stormsinafrica | Entries tagged with clint barton

Both Clint and Natasha had accepted certain truths about their lives many years ago such as they'd never have ordinary lives as long as they were a part of SHIELD, and then later, the Avengers. That was fine with them, and then they found a little girl in an orphanage in Moscow they wanted to adopt as their own daughter. Soon after they adopted and brought Nadia home, they learned nothing short of a miracle had happened and Natasha was pregnant with their son Franky.

From the moment he was born, they knew that they had to do everything possible to ensure he would have a normal life far away from the dangers and violence that came with being in SHIELD.

That's when they decided that they needed a completely private and uninterrupted chat with the Director of SHIELD.

That's why they decided to break into SHIELD headquarters to talk to Director Coulson face-to-face. They couldn't risk leaks or misunderstandings.

They planned the operation meticulously together, and executed it with as much precision. They disabled cleverly placed security mechanisms and evaded guards without being detected. When they finally reached Coulson's office, he was standing in front of his desk with arms crossed with a stoic expression with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Director Coulson, we need to have a conversation with you," she said as she locked the door.

Coulson nodded, "I've been expecting this conversation for some time. I know it's a little late but allow me to say congratulations on your son's healthy arrival." Sure Franky was almost seven years old now, but it's never too late to offer sincere congratulations right?

Clint nodded in acknowledgment, then he said. "We're informing you now, Director, that we want you to keep your distance from both of our children. SHIELD is never to have any part of their lives."

"Especially when it comes to Franky," Natasha emphasized.

"I understand your concerns and reasons why you don't want SHIELD anywhere near him, but are you sure that's the best course of action? At some point, if they're not already, other agencies will become aware of the fact that the famous Hawkeye and Black Widow have a biological son together. They might get to him at a moment you're not watching him, and make him into their own tool."

"We've already taken that into account," Clint assured him, "We'll protect him from the others if and when the time comes."

Coulson nodded, "Understood but consider this: As good as you both are, you can't be everywhere or alert all of the time. Now what I am suggesting is that when he's a little older that you allow SHIELD to—"

"No, Coulson!" Natasha snarled, "When we say Franky is not to be touched by SHIELD in any way, it's what we mean. Neither you or any Director who comes after you is to ever touch him in any way!"

"Or they can expect a nice little visit when they're least expecting it," Clint finished.

"Understood, Agent Barton. I'll be sure to note and tell whoever succeeds me as Director that the Romanoff. Barton children are off limits."

Natasha unlocked the door, "That is all we ask."

With that, they slipped out if SHIELD the same way they'd come in, like vanishing shadows in the night.

Current Music: 554 words

innitmarvelous_og

Laura Barton sat alone on the porch of her farmhouse, unable to bear being inside a moment longer today as she could see all her husband's unfinished projects. It had been three long and excruciating weeks since Clint's execution, a shocking event that still seemed surreal yet there was no denying it had been all too real. When the order had been given for the shots to be fired, her world and her heart had been shattered along with his. The pain of losing Clint in such a way was almost unbearable, and she wondered if she would ever find solace again.

As she stared out into the distance really seeing nothing, and lost in her thoughts, the glare of an approaching car captured her attention. She sighed, and prayed that the media had not at last found her family's home as she was sure they'd been looking since before Clint's execution. She thought about going inside the house and locking the door before whoever it was got too close, but then she realized she didn't care. If it were the media, then she'd finally have a chance to tell the world about the man she knew and loved. However, when the car stopped, and the occupant got out, she was surprised to see the familiar face of Pepper Potts Stark.

Why was she here? Pepper of all people was only a few feet away from her, and Laura couldn't understand why she would come to see her. But then when Pepper was only a few feet away, Laura could see that her eyes were both red and weary, mirroring the pain she also felt inside. The truth was, their lives had been forever changed by the actions and the loss of the two men they had loved.

Pepper's voice was laden with sorrow when she said, "Mrs. Barton, I am so very sorry for your loss."

Laura nodded in response, tears shining in her eyes, "Thank you for coming, Mrs. Stark—"

"Pepper. Please call me Pepper."

"Then I am Laura. As I was saying, thank you for coming. I... I don't know how to cope with this."

Pepper gestured as the chair to her asking permission to sit, and Laura nodded.

Pepper's smile was a sad. sympathetic one as she seated herself, "I understand, Laura. I know losing Tony was the hardest thing I've ever faced. When he died... after he died,,, the sun didn't just stop shining. There was no sun for me anymore. And, with Clint..."

Her voice trailed off, the unspoken words left hanging heavily between them. Both of them knew just how far Clint had gone during those Five Years in his quest for revenge. SHIELD's decision to actually honor the world's request to execute him had been unexpected, but it seemed even Fury thought he needed to be held accountable.

