Dean had lost everything dear to him. Sam, cas, hell even Rowena and crowley were on there. His mind was far from his body. He had seen with his own eyes, his own brother. He had held Sam in his own arms as he felt him turn to dust. And cas. He had seen all of them die with his own eyes.
"Hey dean? You okay?"
Being brought out of his own mind with a swift turn to the side he saw clint standing near the doorway. Dressed up and ready to go and get the infinity stones.
"Yeah I'm fine" dean muttered as he ran his hand through his face and then to his hair. Stubble scratching his hand, grimacing as dean let go of his face and stared at the wall.
"Come we need to go for the stone" clint had said as he turned around and went back to the time travel machine Tony stark had built. "Yeah be right there" dean had simply replied, not having enough energy in the past 5 years for anything. Standing up from the couch he was laying on he turned and walked out the doorway clint was in before.
As he walked to the others he heard them planning and discussing what was going to happen. "Ah look who graces us with his presence Winchester!" Tony stark had barked out in an amused tone, but there was some worrying tone underneath it. Dean simply shaked his head and responded, "let's get this over with"
"Alright you two, dean and clint, will get the soul stone"
Turning his head the left, clint and Dean's gazes met, and with a simply nod at each other they turned back and listened to the rest of the plan.
Dean stared at the place where they where. A gloomy and dark atmosphere surrounded dean and clint. "Come on dean, over here." clint had said, dean just nodded and followed him. After a small silence dean asked a question, "what are you going to do when we get the stone and get everyone back?" his voice rough and raspy from barley any use nowadays. Clint had paused and let his eyes slide to dean. After a few moments of silence and more walking he responded
"Go back to my wife and kids." straightforward and no hesitation, dean hummed,"that's all? "
Clint chuckled and responded "yeah, miss them"
After more silence clint had opened his mouth, "what about you? What are you going to do when everyone comes back?" dean hadn't paused in his step, but unconsciously raised an eyebrow as he looked at clint from the side of his eye, "hunt. If every monster is gonna come back soon, then there's gonna be a hell lot of deaths. at least Sammy and cas will be back for that."
"Hey and you'll also have the Avengers with you, just call if you need." clint had offered, ever since they meet dean and discovered what he did and what was out there. Most of the Avengers had been paranoid and worried, but some reassurance from dean confirmed that some monsters are gone.
"Yeah like that hunt with the vampires where tony just decided to burn the warehouse down?" dean chuckled. "To be fair it did kinda help" clint defended.
"I was inside, clint"
"Oh yeah I forgot about that" clint had muttered out, turning his head straight he caught what he thinks they came here for. "Hey come on" clint hurried dean and started picking up his pace to head over the cliff, dean cursed under his breath and picked up along side him.
"Why'd we have to get the soul stone? This place gives me the fucking creeps" dean had muttered as they arrivied near the cliff
As they both turned around to check everything a voice apperead." I see your here for the soul stone, though I might tell, it comes with a price" dean and clint whipped their heads as soon as they heard the voice." who are you?? " dean had demanded.
"I'm red skull. I am the protecter of the soul stone, now, I'm sure your here for the soul stone, aren't you?" red skull had kept his voice neutral. Clint and dean shared a look before looking back to the protector.
"Yeah we are, Mind lending us that stone? Unfortunately we're in a hurry" dean had grinned, and tilted his head to the side. Clint had elbowed him in the ribs, causing dean to yelp, before turning his head back to the protector
"Earlier you said that there comes a price, what is it?" Clint saying sparked something in dean as he immediately stopped his whining and stared at red skull, waiting for his answer. "Simple"
"You must sacrifice a loved one, a soul for a soul"
Dean and clint shared a look, before dean turned and looked back at red skull, "wait wait wait." dean chanted as he raised an hand up, "a sacrifice? Like a ritualistic sacrifice?" dean grimaced, he certainly did not want to do anything like that to clint, someone who he's become close with in the past 2 years and who he can certainly rely on, fuck he's even like another brother to him, and some of those sacrifices did not look pretty.
"The sacrifice must jump off the cliff, as I said a soul for a soul" while dean had let a sig of relief he was still tense. One of them won't make it back.
