Lie To Me
Hey guys! So this chapter isn't beta edited either, which is sad, but totally okay because I know my beta Chris is traveling and busy! So, any mistakes are my fault and I shall let you guys know when the edited version is up by changing this paragraph. Right here. ^^
The next two chapters are written! So excitement there. Also this is one of my favorite chapters…but come to think of it they all are favorite chapters. ^^ I'm having a lot of fun writing this. I aced my test yesterday so I'll have time to write more this weekend!
Thanks so much to those who reviewed: Qweb (Thanks so much! I love that they are trying to get him comfortable with them ^^ Friendship, ground zero ^^), Kitkat286 (Thanks so much! I hope you loved the rest too!), jaguarspot (Hehe, you know me well. We've got some fluff left before things go to hell though. ^^ And some angst ^^), kimbee (That is such a compliment! That makes me smile so big you have no idea! I love your reviews, they always make me want to read more too ^^), ZhaLenn (That was my favorite scene! I personally hate tomatoes so I indulged a bit with Clint's character ^^ Glad you liked it!), discordchick (I dislike tomatoes as well. Taste and texture, I just don't get them ^^ Thanks for the review!), jpgFury (Yay for Psychic-ness! I'm thrilled you enjoyed the chapter! Clint and Banner cooking was so much fun to write!), sv4me (Thanks for reviewing for both chapters! That makes me so happy! I'm glad you like the story! The next chapter is HERE!), Alanna Beckett (Thanks for the review…even if it wasn't really for this story! I'll work on it when I get a chance…which might not be for a while…because I have this Avengers fic and then another one I started ^^)
Chapter Four
Clint had finally made his choice after the second day with the Avengers. He liked them more than he ever did Reese or Randle. None of them gave him the same uneasiness that Randle had stirred inside his gut. They all acted genuine – like Reese had – which made him feel secure, at least.
He still feared that everything would go to hell at some point. Still, Clint's life was far better with them. They let him go about his business as he pleased and didn't push him with experimental questions that made his head hurt and his nosebleed. They treated him like a friend and only hovered if they were worried about his health.
The first day after the withdrawals subsided was mostly spent regaining his strength by eating food and resting. The Avengers gave him space, but were always around if Clint needed. It was nice, but it also drove Clint back to his room fairly quickly. None of them tried to enter Clint's room without permission. Everyone knocked at the door and went away if Clint refused to answer.
The second day was a lot like the first, but a little easier. He had casual conversations with each of his self-proclaimed friends and learned a bit more about them. Still, Clint hid in his room when he wasn't hungry or lonely.
It was the third day when Steve approached him after breakfast. "I was wondering if you'd like to join me on a walk?"
"Outside?" Clint perked up. He'd been up to the roof a few times in secret since the end of his battle with withdrawal, but never down among other people. The idea intrigued and excited him.
"Of course." Steve gave an uneasy smile that tried to mask what appeared to be nerves. "There's a park a few blocks from here, I thought you might like to see it."
"I've been there before?" Clint asked curiously. It was apparent to him that the others wanted him to remember his past – even if he didn't.
"Yes." Steve answered easily. "We used to run there together."
Although Clint had decided firmly that he didn't want to remember his past he wasn't about to pass up an opportunity to go outside.
"Sure," Clint agreed and smiled shyly. "Should I wear something different?" He asked with a glance down at himself. Currently he was wearing jeans and a dark grey shirt he pulled out of his closet. He realized he probably needed shoes of some kind; currently his feet were bare. They had been ever since he could remember. He had never needed shoes before.
"Just shoes, maybe a jacket since it's kind of cold outside." Steve answered with a warm smile. "Do you know where your shoes are?"
Clint nodded. "There were some in my closet. Socks were in a drawer."
"Great, I'll wait for you at the elevator." Steve grinned and Clint couldn't help but mirror the expression. They parted ways and Clint headed back to his room quickly to grab what he needed. His boots were easy enough to find, as were his socks, but it was his jacket that alluded Clint.
With a frown he looked through his closet. A few common shirts were hung up as well as a uniform of some kind, but no jacket. Well, that wasn't true. There was a jacket with an emblem on it that looked like a bird of some sort. It didn't strike Clint as casual enough, though.
In the end Clint grabbed a sweater and pulled it over his shirt and headed out to join Mr. America. Steve. Cap, that was what Mr. Stark, Tony, called him. It was odd for Clint to call strangers by their first name. That felt too friendly. Maybe Mr. Rodgers would be acceptable, at least until Clint felt more comfortable. Or hell, until someone verbally told him to say something less formal.
Stark was at the elevator with Rogers when Clint approached. "Ah, I thought you might be missing this." Stark said and offered Clint a leather jacket.
"This is mine?" Clint asked with wide-eyes. The jacket was made up of comfortable looking worn black leather and it appeared to be about his size. This was what he'd been looking for, Clint was almost sure of it.
"Yeah," Tony nodded and handed it to Clint. "I forgot to give it back to you. You left it at the safe house before you went to talk to – " Tony hesitated and looked at Steve who seemed tenser than before. "Um. Swift."
"Swift? What was swift?" Clint took the jacket and slipped it on.
"No, Michael Swift – he's a person. A bad guy. You were investigating him when you were taken." Steve explained lightly.
Clint frowned and shook his head. "If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not talk about that."
"Sure." Tony nodded. "Whatever you want, it's fine."
Clint felt skeptical but as long as they did what he wanted it seemed fine. "So, the park?" Clint pressed, too eager to go outside to wait around.
"Right, of course." Steve bumbled and glanced at Tony. "Do you want to come, Tony?"
"Nah, I have some paperwork to do for the company." Mr. Stark huffed, as if he wasn't looking forward to it. "But, I'll catch you guys later. Bruce said he was making Hawkeye's Famous Lasagna tonight. I'm excited."
Clint frowned again. "What's a Hawkeye?"
Stark and Rogers both deflated at the same time. It took a minute but Stark was the first to recover. "You're a Hawkeye." He explained badly.
Clint's frown deepened with his confusion. "I thought my name was Clint?"
"It is." Rogers reassured him. "Hawkeye is your codename. Your alias."
"Oh." Clint looked away uncomfortably. "Can we go now?" He asked when he looked back at Mr. Rogers.
"Sure." He nodded to Clint with a sad smile.
The elevator ride down left Clint jittery with nerves. He didn't like how close the walls were in the little moving box. He'd forgotten how much he hated the elevator until the door slid shut behind him.
"You okay?" Rogers asked kindly.
"I don't really care for this." He motioned around the small space.
"The elevator?" Rogers clarified. Clint nodded. "Did something happen in a elevator?"
Clint looked at him and shrugged. "Not that I remember. It's just, crowded." Clint almost laughed when Rogers took a huge step back away from him to make space.
"Better?" Rogers' asked with such sincerity Clint found himself nodding.
"Yeah." His world swayed for a moment and Clint grabbed the side of the car. "Little dizzy." He shook his head.
The elevator couldn't come to a stop faster and Clint all but bolted when they got to the ground floor. His eyes swept across the lobby of the tower and Clint was surprised at the amount of people in sight. He'd never been around so many people before. The most people he'd been around were the group of orderlies who held him down if he wasn't cooperating. Clint took a step back and bumped into Rogers.
"It's okay." Rogers told him calmly. Once again the taller man moved away to give Clint his needed space. "These people work for Tony. Stark Industries still has offices under our section of the tower. They've all been screened carefully, none of them mean us harm."
Clint wasn't so sure, but he nodded his understanding anyway and kept close to Rogers as they walked towards the revolving door that lead outside.
This version of outside was different than the roof had been. It was loud and crowded out on the sidewalk and Clint felt panicky instead of refreshed. It smelt wrong on the ground among normal city dwellers. It smelt like pollution and decay among other unpleasant things.
