Hey there, Darcy stated, moving over the rooftop until she sat next to the man shed

seen sitting in
this very spot hundreds of times over the last few weeks of chaos.
The man turned his head to look at her, running over her turquoise and black cowl neck long sleeve top,
down to her well-worn jeans tucked into her tall boots, and back up to the pie she held in her hands,
before meeting her eyes for a brief moment and then returning his stare to the view in front of him.
Im Darcy, she told him, Though you probably already knew that, she pursed her lips and shifted her
stance a little before deciding to just take the plunge; it was a free country after all, and last she checked
the rooftop was available for all to enjoy. Without further ado, she took the remaining few steps to sit
down next to the man, her legs dangling over the edge of the roof. A light cool breeze brushed some
hair into her face as she looked at him silently before she turned her face into the wind, allowing it to
brush the hairs back into place all on its own.
They sat silently for a few minutes, Darcy kicking her legs and enjoying her favorite view of the world
from up high, and the man doing who knows what. Darcy shifted a little to get a little more comfortable
and glanced down at the pie she still held in her hands. Shifting the pie to one hand she reached into her
pocket and produced two forks. She nudged the mans arm with her wrist and held a fork out to him.
His blue hazel eyes searched her own as he ignored the fork for a moment to look at her in confusion.
Slowly his hand reached out and carefully retrieved one of the forks. Once the fork was in his hand Darcy
held out the pie, Happy pi day, she stated, gleefully stabbing her own fork into the pie and digging in.
When he didnt do the same she paused, finished chewing the bite in her mouth and swallowed, Youre
supposed to use the fork to eat the pie, she gestured between the two objects she spoke of. When he
still didnt move she reached her own fork back into the pie, Mmm, she over emphasized the
awesomeness of the pie, nodding her head.
His eyes just dropped from where theyd settled on her lips, to the pie, and back to her own dark blue
orbs. He was seriously confused; it was adorable.
Darcy swallowed another bite and frowned at him, Its not poisoned if thats what youre thinking, she
told him jokingly, only to frown in surprise when his lips didnt even twitch in amusement, Holy
Charazard, really? she blinked, her eyes wide and head dropping just a little in shocked surprised, You
really think I would poison you? she shook her head vigorously, Why in the name of my cats pet rock
would I even do something like that? she pulled the pie out of his reach, not that he was reaching, but
still, Ruin a perfectly perfect pie just to poison someone, she grumbled mostly to herself, Honestly,
she shook her head and pointed her fork at him, Youre crazy, she stated bluntly before she stuck her
fork in the pie again and took another bite, Why would I even eat it if it was poisoned anyway? she
asked rhetorically, That would be a whole new level of insane that Im sorry to say I just havent
reached yet.
Dumbfounded over the idea that anyone thought she would or even could poison anyone, Darcy just
stared ahead lost in her own thoughts for a moment. Just as she swallowed another bite his voice
interrupted her silence, What kind of pie is it?
Her head whipped around so fast some of her hair tossed itself over her shoulder, He speaks! she
cried, an expression of faux shock on her face, Oh speak again god-like man with the arrows! This time
his lips did twitch; once, twice, then a full blown smile met his lips and holy smile Batman! That guy had
a grin that lit up his whole face and made him look years younger.
A low chuckle met her ears that had her grinning before he even spoke again, I said what kind of pie is
it? he repeated, a small laugh in his tone.
Darcy looked down at the pie she held in her lap and back up at him, Blackberry pie, she answered,
lifting the pie towards him. When he dropped his gaze to the pie she spoke again, I swear I didnt
poison it.
I kinda figured that out by the way you were honestly offended at the thought that I even considered
you would, he reached out his fork and stuck it in the pie, slowly removing a bite and sticking it in his
mouth.
Good? Darcy asked eagerly, unable to wait for his verbal reply. When he nodded as he chewed she felt
a large grin spread her lips, Not poisoned then? she clarified, just to tease him a little.
He swallowed and shook his head, Im not dead yet, was his answer, even as he reached out to take
another stab at the pie now resting between them. The silence returned after that, as they both perused
the landscape in the fading light before them. Some time and a lot of pie later the man spoke again, My
name is Clint.
Darcy turned her head to look at him, noting the way he didnt look at her when he introduced himself,
Well, she stuck her hand out in front of him, making sure he could see it and wouldnt be able to
ignore it without being obvious, Its nice to meet you Clint.
Clint turned his head to look at her once more before slowly reaching a hand up to clasp the one in front
of him, Nice to meet you too Miss Lewis, he replied.
And how did you know that? Darcy inquired, pulling a face, I told you my name was Darcy, not Darcy
Lewis, and definitely not miss Lewis, she pulled a face again, clearly disliking the sound of the miss in
front of her last name, You may have been practically stalking us for the last few days, but Im pretty
sure no one has said my last name since you showed up.
A small smirk rose to his face that made his eyes twinkle a little, Just because you didnt know I was
there, doesnt mean I wasnt, Miss Lewis, he added on, just because he decided he liked the way she
looked when he said it.
Pretty sure Ive known the entire time that you were there, Agent Barton, Darcy returned, looking
proud of herself when his smirk slid from his face, The first time I saw you was when you drove through
town three weeks ago in a beat up black pickup truck on your way to the crater site, she lifted her
eyebrows as she made her point, Then I saw you again the next night at the local bar. You were soaked
from the rain and staring at a full glass of whisky in front of you.
Clint flashed back to the night in question, it was the night hed first seen Thor in action. Hed been
replaying the scenario over and over in his head, looking for something they could have done differently
that would have caught the man sooner with less injuries, and absently wondering to himself if hed
even have been able to stop the man with one of his arrows. Even then there had been
somethingotherworldly about the hulking man.
So when was the first time you saw me, huh? Darcy poked his biceps the paused, Geez, she poked
his arm again, What do you do, lift airplanes for a living? she poked one more time before realizing it
was probably one of those times where she was invading someones personal space without realizing it.
Eyebrows furrowed and a small confused smile on his lips, Clint turned to look at her, Youre not very
shy are you Darcy Lewis? he asked the question, but didnt sound like he needed an answer so she
shrugged.
My parents would tell you its a curse, Ive never really had that whole brain to mouth filter most
people learn when they grow up, she waved a hand between her forehead and her mouth, Ive just
always thought life was way more interesting when you actually tell people what youre thinking. It
tends to throw them off balance, she lightly shoved on his arm and he let himself sway away from her
in response with a small smile, And you didnt answer my question.
Clint shot her another amused glance before shaking his head, No, I dont lift airplanes for a living, he
told her, knowing full well that wasnt the question shed wanted answered.
Darcy smirked at him, I see what you did there bird boy, she acknowledged his answer, But still not
the answer to the question I was asking.
Its Hawkeye, he corrected before he could help himself, And the first time I saw you, he took a deep
breath and admitted it, Was the night you created that fake ID to get Thor out of SHIELD custody. You
were dancing around downstairs using a whisk as a microphone, he tapped the wall between his legs to
motion to the floor below them.
A slow blush burned up her neck as she remembered the moment he was talking about, shed been in
one of those rare moments when she was in the lab by herself while Eric had gone to retrieve Thor and
Jane had gone to her trailer to eat something; and when she was by herself somewhere where she was
normally surrounded by other people she tended to do crazy things. Of course, most of the time people
arent paying attention to the repurposed old motor repair place, so when she did her crazy stuff no one
noticed. That night in particular shed been overwhelmed with adrenaline spurring first from her anger
at losing her iPod then from her glee had having created such a flawless ID for Eric to use to break Thor
out of SHIELD custody.
It was a nice dance, he commented, only succeeding in making her face turn an even darker shade of
red.
Silently grateful that it was almost completely dark now Darcy ducked her head and focused on the pie,
What kind of name is Hawkeye anyway? she asked as she speared herself another bite, not even
trying to be subtle about the subject change.
Its better than Bird Boy, Clint returned, not going into further detail as he also reached in for another
bite, This is a pretty good pie, he complimented a few minutes later.