And he'd be damned if it wasn't clint going back to his wife and kids.
...
Pain is the first thing Sam registered. His eyes land to his hand that is turning from dust back to flesh. A gasp left his mouth as he stared at the rest of his body coming back to life. A look around shows that he was where he was when he turned into dust. Sam looks to the right and saw cas looking around in confusion as he stared at the dust turning his body back to flesh. Another look around confirmed Rowena, and also Crowley doing the same. Everything was the same, but there's was something missing.
"Dean.." Sam muttered, looking around hoping to see his brother come back from the dust that took them, Sam hoped that didn't happen to dean, it was painful. Sam didn't know what to expect, maybe dean standing by the front door of the bunker and huffing out a laugh, maybe dean with some spell book he figured out and brought them back. But it certainly wasn't silence, too silent. Dean always had to be making some noise unless necessary.
"DEAN" Sam had yelled, whipping his head around to look for any signs of his brother. Cas had noticed the disapeareance of dean not long after Sam himself as he looked around.
But the others had perked up at Sam screaming deans name, looking around as they just noticed the older Winchester wasn't in the room.
Turning on his heels he rushed to deans room, cas just behind him. Putting his hand to the doorknob and twisting it, his voice loud, "dean!" any other words shriveled up in his throat as he paused and took in dean's room, it was a disaster. Most of the guns on the walls were gone, there was a bulletin board on the wall with a bunch of papers and notes written on it. In the middle of it there was a picture of the Avengers, for some reason..., and another of a guy? A purple one.
Stepping into the room, sam looked around, looking around with a closer eye, he saw how dusty everything in the room was, dean obviously hasn't been here in awhile.
"Cas, where's dean?" Sam had let out, turning and looking at cas who was still standing in doorway. Looking around in confusion and irritation, as if he could bring the exact coordinates of where dean was, magically appear.
"I don't know.." cas had softly let out, turning and looking back as he saw the others had arrived at deans door. "Oh dear,.. He's gone?" Rowena had softly let out bringing a hand up to her mouth in mocked horror, "I'm sure he's out in a hunt! He'll be back soon!" the mocked horror in her voice had dissipated fast and she had waved her hand at them as she turned to leave. "He hasn't been here" Sam voice called out, making Rowena pause. Turning her head she called out, "what do you mean?"
"His room. It's dusty and obviously not used in a long time, he hasn't been here in awhile" Sam had voiced out, struggling to keep his voice calm and not start pacing around in panic. "Sam's right, dean clearly hasn't been here"cas's deep voice had wavered, as he stared at the empty room, wishing dean would show up and surprise them, laughing and telling them it's a prank as he pointed at their faces.
"We have to find where he-" cas was about to suggest a few things on what to do, and how to find dean when they heard the bunker door opened. Pausing, and turning to look at the others for a moment, they all shared a look. All rushing out of dean's room,besides Rowena and Crowley who shared a look before following the two,and to the front of the bunker to see who had opened the door. Sam and cas hoped for it to be dean, coming back from a hunt holding up a bag of fast food for him to eat, maybe a little bruised up but that was normal.
Reaching the stairs that lead up to the door, all of them paused, staring at the person there in shock. Fucking. Clint Hawkeye Barton was in the bunker. After staring at Hawkeye in shock and awe Sam had barley registered Hawkeye said something, "-am?" cas's voice snapped him out of whatever trance Sam was in"Hawkeye.. What-what are you-doing here?" a grin was spreading on Sam's face. One of the Avengers was in the bunker for some reason?
"You guys are Sam, cas, jack, Rowena and crowley right?" Hawkeye had asked, a certain look in his eye, as he descends down the stairs to the main floor, taking the final step towards the others as Sam answers, "yeah-thats us" his voice going from admiration to confusion.
Clint hasn't looked anyone in the eye, staring slightly down at the floor. Before taking the risk and making his eyes meet with the tallest one, Sam Winchester. Dean had shown him photos of him. Basically bragging about him.
-----------
"Hey, this is my brother! Sam" dean had said as he basically shoved the phone into Clint's face. Bringing a hand up to shove the phone a little far from him, getting an actual clear look at the picture, "does he ever cut his hair?" was the first question put of Clint's mouth before he could stop himself. Dean huffed out a laugh, turning the phone and pulling it closer to him to stare at the picture.