Everything felt too close and Clint suddenly wanted the sanctuary of the tower they'd just stepped out of.
A hand fell on his shoulder and Clint froze, his wide eyes turned back to Steve who looked concerned.
"You okay?" The taller man asked. Clint moved closer to seek any protection offered by Rogers in this strange world.
"It's just," Clint flinched when a taxi driver laid on his horn. "A lot of people."
Rogers smiled a warm smile of reassurance. "There will be less people where we're going." He promised and slowly led the way.
Clint didn't feel overly sure that he still wanted to go on the walk. He stuck close to Rogers and kept an eye out for any possible danger – even if he wasn't sure what kind of danger he was looking for.
After fifteen minutes of walking the streets finally began to become less crowded, but Clint's tension never really faded. Everything was new to him and it was quickly becoming apparent that if he were to lose Steve for whatever reason he wouldn't be able to find his way back to wherever they had come from. If only his panic hadn't blinded him maybe he would have thought to look up and memorize what the building he left looked like.
"Idiot." Clint whispered to himself. He was surprised when Rogers looked back at him with a questioning glance. "Um, sorry, I just – this is a big city." Clint finished lamely.
"I thought that way too." Rogers admitted and Clint took the opportunity to look confused.
"Weren't you born here?" Clint asked curiously, sticking close.
Rogers nodded with a smile. "Yes, but seventy years ago. Everything's pretty much different now. When I first woke up in this time I had to ask for directions every time I left my apartment. Don't worry though, I won't let us get turned around now."
"If we do," Clint started, but stopped quickly. What if Rogers didn't want to help him? Like Reese and Randle, maybe he'd want to keep all the important information to themselves so that he had to rely on him.
Rogers waited for a moment for Clint to continue. When he didn't Rogers stopped and pointed to the skyline. "See that really tall building there? The one with the 'A' marked on the side? That's where we live."
Clint eyed the building and smiled at Rogers. "Well that's not very hard to spot." He joked lightly.
"No, it isn't." Rogers' agreed with a smile. "If you'd seen the city back in my day you'd agree with me that it's an eyesore, but it does make for easy directions. You don't have to worry though, Clint, I don't plan on losing you any time soon. It was hard, for me at least, when you were taken. I'm your leader and I couldn't protect you." Steve paused awkwardly and eyed Clint as they walked. "Do you want to know about it?"
For a moment Clint considered his answer, finally he nodded. "Maybe."
"We don't have to talk about it, if it makes you uncomfortable." Rogers reassured Clint kindly. "I don't want to rush you or make you do something you aren't ready for."
With a sigh Clint considered the options again. On one had Clint didn't want anything to do with the person he used to be. On the other he was curious how everything had happened, but would it trigger his memories? Clint didn't want that, but he hadn't had any more dreams of his past or flashes during the day. Maybe he had finally suppressed all the bad things away.
"I – I think I'd like to know. Or, at least hear what you have to say." Clint sighed. "But, maybe not now."
Rogers nodded without hesitation. "Okay. Anytime you want answers, just ask us."
They continued on together in silence until they reached a place that wasn't made of concrete, metal, brick or glass. Trees and green grass stretched over the space and Clint smiled at the sight. It was more comfortable than everything else he had seen so far.
"I thought you might enjoy this." Rogers said somewhere behind Clint. He hadn't really noticed stepping away from the man's protection. Immediately Clint returned to Rogers' side.
Clint took a minute to calm his heart down again before returning his eyes to the sight before him. It was beautiful. Calm in the middle of complete chaos. "I don't think I like the city." Clint commented as Rogers started to bring them further into the park.
Rogers nodded. "You were born in the country." He offered and then winced. "Sorry, I know you didn't really want to know about your past."
Clint nodded. "I've been lied to too much, I just – I'd rather remember on my own." As soon as the lie left his lips pain seared through Clint's head and he gasped in surprise. With his eyes screwed shut he groaned a little as the heels of his hands dug into his eyelids in an attempt to relieve the pain.