"Tony's funeral was beautiful... peaceful," Laura said softly, adding when Pepper raised an eyebrow, "I came to the funeral with Clint and our kids. I think you were in the same fog then as the one I've been in since they... oh our kids. Lila and Cooper are old enough to understand what happened to their father but they still can't understand it., Neither can I! I know what Clint did to all those people was wrong, but he wasn't a monster, Pepper! He wasn't! He just got lost in all his anger and pain and he just lashed out!"

Pepper nodded, "And I regret that we didn't do anything to try to help him." She did too, because maybe if they'd tried to help him, he wouldn't have gone on such a bloody crusade, and he would still be here with his family.

Laura laughed sardonically, "Thank you for saying that, but I know you couldn't have helped him if you'd tried. He still had Nat then. And if she couldn't help him, then any attempt you may have made would've been even more hopeless."

"Even so, I am sorry that we didn't at least try to help him."

"Thank you for saying that."

Pepper nodded her eyes were, filled with kinship as she said, "You know you said you don't know how to explain this to your kids in a way they can finally understand what's happened?"

Laura nodded, "Yes?"

"Oh, Laura, there's no easy way to explain or even understand something like this. I wish there were but even after three months, I am still finding myself struggling what to say to Morgan in the moments when all she wants is her Daddy, and that's very often. She and Tony were so close and I'm not sure she still understands that he will never come home again."

"Then what kind of light can there possibly be, Pepper?" Laura asked, wiping away tear, her voice breaking with grief. "Tell me, what's left for us without him? What's left for my kids and me without Clint there with us?"

Pepper took a deep breath, and when she spoke her voice was one of grief and hope, "There is very little, if I am honest. But the sun has started to come out a little for me. I see the sunlight the most when I am looking into my daughter's eyes. I see so much of Tony in her. I see his spirit and his determination. And I am reminded that even in life's darkest times, there's still a flicker of hope. It might be a tiny one, but it is there. You have a daughter and a son right?"

"A daughter and two sons," Laura corrected.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I should have remembered."

"No, don't apologize. There's no way you could have. Not with what you were going through at that time."

Pepper nodded, and continued with what she was going to say, "I have Morgan but you were... blessed to have three children with Clint. They're three chances and places to look for signs of him whenever you're really missing him. Clint lives on through them, just like Tony lives on in Morgan."

She sighed, and went on, "I know this is going to sound like a tired, old cliché but with every day that's passing I am learning it's truth. Time heals all wounds. It may not feel like it right now, but eventually the pain will lessen, and you'll find a way to move on."

"Move on? How can you say that, Pepper? Clint is gone, and my kids will never see their father again!"

"I'm not saying you have to forget him, Laura. But you need to try to focus on the good memories and the life and the love you shared with him. You have to keep going, for both you and your kids. I know I don't know you well yet, but I believe you are a strong woman. You would have to be, to have been married to someone who was an agent a long time before he became an Avenger. So I believe you can do this."

"I'm not feeling particularly strong, Pepper. Instead, I feel like a hollowed out shell of who used to be Laura Barton. Everything, everywhere I look I am reminded of him, and I don't how to make the flood turn off."

"It won't, Laura, or at least not entirely. But with time, and taking it day day, you'll start to feel like yourself again. Or as much as you can with someone you loved so much being gone. And, in the meantime, if I am not too much of a stranger to be saying this... but I want to be here for you, if I can. If you want me too. I know the circumstances of our husbands deaths were not quite the same, but we're in the same boat, and I just want you to know you are not alone in this, okay?"

Tears streamed down her face and Laura wiped them before she reached out to take Pepper's hand, "Thank you, Pepper. I really appreciate you reaching out to me like this. We don't really know each other, but I would like to get to know you. It would be nice to have someone to be able to talk to and cry with when one or both of us need it."

A sad smile graced Pepper's lips, "We'll get through this. Together."

Current Music: 1395 words

innitmarvelous_og

When Clint's eyes fluttered open, his surroundings were a distortion of blurred shapes and colors. He felt as though someone were banging on his head with Thor's hammer, with every beat of his heart sending a jolt of pain through his temples. He struggled to make sense in his disoriented state, to find his way through the fog that had wrapped itself around his thoughts.

Little by little, tiny fragments of memories pierced through the fog. He recalled the cold, rigid touch of the metal pole against his back, the din of the SHIELD STRIKE team readying their weapons, and the deafening shots that still echoed in his ears.

"What the..." His voice came out as a raspy murmur, barely heard above the muted ache that pulsed through his body when he made an attempt to sit up. He clenched his teeth, then he yielded to the protesting of his enervated form, his muscles refusing to comply.

With a renewal of determination, he forced his eyes to open once more, striving to understand his surroundings. The room, saturated in sterile white, enlightened his blurred vision. The unforgiving glare from the lights overhead penetrated through his fogginess, magnifying the pounding in his head. As he took a deep breath, the sharp of disinfectants seized his nostrils, flooding his senses and leaving an almost metallic taste in his mouth.

