Characters: Bruce Banner & Clint Barton
Summary: A short conversation featuring Clint Barton on the subject of "friendship, unity, and all that crap" and Bruce Banner on acceptable risks.
Continuation of 10 Songs Challenge, written to "I'm Still Here (Jim's Theme)". Sorry for lack of updating, been recovering from (again) destroying my shoulder.
Part VIII: Questioning
Unfortunately, it was Clint that caught Bruce trying to sneak out of the mission. Tony would have been easy to distract, Natasha wouldn't have been caught in the vicinity after his last Hulk-out, and Steve would have accepted his reasons as they were. Thor would have tried to understand, but would have acknowledged that his ignorance probably stopped him from being able to give decent advice or to pass judgment.
"Where you going, man?" Clint prompted from his position blocking Bruce's escape. The archer leaned in the doorway, arms crossed and one foot casually propped against the opposite side of the door frame.
"I'm out," Bruce replied. "I'm not going to be the weak link anymore."
Clint's face darkened slightly, but the archer remained casual. "Care to elaborate?"
"I almost killed Tony today. His suit saved him, but the Hulk was out of control. What if it's Steve next time? Or Natasha, or you? The two of you are –"
"Human," Clint supplied helpfully. "Very squishy, if we want to use the technical term for it."
"It's not a joke," Bruce snapped, and for a moment, he allowed himself to enjoy the anger before he shuffled it away. It was a rare luxury, one subverted by the Hulk's growl in the back of his mind.
"I didn't take it as one. If you're worried about being the weak link, look at Nat and me. The two of us are, as you pointed out, human. If anyone's going to let the team down, it'll probably be us. Well, me, really. Natasha's a whole category unto herself."
Bruce shook his head, but Clint cut him off.
"I know what the Hulk can do. Seen it first hand – I helped clean up Harlem, because I had an apartment there at the time. Doesn't mean I don't trust you now."
"Clint, I could-"
"Yeah, you could," the archer casually fingered the end of his bow. "Except so could Tony, if the tech gets out of hand. So could Thor, if he decided he didn't want to be a friendly. So could Natasha if we find out that SHIELD didn't wipe all her old triggers – Hydra may have wanted to leave something behind."
Bruce locked his jaw. "It's diff-"
"And I did, Bruce. Remember the helicarrier? I did, Bruce. We're still not sure how many agents I killed. Bruce, we need you on the team. You think I could take out numbers like you do? Or even Rogers – can he throw a car to take out heavy hitters like the Hulk can? Or what about when you managed to rewrite the formula for the portals when you were helping Jane? We need you, Bruce. Doesn't matter if you Hulk out or not, we do."
Bruce stopped. Paused. Considered. Took a step back.
Clint smiled, and took a step forward, door swinging closed behind him. "Thank God," he said roughly. "I had this whole spiel about friendship and unity and all that crap, and I really didn't want to spout it off."
Bruce chuckled quietly. "I bet you did," he said.
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