"I've tried talking into letting me cut it for him but he's always refused" dean replied as he shaked his head, a fond smile on his face.
Clint had smiled as he asked another question about Sam, which sent dean on a while tirade about him. Dean sounded like a proud father of his son, his son who got into Stanford, who was able to leave the hunting life even if it was for awhile, and how smart he was.
Clint stared at deans face, which looked proud of his own brother, even as he complained that his little brother was taller than him.
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"Wow, he was not lying when he said you were taller" Clint muttered out, staring at Sam. Which made Sam confused.
Reaching towards Sam, he brought him into a hug. Sam, who paused as soon as he registered the Hawkeye was reaching for a hug, slowly let his arms reach around to pat Clint in the back, still confused.
"I'm sorry."
The words made Sam pause. Pulling away to stare at Hawkeye. "Excuse me?" Sam, who was now baffled, asked. Confused as to what Hawkeye himself has to apologize for.
Clint let his arms let go of the younger winchester, but Sam hasn't let go of him, his hands gripping Hawkeyes shoulders. "You noticed dean hasn't been here right?" his voice wavered, but Clint kept a calm demeanor. The others perked up at the mention of deans name, "yeah! Is he-where is he-is he with you?" Sam had stuttered out, relief washed over him as he realized Hawkeye knew dean, which meant dean should be safe. Right?
Cas had felt that something was off. Since this man had entered there was something off with him, and the fact he knew dean was something that interested him, considering the fact dean would have certainly mentioned him and his bow and arrow? Narrowing his eyes at the mysterious man, he asked, "who are you? And where is dean? How do you know him?" furrowing his brows as he glared at the man, who Sam was still gripping. Slightly reaching into his trenchcoat in order to reach for his angel blade, in case the man felt he was in danger and decided to act hostile, or even try to attack.
"Right, sorry, dean told me about you. The angel. I'm clint barton, also known as Hawkeye." clint had introduced himself to the angel, castiel, his mind informed him. Reaching his hand towards castiel to shake hands when he was interrupted," where is dean, and how do you know him. " castiel voice had a dangerous undertone in it. Clint let out a sigh," listen I can explain everything, you all came back from dust right?"
Seeing everyone's shocked faces, and hesitant nods, Clint explained further, "listen 5 years ago, thanos acquired all the infinity stones and snapped, making half of the population disappear, you guys were with the 50% that Disappeared, fortunately we were able to bring back everyone, even though some sacrifices had to happen.." at the last part Clint had lowered his voice, but loud enough to still be heard.
Sam had felt some anger rush through him, he obviously knew dean, and what did he mean by the last part? "Where is dean." Sam had demanded. His brows furrowed as he narrowed his eyes at Clint, making him pause before he can explain anything else.
"I'm so sorry, he-he jumped before I could stop him." Clint had stuttered out, he still remembered the last words dean had told him,
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"Hey." dean had coughed out, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth from the fight,"your gonna get back with them alright? And tell Sam and cas I'm sorry." dean let his words fall out, and with just a few left he took steps closer to the edge, "tell them not to worry, and that I love them, promise me that." now on the edge of the cliff, dean stared at Clint, desperately.
Clint grunted from where he layed, he had given up on trying to convince dean not to do this. All he could do now was just promise him, "yeah... I promise, dean" Clint muttered out. Dean muttered a small, "thank you" loud enough for Clint to hear before he took the final step back and plummeted to the ground. Clint held in his breath as he waited, for dean to actually be dead now. Hearing him fall , and the sickening crunch of deans body as he finally landed on the floor, brought nauseating feeling to Clint.
Finally getting the strength to get up he stared at red skull. Who now held up a hand towards Clint. As Clint let his hand go forward right under red skull's, the protecter had let his fingers relax and drop the stone onto Clint's waiting hand, before turning around and returning to where he was before. Clint can't do anything but stare at the stone. The soul stone. The stone dean sacrificed himself for.
Bringing the stone closer to his face as he closes his fingers and let his other hand cover eachother, there was one thought in Clint's mind.
