They reached the facility at nearly 4 am, the alpha team consisting of Steve, Thor, and Natasha going through the back while Tony, Clint, and Bucky found their way through the rooftop. Tony carried the other two men to the top and they landed without any problem, signaling to the other team.

"The gamma is hot very near your position alpha team," Nick said through their comms.

Each team had a GPS tracker to know where the others were. When Tony, Bucky, and Clint got through they headed towards the green dot, careful not to alert the guards below them.

They were very close to where Steve and the others were when suddenly there was an explosive roar and the building shook with fury, causing all three men to fall to the floor hard.

Tony caught himself before he did, Bucky landed on his feet and Clint barely made it down without a broken leg, grabbing on to Iron Man's leg to slide down.

"Ow," he mumbled, pushing himself up.

Suddenly there were several guns pointed at them and Tony laughed. "Time to play, boys!"

They suddenly started to fight the guards when there was a voice in their comms, "Don't…come….HULK….loose. Attacked us. Controlling," came Steve's fuzzy message.

"We need to get to them!" Tony yelled, firing off his cannons and dropping several men.

Suddenly there was a pause in the fight and all the guards stopped, falling to their knees and bowing.

"Well, well, well. I did not expect you so soon," came an amused voice from the stairs.

Tem Borjigin walked down the stairs with his arms spread out, smiling from ear to ear.

Tony growled. "Mister Borjigin, we were just talking about you on the ride here! Weren't we boys?"

Bucky went to aim his gun and suddenly fell to the floor, holding his ears and screaming.

Tony rushed to his side and fell as well, the high pitched noise reverberating through his helmet. He ripped it off and screamed.

Clint held his ground, his arrow pointed at the man in front of him. He had no idea why Tony and Bucky were on the ground but it was not affecting him.

Tem Borjigin grinned at him. "Mister Barton, so nice to see you. I have been keeping a close eye on your adventures the past few months. Specifically," there was a very loud roar, much closer this time, "Concerning my new pet."

"HE'S NOT YOUR PET! HE'S A HUMAN BEING AND I'M GONNA KILL YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID TO US!"

Clint went to fire his arrow and Borjigin caught it in mid-air, snapping it in two.

"Useless, obviously," he said, walking closer to him.

Clint roared, tears in his eyes as he launched himself at the man, who countered his fighting moves with easy skill, grabbing on to his arm suddenly and pulling it back, cracking it.

He screamed and Borjigin laughed, pulling him close and whispering, "I'm the Mandarin, boy. You have no weapons to use against me…and now….I use your love….against you."

Suddenly the Hulk was in the room, grabbing him from Mandarin, holding him with two hands around his chest. There was a metal band around his forehead with a red light in the middle. The monster roared in his face and Clint felt tears running down his cheeks.

"Please….Bruce….please….DON'T DO THIS! I'm sorry! I….I didn't….I…." he struggled to breathe through the Hulk's strong hold.

Mandarin suddenly yelled, "KILL HIM! DO IT! I COMMAND YOU!"

The monster roared again, letting go of Clint with one hand and grabbing its head. It stared at Hawkeye and said through gritted teeth, "HAWKIE….HURT."

Clint struggled to whisper, "Bruce…no…HE DID IT…I…didn't…not Tony….you…I want you."

The monster screamed tearing at its forehead now, trying to take off the band. Suddenly it snapped in two and the Hulk roared, loosening his grip on Clint's ribs and holding him tenderly in his large hands as it lowered him to the ground. Clint coughed up blood, smiling. "Br…uce."

The monster's agonized scream was enough to break the windows and suddenly he ran at the man responsible. The last thing Clint saw was large green hands grab Tem Borjigin and snap him in half.

He woke in a drug induced haze amidst the familiar hum of machines and hushed talking.

Blinking he could make out the blurry faces of Tony Stark and Steve Rogers.

"H…ey," he whispered hoarsely.

"Hey yourself, buddy. How do you feel?" Tony asked.

Clint tried to move and winced. "Sore. Like someone squeezed me really, really hard."

"That's good since it's exactly what happened. Do you remember…?" Steve asked.

He nodded. "Is he…?"

Steve looked at him and nodded. "He's back. As soon as you fainted he turned back and was at your side tending to your wounds. There was some internal bleeding, but it's fixed now."

Clint swallowed and whispered, "Mandarin?"

"Dead," Tony stated without a smile, "And you don't see any of us crying."

Clint didn't move and closed his eyes, letting out a breath that hurt terribly. "Has he come to see me?" he asked.

"Every hour, the doctors said. Obviously now that you're awake, he'll do the 'Steve' thing and hide somewhere," Tony said, smiling. Steve pinched him in the side. "Hey, it's true!"

