Warnings: unbeta’d, angst, character death, just all the sadness
Written for @ackeviddlestan ’s Clint Barton Song List Challenge
Prompt: #8 - New York State Of Mind
Pairing: Clint x Fem!OC
Rating: PG
Summary: She was his home. His time away. His peace of mind. Yeah, when he came back to the city from the compound, he came back to Brooklyn. His building. He came back to her as well. She was the one thing that he refused to give up under any circumstances.
A chance encounter, a cup of coffee, She had pink hair at the time and a hellifed undercut. Long on top in a mohawk that hung down to her shoulder. It went with the whole OG goth aesthetic she’d been rockin’ with her nose chain and leather jacket. He didn’t have his hearing aids in and the barista was feeling a little less than charitable in the patience department. She signed the order for him, with pastries and whatnot, and from there a friendship was born.
She ran a support group for deaf cancer survivors. Volunteered at the Humane Society twice a month. Lived with three rescued strays including two cats and what she claimed was a chihuahua but Clint was convinced was a tiny sentient buzz saw on a meth bender. All looks to the contrary, she was all softy and he loved that about her.
When she got sick the first time, it had been after the Battle of New York. Clint refused to leave her side, even though she told him it was fine and he didn’t have to. He needed to be strong for someone who wouldn’t judge him. She was a pillar of strength for him, too.
First couple rounds of chemo were tough on everybody. Eventually, though, they fell into a rhythm, he looked after her, she cooked for him. She even moved into the building when her lease ended in Queens. It was a shorter commute for everyone and she had the comfiest couch he’d ever crashed on.
Eventually, she got well again, or at least, well-ish. New normal, and all. She hated it, but what can ya do, right? She lived, and that’s more than some people get. Her hair came back, jet black, which was a shock to him. He’d only ever seen it in color, and she rectified that directly.
The first time they kissed was a disputed fact. She insisted he kissed her first, while he contended the contrary. It happened on the roof of the building one night, when the insomnia got bad for both of them and they were up late having a beer. They’d been staring up at what would have been the stars, talking about life as it might have been if not.
His lips were soft, chapped, eager. Tasted like beer and wanting and damn could she relate. His blond hair was on the shaggy side but so, so soft, and the late night stubble grazed her palms in the best way. He was warm, strong, those ridiculously pretty arms pulling her into his lap as he licked her mouth open. Tongues tangled like it was a new language and both were learning.
For a little while, it was perfect.
And then she got sick again. A lot further along this time, she opted not to carry on with the meds since the end was coming a lot faster than anyone planned. They argued, he wanted to fight, but in the end, she was one more person he couldn’t save.
Brooklyn hadn’t been her home for long, but a little piece of her would be there forever with him. He saw her on her last plane ride, home to her family in Arizona, committed to the same lands her ancestors had lived and died. Some of her support group took her animals, even the tiny heathen, and everyone pitched in for a memorial plaque and a bench to be placed at the dog park they liked to take their fuzzy kids when the weather was warm.
Even after everything that happened, everything he’d lost, he’ll still find himself on a sunny afternoon, sitting on your bench, watching Lucky play with the other dogs and for a moment, he has a tiny sliver of peace.
Author’s Note: this was started from the Clint Barton song list writing challenge. First time writing Clint but decided to give it a go. Just to get this out of the way upfront, this is from the movie universe but filling in details that we weren’t given about Clint’s past. Song lyrics in bold and italics. Number 10 on the list Patience by Guns ‘n Roses
Pairings: Clint x Laura, Clint x Tasha(bff)
Fury knew Hawkeye kept things close. The man and much on the line each time he went out on a mission. The team Hawkeye is working with is out on a long mission in an undisclosed location. Laura could tell something was off before he left. They had gone out to the farm for the weekend. So far things have gone smoothly for the most part. Laura has her job and takes care of the kids.
When they went to the farm house this time Clint had insisted they take clothes and toys for the kids to be there for a while. When she asked him why he had replied, “I don’t know Babe. I’ve just got a bad feeling. I want you and the kids to stay here while I’m gone. You work for SHIELD so I’ll make it ok with Fury.”