It should've been him.
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Sam had stared at Clint. Rage rushing through him." what do you mean he jumped? Where is my BROTHER?" Sam had his voice dangerously low at the start before he started raising his voice to yelling. Normally Sam would be calm, and would never think about raising his voice towards anyone, especially not an avenger. But he had just heard dean had supposedly "jumped" how was he supposed to react?
"We were collecting the stones, the same stones that thanks used in order to bring everyone back. Me and dean partnered up for the soul stone, it required two people. The consequence was to sacrifice someone, a soul for a soul. Dean-he jumped." Clint muttered out. Not waiting for Sam to say anything before he continued, "I tried to stop him, but. I promised him to tell you that he was sorry, not to worry and that he loved you." Clint had finally let out. Sam had stared at Clint, baffled before he leaned back, raised his fist, and struck Clint in the face.
As Clint staggered back, Sam yelled," he's not dead! He can't be! We're gonna bring him back!" letting out some blood that was inside his cheek, Clint responded," you can't."Sam had glared at him," what do you mean? " demanded Sam, as Clint raised his head to look at Sam," the protector of the stone had specifically told us we can't get brought back. "
That had made Sam pause." so you-what-sacrificied? My brother?" anger was full on visible in his tone, and body language.
"I tried to stop him!" Clint had yelled before Sam could continue on. "I did! Believe me Sam! I really fucking tried!" Tears in Clint's eyes had Sam blankly staring at him. Reaching into his pocket pulling out a piece of paper."Here, dean told me on how you admired the avengers so he got you autographs from all.... I'm sorry Sam, it should've been me" Clint had said as he handed the paper to Sam, staring for a few seconds at Sam, who looked at his face then down to the paper as he hesitantly grabbed the paper and stared at it
There was a small note of writing, in painstakingly familiar writing, it was deans. Reading the note in his head he could almost hear deans voice.
'Hey Sammy, never thought I wouldve met the avengers but here I am! Yeah, I know how much you adore these guys, and I have to say for people with a bunch of trauma and not the best communication, their not that bad. Got these autographs for you, you better accept them, I swallowed my pride and asked them all. Take care Sammy,
-dean'
As he lifted his head,his gaze seeing Clint heading up the stairs to the door and heading out. Staring at the closed door, he registered the end of Clint's sentence. 'It shouldve been me'. And he couldnt help but feel anger, if he hadn't met the avengers, he wouldn't have sacrificed himself. HIS brother. Dean could've been there when he and everyone else came back and hugged him just like every single time they've almost died, or did die. No. He's getting dean back.
"Cas, come." Sam had barked out, turning and heading to the books, hearing cas's footsteps trailing behind.
Cas had felt rage upon hearing dean sacrificed himself, the times dean had died or almost died flashed through his mind, certainly way too many to count. But he'd be damned if dean didn't always come back, maybe some drawbacks happened. But they always fixed that, dean always became himself again. And they were going to bring him back again. He won't stay dead, not when cas has many things to tell him.
Crowley, and Rowena stared at Sam and cas's back, as they started filtering through books that could be of use to bring dean back. "Oh.. Never seen Samuel act like that" Rowena had let out a sigh of relief, there was some heavy tension in the air from both Sam and cas as they had registered deans death, and it was heard to breathe. "I should start looking for his soul in hell" Crowley muttered out, raising his eyebrows as he stared at his feet, he and dean certainly weren't close, but they had their moments. "Don't try dear, I've heard rumors about the soul stone sacrifice" Rowena said as she let her eyes leave the angel and the younger winchester to her son. Her smile widened as she whispered so only Crowley could hear, "the soul of the person sacrificed is so tightly guarded in some pocket dimension, it will be one bloody hell of a ride to even find where it is, not to mention even getting in to get the soul of our poor winchester." with that she turned and swiftly started walking away, eager to figure out just what she had missed in her leave of abscense.
Crowley stared at her disappearing form. Before turning and looking at the angel and winchester who were in a deep discussion about some lore about souls and sacrifices. Swearing slightly under his breathe so no one but him could hear, and he dreaded the next few days, maybe even years of a desperate winchester and angel to get dean back.
"Bloody hell"