Being an Avenger wasn’t something easy. The problems came with the job and the term superhero. Actually agreeing on being an Avenger was the first problem. After that you got confronted with other problems. Starting for example with the good looking Captain from the 40s, getting into a relationship with him and then getting teased with that by the billionaire of the team (and everyone else). Surely not that much of a problem if you viewed it this way. To be honest this wasn’t a huge problem for Clint anyways. He could stand Tony’s teases normally. And being with Steve was a win win situation anyways.
Well it was a different situation when you were in the same split team with certain Captain while flying into space and then having the spaceship crashing on an unknown planet without any methods to contact the team for help.
As a sudden this happened to Clint. Not that he disliked spending time with his boyfriend. It was just a little bit different when you were both alone on this unknown planet. The spaceship was completely broken. All of the individual parts were spread in a 20 meters radius. There wasn’t a real chance to bring them all together to fix it. Otherwise said. They had no way to escape on their own.
The only chance of coming back home was due to this random planet. But it didn’t look useful in the slightest.The ground looked like it was made out of dust. It was really dirty. It wasn’t covered as well. Neither grass nor rocks.
Just the dirty dust. And if you looked around there wasn’t anything else. It was like a dust desert.
Therefore there weren’t any real chances for food or even water. Clint didn’t think that something could live on this planet. Besides it having oxygen so they could breathe. They’d be dead in minutes if here wasn’t an atmosphere that hold oxygen.
“We just have to view it positively”, explained Steve. In all of his Captain America manner he stood up and looked expressionless at the broken spaceship. He was very likely to act like that. Clint would love to view this positively. Really. He just didn’t find something positive in this. And he hoped deeply that Steve didn’t mean that they got to explore another planet.
Clint sighed and walked next to Steve. He looked down at the chaos.
“Steve”, he said slowly. “Do you think the last signal reached them?”
Clint knew that Steve didn’t know that. Right now he just needed that sort of comfort before the realization would hit that they were stuck on a planet and could die here.
Steve turned around to Clint. A positive smile spread on his lips. It didn’t reach his eyes. He wrapped his arms around Clint. Clint accepted the hug instantly and rested his head on Steve’s shoulder. Steve was always warm. The serum kept his body heated. And Clint loved this warmth. It couldn’t fill out his inner empty cold. But it was something familiar.
Clint wasn’t that type of person to sit around and did nothing else than accepting their loss. He decided that they should explore this planet for their needs now. They wouldn’t survive long without any water or food. Also it was very cold here in general. Clint took Steve’s hand. He was very glad that he was here at least. Although he couldn’t build another spaceship for them, Steve wouldn't give up and he was someone Clint trusted by his heart.
“Let’s see what we’ll find here”, he said now in a similar voice than Steve. Steve agreed with a nod. In his face Clint could see that Steve already thought about the worst case scenario as well. The worst thing about this scenario was that Clint would probably die before Steve due to his normal body.
Steve had to watch Clint dying without being able to do anything to avoid it. Clint really didn't want to bring Steve this torture.
Clint realized that it was pointless to think about that. He could use this energy for searching and thinking how to survive. He stayed really close to Steve while they walked about the ground. Therefore he felt warmer on this cold planet and the hope wouldn't leave him.
Unfortunately the food they had in their spaceship was destroyed and the only thing left was some water from Clint’s bottle.
“This looks like a path”, Steve mentioned and pointed with his free hand to dust which looked like it was filled with footsteps. Clint didn't know if it was good or bad that livings seemed to live here. He decided for the good. Although the footsteps were way bigger than the usual.
“Should we follow it?”he asked and Steve agreed. Luckily he was optimistic. It took about 15 more minutes until they found something interesting. Cint guessed that it took about 15 minutes. They had nothing that could tell them the time. And Thor mentioned once that time worked differently at certain places. It was weird that 200 years could've passed on earth. But that didn’t happen, right?
The interesting thing was a tree. It wasn’t a kind of tree they knew. Not an oak or a birch. The wood was nearly black and the leaves had the coulour of pink chewing gum. It didn’t quite fit in the dusty, empty nature they saw. Also the fact that it was right next to the path. Which ended there.
“Is that a tree?” Steve asked. He didn’t let go of Clint's hand as he took a closer look. “Apparently yes,” Clint answered. It was definitely wood and some leaves were on the ground under it.
Steve touched the wood with his bare hand and slowly went over it. His face expression was similar to the one Steve had when admiring Clint. Did it feel that good to touch the tree? Maybe it was hopeful or it Steve things that could help them
A ridiculous idea actually. It was just a tree after all.
