Hope Found

A New Emotion

           

All guns train on me, Natasha forgotten, and the emotion takes over pushing the charged red energy toward them. It is almost too easy. I vaguely notice the red head staring at me as I incapacitate them and then head to the living area. I hear sounds of fighting as I reach the living room, the emergency lights still flashing. I take in the sight in front of me.

Steve and Tony are to the right surrounded by attackers heavily outnumbered. Wanda and Pietro are to the left, while they have less attackers they are still outnumbered. Clint is circling the fights shooting arrows and taking out people on the outskirts. I hear a loud roar behind me that would have shocked me if my powers weren't on.

            "Thor, Natasha, take care of Banner. We've got the tower," Steve orders. Anger pours from me as my energy grows. I don't quite understand why but for some reason I feel protective over these people. Or maybe I do but I don't want to admit it. The energy flows out as I enter the fray. Acting on instinct I use the energy taking person after person down. The others seem shocked at first but quickly recover and soon the last intruder drops.

            As soon as my body realizes the threat is no more, the energy and emotion leave my body feeling drained. I slump to my knees exhausted. Wanda and Pietro race over to me. I ignore them and glance around at all the still bodies. What did I do? I look down at my hands which are beginning to shake

            "You did what you had to do. You saved us," Wanda says as if she knows exactly what I am thinking. I look up and see her eyes were, very slightly, glowing red. I realize she did know what I am thinking because it is her power. I break eye contact and continue to stare at my hands.

            "How did they get in here Stark?" asks Steve.

            "That's a great question. I wonder who knows the answer," His voice sounds harsh. I glance up and realize he is staring at me. They all are staring at me. I don't understand. Did he think I somehow brought them here? How could I do that? Why would I do that? I never want to go back to that horrible gray cell.

            "She didn't have anything to do with this Tony. She's been with one of us all day," replies Steve.

            "Doesn't mean she couldn't have let them in somehow. We have no idea what she can do. Look around you! Did you know she had this much power?" Tony motions to the bodies scattered around the room. He is right. I am a monster. Suddenly I hear three very large bangs behind me, gasps, and a body hitting the floor.

Clint POV

I am so focused on the battle that I don't notice her at first. But then I can't take my eyes off of her. Hope is surrounded by red energy that seems alive and wild unlike Wanda's mist. I look closer and notice a ring of red in her eyes that wasn't there before. Where did she get all this power? Her face is so angry. Usually she doesn't show any emotions besides confusion but her face now is projecting pure rage. You can almost see the fire burning in her eyes.

She enters the battle her energy snaking around the intruders taking down one after another until none remain. Just as sudden as the power appeared it seems to leave her. She slumps to her knees obviously exhausted. I am about to check on her but Wanda and Pietro are already there. I see Tony and Steve start to go at it. I really do not want to get in the middle of that, but I know it could get bad if no one intervened and tried to set them straight.

I am about to head over but a sudden movement catches my eye. As soon as I see the gun I race forward reaching for an arrow but finding only air. I dive behind Hope right as the shots ring out. I feel a sudden pressure in my gut and a warm liquid begin to spread on my shirt. I groan as I flip onto my back. I vaguely see Wanda take the guy out before everyone is standing around me. Steve pushes a rag into my stomach sending a firestorm of pain up my body. I wince but notice someone missing. Glancing around, I see Hope standing a few feet away. I can just make out her shocked expression before everything becomes blurry.

Hope POV

I can't move.

            "Clint, stay with me," Steve yells as he pushes a bloody cloth onto the wounds.

I can't breathe.

            "Thor and Nat are headed back with Banner," states Wanda

"We need to get him to the lab," Steve says pressing even harder on the wounds.

I can't think.

I can' breathe.

I can' think about anything except one word:

Why?

I have said it a lot of the past few days with these strange people. Why were they so nice? Why did they care about me? Why? Why? Why did he take a bullet for me? Why? I don't understand. I feel tears burning my eyes but this time I don't push them back letting them slide down my face silently. He is losing so much blood.

            "Dammit Clint, stay awake!" Steve orders his voice revealing his fear. I can't move. I wish there is something I can do. I would have been the one injured if not for him. No one has ever taken on my pain before, only added to it. I feel a weight build in my chest and suddenly the connection happens. But it is different this time. I glance down and see golden energy dancing across my fingertips. It is a new emotion and I let instinct take over. 

Move. No one hears me.

Move. My voice is louder, more determined. I can feel their eyes on me. I feel the power coursing through me. I embrace the emotion I have been feeling ever since I got here, the one that confuses me to no end but makes me feel things I have never felt before. The one I didn't even realize I knew the name of till right now. Love. I look at my hands watching the golden energy growing. I walk toward Clint as everyone steps back except Steve. I look at him and meet his eyes.

Trust me. I plead. He seems reluctant but he steps back. Clint is losing consciousness fast so I act on instinct letting the emotion lead me. I sit down on my knees beside him. I place my hands, glowing with energy, onto his wounds. I hear him gasp as I let the energy flow from me to him. I can feel it working as the power and light grows. I begin to feel cold when I am almost done. The cold grows as he is healed. Soon I am shaking. The last thing I remember is Clint opening his eyes in wonder before I pass out. I tend to do that a lot lately I'm realizing.