The Lucky Wedding
Time passed and the arrival of spring brought about many changes in the Kingdom of Stark. Clint and Natasha had moved into the castle and were welcomed with open arms. Their cottage in the woods was taken over by Prince Tony and Bruce as an outpost to study and experiment with the influx of magically transformed animals. Clint suspected the goal of their research was to one day find a cure for him but didn't want to get his hopes up.
The Prince had also created many more impressive metal armors and joined a crusade to hunt out the witch that had held Natasha and Clint captive all those years ago. Word was that there was a great battle but she ultimately flew away unscathed, a disappointing outcome the hawk preferred not to think about.
Natasha joined the order of Shield and became the fastest person to ever be ordained a Knight in the Realm. She had also been seen sneaking out of the Queens bedroom in the mornings on more and more frequent occasions.
Clint was as pleased and surprised with that last development as anyone. The Queen and former Black Widow seemed to bond instantly over their refusal to suffer fools, being an adoptive sister to an all too impulsive brother, and having a shrewd intelligence made for command. Together they were unstoppable. They were fearless. They were very much in love as anyone with eyes could tell.
Clint was just glad his sister was happy at last and had someone there to hold her when she awoke from another nightmare. There were some things a hawk just couldn't do.
As for himself, Clint was with Coulson. Everyday, for almost all of it. He was still a hawk most of the time but it seemed like a small price to pay to feel this secure, this content. From nearly the start, Sir Coulson reassured Clint that his mistake in Clint's identity was just that and he had got caught up feeling excited at the wrong conclusion for the right reason. That Clint was who he wanted.
In a manor of speaking Clint joined the Shield Knights as well, he worked with Sir Coulson as a scout and a spotter, delivering intel and messages to and from the Knights during missions. It was reassuring to know the Knights and especially Tasha and Phil were looking out for him even as he did the same for them.
A favorite thing was to fly next to Phil and Lola as they galloped across the kingdom. He could close his eyes and pretend that he was riding with him or sometimes, that Phil was flying next to him. Together. It was a dream he had since that first day when the Knight had taken him upon Lola back to the castle to have his wing repaired.
His hour as a human felt shorter and more precious than ever before. Clint saw Natasha less these days while he was a human and now had to decide if he wanted to use his hour helping train the Shield archers, volunteer for quests where his aim would be vital, practice for his own sake, give facetime to his new friends that respected him in bird form, or certainly the most tempting option- wasting the time away snuggling up beside a sleepy Phil, kissing him, whispering secrets, slowly teasing and exploring the Knight’s body, and enjoying the worship of his own.
When Clint turned back into a hawk Phil still talked to him like it didn’t matter. He’d gently wash Clint’s feathers as he told of his adventures in long concluded battles, showed him his hero scrapbook and the lucky coin Hansel had given him in a moment of encouragement. Clint showed him his own lucky coin in return, a duplicate to Phil's that he had gotten from his mother before she had died and the masterwork bow he had made himself slowly over the years. Plus a few trick arrows he couldn’t wait to use.
This morning Phil met Clint by the stables with a change of clothes. When Clint was human once more and dressed, Phil pulled him up behind himself on Lola and they look off together for peaceful ride through the woods. It was gorgeous, the rising sun casting dancing spots of light through the leafy canopy above. Clint pressed against his Knight, arms looped around his stomach tightly. He should talk while he while he was able but the moment felt too perfect to interrupt.
Lola came to stop by a grassy cliff overlooking most of the Kingdom of Stark, the castle rising majestically in the distance.
“Clint.” Phil stepped off Lola and turned to the archer, happy grin lighting up his face. “Natasha told me you didn’t remember when your birthday was supposed to be. I thought maybe we could celebrate today.” He pulled out a blanket from Lola’s saddlebags and a parcel of food. Clint’s mouth fell open.
“Really!?” Clint jumped off Lola excitedly and hurried over to where Phil was smoothing out a blanket and setting out a platter of Clint’s favorite human foods.
“Yeah. I even had the cook brew some coffee to go. It’s in the other pouch, if you want to get it.” Phil grinned at him, obviously pleased that Clint approved of the surprise. The archer rushed back over to Lola and sure enough there was a carefully packed warm kettle and box with a small tasty looking cake in it. He tried not to skip back to the blanket too gleefully with his find.
The food was delicious and the view wonderful. Clint convinced Phil to feed him little morsels of cake by hand and laughed as Phil blushed but complied. He nibbled and licked the ends of Phil’s frosting tipped fingers and sighed happily with another sip of coffee from his tin mug, letting his eyes slide closed for a moment of contentment.
“Aw yes. Phil this is great! You didn’t have to do all this.”. It was easily one of the best days of Clint’s life.
“I’m glad you liked it.” Phil smiled back at him as he wiped his hands with a small towel.