Darcy stared at him, watching his jaw flex and work as he chewed the bite, eventually he turned to see
why shed gone quiet only to find her staring at him in shock, Pretty good? she echoed incredulously,
Pretty good is what your aunt Cindy makes, pretty good, is what happens when you get an A on a test,
pretty good is like, she waved a hand around and shook her head as she searched for words, like
almost hitting the bulls eye on those rigged bow and arrow courses they set up for you to fail at when
you go to summer camp, she frowned at him seriously, My pies are not pretty good, she shook her
head, My pies are like ambrosia from the gods!
She paused and he smirked, both of them recognizing the irony of the statement at the same time,
Okay, she shook her head, So that wasnt the best analogy, but still, my pies are freaking amazing!
she widened her eyes as she spoke emphatically again.
I get the feeling I hit a nerve there, Clint chuckled a little, surprising himself, he wasnt one to find
humor easily, but with Darcy it just seemed to come naturally.
Darcy shook her head vigorously as she took another bite, Lets not go there. Weve just officially met,
and I dont want to ruin our budding friendship by revealing just how psycho I am just yet.
Clint blinked at her, Friendship, he repeated, sounding more uncertain than he would have liked.
An eyebrow rose as she took another bite, Yeah, youve heard of those havent you Agent Bird Boy?
she smirked as the uncertainty on his face was replaced by incredulousness at her new nickname. It was
officially her new name for him, I mean even big bad agents like you have to have a friend or two,
right?
There was silence as Clint tried to decide how to respond, People dont generally want to be friends
with someone like me Darcy, he told her softly, using her name for the first time.
Darcy noticed how his gaze had dropped to somewhere on the dark road below them, and the
tenseness in his form belayed the discomfort he felt at the moment. She silently contemplated the
hundreds of different responses she could have in this situation before settling on the option that was
most like her, bluntly she spoke, Let me guess, youve killed a lot of people, you worry you have too
much blood on your hands to ever be a good guy deserving of any real friends and you think that your
some sort of bad guy hiding on the good guys team.
Clint stilled as he felt Darcy scoot closer to him, lifting the pie into her lap as she sat side to side with
him, Well, she continued when he didnt respond, I hate to break it to you Bird Boy, she spoke
softly, nudging his shoulder with her own, but youve got a brand new friend in me, she bent her head
a little to try and see something other than the side of his face, And as long as you dont try to kill me, I
think you and I are going to be just fine.
She meant it as a joke, he knew she did, but he couldnt help but tense at her joking mention of killing
her. Even though hed just officially met this whirlwind of a woman, hed been watching her long enough
to know she was one of the good ones; one of those few people still on this earth who actually deserved
everything good in life. She was happy and eager to be helpful; and she made everyone around her relax
and feel comfortable. Even Coulson was seen wearing a small smile or two in her presence. The thought
of ever even considering killing her, of anyone considering it, had him feeling immediately and
unreasonably overprotective of the young woman.
Hey, I was kidding, she gently jabbed his knee with her fingertips, I dont give pies to people I think
will try to kill me, she tried to joke, but even she knew it had fallen a little flat.
Clint pushed back the darker thoughts that hed fallen into and straightened up a little, Who do you
give pies to? he asked, deciding it was probably best to just change the subject all together.
Darcy shrugged, the movement brushing her arm against his, People, she stated, My dad is this crazy
super genius when it comes to math and my mom is a mechanical engineer so math was this big thing at
our house. I grew up with pi day, aka March fourteenth, being an actual holiday in our home. My mom
would spend days making pies to give out to neighbors and friends on pi day, and my dad would always
float around the kitchen trying to help, but really just getting in the way. It was kind of cute actually,
she remembered as she tilted her head thoughtfully, The way my mom always let him think he was
being helpful when the jobs she gave him were just to give him something to do, she gave half a laugh
and shrugged, Anyway, I guess the tradition is just something Ive kept doing since I moved out. Theres
another five pies downstairs, she gestured to the rooftop door behind them with her thumb, Or at
least, there were five pies, I saw a couple of those pesky agents eyeing them before I came up here, so I
told them that as long as they save Jane and Eric some they were free to have as much as they like.
Pesky agents huh? Clint chuckled, Yeah, the pies are probably all gone by now, he lightly bumped
her shoulder with his, Thanks for sharing your amazingly fantastic pie with me.
She smirked at him, Now thats more like it, she laughed, Really it was just an excuse to interrupt
your whole brooding from afar thing, she used air quotes around her words that made her sound
sarcastic.
Yeah, well, he tilted his head in a quick movement, as if giving her that, I think it worked.
Well youre talking, so I guess that is progress huh, Darcy seemed to actually consider it before
grinning at him. They sat in silence for a few more minutes before there was a loud clang followed by
Janes loud shout at whatever poor agent had gotten in her way this time. Sighing Darcy leaned her head
back to stare up at the stars, I should probably go save the poor souls who have just found themselves
victims of Janes crazy scientist wrath, she sounded like she was seriously considering leaving the
agents to their own devices.
Clint nodded, Probably, he agreed, having seen firsthand what had happened to the agent whod
gotten in her way a few days ago. He was pretty sure the agent had requested a few weeks of leave and
a transfer after having been torn to shreds verbally by the small woman. Feeling Darcy shift next to him
as if to get up, he lurched to his feet, and reached out to offer her a hand up, steadying her as she rose.
He more than anyone knew how precarious it was to be sitting so near the edge, and that protective
feeling was back, urging him to keep Darcy from falling.
Thanks for sharing your pie with me, Clint murmured, snatching the mostly empty pie tin off of the
roof behind where theyd been sitting.
Darcy nodded, accepting the pan, Try not to avoid talking to me and actually come say hi every now
and then and well call it even, she told him with a wink. She paused for a moment before taking a step
closer and brushing her lips against his cheek quickly, Happy Pi day Clint, she whispered, meeting his
shocked eyes for a split second before ducking her head and scurrying towards the doorway that would
lead her to where Jane was currently shouting at some agents.
If shed looked back she would have seen Clint staring after her, lips parted in surprise and an
unidentifiable look in his eyes.
One thing was for sure, he thought to himself as he watched her disappear through the door, he was
definitely going to be finding a reason to go and say hi soon.
XxX
Even though she didnt make a sound as she approached he still knew she was there.
It was something that had bothered him incessantly when he first realized he could always tell exactly
where Darcy was if she was even remotely in his vicinity. He could always sense her nearby, and
instinctively every cell in his body became alert and he often found himself shifting until he was in the
best place possible to protect the younger woman from any danger that may present itself. It wasnt so
much that sensing whenever Darcy was nearby was a bad thing, it was that in the beginning it had
frequently caused him to momentarily forget what was going on around him as everything in him zeroed
in and focused on the oblivious woman.
Now however, the awareness was something he had come to appreciate, maybe even love. It comforted
him more than it unsettled him, and right now comfort was probably exactly what he needed. He didnt
move as he felt her step closer, uncertainty radiating off of her until she finally just moved around the
bench hed commandeered and sat down next to him.
Neither said a word for a long time, and though hed once thought Darcy was probably the most
talkative person he knew, he had come to find out that she was an excellent companion no matter the
mood; and somehow she always seemed to know what the mood was. When he needed to be
distracted or torn from one of his brooding from afar phases as she called them, she would appear
and talk his ear off. She would talk about anything and everything; her family, her friends, her schooling,
how she actually already had a masters in computer engineering, but shed gotten bored midway
through a doctorate program and decided to get a master of political science degree instead; how she
spoke five languages fluently and knew three more she could read, write, and understand but could only
speak stutteringly because she had some freakish ability to pick languages up easily. Yet when he
needed silence and peace to think, she somehow knew and would simply sit closely and wait until he
decided to speak; if he decided to speak.
Today was one of those times when all he needed right now was her presence. Something about it just
calmed him down like nothing else. Bending forward with a small sigh he rested his elbows on his knees
as he looked at the gravestone just a few feet in front of him.
Phillip Steven Coulson
Friend, trainer, adopter of lost souls
April 6, 1965 September 21, 2012
Only in death will we have our own names since only in death are we no longer part of the effort. In
death we become heroes.

How did you know Id be here? he asked after who knows how long.