Steve started to pinch him again and he laughed, pushing him off.

Clint smiled, tears filling his eyes. "I'm so happy for you guys."

Both men turned to him, their faces full of embarrassment. "Sorry, we didn't…" Steve apologized.

"Don't be sorry you're happy. Really, it's okay."

Tony grabbed his hand and squeezed. "Hang in there, Hawkie."

Clint smiled still, a tear running down his cheek. "Thanks. I'm gonna try to rest."

Both men nodded and stood, heading for the door. Before they left Steve stopped and said, "I know how I felt when I realized that I was wrong. Now that he's seen the surveillance tape, it's got to feel much worse after all the pain and suffering his inner demon has caused. Believe in him, Clint. He'll come around."

Clint closed his eyes and said nothing, tears flowing freely now.

He never expected to feel this much for someone, let alone another guy. He barely knew Bruce, but he wanted so desperately to have his chance to get to know the man that his heart was breaking for what they could have had.

The noise of the door opening made him open his eyes and Nick was there, looking grim.

"You okay, soldier?"

He nodded, wiping his eyes with one arm. His left arm was in a cast at his side he realized. "A bit bruised, but I'll live."

Nick nodded once, not moving. "I've shown Banner the tape."

"I heard," was all he said, looking away.

"He was…upset…to the say the least. All the things he thought, all the things he did as that….monster."

"It's a part of him, Nick. He just…needs to learn how to control it," Clint defended, clearly angry now.

Nick grinned. "I know. That's why I've decided once you're out of this room you're going to help him."

Clint froze. "What?"

"Clearly the monster is protective of you, maybe even half in love with you. I believe, as do most of the researchers who had extensive time to look at the monster as it was in the coma induced sleep a few weeks ago, that YOU were the catalyst for the last two attacks the monster had and YOU stopped his transformation because Bruce wanted to help YOU," Nick stated.

Clint felt his face reddening. "That's…that doesn't…."

"Banner of course is raising hell over this, but I told him it's either this or go back into a coma and he relented. So in two weeks you're going to move into new quarters: two beds, of course; and work on taming the Beast," Nick explained.

Clint glared at him. "I know what you're doing."

Nick grinned. "I'm helping out my Avengers, Hawkeye. Like I always do," he said simply, turning to leave, "I'm glad you're awake and have plenty of time to think about this, Goodnight Clint."

"Fuck you, Nick," Clint mumbled.

Fury's laughter was all he heard as the man left.

Tony and Steve felt comfortable to be in the same room together, had several times now engaged in very heavy make out sessions, but had yet to have sex again and sleeping in the same bed wasn't even an option yet.

It had been only a few days since they'd had very rough sex in the situation room but they were happy.

Well happy enough.

Both men were currently kissing in their old bedroom, Steve devouring Tony's mouth greedily and running his hands up under his lover's shirt.

Tony sighed, pulling closer to Steve and grabbing his neck to deepen their kiss. They pulled apart suddenly and stared at each other, breathless. Steve looked at him shyly and whispered, "Stay."

Tony smiled. "Thought you'd never ask, soldier."

It had been exactly three years since Thor had landed on Midgard as punishment for his brother's crime. He had fallen in love with an Earth woman, Jane, and been quite happy in his life going between his world, Asgard with the other Gods, and Jane's own world, Midgard or Earth.

But that had all changed a month prior and now he was alone again, living in the Avengers mansion with people who he did not know well enough to call friends. He realized now that he needed to figure out how to reach out to his fellow Avengers because they were now all that he really had keeping him on Earth.

There had been much strife between his fellow Avengers, they all had formed romantic entanglements and been forcefully broken apart by treachery in the last few months. He watched as the Iron Man was hospitalized because of the green monster, The Hulk, and now the archer Hawkeye was doing the same.

Thor stood outside the hospital area, watching the man as he slept.

This Hawkeye intrigued him, because like himself the man was a soldier and was quite skilled. He'd seen men twice Hawkeye's size go down with a perfectly placed arrow.

"Like what you see?" came a voice from his left, surprising him.

The voice belonged to the monster man, who he knew from their last fight was called Bruce.

He looked back at Hawkeye again.

Clint. His name was Clint.

"He is quite something. Very strong," was all he said.

"I know," came the surly, growling reply.

"Quite fetching as well. I take it, you're no longer interested?" he asked, knowing perfectly well Bruce would move Heaven and Earth to be with the sleeping man.

There was a pause.

"I have lost my lover. She…did not take to being constantly fearful for my death or her own. But he is stronger than she, I have seen this. He would make a fine lover," he teased, looking over at the man to gauge his anger.