At that moment, a door swung open on the other end of the room, revealing Nick Fury, the Director of SHIELD, clad in his customary black attire. Clint's heart, which shouldn't have been beating at all, skipped a beat in his chest. As he watched Fury approach, conflicting emotions swelled within him. This was the man who had betrayed him, the one who had carried out the order for Clint's execution. In the moments leading up to his supposed death by firing squad, Clint had told Fury he had understood why he had to be the one to give the order. But that'd had been a lie. The truth was, he couldn't comprehend how Fury, the Director, could have been the one who ordered his own agents to kill one of their brothers.

Fury's face was as stern as it ever was when he approached Clint, but also he got closer, Clint could also see a tiny bit of kindness. He wasted no time with a preamble but told Clint simply in a low, steady voice, "You're alive now because I arranged for your death to be faked at your execution. There was no way I could let the world take you away from your family forever."

Clint's emotions were a tangled web while his mind raced. All he'd wanted to be with his family again through those five long years they were dead. He'd literally had two weeks with them following Tony's funeral, and then he'd been arrested. He doesn't know how the world learned about what he'd done so quickly because even when he'd been consumed by his rage, he concealed his identity. He doesn't know how the world found out... unless one of the Avengers who had known of his Ronin identity had given the media their anonymous tip.

"How long have I been here, sir? How long since my exe.."

"It's been eighteen hours since you stood in front of the firing squad."

"So the world thinks I'm dead?" Clint asked.

"Yes, they do. We made sure we staged your execution so convincingly that every person who tuned into the broadcast now believes they watched a SHIELD firing squad shoot you through the heart," Fury replied.

"Okay, I'm dead to the world. What now? Am I going to have to spend the rest of my life in some hideout somewhere, where I'll never see my family again? Is that what I've been saved for?" Clint countered, his anger and despair rising with every word.

Fury frowned, as it was his turn to get angry, "You are not listening to me, Barton!"

"I told you he wouldn't be able to listen to you," a new voice contributed.

Clint whipped his head towards the door, "Laura? What the..."

His heart, his perfectly whole not shot through with bullets, heart skipped a beat when he saw his wife standing in the doorway. She looked so weary, her eyes betraying all the anguish and pain she had to endure during this entire ordeal. Her presence was both a comfort and a bewildering mystery.

"Laura, wha... how?" Clint's voice trailed off, as he was unable to form a coherent question.

Laura walked over to his bedside, then instead of answering him with words, she seated herself beside him, and she kissed him like she had in his cell in the SHIELD facility. Fury looked away to allow them a moment of privacy in their reunion, but he finally cleared his throat when Clint's heart rate shot up. Laura pulled away from him but didn't stand up. Instead, she intertwined her fingers with his, and kept her eyes on him as Fury spoke.

"You want to know what is going on, Clint," the older, gruffer man began, "and how it is you're here, not dead, instead of being buried six feet in the ground actually dead?"

Clint nodded, "Yes, sir, I do," Everything had happened so fast that he can't figure out a way the Director had been able to save his life instead of letting the execution actually succeed.

"To begin, I had gotten wind that your identity as Ronin had been exposed a very short time before your arrest. There wasn't enough time to warn you, so I had to settle with ensuring your survival, regardless of whatever happened next or whatever punishment the world deemed to be the right one for your actions.

"Needless to say, convincing the world of your death seemed like the best course of action since they were so thirsty for your blood, and wouldn't settle for anything less. So we orchestrated what the world thought to be your execution to be just that, an execution in which you were shot through the heart by a SHIELD firing squad."

Clint didn't miss he said we, not just him, but he knows it would be pointless to ask who else was involved. Fury would never tell him, and anyway, he could guess that Maria Hill had been one of those involved. In the end it didn't matter, and maybe it was better that he didn't know who else was involved. Instead, he squeezed his wife's hand so she'd look at him.

"You knew?" he asked.

Laura nodded.

"Did you know when you and the kids came to... when you came to see me before the..." Clint couldn't finish the sentence.

Laura nodded once again, "Yes, I knew Nick had arranged to save your life. I knew that you wouldn't actually die when they fired."

He couldn't help but marvel at his wife's acting skills during their goodbye. When he had looked into her eyes during their goodbye, he'd a depth of grief and pain that he'd never seen there before. Laura had looked and acted the part of a woman whose husband was about to be executed and she was helpless to stop it. It'd been over a decade since she'd been an active agent in SHIELD herself, but it seemed it was just like riding a bicycle for her. He marveled until an awful realization dawned on him.

"Lila and Cooper, they... they thought I was going to die."

Tears glistened in Laura's eyes as she nodded, her voice choked with emotion, "Yes, they believed you were going to die, Clint. They're kids and not trained agents. They had to believe you were going to die in order for anyone who might be watching for signs of deception to believe that you were actually executed. Looking my children in the eyes and tell them you were going to die, that they were saying goodbye to you, was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life."

