A/N: Hey y'all! I'm sober this time, promise! I both had hoped to update sooner, but hadn't expected to update this soon. Confusing, yes, but I'll explain after the chapter. Yes, it's on the shorter side. I hope not to disappoint!
Also, y'all...because this won't mesh with the end A/N, question: Romance? Yes? No? Let me know, please~
If Clint had ever asked anyone what interpersonal skills he lacked, they probably would have told him 'the general inability to be tactful in his approach of delicate matters,' followed closely by 'not knowing when to quit.'
At least, that's what he told himself as he sat in silence in the same room the team had had the movie night in. Nothing was on the screen.
He had tried to talk with Tony about his concerns. About how he believed Tony's becoming the public figurehead was, while necessary, poorly executed. About how Tony needed to put the alcohol down, or at least ease up on it. At least, that was what he had wanted to talk about.
He hadn't thought of the actual words, once he was able to speak with Tony. He vaguely remembered saying something along the lines of, "You need to cut this out, Stark."
The conversation only went downhill from there. It had ended with the men yelling at each other, and Tony banning Clint from the labs.
Pepper found Clint some time later, still staring at the blank screen.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Do you have some ability to just know when things go wrong and where?" Clint responded. He really didn't want to talk about what had happened. Not at that moment, and definitely not with the woman he thought Tony to be in a relationship with.
"I don't think anyone survives at Stark Industries without being able to know when something's gone wrong before it spirals out of control," Pepper smiled, attempting to lighten the mood.
"I wish I could tell you that you're not too late for that," Clint sighed.
Clint wound up telling Pepper everything he knew. He wasn't sure how the woman had coaxed it out of him. Hell, he wasn't even sure Pepper had coaxed it out of him.
Pepper wasn't upset, exactly. Worried, frustrated, and already planning three steps ahead where Clint thought he was struggling to even get footing. But not upset.
Clint reminded himself that Pepper was stronger than she looked. Sure, she wasn't a member of the Avengers. But still, he doubted the Avengers would exist without her.
No, he reminded himself, Tony wouldn't exist without her. And the Avengers wouldn't exist without Tony.
Bruce ran into Thor in the elevator. Both of them were surprised – Thor that he had managed to make unplanned contact in such a large tower, Bruce that Thor used elevators when he wasn't following someone.
"Have you spoken with Clint about Tony yet?" Thor asked as the doors closed.
"Not yet," Bruce shook his head, "I haven't even seen him since Breakfast."
Thor nodded, and then his expression shifted. Bruce could tell Thor had just had some sort of revelation when Thor spoke again.
"Jarvis, what is the current location of Clint 'Hawkeye' Barton?"
"At present, he is in the dining room," the AI responded.
"Thank you," Thor replied, pressing the corresponding floor button.
Bruce studied the demigod for a moment, making the mental note that Thor's intelligence should not be underestimated.
As Bruce and Thor exited the elevator, their eyes came to rest on Clint, who was sitting at the table alone and silent. An unspoken alarm passed between the two as they made their way over to the table. The tension around the archer was almost tangible.
"Well, someone's early for dinner," Bruce joked in an attempt to lighten the mood. Clint attempted a smile, but it came across more as a grimace.
"I...wasn't really up for anything," Clint shrugged.
"What happened?" Thor asked, his tone managing a softness that took away from the question's bluntness.
Clint looked up at the other two, his expression betraying his unwillingness to talk. "I tried to talk to Tony about my concerns."
Bruce's eyes widened just a little, the only mark that he could see where this was headed. "And how did that go?"
"Well, I've been banned from the lab, and I can see why Steve wasn't fond of getting into a shouting match with the man," Clint said, hoping that would be enough of an answer.
Thor nodded. Bruce shook his head. Clint knew the conflicting gestures meant the same thing: A silent resignation that the situation was what it was, and they couldn't change it right now. Clint felt a twinge of guilt that he couldn't fully understand.
"At least you tried, which is more than the rest of us have done," Bruce offered.
"I believe the question now is, where do we go from here?" Thor asked.
"We go very carefully," Steve said as he entered the room. The other three blinked in surprise. "Jarvis suggested I join you," was all the explanation he offered.
"What do you mean, both of you?" Clint sounded almost affronted.
"We're all worried about Tony," Bruce started, "but seeing that direct confrontation won't work, we need to figure out how to keep him safe from himself while still remaining safe ourselves."
"I just don't see why we're all taking this so hard," Clint shook his head, "Not his drinking. I mean Tony being the public figurehead. Thor was right the other night – there is no one better for the position."
Bruce glanced over at Steve, silently asking if he had missed something. Steve gave a subtle nod. Bruce gave an even more subtle shrug, and pressed on, "Perhaps it's because the end of that press conference illustrated that we're in even more danger than we had originally thought," the scientist offered, scanning his team mates' faces.
"How long do you think you can really protect the identities of your fellow Avengers?" The question replayed through all of their minds. If they had to pinpoint it, that was the moment Tony was secured the spotlight.