“I work in a business that is a front for SHIELD,” Laura had reminded him with a laugh. In truth the couple lived on the second floor of the building and the bottom floor was a hardware store. What went on underneath the store only a select few knew about. Laura and Clint technically owned the store so their taxes and insurance and all was taken care of as independent business owners for the record. Hiding in plain sight.
Clint had told Fury that Laura and the kids were staying at the Farm a little longer and that he had a bad feeling. Clint’s gut was usually trustworthy so Fury went with it. While in the field the bad feeling only got worse. As they moved in on their target the team was ambushed. Most of them were killed. Hawkeye moving to a different nest at the last minute saved him. He used his emergency contact to reach out to the Director and report in.
The backup plan was activated. The store became the victim of a gas leak with no reported survivors. From that point Hawkeye worked recon and other solo missions. To say the man had trust issues would be an understatement.
A file is brought to Clint at the farm by Fury himself. A notorious spy had become a blip on his radar. Clint did his homework and tracked her target. It was the only way to track Black Widow. His orders were to take her out. She was in his sights, arrow ready to release when he heard Laura’s voice saying “Fury chose you for a reason. He trusts you to make the right call.”
He lowers his bow, quickly writes a note and attaches it to the arrow before firing it and grazing the Widow in the shoulder and the arrow coming to rest right were she was about to step. The note gave a location and a time. She met him there out of curiosity more than anything else. And the rest has been a beautiful friendship and partnership. They do solo missions but if either needs a partner it’s the other. No exceptions. Trust issues.
Clint comes out of his wandering thoughts and looks at Nat. “Did I ever tell you why I didn’t kill you when I was supposed to?” She shakes her head. He smiles at her and says, “Laura. She had told me that Fury chose me for a reason and he trusted me to make the right call. With you I knew the note was the right call. God she loved you Nat. Some people would have doubted us working so closely together. In fact many people assumed you and I were sleeping together. She never once acted like she doubted either of us.”
“Well we did sleep together technically.We slept in the same bed I mean,” she says to get a grin from him. “But I knew your heart was off the market from the beginning. I make a living reading people Clint. Loyalty is important to you. So’s honesty with those you trust, which isn’t many. That’s why they all knew it had to me that brought you in.”
They sat in silence for several minutes each enjoying the company and knowing they were safe with each other. “I’m curious about something Clint. Why that song?”
“Patience? Easy. It’s our story from the beginning.” He signs to her “she was patient and learned to sign so she could help me. We waited till I was in the Rangers to make our relationship official so the military wouldn’t separate us. We,” he paused for a moment before he continued “we counted on each other to always have patience no matter the situation we faced.”
“So be patient a little longer and help us get this done. We’ll get your family back.”
Author’s Note: this was started from the Clint Barton song list writing challenge. First time writing Clint but decided to give it a go. Just to get this out of the way upfront, this is from the movie universe but filling in details that we weren’t given about Clint’s past. Song lyrics in bold and italics. Number 10 on the list Patience by Guns ‘n Roses
Pairing: Clint x Laura
Warning: I just watched Endgame today/yesterday (I haven’t slept yet so does that still count as the same day?). No spoilers just too many feels.
Graduation rolled around before either of them knew it. By some miracle they are stationed at the same place. Some of the guys are really giving him a hard time about Laura but he smiles and keeps his feelings close to the vest. You have had the conversation. Several times actually but you both always come back to the same thing. “All we need is just a little patience.”
Clint is soon in the Rangers. Before he leaves out on his first mission he pops the question. He puts the engagement ring on her finger and looks into her eyes and knows he’s home. One mission leads to the next. The other guys talk about who’s waiting on them, who they wish was waiting for them or just who and what they want to do when they get home. Clint tunes them out and in his mind goes home to her arms and stares into those eyes. “If I can’t have you right now I’ll wait dear...”
His teammates find him odd but they give him his space. They each know the one person they want on Overwatch is Barton. He doesn’t miss and in their line of work that’s what counts. Eventually Clint and Laura are wed. His and her parents are there along with his teammates and some other friends. Suddenly his silence on the girl talk makes sense to the guys.
