and if you have a minute why don't we go (talk about it somewhere only we know)

- Chapter 8 -

It took a moment for the sound to register in his mind until the volume was so loud it was impossible to ignore. It grew and grew, louder with every second. They were almost here and Clint could tell it wasn't just a few of them.

He saw a flash of red and in the blink of an eye, the rubble covering the entrance to the hangar was wiped from view. Wanda was standing there with a terrified look, like she had witnessed a ghost flash before her. He had only seen that look once before, when he was watching the aftermath of Nigeria flashing along his television. He caught a glimpse of her face and never had he seen someone so horrified.

That same face was plastered along her now. He knew why.

He glanced back at Natasha, flickered his eyes down to her lips, and took off with her towards where Wanda stood. She had begun to sob uncontrollably as Clint got his first view of what was headed there direction. Dozens of assorted police cars, SWAT teams, and government officials were headed right for them. This was it. There was no escaping that.

Clint knew he wouldn't get far if he ran and it would be a lot worse if he got caught doing so. He took Wanda's hand and looked at her somberly before embracing her sobs. When she finally controlled her weeping, he gazed along the remainder of the wreckage, in search of the remaining 7 members who were scattered among the airport.

He counted Wanda, the Scott-giant guy, and that kid that Tony brought. Everyone else was out of sight.

"Where's everyone else?" Natasha asked Wanda.

"You didn't see?" Wanda responded questioningly.

Clint instantly shot back. "See what? What happened?"

Wanda took in a deep sigh. "It's Rhodey. V-Vision was aiming for Sam's glider but he-he accidentally hit Rhodes. He fell out of the damn sky. Tony and Same tried to catch him but they weren't fast enough. I think they're over there still. I don't even know if he's alive." She choked out the last part.

"How the hell did we let it get this bad?" Nat asked rhetorically.

Clint sighed and took her hand, turning to make eye contact with her. She leaned her head over on his shoulder momentarily, before their impending doom hit mere minutes later. He soaked in everything about her presence for what might be the last time before he was taken away and punished with who knows what. He only knew one thing. Whatever happened, he knew he would choose her. Everything had changed. From now on, it was forever and always, Tasha.