Lie To Me

Hey guys, sorry for vanishing last week, but these last two weeks have been hell. I had a ten-page paper, two history tests, critique, and a billion other things going on. And lucky me I got some sort of virus version of Strep Throat (my doctor was confusing) on Sunday before EVERYTHING. On the bright side I got an A on both tests and critique seemed to have gone well…and I don't have a repeat week like that in my immediate future…

Qweb (I loved writing that!), ELOSHAZZY (Aw, I'm glad you like it! Thanks for the review!), Sandy-wmd (lol, I realized that Clint had never seen the transformation before and saw the opportunity, it was awesome ^^), kimbee (I'm excited TOOOO ^^), jpgFury (lol, well I was trying to do something different. We all know Clint's a bad ass, I was exploring a different version of him. I'm glad you stuck around though. It's almost over ^^), thewriterstory (You pointed out all my favorite parts! Thanks for reviewing!), discordchick (^^ I like that too, he's getting more and more comfortable with who he used to be. Thanks for the review!), jaguarspot (^^ lol), jensmit75 (Aw, thanks! I have several stories planned for the future, it all just depends on time ^^ Thanks so much!), pumpkin girl (No problem! Thanks for reviewing whenever you have the chance!), sv4me (Thanks! I loved that line ^^)


Chapter Nine

After the battle Clint was on an adrenaline high as he and the others arrived back at the tower. It felt like he could be everywhere and nowhere at one time the way his body was vibrating with excitement.

"That was amazing!" He told Tony and Steve animatedly as they gathered in the living area of the Avengers Tower. Bruce was in his room recovering from his time as the Hulk. Clint found it sad that the guy's transformation caused him so much pain when the results were so cool. All great things did come with a price though. At least Bruce was all right, that was all that really mattered to Clint.

Everyone was okay. It was like Tony had said in the briefing, the robots were more annoying than dangerous.

"We were amazing, weren't we?" Tony smiled smugly as he slapped Steve on the shoulder.

Captain America frowned ever so slightly at Stark as he spoke to Clint. "It's not always like that."

"What? Fun?" Clint asked, ignoring the sudden serious tone of the conversation. He was in a good mood and didn't feel like letting Cap rain on his parade.

"Yes." Natasha hissed, appearing next to Steve. "I told you this was a bad idea." She added, speaking directly to Steve.

"It wasn't a bad idea." Tony sang, not losing the lightness of his personality to join the others on the serious train. Clint grinned at him. At least one of them was on his side. "It was a great idea! Clint did epically! Didn't you Clint?"

Clint frowned ever so slightly. "Okay, it was awesome until you started talking to me like I was a dog that fetched a ball and brought it back." He harrumphed. "Come on, can't we just put all the serious crap away and celebrate for a moment? That was awesome. We saved the city from a lot of damage and now we need to bask in the victory. If Thor – " Clint stopped short immediately and all eyes were on him.

"If Thor?" Steve bravely prompted.

Clint's eyes snapped closed as searing pain rocked through his skull. No, he thought. He couldn't do this. It was more instinct now than anything else. He was more open to remembering now, but remembering the good would come with remembering all the bad, he'd had only a taste of the bad.

With a shake of his head, Clint raised a hand to fend off the pain that echoed throughout his brain. Fighting elements. It was a delicate battle silently raging. The room was deadly quiet around him as he struggled.

"I don't know." He managed after the pain had finally subsided and no new memories had risen. Maybe he'd been remembering all along but blocking it out. Vaguely he could picture what 'Thor' looked like. Blond. Big. Muscular. Loud. "He would want to celebrate. I think he would want to celebrate." Clint said quietly.

He'd been lying to himself. Forcing the memories away behind the wall that was guarding them. It wasn't his wall, it was foreign, something Reese and Randle had created to keep him in line.

Still, things slipped through. He dreamed even if he chose to forget the dreams once he was awake.

Clint looked around the room at the faces of his friends.

"Do you remember?" Tony asked. It was a bit surprising to hear the flamboyant man's voice tremble with what Clint thought might be fear. What did Tony have to fear? Maybe he was afraid he was wrong and Clint hadn't remembered anything new.