When Laura goes on maternity leave Clint wants to be there. The mission cannot be over soon enough to suit him. But when he talks to Laura she reminds him of their song and to just have a little patience. He makes it home in time for the birth and finds that not only has his family grown but so has his heart. And that little girl has him wrapped around her tiny newborn finger from first sight.
SHIELD approaches him eventually. Well, Fury does anyway. Clint tells Fury he has to talk to his wife. Fury hesitates when Clint mentions Laura but his gut tells him to go with it. So Fury sits down with Clint and Laura at their kitchen table to discuss matters. The deciding factor is Fury agrees to buying a farm in the middle of nowhere for his family and keeping them and it off the record. Both sets of parents are gone which means Clint needs his family to be safe. The house is old but not in bad shape. Besides Clint likes to work on things.
Fury leaves Clint to be with his family for a while so they can settle in. Then the missions begin. Hawkeye is no longer just Overwatch but also a true sniper. He’s taken life in the field but this seems different. He confesses to Laura that he sometimes questions orders. She gently plays with the hair at the nape of his neck while he feeds their daughter. She knows the gesture is comforting to him.
“Clint, Fury chose you for a reason. I have to believe that he trusts you to make the right call no matter what. Otherwise why would he agree to our safe house and keeping it off the record. Go through the trouble of making records disappear so we can’t be found.”
“I guess you’re right babe,” he had whispered against her tummy just before he felt his son move for the first time.
Author’s Note: this was started from the Clint Barton song list writing challenge. First time writing Clint but decided to give it a go. Just to get this out of the way upfront, this is from the movie universe but filling in details that we weren’t given about Clint’s past. Song lyrics in bold and italics. Number 10 on the list Patience by Guns ‘n Roses
Pairings: Clint x Laura, Clint x Tasha/BFF
Warning: I just watched Endgame today/yesterday (I haven’t slept yet so does that still count as the same day?). No spoilers really for those that haven’t seen it. Mentions one Clint/Tasha scene that makes me want to cry just thinking about it but doesn’t really give anything away.
As the rain pours down filling the streets of Tokyo, Nat reaches out and takes his hand, “I’m just sorry I couldn’t give it to you sooner.” The one thought that manages to pierce the haze is a line from a song he hasn’t been able to listen to in over 5 years. “I ain’t got time for the pain cause I need you.”
He knows he changed the lyrics by one word but that’s what he hears in his head. When he closes his eyes he can even see Laura signing it that way in his mind. He knows he doesn’t have to hide his tears from Nat as they make their way back to the jet. Only with her from the old team does he feel he can be that open.
He takes his seat and finds their song. He starts it playing low. Nat turns it up and offers an understanding smile before turning her attention to flying. The irony of just how accurate the song has become washes over him and his mind drifts.
“Shed a tear cause I’m missing you, I’m still alright to smile. Girl I think about you every day now. Was a time when I wasn’t sure but you set my mind at ease...”
Clint was on the parade grounds with the JROTC when he first saw Laura. She was beautiful and tough. He couldn’t keep himself from staring at her but he doesn’t approach her. Finally she approaches him. She asks for help setting up targets. Grabbing hold of a chance he helps get things set up so she can target practice. He acts as her spotter and they get her rifle sighted.
He smiles as he realizes she is a good shot. She comments that she has seen him with a bow. So he tells her how he first began shooting with a bow when he was a kid and it still is his favorite choice. She asks him to show her. They agree to meet the next day after school. That soon became their routine.
When Clint doesn’t show up at school one day a few months later she goes to his house to check on him. She finds him in the backyard with his bow. She calls out to him but he doesn’t hear her. She makes her way over to him. He jumps as he realizes she is there. She is happy to see him but he turns from her. That’s when she notices what’s missing. His hearing aides. She taps him on the shoulder and indicates the area with a questioning look.
“They were damaged yesterday at school,” comes the answer from the back porch. Clint’s father walks out to join them and hands her a pen and notepad. Clint signs his frustration at his father’s actions. His father patiently responds something that calms Clint down then turns and walks away.
Laura had taken the time to ask him about it and why he hadn’t been at school. He admitted he likes her and didn’t want her to treat him differently because of this. He explains that no one at school is able to sign with him so he skipped to avoid the situation. That day was when he started teaching Laura to sign.