“And why does the path end here?”Steve asked again. His finger still brushing over the bark.
It was very weird. The whole atmosphere was weird. Clint made eye contact with Steve to point out that he had no clue either. The pain and desperation Clint recognized in Steve’s eyes broke his heart. He had never seen the other man so helpless. It seemed that he was faking his whole positivity.
Clint went in for another hug and pulled Steve back a little bit from the mysterious thing. Suddenly he realized that he wasn’t so sad at all. Before they found the tree he felt a little bit positive that they'd manage their way back. And this look didn’t fit Steve as well. And he had touched the tree. Was there something magic about it?
He pulled Steve back and instantly felt a relief. There was something. As he leaned back he recognized Steve’s mood change.
“That was weird. Does it change how we feel?” Steve wondered. The curiosity had him as he tried to get closer again.
“Hey!” Clint said louder and pulled Steve again. The thing was definitely playing with them. Steve never was that careless. “Let’s go back Steve.”
But Steve didn't really listen. His eyes were filled with curiosity. Unfortunately Clint was weaker than Steve. He still managed to pull him away. This led to Steve actually wasn’t himself right now and wanted Clint to pull him back.
That really scared Clint now. Who knew what else this planet would hold?Steve didn’t seem to get back now. His eyes were still dreamy. Clint hesitated. Normally this was the point of bringing Steve back to reality with a hit or something. But maybe this tree could affect Steve so that he would try to defeat himself. So Clint slowly took the shield in case Steve had ideas and then hit Steve’s cheek.
Steve now looked around. “What was that for?”, he asked calmly, abut confused. His look now on his shield as he realized something happened.
“You touched that tree and then looked very desperate and didn’t want to leave”, Clint explained. “It was very scary actually. Then I hit you to wake Steve Rogers.”
Steve seemed to understand. It was weird. Again Clint thought of the weird atmosphere, the aura the tree had. So desperate to stay there and just give up.
“I just suggested that we follow the path in the other direction. There could be something useful”, Clint said. He grabbed Steve’s hand tighter. The thought of actually losing him was really scary. Especially to a goddam tree. Although it was more likely to happen the other way around if the situation stayed like this.
“There is something”, Steve shouted happily. The more they got away from the tree the happier he got. Clint would say that another 40 minutes had passed where they just went in silence, stuck in their own thoughts before something happened. This time the unordinary thing looked better. As they found the origin of the foot steps. Little houses made out of bricks were built. Clint counted eight.
“What if they aren’t harmless?”, Clint warned. They were on a planet where a tree manipulated them. But Steve already considered that as he put his shield out and walked slower. With a sigh he let go of Clint's hand so Clint had access to his weapons as well.
Clint would call the creatures a mixture of birds and humans. In the same chewing gum pink as the leaves were. Three examples walked out of their house. They were all slightly taller than Steve and had wings.
The one in the middle started to chirp. Clint couldn’t tell whether it was friendly or aggressive.
Steve seemed to be sure about it. He kneeled down, put his shield back on his back and looked at the ground. Clint thought that it was over but the humanbird stopped chirping and spread his arms.
“What the fuck Steve”,Clint whispered.
“Copy me”
“Why?”
“Barton”, this was the signal for Clint to kneel down as well. Steve seemed to have a plan. Otherwise he wouldn’t talk in his strict Cap voice. However he got his hands on a plan.
More humanbirds stepped out of the buildings. They all were taller than Steve. Clint noticed how they looked really majestic and elegant with all of their feathers. The biggest one stepped forwards and greeted Steve with a handshake? Clint remained in silence. That was weird.
Steve stood up again and pulled Cint up as well. What was going on here? The humanbird now offered his wingarm to Clint. With a short questioning look to Steve he accepted the offer to greet it. Now every humandbird started to chirp.
Luckily Steve decided to tell Clint what was going on.
“Rocket once told me what that is. They are called Chuppers. And very friendly and helpful. They just need everything to be very polite. Otherwise they could kill us in seconds. So smile a bit and bowing could help as well. They could help us get back to earth.” Clint decided to believe Steve and put on a smile. Which wasn’t as difficult as he expected since Steve said back to earth. In the last hour he couldn’t figure out how they would manage to do that.
The Chupper looked satisfied and invited him with a gesture in one of their houses. Clint was still questioning this. There was this tree. Steve didn’t see his endless desperation. But it would be dumb not to aknowledge Steve’s knowledge about them. He trusted him after all.