“Why did you choose today?” Clint couldn’t help but ask curiously. “If you were going to choose a day for me, I would have thought you’d pick one under the sign of the Archer. That’s November I think.”
“A couple of reasons. First and foremost, love is in the air and I wanted us to be a part of it. And second...” Phil pulled out a small black box. “Prince Tony finished this for me yesterday and I just couldn’t wait to give it to you.” He handed a stunned Clint the box with a bashful shrug.
“Clint, I can’t offer you much but all of myself and while I do, now and forever, such a formal declaration should be done with a ring. That’s not what this is-” He explained quickly as Clint’s eyes grew wide. “But that is a gift I hope to give you soon once I make the proper arrangements.”
Inside the box resting on a fluff of white cotton was Sir Phil Coulson’s most prized possession, his lucky coin, shined to a mirror finish with a velvet cord looped through the small hole now punched in it.
“This is a slightly different declaration, although a simple one. I love you, Clint Barton.” Phil said simply as he reached out and squeezed Clint’s hand. The archer slid the velvet cord around his neck and grinned so hard his cheeks ached, bringing their clasped hands up to where the coin fell on his chest. Despite the curse, Phil loved him, wanted this thing to last forever. Clint felt very much the same.
“I love you too, Sir Phil Coulson.” He managed back, struggling under the weight of his emotions. It felt amazing to finally say it.
Clint pushed Phil back on the blanket with the force of his sudden kiss and didn’t care one bit that he spent the rest of his precious hour tenderly kissing Phil till their lips tingled in near numbness and he was a hawk sitting on the blanket, coin around his neck, wishing for more time to show Phil how much he loved him, and to finally take care of the throbbing arousal they never had time to properly address.
They rode back to the castle, Clint flying next to him, swooping up and around, cawing happily. Phil laughed at his antics but understood the feeling entirely.
Just inside the castle grounds they were greeted by Natasha and the Queen, waving as they approached.
“We have some news.” Queen Pepper smiled at them, taking Natasha’s hand in hers in a rare public sign of affection.
“The Queen asked me for my hand in marriage. I of course told her no, that she could have anyone. That she deserved so much more. Could use a political marriage to much more benefit to the kingdom.” Natasha explained with a small smile.
“But I eventually convinced her to let me be selfish for once.” The Queen finished, nuzzling her head against her lover’s for a moment before addressing them once more. “And you both are invited.”
“Congratulations!” Phil proclaimed as he hugged each woman in turn. “I know we’d be honored to attend.” Clint swooped around excitedly before coming to rest on Natasha shoulder and giving her a congratulatory nudge.
Phil grinned at the the group before winking at Clint.
“I told you love was in the air.”
Turns out being asked to attend the Royal Wedding wasn’t that large an honor considering the entire kingdom was invited. Still the actual ceremony was held at dawn which gave Clint a chance to be properly seen by everyone in the most exquisite suit he’d ever worn as he stood proudly at his sister’s side and that was nice.
It was a beautiful ceremony with only the minor hiccup of the officiant not being sure how to refer to Natasha. She was a Knight but did marrying a Queen make her a King? A co-Queen? A Princess? In the end they decided to go with ‘Queen’s bride’ much to the delighted chuckles of those in attendance.
There was excellent food and the ceremony was quick enough that Clint got to taste a good portion of it, still having time to dance a few spins across the floor with Phil, and “accidently” step on several childrens toes he recognised from a previous encounter where rocks being thrown might have been involved.
He was happy to fly up high to perch, watching the rest of the reception party continue well into the late night and then into the early hours of the morning with a joyful fondness after his hour was up.
This is how he ended up getting such a great view when it all went to hell.
Most of the guests had left already to join the others for the more ruckus party being held by Prince Stark in the castle square. Phil was off in a corner conferring with the staff, coordinating clean up logistics and heaping on praise for what they had already accomplished in putting on the wedding and feast so far.
Queen Pepper and her new bride were exchanging kisses as they discussed if it would be better to crash the Prince’s party or retire somewhere more private when a lingering lady guest approached them to offer congratulations. Clint suddenly felt ill at ease. There was something too familiar about the gait of this woman’s walk, something odd about how she held herself.
The lady leaned in to Natasha and said something. Queen Pepper looked confused as Natasha’s posture suddenly grew stiff, her smile gone, face blank and eyes cold.
Clint was already moving, flying down, cawing loudly in warning. Phil’s eyes immediately found him and tracked his movement, heading toward the Queen. It was too late though and Phil ran now, eyes wide in horror as Natasha brought the knife she always secretly carried on her around in a ruthless arc aimed at her beloved’s bare throat. Clint got there first but that meant being stabbed himself as he intercepted the blade. His blood splashed back to hit the queen and speckle her white dress when the knife ripped through his side.
