Hawkeye: Agony

My Story

"Clear!"
...
"Oh my god! He's breathing!"
"He's coming to!"
"Clint?! Clint!"
"Agent. Barton?"
"Why are we bothering, anyway?"
"Twas it not your fault he is in this state, Stark? Show thy dearest respect for the moment being."
"Shut up... Get your ass off my floor, Clint!"
"Tony!"

"It... It's fine, Steve."
My eyes reluctantly opened to focus on all the figures I had seen moments before, crowding over me - and I tried to sit up.
"No, it's not."
"Hey! Who'd you think payed for this floor?!"
"S.H.I.E.L.D, Stark! This is the Avengers facility - not your big; ugly skyscraper!"
"Hey!" Tony suddenly advances on Steve and grabs his arm - which Steve flicks away.
"Stop being such a jerk, Tony!"

I sat up slowly, to find that my hands were unchained to support me, "You didn't all need to watch me."
"See?! Even Clint understands!" Tony was pointing at me with an accusing finger wag.

"So... I'm not in my cell." I looked around, taking in the surroundings of the Avengers' lounge.
"And you should be. So let's go," Tony helps me to stand, before leading me towards the door.
"Tony," Steve said firmly, as if discussing this subject for hours, "We agreed that he knows more about our situation than any of us. He's staying."
Tony sighed and threw me back towards Steve, which forced me to stumble in to him.
"If he's staying, which I am highly against," Tony said as he arrived next to us, "He's being put under surveillance. Someone's always got to be with him."
Steve rolled his eyes at this, "Fine."
I quickly looked up, stunned - but I don't know why I was.
"... But I'm going be the one doing it. I know Clint hasn't done anything wrong."
I smiled and Tony opened his mouth in retaliation.
"... Nothing wrong that can't be redeemed."
Tony closed his mouth and crossed his arms, stubbornly - mumbling, "We caught him on camera, Steve. What more evidence do you need?"
"I have enough evidence to show Clint is also a good person."
"So. You admit that he's bad!"
I mumbled quietly, "Hey... I am here, guys."
"Don't push me, Clint."
"He has done some bad things, I admit. But he didn't mean it."
"But I did..." I said in a subservient way.
"But he did!"
"And he's helped us."
"I have..."
"He has... But! ..."
"And he's your friend." Steve said finally.
I didn't answer. Was I? I looked at Tony for his retaliation, that I evidently knew was coming.
"He... is?" Tony said in a whimpering, child's tone.
Me and Steve both looked shocked - clearly for different reasons.
"Of course he is!"
"I... I am?" Me and Tony exchanged a silent glance, and we could tell that we both had thought the other was clearly in despise.
Steve pulled us together and pulled out our hands - which shook, "See? Friends," He said with a triumphant smile.
"Well. That's not cheesy at all?"
I smirked, then laughed; pulling away my hand.
"I'm guessing I should... explain." I wiped my sweating palms on to my trousers as I sat down - looking around at all of them.
"You don't have to do this Clint," Natasha sat down beside me, and hugged my shoulders, "I can tell you don't want to."
"Yeah." Tony said quietly, "I'm not forcing you or anything..."
I smiled slightly, which had been a very uncommon action for me, during those last passing months, "No... No. I should."

And I took a deep breath in.

**

"I was seven; my brother nine. We were two young, orphaned children. Having stayed there for six years, we decided to run.
We escaped to a carnival, where a man named the Swordsman chose me as an apprentice for his part of the show, and... a little extra trouble on the side.

It took until a few months later where I discovered his plans for us were a lot more than just performing. And I was hurt a lot because of how much I found out.

My brother scolded me for not remaining loyal to our mentor - and left as soon as he realised his shot was finished.

Despite this, he asked me to come with him - as he wanted to join the army. But I refused.

Which was stupid of me because..." My voice choked and I looked down.

"He said that the next morning, he would wait for me. The offer he had made still standing...

He waited for me - I hope. At the bus stop... but I didn't go with him..." My voice turning in to a whisper as I choked on the words I was speaking.

"All this time he never knew... that I came to that bus stop... but it was too late by the time I had arrived.

And I was forced back in to the life of the Swordsman."

**

Tony spoke quietly, so as not to push me - his voice sounded sorrowful, which is the last thing I wanted, "So. What about the Circus, Clint?"

"In short. I was forced on to a new master. His name was ...cough... Trickshot... He made me Hawkeye."

"Oh my god... Clint..."

I didn't want to say any more than this. My voice was clearly choking and no more words could form in the back of my throat. Not because this was bad - this was the least of my problems.
But because I knew that what was left to say, would surely leave me without the Avengers.

**

Before anything more could be said, I got up and walked out of the room - Steve was quickly following.

"Clint, you're here now. That wasn't so bad... was it?"
I turned sharply to face him, making Steve jump back.
"That...wasn't all of it."
"Well... Do you want to talk about it?" He tried to sound civil; even comforting. But I just wanted him to leave.
"No," I said coldly, "No I don't; If I did, I would've said."
And I walked off to my room, slamming my door behind me.

**

Steve came knocking on the door a few hours later.
"Tony says you can't sleep in here, Clint. You're still a prisioner, you know," He knocked on the door once more and entered.

I was crying in to my pillow; shaking; pale faced - but asleep.

What do I tell him now?