Inside was the house bigger than it looks from outside. An old looking Chupper was sitting on a chair. “What a celebration”, he said and made Clint shake completely. Why did this guy know English?
Steve didn’t seem as surprised and Clint remembered that he should be polite. So he smiled. He was pretty sure that Steve would talk.
“I can only give it back. Very nice to see you all”, Steve spoke slowly and he stressed every letter. Were they bad in hearing? Clint grinned as they had something in common then.
“How did you get here, fellows?” the Chupper asked.
Steve looked like he was in a press conference. Very friendly and polite. Overly friendly and polite. Even for a guy from the 40s. Clint loved that look. It was hot as fuck as he knew that Steve would love to make they just shutting up.
“Our spaceship broke down. We were looking around for something that could help us. We aren’t used to space travel”, Steve explained in this weird voice.
Clint decided that it was good to nodd. The Chupper that got them in looked at him like he was an Alien. Theoretically he was an alien for him and that was kinda cool. And weird. The whole thing was weird.
“We would be pleased to help you out. We already found your spaceship and two of our smartest engineers already repaired it.” Repaired? Clint didn’t trust his ears. How smart were they? How could they repair an unknown structure in an hour?
“Really?”Steve lost himself for a moment and was extremely surprised.
“That’s very friendly. Thank you very much. We didn’t expect that it was repairable. These two must be very smart”, Clint said and bowed shortly as a thankful gesture. That was probably better than what Steve did. He received a short and thankful glance from Steve.
“No problem. I will tell them how thankful you were. We can offer some proviants. You must be really hungry. It had been ages where you were here. We saw the sinking ship in our atmosphere two weeks ago.”
Two weeks? Clint was confused. Based on what concept of time? They couldn’t walk for two week straight. Especially in this cold and without drinking or sleeping anything.
The Chupper started to chirp now. It felt like a laugh?
“You guys from earth are so sweet. Time works differently everywhere” Clint saw a smile. Okay? He guessed they wouldn’t be told more. But he was right about some proviants. Clint was actually hungry.
Nothing was said anymore. The Chupper left and the other Chupper got them out. Clint still tried to process the news. He looked at Steve.
“That went good I guess”, he whispered. Clint could agree. Better than nothing.
Outside their spaceship was built up and got filled with weird kinds of fruits and water. Good? Clint was curious about how they would taste. But now wasn’t the time to wonder about that.
“Sorry for them. They are really teasing towards lower creatures. You spent most of the time while you were touching that tree. It is impressive that you both managed to get out of that. Even we are usually stuck there for quite some time.” He could speak English as well? The accent was birdier. (That word amused Clint at one point.) But he was very understanding.
The Chupper led them to their ship. Nearly dragged them both. They were really strong. “Please leave us a message when you come home. It was a pleasure to have you here.” Then the doors closed.
Visible confusion spread on their faces. “Okay what just happened?”
Steve shook his shoulders and then pulled him in for a deep hug.
“But we won’t starve there.”
Clint smiled at this attitude. Steve was always optimistic . He didn’t question a tree that had them for about two weeks. He was just happy to be with Clint. Here. And to be honest Clint was as well.
After that hug Clint felt warmer again. The planet was actually cold and Steve was so warm. They decided that it would be best to let the other Avengers know that they are alive and would come soon. Hopefully it would happen.
They activated the ship and it was like nothing happened. Clint sent a message. An instant reply with a kind of video call followed.
Tony and Bruce were seeable on the monitor. Both seemed really shocked.
“You are alive!”Tony shouted euphorically. He pointed in the camera.
“We had no signal anymore. What happened?” He sounded really excited and relieved. It was nice for Clint to see that they were missed that much.
“Our ship broke, Chuppers helped us and we were stuck in a tree. We will come as soon as possible”, Steve explained shortly. Now they looked as confused as they felt.
“Perfect”, Tony said smilingly. “Sure that you didn’t spend the whole time on doing something else?” His facial expression revealed what he was thinking about.
Clint sighed. He wouldn’t say it outloud but he missed Tony a little bit. Meanwhile Bruce turned to Tony.
“Tony!”, he said, so shocked that Clint started to giggle.
“See ya guys”, he said and broke the connection.
Now that they were alone again Clint started to feel the two weeks. He was starving and wanted to sleep. “Let’s put it on autopilot,” he suggested.
“and cuddle”, Steve added smilingly.
Looking in this pure face Clint knew how much he loved that man.