The Queen screamed as he smacked into the stone floor. Natasha looked at her with blank eyes as she wiped the blood on her knife onto her formal Knight dress pants and moved toward her bride again, readying the knife.
“NO!” Sir Coulson had his sword out and parried the next attack, jumping between Natasha and Queen Pepper. “Your Majesty, take Clint and run!”
“Phil...God, what’s happening?!” She cried.
“I don’t know, but this isn’t right. This is not the Natasha I know.” Indeed it was not. Phil and Natasha had become close friends since they had met. Both were protective of Clint and capable, exacting fighters, that shared a mutual respect as the top tier of Knight. This was not her style. She was attacking ruthlessly, quick, not bothering to defend. She was quick and brutal enough that he imagined that wouldn’t matter with a lesser opponent and as it was he was afraid to go for an opening and risk killing her outright or missing only to leave himself open.
The Queen nodded, more determined with this news she bent down to pick up the fallen hawk.
“I don’t think so.”
The Queen looked up in shock as the guest she and Natasha had just been talking to shimmered and changed form, revealing herself to be an old and wretched looking witch. Clint watched from the floor. Of course. Their witch.
“Run!” Phil yelled behind him as he dodged another lunge. The Queen turned on her heel and started to run.
“Uh, uh, uh!” The witch called with a flick of her wrist, making the doors slam shut. “I think we should have a little talk. You thought you could take my Black Widow without my permission?“ She hissed haughtily.
“Natasha isn’t yours! Never was. “ The Queen turned around bravely to face down the witch, letting anger boost her courage. The witch grinned at the response, revealing several rotten teeth.
“I assure you she is. I own and command her. We’ve done things together you can not imagine. She moves on my whim. Between her and the boy I had all I would ever need! One day I would have them breed. The power those children would provide! A masterful witch raised as I wished or sabbat worthy sacrifice, oh the endless possibilities!” She cackled, drunk on the promise of it.
“I’m surprised you let them go so easily then!” Phil shouted just as he jumped to avoid the sword Natasha had pulled into her other hand.
“Oh those brats! It would have been so much easier to just have them drink my bespelled water.”
“I don’t see how turning them into animals would have helped.” Queen Pepper quipped.
“I command all animals who drink from those waters, woman!” She shouted defensively at the Queen. “Once changed I would merely need to call them home and change them back. Had the boy drunk sooner his blood’s resistance to my magic would have been over powered. I don’t know why they waited so long but no matter.” She grinned at the Queen. “For then my animals overhear talk and I learned my little spider is getting married and to the Queen no less! How grand I thought! What a perfect opportunity.”
The witch glanced over her shoulder to watch Natasha fight with the excellent but quickly tiring Knight.
“Killing you is a perfect punishment, it would crush her spirit so much she will beg to be under my command just so she needn’t feel.” The witch laughed wickedly. “ She really would be a Black Widow! How funny! Of course then I could have her dispose of your brother, declare me Queen, and get to making me some children with your hawk guy. He's a man with eyes (or rather, he will be after I change him back) and I doubt he’ll resist my beautiful widow for long if she insists.”
“You monster!” The Queen cursed at her, horror twisting her face. She looked longingly at her Bride and wished she could do something to protect her from this horrible fate.
Suddenly there was a loud bang against the door. The witch looked amused.
“Is someone truly trying to get in here? Do they not know how thick the castle doors are?” The witch commented, amused. She looked around for one of her captives to agree with her at the villagers idiocy when she noticed something.
“Where did the Hawk go?” She grumbled to herself as she noticed one of the high windows was ajar. “No matter, I’ll get him later.”
The banging came louder this time. Then again as the door splintered open as a colossal green foot went through it.
“What the hell is that?!” The witch screeched just as the gigantic green hulk came rampaging in. “You have a troll!!?” The witch pulled a wand from her pocket with the shake of her head. “This will be slightly more difficult than planned but every witch wants a troll in her arsenal to do her bidding.”
The witch hissed some words and flicked her wrist as the troll raced forward to apparently smash her in the ground.
“SLEEP CREATURE!” The witch yelled suddenly and just like that the troll was trapped inside a large bubble. He banged on the insides of it to no effect before falling down, fast asleep. The witch let out a noise of interest as the green hued monster shrunk down to a man with brown curls. “Ooo I’m going to have fun seeing what makes you tick later.”
The queen launched herself at the Witch, spitting insults and flailing uncontrolled fists at the woman’s face as frustrated tears streaked down.
Phil tried to watch but Natasha slit a large gash up the side of his arm for the trouble before flinging him to the ground. Phil had noticed one thing though- that was dawn’s morning light coming through the now open door.
“Widow. Come here and kill your love. She’s being a pest.”