Clint squeezed his eyes shut when he heard this, the weight of the revelation weighing down on him like a ton of bricks. Learning that his oldest two children had suffered such anguish because of the level of deception that had to be used to save his life, hurt him in a way nothing else had before. He hated him too in that moment because Lila and Cooper didn't deserve to know that kind of pain, and now they had, all because of him.

When he felt tears well up in the corner of his closed eyes, Clint squeezed them even more tightly shut. When he spoke, his voice trembled, the words barely finding their way past his lips, "I... I can't... what they've been feeling since... I'm their father, and they were never supposed to know this kind of pain! I was supposed to keep them for it! I will hate myself for putting them through this for the rest of my life!"

Laura reached out and grabbed his chin, turning his face towards hers, "Clint, look at me!"

He opened his eyes, and looked into hers.

"I want you to listen to me, Clint. We can't change what happened or what we had to do to keep you alive. Lila and Cooper, they'll understand all of this, in time. You love them, and they now that. They know how much you love them, and in the end all that will matter is they will have their father with them to still love them."

Fury, who had been silent in the corner, took a step forward to remind them that he was still in the room. "Look, I understand your regrets over the pain you've caused them, but dwelling on the past isn't going to change anything. You've got to find a way to focus on the future because in order for this to work, you've got to have your head completely in the game, Barton."

"In order for what to work, sir?"

"In order for you to have a life with your family."

Clint laughed, without mirth, and when Fury glared at him he said, "A life with my family/ How? I'm supposed to be dead, sir. Dead! The moment I step out of this facility into public, whichever one I'm in, facial recognition will have me made in a split second, and they'll just kill me again. And my kids are not going to live out their lives in SHIELD facilities or safe houses, isolated away from the rest of the world."

"And they're not going to have to do that," Fury in a firm voice, "I will say it again, we have a plan that is going to allow you to be with your family, and you'll all be safe. Unfortunately the plan isn't one that is going to happen over night or even over several nights. It won't be quick because of what we must do to ensure you won't be ID'd the second you step out into public with your family."

"What does that mean exactly?" Clint asked, trying to understand the gravity of the situation.

"What it means is through both surgery and technology we're going to create an entirely new identity for you, that no one on the world is aware of. We are going to give you a completely new face that even the facial recognition scans won't be able to ID you as being Clint Barton. You will have a new name to go with the new face, and a new personal history that you will have memorized frontwards and backwards. Clint Barton is dead in the eyes of the world, and that's exactly how he'll stay. When you are finally ready to step back into the world in general, you'll be someone else completely, and the world will never know you were not, in fact, executed like they wanted you to be."

Laura squeezed his hand in support because she knew what Fury was about to say next would be the most difficult part for her husband to hear.

"Now here is the bad part—"

"You mean besides me being erased from existence, and looking into the mirror to see a stranger staring back?" Clint quipped.

"Clint!" Laura murmured, "This is the only way forward for you to stay alive and be with us at the same time!"

He nodded, and looked at the other man, "Sorry, I know this is going to be a lot of trouble, and already has been. I don't mean to sound ungrateful you did and are doing all of this to keep me alive."

Fury gave a curt nod, then continued, "Fifteen months. Fifteen months is the bare minimum is the estimate as to how long it is going to take to completely change your identity, and get you reintroduced into the world."

"Fifteen months? And I'll have to be away from them the entire time," Clint surmised.

"Correct. I'm sorry that it will take so long after the five years you spent without them but this is a painstaking process, and one we can't afford to make any mistakes on as your life quite literally depends on it. We get one shot to get this right, because if the world learns you didn't die at your execution, then I believe they would simply have you taken out this time. With extreme prejudice."

Extreme prejudice.

Clint knows those two words are just another way of saying that they would come after him without any regard for any innocents that might be around him at the time. His heart sank when in that moment he realized fully the gravity of the situation, and that in order to keep everyone he loves safe, things would have to done this way. They couldn't risk the lives of his wife and children just so he could be with them sooner.

"I understand," Clint finally said aloud, resignation in his voice, "If this is what it takes to keep my family safe, and allow me to be with them, then I will do whatever I have to for it to make it happen." The fifteen months would be a long time, but he could do it because unlike before, he has the hope of knowing they're alive, and well, and that he will be with them again.

"Good," Fury said, nodding in acknowledgement to Clint's commitment to the plan, "We'll start the preparations immediately. I've put together a team of experts who will handle the entire process, from the surgical procedures to the creation of your new identity. When they're done, Clint Barton will truly be dead, and a new man will be in his place."

"How do we know that none of them will tell the world who I really am?" Clint asked, "There's a lot riding on this, sir. and just for me." He looked at his wife, and thought of their children.

"Because I know each of the team members personally, and I know they can be trusted to keep your secret for as long as you live. They will take this with them to their own graves. We need to get started on this ASAP, so I'm afraid you both need to say your farewells now because it is going to be a long time before you're able to see each other again."

"Could we have a—"

Fury walked towards the door, "I'll leave you two alone."