Darcy shrugged, Well, I was minding my own business in Norway, she shot him a wry glance, Thanks
for that by the way, moving Jane and I to another continent just when things were getting interesting
here. Oh, she acted surprised, And did I mention Thor making a reappearance? Yeah, she nodded,
That was awesome, except for the part where the woman who has practically been going insane trying
to find said god of thunder was unable to see him while he was here, leaving little ole me to hear the
constant SHIELD hate rants and threats, she frowned at him, but a twinkle in her eye gave away her
amusement, It was a party let me tell you.
Clint felt his lips tilt upward despite himself, Sorry I couldnt warn you, he spoke softly, genuinely
apologetic, I had to get you out before things got bad. I just wish Id been allowed to stay with you
two, for more reasons than just being near Darcy, which was definitely one of the biggest reasons; if
hed been with the two women hed never have been forced into Lokis control and he never would
havehe forced himself to stop the thoughts before he headed too far down that far too familiar road.
You and me both, Darcy agreed with a firm nod that resulted in her needing to adjust the dark red
beanie she had on over her long curly hair, At least if youd been there I would have someone to throw
under the proverbial bus that is Janes anger, she smirked at him, knowing full well what he actually
meant, even if he never said the words, But anyway, she cleared her throat and shifted in her seat to
get more comfortable, There I was, minding my own business and watching the most recent episode of
Big Bang Theory, when there was a knock on the door.
As she spoke Clint had leaned back and twisted his body towards her to be able to watch the animated
expressions on Darcys face as she spoke. Absently his arm stretched out behind her on the back of the
small wooden bench and one leg moved of its own accord to rest against hers. His eyes watched her
hands wave around as she talked, taking in every nuance of her expressions and body language, avidly
taking note of what made her eyes twinkle and what made her laugh, more glad than ever to have met
this woman who so thoroughly fascinated him.
So I get up to answer the door and BAM! she was saying as she clapped her hands together and
turned incredulous eyes to stare at him, There, standing outside our apartment door is the Black
Widow! Can you believe it?
This caught Clints attention, and he straightened a little in surprised alertness, Natasha? he spoke
mostly to himself, puzzling over why his friend would have gone to see Jane Foster and Darcy Lewis.
Darcy nodded, Well, technically she told me her name was Natalie Rushman, or something like that,
but when I told her I didnt believe her she admitted her name was actually Natasha, but if I told anyone
shed have to kill me, Darcy raised an eyebrow at him, looking partially amused, I told her that if she
killed me it would have to be sometime when you werent around or things werent going to go well for
any of us.
Clint smirked, only a little surprised that Darcy had picked up on his overprotectiveness, Yeah, Im not
sure how well that would go over, he told her, neither agreeing with her assessment that hed fight for
her, nor disagreeing, even if it was true.
Anyway, she poked him in the side, Quit distracting me, she ordered, ignoring his furrowed
eyebrows and slight smirk, I figured she had something for Jane from Thor or something, so I invite her
in and yell for Jane. Our favorite sleep deprived genius came into the room and you should have seen
her face, Darcy laughed, She didnt know whether to be pissed off, scared out of her mind, or hopeful.
It was quite the conglomerate of facial expressions, she tried to imitate the expressions and succeeded
in making him smile which made her feel better. He was too serious sometimes, So Jane asks what
Natasha was doing there, and Natasha apologized for waking Jane up, Darcy snorted, Which was
hilarious because Id just been arguing with Jane to try and get her to take a nap, she grinned at him,
But that she was actually there for me.
Surprised, Clints eyebrows raised in surprise then furrowed as he processed her words, Why was she
there for you? he asked, errantly moving his hand to brush a lock of her hair over her shoulder, not
really realizing what he was doing.
Darcy suppressed a shiver, she told herself it was from the cold but she was pretty sure it was actually
from the contact between them. Ignoring the rising warmth in her blood from his actions Darcy forced
herself to answer him, Thats what I said! she proclaimed, And, as it turns out, she and I have a
common friend, she paused, Besides Thor, I mean, she added, And said friend was in need of
awell, a friend.
Clint stilled, his eyes locked on her knowing gaze for a long moment before he dropped his gaze, looking
over to the headstone before he could stop himself, Yeah? he responded noncommittally.
Yeah, Darcy nodded, She said that youd been a little off since the Battle for New York when Loki
she trailed off, Well, when Loki did what he did to you, she slowly reached forward to lay a hand on his
knee, watching his eyes shift to lock on her hand, She told me how she tried to get you to talk but you
wouldnt open up to her. So shed done what spies do best and she snooped. She remembered you
mentioning me a few times, she tapped a finger on his knee, Which is kind of nice to know you talk
about me with your super sexy superhero friend, her tone of self-doubt had Clint frowning but before
he could even formulate something to say she spoke on, So she went in search of me, she found some
picture you have of me on your phone? her tone implied a question, and Clint shook his head and
hoped the bashful smile wasnt as awkward as he thought it felt.
I may or may not actually have a few pictures of you on my phone, he attempted to plead the fifth,
But if I did, I would tell you that they were only very flattering pictures, and nothing for you to worry
about.
Darcy blinked, absently finding the shyness in his expressionlike many things about Clint Barton
adorable, You say that like Id be mad you have pictures of me, she chuckled, Would you be mad if I
told you I have pictures of you on my phone?
Clints eyes widened microscopically at the thought, Do you? he asked, unable to hide his curiosity,
but still forcing down whatever warmth was trying to spread its way out of his chest when he thought
that she might actually have cared enough to want a reminder of him.
Of course I do! Darcy declared, completely unashamed of the fact, Remember how I told you I used
to be really into the whole photography thing? she didnt wait for his acknowledgement that yes, he
did remember, before continuing, Well sometimes when I was bored all those months ago, I would
take out my trusty hi-tec camera and snap away at the world. You just happened to be a popular
subject, she shrugged as if it were no big deal, even if she suddenly wished she hadnt actually just said
that out loud; now he knew about her suspiciously stalker like collection of Clint Barton pictures.
You have pictures of me, Clint repeated, sounding disbelieving, yet finding himself unable to really be
surprised by the idea. Pleasure raced through him at the thought of Darcy being fascinated enough by
him to want to take his picture more than once. He better than many knew just how quickly Darcys
attention could change focus, very few things kept her attention for very long, Jane and her iPod being
just two on a very short list. To think that he was one more thing he could add to the list of Darcy
attention keepers, well, it was enough to make his heart beat just a little bit faster.
Darcy nodded, looking away for a moment, But you know, she looked back at him out of the corner of
her eye, Not like stalker photos, justuhpictures.
Can I see them sometime? he asked before he could stop himself.
The surprise on Darcys face kind of surprised him as well when she whipped her head around to look at
him again, You want to see them? she squeaked.
Clint nodded, You sound surprised, he noted.
Well thats because I am! she exclaimed, I take stalker photos of you, and all you say is that you want
to see them?
A low chuckle escaped his lips and Clint smiled at her, I thought you said they werent stalker photos?
he teased her, And besides, are you mad at me for having a few non-stalker-photos of you?
Darcy shook her head, No, she paused, Well, she tilted her head, When said photos can be used to
track me all the way to Norway, she winced humorously, That might be a little hard to handle.
You really think she managed to track you from a few pictures on my phone? Clint scoffed, greatly
amused by the idea that all Natasha would need to hunt someone down was their picture.
A quick shake of her head caught his attention as she stared at him in surprise and a little wonder, You
really dont see it? That woman is likelikeChuck Norris in female form! she waved her hands around.
Clint frowned a little at her tone, That woman, he repeated her words, his voice a little tense, Is one
of my best friends.
Darcy blinked at him, Did I say being like Chuck Norris was a bad thing? she asked, Its an awesome
thing. I wish I was like Chuck Norrisor Natasha Romanov. She is like the ultimate Darcy cut herself
off before her hero worship got too out of hand, What I mean was, if anyone could track a person by
just their picture, it would be her, she smiled at him, Im glad to see youre as protective of her as you
are of me, she poked his knee.
Except he wasnt. Hed gotten defensive over Natasha, but had anyone, Natasha included, insulted
Darcy hed have been up in arms ready to take off the head of whatever moron had decided to use her
as their verbal punching bag. He didnt even want to think about what he would be capable of should
someone ever actually physically hurt her.
