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

- Chapter 9 -

They had them separated, Clint and the remainder of Cap's allies on the ground and in cuffs. No matter what they had done, Clint thought their methods to be absolutely barbaric. They were loading Wanda into a straight jacket for fucks sake.

Clint was so done. "You know she's a fucking kid right Ross? Or wait I forgot, you only give a shit about your ego and not what's actually right."

"Mr. Barton, if anyone has a faulty sense of what's ethical, it's this little circus troupe of yours. Another word out of your mouth and you won't see anything but the inside of a prison cell for the next 20 years." he spat in Clint's ear.

He scoffed. He had never been fond of the word "circus" and coming out of Ross's mouth had hit a nerve that hadn't been triggered in a while. He knew he fucked up but this was extreme. For the first time in a long time, Clint was silently anxious about what the future held. He knew he was going to jail, but for how long? He had no idea. How long before he could live a normal life again? Before he could see Natasha?

God, the universe hasn't changed one bit. It rang through his mind. Every time he had gotten a smidgen of pleasure in his life, it was immediately retaliated with an even harsher punishment. It had happened with Loki, S.H.I.E.L.D., Ultron, his family, and now even with Nat. He was so sick of it all. His life couldn't just be normal for one goddamn second.

Even throughout all this chaos and confusion, Clint's thoughts remained focused on Natasha. He was finally taking it in. He had kissed Natasha....and it was everything and more. That confusion and treacherous path had finally become straight and forward. He understood it now, his love for her. It was familial whatsoever, in fact it was quite the opposite. He wanted needed to kiss her. He needed to tell her, he loved her.

He couldn't see her while he was pinned down but he overheard her voice. She was talking to Ross, he assumes.

"I need to talk to him, just for a moment, please."

"I'm afraid that's not possible Ms. Romanoff. You're lucky you're not headed where they are after the shenanigans you pulled off here."

"Please. Just two minutes is all I need. Please just let me say goodbye."

He had never heard Natasha beg, ever. He couldn't hear the remainder of the conversation but the next thing he knows, he's being seated upwards and she's standing there in front of him.

"I-I don't know what to do Clint and I-I'm scared. They're gonna take you away and I-", she didn't finish.

"Hey, look at me." His hands were still bound so he couldn't grasp her neck, but she turned anyways. "You can do this ok? I promise I will figure this out and no matter what happens, I will never leave you. Even if I'm stuck in there for a couple years, I will never leave you ok?"

She hugged him tightly and cried into his shoulder.

"Promise me you won't. Promise me you'll be back."

"Even if they put me on another planet, I'll be there." He chuckled a little, trying to lighten her mood even the slightest bit.

She smiled through her tear stained cheeks. She still more beautiful than Aphrodite herself. He captured that mental image of her beauty, clinging to it, never letting go.

"Natasha-" he whispered, glancing to see if anyone was watching. Only Ross and a few men in charge of containing him.

"Yeah?" She looked up at him.

"I love you. I love you more than life itself. I have always loved you and I will continue to love you for as long as I live. I just...I've been an idiot and I've wasted time and now I'm wasting even more. But I need you to know, I love you moy pauk."

She kissed him and he spent his every breathe indulging in it, deepening it, not wasting a moment because he knew it would be the last for a while.

"Moy yastreb-"

"Alright that's enough lovebirds." Ross demanded as he pulled Natasha by the arm, away from Clint.

"Wait. Wait!" she struggled against him, breaking free.

"You go back and you're going along with 'em in one of those cells."

She stared at him. He mouthed I love you and she turned with Ross back to the crowd with Tony and whoever else dodged getting sent away. He took one last look at her, staring until she was out of sight. They loaded him into a SWAT truck along with Sam and Scott. At least he told her.

At least he told her.