"I, it just slipped into my head. Thor. I can sort of picture him, I don't really remember, not really." Clint tried to explain. "I think I've been dreaming about things, but I don't remember them when I wake up." He shook his head. "It's all behind this wall in here." He pointed to his head. "I can't break it down." Granted, Clint added to himself, wincing at his own half-truth, he hadn't really tried to break it down.

Natasha's eyes locked with his and he distinctly saw her hope shining through. It was gone within seconds, but it had been there, easy for him to read. She wanted him back to normal.

"Good." She said abruptly. "Perhaps Bruce can teach you some meditation techniques to help you recall your dreams." Natasha offered quickly, but relaxed, like it wasn't a big deal if Clint accepted the offer or not. Except Clint knew for her it was a big deal.

Clint nodded mutely at that, his eyes suddenly fixed on the floor.

"You were right," Tony's loud voice chimed in suddenly. "Thor would want to celebrate so celebrate we shall! Too the bar!" He announced loudly, his finger thrusting up into the air, pointing to the ceiling, which added dramatic effect but didn't really make any sense.

Natasha glared at Tony, which made Clint giggle a quietly when Tony gave her a 'what'd I do?' look in return. "He doesn't drink." She hissed.

"The old Clint doesn't, this Clint is more open to experimentation." Tony grinned wildly.

Natasha huffed, glancing worriedly at Clint who shrugged a shoulder in silent response. Seemingly even more angered Natasha muttered angrily in Russian and left the room.

"Okay, so Red obviously isn't in, Cap?" Tony asked Steve who seemed to be processing everything that was happening.

Steve quickly shook his head. "No thanks, I think I'm going to go talk to Bruce about arranging that meditation for you." He told Clint.

Tony huffed like he was insulted. "Fine, be boring." He pointed a finger at Steve's chest before turning to Clint, stepping into Steve's line of sight of Clint purposefully. "Looks like it's just us cool cats, huh, Clint?"

Clint smirked a little. He understood why Natasha was worried and he understood why he should be weary of alcohol. Still, he never drank more than two beers, mostly because beer was disgusting. Clint liked hanging out with Tony though and Tony liked to drink. So it was an issue, but it was just a small issue.

"Yeah, it's their loss." Clint smirked.

"Score!" Tony literally beamed in response, which made everything okay. "Let's get out of these uniforms and let's go party!"

Fifteen minutes later and Tony and Clint were out on the streets of New York. It was nighttime in the city and Clint had never been out at night before. Any time he and Steve went for a walk or a run it had been during the day.

It was beautiful. Still loud and overpowering, but sparkling like stars. Clint's eyes were wide as he took everything in from the headlights and taillights of cars to the skyscrapers sparkling up above them. The streetlights were just as distracting and Tony snickered at him momentarily.

"You really need to get out more, Clint." Tony commented good-naturedly.

Clint smirked in response. "Yeah, you're probably right. I was afraid I'd get lost though." He admitted quietly.

"Well, any time you want to take a stroll, just let me know." Tony offered seriously. He slowed his steps and Clint looked at him, surprised to see a suddenly serious expression.

"Tony?" Clint inquired.

Tony glanced up from the spot on the ground he'd been staring at as they came to a stop. "Look. You're starting to remember so I think it's time we talk about something." Tony took a shaky breath that made Clint feel instantly nervous.

"What did I do?" Clint asked fearfully. Would it ruin their friendship? Clint wasn't sure if he could handle that. He liked the life he'd built and he wasn't sure if he could have everything ripped away from him again and survive it.

Sharply Tony shook his head. "No, it wasn't you, it was me." He shook his head again and sighed. "Well it wasn't – " Tony stopped, his head jerking a little to the side and his hand reaching up to his neck. "What the – "

Clint frowned and spotted the dart in Tony's hand in the dim light.

A sting sensation on his own neck caused him to glace towards the alleyway across the street. It was too dark to really see anything, or maybe it hadn't been as dark a few seconds before. Clint's mind started to fog up as he heard Tony collapse with a groan. Clint's own knees shook and gave under him, hitting the hard sidewalk.

He blinked up, the streetlight haloing the silhouette of a figure standing over him.

"Finally." A familiar voice spoke, but Clint couldn't place it before the darkness dragged him under.


The shit has hit the fan ^^ Also sorry for any horrendous mistakes, I wanted to get this out to you guys…

If I'm persuaded I might update again before the weekend is through…

Reviews and Reviewers are loved!