Aingeal Cethlenn

She/Her 18+ - Multi-Fandom Writer - Fandom/Fanfiction Blog

[aingealcethlenn]

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[aingealcethlenn]

Alright Y’all! I neeeed your help!!!

WHAT IS THIS FROM?!?! Movie? Show? Which one? I know the pic, but I can’t remember where it’s from 🤦🏼‍♀️

(Yes - I have the full image. 95% sure it is Sebastian Stan… but if I’m wrong, I’d still love to know who/where it is from 🥰)

[aingealcethlenn]

DA Chapter 20

Chapter 19

It was Halloween night when Bucky returned to his apartment after his latest mission. He sighed as he unlocked the door and stepped through the threshold. Closing the door, he tossed his keys on the kitchen counter and walked into the living room, stopping himself from flipping the light switch when he saw the silhouette of someone sitting in the chair.

"Trick-or-treat," the stranger greeted.

"Why are you here?" he questioned, knowing immediately who it was.

"To see you, soldier. Why else?"

"Fine... Then, what do you want?" he asked.

"Just to talk," said the figure from the chair.

"Then talk." Bucky made his way to the couch and sat down. He slumped back with a huff, resting his head back against the cushions.

"Awe, are you mad at me? I thought we got along so well."

He shook his head against the cushion, "No games, Harley. Not now. Just tell me what you want, and be on your way." Bucky expected her to give him a sassy comment or even just ignore him and leave. Instead, she remained silent for several minutes, causing Bucky to grow tired of waiting. "Well?" he questioned once more.

"What if I said I don't want to go?"

He lifted his head and looked at her. He wasn't quite sure how to take that response. Did she actually expect him to believe she intended to stick around? Did she think he would fall for that? The silence lingered between them until Harley finally spoke again.

"I'm done running, soldier," she began softly. "I'm staying in New York, and -"

Bucky sat up completely and cut her off. "Why?"

"What do you mean?"

"Thought it was a simple question," he replied. "Why come back now? Why choose now to stay?"

"Honestly? Because I'm tired, Barnes. I'm tired of always running from one threat or another, tired of not having a family, tired of not being happy... tired of being alone," she explained.

“Tired of being alone…” he repeated softly, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees so she could see his bruised face in the glimmer of light that seeped through the window. “Why should I believe a word you tell me? The moment things scare you, you’ll be gone again. Just like every other time."

Harper's hand flinched. She wanted to reach out and touch him but stopped herself. "Maybe before," she admitted, "But this time is different."

“What makes it different this time?” He countered, a bite in his voice. “What is so different that you would stick around?”

"Because..." she paused for a moment. "Because…" she trailed off once more and finally settled on "...Because this time, the only thing that can scare me off is you."

Bucky furrowed his brow, suddenly confused. “Me?”

Harper nodded, unable to look him in the eye. “Yeah. You," she finally managed to reply. Silence hung heavy in the air between them for several minutes until Harper spoke once more. "It's only ever been you, Barnes."

"But... Why? Why me? I mean... I'd never hurt you, Harley. Not intentionally anyway. The Winter Soldier may have, but -"

"I'm not afraid of death, Barnes. I'm not afraid of pain... or of suffering."

"Then what are you afraid of?"

"Of love, Barnes. Happiness and love," she revealed quietly.

Bucky felt his heart skip a beat. "Love?" he whispered, unsure if he had heard her correctly.

Harper took a deep breath and looked at him straight on. "Yes, Barnes… Love," she repeated slowly, testing each word out carefully. The two lapsed into silence once again, but it wasn't uncomfortable or awkward this time. It was... peaceful - like the calm before a storm.

Bucky cleared his throat, breaking the silence first. "I don't understand, Harley. What is so terrifying about love? Or happiness? And what does it have to do with me?"

"Everything," Harley answered simply, shrugging. "You make me feel... whole. Safe. Happy. Things I've never felt before. Things I never thought were possible for me."

Bucky stared at her with wide eyes, trying to process what she said. Was she serious? She had hinted to it before, but never admitted it outright. "Harley - are you saying... you're in love with me?"

She nodded her head slowly. "I guess I am... I didn't truly know what love was until recently, Barnes, but I've realized that, even with the Winter Soldier, you made me feel like I belonged somewhere," she continued. "That someone cared enough to protect me. Then last year, when I had no one, you cared enough to save me. And no matter how much I tried to push you away, you didn't give up."

"So, then why didn't you say anything before? Why did you run?"

Harper smiled sadly. "Because... I didn't think I deserved it. The path I've walked is soaked in blood, Bucky. And, thanks to the serum, I am haunted every day by what I've done over the years. After all the bad I have done…” She paused for a moment and ran a hand across her face. “I didn't think I deserved to find happiness, safety, or peace.”

Bucky looked down at his lap, trying to gather his thoughts. A large part of him was still reeling from her confession, from her admission of love. But he knew exactly how she felt. He'd spent most of his life in war and survival mode, just like she had. He hadn't felt like he deserved to be happy either.

"Barnes?" Harley called softly, bringing him out of his thoughts. He met her gaze once more and gave her a small smile. "Are you okay?"

Bucky nodded his head, "I'm fine," he said, quickly adding, "Look, Harley..." He hesitated before taking a deep breath and continuing, "I felt the same way when I first got free. Everything I had done..." He swallowed hard, “But I had people who helped and believed in me. And they helped me to realize that people like us deserve to have a happy ending just like everyone else." He paused, looking at Harley. “If I can give you that, Harls...”

“You do, Bucky,” she whispered. “I still don't know if I deserve it or not yet... But... You make me want to believe it."

"I'm not going anywhere, Harley. I promise you."

Harley studied him for several seconds before nodding her head in agreement. “For the first time in my life, I'm trusting someone other than myself,” she said quietly, placing a tentative hand over his. "You're the only one with the power to destroy me now, Barnes,” she whispered quietly, staring into his eyes. "Please don't make me regret it."

Bucky nodded his head and squeezed her hand gently. "Whatever happens, Harley, whatever comes next, we face it together."

Harper arrived at the compound the following week. She walked into the briefing room and took a seat at the large table. Before long, the rest of the team trickled in, each sporting a look of confusion as they found their respective chairs. When Fury arrived, he began the meeting just as he would any other. As he got farther into the details, Tony could no longer keep quiet.

"I'm sorry... Someone want to explain why she is in here?" he asked, pointing toward Harley.

"She's here to help, Stark," Fury replied tersely.

"Help with what?" Tony shot back angrily. "What can she bring to the team that we don't already have? We have an archer, we have a couple of geniuses, and we have super soldiers. What more can she add?"

"Give her a chance, Stark," Clint stated calmly.

"She broke into S.H.I.E.L.D. facilities, stole information, hacked my tech, and we're just supposed to accept that she is here to 'help?'" Tony argued.

"Exactly," Fury shrugged.

Tony shook his head and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I think she could be a great asset to the team,” Bruce shrugged. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone tap into Stark Enterprises as quickly as she did.”

“So she’s definitely smarter than you, Stark,” Nat quipped.

Tony scoffed lightly and rolled his eyes, clearly unamused.

“Smart or not, Harper will be an asset worth having, so she is added to the team,” Fury stated. “End of that discussion.”

With one final roll of his eyes, Tony sighed loudly but let the matter drop for the time being. The meeting went on as usual after that, and Harper kept her silence throughout it all. Once it ended, everyone packed up their things and headed for the exit. Harper took her time, allowing the others to leave before she finally rose to her feet. Before she reached the door, however, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her back against a rigid body.

“Are you sure you're ready for this?” came a raspy whisper against her ear. “This is your first time working with a team - even if it is just a small team.”

"Only one way to find out," she replied, turning to face him. Her hands moved up Bucky’s forearms and rested on his shoulders. Her expression softened slightly as he pressed his lips to hers. Harper melted against him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she kissed him back with fervor.

When Bucky finally drew back to catch his breath, he smirked, reaching out and brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I'll be right here waiting when you get back. If you need me, call,” he said as he leaned in and placed another soft kiss on her lips. He pulled back and grinned widely. “And please, don't do anything stupid, okay?”

Harper laughed softly. “No promises.” She turned on her heel and exited the room, making her way to the hanger to meet the others. “Maybe this new chapter won't be so bad after all,” she mumbled to herself, knowing full well that she had nothing to lose.

Masterlist – Taglist

[aingealcethlenn]

DA Chapter 19

Chapter 18

Harper spent the next six weeks trying to sort herself out. The visit with her brother and the kids, and even taking the trip to the circus to see familiar old faces, had helped some, but it was still not easy for her. It didn't help that she kept getting flashes of memories or nightmares — of jobs she had taken over the years, of her time spent with the soldier, of her time in Atlanta with Marcus and Nia — sometimes they were so vivid, so real, that she woke up in a cold sweat.

She sat on the beach, watching the sun dip below the waterline as darkness encroached on the sky. The ocean breeze blew through her hair, blowing the ends into her face as she stared at the dark waves crashing onto the sand. Harper couldn't help but think about her brother's words. Maybe it was time to change her destiny. Let the sun set on her past and start anew. After all, she'd been running from her own demons all her life, but maybe now was the time to take another look. Maybe this time, things could be different.

But how could she do it? How could she find the courage to face her greatest fear? She had hidden from her feelings for so long, pushing them down until she thought she had left them behind. If there was one thing she knew about herself, though, it was that it didn't matter where she went, what she did, or who she was. Because deep inside, underneath the facade, she was always that scared little kid that was destined to be a guardian angel for everyone else. And right now, looking out at the ocean, she knew she had finally reached the point where she just wanted to give it up; to let go of those fears and accept the possibility that things were going to work out okay. If there was one person she could trust, one person who could make her feel safe, even after everything she went through, it was James Barnes.

Harper stood up, brushed herself off, and grabbed her bag. She knew what she needed to do.

Arriving in New York the following evening, she got herself set up at a local hotel just outside the city. Harper settled into her room, flipped on the TV, and sat on the edge of the bed. Her hands were shaking, and she felt like her heart was racing. She knew this was the right thing to do, but that didn't stop her from feeling genuinely nervous for the first time in her life.

After a while, her nerves calmed enough for her to gather some items from her suitcase and take a quick shower. Once she had changed into something comfortable to sleep in, Harper climbed into the bed and pulled the covers up over herself. She closed her eyes and tried not to think too hard about anything in particular as she drifted off to sleep.

The next morning Harper awoke to the sun streaming into her room through the window. She lay there for a while before getting up and making her way to the bathroom. Emerging a few minutes later, she got dressed for the day and opened her laptop. Tapping into Stark's security, as well as the cell phones of the team members, she figured out Fury's location and basic plans for the day.

Harper shut down her computer, grabbed her car keys and cell phone, and headed for the compound. Remaining unnoticed by anyone of importance, Harper found Fury's office quickly and let herself in. She knew he was in a brief with the team, so she made herself comfortable in a corner chair and just waited in the darkness until he returned.

He didn't even bother to look in her direction when he stepped through the door and flipped on the light. "I knew it was only a matter of time, Barton," he said without preamble. "Finally ready to join the team?"

"It isn't really a decision I've made yet," she replied calmly, her fingers steepled beneath her chin and her voice calm despite the butterflies in her stomach.

Fury sighed and shook his head. He took a seat at his desk, looking at her pointedly. "You telling me? Or yourself?"

Harper shrugged, standing from her chair and stepping toward the desk. "Both," she said honestly. "My life hasn't been… normal lately."

"You don't say," he retorted dryly.

"You know me, Nick," she continued as she took a seat across from him. "I don't honestly think that I will ever be ready to join your little team."

Fury studied her closely. She could almost see the wheels turning in his brain as he considered his options. When she didn't immediately continue, he asked, "What is it you're wanting then?"

Harper hesitated, thinking carefully about what she was going to say. "Honestly, I don't even know for sure. But I know I'm supposed to be here, Nick. This is the path I should have walked years ago."

Fury gave a single nod, and she could tell he was considering whether or not she would stick around if he allowed her to stay. After a moment, he spoke again. "All right, Barton. You can stay. However, keep in mind that I expect you to follow my orders."

Harper nodded, smiling softly at him. "Of course," she agreed.

"When you're ready, come back," Fury told her. "We'll get you started on missions right away."

"Understood," she said firmly. Standing up, she turned to leave and then paused, glancing back at him over her shoulder. "And Nick? Thank you." Fury didn't reply, so she left without another word.

That evening, Harper found herself standing on her brother's front step. She took a deep breath, steeling herself before knocking on the door. Seconds passed, and she heard footsteps approaching from inside the house, followed by Clint slowly opening the door.

"Harley?" he asked, surprise evident in his voice. "What are you doing here?"

"Can I talk to you?" she asked, meeting his eyes steadily.

Clint frowned. "Okay…?" he said uncertainly, gesturing to the doorway. "Come in."

Harper stepped into the living room, closing the door behind her. "Sorry to just show up like this. I thought about texting you first, but..."

"It's fine," Clint reassured her. "So... What's going on?" he asked as he took a seat on one of the couches.

Harper sat across from him, wringing her hands nervously in her lap. Finally, she looked up at him and said in an unsteady voice, "I... I think I'm ready, Hawk."

Clint's eyebrows furrowed. "Ready for what?" he asked cautiously.

"To stick around for a while," she answered, looking straight at him. "I talked to Fury this morning."

Clint stared at her briefly before a broad smile spread across his face. "Wow," he breathed. "You finally decided you are ready to live a normal life, huh?"

"You can be rather persuasive," Harper shrugged with a smirk, leaning back against the couch. "Nick said I can take the time to get settled before actually working, so I'm thinking of looking for an apartment or something."

"Why not stay here?" he offered.

"What?"

"Sure," he shrugged. "It's just me here, and I've got more than enough room. That way, you have plenty of time to look for a place of your own and don't have to stay in a hotel while you look."

"Hawk, I couldn't impose like that-"

"You're not," he interjected. "We're family. It wouldn't be an imposition at all."

Harper studied him for a moment, trying to decide what to say. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely," he assured her. "I'm glad you're staying, Harley. Really."

"Thanks, Hawk," she replied sincerely, her eyes shining. "I really appreciate that."

Harper had been staying with her brother for two weeks. She had hardly left the house in that time, mainly keeping to herself, but Clint could tell she was accepting her new life. She had helped him finally decorate the place so it felt more like a home, and had made actual meals for the two of them rather than living off of junk food. They spent their time getting to know each other again and talking about what she hoped for with her future with S.H.I.E.L.D..

Sitting on the sofa one evening while watching TV, Clint brought up the one subject that she had been managing to avoid thus far, and she immediately froze. His words hung in the air between them for a moment before he broke the silence again. "Well?" he prompted.

"I don't know what you want me to say, Hawk," she replied quietly.

"You're going to have to face him eventually, Harls. I mean, you're going to be working with the man soon enough."

"Working together is one thing," she argued. "But I can't just show up unannounced and admit I have feelings for him."

"Why not?" he challenged. "That's exactly how you've always done things."

"This is different," she insisted.

"How so?" he pressed.

She let out a sigh. "Because I've never had feelings like these for anyone before. What if he attacks me when he sees me? What if he turns me away? What if he doesn't feel the same? What if -"

"You're fooling yourself, Harley,” Clint cut her off, sounding serious. “You're scared of him, and that's perfectly understandable. But what if you're wrong about it? You were close with him before; why not do it again?"

Harper turned on the couch so that her body was facing her brother. "I was never close with him, Hawk. The Dark Angel was close with the Winter Soldier. Harper and James never knew each other until they met at the tower. It's not the same."

"Bullshit," Clint scoffed. "I've seen the way you've looked at him. It's obvious you're attracted to him. And I've seen the way he looks at you. You're letting your fear control you, Harley. Why?"

"Because…" she began, then trailed off and shrugged helplessly.

"Because you're finally in a position where you can think about yourself instead of what everyone else thinks of you. You don't have to keep up an image, Harley, you can allow yourself to be happy, but you're too fucking stubborn to follow through."

Harper stared up at Clint in disbelief for a moment, unable to speak. Her chest ached painfully with emotion, and her throat tightened. Clint saw the look in his sister's eyes and knew he was on the right track.

"That's it, isn't it? You're afraid that if you open yourself up to this version of Barnes, you won't be able to close yourself down again like you could with the soldier. You're not worried about him causing you any physical harm. It's the fact that he could make you truly happy for the first time in your life that scares you the most. Because once you're happy, it can be taken away from you, and you can't bear the thought of that anymore.”

Harper blinked hard several times, staring at her brother. A few silent moments passed before she finally spoke, breaking the uncomfortable tension between them. “I guess I can’t argue with that,” she admitted.

“No, you can’t,” he replied gently. "But you need to find a balance between who you were before and who you are now. The old Harley would have never been afraid of someone like this."

"The old Harley would have never given in to feelings of love, or fear, Hawk," Harper tried to reason. “But, I can't hide them anymore. They have gotten too strong for me to bury like I used to."

"Then maybe you ought to try embracing them instead of burying them, huh?" Clint suggested.

Harper sighed, nodding slightly. "Maybe you're right, Hawk."

