The first bird had scared him, a scream in a once familiar voice ringing in his ears. He'd turned, stunned, and suddenly the quiet of the world was shattered, too many familiar voice screaming his name, screaming for help, aching, aching, digging down deep beneath his sternum into the softly beating pulp of his heart. He hadn't followed the sounds of his long dead parents, or the sound of his brother yelling for him -- because there was no way, there was no way.
But then he heard Natasha's perfect bell of a voice ring out, terrified in the way she once was. Back when he first brought her to SHIELD, and she woke up still locked in a dream, crying out in Russian and English and some mix of both. Clint is many things, but he's loyal to his friends. And Natasha is the most important person in his book.
He runs, ducking birds divebombing him, singleminded in his pursuit. He notices the caves, but that was fine -- they'd been living in caves, hadn't they? Maybe she got pinned down in one. Except he plunges into the darkness and the cave seals behind him and the screaming cuts off, echoes.
And that's when he starts to feel real goddamn stupid. But for all the message the Capitol leaves him, and the bow and arrows awaiting him, Clint doesn't see anybody for hours. Hell, he has no idea who Rick or Dave are. They could be giant purple aliens for all he knows.
But eventually, there's the sound of battle, the clatter of metal on ground, the gurgle of someone choking on their own blood. He pads carefully forward, arrow at the ready, and keeps an eye out. Doesn't expect a kid pulling a sword from between the ribs of someone.
"Shit."
He hisses, a quiet exhale. Doesn't let the point of his arrow drop one centimeter. If he's lucky, Dave wouldn't have noticed him and he can back out, carefully. If he's not, well, then he'll deal with it.
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But then he heard Natasha's perfect bell of a voice ring out, terrified in the way she once was. Back when he first brought her to SHIELD, and she woke up still locked in a dream, crying out in Russian and English and some mix of both. Clint is many things, but he's loyal to his friends. And Natasha is the most important person in his book.
He runs, ducking birds divebombing him, singleminded in his pursuit. He notices the caves, but that was fine -- they'd been living in caves, hadn't they? Maybe she got pinned down in one. Except he plunges into the darkness and the cave seals behind him and the screaming cuts off, echoes.
And that's when he starts to feel real goddamn stupid. But for all the message the Capitol leaves him, and the bow and arrows awaiting him, Clint doesn't see anybody for hours. Hell, he has no idea who Rick or Dave are. They could be giant purple aliens for all he knows.
But eventually, there's the sound of battle, the clatter of metal on ground, the gurgle of someone choking on their own blood. He pads carefully forward, arrow at the ready, and keeps an eye out. Doesn't expect a kid pulling a sword from between the ribs of someone.
"Shit."
He hisses, a quiet exhale. Doesn't let the point of his arrow drop one centimeter. If he's lucky, Dave wouldn't have noticed him and he can back out, carefully. If he's not, well, then he'll deal with it.