Region-Beta Paradox (Avengers X Male Reader)

Amidst The Emotional Wreck

You lowered your eyes and rested your head on Clint's shoulder, "I still think about it sometimes. You promised me we would get married."

"I've broken many promises." Was his only reply. "So... Steve, hmm? Honestly, I always thought it'd be Tony."

"Honestly, I always thought it'd be you." You shot back at him.

"It can still be me." The words from him left you baffled and out of your wits as you just stared at him like a complete lunatic. Clint looked at you for a brief moment before turning away. He cleared his throat, "You shouldn't have come here, Y/N." He whispered so quietly that you could barely make sense out of his words.

"I-I wish I hadn't." You said, your eyes still wide at Clint. "But Jeffrey-"

"Right." Clint scoffed and shook his head. "He's a clever man."

"What do you mean?" You asked to which Clint didn't reply, seeming to be in a deep thoughtful. And for the first time, your eyes trailed down to the blanket that was wrapped around you. You couldn't believe your eyes. It was the same red blanket that had once belonged to you. It was the same red blanket that Clint had kept with him when you had moved to Steve's room for training 15 years ago. You couldn't believe he still had it. And that's when you looked around. The shelves in the tree house... they had no books. They were all photo albums. All of them. You saw a tiny box in the middle shelf and you could very well tell what it was. The very rings that you and Clint had once proudly worn as a symbol of your love. "You never moved on, did you?" You asked, tears in your eyes.

Clint turned to look at you and followed your eyes to the shelves. He sighed, "How could I?" He whispered. His voice was shaking.

"But... Laura..." you looked at Clint in shock.

"I was just lonely. And messed up. I never loved her, yet I tell her I do. We're just two people with kids." He said and you almost gasped.

You immediately stood up, "Clint... that's just... rude. You shouldn't have-"

"Fifteen years isn't a small time, Y/N." Clint said more clearly now. "I mean, look at you. I can already see a bunch of white hair."

"Steve doesn't like when I dye my hair." You looked away.

"How is it that you haven't said a single swear word since you've gotten here?" He spoke, looking up at you as he was still sitting on the floor. He slowly stood up to tower above you with your little height difference. "He's changed you." He whispered, lifting his hand up to caress your cheek. You couldn't help but sob and lean into the touch. Everything seemed so wrong. But it was the wrong that you needed, or was it?

"I... I should go back." You said almost immediately, wiping your tears with the back of your hand.

"No... please. Stay." He begged and you looked away instantly. You looked everywhere but his eyes for you knew you could never leave those eyes.

You shook your head and jumped from the edge of the tree house. You summoned your wings and landed perfectly well before you put them back and ran back to your room. You sighed in relief when you saw Steve still asleep. But the tears only came back as your throat aches to cry out loud. But you couldn't. There was the man on the top of a tree that you truly loved and probably still hoped for you to come back, and there was this man in front of you that you're married to and you believe you loved?