The Avengers x Y/N Barton

Pt. 7

Somebody's fixed the engines - you're no longer losing the altitude, Hulk is either gone or gone, because the aircraft isn't quaking anymore.

The more thoughts you're giving to what you just went through, the more curious you're about what the others are doing.

You find yourself worrying about them, although not even ten minutes ago you despised them all. Everybody loathed everybody on that matter. It was an awful climate. It felt like you weren't yourself, more like you were under some kind of external power, like you were led to feel and express all the antagonism.

The reciprocated moods have a single common denominator – your laboratory. Your laboratory with Loki's Scepter in there. The very spear which with he's changed your brother and Erik beyond recognition.

Only now, on your way to the detention level, you notice how much your body hurts. No wonder since your already bruised ribs served as a mattress when you not so gently fell to the ground multiple times, and your legs are sore from bolting to escape 'The other guy'.

Sound of stride on a platform near you snaps you out of your contemplation. You'd recognize the cadence anywhere at any time, Clint's gait is unmistakable.

Slipping in a shadow, you swiftly, still as a mouse, sneak behind him. All your physical distress is erased by an adrenalin rush in your bloodstream when you see his back turned to you just like a month ago during your last training with him. Lesson learned and the word of advice taken, you attack soundlessly.

He turns abruptly, angling and letting go already set arrow. You grab ahold of his weapon and by the skin of your teeth sidestep from the aim. Twisting the bow to cross his arms, you drop on one knee, trying to snatch it out of his firm grasp.

He withdraws it from your hands and lands a punch on your cheek, tearing your skin open with his knuckles.

Seizing on bars of the railings along the platform, you steady yourself and place a strong kick square onto his chest. He composes his balance and repays your move. You parry smoothly and connect your fist with his jaw.

Watching him set another arrow, you quickly slither down on lower level to hide. Clint jumps after you and lands with wide stance, unintentionally creating space for you to slide between his legs, leap onto his back and lock his head in a chokehold to cut his access to the oxygen.

He flips you roughly over his body while loosening grip on the bow, giving you an opportunity to disarm him.

Realizing you took possession of it, he pulls out a knife and lunges forward to stab you. Gliding the bow in the air, you knock the blade out of his hand and immediately charge at him.

His vision gets blotchy and he collapses to the floor as you slam the bow's upper limb on his temple, then headslam him hard against the railings.

He pants heavily, head tilted upward as you tower above him. "Y/N?" His face regains typic features, including the spark in his eyes.

You smother your desire to spare him, and with a forcible lash render him unconscious.

----

Back in the briefing room with Tony and Steve, Fury tosses Phil's bloodied cards on the table. He confesses in a plan to build an arsenal with the Tesseract by using your and Erik's intellect.

It comes to light Tony knew about Fury's idea called 'The Avengers Initiative'. It was to bring together a group of remarkable people to see if they could become even more. To see if they could work together, when the world needed them to, to fight the battles that humankind never could.

"Phil Coulson died still believing in that idea," Fury utters. "In heroes."

The cards shake as you hammer the heel of your palm on the desk, knowing well Phil's always stored them in his locker, not in his jacket. If this is some kind of pushing the team into further cooperation, it's twisted and manipulative.

"I'd lie if I told she doesn't scare me," Tony furrows his brows while watching you leaving wordlessly.

----

"You're going to be alright," Natasha's voice floats around.

Clint grunts, trying to flush out the residue of Loki's inprint. "You know that?"

"It's gonna take time," she comforts him, not sure if she doesn't play with fire.

"You don't understand. Have you ever had someone take your brain and play?"

"You know that I do."

Washroom door flies open as you walk out of there, patched up and in new uniform. "You got stupid question, bro," you tut. "Perhaps you need another strike?"

"I'll give you some space," Natasha winks at you and leaves to look for the other team members.

Senses scrambled, Clint seeks a context. "How did you get him out?"

"Cognitive recalibration. I had to beat him out of you."

He watches you unfasten one of the straps pinning him to a camp-bed. "You beat my ass."

"Technically speaking, the other end. I hit you really hard on the head."

"Thanks," one arm free, he massages his scalp. "Y/N, how many agents did I-"

You unlock the last strap and look him dead in the eye. "Don't. Don't do that to yourself. Loki's a monster. His magic is nothing anyone was trained for."

Guilt etches into Clint's face when you tell him Loki escaped and Phil was killed trying to prevent him from doing so.

"We have to stop him," you conclude resolutely though after Fury's speech you didn't want to be involved.

"I hope 'we' doesn't include you. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Now you sound like you." You have him back and his protective instincts, too.

"But you don't. You're a scientist, not a..." he's suddenly aware of absence of your white lab coat. The uniform sits so easily with you. Doctor Two-Face. "... not a soldier."

Natasha walks in and makes a sound to mimic a blare. "Wrong! She's both. Besides, Banner and Thor are nowhere to be found, we need someone who understands the Cube. And can kick ass."

"Y/N, do you fly one of those jets?" Steve's right behind her, his eyes fixated to you.

"I can fly," Clint offers.

You nod at Steve, assuring him Clint's fully himself. "And I'll override the system to get the authorization to leave."

You come running onto the bridge and log in the computer.

"Agent Barton." Fury clears his throat when you give him no response. "Agent Barton," he repeats.

You spin your chair to face him as if nothing happened, screen turned off, system overrode. "I believe agent Barton is in the clinic room with agent Romanoff, sir. I'll go get him," you arise from the chair and head for the exit.

"Doctor, we both know he's waiting on bay six," Fury's hand on your shoulder stops you in your tracks. "And you better start getting used to being addressed as agent Barton."

"Sir?" You don't see the reason.

He turns the screen on, showing you green flashing frame Departure authorized. "You just passed the field exam."