Laura touched his face, her voice steadied as she told him, "We'll be waiting for you, Clint. No matter what name they give you, or the face you are going to have, you are always going to be the man we love."

Clint opened his arms, "Come here, honey. I need to hold you,"

Laura scooted up closer to him, and let him wrap his arms around her as she wrapped her arms around him. They didn't talk, just held onto each other, and finally she laid her head on his chest to listen to the sound of his heart beating.

When the ten minutes were up, Fury returned, but stopped at the door without speaking. There was much they still needed to talk about such as the logistics and the security protocols for the next fifteen months. But looking at them now, he knew what they needed to talk about could wait a little longer, and so he let them have it.

Current Music: 2747

innitmarvelous_og

The final day of his career as an Olympian is a gorgeous one for Franky. Johannesburg is the host city for the 2048 Summer Games, and once he's finished his final competition of the Olympiad, Franky is looking forward to seeing some of the city with his family. Now while he waited for the event to start, Franky is reflecting back on his career, which began all the way back in 2036 in Melbourne, Australia.

"Are you ready, son?" Clint asked right before the competition was set to start.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be, Coach," Franky replied with a wink, "I'm just not sure if I am going to be able to win a medal this time."

To say Franky's career as a Olympian had been golden would be an understatement to say the least as he'd taken home a combined 5 gold medals in the previous three Games he'd competed in. Heck, last time in Los Angeles he'd even won a bronze medal too for good measure.

"You've got this, Franky," Clint encouraged him, "Just remember everything I've tried to teach you and everything else you've learned on your own without your old man."

Franky smiled, and hugged his father, "Thanks, Dad. I love you."

"Love you too, Hawkeye. Go get them!" Clint said, patting his back as he pulled away.

"Will everyone please take their positions? The event is about to begin!" an official called out.

"Well, that's my cue," Franky said, and walked to his assigned area.

Clint nodded, and went to stand where all the other coaches would watch from the sidelines.

Three minutes later, Franky was drawing back his bow string, and aiming for the target.

Twang!

The arrow soared through the air, hitting the center of the target with precision.

"Great shot, Franky!" Clint murmured, "Good way to start this thing!"

Franky continued to loose his arrows with precision, hitting the target almost always dead center. The crowd cheered as he completed each round with a high score. Then as he entered the final round for the gold, Franky faltered in some of his final shots. After his opponent from Japan loosed his final arrow in a spectacular shot, Franky let out a low whistle, and immediately offered the man his congratulations.

"That was an amazing closeout to your career, son!" Clint told him, "I'm so proud of you!"

"Thanks, Dad. The silver isn't quite what I hoped to close out my career with, but Kohaku-san was just better than me today. In fact, he was pretty amazing! I think I need to go congratulate him again! Be back in a moment!"

Clint watched his son walk back over to his opponent, beaming with pride at his son's sportmanship as once more he shook the other man's hand.

Jeremy Allen White as Francis "Franky" Barton

Current Music: 466 words

innitmarvelous_og

Today, Clint Barton would meet his end under a relentless barrage of bullets fired by SHIELD's specially commissioned firing squad.

After Clint had been convicted for his merciless acts of murder in the aftermath of Thanos's snap, the world demanded justice. A trial was held, and when the overwhelming evidence of his crimes had been presented to the world, a firestorm of outrage had quickly built up which had ultimately sealed his fate. As an Avenger, Clint's position carried a weight of responsibility, demanding the highest price for the blood he had spilled. SHIELD, being the organization he once served, reluctantly agreed to carry out the public execution within their fortified facility. Every detail of his death would be broadcast live, ensuring the eyes of the entire world would bear witness.

As he lived out his final hours of life, Clint tried not to pace his cell or show any fear about what was going to happen to him today. But the closer he got to the hour of his death the more restless he became. He had not been allowed to see his family after his arrest and he was afraid he would die without the chance ro tell them how much he loved them.

The loudness of the security buzzer on his cell block sounding off made Clint look up through the bars and the other end of the hallway. Through several gates he could see the people he loved the most in all of the universe making their way towards him.

Clint stood up and as he waited for them to reach him, he looked at each of them.

Lila was openly crying, Cooper was trying to be stoic he was faltering, while Nate was too young it seemed to understand the gravity of the situation. The little boy was smiling as though he were walking into McDonald's for a Happy Meal and some time on the playground. Although Laura was plainly relying on her past training as an agent to hide her emotions, Clint had known his wife far too long, and he did not miss her grief with every step she took.

Finally they were at the last gate, and the lead agent of the guards escorting them swipe his keycard to raise the final gate, and Clint's family entered the large cell he'd called home as he awaited execution. The guards stepped into the cell with weapons pointed at him just to be sure he did not try to bolt, and they allowed his family to pass. Clint made sure not to move a muscle as he did not want to give them reason to call off the only visit he would have with his family.