Clint chuckled, “Of course I am.” He watched her for a moment longer before turning back to the TV that was still playing the movie they had been watching. "Whatever you decide, know that I'll support you," he said.

"Thanks, Clint," she replied with a soft smile.

Chapter 20 – Masterlist – Taglist

[aingealcethlenn]

DA Chapter 18

Chapter 17

A sharp shift in the bed next to Harper startled her awake the following day. "Aunt Harley! Aunt Harley! Wake up!" Nate chanted happily as he bounced on his knees on the mattress.

"What time is it?" Harper groaned as she reached for her phone.

"Mom said not to wait to wake you up, but it's eight o'clock, so you can get up now, right?" he asked hopefully.

With a sigh, Harper rolled onto her back. "Yeah, buddy. I can get up," she replied, turning her head to the side to offer the boy a smile. She threw back the covers and rolled out of the bed. Nate jumped down and raced out into the hallway.

Harper quickly got dressed for the day before making her way to the kitchen. "Morning," she greeted as she approached the table.

"Morning, Aunt Harley," Lila smiled.

"Nathaniel, did you wake your aunt up?" Laura questioned sternly.

"Aunt Harley said it was okay..." he replied sheepishly.

"It's fine, Laura. Really," Harper assured. "I had hoped to be up earlier, but..."

"Don't worry about it," Clint said, walking into the room. "I'm sure you need to catch up on your sleep."

Harper nodded and took the chair across from Lila. Clint brought a cup of coffee to his sister and joined the rest of the family at the table. They each made a plate for themselves and planned their day while eating.

"I was thinking, Harley, if you're up for it, we could take the kids on a drive this evening. Unless, you know, you have to get going somewhere?" Clint suggested.

Harper shook her head. "I have no plans. What were you thinking?"

"Showing them a bit of our childhood," he shrugged, trying to be cryptic.

"You don't..." Harper looked at her brother, a little confused. "You mean..."

"Why not?" Clint asked.

"What are you talking about? Where would we go?" Cooper questioned.

"It's a surprise," Clint said. "What do you say, Harley?"

She was hesitant to answer, but she finally nodded in agreement. "Sure, I'm up for it, I guess."

The children looked between each other, none of them knowing what their aunt and father were talking about. Clint had never shared his childhood with his kids. They knew that his parents died when he was young, but that was all. Hell, they didn't even know he had a sister until she appeared in their home a year ago.

Everyone finished eating and cleaned up breakfast before heading outside to work on some chores around the yard. Nathaniel played on his swing set, occasionally joined by his aunt, while Lila and Cooper helped their parents. There were a few minor repairs in one of the barns, a tractor to fix, and some cleaning around the small garden and the yard. Harper even helped to split some wood that had been sitting for a while.

Clint and Laura worked seamlessly together on different tasks. Harper had wondered why he still spent so much time at the farm even though the two weren't together anymore, but it was clear now that he just enjoyed the mindless work and the time away from the city. She could tell they were still the best of friends, though, despite not being in a relationship any longer.

The family spent the better part of the afternoon doing their tasks until Clint finally noticed the time. "We better get cleaned up so we can get going," he announced.

The children agreed eagerly and rushed inside for showers and clean clothes. Once everyone had changed, they all piled into Laura's SUV. "You sure you don't want to join us, Bird?" Harper asked from the passenger seat.

"No," she replied with a smile. "I think this will be good for you two and a chance for the kids to have some time with you alone."

"We'll probably be back late, but I'll let you know when we're on our way home," Clint said as he started the car.

"You all just have fun and stay safe," she said before walking back into the house.

They pulled out of the driveway and headed toward their destination. Clint got onto the freeway after grabbing some food for the kids and made his way out of town. "It's only about a half-hour away. But we'll be there plenty early to walk around a bit."

"Are you sure about this, Hawk?" Harper questioned quietly.

"The last thing either of us needs is our final memory of that family being death. Besides, this way, the kids can learn a bit of the truth about our past," he reasoned.

"I guess," she agreed. "I'm sure Marcy won't argue to see just how far you've come."

He grinned slightly before turning his attention back to the road. The remainder of the drive was silent. Each of the kids had their phones that they were playing games or watching movies on, which meant that no one needed any conversation. Once they arrived at their destination, Clint parked in the very front and shut off the car.

"A... circus?" Lila questioned, finally looking up from her phone.

"Why are we at a circus?" Cooper added.

"You'll see," Clint assured them, climbing out of the car.

Everyone followed suit, the kids leaving their phones behind as they exited. Clint locked the car and led the way to the entrance. Nathaniel stuck close to Harper while Lila and Cooper trailed behind by a few steps.

"I'm sorry, folks, we don't open the gate for a couple of hours still," a young man greeted. "You're welcome to wait in your car, but -"

Harper cut him off. "We are more than welcome here now, I assure you."

"I'm sorry, ma'am, I can't let you in yet," he tried again.

"Get your boss, please."

The young man sighed, clearly not in the mood for arguments. "Yes, ma'am. Just one moment." He pulled a radio from his back pocket, pressed the button, and called for his boss. "Marcy, there's a group of people here that want to talk to you."

"Who is it?" a voice came through.

"I'm not sure, but they are pretty insistent on talking with you."

"Fine... I'm on my way."

The young worker put the radio back in his pocket and looked at Harper. "She's on her way," he said flatly.

Harper rolled her eyes but turned back to face the rest of the group. Nate tugged at her shirt to get her attention. "What's up, bud?" she asked.

"Will you carry me?" he looked up at her, his eyes pleading.

She could tell he was nervous, so Harper scooped the young boy up in her arms without hesitation. "Of course," she smiled at him.

"Alright... What's all the fuss?" a voice called from behind them.

Harper and Clint turned to face the entrance again, seeing the short older woman standing at the gate. "Hi, Marcy," Harper greeted.

"Bartons?"

"We're back, Marcy," Clint chuckled.

Marcy turned to the young man that had stopped them from entering. "Make a mental note, young man. These two are welcome anywhere we are set up, at any time of the day."

"Wait..." his eyes widened a little in surprise. "You're… You’re the Bartons? Y-You’re Angel and Hawkeye?" he asked.

"Damn right," Harper smirked.

"I... I'm so sorry. I didn't realize..." he stuttered, suddenly feeling extremely embarrassed.

"It's alright," Marcy laughed, taking pity on him. "Just make sure it doesn't happen again. Now head on in and finish gettin’ things set up," she instructed. The young man nodded and made his way toward the main tent. Once he was out of sight, Marcy turned her attention back to the Bartons. "What brings you two by? Nothin’ bad I hope."

"No, nothing bad, Marcy," Clint assured.

"Then what?" she asked with a raised brow.

"Just wanted to show my kids where Harley and I grew up," he explained.

"Kids?" Marcy stared at him for a moment. She looked around the siblings and saw Cooper and Lila standing, watching the interaction with confusion.

"Marcy... This is my daughter, Lila, and these are my boys, Cooper and Nathaniel," Clint introduced. "Guys, this is Ms. Marcy. She was… sort of like a mom for me and your aunt."

"Nice to meet you, ma'am," Cooper greeted, stepping forward and holding a hand out.

Marcy shook the boy's hand and smiled. "It's nice to meet all of you too.”

“A… Are you like… our grandma then?” Nate’s quiet voice spoke up.

“I suppose in a way,” she nodded with a chuckle. "But don't worry, you can just call me Marcy like your dad and your aunt do," she smiled.

"Clint thought it was time the kids knew the truth about our past, where we grew up and all that," Harper explained. "I know the ones that taught us our skill aren't here anymore, but still, thought we could show them around a little. If that's okay?"

"Of course!" Marcy exclaimed. "Why don't I give all of you a little tour?" she suggested. "Some things have changed since you two were here last." She knew they weren't telling the kids what happened to the men that trained them, so Marcy would pretend their last visit never happened.

"That sounds great, Marcy. If it's not too much trouble anyway," Clint responded.

"Oh, it's no trouble at all," she assured them. "Let's go, shall we?"

The group followed her and entered the main tent. Nate's eyes lit up as he looked around and saw all the different equipment. A tight rope was strung across high above the center circle, and trapeze artists were practicing on the bars off to the right. On the left, the wheel of death was set up with a few performers standing around the base.

"Everyone! Listen up!" Marcy's voice filled the massive tent. "Front and center!"

All the performers quickly made their way to the center circle. The trapeze artists hooked their bars to the platforms, making their way down the ladders, and a few people even trickled in from outside. One of the women from the trapeze team recognized the siblings. "Clint? Harley?" she called out.

"Shelly?" Clint replied.

The woman ran to the front, almost knocking Clint down as she embraced him in a tight hug. "Holy shit! It's really you guys," she exclaimed, taking a step back.

"I didn't know you were still here," Clint said, surprised.

"Family business and all that," she shrugged with a smile.

"For those of you that don't recognize these two," Marcy chimed in, breaking up the small reunion, "This is Clint and Harley Barton."

A murmur broke out amongst the group of performers and staff. "Wait... You mean Hawkeye and Angel?" someone called from the back of the group.

"That's right," Clint confirmed.

"Angel? The Angel?" a young voice spoke up.

"That's me," Harper replied with a smile.

"C-Can you... I mean... Is it true you hit the target from the wheel?"

Harper chuckled. "I don't know if I could now, but I sure did when I was working here," she admitted.

"Aunt Harley," Lila stepped up next to her father and aunt, "What are they talking about?" she asked quietly.

"Well... when your dad and I were young, our parents died," she began, wanting to keep it simple for now. "We were in foster homes for a little while, but we eventually ran away together and ended up finding Marcy here. She took us in, kept us safe, and gave us a job working for her circus," Harper smiled.

"We owe her a lot," Clint added. "A couple of people who worked for her before, saw Harley's potential with weapons and accuracy when she was messing around with things in a backfield one day before the show. After they talked to Marcy, it was decided that they would train the two of us with bows and make us into our own act."

"Your aunt went above and beyond, though," an older man stepped forward from the crowd.

Harper’s eyes widened seeing the man approaching. "Karl?" Harper questioned.

"The one and only," he smiled proudly.

She handed Nate to Clint and rushed over to the man. He pulled her into a tight bear hug. "I didn't think you were still here," Harper mumbled in his ear before he let her go.

"It's good to see you, kid," he grinned.

"It's good to see you, too."

"Your aunt here would spend her off time learning with my kids," Karl explained. "She could work the tightrope, the trapeze bars, and the wheel, just as good as any of us. But she taught herself how to still hit the target while on each of those. And let me tell you, kids... That wheel alone is no easy feat, let alone while using her bow," he explained.

"Is that true?" Lila asked in amazement.

"Yeah, sweetheart," Marcy smiled, nodding. “Your aunt, and your dad, were better than anyone I had ever seen before… and since. But your aunt always wanted a challenge," she smirked, looking at Harper.

"I think there's three here that could give Clint and I some competition, Marcy," Harper grinned back. "It's definitely in the family blood."

After reminiscing with the performers that the siblings knew, meeting some of the others, and even teaching the kids a few tricks, the five of them got ready for the show to start. Grabbing snacks and drinks, the family sat in the front row and watched the performance with excitement.

Once the show was over and the crowd had all left, the family stood in the center of the main tent. Harley was looking around as the crew cleaned up around them. Seeing his aunt with a slight smile on her face, Cooper couldn't help but press about her and his father's childhood. "You and dad actually did all the things we just saw? I mean, you actually used your bow on that giant wheel and everything?"

Harper chuckled. "Well, I did. Your dad preferred to stick to the basics and keep his feet planted," she explained. "But your dad did enjoy his time here. I wanted more... I ended up leaving eventually, joining the Army for a bit, but your dad... he stuck around for a while." Harper's expression softened as her mind drifted to another memory, one she hadn't allowed herself to dwell on until now. "This was our home, our family, for a really long time," she added.

"Do you miss it?" Lila asked curiously, seeing the shift in her aunt's demeanor.

Harper swallowed hard as a lump formed in her throat. "Sometimes," she told her niece honestly. "For the longest time, this was the only place I was happy. It was the source of the only good memories I had. But now... Now I have you guys," she smiled warmly.

Lila smiled back before hugging her Aunt close. "We're glad you found us, Aunt Harley. We love you," she declared.

Harley hugged the girl tightly back and held her close. "I love you kids too."

Harper stayed at the farm for about a week. She made a point to spend time with each of the kids and helped however she could around the farm. Though she hated to admit it, Harper enjoyed every minute of the family life. The tedious work, the kids fighting, the time spent with her brother; it was all a welcome change for her.

When the time came for Clint to get ready to head back home, Harper got her things ready to go as well.

"Why don't you come with me, Harley? Come back to New York with me. I know Fury would be more than happy to offer you a job," Clint offered.

"I can't, Hawk," she shook her head. "I don't think it's a good idea."

"And why not?" Clint demanded.

"Because Clint," she started, looking her brother dead in the eye, "I'm not sure I'm ready to stop running just yet."

Chapter 19 – Masterlist – Taglist

[aingealcethlenn]

DA Chapter 17

Chapter 16

Two months after their last encounter, Clint's name appeared on Harper's phone. He never reached out to her. Ever. It was a simple text message instructing her to meet him at the farm in two days' time. Fearing something terrible had happened, she arrived the following day instead.

As she pulled into the driveway, she saw Cooper and Lila working on different trick shots with their bows while Nate played happily on his climbing dome. Harper stepped out of the vehicle, closing the door before turning around just in time to have three bodies tackle her, causing her to fall back against the car. “Aunt Harley!” they called out in unison, hugging Harper tightly as she laughed, doing her best to return the embrace.

"Dad said you wouldn't be here until tomorrow," Lila stated, pulling away. Her cheeks were flushed red from running.

"He didn't say what he wanted, so I figured I'd come by early so I could spend a little time with you guys," Harper explained.

Clint stood on the porch, clearing his throat in an effort to get the attention of the small group. "I didn't think you'd show up," he commented honestly.

"Sometimes, I still doubt it myself," Harper admitted, watching him step down and approach where they stood. "So what was so important?" she asked.

"Later," he said, brushing off the question. "First, I want to know why you felt the need to buy my two teenage children sports cars?"

Harper shrugged. "Why? You jealous?"

Clint shook his head. "Harley, they barely have their licenses. And you want to give them each a forty-thousand-dollar car?" he questioned incredulously.

She opened her mouth to respond when another voice spoke up. "I already tried, Clint," Laura said from the porch. "You know it's no use arguing with her over it."

"Hey, Bird... Laura," Harper greeted.

"You know I hate that name, Harley," she scolded lightly, "But I guess I can make an exception for you. As long as you promise to keep trying to stop."

Harper gave a slight laugh. "I can agree to that," she replied.

Laura nodded in satisfaction before continuing, "Are you joining us for dinner?"

"If that's okay, sure."

Laura gestured toward the house. "Come on in. We're just about to sit down anyway." Harper followed Laura inside the house, with Clint and the kids close behind.

Everyone washed their hands and cleaned up, and then Harper helped set the table. Laughter and conversation filled the meal; something about the whole setting made Harper feel calm. For the first time in a very long time, she felt genuinely happy. She felt like she belonged there, even if only for a short while.

After everyone finished eating and the dishes cleared, Clint and Harper took the kids back outside. The sun was starting to set, casting shadows through the trees that stretched all around the yard. There wasn't much more than an hour or two left until night fell completely, but they made the most of it. The siblings split their attention between the kids - Cooper and Lila worked on archery with Clint while Harper climbed around on the swingset and dome with Nate. They would often switch places so that the children all got equal time with their father and their aunt.

Laura eventually called them from the porch. "Let's go, you guys! It's getting late, and the kids have things to do in the morning!" The kids grumbled but complied. They grabbed their stuff and put it all away where it belonged before heading inside to get ready for bed.

Clint and Harper sat on the porch steps in silence, listening to the sounds of the night. There was something relaxing, even comforting to Harper as she sat with her brother. It was like they were kids again.

Clint broke the silence, finally. "Thank you," he said, not looking at Harper.

"For what?" she asked softly.

He turned to face her, his eyes full of emotion. "For coming. For trying." His face softened as he continued, "Laura told me you stopped by a few months ago. Even stayed for a couple of weeks."

Harper nodded slowly. "I came for the kids," she told him, unsure exactly what Laura had said.

"They really do enjoy spending time with you," he said. "They've grown attached. I haven't seen them this happy since..."

Harper interrupted him with a smile. "I've grown rather attached to them too, Hawk."

"But did you really have to get them convertibles, Harls?" he complained with a smirk.

"You're just upset I didn't get you anything," she teased, elbowing him softly in his ribs. "I've got money, Hawk, and it's not like it's doing any good sitting,” Harper explained, her sudden solemn tone still unfamiliar to Clint. “There's money set aside for each of them, more than enough to keep them set for their entire lives. I even set some aside for Laura to help with anything that might come up, though I didn't tell her that," she smiled.

Clint looked at her for a moment before sighing, shaking his head. "I won't argue with you over it, but you really didn't have to."

"I know. But I did it. Believe me, Hawk. My bank account is probably damn close to that of Stark's. I'm not hurting, and I'd rather spend it on them than leave it to sit."

"Why'd you really come by here, Harley?" he asked softly. "I know it wasn't just to see the kids and give them gifts."

Harper hesitated before answering. "I just needed someone to... I... Fuck..." she breathed, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees. "I knew Bird wouldn't sugar coat things for me, and I needed some answers, Hawk. This damn serum is... I don't know who I am anymore. And I fucking hate it," she admitted quickly.

Clint sat quietly, letting her words sink in. He hated seeing her like this. She'd always had the strength to carry not only herself but him as well, through anything life threw at her. It was why Clint admired her so much when they were younger. She never showed fear, or weakness, never once faltered. No matter how hard things got, she kept going.

"I don't know how to fix this," she continued quietly. "I just want to be back to who I was."

Clint took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Listen, Harley... Before the serum, if I had told you that your life would have been the exact same five, ten years from now... Would you have been okay with that?" he asked hesitantly.

Harper frowned. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Clint sighed heavily. "Forget what happened with the serum, forget the problem with Buck and Jacques. If I told you that the life you were living would have stayed the exact same for the next decade - always on the run, always looking over your shoulder… never knowing your niece or nephews - would you have been okay with that?"

"I... I don't know. I guess not..." she trailed off, staring at her feet.

"Then why are you so afraid of change? What could go wrong?" he asked.

"Everything... Everything could go wrong," she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. "Look, Hawk, I've been past saving for a long... long time. I know how my story is supposed to end; I came to terms with that when I was a kid, for fuck sake. I am painfully aware that this ends one of two ways for me, little brother, and that's either at the edge of a blade or the barrel end of a gun. Whether it be my own or someone else’s is the only question I don’t have the answer to."

"What if it doesn't have to be that way, Harley? Why not take a chance at happiness for once? You can choose to live a better life without being afraid. You have someone willing to risk everything to make sure you are okay; you have your niece and nephews who love having you around. Don't throw that all away."

"It's easy for you to say that," she argued. "And maybe you're right... Maybe I should take the chance. And maybe it will be okay. But right now... right now I am fucking terrified... Terrified that I will lose everything. Terrified that I won't be strong enough..." she trailed off. "Terrified that I'll be a failure again... That I'll let you down… let them down."

"Harley..."

"I'm not used to this," she admitted, finally locking eyes with him again. "I'm not supposed to be afraid. And yet, here I am. And the only way I can describe how I feel, in words you’d understand, is that I am terrified shitless..." she paused, struggling to find the words. Harper let out an exhausted sigh, deciding the best option for herself was to shift the subject. "Why am I here, Hawk?" she asked pointedly.

"This," he shrugged in response. "I knew you wouldn't show up if I just said I wanted to talk, and since I was going to be here seeing the kids, I figured I'd be vague enough to get you out here too."

"Fair enough," she nodded reluctantly. Harper leaned against the porch railing and stared out into the black night sky as a slight breeze rustled the trees.

The silence dragged on between them for what seemed like an eternity before Clint spoke up again. "Talk to me, Harls?" he said to her, a hint of hope in his voice.

"And say what, Clint?"

He nudged her shoulder with his, trying to ease the growing tension. “I don’t know… anything. Tell me what’s on your mind,” he replied, making Harper look at him with a soft smile. "Drop the facade. Even if just for tonight. Pretend, for a moment, that we are kids again. Avoiding the sounds inside and talking about the future."

"Hawk, you were six. You couldn't judge me or hold things against me back then," she pointed out.

"So? If I was going to hold things against you, I wouldn't allow you into my home or around my kids. You're my sister, Harls; let me be the strong one for a change," Clint insisted.

She rolled her eyes and shook her head with a halfhearted grin. "Fine," Harper sighed heavily, sitting up and turning slightly to face her brother. "What do you want to know?"

"Whatever is weighing you down... Anything you need to work through," he pleaded earnestly, putting a hand on her knee.

"Okay," she agreed with a sigh. "I guess if we're going to fix things between us, I might as well learn to accept your help, right?" Harper chuckled softly, trying to ease her own building tension. "When the serum first started taking hold, I could feel the changes. I knew what to expect physically, but I never expected the psychological changes. The nightmares, the anxiety, the flashbacks - hell, I thought there was something seriously wrong with me." She looked down for a moment. "The drugs Banner was giving me, to help with the pain and everything, worked for a while, but eventually they did fuck all, and I was waking up screaming in a panic every single night. I got it under control on my own, at least enough that I could hide it, but everything was still magnified. Then Barnes..." she stopped.

"Barnes?" he prompted after a few seconds, noticing her hesitation.

Harper swallowed hard. "Barnes and I… We have history.”

“He said you worked together, sort of, when he was the Winter Soldier with Hydra,” Clint confirmed.

“I don’t just mean work history, Hawk,” she murmured.

“Oh…” Clint said softly, his eyes widening ever so slightly as the lightbulb finally clicked on. “Oh!... Did… Umm… Did it ever get serious?”

“The Dark Angel… And the Winter Soldier?” she snorted softly, a hint of sarcasm behind her tone. “No, dear brother, it did not. Neither of us were capable of any real feelings for one another.”

“But you did care about him,” Clint noted.

“A little. I guess,” Harper admitted, sighing softly. “He was different from anyone I’d met before… Barnes was the Winter Soldier, yes, but he was also more than that. Yes, he was ruthless, he was unforgiving, he was cold and emotionless. But he was more broken than most people could ever imagine. He was… He was a broken man, with no sense of himself, and yet, he somehow managed to survive.”

"You admired him..." Clint stated softly.

"Yeah…" she replied softly. "I thought that was all it was — a healthy respect for someone else who had been through hell and survived. But being stuck in that hospital bed... the serum... seeing him sitting there every day..." she trailed off shakily. "That was a hell of a realization that I wasn't alone in this. I didn't have to be..."

Clint stared intently at her for several minutes before finally speaking again. "I’m sorry that I wasn't there like I should have been," he apologized softly.

Harper shook her head slightly. "Don't be. It was my own fault."

"That's no excuse, Harley. You're my sister, my blood. I should have been the one by your side."

"We've both made mistakes," she conceded with a shrug. "Regardless..." Harper tried to continue, "All that time spent with Barnes… It opened my eyes to some things I never expected to feel. And, I'll admit, it scared the hell out of me, Hawk."

"Well, Harls, do you think it’s time you faced your greatest fear?" Clint asked her carefully.

"What do you mean?" she asked, confused. "I may have some new-found uneasiness. And yes, at first, I would say they were fears. But I got over it, Clint. I use the term loosely because it’s the best way to try to convey what’s in my head. But I -"

"Your greatest fear, Harper Lee,” he interrupted, “Whether you want to admit it or not, is finding love and being a part of a family again. A real family. Like we had with Marcy as kids. Because you have such a deep-seated hatred of yourself that you don't think you deserve that. You don‘t think you have the right to find love, to feel happy, to laugh, or to have a family. Not permanently anyway. And that's why you run. Why you keep everyone at arm's length and avoid the people who truly care about you," Clint concluded sadly.

Harper looked down at her lap in silence. Clint was right. But these feelings weren't something that came easily to her.

"You can have all of that, Harls. My kids adore you. They hate when you have to leave again. Hell, I think sometimes they miss you more than me," he joked, trying to lighten the mood. "Not to mention you have someone who loves your crazy ass so much, they risked their life, at least twice in the last year, to make sure you were alive. He knew your tricks, your secrets; he read into your little game with the symbol, risking everything just because he needed to know you were okay."

"What makes you so certain he loves me?" she questioned quietly, lifting her gaze to meet his. "After all, he can have anyone. Why me?"

"Because he saw the good in you. Because he knows what you've gone through," Clint shrugged nonchalantly. "Because he cares about you. And he knows that you deserve a happy ending too."

"Maybe," Harper conceded, averting her gaze momentarily. She paused for a moment, letting out a heavy breath. "So, what happens now, Hawk?" she asked, looking back at him, hoping to change the subject.

"Now? We go inside, get some sleep, and start fresh in the morning," he answered simply. Clint rested a hand on his sister's shoulder, "Give it all a chance, Harley."

"Alright,” she agreed, nodding once. “I'll try." She smiled lightly at her brother and squeezed his shoulder in return.

Chapter 18 – Masterlist – Taglist

[aingealcethlenn]

DA Chapter 16

Chapter 15

Harper was back on the run. Three months had passed since she left the farm, and Laura's words still rang through her thoughts when she tried to sit in peace. Guilt? Love? Happiness? Loneliness? Could these really be what was tearing at Harper's heart? She couldn't put it into words. All she knew was that this pain and uncertainty was something she needed to get past quickly.

She sat alone in a clearing. A large oak tree covered with small green flowers stood before her. It was peaceful. The spring air was crisp and clean. Birds chirped their songs as they flew from one branch to another. Small animals scurried about, taking advantage of the warm weather. The world seemed so normal around her; but deep down, she was sure no matter how much she wished for it, she could never have 'normal.' Not after everything she had done.

Harper stood from her spot, grabbed her bag, and walked off into the city. She found a quiet little cafe that offered free Wi-Fi and set herself up at a corner table. After ordering a coffee and a small sandwich, she opened her laptop and set to work. Stark's security wasn't as secure as he thought, so she managed to get into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s system again quickly enough. If killing, in general, made her feel like shit, maybe going after the bad guys could help offset that feeling.

Looking over things, Harper noticed a list of Hydra locations that had recently been researched far more than others. She could only assume Fury was gearing up to send his team out to close down those bases permanently. Jotting down the locations, Harper booked herself a plane ticket to Europe for the next day. Once she was finished with her food and drink, Harper shut down her laptop, paid her bill, grabbed her stuff, and went on her way.

It had been close to a year since Harper had taken off. Though Bucky still went on missions with the rest of the team, his primary focus was finding her. For now, though, he and Steve were tasked to destroy two locations in Germany that were personal to him. They arrived in Bavaria, Germany, at the first location, and though they were both rumored to be abandoned, you never could tell with Hydra.

As they approached the castle, James could tell something wasn't right. It was too easy. There's no way the Zemo family hadn't upgraded security in some way. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something about it all was making him uneasy. When Steve noticed his worry, he asked if he was alright. "I'm fine. Just... I don't know." He paused for a moment before continuing, "Something just doesn't feel right here." Steve nodded in agreement. While it could very well be nothing, they didn't want to take any chances.

The closer the two men got to the main gate, the more they could see. Not only was the large wooden door down, but looking up at the stone walkway over the gate, James noticed two bodies slumped over the side with pools of blood on the ground below.

As they continued, it was evident someone had beaten them to the location. It seemed the only things still standing were the outer walls of the building itself — the inside nothing but rubble.

"Seems like the Zemo family had more enemies than just S.H.I.E.L.D. that wanted to make sure they stayed out of commission," Steve said quietly as he and Bucky walked through the rubble.

"I don't think that's what this is," James replied, glancing around at the carnage. "I think someone did our job for us."

"What do you mean? No one knew we were coming here."

James pointed to the perimeter wall behind Steve, "That is what I mean."

Steve turned to look where his friend was pointing. "Shit... Is that...?"

"Yeah," James answered softly, "Yeah, it is."

While Bucky and Steve focused on their missions in Germany, Clint and Natasha arrived at a secret lab in Sudan. The place looked pretty much deserted, except for what appeared to be two guards standing at the door.

"Should be a quick in and out, I think," Natasha said.

"If she has Chitauri tech, we can't be so sure," Clint warned.

Natasha rolled her eyes, "We've dealt with worse." Clint shook his head, following Nat as she began approaching the building.

As they got closer, it became clear that the guards would be of no threat to the pair. "What the hell?" Clint muttered under his breath.

"Think it's a trap?" Natasha asked.

Clint pulled an arrow from one of the two men, dislodging it from not only the body but the brick of the building as well. The guard's form slid down the wall before falling to the side. "Nope. No trap," Clint assured, "Someone just beat us to the punch."

"What?" Nat questioned.

He sighed, turning to show Nat the arrow. "Look familiar?"

"It looks like one of yours," she commented.

"Close. I mean... you're right, it's not a standard arrow, but it's not one of mine either."

Clint and Natasha entered the small building and began exploring. They came across a few more bodies spread throughout the building, including that of the doctor that had been working with the technology and creating weapons to use against S.H.I.E.L.D.. When they entered the central lab, they saw that everything had been destroyed - weapons, computers, windows, everything. Nothing would be able to be salvaged, but it seemed that was the point.

Looking around the room, Clint's eyes locked onto the far wall in front of them. "Really?"

"What?" Natasha questioned as her gaze followed his. "Damn it..."

Standing outside the large building on the east side of Berlin, just one day removed from searching the rubble that was the Zemo family castle, Bucky couldn't help but feel tears prick at his eyes. It had been years since he had seen the structure before him, but he still remembered every second inside that hellhole.

It was clear that the area had been long abandoned, but James and Steve still walked in with caution. They walked into the large center room, and Bucky froze in his steps. An oversized chair still sat in the middle.

The giant lab still held desks, computers, recording devices, and so much more. To James, it appeared that nothing had changed since the last time he had been forced to set foot inside. While Bucky's eyes were fixed on the chair, Steve looked around the room, noting the second door on the opposite side and paperwork strewn about.

Bucky finally found his footing again and approached the chair. As he stood in front of it, he noticed something propped up on the seat. "Damn it, Angel," he breathed out.

"What is it?" Steve asked as he turned around.

"Stop," Bucky instructed sharply when he saw Steve attempt to walk toward him. "Don't move."

Steve gave his friend a questioning look. "Buck?" James picked up a pair of wire cutters from the chair. "What are those?"

"Wire cutters, Steve," Bucky sighed.

"What? Why?"

James held up a piece of paper, with Harper and Clint's symbol drawn on it. "Seems Barton's sister left a little present."

"I still don't understand," Steve replied with furrowed brows, crossing his arms over his chest.

"It was a game she played. There's a grenade… or a bomb… somewhere around here... with a wire attached. She left the cutters in case we can find it before we trip it," Bucky explained.

It had only been a week since the teams had returned from Germany and Sudan, but Bucky still couldn’t shake the sense that Harley was trying to get their attention. He knew he had to talk to Clint about it; he was the only one that might be able to give some insight into what she was doing. Bucky walked into the archery range at the compound. He watched Clint working with some recruits, giving them pointers and correcting mistakes. Their forms were fluid and precise; each movement seemingly practiced to perfection.

"You need something, Barnes?" Clint asked, spotting Bucky standing silently near the door.

"Just need to have a word with you if you have time,” he replied.

Barton nodded, directing the recruits to continue their work while he stepped into the hall with Bucky. “What is it?”

“Your sister, Barton,” he answered flatly.

"What about her?" Clint crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall.

"She's hit every location that we've been sent to. Which means she knows where we're going before we do. How?"

"How the hell should I know?" he shrugged. "Harley isn't stupid, Barnes. Knowing her, she probably hacked Stark's security again."

"So what do we do then?" Bucky pressed.

"Nothing," Clint said bluntly. "Look, Barnes, you've been searching for my sister for nine months and are no closer now than when you started. The only difference is that you have proof she is still alive and somewhere close by."

"Then help me," Bucky pleaded. "Help me find her."

Clint sighed deeply, "Listen, Barnes. You know how this works. You and I aren't the best of friends. And I honestly don't give a damn about your feelings for my sister. But Harley..."

"Yeah, I know, she can only be found when she wants to be. But come on, Barton. She is clearly reaching out in her own way here."

"To let us know she's alive, that's all. That's all she ever does.”

"I know that," Bucky sighed, "But what if this is different?"

Clint thought for a moment. "Alright, I'll bite. Say it is. What of it? How do you expect to find her?"

"That's why I need your help. You know her better than I do,” Bucky explained.

Clint snorted humorlessly, "I highly doubt that."

"Please, Barton. Help me out here."

"Fine," Clint relented. "Try the right way first," he suggested. "Find Fury, tell him you need the list of the recent Hydra locations we've been tasked with and any upcoming ones. It doesn't have to be in any order; it just needs the names. If he disagrees, go to Stark. He can get into the system and get the list easily enough. I don't need to know how you get the list, just get it and then come find me."

"Thanks," Bucky smiled gratefully at him.

"Sure,” he waved a hand dismissively as he headed back inside the archery room.

A week later, Bucky met Clint as he walked into the compound. "Barton," he greeted, "I got that list. It took a bit of convincing, but I got it."

"Okay," Clint nodded as he made his way toward one of the elevators. "Let's see if we can figure out where she'll go next."

The two men found an empty conference room with a large map that they could utilize. Clint marked out the few places they had already been to, and Bucky marked off other points of interest he thought Harper might consider off of the list.

"Now that that's done," Clint announced as he leaned back in his seat and stretched his legs out beneath the table, "We have to figure out where she may go next."

Bucky looked over the list of locations that sat on the table in front of him. He recognized most of them, but by name only. Two stood out to him, though. "I could narrow it down to two for us, but that's all I got," he told Barton.

Clint nodded, "Better than nothing. What you got?"

"From what I can tell, she's hit the places that have a connection to her in some way. I see two that I know for sure have a personal connection with her. One in L.A. and one in D.C."

"She's been hitting places that are either abandoned or have little to no risk for civilian casualties," Clint commented as he looked over the map.

"The D.C. location is right in the heart of the city. Unless she was damn careful, I doubt she could take it down without risk," Bucky stated.

"What about the L.A. one?"

"Fairly secluded," Bucky shrugged, "From what I know, it's abandoned, but there could still be some of the family living there."

"There's your answer then," Clint concluded. "Let's just hope she hasn't been there yet."

The two men had arrived in Los Angeles less than twenty-four hours after deciding that was the next logical place that Harper would go. They went straight to the mansion, hoping that it was still standing. When they arrived, they found the large gate at the entrance was open. There were no lights on anywhere in the house, to their relief, the driveway was void of cars, and the doors were locked and chained shut.

"Looks like it's definitely abandoned," Clint commented.

"And not a pile of rubble," Bucky added. "Maybe we did beat her to this one."

The two quickly checked the perimeter, checking all the windows to ensure no one was hidden inside. Finding nothing, they moved onto the garage. Inside were several pieces of machinery that Hydra had left behind, along with a few discarded weapons, which Bucky recognized.

"This could be our chance," Clint remarked as he reached down to pick up what appeared, at least, to be a shotgun that sat beside one of the machines. "We could take some of this back with us."

"Careful with that," Bucky warned. "Some of this stuff may not be exactly what it looks like."

Clint gave him a confused look but didn't ask further questions. The two finished clearing the outside area as quickly as possible, making sure the property was, in fact, abandoned. "Think you can take care of the chain?" Clint asked, knowing they needed to clear inside the home as well.

Bucky walked up to the front door, grabbed the heavy metal chain by the padlock with his left hand, and pulled it free. "No problem," he assured him before stepping over the threshold, dropping the chain to the floor just inside.

Clint followed suit, closing the door behind them as they entered the darkened home. They each went in opposite directions, checking everything they could find before returning to the entryway.

Bucky was the first one to notice the slight noise coming from outside. He glanced up at Clint, "Did you hear something?"

He shook his head slowly, "No."

Bucky turned to check out the window, careful not to move the blinds. "We have company," he told Clint. Walking to the steps directly in front of the door, he sat down, resting his forearms on his knees. It didn't take long before the door slowly opened. "Welcome home," Bucky greeted flatly.

Harper walked cautiously into the house with a pistol held tightly in her grip, aimed directly at Bucky’s head. Her eyes scanned the area quickly, spotting Clint in the next room as she looked for anything suspicious. Once she realized neither of the men posed any immediate danger to her, she lowered the gun slightly. "What the fuck are you two doing here?" she growled out.

"Why do you think we're here?" Clint replied simply, stepping into the entryway.

She scowled. "Because you can't leave well enough alone?" Bucky smirked as she continued, "You think I don't know you've been tracking me, soldier?"

"You're one to talk, Angel. Hitting Hydra locations you knew damn well we'd go to, leaving your mark behind for us to find," Bucky countered. "Not very subtle, huh?"

Harper's lips twisted into a grimace, "It was a message, nothing more."

"Oh really?" Clint raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Just like any time before. It was so that you knew I was fine. It wasn't some cry for help or a sign for you to find me. It was just a fucking message," Harper spat at him angrily.

"You only ever left them sporadically, Harley, not at every damn location. You and I both know this is different," Clint argued.

"No. This isn't different," Harper snapped.

"Bullshit," Bucky chimed in. "You weren't subtle about it. You left giant fucking symbols and buildings turned to nothing but piles of bricks. Let's not forget your little wire game in Berlin."

"Did you like that, soldier?" she mocked. "I knew you would be the one to show up there, so I left it just for you," she sneered at him.

"Cute," he retorted. "But you're not going to get out of this that easily, Harley."

"Don't be so sure about that," she smirked evilly.

Bucky stood from his spot, stepping down a couple of stairs to the floor. As he got closer to Harper, she stepped back, inching her way out the door. "You don't want to run. Not really," he continued as he neared her.

"I always run, Barnes," she muttered quietly.

"You can fool your brother, but you're not fooling me," he chuckled. "You wanted to get caught."

She paused at his words, looking at him with wide eyes for a moment before she laughed nervously. She shook her head rapidly, "You’re crazy," she breathed out.

"Am I?" he challenged. Bucky quickly reached out and grabbed her upper arm just before she inadvertently fell down the porch steps. His grip tight, he dragged her toward him. "Tell me the truth," he demanded in a quiet whisper so only she could hear.

Her gaze shifted nervously between the floor and the man standing above her. "Fine," she replied in a whisper of her own. "I wanted you to come for me," she admitted softly.

"Why?" he questioned, letting go of her arm.

Harper sighed, shaking her head. "You know why," she murmured.

Clint leaned against the banister, watching the two of them interact. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but that didn't matter because he could read their body language perfectly. He had never seen his sister look so... vulnerable. Even when she was stuck in the hospital bed, she still was on her guard. But with Bucky? That faded away. She didn't seem like a woman who was afraid anymore; she seemed like an entirely different person. It was almost like looking at a complete stranger. "Would you two like some privacy?" he inquired suddenly.

Harper jumped when she heard Clint speak, all but forgetting her brother was even there. "No," she answered shortly.

Bucky rolled his eyes, giving Clint a pointed look before returning his attention back to Harper. "Just come back with us, Harley. No more running," he pleaded.

Harper remained silent for a moment as she looked between the two men. "No," she finally said.

“What do you mean no?” Bucky questioned firmly.

“I don’t know how to make it any clearer, Barnes.”

“What are you so afraid of? Why are you so damn scared of staying?” he pressed.

“I’m not-”

“I think,” Bucky interrupted, “It’s because you can see a future… a happy one… And that terrifies you to think that you could allow yourself to have that.” Her eyes softened and he could see the idea playing in her mind.

"Harley…" Clint tried.

"No," she cut him off sharply, clearing her throat and recentering herself. "I'm not going back to New York," she declared.

Clint let out a defeated sigh before nodding his agreement. "Fine."

"Fine?" Bucky glared at Clint. He had hoped that he was getting through to the both of them, but it seemed he was mistaken.

"Barnes, just leave it," Clint sighed tiredly. "I promise it isn't worth the fight."

Before either man could stop her, Harper took off out the door. She hopped in her car and sped out of the driveway.

"We can't just let her walk away," Bucky protested. “We were so close to-”

"Can't? Or won't?" Clint shot back. "Look, if you try to fight her, you're gonna lose her for good. She’s not ready to change, and you’re not going to convince her otherwise."

"So am I supposed to stand around while she goes and tries to get herself killed again?" he questioned.

"If that's her choice, yes," Clint countered. "I know it's not what you want to hear, trust me. But she's too stubborn to give in to what someone else wants her to do. She has to make the choice on her own."

Bucky began to argue. "But -"

"Barnes, just stop," Clint interrupted him. "There's nothing you can do. I understand there is something between you two, but you have to let her come to terms with it on her own. There's nothing you can say right now that will change her mind." He walked out of the house toward their car. Bucky reluctantly followed. "She'll come around," Clint tried to assure him. "For now, let's just get some agents here to empty the house and move on to the next mission."

Bucky nodded in silent agreement before dropping into the passenger seat. "You better be right," he muttered under his breath as he closed the door.

Chapter 17 – Masterlist – Taglist

[aingealcethlenn]

DA Chapter 15

Chapter 14

Harper had been on her own again for the last six months. She spent her time exploring the world, picking up odd jobs to keep her busy and keep her paid. As one of the best assassins globally and the best freelance, Harper was far from hurting for money. Still, she wouldn't complain about making more.

The entire time she was away, though, she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Something was missing. It was a vague sense of unease, and it kept growing stronger every day.

Harper decided she needed a break from running. It had been just shy of a year since she had last seen her niece and nephews, so she decided to make a surprise visit to the farm. She wasn't showing up empty-handed, though. Before her arrival, Harper had three brand new vehicles delivered to the farm.

She carefully pulled into the snow-covered driveway and parked next to the other cars. As she approached the front door, it swung open before she could even knock.

"Aunt Harley!" Nate exclaimed

"Hey there, little man," Harley greeted, scooping the boy into her arms and stepping inside.

"I knew you'd come visit us again. I just knew it!" Nate proclaimed.

"Oh really?" Harley asked, amused. He nodded vigorously, causing a grin to spread across her face as the young boy wrapped his arms around her neck.

Laura walked into the living room, spotting Harley and Nate embracing. "Harley?"

"Hey," she responded, setting Nate back on the floor.

"Wh-What are you doing here?"

"Uh... Clint... He, um, he said I could visit the kids," Harper replied.

"Nathaniel, go get your brother and sister, please?" Laura told the little boy, who excitedly ran off to find his siblings. "Why are you really here?"

"I need to talk to you, but not around the kids. It's... It's personal," Harper muttered quietly. “Just, uh, don’t tell Clint I’m here. Please?”

Laura could see the sincerity in her eyes. She nodded in understanding, "We can talk tonight once they are asleep or tomorrow while they are in school. Whichever you prefer."

"Thanks," Harper smiled softly, "I appreciate it."

"Aunt Harley!" the kids called out, running to her and embracing her tightly. "Was it you that sent the cars?" Cooper asked as he pulled away.

Harper grinned, "It sure was. Did you take a look at them yet?"

"Not yet. Mom was worried they were delivered to the wrong place or something," Lila shrugged.

"Really, Bird?" Harper smirked, looking over the kid's shoulders.

"Harley..."

"Nope!" she interrupted, "I know that tone, and I won't hear it." Harper looked back at the kids, "Get your shoes and jackets on, let's go!" All three children got ready and rushed out the front door, followed closely by their aunt and mother. "Lila, Cooper, the Camaros are for you two. Pick whichever one you want. Laura, the Tahoe is yours," Harper explained.

"Harley, you shouldn't have," Laura said. "Really. We can't accept these," she insisted.

"Bullshit. They are paid off, and there is a check in each glove box that will cover a year's worth of insurance for each of you. There's probably extra left over from each check too." Harper paused for a moment, "I also, may or may not, have money set aside in an account to cover college for all three of them."

"Harley," Laura said sternly. "There's no way we can accept all this. Seriously."

"Listen, Little Bird. They are my family. And whether we like it or not, you being their mother means you're still part of my family too. I'm not going to just let my money sit anymore. I mean, who am I saving it for?" she shrugged. "Besides, I've missed their entire lives so far. I have some missed holidays and birthdays to make up for," Harper chuckled.

"But sports cars?"

"Convertibles, mom," Lila corrected with a grin as she approached the women. "Thank you so much, Aunt Harley," she said, wrapping her arms around Harper. 

"You gotta promise to take care of them," Harper instructed, watching Cooper make his way back to the rest of the group.

"We promise, Harley. We really can't thank you enough," Cooper said as he hugged his aunt.

"There's a check in each glove box. Your mom will help each of you get accounts set up, but that money will get you full coverage insurance for a year. Anything extra is for you to use for whatever you want, but insurance is first. Got it?" Harper said firmly.

"Got it," both kids echoed.

"What about me, Aunt Harley?" Nate asked quietly.

"You, little man, are too young to drive a real car," she chuckled, kneeling down to his level. "But, what do you say we go shopping this weekend and get you some new toys? And maybe a swing set for the yard?" Harper offered.

"Okay!" Nate agreed enthusiastically. "Can I get a bike too?"

"Of course!" she agreed. "We'll get you whatever you want."

Nate ran up to Harper and wrapped his arms around her neck. "Thank you, Aunt Harley!"

The next afternoon, Harper arrived at the house while the kids were away at school. She knocked on the door and waited patiently until Laura answered.

"Come on in," she greeted, moving back to allow Harper to enter. Once inside, Laura shut the door behind her. "Is everything okay?"

"I... Uh... Honestly, Bird, I don't know," Harper admitted with a sigh.

Laura walked to the small table in the kitchen and gestured for Harper to sit. "Coffee? Tea? Or whiskey?" she offered.

"Whiskey is probably best," Harper answered with a chuckle as she sat in one of the chairs.

Laura grabbed two glasses and a bottle from a cabinet, setting them on the table as she took a seat across from Harper. She poured a bit of the amber liquid into each glass and slid one toward her former sister-in-law.

"Thanks," she murmured, taking a sip.

"So? What's going on?" Laura inquired, concern evident on her face.

Harper closed her eyes and shook her head, "I don't really know. One minute, I'm fine. Going about my business just like every other day before. The next..."

"It's just the serum, Harley. You're not used to... Well, feeling," Laura stated.

"You say that like I'm some psychopath, Bird," Harper scoffed.

"I wish you wouldn't call me that," Laura sighed, shaking her head. "But I didn't mean it like that. I just mean... You've always been able to hide and bury your feelings. The serum makes that far more difficult. Not only did it enhance your stamina, your muscles, but it enhanced your feelings too."

"Well... How the hell do I stop it?" Harper demanded frustratedly.

"You don't," Laura said simply. "You're going to have to learn to deal with your emotions for once, Harley.”

Harper stared down into her whiskey as she considered Laura's words. Eventually, she raised her head and met the other woman's gaze. "I hate when you sound so damn sensible, Bird," she grumbled.

"No... You just hate it when I'm right," Laura retorted, taking a drink from her own glass. Harper rolled her eyes but allowed herself a smile. "Why don't we start small?" Laura offered.

"Like what?"

"Well, what's going on that you can't seem to shake?"

Harper sighed. Where do I start? She took another sip of her drink, contemplating her response carefully. "It's... I have this... Tightness? In the pit of my stomach. But… at the same time, this sense of calm sort of washes over me whenever… a specific person is around. And I can't get... this person... out of my head. I’ve even lost sleep because of it. It’s like a whirlwind of good and bad,” Harper hesitated, unsure how much to tell Laura.

Laura laughed a little, "That... Is called love, Harley."

"Love?" Harper questioned.

Laura nodded. "Yeah. Love. It's a feeling, a connection between two people," she explained. "And it feels good. It makes you feel safe. Comfortable."

"Comfortable," Harper repeated softly, shaking her head slightly.

"Yes. Like you belong there with that person."

Harper continued staring at the glass in her hands, processing the words. Finally, after several moments, she nodded, "Kind of like how I'm comfortable around the kids."

Laura nodded with a shrug, "Little bit of a different kind of love... But yes."

Harper nodded slowly, then lifted her head again to look at Laura. "Okay. Okay, yeah... I guess that isn't so bad." She looked down at the amber liquid in his hands, swirling it around inside the glass. "What... uh... What about this... This heaviness… in my chest? It's like, I can't breathe or swallow... My heart throbs... Like I'm suffocating."

"Sounds a bit like guilt to me," Laura said thoughtfully.

Harper looked up quickly. "Guilt?" she asked.

"Yeah. Guilt," Laura replied. "Guilt usually comes after someone has done something unforgivable or terrible."

"So... My entire life?" Harper asked sarcastically.

Laura shrugged, "Yeah. Kind of."

"Is this what people actually deal with when they do something... bad?"

"Yes, Harley. Normal people feel bad when they hurt another person," Laura answered, her tone a bit sour.

Harper paused for a few seconds, thinking about Laura's words. Normal people, she mused. "It's a shit feeling," she muttered after a moment.

"It's supposed to be," Laura replied flatly. "Look, Harley, I have to ask. Why did you come here? Why come to me?" she asked with genuine curiosity.

Harper leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table and dropping her head in her hands. "Honestly? I knew you wouldn’t sugarcoat anything or bullshit me. I knew I could trust getting the truth from you," she explained. "Look, Bird... Laura... I know we've never had any sort of positive feelings toward each other. I pushed Clint away for his safety, and it turned to a sort of hatred between all of us. I think... I think I want to fix that."

"What?" Laura asked incredulously.

"I take it Clint didn't tell you anything?"

"No. Not really. Just that you were healed and took off. He's been worried, but he knows you aren't exactly one to stick around for long."

Harper sighed. "When we... You know... He and I talked. All these years, it was an act, Laura. I've never hated my brother, or you. I never liked that you two got married, I'll admit, but there was never a hatred like you both assumed. I had to push him away to keep him, and eventually you and the kids, safe. I've worked for some evil people over the years, and if they knew they could have any leverage at all over me? It was just easier if you all believed I hated you."

"Harley... If you'd just have been honest..."

"No. It's not that simple. I don't regret the choice I made. What I regret is the time I lost. For fuck sake, Cooper is eighteen years old, Bird. I missed every shred of his childhood just because I chose the path I did."

"I... I see..." Laura trailed off, trying to decide what to say.

"I can't change the past, Laura. I know that. But, maybe I don't have to keep such a big distance anymore."

Laura nodded slowly, "All right, Harley." She looked her former sister-in-law in the eyes, trying to get a read on her. "Clint seems to believe you," she continued, "So... I guess I can give you a chance."

"Really?" Harper asked in surprise.

Laura nodded. "Yes. Really," she confirmed. "But you only get one."

"That's fair," Harper agreed. "Thank you, Bird... I mean... Thank you, Laura."

Laura shook her head and smiled. "Are you staying for dinner?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Uh... Yeah. If it's okay with you anyway," Harper responded with a nod.

"Of course," Laura assured. "Besides, the kids love having you here. Can we expect another short visit, though?" she asked.

"I... I don't know yet. I did promise Nate I'd take him shopping this weekend," she chuckled, "But, I don't know beyond that. I was thinking maybe a week? I don't want to stay in one place too long just yet."

"You know, Harley, our problems aside... You deserve to be happy."

Harper shook her head and let out a heavy sigh. "I'm not sure that's true, Laura."

"You deserve to be happy, Harper Lee," she repeated. "You deserve to find love and happiness... And true family."

Harper frowned as a sudden lump rose in her throat, threatening to make her cry. "I... Thanks, Bird," she whispered.

Laura reached across the table and squeezed her hand gently. "Now, let's get to cooking so we can eat when the kids get home from school," she instructed.

Harper couldn't help but smile back at the woman and allow herself to relax just a little. After everything that had happened recently, a little bit of normalcy seemed nice. Maybe, just maybe, Laura was right.

Harper spent two weeks with Laura and the kids on the farm. Despite the snow, she managed to take Lila and Cooper out with their new cars a couple of times before they began driving them on their own. Cooper even started bringing Nate to school in the mornings so that none of them needed to ride the bus any longer.

Harper got all three kids some new clothes and got some items for the house that Laura wanted and needed. She got a swing set and a climbing dome for Nate, and with a bit of extra work, they got them built up so he could enjoy them come spring. She also got them new cell phones since their old ones were pretty banged up. This way, they could call her any time they wanted.

As much as Harper enjoyed her time at the farm, and spoiling her family, she knew she couldn't stay any longer. This time, at least, she said goodbye to everyone and promised her niece and nephews that she would be back.

Chapter 16 – Masterlist – Taglist

[aingealcethlenn]

DA Chapter 14

Chapter 13

Harper had woken up at the ungodly hour of three o'clock the following morning. Despite the events of the last three months and the closure she and Clint now had, she knew she couldn't stay. She quickly and quietly changed out of her sleepwear and into some jeans with a t-shirt, loaded up her suitcase, and quietly left the room. Harper had no idea where she would go, but she knew she had to leave.

When Clint awoke to silence, he knew he was alone before ever opening his eyes. He rolled to his side to face the bed his sister had slept in the night before and saw that Harper had tucked in the blankets and propped the pillows up against the wall as if no one had used the bed at all. Clint looked at the clock on the table between the beds and spotted a notepad and pen.

Propping himself up on his elbow, Clint grabbed the pad of paper. She had drawn their symbol and written a small note, 'I'm sorry, Hawk.' He set the pad back on the small table and rolled to his back, just staring at the ceiling.

After several minutes, Clint finally sat up in his bed, throwing his legs over the side and leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. He ran his hands through his hair and let out an exhausted sigh. Standing up, he grabbed his suitcase and placed it on the empty bed. Flipping it open, he found clothes inside; dark blue jeans and a black t-shirt. He took a quick shower, got dressed, and made sure his bag was packed. Clint checked out from the hotel and made his way to Fort Dodge so he could fly back to New York.

Upon arriving in New York early that evening, Clint drove directly to the compound. He found Fury in his office and knocked on the door. "What is it?"

"Just letting you know I'm back," Clint said, stepping inside the room.

"And?" Fury asked, looking up from the papers in his hand.

"It's done," he assured. "And Harley is gone. I don't know where; she was gone before I woke up this morning."

Fury nodded and returned to his work. Clint went to leave when Fury spoke again. "I know it wasn't easy for you, Barton. But you did good. Go home," he told the archer.

Clint nodded, closing the door as he left. Walking the halls, making his way back to his car, he ran into Bucky. Almost literally. "Barton. You're back."

"Yeah, Barnes. I just got back," Clint replied.

"How'd it go?"

"Did what we needed to," he shrugged.

Bucky nodded in understanding. "How's Harley holding up?"

"No idea," Clint shook his head. "She was gone before I woke up this morning. Left me a drawing of our symbol, and that was it."

The two fell silent. Bucky looked like he wanted to say something but decided against it and instead just nodded and began walking away. Clint watched him go and then turned back to continue to the parking garage.

Arriving at his home, Clint grabbed his suitcase from the trunk and walked inside. He flipped on the living room light, dropped his bag by the door, and collapsed on the couch. So much had happened, and Barton hadn't had a chance to process any of it. Sitting in the silence, he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw Laura's name flash across the screen. "Hey, what's going on?" he asked, answering the call.

"I just thought I'd check on Harley. The kids have been asking if she is okay after the... well, after a couple of months ago," Laura explained.

"As far as I know, she's fine," he told her.

"What do you mean?"

"She's gone again, Laura. She got the serum, which helped her to heal damn near a hundred percent already. The two of us went to take care of the two guys that had attacked her in the first place. Once the job was done, she was gone. I don't know where though," Clint sighed.

"You sound disappointed that she left," Laura commented.

Clint hesitated, debating whether or not to answer, before deciding he didn't want to lie to Laura. "A little," he admitted. "She's changed, Laura. Or... Maybe I'm just seeing the truth. I don't know."

Laura paused. "That sounds... good? Why do I get the feeling there's more to it?"

Clint chuckled dryly. "Well, yeah. There's something different... She's different. And I don't just mean stronger; she cried, Laura. Not in a normal sense, but she had tears in her eyes. I've never seen my sister show a shred of emotion before."

"If she has the serum in her, Clint, it does more than affect her muscles. It enhances everything about her. Feelings included," she reminded him. "Are you sure she is okay?"

"She'll be fine, I'm sure. It was just... odd. We cleared the air between us a bit, I guess. I even offered her the chance to see the kids again. Be a part of their lives. She denied, of course, but the offer was there. There was something in her eyes, though. Like she was holding back."

"Your sister has been alone for a long time, Clint. It's no wonder she ran again. The attack, the changes she's experiencing, all coupled with going back to her childhood and having to kill the two people that essentially made her who she is? Those emotions are hard for a normal person to process, let alone someone who has buried any ounce of feeling she's ever had," Laura reasoned.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Clint mumbled.

"Anyways," Laura continued, changing the subject, "The kids want to say 'Hi' to you."

"Of course," Clint smiled, accepting the facetime request from Laura's phone. Nate's face popped up on his screen, and he chuckled, "You have to hold the phone a little farther away, buddy."

"Hi, daddy!" Nate greeted excitedly.

"How are you guys doing?" Clint asked, seeing the older two appear on the screen as well.

"We're good, dad. How is Aunt Harley?" Lila asked, her face slightly worried.

"She's fine, sweetie. She is all healed up and back to work," Clint reassured.

Lila let out a sigh of relief. "Really? Thank god. We were worried after mom told us what happened."

"I know you were," Clint nodded. "But she made a full recovery and is back to her old self."

"Will she come visit again?" Nate asked.

"I don't know, bud. Hopefully she will, but you never know with your Aunt Harley," Clint replied.

Clint spent the next hour talking to the kids. They talked about school and how they were all practicing archery each day. When the kids started yawning, Clint said goodnight to them and ended the call. He put his phone on the coffee table and went to the kitchen for a drink. He hadn't bothered to eat anything all day; nothing seemed to appeal to him.

Taking the water back to the living room with him, he laid down on the couch and turned on the television. He flipped through channels, stopping once he landed on a movie to watch. Clint watched the screen with blank eyes while his mind drifted off. He thought about Harley and how much he had missed about his sister. The only thing he could do now was wait and hope.

Chapter 15 – Masterlist – Taglist

[aingealcethlenn]

DA Chapter 13

Chapter 12

The time had come for Clint and Harper to face their greatest personal adversaries. They had their quivers on their backs and bows in hand. Harper also had her knives in their places and her pistol in its holster on her hip. They had parked at the far end of what would become the makeshift parking lot for the show. As they approached the entrance, a slight sense of home filled the siblings as the sight in front of them drew closer.

Watching the performers running around, getting everything set up for the evening's show, was almost like going back in time to their childhood; bringing back memories that were hard to ignore. They had spent more time on the road than they had in a real home.

Harper stopped walking and just looked at the tents and the staff wandering about. She couldn't help but feel a sting in her eye from the bittersweet memories that came flooding into her brain. Her emotions started to get the best of her, and she let out a sigh as a single tear began to roll down her cheek. What the hell is wrong with me?

"Hey, you okay?" Clint asked, concerned. He saw his sister's expression change immediately when she noticed him beside her.

"I'm fine," Harper replied, quickly wiping away the stray tear. "It's just been a long time since we've been here."

"Yeah," Clint agreed with a slight nod. "But we need to do this, Harley."

"I know. I'm good," Harper said as she continued walking towards the tents. Clint didn't reply, only giving a sympathetic glance in his sister's direction before following after her.

They walked around the perimeter to the back yard where all the trailers were set up so they could avoid being seen easily. Most of the equipment, and even a lot of the staff, looked all too familiar to the sibling pair. "Bartons?" someone called out, causing both Clint and Harper to look around, searching for where the voice had come from. A woman approached, a look of bewilderment etched on her face. "Is it really you?" she questioned.

"Hi, Marcy," Harper greeted softly.

The look on the woman's face turned to one of shock, “It’s been ages. But it is so good to know that you two are still alive and doing well.” She embraced each of the siblings, though Clint was more welcoming of the gesture. “Don’t take this wrong, as I am so thrilled to see you both, but what are you doing here?" she questioned, looking between the two siblings.

"I'm sorry, Marcy, but we're here for Jacques and Buck. Are they here?" Clint spoke up.

Marcy looked down, as if she had been defeated. "I knew it would happen eventually," she muttered. "I think they are in the main tent. If not, they are at their trailers."

"Thank you, Marcy," Harper sympathetically placed a hand on the woman's shoulder.

"Just, please,” Marcy began, as the siblings started for the tent, “Fight away from the rest of the family? For me?" she pleaded.

Harper turned slightly to look at the old woman, "I promise," she assured her. Marcy nodded once and walked away, back the way she came.

When Harper and Clint entered the main tent, they saw several more familiar faces, but none were the men they were looking for. "What are the odds that Marcy tells them we're here?" Clint questioned.

"Nah," Harper replied, shaking her head. "She’s been expecting this for a long time. She's told them countless times that their bullshit side gigs would get them killed one day."

The siblings left the tent and walked back to the trailers. Harper looked over her surroundings as they made their way toward a trailer at the farthest end of the line. As they approached, they heard two familiar voices. Clint carefully stepped around the front of the RV and spotted the men talking a few feet back. He gestured to his sister, who walked around the back of the vehicle so they could limit the directions the men could run if they tried to escape.

"You know Hawkeye will come after us eventually, Jacques," Buck spoke in a harsh but quiet tone, tightening his quiver against his chest.

"It's been months. Who's to say he even knows she's dead yet?" Jacques countered, sliding his sword into its sheath on his hip. "Besides, he's one of the good guys, remember? He wouldn't risk that for Angel. She was on the losing side anyway."

Buck shook his head, "She was still his sister. That counts for something."

Jacques gave a scoff. "Don't be naive. Hawkeye doesn't care about her."

The siblings took that as their cue to step around the RV and face the two men arguing. "You know," Harper began as she slowly approached them, "For two blundering idiots, I'll give you guys credit for one thing. Your aim has never faltered." She rotated her right shoulder in a circle, “That shit hurt like hell.”

Jacques and Buck turned, eyes wide, as they both saw Harper and Clint walking toward them.

"Well, well," Buck commented with an eyebrow raised as he watched Harper closely. "Nice to see you standing here, little Angel."

"Cut the bullshit, Buck... Or should we skip the formalities? Save us all some pain. Huh, Trickshot?" Harper responded curtly.

Jacques laughed, "Oh, come on. Where's your sense of humor? Or was that the only thing we managed to kill?"

"Funny, Swordsman," Harper shot back sarcastically. "You've both been sent to kill both Bartons now and have succeeded how many times exactly?"

Jacques rolled his eyes, "Why prolong this, Angel? What are you waiting for?"

"I made a promise to someone that we would keep this away from the family," Harper responded honestly. She tried to keep her cool and remain calm, though her tone betrayed her feelings.

"You always were a stubborn, sentimental little bitch," Buck remarked. "Never going back on your word, even as a kid. But then, your word is all you got, isn't it, Angel."

"Are we going to reminisce? Or are we going to settle this? Cause I got shit to do..." Harper snapped, her tone starting to edge out of control.

Clint finally stepped forward, "We all know how this is going to go. So why not cut the crap and get right to business?"

"Fine," Jacques spat. "As long as you can keep from shooting us in our backs like the coward we all know you really are, Angel."

Harper rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Trust me, Jacques, I look forward to watching you die up close and personal," she replied coldly.

"Just move," Clint demanded, gesturing to the vast field behind them.

Jacques and Buck glared at each other for a minute before nodding. They turned and began walking out into the field. Harper and Clint followed, but back far enough that she knew the men couldn't hear her talking. She pulled a blade from her waistband and held it out to Clint.

"Take it," she insisted quietly. "I’m sure this is going to stay fairly close in combat, and they both have blades. You can't use your arrows up close, so you need something in case."

Her brother reluctantly took the knife, tucking it into the waistband of his suit. As the four of them reached the middle of the field, far enough away from the tents that they wouldn’t risk drawing any attention, they stopped, and all looked at one another. The three archers removed their quivers, setting them aside with their bows. Jacques removed the long sword and sheath from around his waist and set it aside as well.

All four of them readied themselves, taking positions, ready for battle. "I knew this day would come eventually," Jacques said, "But I never imagined you two would be working together when it did."

"Yeah, well," Harper began, noticing Jacques' right hand moving to the belt around his jacket, "No one ever said you were smart." She quickly grabbed a dagger from her belt and threw it straight at him.

The blade went through the back of his hand and embedded itself into his hip. Blood spilled out onto the grass below him as the man groaned in pain and instinctively pulled the knife, dropping it to the ground. Harper smirked darkly, taking steps towards him slowly as he doubled over.

"Damn," Clint whispered under his breath.

"You little -" Jacques spat furiously, reaching his left hand to his side. "How dare -"

However, before he could finish speaking, Harper had already reached him. She kicked him in the chest, sending him crashing to the ground on his back. Standing over him, she brought her foot down on his neck, applying just enough pressure to restrict his breathing. His hands flew out in front of his body as he struggled, clawing at her boot. She stood cold, glaring down at him.

Clint had never seen this side of his sister before, but he couldn’t let himself lose focus. Buck charged toward his friend, a knife of his own raised and ready to strike. Clint immediately stepped to the side and picked up his bow, nocking an arrow in the bowstring. "Don't do it, Buck!" he called out.

Harper looked over her shoulder just in time to take a step back and avoid being stabbed in the back by a blade. Jacques let out a strangled gasp as he struggled to catch his breath. "Go ahead," Harper challenged. "You failed once already; what's one more?"

Buck didn't hesitate. His eyes widened, and he quickly moved in for the attack. Clint released his arrow as Harper blocked Buck's knife. She grunted slightly as Buck's blade cut into her arm. The arrow her brother had used lodged into the man's lower back just as Harper spun around and kicked out as Buck still tried to stab her. Between the projectile in his back, and her foot connecting with his midsection, Buck grimaced as pain rushed through him, and he stumbled forward.

Harper took advantage of Buck's momentary weakness and kicked him across the face, sending him sprawling onto the grass. He fell heavily forward with a thud. Harper wasted no time as she swiftly knelt beside him and gripped the shaft of the arrow in his back tightly. She yanked the arrow out harshly and tossed it aside, the damage having already been done.

Jacques got up slowly, stumbling as he tried to regain his footing. "Something... Something is... Different..." he stammered as he finally stood straight.

"Yeah," Harper agreed with a smirk. "What? Did you think I survived on sheer willpower? Guess again, asshole."

Jacques lunged forward with his knife, aiming for Harper's side. She easily sidestepped his blade and jabbed him in the gut with her elbow. The two clashed violently, each fighting to get the upper hand on the other. Harper punched Jacques' jaw repeatedly while he attempted to kick her knees out from under her. In retaliation, Harper kicked him directly in the stomach and sent him flying backward. He doubled over, and Harper kicked him in the ribs, knocking him to the ground once again.

Clint saw Buck begin to stir and took it upon himself to stop his former mentor. He dropped his bow and sprinted forward as Buck regained his balance. Clint knocked Buck back with a kick to his ribs, causing him to fall back to the ground. Buck let out a grunt of pain when he tried to get up but found his legs shaking uncontrollably. Between the pain in his side and the wound to his spine, Buck was barely able to stand, but his determination, and adrenaline, won out.

The four fought back and forth; trading blows until the sun started to set. They were all tired and hurt; Jacques and Buck more so than the siblings. The three men were getting increasingly more fatigued as the minutes passed. Thanks partly to the serum flowing through her, Harper was hanging on just fine.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, Clint and Harper stood over their former mentors. Their breathing heavy as their wounds bled through their clothes and they glared down at the men before them. Harper held her pistol in her hand pointed down at one of the men. "It's over," she stated simply. "We all knew this could only end one way."

Jacques narrowed his eyes at the young woman, fury, and frustration evident in every line of his face. "Then do it," he spat.

She grinned wickedly as she fired her pistol. There wasn't time to react as the bullet struck Jacques dead center in the forehead. His body went limp, lying motionless on the grass. Harper turned to Clint, "It has to be done, Hawk. You or me?" she asked him.

He knew exactly what she meant. "I need to do it," he told her sincerely. Harper held the pistol out for him. Clint glanced at Jacques' body for just a second before reaching out and grabbing the weapon.

Harper gave Jacques one last show of respect, reaching down and closing his eyes before she began walking back across the field toward the tents. She stopped to grab her bow and quiver, along with her knives, as she went. As she got to the trailers, she slumped to the ground next to one, leaning her head back against the side and closing her eyes. It wasn't much longer before she heard the shot.

She opened her eyes, looking out at the field, watching as Clint slowly made his way across toward her. When he finally reached her, he lowered himself to the ground next to her, handing her pistol back. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry," Harper offered quietly.

He shook his head, "Like you said, this only ended one way. It was them or us."

"I know, but still." She sighed and closed her eyes.

They sat in silence for a while, listening to the sounds from the show inside the multiple tents. It was comforting, somehow. Harper let out a long sigh as if releasing the mountain of tension she had been carrying for months. Finally, knowing that not only was she safe, but her family was as well. Harper felt a hand grasp her own and looked over to see Clint watching her. "What?" she asked quietly.

"Thank you," he replied simply.

"For?" she questioned, confused.

"Everything," he shrugged. "You took on so much through the years for my family and me. I can tell, with those two gone now," he gestured to the field where the two men's bodies remained, "That you feel like a weight has been lifted. I just want you to know I appreciate everything you did for me. And I'm sorry I was such a dick to you."

Harper snickered, "You were kind of a dick, huh?" The siblings laughed quietly together, for the first time in a very long time.

Hearing a lull in the excitement of the show, Harper and Clint finally decided it was time to go. They rose to their feet, grabbed their weapons, and made their way through the trailers. As they got close to the event entrance, they spotted Marcy standing there. She smiled lightly at them both as they approached. "Well?" she asked.

"They are in the field, Marcy. I'm sorry," Harper apologized.

Marcy nodded, "It's okay, my little Angel. Rather it be you two that did it than some low life that might come lookin’ for more from me." She stepped closer to the siblings, and the three embraced in a group hug.

"Thank you, Marcy," Harper said quietly. "We owe you so much more than we could ever repay."

"Think nothin' of it, baby girl." Marcy pulled away and gave them each a warm smile. "All I ever wanted was to see you two grow up and succeed in this life. And you've each done that and more."

"We owe it all to you, Marcy," Clint added softly. "Thank you."

"Oh, quit thankin’ me, sweet pea. You did it all on your own," Marcy insisted. "Now, you best get out of here. I doubt anyone heard the shots, but you never can tell."

The siblings nodded, each giving Marcy one final embrace before walking toward the makeshift parking lot. Harper turned back briefly, "They still have their weapons, Marcy. It didn't feel right to take them."

"Don't you worry," she assured, "We'll take care of all that."

Harper gave the older woman a final smile before jogging to catch up with her brother. Clint draped an arm around Harper's shoulders as they walked. Though it was a foreign gesture to her, Harper allowed it. They walked in comfortable silence together, content to just enjoy the sounds of the night as they made their way through the rows of parked cars to their vehicles.

Chapter 14 – Masterlist – Taglist

[aingealcethlenn]

Dark Angel Masterlist

Harper Lee “Harley” Barton had always been the hunter, but when the tables are turned on her, Harper must put aside her natural instinct of protecting her family through distance by coming out of the shadows and admitting the truth. Will she survive the challenges that lie ahead of her? Or will she fall prey to her own darkness once more?

These will be ongoing for the entire story -

Characters - Clint Barton, Harper Lee Barton (OC), James Barnes, Nick Fury, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Tony Stark, Laura Barton, Barton kids

Pairing - None through most, but eventual Bucky x Harley OC

Word Count - TOTAL ~40,034

Warnings - Angst, Fight Scenes (nothing too graphic), Mentions of killings  (If you spot any other warnings I should add, please let me know so I can edit this post to include them!)

Keep reading

[aingealcethlenn]

DA Chapter 12

Chapter 11

Day by day, Harper got stronger. She and Bucky still spent time together every day, but it was less than before. There was a growing tension between them when they were together, but they did their best to ignore it. Of course, it didn't help that they always ended up entangled when she sparred with him. Sometimes he would just grab her around the waist and pull her in close; other times, he would let her knock him down so that she would be on top of him.

They both knew they had feelings for each other, but Harper was adamant about not acting on those feelings. She would admit that she owed him her life, but she didn't want him to know that. That wasn't to say that she didn't enjoy his company; she loved spending time with him. He was a fantastic sparring partner, and he made her laugh more often than she thought possible. But it didn't matter how much she enjoyed his presence; she couldn't allow herself to get attached to someone.

Harper sat alone on the sniper range. The wind blew softly against her face as she stared at the targets through the scope. Her heart beat rapidly as she took aim at one of the targets, allowing her finger to dance over the trigger. The bullet hit true each time.

"Damn. It's like you never missed a beat," a voice behind her said. She turned and saw Bucky approaching. His hair was slightly disheveled, which usually meant that he'd been running. There was a proud grin on his face as he got closer to where Harper stood. She couldn't help but smile, especially when he looked at her like that. Like he actually cared what she was doing or thinking. She could have gotten used to that look every single day.

"You need something?" she asked. Bucky shook his head. "Then why're you here?"

Bucky shrugged and moved to sit in the empty chair next to her, crossing his arms over his chest. They were quiet for a moment before he spoke. "I just thought I'd check on you."

Harper smiled again, her heart skipping a beat. "You see me all the time, Barnes," she reminded him.

He nodded. "That may be true. But I only see you when we train weapons or spar together." Bucky paused, looking out toward the targets, "Besides, this is one of my favorite spots," he chuckled, trying to ease the rising tension. Bucky turned his attention back to Harper, smiling gently.

She glanced up and met his gaze, returning the expression. "You want a shot?" she questioned, gesturing toward the weapon still propped on the ledge. He shook his head no, so she stood and picked the gun up, slinging it over her shoulder so she could head back to the compound.

The two of them continued to talk while they walked back to the building. As Harper and Bucky approached the doors, Clint stepped through to meet them. "Harley! There you are. I've been looking for you," he said, walking toward her.

"Well, you found me," she replied. "What do you need?"

"I found them," he said flatly. "I think anyway."

"Found who?" Bucky questioned, stepping up next to Harper.

"The men that attacked her," Clint answered.

Harper rolled her eyes. She had figured Clint would find them, but a part of her hoped he would fail. "Are you sure it's them?"

Clint nodded. "Positive."

Harper sighed. "Okay, tell me what you found," she gently demanded, leading them all inside the building.

Clint relayed everything he knew. From where they were living to where they were currently working jobs. All of which matched up perfectly with what Harper had already discovered from digging on her own.

"So, what's our next move?" Bucky asked.

Harper stopped dead in her tracks, "Our? There is no 'our next move' soldier. This is something I need to do."

"You're not going alone, Harley," Clint reminded her.

"The only reason you are allowed to tag along, Hawk, is because they pose a threat to you too. Trust me; I'm still not thrilled over the idea," she pointed out.

"Harley-" Bucky began.

"No," she interrupted, "You have done more than enough for me, Barnes. This... This is something Clint and I need to finish alone." She watched as Bucky's jaw clenched, obviously not pleased with her response but unwilling to argue further. She appreciated that. Harper turned to Clint, "When are you expecting to leave?" she asked.

"As soon as you feel ready, I guess," he shrugged.

Harper nodded, "Then let's get packed."

The next evening, Clint and Harper arrived at a hotel outside Cedar Falls, Iowa. Harper had to chuckle to herself when she had found out where they were headed. How cliche for them to finally close this chapter in their lives, in the exact same place it all had started.

As the pair worked to unpack things for the task the following day, Harper looked to her brother who seemed just a little on edge. "You sure you're ready for this?" she asked, propping their quivers and bows next to the dresser.

"It's just another job, right?" Clint replied. "Taking out the bad guys to keep my family safe?"

Harper chuckled a bit, shaking her head. "These guys may be old, Hawk, but you saw what they can still do."

Clint shrugged again. "If it was too easy, I'd start to question our own skills."

Harper nodded, "Fair point."

Clint closed up his suitcase, having only brought his bow, arrows, and a few articles of clothing. Harper, on the other hand, brought all of her favorite weapons. She pulled out two of her knives and her handgun, along with a few other items, before setting her suitcase on the floor. She took a seat at the small desk in the room and began wiping down her knives first.

Clint sat on the edge of his bed, watching his sister work. He couldn't help but notice how calm she seemed in her movements. Clint realized that this was the first time, in their adult lives anyway, that he had ever truly seen his sister. They had been on opposing sides for so long that even when they did get along, there always seemed to be tension. But now, even though she was getting ready to kill someone, she wasn't upset or scared, or even nervous. It was almost like she was going through the motions from pure muscle memory.

"Harley, can I ask you something?" Clint suddenly broke the silence between them.

Harper looked over at him, giving him a curious look. "Sure."

Clint hesitated. His hands shook slightly from nerves as he spoke. "What... What happened to us? I mean, what really happened? We used to be so close. And then..." he trailed off.

"Is this really a conversation you want to have right now?"

"Yes, actually. I need to know, so I know I can trust you while we’re out there,” he told her. “I mean, it can't honestly just be that stupid petty jealousy from when we were kids, right?"

"Petty jealousy?" Harper repeated, raising a brow in confusion.

"Yeah, Jacques overlooked you for me?" Clint questioned.

She blinked, "You honestly think that is why we had a fallout? Because some asshole with a sword and gambling issues chose you over me to be his little bitch?" she laughed.

"Then what? What happened between us, Harley? Why are we always fighting now?" Clint asked.

Harper shook her head, looking back down at her weapons as she set the first knife on the desk. "Look, I'll admit, I was a little jealous when he chose you. I mean, let's be honest, I've always been better than you with weapons. He knew it, you knew it, everyone knew it. So yeah, I was jealous. But I grew up, Hawk. I got my life together, got my G.E.D., even had a couple really good jobs."

"That doesn't answer my question," Clint pressed.

Harper finally looked up and met his gaze. "You know, Clint, there was never a day that passed that I didn't think about my little brother. The years I was gone, never a day went by that I didn't wonder if I did the right thing by breaking my promise to mom. Always questioning if you were alive or if you were dead in a ditch somewhere."

"Wait..." Clint trailed off, "...Mom? What promise?"

"’You know how your father is, Harper Lee. You need to keep him safe... from everything,’" she began to recite. "’I'm trusting you to be his guardian angel. Promise me you'll always keep him safe, Harley.’"

Clint stared at her in silence as he processed what she said. "Harley..." he trailed off, unsure if he wanted to continue.

"Then, on my first assignment as a rookie agent, not only does the house I'm working at get robbed... but it's my brother who happens to be the one breaking in. At least I knew you were alive, though, right?" she laughed, trying to lighten the mood. Harper grabbed her other knife and began cleaning it as she continued her story. "After Buck left you behind that night, I got right back into that ‘big sister mode.’ He shot both of us that night… but I was older, stronger, I had to keep you safe. Nothing else mattered. But it was painstakingly clear that we couldn't work together."

"But... Why?"

"Hawk, you got hurt because you were more concerned about me than yourself." She paused, glancing at Clint. He remained silent, waiting for the rest of her story. "So, once we were healed up, I left. I left my job; I left my life because I needed to make sure that my brother stayed alive."

"That's why you started using the symbol again. So no one actually saw us together," Clint realized.

Harper nodded. "Yeah, pretty much," she agreed. She put away her other knife, moving on to cleaning her gun. "I knew it wasn't enough, though; staying away from you. So, I did the only logical thing I could think of. I called Fury. I told him I had a prospect for him to check out that would be a great addition to his team. Not to mention a perfect fit when he finally made his little Avengers club," she chuckled.

"That still doesn't explain why we fight every time we see each other. If you've been protecting me all this time, why is it always a fight?" Clint asked, confused. "You ruined my wedding… You…” he groaned, “I mean, for god's sake, Harley, you shot me the last time we crossed paths. Why?"

Harper sighed, setting the gun back on the desk. "Because," she began slowly, choosing her words carefully, "If I hadn't kept you away, I was afraid something would happen to you. I've worked for some really bad people, Hawk. If they thought I cared for you, even a little, they'd use that as leverage." She laughed a little, adding, "Except the wedding. That was personal. I knew Bird was no good for you."

Clint rolled his eyes, "Wedding aside..." he started, "You're saying, all these years, it's just been an act?"

"Basically," Harper shrugged. "When you started hating me for it, I was a bit hurt, but it made the act far more believable."

"So, this whole time, I thought it was me. I thought it was my fault that you hated me. I thought I got the job on my own, and you were jealous again; I thought the reason my family was safe was because of the steps I took. And you just went along with that?"

"What would you have wanted me to do, Hawk? Tell you the truth? Put your kids' lives in danger? Fuck that! I'd rather you hate me than have to go through the pain of losing a child," she responded angrily.

"We could have kept them safe, Harley. We could have kept you safe," Clint argued, his voice rising slightly in frustration.

"I was safe, Hawk," she snapped back. "And you know, you're right. If I had told you the truth, maybe you would have actually helped me when I came to you. But what's done is done. So can we just focus on moving forward? Once these two are gone, I won't need your help ever again, and your family will be safe. You can go back to hating me, and you'll never have to see me again, I promise."

Clint shook his head, looking at his feet, unable to respond. He sighed heavily.

"For what it's worth… I am sorry, Hawk. For everything. But I did what I had to do. I made my choice, so you didn't have to. I couldn't live with myself if I caused anything to happen to you, the kids, or even Laura," she explained.

He glanced up at her, his face softening slightly. "It's okay, Harls," he replied. "I'm sure if the roles were reversed, I probably would have done the same thing." He paused, looking down as he continued, "The choice is yours, Harper Lee, but..." Clint took his time, searching for the right words. "Look, the kids seemed to really enjoy your visit. And..."

"Hawk, stop," she interrupted him, causing him to lift his eyes from the ground. "I know what you're trying to get at, and I appreciate it. But, I can't be the sister I once was to you. I can't stick around, and I can't join your little team. I'm alone in this, and that's how I need to stay. It's for the best," she explained, staring him in the eyes.

Clint looked back at her silently for a few moments before nodding, accepting the answer without arguing. "How about we agree to disagree? And we can talk about it after we're done with this job?" he suggested.

"Sure, Hawk," she smiled.

Harper left her weapons lying on a cloth on the desk. She bent down, dug out a pair of shorts and a t-shirt from her suitcase, and made her way to the bathroom to change. Maybe working with Clint won't be so bad. She mused as she pulled on her shorts, turning to look at her reflection in the mirror as she ran her fingers over the scars on her shoulder. Then again, I do my best work alone.

Chapter 13 – Masterlist – Taglist

[aingealcethlenn]

DA Chapter 11

Chapter 10

It had been a month since Harper was brought back to the tower. She had been going to physical therapy every morning, despite the fact that she no longer required assistance with anything, and she was finally feeling back to her old self. It would still take some work for her to use her bow, or a gun, at least as she once had, but she was determined to get out of the care of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers as soon as she could.

Fury decided that the best option for her was to move to the compound. She would be able to heal in peace, mostly, and she would be able to work with weapons any time she wanted. Harper begrudgingly agreed, if for no other reason than knowing she owed her life to him. What harm could a few weeks in a guarded vacation home do anyway?

Four weeks at the compound passed quickly. Thanks to the serum, she was healing rapidly, felt stronger than ever before, and was finally able to use her right arm without much issue. She still wasn't a hundred percent yet, but she was close enough.

Bucky had stuck by her side as much as she allowed, helping her to regain her strength and accuracy both in combat and with weaponry. She trusted him enough to let him take care of her, but it wasn't always easy. Harper had never been one to allow anyone to get close to her. She was always guarded, cautious, and wary. But Bucky made her feel relaxed in a way that she'd only ever been able to relax around him. Harper now knew what it felt like, to be vulnerable, and it wasn't a feeling she ever wanted to experience again. Bucky understood this and was very patient with her.

One afternoon, they were in the gym sparring with each other. He was careful with her right side, knowing her shoulder had taken the brunt of the damage and had yet to heal fully, or so he assumed.

"Come on, soldier, I know you can do better than that," Harper taunted him.

"I don't want to hurt you," Bucky protested.

"I've told you, soldier. I'll be fine. After everything I went through, you're nothing," Harper retorted.

He scoffed, "And I've told you, call me Bucky. I'm not the Winter Soldier anymore, okay?"

"Fine... Bucky. Now show me what you got," Harper challenged.

There was something going on with her. No one should be healing as quickly as Harper was. She was stronger too. Not wanting to press things though, Bucky just sighed as they both jumped into a fight stance, fists raised, ready to strike. They circled each other warily, sizing up their opponent and gauging if they could land any hit on them. Then Bucky threw a punch at Harper, who blocked it easily. She quickly retaliated with a kick to Bucky's leg, causing him to stumble.

Harper followed that up by tackling him to the ground. She landed squarely on top of him, pinning his arms down underneath her. Bucky growled, trying to buck Harper off of him. She smirked and leaned in close to his ear. He froze instantly, his breathing labored.

She whispered, "Remember what happened last time we were like this? Remember how we nearly killed each other?" Bucky swallowed hard and nodded his head. A faint smile spread across her face, "Don't worry, soldier... Bucky... This time is different," she said softly.

Harper shifted her weight, so she was sitting astride Bucky’s hips, straddling his waist and allowing his arms to move freely once again. She saw something familiar in his eyes, something she had seen before when she was with the Winter Soldier. It was the same glimmer in his eye she remembered seeing each time he learned he would be working alongside her.

She knew it was wrong, but something in her heart pulled her forward. Something she had never felt before. That same pull grew stronger with every passing second until their lips met. Hard. Bucky responded by wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer, deepening the kiss.

After several minutes, they pulled apart. Both were panting slightly. Bucky rested his forehead against hers. He gently ran his fingers through her hair before resting his hands on her lower back. They stayed like that for a few moments until Harper finally broke the silence, "I'm sorry..." she muttered.

Bucky shook his head, "For what?"

"I shouldn't have kissed you..." she trailed off, sitting up on her knees still straddling Bucky’s hips.

Bucky smiled, "It's alright."

"No, Bucky," she started. "I mean... we can't..." she sighed softly, "It's too dangerous."

"What?" Bucky asked, confused.

Harper pushed herself off of him and stood up. "I've been walking this world alone for a long time, Bucky. It's kept me safe all these years; I can't risk doing something reckless like this."

Bucky stood up, "I don't understand, Harley."

Harper turned to face him, "The last thing I need is someone getting hurt because I let my guard down," she said firmly.

Bucky frowned, "Why don't we just talk about this?" he suggested, brushing himself off.

"There's nothing to talk about, Bucky. It just isn't possible," she insisted.

Bucky stepped forward, putting his hands lightly on her waist, "Look, Harley, I understand... I really do. But you're not alone anymore."

She backed away from him, pulling out of his grasp. "Listen, soldier. I'm not staying. Once I can use my bow again, I'm gone," she stated firmly. Harper sighed, shaking her head when she saw the disappointment in his eyes. "It's safer this way... for everyone," she finished quietly. With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Bucky in the gym alone.

Standing at the line at the archery range, Harper pulled an arrow from the quiver on her back. Taking aim, she released her hand, nailing the target perfectly in the center. Smiling, she placed another arrow to her string, lining up for another shot. The next arrow was much faster than the first and hit the target dead center again, just to the side of the first.

"Looks like someone's back to themselves," a voice said behind her.

Harper sighed and turned to face the man who had spoken. "Still not perfect, but I'll get there."

"How are you feeling?"

She shrugged, "Better than before. The shoulder still has some healing to do, but with as much damage as that arrow did, I guess that's to be expected."

"You going to tell me yet just how you managed to heal almost completely in just over two months?"

"I told you, Hawk, I don't know."

"That's bullshit, Harley. Why won't you just tell me the truth? What harm could it do?" he questioned.

Harper glared at him, "Why is it so important that you know?" she spat.

"Because you're my sister, Harley," Clint replied simply. "Here I am, trying to reach out to you, giving you a chance, and you just turn it into a fight."

"You're only bitching because you feel guilty, Hawk. I'm not stupid," Harper retorted sharply.

Clint sighed, "Guilt or not; it doesn't matter. I'm trying, Harley. Why can't you?"

"Because I don't need your pity, Clint. I needed my brother. I reached out to my brother. And you brushed me off like I was dust on your bow," she hissed angrily.

Clint sighed, "I'm sorry, Harls. I should have listened… I shouldn't have reacted so cold toward you when you first showed up. I'm sorry. Just -"

"Just stop, Hawk. Save your 'sorry.' I don't need it. Not from you. Not from anyone," Harper snapped harshly.

Clint flinched, "Alright," he mumbled softly. "Then what do you want?"

"Honestly? I don't know. I'm healthy enough. I think I'm just going to go," Harper answered.

"Go where?" Clint questioned.

"Back to work. Back to what I do best," Harper answered.

Clint looked shocked, "You want to leave? To do what? Find the two people that tried to kill you? That's suicide, Harley!"

"I have an advantage this time. I'll be fine," Harper assured him.

Her brother stared at her intently, studying her facial expression. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully before taking a deep breath. "The serum," he murmured.

Harper gave him a quizzical look, "Excuse me?"

"The serum you were searching for. Fury told you where to find it, and you took it. Didn't you?" Clint guessed. "That's why you survived the attack. The serum was already trying to heal your wounds before Barnes ever found you."

Harper nodded slowly; there was no sense lying to him. "Yes," she agreed. "I injected a small dose before they ever found me. When Barnes brought me here, Fury found the vials in my bag and had Banner give me a second dose."

"That explains it," Clint nodded. "Listen, Harley. Why don't we make a deal? One where we can both get what we want?"

"Like what?"

"Before you leave, give me two weeks. I'll find the men that attacked you, and you have more time to heal and practice; get yourself back where you know you need to be," Clint negotiated.

"Why?" she questioned. "Why help me now?"

"They are as much a threat to me as they are you. Not to mention, if you go at it alone and fail, they become a threat to my kids. They made us into what we are... so what do you say we end it the same way we started? Together."

Harper hesitated before saying, "Fine. I guess we'll see what happens," she replied. "But only two weeks, Hawk. That's it."

Clint nodded, "Good enough for me," he said with a smirk before heading towards the exit.

Chapter 12 – Masterlist – Taglist

[aingealcethlenn]

DA Chapter 10

Chapter 9

Two weeks had passed since Bucky found Harper clinging to life in Atlanta. One of the doctors helping to care for her in the tower felt that she was at the point that they could safely bring her out of the drug-induced coma. They began to lower the dose of the anesthetic she was being given in hopes of easing her awake slowly.

Though he had spent the better part of the last fourteen days by Harper's side, Bucky was away on a short mission when they began the process of waking her. When he returned early the next morning, he rushed to the clinic and was thankful to see she was still asleep. Bruce was checking her vitals and I.V. medications when Bucky walked in. He froze for a moment when he saw Clint seated in a chair on the other side of Harper's bed.

"Ah, Barnes, welcome back," Bruce greeted. "She should be awake soon, so you're just in time."

Bucky looked over at Clint, who met his gaze. He could see the sadness in Clint's eyes as if he was fighting with himself not to show it. Bucky swallowed thickly before walking over and taking a seat in an empty chair next to Harper. "Barton..." he began softly.

"I know," Clint whispered before placing his hand gently on Harper's. "She wouldn't want to see me anyway. I just didn't want her alone if she woke up before you got back." He stood from his chair and began walking to the door.

"If you want to stay, then stay, Clint," Bucky told him. "I shouldn't have snapped at you when you first came to see her," he said apologetically. "I know she is the only family you have left besides your kids, and-"

"Maybe by blood, Barnes, but Harley and I haven't been family for a really long time," Clint argued softly, opening the door of the room and walking out without another word.

Bruce watched him leave before turning back to Bucky, who was looking down at his hands before running them through his hair nervously. "He'll come around. They both will," Banner assured him. Bucky nodded but did not respond. Pulling out a book, he leaned back in his chair and began reading, trying to find some way to keep his mind off of everything that was going on.

Bucky was so lost in his book that he didn't notice Harper had begun to stir ever so slightly. Her eyelids fluttered open slowly, adjusting to the light and surroundings. She gave a weak smile when she finally noticed who was in the room with her. "Well, hey there, soldier," she said hoarsely.

Bucky looked up from his book, smiling slightly when he saw her awake. "Hey yourself, Angel," he responded softly. "How are you feeling?" he asked as he closed his book and set it aside.

"I've been worse," she joked, trying to laugh but instead wincing when pain flared through her body. "Where am I?" she questioned, confused.

"You're at the Avengers' Tower in New York,” he answered. “Try not to move too much yet. You’re banged up pretty good, and need to rest."

"How'd I get here?" she questioned further. "The last thing I remember was being in a hotel room."

"You were hurt pretty bad, Angel, and-"

"Please, soldier, call me Harley. Keep that Angel shit for work," she cut him off.

Bucky hesitated slightly before nodding. "Alright... Harley," he replied. "The short version, I guess, is that I found you in your hotel room in Atlanta. You were... in rough shape. You have a couple of gunshot wounds, some cuts, and scrapes, bruising, a couple of broken ribs, and an arrow wound to your right shoulder," Bucky explained.

"Damn," she muttered, trying to remember what happened. "How long have I been here?"

"About two weeks now."

"Why'd you come looking for me?" Harley asked curiously.

"Honestly? I overheard Fury tell Clint that he was worried. He thought something had happened to you. Clint didn't seem too concerned and said you could handle yourself. But you saved my life before, so, I don't know, maybe I felt like I owed you one," he shrugged.

"If Fury was involved, I can see how you knew what city to look at, but Atlanta isn't exactly a small town. How'd you know where I was?"

Bucky chuckled a little, "I know you always stay in the most expensive hotel when you're on a job. I also remembered the alias you used to use and took a shot. With a little white lie, I managed to get into your room. When I walked in, I saw you on the bed..." He hung his head as he finished his explanation.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For coming for me," Harley added. "I know I'm not really worth saving, but thank you."

"You are worth it," Bucky said firmly, meeting her gaze.

Harley smiled weakly, "You know that's not true, soldier. You should know better than anyone."

Bucky sighed deeply, knowing entirely too well why she felt the way she did. He also knew there was no winning the argument over the matter. "Do you know who did this to you?" he asked, changing the subject.

"I didn't see their faces if that's what you're asking. But I know who sent them, and I have a pretty good idea of who the two men were that attacked me. And believe me, I am going to make them pay for this," she swore, a fire burning behind her green eyes.

"Harley. We-"

"No, soldier," she interrupted, causing him to fall silent. "This is my fight, mine, and I’m going to take care of it. They made the mistake of leaving me alive, and that mistake is going to cost them dearly," she told him, determination burning behind her words.

"Harley, please. You don't have to fight alone. You're going to be out of action for a few months, at least. Let us help you," he pleaded. "We can protect you."

"No," she shook her head adamantly. "I won't allow you, or anyone, to put their life on the line for me. These people would give the Winter Soldier a run for his money alone, let alone as a team. I won't let any of you risk yourselves for me," she continued to argue.

The door to the room opened, pulling their attention away from the conversation. "Sorry to interrupt," Bruce apologized sheepishly. "How are you feeling, Miss Barton?"

Harley offered a smile, "Been better. Been worse," she joked.

Bruce smirked faintly, glad that she could still joke about all of this despite how badly she must feel. "There's a couple of people who would like to see you, if you're up for it, that is?"

She nodded, "Sure, why not."

"I'll go," Bucky said quickly, standing from his chair. "I'll come to check on you again later if you want?"

Despite the annoyance Harley was feeling at their argument moments ago, she found herself smiling at him as she spoke, "Yeah, alright." He moved closer to the side of the bed and took her hand in his. Harley squeezed his hand lightly. "Thanks, soldier. For everything."

"You're welcome, Harley," he answered quietly before grabbing his book off of the chair and leaving the room.

Once he was gone, Bruce turned to her. "Are you hungry?"

Harley nodded, "A little, yeah."

"I'll see what I can get for you," Bruce said. "I'll let Fury and Clint know that you're awake, but to give you a little bit of time before they come to see you, okay?"

"That's fine. Thank you," Harper told Banner as he headed towards the door. As soon as he was gone, Harley laid back against her pillow. Her eyes drifted shut after a while as exhaustion started to weigh on her tired body.

Harley awoke again a few hours later to find her brother sitting next to her bed. "Hey," she mumbled.

"Hey," Clint said back softly. He reached out and brushed some of her hair away from her face. "How do you feel?"

"Like a semi-truck ran me over," Harley replied with a slight chuckle that quickly turned to a groan.

"You look like it too." Clint laughed.

"Thanks," Harper said sarcastically. She sighed, trying to sit up but still unable to move much.

Clint watched as his sister struggled. He'd never seen her so helpless before. She was always the one taking care of him, always there to ensure he was safe. Now, when she had needed him most, he wasn't there for her.

Harper could see in his eyes that he felt responsible. "I'll be fine, Hawk. Really," she tried to assure him. "I've been hurt before; this isn't anything new."

Clint looked at her sternly. "This is different, Harper Lee."

"First, you know I hate when you use my full name. I'm not some kid in trouble, Hawk," she scolded. "Second, how is this any different than any other time? I've been shot before, I've had bones broken before," Harper tried to reason.

Clint just shook his head. "Not like this. This is different."

"Why?"

"Because..." Clint paused. He took a deep breath. "Harley, you almost died. You needed blood transfusions and surgeries. You have so much morphine pumping through you that I'm surprised you feel any of the pain at all. For fuck sake, you were in a coma for two damn weeks. And now you're trying to brush it off because your stupid, selfish ass can't deal with being vulnerable."

"You're right," she stated simply. "But you know what else? None of that is your fault, Clint. Not one thing that happened to me is anyone's fault but my own. So why should I take the charity of you and your friends because of my own stupidity?"

"Harley-"

"No," she cut him off. "I get it, Hawk. You're my brother. You feel bad because it wasn't you that jumped to my rescue. You blew me off, and now you feel responsible for what happened. But I am not a damsel in distress. I don't need you, or your friends, to save me. I can take care of myself." She glared at him. "I'm stronger than you think I am."

"I know you're strong, and I respect that. But damn it, Harley, you don't have to be. If you had just told me you were in trouble instead of playing your bullshit games, I could have helped you." He glared at her, willing her to understand what he was saying.

She stared at her brother. "It's my fight, Hawk, not yours. This isn't some back alley fight or a bunch of aliens from outer space. This is my life, and if I can't handle it, then that's my problem."

"Do you even hear yourself? This isn't about you or your bullshit jobs. This is about you getting hurt. This is about you almost dying for fuck sake!"

Harper rolled her eyes. "I'm. Fine. Hawk," she snapped. Her tone was angry.

Before Clint could say anything, Director Fury walked into the room. "Barton, good to see you awake," he greeted.

"I can only assume I owe you a thank you for saving my life?" Harper asked sarcastically.

Director Fury smirked slightly. "We'll call it a personal courtesy," he answered calmly. "I don't want to take up too much of your time, Barton. I know you need to rest. But I have to ask..."

"I know what you want, Fury. I didn't see their faces, but I have a pretty good idea who it was. I'm not as worried about them as I am who sent them. If they found me in Georgia, I can only assume they found Scorpio."

Director Fury nodded. "Don't worry about that. They are safe," he assured her.

Harper nodded. "Thank god."

"We need to know who attacked you, though, Barton. We need to make sure that they won't try to come after you here at the tower. It could put all of us at risk," Fury continued.

"They think I'm dead, Fury. They won't try to show up here as long as I lay low until I'm healed enough to fight again," Harper stated.

Clint frowned. "And what if you're wrong?"

"I'm not," she glared at her brother.

"We can't take that risk, Barton," Fury insisted. "We need to know who targeted you."

Harper shook her head. "Fury, this is all a personal vendetta. Against me, and you. They aren't stupid enough to try to hit a S.H.I.E.L.D. location. That would be suicidal."

Fury raised an eyebrow. "Me?"

"I did my research while I was figuring out their identity. Think about it, Nick. Who else do you think would involve Scorpio?"

He paused for a moment, hoping he was wrong. "Leviathan?" Fury questioned.

Harper glared at him. "Yes, Leviathan."

"What are you two talking about?" Clint asked curiously.

"It is - well, it was, a Russian-based organization. They were similar to Hydra, but when they failed, the organization's leader turned his efforts to destroying the other members of the Zodiac. I'm the last surviving member," Fury explained.

"Then, who’s Scorpio?" Clint questioned.

"My son," Fury replied simply. "It's part of the reason I know your sister so well," he continued.

Clint looked between the two, trying to decipher what they meant. "I don't understand."

"Fury and I met while I was enlisted. When I got out, he got me a job with the CIA working under him. But when he joined S.H.I.E.L.D., I left the agency and went rogue," Harper answered. "He tried to recruit me, but I was making better money on my own. It didn't seem worth it to give that up. So, instead, he gave me a job. No one knew about his kid, and he wanted to keep it that way, but Fury also wanted to ensure his son was kept safe. I still took on jobs for the highest bidder, but between jobs, I was with Marcus and his mother."

"So, this Marcus, is Fury's kid, and Scorpio?"

"Yeah. I don't know what mess Marcus got himself into or why he took up the moniker. I just know, I was contacted by Orion to take out Scorpio. As soon as I learned who it really was, I canceled the contract. Orion didn't like that, so he sent people after me. The only two people that could actually pose a threat to me when teamed together." Harper looked to her brother, her eyes pleading with him to understand.

"I thought they quit the game when they couldn't kill me?" Clint asked, confused.

"They couldn't kill you because you had help, Hawk. I don't." She paused, letting her words sink in. "But, now that they think I'm dead, it needs to stay that way until I can take care of things. If they know they failed, they will do what they can to get me out of hiding. That includes making a little trip to Missouri if they need to." Harper's words hit hard, causing Clint to realize exactly what his sister was suggesting.

"You're not taking care of shit, Harley. This is far beyond anything you can handle alone. Not to mention the risk involved if you fail again. Screw your pride for once. You're out of commission for a few months at least, so we're helping whether you like it or not. This is no longer a personal problem for you, Harper Lee. It's now an Avenger problem," Clint spoke firmly, not letting her protest.

Harper sighed, knowing that arguing wouldn't change her brother's mind, but she hated that he was right. She'd be risking her life if she tried to go on alone. Harper knew this, she understood it, but... she still hated the idea of accepting help. She still wanted to prove to herself that she was stronger than she had ever believed she could be. She just wanted to prove to herself that she could do this, that she could defend herself against those who would attack her.

Clint left the room quickly before Harper could even agree with him. As soon as the door shut behind him, Fury spoke up again. "Are you going to tell them about the serum?"

"Clint is pissed enough. I think it's best if I wait before I tell him," she answered honestly. "He's not ready to hear about it."

"I think he deserves to know," Fury responded. "They will all know something once they realize just how quickly you are healing."

"Banner injected me with a second dose, didn't he? Or at least a proper dose?"

"Your injuries were -"

"That's a yes," she sighed, cutting him off. "I appreciate it, Fury. All of this. I'm sorry it got to this point."

"You have nothing to apologize for, Barton. We share the blame on this one."

Harper smiled ruefully at him. "Thanks for everything."

"Anytime." He nodded to her before turning and walking out of the room.

Harper leaned back against the pillows, running a hand slowly through her hair. God, she felt exhausted. She closed her eyes briefly, hoping the meds would help calm her thoughts and calm her nerves.

Chapter 11 – Masterlist – Taglist

[aingealcethlenn]

DA Chapter 9

Chapter 8

Bucky found himself in Atlanta the next afternoon. He knew enough about Harper that he hoped it wouldn't take long to locate her. Opening the browser on his phone, he looked up the most expensive hotel in the area. Clicking on the number, he called the front desk.

"Hello, thank you for calling. How can we help you today?" a young female answered.

"I am looking for my wife, and I'm hoping you can tell me if she has checked out yet or not?" Bucky lied confidently.

"I would be happy to look for you, sir. Can I have the last name?"

"It should be under Samael," he told the girl. It was the alias she had always used when working for Hydra, so it was worth trying now. "I'm not sure which first name she used, but it should be either Lilith or Freya."

There was a pause, but he could hear the clicking of the keys as the girl typed on the computer. "It looks like she is still checked in and has the room booked for another couple of days, sir," she informed him.

"Wonderful," Bucky said, "Can you put me through to her room? She isn't answering her cell phone, and I just want to make sure she is doing alright."

"Of course, sir. Just one moment."

After another brief pause, the phone began to ring. Bucky let the tone play through a few times and then hung up. Harper wasn't answering, which could mean one of two things. Bucky could only hope that it meant she was out of the room, but he still had a bad feeling in his gut about this entire situation. Plugging the address into his phone's GPS, Bucky made his way to the hotel.

He approached the front desk, where a young woman stood behind a large counter. "Hi, there," he said, trying to appear friendly. "My wife is currently checked in here. I tried her cell phone and room phone, but there was no answer. Is there any way you can help me out?"

"Oh yes, you called for her not too long ago," the clerk said. "Let me try calling her room since we don't usually give out guest information. If she doesn't answer, I will make an exception this once for you."

"I really appreciate it," Bucky smiled at her. He walked over to the seating area in the lobby and waited while she called up to the room.

The young clerk tried to call Harper's room three times over twenty minutes before giving up and creating another key for the room. Placing it in the small sleeve with the room number, she walked around the counter to the lobby and approached Bucky. "I tried calling a few times, but there was no answer," she explained, handing him the card. "Here is a key for the room. If you have any trouble, just let me know," she smiled at him kindly.

"Thank you so much," he told her.

She left the lobby and went back to work, leaving Bucky alone. He quickly made his way to the room, knocking on the door first, hoping that Harper might answer. When there was no response, he used the key and opened the door, thankful she didn't lock it with the safety locks. Bucky stepped inside and quickly closed the door behind him, glancing around the room. He could tell immediately something was wrong.

Walking farther in, Bucky saw Harper laid out on the bed with blood staining the sheets. She was unmoving, and her breathing was shallow. Her skin was pale, and her usually bright blonde hair now had hints of a dull copper-red. She had been beaten pretty badly and was bleeding from multiple wounds all over her body.

Bucky's heart ached. The Dark Angel was untouchable, just as he had been as the Winter Soldier. Seeing her so weak, so helpless, broke something in his heart that had never been touched before. He couldn't help but kneel down beside the bed, tears pricking his eyes as he gently brushed a few strands of blonde hair away from her face. "Damn it, Angel," he whispered with a sigh. "You're going to be okay. I promise," he murmured.

He stood back up, pulled out his phone, and took a seat in the chair at the small desk. Scrolling through the names in his contact list, he knew there was only one person he could call.

"What is it, Barnes?"

"It's about the Dark Angel, Fury," he replied.

"What about her?" the director asked.

"I found her, sir. And it's not good."

"Hang on a minute," Fury responded. Bucky could hear shuffling on the other end for a few moments and then heard a door slam shut. "Where did you find her?" Fury finally spoke again.

"At a hotel in Atlanta," he replied.

"Was she conscious when you found her?" the director questioned.

"No. She is unconscious, and her injuries are extensive."

Fury groaned. "Is she breathing?"

"Yes, she's alive, but barely. She is severely wounded, sir."

"How serious are her injuries?"

"She was bleeding profusely, though it seems to have stopped for the time being, and has severe lacerations across her chest and abdomen. A wound straight through her shoulder, but I don't know what from. She has bruises all over her as well. I don't know what happened to her, but she's in bad shape."

Fury sighed. "Send me the location and room number. I'll have someone come and collect her. Whatever you do, do not give them any information about who she is. Clean her up as best you can, and I'll have a clean-up crew handle the room."

"Understood, sir," Bucky said, hanging up.

Setting his phone down, Bucky ran his hand over his face before standing and walking to the bathroom. He turned on the water at the sink, allowing it to warm up while he grabbed a couple of the small face towels. Wetting each and wringing them out, he shut off the water and walked back to the bed. Bucky gently began to wipe the dried blood off Harper's exposed skin.

As he cleaned off her face, he heard a quiet groan escape her lips. Bucky froze. His heart was beating faster than usual as he looked at Harper. "Hey, Angel, stay with me, okay?" he whispered softly. Bucky placed his hand in hers, wrapping her fingers around his palm. "I know you're weak, but if you can hear me, please, try to squeeze my hand. Or twitch your fingers. Something," he begged her.

Harper tried her best to close her hand around his, only able to curl her fingers a little. Her eyes flitted open briefly, and he felt a pang of hope. "You're okay, Angel. I need you to keep fighting for me. We're going to get you out of here and fixed up. I promise, okay?" Harper moaned again in response, squeezing his hand as best she could.

Once Bucky had gotten her as cleaned up as he could, he set about packing up all of her things. He picked up the room and ensured everything was where it needed to be. There was a knock at the door that took his attention. Approaching it carefully, he looked out the peephole to see a pair of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on the other side. Bucky opened the door and ushered them inside.

"We're going to take her out the back door and directly into our van. She'll be transported to the hangar, where we will be getting her onto a quinjet to fly her back to New York. Fury said you could fly back with her, if you want," one of the agents explained to Bucky.

"Yeah, okay. What about clean-up in here?" Bucky asked.

"We have a team coming in. Just give us your room keys, and one of the agents will check her out once the room is clean," he replied.

Bucky nodded at him and handed the man the two room keys. The agents thanked him, carefully picked up Harper, and walked out of the room. The second they were gone, Bucky grabbed her bag and made his way to the front of the hotel. He avoided the front desk and quickly got into his car to follow the van to the S.H.I.E.L.D. hangar.

Within two hours of Bucky calling Fury, he and Harper were back at the Avenger's Tower safe. Bruce was hard at work figuring out just how extensive Harper's injuries were. While he worked on the scans and tests, Bucky stayed by Harper's side, watching the monitors, waiting for any answers Banner could give him.

Clint walked into the room while a nurse was cleaning up a few more wounds on Harper. "What happened, Barnes?" he asked, concerned.

"Why do you care?" Bucky asked him sharply, looking at him coldly.

"She's my sister. Why wouldn't I care about her?" Clint replied simply.

"You didn't seem overly concerned when Fury told you he was worried something happened," Bucky snapped. "What if I hadn't overheard? Huh? What if I hadn't flown down there to find her? If it had been left to you, she'd be dead, Barton!"

Clint put his hands up defensively. "Okay. Yeah. You've got a point. But she's still my sister. We may not like each other, but I still love her," Clint admitted quietly. Bucky stared at him for a moment in silence before turning away. "Do you know what happened?" Clint inquired after several minutes.

"No," Bucky said bluntly, shaking his head slowly. "I took a shot in the dark that she still used the same alias, and I knew she only ever stayed at the most expensive hotels. By the time I got to her, she was unconscious and barely breathing." Bucky paused for a long moment before continuing. "I called Fury, got her cleaned up as best I could, and we came back here. The doctor has her in a medically induced coma, but there's no telling how bad things are yet."

"Shit," Clint muttered, running a hand through his hair. He glanced at the monitors and frowned. After a few minutes of silence, Barton turned to leave. "If anything changes, let me know," he called over his shoulder. Clint looked back at Bucky with a somber expression as he stepped through the door. "Thanks, Barnes," he added, closing the door as he left.

Chapter 10 – Masterlist – Taglist

[aingealcethlenn]

DA Chapter 8

Chapter 7

Harper arrived in Atlanta and parked outside the house. It had been several years since she had last seen the mother and son that resided inside. The home was dark when she entered, but as soon as her footsteps fell upon the creaking floorboards, a form appeared in the hallway between the living room and where Harper needed to go.

"It's been a while," said the man who appeared before her.

"Marcus, now isn't a good time," she warned.

The man raised his left hand, aiming a gun at Harper’s heart. "Seems like that choice is up to me, not you."

She sighed, shaking her head slightly. "I taught you everything you know, junior. But I didn't teach you everything I know. Just let me do what I need to, and I'll be gone."

"Who sent you?" Marcus questioned.

"No one fucking sent me," she scoffed. "I'm here to get something, that's it."

His finger slowly moved off the gun's trigger, relaxing only slightly. “And just what would that be?”

"That's my business, not yours."

"So you're not here for me? Or my mom?" he questioned.

"No. I'm not. You know damn well, if I was here for either of you, you'd both be dead already. I wouldn't be standing here making small talk with you.”

He looked away from Harper, lowering the weapon and placing it back in its holster. “So why are you here?" he asked.

"The safe in the office. I just need to get something out of it. Then I'm going on my merry way," she answered.

"How do you expect to get in? My mother has the key hidden, and neither of us knows the code."

"I have the code, dumbass. Otherwise, I would have shown up when I knew your mother was here. Not when I thought the house was empty." Harper took a few steps toward the hall where he stood. "Now, are you going to let me get what I came for? Or are you just going to cause a problem?"

Marcus stepped aside, allowing Harper to walk down the hallway to the office. "What's in there that you need so badly?"

"Nothing you need to know about," she stated. "Now, if you don't mind, I need to be quick. The longer I’m here, the greater the risk to you... and your mom."

Marcus watched Harper until she disappeared around the corner and into the room. It wasn't long before she reemerged, tucking something into the pocket of her jacket. She paused briefly at his side to pat his shoulder as she passed him. Once she reached the front door, Harper turned back to face the young man. "Listen, Marcus..." she started, locking eyes with him. "You're like a brother to me, and you know full well I would never let harm come to you or your mother. I don't know what kind of shit you got yourself caught up in. Hell, I don't think I want to know. But promise me something, alright?"

"Sure." He shrugged. "I guess?" he replied, not sure of the question.

"Promise me you will reach out if it gets too bad? Your mom knows people to call. They can help protect you both."

Marcus nodded his head, "I promise," he assured her. "But what about you?"

"Keeping you two safe is the reason I can't stay now, nor can I have contact with either of you until I know this threat is squashed. I know damn well that whoever you pissed off has someone tracking me, even if they're doing a shit job of it. That's why I have to get back to New York before they can find me here."

He studied Harper's face for another moment, trying to read some sort of emotion that he couldn't see. He wasn't quite sure what to make of her words. She had always been cryptic, and he never really knew how much she meant by anything she said, but he could tell she meant everything this time. He trusted her. That's what mattered most in this situation. "I understand," Marcus told her. "Be careful."

"Always am," she assured him with a smirk as she walked out of the house.

It had been five days since Fury had seen Harper. He wasn't expecting her to reach out once she had acquired the serum, but he had thought someone would have mentioned her visit. While sitting in his office, he decided to call once again.

"Hello?" a man answered.

"I'm looking for Nia," Fury replied.

"Sure, just a second."

Fury could hear some shuffling before a woman spoke up. "Hello?"

"Nia, has the Angel arrived yet?"

"She was here two days ago. As far as I knew, she was heading back your way. Why?" Nia asked.

"I haven't heard from her. Not that I expected to, but what she said before she left has me wondering."

"Nick..." her voice trailed off. He could hear the worry in her tone, though.

"I'll figure it out. Just stay alert. When I know more, I'll fill you in," Fury told her, hanging up the phone without another word.

Fury sat there for a moment with a troubled look on his face. Things like this didn't typically phase him, but knowing the people involved made this situation different. This was a possible threat to people he cared deeply for, not just friends and colleagues.

Standing from his desk, Nick walked out of his office and down to the archery range. He found Clint working with some recruits and called him into the empty hallway to speak with him. "It's about your sister, Barton," Fury began.

"What about her?"

"How much do you know about her life?" Fury questioned. Barton looked at Fury in confusion. "Let me put it this way," he tried, "Before a couple of weeks ago, when was the last time you saw her?"

"I don't know," he shrugged, "Close to fifteen years. Why?"

"She was in my office last week, wanting that serum. She said there was someone after her," Fury said.

Clint rolled his eyes, "There's no one that could be a threat to her."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Barton. Someone, or something, has her spooked enough to seek me out."

"Look, Fury, with all due respect, Harley has made more than her fair share of enemies through the years. I'm sure she is fine and just said what she felt she needed to say to get what she wanted," Clint insisted.

As Clint and Fury continued their conversation about Harper, Bucky approached from a side hallway. Before he could turn the corner, he heard the two men talking. Stopping in his tracks, Bucky stood with his back against the wall and listened.

"Barton, your sister was last seen in Atlanta two days ago, and there has been no sign of her since. I've got a bad feeling that something happened to her," Fury explained.

"And that makes it my problem how exactly?" Clint responded. "Just because she is my sister doesn't mean I would go on some wild goose chase to find her because of some 'bad feeling.'"

Fury sighed heavily; he couldn't argue with that. "Look, I just want to make sure she's okay. If she isn't, then we might need to think about how to protect ourselves," Fury reasoned.

The two men stared each other down for a few seconds before Clint turned around and headed back towards the range. "I'm sorry, Fury, but I can't help you," he said as the door shut behind him.

Bucky let out a breath and walked down the hall, back the way he had come. He knew the Angel, and he knew Fury. If something had the two of them worried, it wasn't anything good. Bucky knew Clint wouldn't do anything, not until it was too late anyway. Still... he couldn't shake the idea that something terrible was going to happen, if it hadn't already…

Chapter 9 – Masterlist – Taglist

[aingealcethlenn]

DA Chapter 7

Chapter 6

Fury opened the door to his office, flipping on the light as he stepped inside. He seemed unphased as the light revealed someone sitting in his chair at the desk. The stranger had their head tipped back and hands behind their head, eyes closed, and their feet kicked up on the desk with their ankles crossed.

“To what do I owe the visit?” Fury asked.

“I just have some questions… Director.”

“Those questions wouldn’t have anything to do with the files that you copied from S.H.I.E.L.D. servers, would they?” He stepped further into his office, closing the door behind him.

“They might.” The person lowered their feet to the floor and sat up in the chair.

Fury stood at the corner of his desk. “Then allow me to ask a question first,” he began. “Are we playing fair?”

“That entirely depends on you, Fury,” the visitor shrugged.

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