Bruce's hands were in fists as his sides and his eyes were flashing green. He bit his lip and it bled, but he did not change. Instead he whispered, "He is not yours."

Thor looked at him squarely, feeling up to the challenge. "Oh?"

Bruce grabbed him suddenly by the throat lifting him off his feet and growling, "He is MINE," he declared his voice a growl from deep within.

Thor easily grabbed his arm and got out of his grip, holding Bruce in a choke hold.

"I will not give up that easily, monster. If you do not claim him for your own in due time, I will," he challenged, suddenly letting the smaller man go.

They faced each other, Thor grinning.

Bruce didn't move.

The god smiled wider and turned, leaving Bruce to stare at the man beyond the glass. His hands were fists at his sides again and he took deep breaths. The monster within him was screaming to be heard and he silenced it with a promise.

No one would take Clint from him.

Clint woke to the sound of singing. He blinked at the light pouring through the windows and the voice that sung words in a language he had never heard before.

And he spoke fifteen languages.

Thor sat at his bedside singing softly in what Clint assumed was his native language.

He closed his eyes a moment, and then opened them again.

Yep, still there.

"Thor?" he asked.

The Thunder God stopped and when he saw Clint his face lit up. "Clint, you have awakened. I am delighted to see this."

Clint smiled. "I'm glad to be of service," he said, coughing.

"Thine lungs are still healing, there is no need to talk. I will talk to you," Thor declared.

Clint raised an eyebrow. "Uh….why?"

Thor frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You've never spoken to me before. I don't think you've ever talked to anyone but Nick and it's been almost two years since we met. Nearly six months since the Avengers first started," Clint explained.

Thor's face reddened and he said without looking at Clint, "That is true. I believed this to be a privilege to you all, my being here, and in turn when I lost the only being in Midgard I cared for there was no one to turn to."

Clint smiled. "You're lonely?"

Thor looked at him. "You find that amusing?"

Clint shook his head. "I find it strange since you have lots of friends in….Asgard, is it? You can always go to them."

Thor shook his head. "Nay, I have found no sympathy there. Many of my fellow Gods mocked my pain and tried to unite me with a woman I had no longing for. I would prefer to remain here, and find someone I admired and cared for like I did my Jane before fear drove her into the arms of another."

Clint frowned. "Oh, I'm sorry."

Thor smiled. "It is none of your concern, but your sympathy pleases me. As does the bravery you have shown the last few cycles. I admire your strength, Hawkeye."

Clint blushed. "Uh…thanks."

The blonde man suddenly put his hand on top of Clint's and he stared at Thor in surprise.

"I find myself longing for you, Clinton," Thor confessed, "I watch for you these past few weeks, your skill in battle intrigues me and I wish to learn more of you."

Clint froze, staring at the large hand covering his. It felt foreign to his skin, but not wrong. He slowly brought their fingers together and squeezed, not looking up.

"Am I interrupting?" a voice interrupted them.

Quickly he pulled his hand away, as he knew the voice anywhere.

Bruce Banner stood at the edge of his bed and by the look on his face, he was quite angry.

"No," Clint said, just as Thor said, "Yes."

Thor looked at Clint, who looked away with a blush. He smiled at him and then winked at Bruce, standing and walking towards the door. Before he left Clint could have sworn he heard Thor say, "Your move."

When they were left alone the silence was deafening.

Bruce spoke first. "I do not deserve to be forgiven. I know this. Everything that happened before I became the Monster and the subsequent things that happened after, were reprehensible and I…."

"You're not a Monster," Clint said, interrupting him.

Bruce blinked, surprised. "Clint, I broke twelve of your ribs the first time I threw you across a room and the second I broke eight squeezing the life out of you, and nearly punctured your lung! I killed people! I…"

Clint glared at him. "You have no control when you're Hulk, Bruce. It's not your fault, it's MINE!"

Bruce suddenly was at his bedside, grabbing his hand. "No. Never say that. You might have…upset me…but it's ME. All me."

Clint shook his head. "It's emotions that bring him out, and I….obviously your emotions towards me aren't good and…"

Bruce cut him off with a kiss, devouring his mouth and holding on to the back of his head. They kissed for several minutes before pulling apart to breathe. He rested his forehead on Clint's, closing his eyes.

"Even positive emotions can bring out Hulk in me, Clint. They don't always have to be negative. But now…I can…talk to it," he explained, "Only when it's about you."

Clint pushed him gently away and asked, "What do you mean?"

"It wants you, needs you, and when my heart rate skyrockets I just explain that we'll share you and…"

Clint suddenly looked very angry. "So…wait, what? You'll share me? Like…what?"