But anyway, Darcy seemed to realize the complete digression of the conversation, Natasha told me
you were in need of a friend to talk to, and that she had a jet leaving from Norway to here in an hour. So
I packed my things and came to find you. Now here we are, she held out her hands as if that explained
everything.
Clint just gave her a small smile, Here we are, he repeated. Honestly he was a little surprised it had
taken Natasha so long to intervene, for that was exactly what she was doing. Natasha didnt do
emotions and guilt that wasnt her own, she didnt know how to help other people deal with things like
that. Yet despite her lack of emotional availability to most people, she still hated to see her friends
hurting. And he was. He was hurting a lot.
There was silence as Darcy watched him stare at the gravesite, hed shifted in his seat to face forward
once more but his arm remained stretched out behind her. Darcy waited patiently, knowing that sooner
or later he would say something, whether that something was related to what he was thinking now, or
about something that would get her rambling was yet to be seen.
The touch was so light that she almost missed it when it happened. His fingers lightly brushed across the
back of her shoulder, it was hard to feel through the black pea coat she wore, and she almost began to
doubt shed felt anything at all when it happened again. The touch was so light and brief she wasnt sure
he was even aware he was doing it. Silently she shifted a little closer to his side and waited. Her
patience paid off a moment later when she felt his fingers lightly stroke her shoulder once more before
he sighed and moved his arm to rest solidly around her shoulders, pulling her comfortably into his side.
A small smile touched her lips as she relaxed into his warmth, resting her head on his shoulder and
gazing down at the gravestone as well. They sat in contented silence, free to relax in the damp but
unsnow-ladan graveyard. As eerily in tune with Clint as ever, Darcy felt the subtle shift from reminiscent
to depressive what ifs and decided to bring him back to the present moment, I brought something,
she murmured, not moving from under his arm.
Hmm? he hummed, the vibrations echoing through his chest and into her ear, What did you bring?
Slowly, reluctant to leave the comforting nest his arm had formed around her, Darcy sat up and turned
to grab the small bag shed brought with her, Its his favorite, she stated as she pulled a tinfoil
wrapped object from the bottom of the bag. Slowly she unwrapped the package, revealing a beautifully
formed pie. Reaching into the bag once more she pulled out two forks and silently extended one of
them to Clint.
Clint stared down at the pie, noticing small pieces of apple peering through the lattice that sat atop the
pie. He forced himself to remember the exact date and couldnt help the small grin that touched his lips
when he remembered; Pi day, he stated softly, accepting the fork.
Darcy nodded, Pi day, she agreed, And even though I adored annoying Coulson until he lost it, I did
get to learn a few things about him in New Mexico, she lightly stabbed the pie and speared herself a
bite, Like the fact that his favorite pie was his grandmothers apple pie that he hadnt had since he was
a kid. When he found out that I liked to bake pies he gave me her recipe, told me that there was no one
else in his family who could make any sort of use of the recipe and that he wanted me to have it. I just
had to promise to make it for him sometime, she scooted closer to Clint and rested her head on his
shoulder, I just wish Id have made it sooner.
Clint swallowed the bite hed taken and only hesitate a moment before reaching out with his free hand
and wrapping his arm around her shoulders once more to pull her into his side. She hadnt resisted
much the first time hed done it, in fact shed seemed perfectly content to allow him to hold her like
this, but there was still that small part of him that still wondered when the moment would come that
she would decide she didnt really want to be here with him, being touched by him. His mind was put at
ease when he felt her cuddle closer to him in response, before taking another bite.
Hed have loved it, Clint murmured into her hat, his lips moving to press lightly just below the rim of
the cap against her temple, You make the best pies, he squeezed her shoulders when he said it, his lips
moving against her skin.
Darcy sighed in contentment, Thank you, she answered softly.
Its hard to believe hes gone isnt it? Clint asked a few bites of pie later. He was one of the few people
who knew just how close Phil Coulson and Darcy Lewis had actually become during their time together
in New Mexico. Coulson had been the first to back his request to move Jane and Darcy to Norway for
safe keeping, and he knew that Coulson had wanted to move them to keep Darcy safe just as much as
Jane.
Darcy shrugged as best she could in the position she was in, Im still not sure I believe it, she replied
quietly a few seconds of contemplation later.
What do you mean? he stilled as he processed what shed said and all the different interpretations. If
Darcy actually thought there was a way Coulson was still alivewell, Darcy, despite the front she put up,
was actually one of the smartest people he knew, and if she thought there was even a chance that
Coulsonhe cut off his thoughts before he could get too far down the rabbit hole before she answered
his question.
Silence was his answer for a long moment. Just when he was about to repeat his question, Darcy spoke,
I just meanjust think about it, right? Out of everyone on the planet, if there was anyone who could
find a way to save Coulson, to even bring him back to life, dont you think it would be SHIELD? And just
because Fury said he died, doesnt mean he actually did, she didnt even try to hide her distaste for the
director, He could have simply coded or something, died for only a moment before they, you know,
she lifted her hands as if she were holding something in each hand, Bamfed, her hands jerked forward,
him or something to bring him back.
Realizing she was talking about the defibrillator Clint forced down his amusement at her description to
actually process what Darcy was saying, Why would Fury tell us he was dead if he wasnt actually
dead? he asked mostly to himself, not sure he really wanted to know the answer.
You put that many alpha personalities in one room and try to tell them to be a team, and things are
going to get cray-cray you know? Darcy shook her head, I mean, you and Natasha are at least used to
following orders, maybe even Thor and Captain America, but Tony freakin Stark? Are you kidding me?
And the Hulk? You could have eventually managed to force the team together if it was just the four of
you, but throw chaos like the Hulk and obstinate people like Stark into the mix and youre just asking for
trouble. Fury probably knew that, so did Coulson, she stared down at the pie in her lap, absently
picking at it with her fork, Yet through all of this, there was maybe one person you all liked, one person
you all had at least had past experience with; one person who technically united you all before you even
knew it. And when that one person was fatally wounded, dead or not, he was the best shot Fury had to
bring you all together and make you click. You all liked Coulson, you would all fight for Coulson. You
would all kill to avenge him. Fury knew that.
Darcy shifted forward a little so she could turn to see Clints reaction to her theories and swallowed hard
when she saw the pain in his eyes, Its just a theory, she murmured, quickly trying to back pedal, You
know Im into that whole conspiracy thing, and sometimes SHIELD just rubs me the wrong way
I think youre right, Clint interrupted her, his eyes switching from the headstone in front of him to look
at her.
Darcy shook her head, I dont have any proof! she tried to avert the crash course shed inadvertently
put him on, Im probably just making it all up!
Clint shook his head, SHIELD has technologies that could have saved him, he divulged, Ive retrieved
some of them myself. That was part of why Ive been so upset since New York, I knew they had the
capability to save him, but I couldnt figure out why they didnt, he sighed, And even if its not true and
Coulson is really dead, they still let him die.
But what if he isnt dead? Darcy asked, Why would they keep it from you now? The Battle is long
over, everyone has gone their separate ways, she shook her head in confusion, And why would he
even go along with it?
Clint reached a hand up to scratch the back of his head, Coulson believes in the system. It was one of
the only things he and I never really agreed on; he believed the system was for our good, I believed it
was only there to screw us over whenever it felt like it. If the system told him it was for the best that we
all believe him to still be dead, then that is what Coulson would go along with, he sighed, And as to
why they would keep the lie intact after the battle was won
Fury, Darcy sighed, That manipulative lying son of Lokis eight legged horse, she hissed, He knows
that if you guys ever figured out hed lied to you, you wouldnt ever do as he says again. He threw you
together, he knew how powerful youd all be if you were all on the same side, fighting together; but if
he ever even let you catch a hint of an idea about what hed done
Wed break out on our own, become our own team, follow our own rules, and we wouldnt give a rats
tail about Fury and his orders or what SHIELD wanted or needed, he sounded as if hed actually thought
about doing just that.
Darcy silently watched him, noting how his eyes were locked on Coulsons name, how he seemed to be
struggling between feeling pained, hurt, angry, sad, or just plain thoughtful, Youve thought about this
a lot, she finally said softly, Not the whole Coulson Conspiracy thing, but about abandoning SHIELD to
work as your own superhero team thing.
Clint didnt deny it, I have, he admitted, But it always comes back to the fact that Im not a hero and
that even if I was, I still owe it to Coulson to stay with SHIELD, even if they lied to me.
Why? Darcy asked bluntly, shaking her head and furrowing her eyebrows, And dont say youre not a
hero.
Its my fault Darcy! Clint exploded, launching to his feet and whirling around to look at her, Im the
one who let himself get compromised, Im the one who practically walked Loki into world domination,
Im the one who attacked the helicarier, Im the one who gave the order to free Loki, his voice softened
and his stance seemed to droop a little, Im the one who got Coulson killed, or at the very least, its my
fault he was injured in the first place.
Fully aware of the fact that Clint was a very dangerous man, but also knowing with every fiber of her
being that he would never hurt her, Darcy slowly rose to her feet and approached him. Aware of his
(incredible) eyes watching her grow nearer she made a point not to look away, Lets get one thing
straight, she started firmly, It was Loki who compromised you, it was Loki who took control of the
people who knew how to make world domination possible, it was Loki who attacked the heli-carrier
first, and Loki gave the order to free Loki. Loki killed and or injured Coulson, not you. None of that was
you, she poked the area of his chest where his heart resided, None. Of. it, she poked him again,
making sure he saw in her eyes just how much she meant it.
Clint grabbed her finger, not breaking their gaze, There had to have been something I could have
done, he shook his head, Theres always something.
Uh-huh, Darcy rolled her eyes, So when that metal fire man thing attacked in New Mexicoagain,
because of Loki, not you or Thorthere had to have been something I could have done to prevent the
destruction of all those buildings. I should have been able to stop him right? According to Hugh Everetts
multiverse theory there was some scenario in some reality somewhere where I was able to stop the
bucket head from destroying the town. And yeah, there is probably some reality where by some twist of
fate you either avoided meeting Loki in person that first time, or you were invulnerable to the staff of
crazy. Maybe theres a reality where you stayed with Jane and I until you were absolutely needed in
New York, who knows? The point is that stuff happens, you cant dwell in the past Bird Boy, her use of
his nickname had the side of his mouth tilting upwards for a moment.
Unbeknownst to him, as she spoke the hand that had grabbed her finger had twisted and plied her
fingers open so he could fold his callused fingers between hers. He now stood staring down at her with
the back of her hand cradled against his chest right over his heart, Why do you keep assuming the best
of me? he asked her wonderingly, Ive done so much, and not just to Coulson, he shook his head. He
was surprised and admittedly a little hurt a second later when he felt her pull her hand from his; but the
hurt only lasted a millisecond longer before he felt her arms wrap around his waist and her head duck
under his chin.
I thought we decided that as long as you didnt try to kill me we werent going to worry about your
past, she murmured, hugging him tightly to her.
Automatically Clint felt his arms raise and wrap around her shoulders, pulling her impossibly closer,
cradling her body against his, I think you agreed to that, he recalled, I never said anything about not
worrying about how my past will affect you.
Darcy stepped one last imperceptible step closer and turned her head to press her forehead against his
neck, I think Im a lot more resilient than you give me credit for, she breathed, If who you were
before made you who you are today, then theres really no way for me to truly hate the you from
before. I may not like him, or how being him probably killed you, her hands tightened on the back of his
brown leather jacket, But I do understand that you were him, for a long time, she pulled back just
enough to look up at him and meet his eyes, Youre not alone anymore, she murmured, Youve got
Natasha and those new superhero friends of yours, she squeezed him and returned her head to his
neck, Youve got me.
Clint turned his head and pressed his nose into her hair and took a deep inhale. They stood in silence for
a few minutes, just holding each other when a thought occurred to Clint that had him chuckling a little.
What? Darcy asked curiously, her own eyes lightening as she felt the deep rumbles his laughter caused
in his chest.
Arms loosening from around her shoulders, Clint reached down and back to grab Darcys hands to pull
her back to the bench where he tugged her down at his side, I was just thinking that I missed this, he
squeezed her shoulders with the arm he had wrapped around them, I miss the feelings you make me
feel when youre around.
Feelings? Darcy sat up straight and grinned broadly at him, What kind of feelings? she wiggle her
eyebrows a little making him chuckle at her.
Peace, he answered, Relaxed, calm, and weirdly enough, safe, he bumped her chin with a light fist.
Darcy frowned, Weird? she repeated, why is it weird? she sounded incensed, Ive got trusty Mr.
Taser with me, she tapped her pocket importantly, I could take out at least one bad guy while you deal
with the rest. For all we know, it could be the one about to kill you!
Clint stared at her with a small smirk for a second as he listened to her rant before bursting out into full
blown laughter. Darcy frowned at him again and decided to just ignore him by picking up the pie tin and
picking up a fork to shovel a bite into her mouth. Eventually calming down, Clint looked at her and
couldnt seem to wipe the smile off his face, especially when he noticed what she was doing, That was
my fork, he told her.
Said fork halted its path to her mouth and Darcy turned to look at him, No it isnt, was her quick
retort.
Well not anymore its not, he agreed, Youre using it now.
Darcy just narrowed her eyes at him and took another bite, Mmm, she moaned pointedly. He just
chuckled and picked up her fork to take another bite of his own, feeling absurdly pleased with the idea
that she wasnt bothered about the thought of using his fork. It was a weird thing to be pleased about,
but the trust she showed him, and the lack of concern on her part about sharingwell anything was just
something that made something warm rise in his chest.
So is this going to be a thing? he inquired a few bites later, This Pi day thing?
Darcy smiled at him, Well, why not? she shrugged, First in New Mexico, now here inwherever this
place is, she looked around curiously as if suddenly realizing she didnt recognize anything but him.
Clint frowned at her.
You dont know where we are? he asked, sounding a little incredulous.
Nope, Darcy popped her p and took another bite, chewing a little before speaking again, Natasha
flew us here, wherever here is, liberated a car for us and dropped me off a few blocks away. She never
said where we were, and I never asked.
Now that definitely did something funny to his insides. The trust she had just shown both him and
Natasha was phenomenal, and all because she thought hed needed her? He couldnt quite process the
thought of anyone being that trusting for and of him. Before he could come up with some sort of
response Darcy continued speaking as if shed never been interrupted, as if what shed just admitted
was no big deal.
Next year we will probably be in Norway or somewhere else, she shrugged, Who knows, but in
answer to your question, yes, I do think this is going to be a thing, she gestured between them and the
pie, As long as youre okay with that, she added as she noticed the stunned expression on his face.
When he didnt respond she waved a hand in front of his face, snapping her fingers a few times, Hey
BirdBoy, you still with me?
Clint blinked and seemed to come back to reality abruptly, Huh? he grunted, Uh, yeah, Im definitely
okay with that, he hurried to add as he processed her words, Im definitely still with you, he went on,
Definitely still with you, he repeated softly to himself.
Darcy nodded even as an eyebrow raised a little, Right, well see what you have to say about that when
Erik actually manages to convince Jane that she wants to move to London.
London? Clint echoed in confusion, Whats in London?
She shrugged, Janes mom for one, Darcy informed him, Then Erik says theres some sort of scientific
event thingy happening there. I dont know. He kinda went a little she circled her ear with her finger,
nutso, if you know what I mean, after Loki messed with his head, at this she looked at him gratefully,
Can I just tell you how glad I am that you seem to be handling this whole thing much better than Erik
is? He keeps talking about a convergence or something and saying that he needs Jane to help stabilize
something or other, she waved a hand, Im doing a pretty good job at keeping Jane focused on what
were doing in Norway, but you know, at some point shell get it into her head that she needs to go see
Erik and then poof, off to London we go, never to be seen in Norway again! she shrugged, Ive already
decided that if we do end up in London Im going to get me my own intern, I cant keep working like this
on my own.
Like this? Clint raised an eyebrow, his eyes flickering between her and the bite of pie hed picked up
on his fork.
