Chapter 14 ~ Clint's POV:

I sit down on the couch with Nat and everyone else joins us in the living area. Aliyah and Lucas sit on their knees by the coffee table where Pepper has put out various art supplies. I sigh and Nat squeezes my hand knowing I don't like telling my story very much.

"They're our team now, we have to trust them." She says and looks at me lacing our fingers gently. "I'm here and I'll tell mine when the time comes."

I kiss her cheek and nod squeezing her hand gently. "You're right, Tasha but I just don't like going into detail about my past."

"I know and I'm the same way" She leans into me and sighs. "But I'm here and you can do this."

"Alright so...you joined the circus?" Tony asks as he sits down beside Pepper in a chair and a half.

"Sort of..." I sigh and take a deep breath. "Much like quite few of the agents at S.H.I.E.L.D. my brother and I were orphaned as young kids. He was 10 and I was 8 at the time. All we knew then was that they died from a car accident. From the moment we were put in foster care, we hated it. We ran off after the first night in a new home. We found a carnival traveling through and snuck on one of the trucks before they left. Of course we got caught the next morning by the adults and we told them our story. They let us stay but made us work to stay, feed the animals or help in whatever ways we could.

"After some time, we got pretty interested in the acts there in the carnival. One was an archery thing and I knew I wanted to do that. So, the guy, John was his name took me in and taught all he knew. Barney didn't like it at all, said it wasn't a practical talent. After a couple more years on the road with these people, they really became our family and we felt at home with them. One day after a show, Barney and I got in a big fight about something really stupid. I don't even remember what it was."

"Didn't you say it was over a girl?" Nat says and I look at her with a smirk.

"Of course you remember." I chuckle and she smiles leaning her head on my shoulder for a moment. "Anyways, it was about a girl Barney said he met after the show and wanted to run off with her. I got annoyed and popped off because I thought he was nuts for just wanting to run from the family we had finally felt a part of."

I sigh and rub my hands over my face feeling Nat's hand rub over my shoulder. "We, uh ended up getting in a pretty bad fight and the next thing I remember is waking up in a ditch with some pretty bad marks. Yes, my brother and the carnival had left me thinking I was dead."

"Oh Clint, that's terrible!" Pepper exclaims and I shrug.

"Oh that's not the worst part though. After months of trying my best to find them all, I started really getting in trouble. I had no food or money so I just kept stealing stuff and finding places to stay. I had turned into someone I always swore I wouldn't be a thief and a coward." I sigh and lean back. "So long story short, S.H.I.E.L.D caught up with me and sent an agent to take me down. Needless to say I took the agent down easily with a bow and arrow set I stole from a hunting place."

"Even then you were a Robin Hood?" Stark chuckles and Natasha laughs.

"Haha, yeah. Anyways the next time they sent more than one agent and Coulson was there this time. They took me in and said they would train me to be a better person, teach me to take down the people I always hated. The reason I hated those kind of people was because after a lot of digging around, I found out my parents were killed by some thugs. The accident was a fake to keep Barney and I safe and keep us from being too curious." I sigh and put my face in my hands.

"It's okay, Clint…" Nat whispers in my ear and rubs my arm.

"You've been through a lot, man." Steve says and I look at him shrugging.

"Mine is nothing compared to Natasha's history but that's for another time." I say and lean back taking my wife's hand gently. "Alright, where was I? Oh right, I was taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. and at that time I was thirteen. I was put through a lot of the basic courses which at that time were simpler than they are now. Basic training in weapons, tactical, physical, everything…I actually enjoyed it for quite some time. I was put through more training when S.H.I.E.L.D. decided I was ready to be put in on missions but with a team of other agents that have trained with me.

"For about two years, I worked on missions with a team of four men or five with Coulson as our leader who stayed on Comm with us all. We didn't do anything too difficult really, bring in new recruits or people S.H.I.E.L.D. saw as a threats. One mission was all it took for Coulson and Director Fury to see my potential. This particular mission wasn't a very tricky one until the two guys we were bringing in decided to get rough with us. One had knocked out two of the agents and the other was holding a knife to the last guy's throat. I had managed to get free from one of the idiots and cuff him easily, he wasn't very big. I turned to see the other guy holding my friend with a knife and took him down with a shot from my gun. Normally we were all instructed to stay away from killing anyone but this time it had to be done."

"You had your first kill at age fifteen?" Steve asks and I nod.

"That's honorable where I'm from and you saved your comrades." Thor says in his deep voice and nods.

"I was congratulated and placed higher up in ranks for saving an agent's life. I finally got to pick my own weapon and yes, Stork it was a bow and arrow set." I chuckle and look at him to see his mouth open just as I knew ready to ask that question. "As practical as a gun can be and I will use one occasionally, I just love the feel of a bow and arrow."

"You're a better shot with a bow." Nat says and smiles as I look at her.

"I will be one day too, Мама." Lucas says looking up at us from his drawing.

"I know you will be just like your dad, my little hawk." Nat grins and leans down to kiss his head.

"And no one beats your shot with that Glock 26, baby." I smirk and kiss her cheek.

"Enough cute stuff! What happened next, Legolas?" Stark says and I glare at him.

"Call me that again and you'll find an arrow in that suit of yours." I threaten and Nat giggles uncharacteristically for her around other people. "Anyways...the missions I was assigned to next were still simple but a whole lot more fun. I either had to bring in recruits or take down threats. I actually get to take them down too not just bring them in for S.H.I.E.L.D to handle. I did these type of missions for a long time and still do if I'm needed."

"You became an assassin for S.H.I.E.L.D?" Bruce asks and I nod.

"Basically, yes. And I know it's immoral but without S.H.I.E.L.D think about where you'd be today?" I say and look around to everyone.

"I'd be dead...I wouldn't have ever gotten in the Army." Steve mutters and looks down.

"I wouldn't have gotten back to Asgard..." Thor mutters and sighs.

"I'd still be in hiding, I guess." Bruce shrugs and places his arm along the back of the couch.

"I honestly don't know...I'd just be myself." Tony looks down and shrugs.

"You'd be lost without this group, Tony." Pepper says and looks at him.

"I'd either be dead or still in Russia..." Nat whispers and I feel her shiver.

"Yep and I'd still be some thief lying for food and money. S.H.I.E.L.D has helped us or at least changed all of our lives in some way." I say and wrap my arm around Nat's shoulders.

"So, who wants to tell their story next?" Steve asks looking at each of us and everyone stays quiet for a long moment.

"I'll go…" Nat speaks up and I look at her shocked because normally she shies away from telling her story in any way.

Hello, everyone! I know it's been a while but I get terrible writer's block and then always just get distracted. I would love if you all would go on my profile and take my poll. I need your opinions and if you want message me with questions! Thanks so much! Reviews are much appreciated!(: