First I Love You/Kiss - Frosthawk
Whether Clint followed the orders to a T or not, his actions made the mission a success with no injuries to anyone but himself. The last of the civilians were checked over as he restrung his bow, waiting for the innocents to go before he would get checked over by Bruce.
âAnd what was that you pulled!?â Tony asked and Clint sighed. It would be fate that he broke away from the plan when it was Tony who was leading. Ever since the whole âCivil War" incident, the two had been on choppy waters that seemed to hit hurricane levels at this point.Â
âHey, the people ran out cause they thought they had an opening.â He argued, slipping his bow over his chest with a slight twinge of pain. âI took mine when they took theirs. It may not have been your master plan, but no one else got hurt and Zemoâs down.â He sent the pissed man a slight smile. âI count it as a victory.â
âVictory my ass; I had that plan set for a reason Clint!â Tony scolded, his visor down so it was his voice instead of the slightly robotic one the suit produced. âI know you don't like listening to me, but my plans are what we need to do so we don't get in trouble again!âÂ
Tony stood in his face now, close enough to spit on him at this point. âDid your government-approved plan include those civilians running or were you just going to let them die Stark?â Clint challenged and Tony clenched a fist. âPlans are great and yours would have worked, but the civilians matter to me more than if the government likes the way I shoot or not.â
âChange of plans,â Tony looked over to where Rhodey and a few other agents stood, pointing at them. âClint's helping with cleanup today, you can come back with us.â
âTony, I got injured; I still need medical to look at me!â Clint tried to argue. During the process of saving the civilians, he took a blast of an unknown energy and he had been waiting for the group he protected to get checked out first.
âNice excuse Barton, try it on someone who'll actually buy it.â Tony hit his arm a few times before his mask went down to cover his smirking face. âLet's move out.â The others picked fun at his expense, Clint sighing as he looked around. He was left with a truck, Zemo and his three henchmen, as well as the destruction the villain made of the country farm. He started to collect up the ruined crop, totalling in his head how much the farmer would have to be repaid, moving slower than he would have liked. This was going to take forever.
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Loki walked through the tower with a frown, looking for Clint. The others had just returned from their mission in Richmond, Kentucky and he hadn't been with them. He had planned to surprise the archer after being away for a little while with Thor, but now he was just left bewildered.
âWhere's Barton?â Loki asked Tony when he passed, the millionaire rolling his eyes.
âHe didn't follow the plan, risked our jobs as heroes. So, we left him to clean up and drive the truck back.â Tony said and Loki frowned more.Â
âHave any of you made contact with him?â Tony snapped at him.
âNo; no one's tried. You can if you want, but he's being punished for a reason!â Tony walked away, irrational and angry for a reason Loki couldn't pinpoint.Â
âNot everyone fits in your mold Stark.â He muttered before putting a hand to his com. âClint? Update?â He waited a few minutes, getting nothing but silence. Thinking he may be in the middle of something, he waited for five minutes more before trying again. âClint, can you hear me?â At the next bout of silence, his frown worsened and he started to mumble his teleportation spell to check on the man in person.
*******************************************************************************************Clean up with Clint had been going well. Had been. He rubbed at his eyes, using a bit more pressure than he would have liked, but the dizziness that was making his eyesight blur seemed to subside after the action, so he didn't mind repeating it again. His wound seemed to be internal, but the medics on scene left when the others did. Calling emergency services would not only blow his secret identity if he needed to go to hospital, but it could also bring the attention of the news if word of him getting injured got out.
He had just finished with the invoices and clean up, the pain he felt flaring up worse after it all. He was just glad that he had gotten Zemo and his lackeys into the arms of the prison guards before the pain hit him like this. Clint leaned against the truck, panting a bit. Breathing was getting harder and harder with each passing second and he needed to contact the others even if they didn't want to talk to him right now.Â
He moved his hand towards his ear and that seemed to be the last straw for his body. Clint completely froze, his knees losing the ability to hold anything as he started to topple to the ground. He let out a strangled groan as he fell, his head hitting the ground.
Clint was out cold before he hit the ground.
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Loki appeared, facing a slightly destroyed crop, evidence that this was where the team had been. He turned, spotting the truck a bit further ahead of him. His stomach teleported back to the tower when he saw Clint on the side of the road, his legs moving towards the archer before the rest of his body could process it. He may have even called his name, but he couldn't recall opening his mouth; but he swore someone called out to Clint.
He flipped the archer over in a rush, a tiny bit of dried blood left at Clint's hairline. âClint?â He gently tapped at his face. âClint!â His eyes were hazy when he opened them, but Loki could have cried when he saw them.Â
âL-Lo-ack!â He curled in a bit on himself when he tried to say his name, Loki shushing him as he helped him lay flat again against the ground.
âEasy Engel, keep your eyes open, not your mouth.â Loki said and Clint coughed out a laugh, his body shivering at the action. Loki placed a hand on his forehead. âYou're burning up.â He went to remove his hand, but Clint whimpered when he tried. âDoes that feel good?â Clint said yes with his eyes - despite how they could barely stay open. âAlright Engel, I just need you to stay awake with me until Dr. Banner can help.â Keeping his hand on his forehead, Loki mumbled his spell once more, the two appearing in the tower.
Time had passed since they transported, Loki not being at full power with the spell he was still practicing affecting how long it took to get to his set location. The house was quiet, the lights turning on when he and Clint appeared. âFriday, where is everyone?âÂ
âThey went to go celebrate the mission being a success.â She informed him and he nodded, looking down to Clint.Â
âGet me in contact with Dr. Banner please.â He scooped up Clint, the archer whimpering at the loss of his hand. Loki adjusted his head so that it was in the crook of his neck, Clint relaxing at the chill. âAnd hurry.âÂ
Loki moved to the infirmary quickly, the sound of a dial tone following him. âHe's not picking up.â She informed him, the god laying out the archer.Â
âOf course, the time Joâs team is on a different solar system.â He sighed, squeezing Clint's hand gently. âFriday, run me a scan on Clint and keep calling Dr. Banner and the others every five minutes until they pick up.â
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Loki applied another cold rag to Clint's forehead, deciding to worry about covering the head wound with a wrap later. With how high Clintâs temperature was getting, he didn't want to worry about that right now. It had been nearly an hour and a half of calling the others, but he still had no luck. âTry Steve again.â Loki said to Friday, the AI doing as said.Â
âHello?â He picked up on the third ring and Loki let his head fall back, eyes closing.
âThank the stars someone answered.â He looked back down to Clint. âI need help here at the tower; Clint was injured by something on their last mission and no one has responded to me for over an hour.â He could hear shuffling on the other side of the line. âHe's only been getting worse and I don't know what else to do.â
âBucky and I are coming; what's going on at this point?â Steve asked as Loki took off the now warm rag.
âHis temperature is tipping towards 110 and nothing I'm doing is bringing it back down.â Loki started, submerging the rag as he grabbed another one. âHe easily heats up the ice cold rags I'm putting on him and Friday said he had internal injuries and a possible concussion. He passed out a while ago and he hasn't woken up yet - I'm frankly terrified.â Loki rambled a bit, but Steve understood why.
âWe're about five minutes out.â Loki could hear the sound if footsteps and heavy wind, the man unable to help the soft smile that crossed his face. They were running to get there instead of spending time to get a taxi or get to Steve's bike.Â
âStay on the line until you arrive?â Loki asked, changing rags again. âYou're the only one who replied and I think I might go insane if I have to sit here in silence while I wait.â He tacked on the reason quickly, his words honest.Â
âWe're right here Loki, we won't leave ya.â The phone changer owners, Bucky now speaking to the god. Look could faintly hear Steve talking to someone else. âAnd I think Steve may have been able to contact TâChalla.â He informed him and Loki nodded, squeezing Clint's hand.Â
âGood; we may need all the help we can get.âÂ
âSorry to interrupt,â Friday cut in, âBut Clintâs temperature has now hit 111.â Loki muttered a curse before thanking the AI for the update, changing the rag a bit faster than normal.Â
âNothing's working at all?â Bucky asked, trying to fill the empty space the update caused.Â
âNot a thing.â He rested another hand on his cheek, the flesh burning from the inside out. âI even tried a few ice baths, but nothing's happened. I've even changed to my Jotunn form and tried to cool him down that way; doesn't even change it a portion of a degree.â Loki ran a hand through his hair. âAnd no one has put out any reports about what Zemo had been doing or what tools he used that could cause something like this nor have I been able to contact us team.â
âWho was on it? Do you know?â Friday answered for him.
âIron Man, War Machine, Spiderman, Hawkeye and The Incredible Hulk.â Loki looked down to Clint.
âWhy would Dr. Banner not look him over if he was injured?â Loki asked, talking more to himself than anyone else.Â
âSteve and I are heading up the elevator now, we'll be right there.â Bucky said and he nodded, just realizing he had been changing the rag without thinking about it.
âAlright. I'm going to have Friday try the others again. What happened with the thing with TâChalla?â Loki asked as Friday attempted to call one of the team members.Â
âIt'll take him about ten minutes before he can get here.â Bucky's voice cut between the phone and the hall, the two making their way to the door. âJesus.â He said softly, looking over Clint.
âI know.â Loki said, changing rags. âWhite paper has more color than he does right now.â Clint was beyond pale, the only hinting of color in the sweat he was drenched in. âNo one else is picking up and I don't know how much longer he-â
âWhat do you want? We're trying to celebrate over here.â Tony's voice filled the air and Loki glared at it.Â
âTell Banner we need him here. Clint's dying right before our eyes and we can't stop it.â He clenched his fist when Tony laughed, Bucky placing a hand on his shoulder.Â
âTony, he's not kidding.â Steve was about to continue, but Friday interrupted with another update.
âHis temperature has reached 112.â Loki and Bucky both worked on applying rags, Steve pulling out his phone.Â
âDid she just say 112?â Tony asked, his voice sobering up of a joking tone.Â
âIt was 110 when Loki got in contact with us.â Steve said, his ear pressed against the phone. âTâChalla - I know you're heading here quickly, but it's hit far past a critical situation.â He moved to the other side of the room as he talked to the King, glancing back every so often.
âSo he wasn't lyingâŚâ Tony trailed off, sounding a bit guilty.
âLying about what?â Bucky asked, sounding a bit ticked. âDid Clint tell you he was hurt and you ignored him?âÂ
âI thought he was trying to get out of clean up duty!â Tony argued, sounds of him moving coming faintly from the other line.Â
âWhat even happened out there?â Loki asked, trying to stay calm. Tony sighed, starting to explain the mission and what happened.
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Zemo had been on the run and the team was tracking him down for the past week. They found him in Richmond, Kentucky and had him cornered in a small farm on the outskirts of town. The family had been working in the field became his hostages and the group of heroes were trying to figure out a way to get them safe without letting Zemo go again.Â
Unknown to the whole group, Clint was sneaking towards the family to get them away with an attack he set up with Spiderman, but the littlest kid saw him walking toward them. He ran, his family following to grab him which caused Clint to run forward the same time Spiderman did.
Zemo fired the unknown weapon he had at the retreating family, but the were being protected by two heroes. As the mystery blast came towards them, Clint fired off his shot, hitting Spiderman down to the ground on purpose so he wouldn't get caught in the hit. Despite the pain and the blast that rattled him to the bones, he fired another shot and it went in the barrel of the gun, exploding in Zemoâs hand.
The villain dropped it and the others charged forward, easily taking down the group of villains. Spiderman reported his injury to Tony, saying that Clint did it on purpose and Tony became angry, taking his rage out on Clint in a way he thought wouldn't cause the man harm.
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âSo, he saves your kid from getting blasted with this and you punish him despite claiming he got hurt?â Bucky asked as Loki gripped the rag in his hand tighter than it needed to be. âWhere does that make sense Stark?! You could've just asked him about it!â The two argued on, Loki mulling over his rage without even realizing his hands were left on Clint's side.
âClint's temperature has decreased to 111.â Friday broke up the fight with her words, Steve pulling back from his call to look over.
âWhat did you do?â Bucky asked Loki and he looked down to his hands. He removed thin sheet he had thrown over the naked man down to show off his upper half, a nasty bruise on his side.Â
âHand me one of those rags.â Despite his confusion, Bucky gave one of them to Loki and the god laid it over the bruise with his hands on top of it. âIs his temperature going down Friday?âÂ
âIt is!â The trio looked between each other as sound came from the hallway. TâChalla appeared in the door frame with his younger sister behind him, both quickly moving over to the archer. Bucky quickly caught them up in Wakandan, pausing every once in a while to get Loki a new rag.Â
âThat's peculiar.â Shuri furrowed her brow as she pulled out her own scanner, doing a scan over his body before letting out a yelp at the sight of Loki's hands. He hadn't even noticed they went blue in the time that he had been holding the rags, looking down to them before they flashed back to match the rest of his flesh.Â
âI'll explain later.â He shrugged off her questioning look before nodding his head towards his bow and quiver. âFrom what Tony said of their mission, traces of whatever he was shot with may be on his equipment.â She nodded, moving to scan the weapons as TâChalla moved closer. He placed a hand on Clint's cheek, pulling back with a frown.Â
âWhat is his temperature?â He asked, Friday answering quickly.
â109.7 Your Highness.â He looked down to Clint in shock.
âIt was 112 before.â Loki informed him, TâChalla handing him another rag.Â
âThe highest recorded temperature was 115 degrees, was it not?â Bucky nodded at TâChallaâs words.
âAnd if Loki hadn't pieced together where to apply the coldness to, I think he would have topped the record.â
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It took nearly a month, but Clint's temperature and wounds were healed up nicely and the man was more than excited to get out of bed. From what the team had discovered, the stuff that Zemo shot at the archer was the start of a laser; holding the searing heat, but nothing that would show on the skin. The blast made the rays seep into his skin and his weapon, the man taking the hit so that others wouldnât. During his recovery, he hadnât been allowed to do much of anything except talk to whoever visited him. âKnock knock.â Loki stood at the door, a box of pizza in his hands.
Clint gasped, making grabby hands at both the pizza and him. âMy god, my two favorite things; you and pizza.â Loki chuckled as he walked over.
âIt's a good thing you mentioned me first or you wouldn't be getting the pizza.â Loki sat on the bed beside him, opening the box for them to share. Clint closed it, reaching over the cardboard to grab his hand.
âI know I've said it a few other times, but thank you.â Clint said, a serious look in his eyes. âIf you hadn't checked on me, I probably would have died our in the boonies of Kentucky without saying something I should have a while ago.â Loki raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. âWe've been together for nearly four months and we haven't said the L-Word.â Loki snorted at him and Clint playfully hit his chest. âI'm being serious!â His proclamation held no anger, Clint looking at him seriously again. âI almost died and I never had the chance to say it to you.â He placed a hand on his cheek. âI really do care for you Loki, more than I can say. I just wasn't brave enough to fully say it.â Loki went to speak, but Clint only continued. âGetting hurt like that made me realize how fast we can die in this job and I'd kick myself all through the afterlife if I never said it to you.â He paused for a second, looking into his eyes. âI love you Loki, more than you could ever know.âÂ
Loki moved closer, the pizza discarded and forgotten by Clint's feet for the moment. âI love you too Clint; I was scared that I lost you.â They held onto each other, a silence passing between them before Clint's stomach rumbled.
âIt can smell the pizza.â He joked and Loki laughed, reaching down to bring the box back. He turned to look at Loki, his eyes widening a bit when the god caught his lips in his own before they closed, melding into the action. It was short and sweet, Clint pulling back with a smile on his lips.Â
âWe can share a few more of those after we eat, agreed?â