Under or Over: Hawkeye & Black Widow

CHAPTER #55

"So where exactly in Japan are we going?" Clint asked.

Bird replied, "Mount Shirane, Gunma."

"Great more mountains," Clint grumbled.

"Relax," Natasha said, "we'll be staying at Kusatsu Onsen hotel.  It has hot springs."

"Nice and S.H.E.I.L.D. knows they're paying for it?"

"Yes and no," Natasha replied.

"Gee thanks for clarifying.  Whatever, not having to sleep outdoors is cool with me.  Are we spending more time in the area then?"

"Possibly.  I have a side project for Fury that I need to deal with, that doesn't require both of us present.  So you'll have a few days on your own to explore."

"Cool," Clint said.

"Sir I would recommend you check out the Circus school in the Kanto region.  Jarvis mentioned that you use to work in that industry before becoming an agent," Bird added.

Clint nodded his head, a far away look came into his eyes. "I might just do that.  The japanese are known for being amazing acrobats and are skilled in weaponry." He said nothing after that, lost in his past.

Romanoff was preoccupied herself, so she paid no mind to Barton's silence.  She was use to him not talking, sometimes for hours. Riding in Bird, even when super sonic, seemed like it took forever to get to their location.  The space was cramped and she decided that when they returned to the USA, maybe her charm would work on Stark to give her BIRD #2. At last they arrived at the hotel.  Romanoff took care of their check in and room keys, not even noticing Barton remained silent, lost in thought. It wasn't until they were in their room and he didn't make any comment that she noticed.

"Hey what's with you?" Natasha asked.

Clint looked up when she spoke, "nothing.  What time do you want to meet for dinner?"

She shrugged, "in two or three hours."

"Okay, I'll be back by then." Was all he said and then left.

Natasha frowned and said into the silence of the room, "I wonder what's got under his skin."

** ~ ~ ~ ~ ~**~ ~ ~ ~ ~ **

Barton's mind was on his past.  When Bird had mentioned the circus, it brought back memories of his childhood. Maybe it was the atmosphere of the hotel, being so tranquil and he didn't need to be guarded.  Whatever it was, his past came flooding into his mind.  He didn't miss his brother, there was just too much bad blood, but thoughts of their adventures as children surfaced.  He didn't remember much before the car accident that took his parents' lives, most of the memories were from the orphanage and circus. He'd been twelve when they had escaped the orphanage and began working at the Carson Carnival of Travelling Wonders.  First he'd been a maintenance worker or roustabout.  Then eventually became a performer, being trained by Jacques Duquesne, aka Swordsman.  Later he was also trained by Buck Chisholm, aka Trickshot.  It was Buck who had trained him on how to use a bow and arrow, sculpting him into a great archer.  But both Swordsman and Trickshot were scam artists.  His brother fell in with the wrong people, enjoying the criminal element, which put distance between him and his brother.  Barton recalled how he had lashed out at his mentor Trickshot, when their plan had resulted in injuring his brother.  No matter how much resentment and hostility he had for his brother, he could never kill him. After parting ways with Trickshot, he'd wandered between carnivals, working for various circuses, developing his alias Hawkeye.  He'd become a vigilante and eventually met Romanoff.  Initially she'd tricked him into working against Stark's Iron Man, but he wised up and soon enough became an Avenger himself.  The rest was history.