Bruce tripped over his words trying to explain. "That's not….I….I mean that…I don't…we're the same, he and I. He wants to claim you for his own, as do I. When I explain to him that we're the same and that he'll still feel through me, have through me, it calms him."

Clint's eyes narrowed. "Who says you will? You?"

Bruce flinched. "I didn't mean that…"

"Because I might want you, Bruce, but that doesn't mean I want to put up with your bullshit emotional rollercoaster. I understand that you and the Hulk are one and the same and I want to help you, I do. I…I don't want to be hurt again. I…I liked Tony, a lot, and I lost him to Steve. You wanted me, and still I lost you to….you. And now I have Thor panting all over me and it's…," he said, his voice thick.

"You want him?" Bruce asked icily.

Clint shook his head. "I don't know what I want, but with him it wouldn't be all this mess! I…"

Bruce turned to leave and Clint yelled out, "BRUCE STOP."

He did.

"I'm not rejecting you. I was desperate for your attention months ago, and now that I have it, I don't know what to do."

Bruce didn't turn. "I won't force you to be with me out of sympathy for my monster."

"It's not like that. I was attracted to you from the moment you kissed me," he whispered.

Bruce turned to look at him and said, "I was in love you then, Clint, and I love you even more now," before leaving without another word.

Clint fell back into bed, stunned.

"What the fuck did I do?" he whispered, laying his head in his hands.

He was in the hospital for the next two weeks and refused to see anyone, though Bruce never even tried to come back. When he got out he found a letter from Nick to report to the gym immediately to begin his time with Bruce. Clint sat on his bed, letting out a breath.

His left arm was still in the cast but he felt much better otherwise. Over the past few days he'd been gearing up to see Bruce again.

After Bruce's confession he realized he desperately wanted to declare his love for the man but didn't know if he even could after the stupid things he'd said.

There was a knock at his door and he called out, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Thor."

Clint froze.

"Um…I'm sorta…"

"It will take just a moment, please," Thor said.

Clint sighed and got to his feet, walking to the door and opening it. He walked inside with the grace of royalty, and Clint guessed he probably was.

"What is it?" he asked.

Thor smiled at him. "I am very happy you're out of the hospital wing."

Clint smiled. "Thanks. I sort of have to go do this…" he started to say but suddenly Thor grabbed him and kissed him, knocking the air out of his lungs.

The God's tongue down his throat was foreign and felt completely wrong, and he struggled to push him off but to no avail. So he decided to kick him in between the legs, which worked like a charm.

"Gods!" Thor yelled, dropping.

Clint wiped his mouth angrily. "How dare you? You can't just…GET OUT!" he yelled, pointing to the door.

Thor looked at him pleadingly and he shook his head.

The Thunder God stood and made his way out of the room, still holding himself. Clint took a deep breath and pushed past him, heading towards the gym.

Bruce sat on a mat not two feet in front of him, his eyes closed and knees crossed as he meditated.

The sight took Clint's breath away and he gasped, breaking Bruce's concentration.

He opened his eyes and smelled the air, then froze. His eyes widened and he growled, suddenly running at Clint and pushing him against the wall. His eyes were green and he leaned in close to Clint's throat, smelling him.

"He tasted you," he growled accusingly.

Clint was both frightened and turned on at the same time. "I didn't….it wasn't by my choice. He kinda threw himself at me."

Bruce suddenly took a breath and then shook his head again. "No," he said, before launching his own attack on Clint's mouth.

The kiss felt so differently than the one he'd had minutes before. His skin felt alive at Bruce's touch and he wrapped his arms around the other man's neck, urging him closer as their tongues met. Bruce cleaned out any trace of Thor inside and outside his mouth.

When they pulled apart they were both breathless but Clint was smiling as he said, "Now that, I have been waiting for."

Bruce let him go, not smiling. "I thought you didn't…"

Clint grabbed his arm and shook his head. "I'm stupid, okay? I….I need you, Bruce. I've never felt like I needed anyone before but when you were missing I was empty. I didn't…I love you, even though I don't know anything about you except that you're smart and that when you get really angry you turn green."

Bruce laughed, still not looking at him.

"But I know I want to be with you, even if you don't trust yourself with me I want to do everything with you. I want to kiss you, laugh with you, talk with you, I want to fuck you and have you fuck me," he said, which caused Bruce's head to shoot up in surprise.

"Clint," he said, his eyes suddenly filled with lust.

Clint put his hand on Bruce's face and whispered, "But I think we've got other things to do, first, don't we?"

Bruce nodded, smiling. "What about the Thunder God?" he asked.

Clint wrapped his arms around him and kissed him before pulling back and whispering, "Who?"