Laura and the kids didn't move forward towards him until the agents withdrew and the gate had been lowered once more. Then Laura flew at him, momentarily knocking him back as she kissed him like there was no tomorrow. Well there wasn't any tomorrow for him as he would be executed in four hours time. He kissed her back until they were both breathless, and then he clung to her.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into her ear, "I'm sorry!"

Laura said nothing in response, instead she just held onto him as she tried to imprint everything she could also him. The impending loss of him hung over heavily in the air like a funeral shroud, but the brief moment in each others arms, there was solace.

Their solitary embrace last a few more moments, then Clint pulled back, and gestured for their children to joint them. Lila, his first child and only daughter reached him first and she wrapped her arms around him, crying softly into his ear, "Oh, Daddy!"

Clint hugged her back, and did his best comfort her. "Shhh, sweetheart. It's okay, it's okay." He kissed her cheek and combed his fingers through her hair for a few minutes.

Cooper was the next to hug his Dad, and Clint heard his breath hitch as the boy buried his face in Clint's neck. All he could do was hold his holding son tightly as he was at a loss for words to say to Cooper. The moment ended when his youngest squeezed in between his brother and Dad. Cooper reluctantly released his Dad and stepped away to allow his little brother his moment.

Clint knelt and wrapped his arms around the little boy, "What's up, squirt?"

Nate pulled and looked at him, "Mommy said we had to come and see you coz you're going away, Daddy, and we needed to say bye to you. Daddy, where are you going? Can I come with you too?"

Nate's innocent questions hurt him so bad, so the only thing Clint could do was pulled the boy against him again, "I'm going on a little trip, Natty. It's somewhere that you and Mommy and Lila and Coop can't come to yet. But one day you all will and when you do, I have everything ready for you guys and we'll be a family again and never be apart again. How's that sound, bud? Sound good?"

"Yeah, yeah!" Nate said excitedly.

After kissing the side of his head, Clint stood up and looked at Lila, "Come here, sweetheart."

In the meantime, Laura herded Cooper and Nate to the other side of the room where she talked to them quietly, mostly an effort to occupy her youngest.

Clint led his daughter over to the bed, and sat down.

Lila stared at him, her bottom lip trembling, "Why, Dad?" Why did you do what you did to all those people? Why did you hurt them like that?"

Cooper's expression contorted with a mix of anger and sadness. "But Dad, we needed you. We needed our hero."

Tears welled up in Clint's eyes as he caressed Cooper's cheek. "I know, Coop, and I let you down. I'm so sorry, son. I wish I could turn back time and undo everything I've done, but I can't. All I can do now is accept the consequences and hope that one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

Clint looked into his daughter's eyes, eyes that were so full of pain and confusion. He took a deep breath before he answered her, "Lila honey, I did what I did, because at the time, I was so very angry that you and your Mom and your brothers got erased like you didn't matter, like you were not worthy of living that I just... got even angrier when I realized that the people who actually didn't deserve to like were still here. I went crazy with my grief and anger. Neither of those excuse what I did though, and it wasn't my place to judge those people unworthy. But I did, and I... and I erased them as a result."

He looked away from her, "I made choices, bad choices that hurt people, and I have to face the consequences of what I did. I wish I could change it, make so those people were still here, but I can't. All I can do now is accept the consequences, even if those consequences mean I pay the highest price for what I did."

Lila was trying to process what her father had said to her, but more tears welled up into her eyes, "But Daddy, you've always been a hero. I still don't understand how you could have done those things? I mean I looked up to you!"

Clint took her hands in his own, and his voice trembled when he told her, "I know, Lila, and that is one reason why this hurts so much. I let everyone down, but especially our family. Even heroes sometimes make horrible mistakes. All you can do is try to learn from them always, and understand the consequences that come with them, and never forget the value of life or compassion."

The teen girl sniffled, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand, "I miss the old you, Daddy. The one who saved people, and fought against the bad people. You did what was right."

"Me too. I miss that version of me too, Li," Clint murmured, his voice remorse-laden, "But I lost my way, and I hurt those people. Now I have to face the consequences of what I've done, and maybe when I do, it'll help people get some of their faith in heroes back."

"I don't want to lose you, Daddy!"

Clint tightened his grip on her hands a little bit, "And I don't want to leave you either, but I have to face what I've done. I know it is a hard thing to ask, but promise me that you'll remember the good times we all had together. That you will remember the lessons I taught you, and you'll carry them in your heart. That you'll do your best to be strong and make the world a better place. I believe in you, honey."

"I promise, Dad." Lila whispered solemnly as tears pour down her face, "I'll make you so proud of me. I love you."

He pulled his daughter into a tight embrace, and he held her for a long moment, "I love you, too, baby. Never ever forget that."

When Clint released her, he looked over where Laura was still talking to Cooper and Nate. His heart ached so badly at the thought he would get to see them grow up that he could almost believe he was having a heart attack. They would have to grow up with their father and it was all because of what he had done. He knew one day they'd realize the truth of why he wasn't here anymore, and he hoped that on that day, they would hate him for leaving them like this. He hoped that they'd forgive him.