You know, Darcy paused for a second to swallow while her fork drew circles in the air, The whole
over worked and under paid thing, except for the part where Im underpaid, because Im not. Im not
paid at all. I mean, when I was actually an intern, then I understood, because I just an intern, right? But
now, just under a year since I actually graduated? she shook her head, I should at least get minimum
wage for what I do. Contrary to popular belief, chasing after crazy smart people is not easy to do.
Clint smiled, he knew better than most just how much Darcy had come to care for the eccentric genius,
but he also knew how tired she got chasing after Jane all the time. The poptarts wont cook themselves
she would mutter to herself when she thought he wasnt around to hear it. But he did hear it, and the
fact that even though she was now officially more than overly qualified to simply make pop-tarts and
shoo Jane off to bed every few days, yet she still stuck around to take care of her friend showed him
more about her and the way her mind and heart worked than years of constant contact ever could.
How is Jane anyway? he asked, sensing the need for a slight subject change before she started her old
familiar rant about unionizing interns and paying people to be dumb enough to put a pop-tart in a
toaster without burning it.
Darcy shrugged, Mostly the same, except a lot of the constant crying has stopped. Every now and then
something will set her off again, but for the most part shes keeping it together. Shes still working on
finding that rainbow thingy, she smirked when he nudged her, knowing full well that he knew that she
knew exactly what the rainbow thingy really was, But its not as intense now as it used to be. She even
went out on a date a few weeks back.
Clint raised an eyebrow, Really, he knew he sounded disbelieving, but he didnt try to hide it.
Yeah, well, maybe I forced her to take a shower and look nice, and maybe I tricked her into thinking I
would meet her somewhere only for this guy I knew to show up and not me, she smiled impishly at
him, Thor is great and all, but if he cant even take a second to write her a note, make a quick phone
call, or even simply say her name to some reporter or someone who can tell her he even still thought of
her she trailed off to take deep breath, her words having taken the wind out of her, Well, she needs
to remember the little people here on earth sometimes.
Unwilling to get into an argument about the likely hood of Jane and Thor actually winding up together in
the end Clint just shrugged and nodded like he knew she expected him to. Silently he reached his fork
into the pie tin only to realize it was pretty much gone. He speared a small apple chunk and put it in his
mouth, mulling over the future. If Jane did decide to go to London, Darcy was sure to follow, and if she
followed, would he? The answer was a quick and simple yes. Yes he would follow her. He could ask to be
reassigned to their protection detail (the one they didnt even know they still had) or he could simply
make it his landing place whenever he wasnt on a mission. One way or another, should Darcy find
herself in London he would definitely be close by.
He realized Darcy had gone quiet and turned to find her watching him. There was a flash of curiosity and
understanding that floated through her eyes as he turned to look at her and only then did he realize
hed been staring at Coulsons headstone once more. He opened his mouth to explain that he hadnt
actually been thinking about Coulson at all, that for the first time in months Coulson hadnt even
remotely entered into his thoughts in the last fifteen minutes, that that was the longest hed gone
without remembering his former CO since the day Coulson died; but then he simply shut his mouth
again. She may not understand those words exactly, but he knew she understood.
Hed have really liked your pie, he finally settled on saying a few moments later instead.
Darcy nodded, Of course he would, my pies are epic, she smiled a little, I mean, I know I annoyed him
to the point he probably hated me, but I would hope that he would have at least been okay with this,
she gently lifted the emptying pie tin and set it back down.
You didnt annoy him, Clint disagreed, You fascinated him, he gave her a wondering shake of his
head, Coulson smiled more often when you were around than Id ever seen, and he actually listened
when you talked, which wasnt something he liked to do very often to people who hadnt gone through
a lot to prove themselves to him. He sent you and Jane to Norway to keep you safe as much as to keep
Jane out of Lokis way.
Uncertain of how to take his comments, Darcy ducked her head and fiddled with the pie tin before rising
to walk to the nearest garbage disposal to throw it away. When she turned to go back to the bench she
found Clint on his feet, hands tucked into his fitted blue jeans, eyes on her. She returned to his side and
turned with him to face the headstone, Who chose the epitaph? she asked quietly, deciding the best
way to approach Clints earlier comment was to avoid it.
Um, we all did. It was something I remembered from somewhere, when I shared it with the rest of the
team they all agreed it was perfect and, he gestured to the headstone, here it is.
Darcy smiled a little, Well its a nice thought, she told him, Maybe before we leave here whenever,
she sounded completely unworried about when that may be, We should bring him some flowers? she
looked up at Clint and shrugged at his puzzled expression, Even if hes not actually buried in there, we
still miss him, and its the thought that counts right?
Clint nodded, Youre right, he agreed, Youre absolutely right, he stared down at the gravesite for a
few moments before taking a deep breath and turning away, You got somewhere to stay tonight? he
asked her, looking over where shed left the pie-carrying bag.
Not that I know of, she admitted sounding embarrassed by the fact.
Not responding to her comment he walked over to the bench and picked up the duffel bag still lying
there and slinging it over his shoulder. Shed come here relying on nothing but her trust in him to
protect her, the realization was one that still stunned him, but he wasnt about to let her down, Well, I
have a safe house about a mile from here, you interested in crashing with me for a day or two? he
asked, heart in his throat though hed never admit it out loud.
Darcy grinned broadly at him with a nod, I knew youd come through for me, she declared, as if
thered been no doubt in her mind. As they turned and he began to lead the way to his safe house he
felt her move a little closer to his side, I have a question, she spoke her mind just like he knew she
would.
Whats that, he replied, looking down at her with a small grin. He watched her take a step ahead of
him and turn around to walk backwards.
Arent safe houses supposed to be secret? the question was one so obvious he wondered why he
hadnt realized it would be the one she would ask.
Clint nodded, his eyes flickering up to look at the old man hobbling their way before returning to her. He
debated whether or not to alert her to her incoming soon-to-be-victim, but before he could warn her
about her impending crash course she took a step to the side and neatly avoided colliding with the older
man. She hadnt even looked behind her to know the man was even coming, but as she waved happily
at the man as he paused to watch them walk by he realized the only signal shed needed that she was
about to crash into someone or something had been the quick glance over her shoulder hed given; the
only glance hed given, a single warning he hadnt even intended to give.
Once again recognizing that there was definitely more to the young woman than she let the world see
Clint could only smile in surprise and shake his head, Yes, he answered her earlier question, Safe
houses are supposed to be secret. When I show it to you, you will be the only person who knows of its
exact location and one of two people who even know it exists.
So your trusting me with something that could put you in danger if the enemy of, she wave her hand,
whoever found out about it? she couldnt hide the awe and surprise from her voice, let alone her
eyes.
Well he hadnt really thought about it that way. It had been more of a way to know that she would know
she had somewhere to run to where she could hole up for as long as she needed should the need ever
arise. As long as he was around hed do everything he could to make sure the need never arose, but still,
preparing for every contingency he could was what he did.
When he nodded his head in agreement to her words Darcy stopped walking, Why would you do that?
she breathed, clearly stunned.
Because I trust you, he answered simply, hoping she wouldnt press for more. When she didnt he let a
small mischievous grin spread across his face, That and you make these pies that are practically to die
for. So I figure sharing a secret like the location of a few of my safe houses would keep you around for a
while.
Darcys answering smile was one he knew would stay in his memory forever, Practically to die for,
huh? she repeated with a scoff, Please Agent BirdBoy, my pies are worth more than just practically
dying for, as she rambled on in her light hearted tone, with her wide eyes glittering behind her glasses,
and her hands waving about Clint couldnt help but wonder what hed ever done to deserve her.
Without much thought he reached out and caught one of her waving hands in one of his own to twine
their fingers together. He pulled her closer to his side and was only a little surprised when his action
didnt even seem to faze Darcy as she just kept talking. A few steps later her free hand came up to wrap
around his upper arm, bringing her closer into his side.
As they walked and talked Clint couldnt help but think that Coulson would be happy for them. They may
not be anything special yet, but Clint could tell there was something between them. Something he
wouldnt give up for anything in the nine realms and beyond.