Natasha turned and obeyed, walking up to them as Phil struggled to get himself up off the ground behind her.
“No! No! Natasha!” The Queen begged as Natasha raised the very sword the Queen had once Knighted her with.
No one heard the release except Clint but there was a very satisfying thwlickork noise as his arrow found his mark in the Witch’s chest.
She turned to where he was standing in the doorway, bow and quiver ready, barefoot and in only a pair of pants. She grinned evilly and fingered the fletching of the arrow sticking out of her chest.
“Do you really think an arrow can....” She stopped speaking, mouth settling into a frown. Clint grinned right back at her as he watched her finally realize what was happening.
Several things occurred all at once. The most flashy and notable was that the witch exploded into tiny little pieces, but besides that, the bubble around Bruce popped, the castle doors flew back open, and Natasha dropped her sword on the ground like it burned.
A moment later found the newlywed brides hugging and happily crying in each others arms.
Phil made his way over to Clint, enveloping him within his suddenly shaking arms. "I thought I lost you..." Tightening his hold as the spilling of Clint's precious blood replayed in his mind. The slight grimace of pain freed him of his thoughts.
“Where are ... No... How badly are you hurt?” Phil inquired quietly as he continued to hug Clint from behind, still shaking in relief.
“On my right hip. I think it will need stitches but I'll be fine. It'll take more than that to keep me down! " He tried to not look too pleased with the Knight's fussing but failed miserably. "You?"
“I'd say I'll need stitches on my arm and shoulder. A few other nicks and cuts but otherwise bruised pretty much everywhere.” Phil sighed as he loosened his hold. "So how’d you do it with one arrow? Prince Tony’s armored alchemist blasts are only slightly effective, arrows have been long thought useless.”
Clint grinned and picked up his arrow, now in a pile of ashy remains where the witch had once been. He brought the head up for Phil to see Clint’s lucky coin tied to it with wire.
“I got Bruce to come and help while I ran to get it. I figured, if it was Hansel’s, maybe the reason it was “lucky” was because he had it blessed or charmed against witches. Made sense.” Clint replied with cocky shrug. Phil laughed and pulled him into a long kiss.
“Why didn’t you use my coin then? The hole and the cord would have made it a better choice to attach it to the arrow. Plus we knew for a fact it had been Hansel’s and you always have it on you..” Phil pondered when they broke apart, even as he looked for confirmation and not finding it on his naked chest.
Clint pulled a second arrow out of his quiver to reveal it attached there. As he spoke he began to release it from the arrows hold and put it back around his neck.
“Second shot, just in case she blocked the first one somehow or it didn’t work.”
“Why the second shot? That’s a lot of extra risk you didn’t have to take.” Phil groused.
“Because you gave that one to me, idiot.” Clint grumbled as he looked away with a blush. “It means a lot to me, okay.”
Phil grinned and pulled Clint into a much harder, longer kiss.
“WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED HERE!?” Prince Tony exclaimed as he clumsily crawled over the wreckage of the broken door and looked around at the once impecable wedding banquet set up smashed and covered in smears of blood and chunks of witch. Eyes clouded with alcohol and disbelief glared accusingly at the group. "Sent Bruce for more wine forever ago and he still hasn't come back. Did I miss something?" He reached into a nearby bowl of olives and winced as he came up with a slimy piece of something decidedly NOT an olive.
"We got married.” Queen Pepper answered as she wiped away a tear.
"No, I was here for that. Pretty sure." The Prince frowned.
“Bruce hulked out and then fell asleep.” Natasha added.
"Ah..."
“I had a rematch with Natasha and it hurts like hell.” Phil smiled.
"Well that's..."
“Oh and I killed the witch that made our lives difficult for years.” Clint finished.
“Forget it, I'll ask Jarvis later when there isn't a party. But in the obscure chance those things happened- congrats." Tony cast his glance around and spotted a relatively clean bottle of wine. "Ah HA! There we go!" He grinned in victory as he grabbed the bottle. "I guess all there is left to do now is to live happily ever after.” He proclaimed as he waved the bottle over his head and crawled back out the way he came.
"And I'm not going to be the one to clean that stuff up!" He hollered back over his shoulder impetuously.
“I think he’s right.” Phil said, hugging Clint closer.
"I know better than to think the Prince would clean up after anyone, himself included." Clint laughed.
Phil looked over to the Queen and her bride as they made their escape upstairs for the start of their honeymoon and then back to Clint, shaking his head..
"No, I mean... we got our happy ending."
“Oh! Yes.” Clint agreed, leaning in for another kiss. "We certainly did."
Of course it wasn't till a little more than an hour later, when Clint still remained human in Phil's arms that they truly understood just how much of a happily ever after they were going to have together.
The End