Time was beginning to run short, and he caught Laura's eye. He looked at Cooper then back at her, and she nodded. She said something to him, and he got up to come over to where his father and sister were. Clint kissed Lila again, and told her, "I'll always be with you, Lila. I love you, baby."

"I love you too, Daddy," she said, hugging him one last time before she went over to her mother and brother.

Cooper arrived, and immediately he went to his father's arms.

Clint held onto Cooper tightly, savoring the weight of his son against him. He could feel Cooper's tremors against him as the teen tried to contain his sobs. Once more, Clint was at a loss for the words to tell Cooper how much he loved him, how far the depths of his love went. He could on;y hold his son with the hopes that somehow Cooper felt in it what he could not say.

Cooper finally pulled away, his red eyes looking into his father's, "How, Dad? How could this be happening? How could you have done all of what... what they said you did? I mean you always protected people before. You didn't hurt them! What happened?" Cooper's voice went on the rise as he asked his questions and he was almost yelling by the end.

Clint looked over in his wife's direction and saw Laura looking over at him. He shook his head, and she went back to comforting Lila. He turned back to his oldest son.

"Because, Coop, even heroes are not infallible. They make mistakes too, and this one was the worst one I could have ever made. I let my grief and anger consume me, and then I let it lead to do things I can't take back. Horrible things."

Cooper looked puzzled by his words, and angry, "I don't get it, Dad! You let what happened to me and Mom and Lila and Nate make you so made that you went out and and killed all those other people? Dad, you doing something like that goes against everything you and Mom have ever tried to teach us!"

The anger in his eyes aimed at him is almost most than he can bear, so much so that Clint must take a deep breath to steady himself before he tries to respond. Regret, so much regret tainted his voice as he told his son, "You're right, Coop. You are so right. Like I said I let my anger and my grief consume me, I let it burn in my heart like a fire until it was raging, and it clouded my judgment. I didn't want to see what I was doing was wrong, so wrong, and I lost sight of the values I hold dear. I lost sight of all the things I ever tried to teach you and your sister and brother."

Blinking back tears, Clint went on, "I failed, Cooper, both a father and as a hero. I let my anger have control and I let it lead me to make choices that are unforgivable. I hurt people, people who maybe deserved judgment for what they did but it wasn't my place to be their jury, judge, or executioner. I can't ever change what I did but I hope that the three of you will learn from my mistakes, and never let your anger lead you to do something like I did."

Cooper's anger start to soften a little, and was replaced by sadness as he thought about what his Dad's words mean, "How do we move on from this, Dad? From what you did and what they're going to do to you because of it?"

Clint put his hands on his son's shoulders, his gaze as steady and sincere as he could make it, "I'm not going to lie, Coop. Moving on won't be easy for any of you. It's going to take time for all of you to heal from this. But try to remember that we all make mistakes, and how you learn from them and how you strive to become better for what you've learned is what defines you. You're strong, Coop, and have the resilience to overcome what I did and from... from my death. You can be the person you want to be. Don't let my actions or my death define your future, son."

The teen looked down, "I don't think I can ever look at you in the same way again, Dad. And I... and I don't know if I can forgive you."

His broke at his son's words, but he understood why Cooper would feel in such a way because of how his actions had affected their family forever. He swallowed a lump, nodded, then said, "I understand, Cooper, because forgiveness is not that can be demanded or even expected. It's can only be earned by being sorry for what you've done, and actions someone takes moving forward. I can't do anything to earn your forgiveness. All I can do is face the consequences of what I did, and hope one day you might find it in your heart to forgive me."

Cooper looked at him again, his eyes searching his father's face. After a moment of silence, he said, "I don't hate you, Dad. I'm just so... hurt and disappointed."

The tears Clint had been fighting streamed down his face. He pulled Cooper into another tight embrace, "I'm disappointed in myself too, son. I wish I could go back and change everything, but I can't."

After spending a few more minutes talking to Cooper, he spent some with Nate, talking with the little boy about the things of his world that interested him. He knew he should try to impart some words of wisdom to his youngest but in the end he didn't want to shatter his youngest's innocence as that would come soon enough. So they talked, then Clint hugged and kissed him, and then sent him to sit with his siblings.

Then Laura came over to him, and once more they kissed like there was no tomorrow, before they pulled back, and the sitting together wrapped in each other's arms.

They talked in soft tones, allowing themselves to briefly to escape their present by escaping into the past, remembering their life together. They talked about their children, the dreams they'd accomplished, and the challenges they'd faced as a family. 

Clint gently brushed a stray hair away from Laura's face, looking at her with tenderness. He couldn't help but marvel and be grateful for her strength and resilience. He admired how she had always been there for him and for their children. They'd faced so many battles together, on and off the field, and their love have always grown stronger for it.

"Five minutes!" one of the guards yelled out, shattering their quiet time together.