XxX
Im here at Stonehenge for what has been an interesting unfolding of events today; the police recorded
a scene caught shortly after eleven am this morning, after a seemingly harmless rambler approached the
area, then decided to strip naked and effectively terrorize tourists there with scientific equipment while
shouting that he was trying to save them. The man later identified as noted astrophysicist Doctor Erik
Selvig, has been called in for questioning by police.
Clint stilled where he stood just outside the ramshackle hotel room bathroom, hair dripping water down
onto his still slightly wet bare chest. For a moment he tried to decide if what hed heard what he
thought hed heard. A quick glance at the old worn television playing on the other side of the room
revealed a picture of Dr. Erik Selvig running around naked as the day he was born, confirming that he
had, in fact heard what hed thought hed heard.
Frowning he moved closer to the television to see if there was any more to be said about Selvig, but the
reporter just continued on to other news. He cast a mournful look over at the table where his phone
was currently resting in a bag of rice. What he wouldnt give to be able to call Darcy right about now.
The day had been full of one thing after another; a quick recon mission had turned into a mission full of
espionage, action, too many guys with gunsin his opinionthat one chick with the forked tonguehe
still wasnt sure what that was all aboutand a quick ride on a motor bike right into the Panama Canal.
Hed emerged from the water soaked, a little scratched up, but with everything he needed to declare
this mission a success. After a five mile hike from the canal he had decided to call it a night at the
rundown beat up hotel in Burunga where hed been staying the last few weeks and now where he now
stood watching the world news.
Hed taken the mission about three months back, and due to various reasons the mission had found
itself prolonged from the initial five days max into three months before hed felt comfortable calling it
completed. Now he just had to wait out the night and head out to borrow a car from some person who
could afford it and hed be home free. A quick stop in Costa Rica to catch a flight to New York to debrief
and hand over the information hed acquired and hed be home free.
Once upon a time that would have meant a trip to the local bar, a one night stand, maybe even a
weekend in bed with a random woman, and relaxing in the peace and quiet of whatever safehouse he
chose. Now that meant an extended visit to London to see Darcy, and maybe a request to be reassigned
to her protection detail.
Natasha thought it was amusing, seeing just how far he would go to be near Darcy Lewis; but Clint just
couldnt bring himself to be ashamed of it. Darcy made him happy, she made him feel human; she made
him feel period, something hed avoided for so many years hed actually thought hed forgotten how. It
had taken all of ten minutes with Darcy for him to realize that not only did he still remember how to
feel, but that it wasnt half as bad as he thought he remembered it being.
Thinking about Darcy, a small smile on his lips, Clint reclined on the bed, flipped off the television and
lights and drifted off to sleep.

Waking up before the sun wasnt anything unusual for him, he slept very little at the best of times, and
hardly ever did he go longer than an hour at a stretch while he was on a mission. So waking up at four
thirty seven in the morning wasnt anything to write home about; the sudden panic he felt and the
overwhelming urgency to get to Darcy as quickly as possible, however, was. Hed been trained to trust
his instincts, and never once had his instincts been wrong about Darcy. So it was with a rapidly beating
heart that hed lunged out of bed, pulled on a pair of jeans, a worn gray t-shirt, some socks, shoes that
were still slightly wet and his dark gray leather jacket. He grabbed his small backpack that carried
everything he needed, including the super compact bow that Stark had whipped up for him not so long
ago, and headed out the door.
He paced down the street, eyeing the cars he passed until he found the fastest car available. When he
spotted it parked outside one of the more upscale hotels in town he didnt even hesitate to stride over,
smash the window and climb in. Hotwiring the car was easy enough and milliseconds later he was on the
road, speeding out of town. Though it may not be the brightest idea hed ever had, the quickest way to
get to London was probably to catch a flight from the Panama international airport; so, deciding the risk
was worth taking he pointed his car in the direction of the city hed been so eager to leave behind just
hours ago. Besides, he was pretty sure the last place these people were going to look for him was going
to be right in their own backyard. He hoped.
A little over an hour passed before he managed to reach the airport and find a parking space; well,
technically fifteen minute parking probably didnt count, but it wasnt really his car, so what did he care?
As luck would have it there was a flight leaving in the next hour for London after a stopover in
Amsterdam, using one of his fake passports, Jeremy Stevens at your service, he managed to obtain a
seat on said flight just in time for boarding to begin.**
Once he reached his seat and stashed his bag in the space above his head, he reclined into his seat and
prepared himself for the worst part of the flight, waiting. His eyes closed in a halfhearted attempt to
catch some zs before he found himself in the middle of who knew what. Despite the fact that for all
intents and purposes he appeared asleep for much of the flight, his mind was wide awake, racing with
the possibilities. Technically he was disobeying orders by heading to London instead of SHIELD
headquarters to debrief, but he figured if he was right, and part of him really hoped he wasnt, SHEILD
was going to be glad to have him on the ground in London when things got bad. Whatever things may
be.
He contemplated the reasoning he had for believing something was going to happen in London and
decided that it wasnt so much the idea of something happening in London that had him going there,
but that something was going to or already had happened to Darcy. If anything happened to Darcy and
hed been able to be there, he would never forgive himself. These last few years of friendship had been
a life saver, literally. So many times in the past hed wondered if anyone even noticed him with the
exception of the few times he managed to save the world or complete some impossible mission. But
when Darcy had shown up hed quickly realized she wasnt friends with him because of what he could
do, or what he had done in the past, but because of who he is when he is around her; the human person
capable of laughing and crying and just feeling.
It was addicting to be around her. She made him feel so light, so full of endless possibilities. He hadnt
realized how far into the darkness that plagued people like him hed gone until he met her, how deeply
buried he was inside his carefully erected walls. It started with a smile and a pie, and now he couldnt
see himself without her. He was in contact with her more often than hed ever thought he would want
to be in contact with someone. He texted her several times a day, there were emails sent back and forth
and phone calls had been known to occur at least three times a week. These calls ranged from Darcy
calling him to tell him about something funny or weird that had just happened, to him calling her in the
middle of the night just to prove to his unreasonably worried nightmare plagued mind that she was, in
fact, still alive.
He told her things he never thought hed tell anyone, things that no one but her knew. She knew how he
grew up protecting his brother, she knew how things had gone down before he joined the army and
then even some things that happened after he joined up, the unclassified parts anyway. He told her
about how he was recruited by Coulson to join SHIELD and how it had seemed like his dream job for so
long. He told her how much he loved his job, difficult and dangerous though it may be, and she didnt try
to dissuade him from it.
She told him how she worried whenever he had to disappear for a while for a mission, and he had
almost told her so many times about how it literally pained him to have to leave her to go on missions.
Somehow, even though he hated leaving, he still found himself eager to go just so he could come back.
Coming back was the best part. It felt like coming home, even though sometimes he never even got to
actually see her. Just being able to call and text and write like they normally did was enough to bring him
home every time. No matter how beaten, bruised, scarred, or lost in his head he was, one text to or
from Darcy would bring his spirits up, lift a weight off his shoulders he wouldnt even know hed been
carrying until it was gone. A call could have him smiling in a way he hadnt since he was very young, and
an email would be read thousands of times.
She was everything good in his life, and the protective instincts hed had for her since first laying eyes on
her in New Mexico had only increased the more he got to know her. For so long it was all about being
alert to keep himself safe; protect yourself first, others later had been the mantra he lived by for so
many years. But almost from the instant he met her, hed been alert to protect her, to keep her safe, no.
matter. What. That instinct had grown over the last few years at an almost alarming rate. It had grown
so much that he almost believed he had a sixth sense when it came to Darcy and danger. So when the
feeling had come to him earlier this morning that something was seriously wrong with Darcy hed acted.
There was no questioning the feeling, or wondering whether he was maybe just as crazy as Selvig now;
hed just gone with it. Stolen a car, bought a ticket to her last known location, disobeyed direct orders
and quite possibly gotten himself in serious trouble with SHIELD.
He didnt regret any of it.
During the 3 hour layover he meandered around the airport, snatching a small meal to tide him over.
The televisions in the small caf were mostly broadcasting in Dutch and English, one of which finally
caught his undivided attention when the footage cut to an image of Stonehenge, Something else went
missing this week when astrophysicist Dr. Erik Selvig, notable for his involvement in the alien invasion of
New York, streaked nude across Stonehenge, tourists say he disrobed and began shouting at visitors to
the historic site. He was later taken into police custody for psychiatric evaluation. Police are still
refusing to confirm Clint closed his eyes and dropped his head.
