cptnamcrica:
Sam grinned brightly when Clint put two and two together, offering his hand out to shake. “Thanks, man. Means a lot coming from you.” He held his shield up a little and gave it a once-over with pride. Even with all the strife that went down between Steve giving him the shield and him finally deciding to accept it, sometimes it still didn’t feel real. Not entirely, anyway. “It’s still new. Feels like I’ve still got training wheels on sometimes but we’re getting there.”
He barely caught himself before he asked Clint how he’s been since the last time they saw each other. Where he was from, that would’ve been Tony’s funeral. Even though this Clint felt nearly as familiar as the one he’d fought alongside, guessing where anyone was from was a real shot in the dark. “How’s all this been treatin’ you?”
Clint didn’t bother to hide his smile as Sam admired his shield. He couldn’t think of anyone that deserved the legacy the way Sam did, and it was a historic day in America, to see a minority carry such a beacon of hope and light in the world. “No need to thank me,” Clint replied kindly. There was never, and would never, be a day that he judged Sam for taking some time before donning Captain America’s moniker. If anything, it just meant that Sam was the best person possible. “Yeah? What’s it like?” He asked curiously. “It seems like the responsibility would be pretty intense sometimes.” Even being Hawkeye had its moments, and half the time, no one even recognized him.
At Sam’s question, Clint hesitated for a moment. Sam was a counsellor, and that meant he was more adept than most at realizing when someone was struggling. “Um,” he said dumbly. “It’s been rough sometimes,” he admitted. “I, uh, did some stuff when everyone was dusted and I’m paying the price now. But it’s all coming along.”