Clint looked into her eyes, nodded, and after one last kiss, they got up. Together, holding onto one another's hands, they walked back over to their children as it was now at last time for their last goodbyes. 

Clint had no final words for his children beyond telling them how much he loved them. Instead, he just held onto them as tight as he could, and let himself believe time had frozen. Then the sound of the guards coming to take his family back out shattered the peace. His heart shattered as he made himself let go before tany orders were issued to him.

He stood against the wall, and watched as they left clinging to each other. He called out, "I love you all so much! Never forget that! I love you!"

Laura looked into his eyes one last time, and told him, "You were a good husband and loving father, Clint Barton, and we will always remember that! We love you!"

With those words, his family was gone.

Just over an hour later, the same guards returned to take him to the execution chamber, They bound his hands behind him, and led him down a hallway his family thankfully hadn't seen. He was led into a room that on one end a screen had been set up to conceal the firing squad's identities, and on the other a metal pole had been placed into the floor. They led him to the pole where the cuff were briefly unlocked so they could secure his hands behind the pole. Finally the fastened his body to the pole with leather straps before a target was pinned to his shirt over his heart. 

"Oh you're not inspiring a lot of confidence from me if these guys need a visual aid to find their target," he quipped.

The guard said nothing but instead stood to the side, coming to attention as a lone figure entered the room. When Clint turned his head to meet the gaze of the man who had entered, one lone eye gazed back. One eye full of all sorts of emotions with the most prominent being sadness.

"Hello, sir," Clint said quietly. "I'd heard rumors you'd be the one to give the order but I didn't really believe it until just now."

Nick Fury nodded, "I'm sorry it came to this, Clint, that it's me. But since we're the ones who agreed to carry out this... entire thing, I have to be the one who gives the order."

"Of course, sir. I wouldn't expect otherwise."

"Three minutes, Director."

Clint swallowed, and dropped his gaze.

"I will look after them you know... from a distance as I don't imagine she'll want anything to do with me after this," Fury murmured.

Clint knew Laura might eventually forgive Fury for his role in this but he didn't think it was wise to say so. Instead, Clint just nodded, and said, "Thank you, sir. That means more to me than you know."

"One minute until we're broadcasting!"

Fury looked at the guard, who took out a black hood, and approached Clint.

"I don't need that. I'm not afraid of dying," Clint said, moving his head away.

"I'm sorry but you have no choice. It's one of the things that's been insisted on," Nick told him.

"I guess they don't want people to see the life leaving my eyes."

"I  guess not."

Clint sighed, and allowed the guard to slip the hood on.

"Twenty seconds."

"Godspeed, Barton," Fury said before he walked over to the side.

"You too, sir," Clint said.

Clint assumed they were live on the airwaves when he heard the sound of the firing squad enter the room. He listened as they positioned themselves opposite of his position without any verbal commands.

"Do you have any final words?" Fury asked him.

"The only thing I want to say is, I am sorry for how I was like Thanos and I thought I had the right to bring balance to the universe. I didn't and I hurt innocents because of it. I hope those who love me can forgive me one day."

Fury waited a moment to see if he would speak again, and when he didn't he yelled out, "Ready your weapons!"

Clint heard the sound of the guns being readied.

"Aim!"

He swallowed, his heart and breathing quickening.

This was it.

"Fire!"

Deafening shots rang out, and Clint felt the bullets pierce his heart.

Then his head rolled forward, and his body went limp.

A medic on standby went forward, and listened for a heartbeat, then looked at Fury.

"The prisoner is dead."

"Time of death, 10:07PM, December 7th."

Current Music: 3575 words

innitmarvelous_og

There is a very special day coming up soon for Natasha and Nadia — it's the annual recital for the eight year old's ballet class. The recital is almost here, so they have spent every moment they can rehearsing their routines. Yes, mother and daughter are going to be dancing together during a very special moment in the recital. Natasha had helped out with Nadia's ballet class over the years, and this year her daughter's teachers insisted that she must perform a dance in the recital. 

The night of the recital finally arrived, and the auditorium quickly filled up with the families of all the school's students. All of them were eager to see the progress their sons and daughters had made over the last year of learning.

Minutes before the recital was scheduled to begin, Natasha and Nadia had spent a few minutes with Clint and Franky, the family talking and laughing together. Then when one of the teachers came through to tell them it was five minutes before the performance started, the family broke up.

Clint took his five year old son's hand, and kissed his wife, "I'd say break a leg, honey, but you're far too graceful for that! So instead, I'll say good luck!"

"Good luck, Mommy, Nadia!" Franky echoed.

"Thank you, boys, " Natasha replied with a smile.

"Thanks, Daddy, Franky!" Nadia said, also smiling.

"Go get 'em, girls! Come on, Franky, we'd better go find our seats!"

As they disappeared, Natasha turned to her daughter, "Ready, Nadyechka?"

"Da," Nadia answered, "Я готов, мама."

With that, they took their places, ready to go on stage and dance together when their moment arrived.

Current Music: 277 words

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