As if the poor doctor hadnt been through enough while on the receiving end of Lokis staff of crazy, as
Darcy liked to call it, now hed lost his mind to the point of streaking around nationally recognized
historical sites? He shook his head and finished his last bite, gathering the container it had come in and
jerking out of his seat, not even pausing as he dropped the trash in the waiting bin on his way out of the
caf. Somehow Selvig losing his mind was related to his feeling about Darcy. He had another hour and a
half before he could even get on the plane and it was another hour or so after that to get into London.
By that time the police station should be open and he can go in posing as Selvigsson? He mentally
shrugged, he might could pull off son, it would take a little finagling, but it would work. After he got
Selvig out he would convince the doctor to take him to Jane and Darcy, and go from there.
Plan set in place Clint went about finding the necessary items to make himself an identification card that
would connect him to Selvig. Time crept slowly by until Clint found himself standing just outside the
airport in London attempting to flag down a taxi. Once hed finally managed to catch a cab he slid in and
gave directions to the police station hed discovered Selvig was being detained at. As an afterthought he
asked how long it was going to take to get there and was informed that it would be about an hour.
Trying to relax and take in the scenery Clint looked out the window, his leg bouncing just a little as the
rest of him sat still, the epitome of calm. His concern was growing with every mile he covered.
Something was not right, something was very very wrong, and somehow Darcy was right in the middle
of it again. He probably shouldnt have found that thought amusing, but somehow he did. Darcy seemed
to be a magnet for trouble, whether big, like Loki and his destroyer, or small, like that time she
mysteriously tripped over a nonexistent crack in the floor and spilled hot coffee on an agent who flirted
a little too obviously with her chest.
A loud rumbling reached his ears just before the whole road shook, bringing him out of his thoughts and
sending the taxi swerving a little before it careened into the car in front of them. The taxi sputtered and
died just before there was another loud thud as the taxi was hit from behind. Not even waiting for
things to still Clint forcefully shoved the cab door open and stumbled out. He took a quick glance around
as he swung his bag over his shoulder and froze when he saw it. He stared blankly at the tall alien ship
that seemed to have landed a few blocks away, and it took himself a few seconds to kick himself into
gear.
There was an odd sucking sound that compelled his eyes to look to the sky where he noticed the large
circle of clouds that seemed to be opening to reveal pictures of different worlds. Whatever was going
on, it could not possibly be good. Instinct told him to run the other way, something bad was happening,
get out and get to safety and then assess the situation was what his mind told him. Yet there was almost
something solidly physical keeping him there and he didnt have to think very hard to realize what it
was. Odds are Darcy was somewhere near that ship thing, and she, along with who knew how many
other civilians, were in serious danger. Absently he recalled the phone that hed left in the hotel hours
before, wishing he had it now to find out exactly where Darcy was. Regardless, he thought as he forced
himself to the present, he had to get to that ship.
His feet were running before he even made the conscious decision of where to go. He watched as a
bright blur of red came flying from out of nowhere, heading towards the ship and he couldnt help but
breathe a slight sigh of relief. If Thor was here things were at least a little better than hed originally
thought. His feet led him through throngs of panicked civilians and stalled cars, twisting and weaving
through the streets until he came to an abrupt stop. He always saw things better from abovehe
glanced towards the tall building standing not too far away from the middle of the chaos.
He needed to go up.
Again he took off, readjusting the bag on his shoulder. As he neared the building his mind took in the
streams of people coming from its doors and only hesitated a moment before running around the side
of the building and using some old stacked crates to help himself up to a drain pipe he then used to
continue scaling the building. Pulling himself up the last few feet, he slid over the side of the wall and
landed on his feet; he took a second to orientate himself with the area as he moved closer to the spot
he knew would provide the best cover and angle from which to assist.
Reaching the nook hed chosen he quickly dumped his bag on the ground and reached in to grab the
super compact bow that was inside, followed swiftly by his quiver of arrows. Strapping up his arms he
pulled on the quiver and flicked open the bow, knocking an arrow to the string he stood up straight and
peered down at the chaos below him.
There was a flash of light that caught his attention and instantly his eyes were on Thor, watching as he
flew backward as some sort of dark red semi-liquid something or other attacked him. He steadied
himself as he waited for Thor to make his move, briefly he flicked his eyes around the surrounding
buildings and caught himself staring back at Erik Selvig himself. The two men silently acknowledged each
other, and then Selvig nodded his head pointedly down and to the left. Immediately Clint scanned the
area, grimacing as he saw Thor get tossed back once more out of the corner of his eye, but relaxing a
little when the god managed to remain standing this time.
He was distracted from his search when the weird white skinned elf looking man began to gear up for
another blast. Figuring the guy would be at his weakest point whenever he was exerting so much force
to control the liquid stuff Clint pulled back on the bow, ready to let loose an arrow at the drop of a hat.
Thor seemed to have the same idea, however, and soon enough the elf was flying backwards. Lighting
and rock flew as the two aliens battled it out and Clint turned his attention back to the elfs henchmen.
Once again he prepared a shot, only to have several of the henchmen disappear. He blinked in surprise
and looked over to where hed seen Selvig to see if he knew what had happened. He spotted Selvig and
Dr. Foster sticking their heads out of the building they were in, both looking in the same direction, Dr.
Foster looked down at the device in her hands and then back at the foot soldiers before they too
disappeared. Clint was actually able to see a slight wave in the light as it swept towards the creepy elf
things and then towards
Clint froze. His eyes switched back towards Dr. Foster and Selvig just in time to see her mutter Oops,
and disappear from view.
Oops? Oops? Frantically Clint scanned the surrounding area, hopefully the lack of emotion behind the
oops meant that Darcy was still somewhere nearby. A loud thud and a panicked shriek caught his
attention and soon enough his eyes locked on Darcys form as she grabbed a taller young man with a
loud Move! as she propelled the man away from where the elf soldiers had just landed on top of the
car his cab had hit.
Without even hesitating he raised his bow and let loose a quick volley of arrows, each one finding a
home in one of the elf soldiers, killing them one by one as they chased after Darcy and the man with her.
Arrow after arrow hit its mark, quickly downing several elf soldiers in repetitious movement that was
almost hypnotizing. Clint only paused in his attack when Thor came falling out of the sky directly in front
of him, heading for the ground at break neck speed. He spared a quick glance down and frowned in
confusion when he didnt see anything; not one to be distracted for long, however, Clint returned his
focus to making sure none of the elf soldiers caught up with Darcy or harmed any innocent civilians,
though thankfully there were very few civilians left behind, at least outside the buildings.
The roar of fighter jets pulled part of his attention to the skies as he silently counted two jets from the
sound of the engines. There was the sound of a rocket and then a short while later a loud boom that did
not come from the alien ship like hed expected. Clint looked over to find that he could no longer
ascertain where the fighter jets were, a quick glance at the sky gave him a good guess as to why.
Without taking his eyes from the hole in the sky he believed the jets to have disappeared through, he
shot an arrow that he instinctively knew hit its target. A short pause followed and then a loud explosion
as his arrow blew up, taking out the elf it hit and nearly a dozen others nearby. Just as he turned to try
and spot Darcy again there was a loud whistling and a slight shift in the air that had him turning just in
time to see Thors hammer come rushing past him, narrowly missing his head. He watched the hammer
fly by until he caught sight of a huge hulkingwell, he didnt know what it was, but it was grey and
creepy looking with big sharp teeth so he was pretty sure that whatever it was it wasnt good.
The creature let out an earth quaking roar as its feet hit solid ground, and much to Darcy and her friends
fortune, it managed to take out one of the elves, to


Rainbow bridges/ mentions fandral, she says fandral is lucky she didnt tase him, he says hes lucky he
didnt shoot him

You know, it would be nice, if for once, thor and his people sent down the god of cleaning up after
yourself, they probably have a magic broom for this kind of thing.



801-957-4610 keith
10:30
Library Redwood campus
Know something about databases they use