"Do you truly believe that having your...our...identities and/or whereabouts revealed would be as much of a security risk as we have been saying it would be?" Thor broke the silence. His tone lacked the sense of conviction the demigod's words normally held.
"Yes," Steve replied, his tone picking up the conviction Thor's seemed to have lost, "And not just because of those who blame us for the attacks. Yes, those individuals and groups would be the biggest security threat. However, those who think us heroes could pose a problem as well."
"How so?" Thor inquired, perplexed.
"We'd never get a moment's privacy again," Bruce shook his head. The other three turned towards him, the gravity of his statement hitting all three of them differently.
"I can only imagine an army of fangirls and fanboys storming the tower, and then starting international search parties if they wouldn't find us here." It was Clint's turn to shake his head.
Bruce laughed first. Then Thor. Then Steve. Clint couldn't help but laugh, too. It started as almost a nervous titter, but quickly gained force until all four of them were howling with laughter, making semi-coherent jokes about hero-worshipers and fan service.
As the laughter died down, Bruce managed, "The thing is, there is no security system in the world that could hold off the fans."
"Excuse me, sir, but I will have you know that I am more than capable of locking the doors," Jarvis cut in.
The laughter started up again, stronger this time.
Ultimately, the four of them had worked out a plan for monitoring Tony. They had recruited Jarvis in their plan. The AI had been more than happy to comply.
Jarvis was to alert any of the four of them if Tony started to drink to the point where the AI would suggest he stop. No alerting if Tony was in earshot.
Thor and Bruce would be in charge of more casual interactions. Clint would talk to Pepper about an intervention. Steve would make sure no one bit off more than they could chew.
It wasn't much of a plan, but it was something to start from.
Dinner had gone relatively smoothly. Tony was silent throughout most of the meal, apparently still upset with Clint.
Pepper had said she would take care of the dishes. Clint offered to help her, but she shooed him away.
Clint had gone back in after everyone cleared out, telling Steve he was going to talk to Pepper then, dishes or not.
Steve had wished him luck and given him the best smile he could manage.
Thor had stumbled across Steve in one of the various areas that functioned as a study. It was late, some time past eleven-thirty at night.
"What are you still doing awake at this hour, Steven?" Thor asked, sitting on the couch across from the super soldier.
"Can't sleep yet. Yourself?"
"I do not require as much sleep as mortals do."
"Better reason than mine," Steve stretched, a yawn overtaking him involuntarily.
"I believe it is my turn to ask you as you have asked me twice. How do you deal with everything so well?"
Steve blinked. Thor's eyes showed a mix of demand and concern as they met his.
"I don't really have any other choice, do I?" Steve's question was more of a statement.
Thor knew it was rhetorical, but asked anyways, "What do you mean? Are there not always choices available?"
Steve sighed, rubbing his temple a bit. "I guess there are other choices. But none that I make available for myself."
Thor nodded, the now all-too-familiar gesture borderlining on out of place. "I suppose. But is that not how you risk blinding yourself to what could be out there?"
Steve looked taken back a bit. The two sat in silence for a few moments before Thor spoke.
"I am sorry, Steven. I do not mean to pry unnecessarily."
"No, no," Steve said, "It's alright. Someone had to ask that question."
"But do you feel that you have to answer?"
"I know there is a lot out there. Some of it may be better, some of it may be worse. But I don't feel right focusing on my own comfort before I know that everyone else is alright."
The two sat in silence again, Thor studying Steve and Steve studying Thor.
"Let me know if there is anything I can do to assist you, Steven."
Steve gave a weak smile, but it was the most sincere smile he'd given in a few days. "Just promise me you're as alright as you appear."
"I assure you, if that changes, I will let you know," Thor offered a smile in return to reassure the man.
"Thank you, Thor."
"Thank you, Steven, for your service to this team."
Steve tried to reply, but only yawned.
"You may want to get some rest," Thor suggested, helping Steve stand.
"Yeah. It's about time," Steve stifled another yawn.
The two walked to the elevator in another comfortable silence.
This time, Steve's elevator arrived first. Thor placed his hand on Steve's shoulder as they waited for the doors to open.
"Be well, my friend," Thor said.
"I will. You, too," Steve replied as the doors opened. He could feel Thor watching him go. When the doors close, Steve let out a sigh as he propped himself up against the elevator walls.
"When did I get so tired?" he asked himself, "And when did I get tired enough that just the hand of another man...god...was as much reassurance as hugs used to be?"
Steve laughed for the second time that day, only this time the laugh had a hallow quality to it.
As Thor waited for his elevator, he found himself nearly mimicking Bruce's head shake.
"There is still much work to be done, both for the city and for this team," he said to himself.
A/N: Okay, maybe not that much shorter. Whoops? But anywho, I'm not normally one for posting anything about my offline life, but this is actually something really, really important to me. (And very relevant fr me right now.)
If you or anyone you know is either considering suicide, or is showing the red flags, please get help. Let someone know. There comes a time when it's too late to help someone, and being left behind sucks.
I'll be fine given time. But any hope of a schedule for writing's gone to the wayside as I deal with this.