though he claimed he didn't use the suits anymore, which Clint knew was a lie, Tony had helped out Cap and Natasha on a couple of their missions, even a few of his own. They all had helped Thor with problems on Asgard, even Bruce. And though they worked together to take down a good number of idiots they weren't an official team, not yet. He supposed that if a large scale alien attack where you have to gel and work well with different personalities didn't make you better friends then he didn't know what would.

"Which would be?"

"Arrows my dear Hawkman. I'll send you pictures. Where's Thor?"

"Buying ice cream."

"I was looking at the card bill and most of it's been candy and ice cream."

"To be fair he did buy an Xbox One the other day."

"Which I will be over to try soon." He paused then said, "Have you talked to Cap or Natasha?"

"No. I was going to try tonight."

"I've been researching a bit. Did you know there are several S.H.I.E.L.D installations, hidden ones, in the country?"

"I used to work at one. I offered to go in and take them down. Fury said no for now."

"I'll bring in what I've got tomorrow."

"I thought you hated even getting out of the bed on Sunday's?"

"I'll make an exception and bring goodies. See ya then Hawkboy."

"Bye Tony."

"Tony?" James asked.

"Iron Man. You didn't deal with him. Besides he was out of the country then. Wanna watch Netflix?" They spent the rest of the day watching cartoon. There were so many shows that James had a hard time deciding what to watch. When Thor returned with more ice cream, they all ended up watching The Regular Show which turned out to be a cartoon James liked and for some reason found he could relate to the blue jay named Mordecai. Clint was dozing by the time they went through all of the seasons. When the first episode of Adventure Time had ended he was outright sleeping against James. Thor let out a loud belch from his chair then happened to glance at his friend.

"I've told him he needs more rest."

"He was up pretty early this morning."

"No my friend, I mean he is like this all the time. At least since his agency was dismantled, agency is that the correct word?" James nodded. "When the infiltration was revealed it broke his heart. Many of them were his friends such as this Rumlow."

"Brock Rumlow."

"Yes. It angered and hurt him. He wanted revenge but Fury told him to stay here in case he was needed."

"Where was he during the D.C. stuff?"

"With me. He was on vacation and decided to take me on what is called a road trip." Thor set the now empty ice cream box down. It bothered him a lot seeing Clint like that when they returned. S.H.I.E.L.D had been like his family. Thor understood that. He tapped a finger against the arm of the chair while James stared blankly at the screen. "Do not blame yourself. He wouldn't want you to."

"But you?"

"To be honest when I realized you were the cause of much of his heartache I wanted to hurt you. Yet you are just as much of a victim and it wouldn't bring Clint joy if anything were to happen to you." Clint shifted a bit and actually snuggled closer to James. He smirked.

"You have one of those phones with the camera right?"

"Indeed."

"Get a picture of this. We can use it for blackmail." Thor liked that idea and was grinning over the picture he had just taken when Clint bolted up. The mouse was sitting on his leg.

"You fucker!" It scurried off and down the rest of the couch. James couldn't believe that such a little creature could make him freak out so much. It wasn't as if it were a rat. Rats were much worse in his opinion. Still watching Clint try to kill the poor thing as Thor tried stopping him was great entertainment.