"Clint?" Rogers asked from somewhere to his immediate right. Clint flinched back but quickly changed his mind and moved closer. A hand rested on his shoulder and Clint finally opened his eyes.
"I'm okay." Clint told his companion after a shaky breath. "Headache."
"Are you sure?" Rogers pressed.
"Yes," Clint nodded and glanced at the man curiously. "I'm fine, really Mr. Rogers."
Rogers choked for a moment and sputtered before he formed a sentence. "Mr. Rodgers? Clint, please call me Steve. Or, well, just Steve, if you're too uncomfortable to call me Captain or Cap."
Clint considered the request and nodded. "Okay. If you want."
"I – it's just, we were – I want us to be friends." Rodgers – Steve explained nervously.
Although Clint nodded, he wasn't sure what to believe. He knew he wanted to believe Steve. The man was sincere and his expressions sometimes looked so endearing it was hard to resist not listening to him.
"Do you want to stay or go back to the tower?" Steve asked worriedly.
Clint glanced back towards where they'd come from and shook his head. "No." There were too many people back there. Clint would rather stay in the park where it was quiet – well, quieter. Less people was definitely better than more people.
"Okay." Steve nodded slowly, as if he were unsure of Clint's answer. "Is it because of the crowds?"
Clint wasn't really overly surprised that Steve had figured it out. It wasn't like he had been subtle with his feelings on their little walk. "Yeah." He admitted his eyes studying the ground as he buried himself with his embarrassment.
"We can take a cab back to the tower." Steve smiled. "So just let me know when you're ready to leave."
Clint nodded and they started to walk among the grass and the trees. It was quiet. There were few people around which made Clint relax a bit more. Birds sang from the trees and Clint found himself searching the green leaves for the source of their song. He smiled when he spotted a few feathered creatures hopping along branches.
Laughter caught Clint by surprise and he peeked behind a tree trunk to see several kids playing together on a jungle gym.
"It's nice." Clint decided as they settled on a bench. "That it's not all concrete and glass."
Steve nodded beside him as they enjoyed the breeze that had picked up around them. "There are other places we could visit as well, bigger than this park. Central Park is pretty, we could go there tomorrow or something."
"Maybe." Clint didn't agree or decline. He wasn't sure if he'd be ready to venture out into this world again so soon. It was frightening and new, but equally as fascinating and exciting. "How did you learn to trust again?" He asked suddenly. Clint felt Steve look at him with a look of question and surprise.
"What do you mean?" Steve asked after a long pause.
Clint sighed and turned his eyes away from the white clouds up above them to look at Steve. "You said you woke up in this time, right? Everything was different. One minute something is someway, the next it's another. How did you deal with that? How did you know who to trust?"
Steve swallowed thickly and considered the question carefully. Clint could see the concentration in the way the other man's face scrunched up. Finally Steve answered. "It wasn't easy. At first I didn't want to face anything. I kept myself locked inside and I didn't venture out into the strange world I ended up in. Everything was so different and I just wasn't ready." He shrugged and glanced up at the trees swaying in the breeze above them.
"Eventually I couldn't avoid it anymore. I reached a point where I had to choose to hide or fight for other people and I choose to do what I thought was best." He shrugged. "Trust is something that's always changing. It's a hard truth. Honestly you have to go with your gut feeling and sometimes you end up being wrong. No one can tell you who to trust, that's a choice you make on your own."
"Yeah." Clint agreed with a sigh. "Choices are a bitch."
Steve smirked, "Yeah, but life wouldn't be living if you couldn't choose your own destiny."
Clint scoffed. "How very 'Captain America' of you." He sighed again and stood.
"So you remember Captain America?" Steve asked curiously.
Clint shrugged and nodded. "I know of you. I didn't know I knew you, though."
Steve nodded and joined Clint on his feet. "Let's find that cab and head back, it's kind of cold out here."
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