Home life
In Avengers: Age of Ultron [2015], Clint is seen fighting alongside his teammates at the start of the film. He takes out one of the bunkers, with ONE arrow!!
When he’s badly injured, ALL of the team watches over him, and Tony ensures he gets the best care. His playful banter with Natasha is so sweet to see, and you can see the love between them just from their looks to each other [as well as their smiles].
When they have the party later, the joking and playful banter between the whole team is heart-warming – such as trying to lift Thor’s hammer.
Clint Barton: [drunk] "Whosoever, be he worthy, shall have the power", whatever man! It's a trick!
Thor: It is more than that, my friend!
Tony Stark: [the Avengers take turns to lift Thor's hammer] Clint, you've had a tough week. We won't hold it against ya if you can't get it up.
Throwing Steve's shield with expert precision, I'll hang back and look smug.
Later, when Wanda Maximoff tries to sneak up to “mind-control” him, he sees / sense’s her coming and is able to stop her attack, just pointing it out – she snuck up on Stark, Thor and Natasha – Steve was down already so I’ll give him a pass.
The incident left the whole team shaken, so Clint took the lead and took them all somewhere that was A HUGH ASS risk to himself and those he loves – he took the team to recuperate at his home, with his pregnant wife Laura and children, Cooper and Lila.
Steve Rogers: Sorry for barging in on you.
Tony Stark: Yeah, we would have called ahead, but we were busy having no idea that you existed.
Clint: Yeah, well Fury helped me set this up when I joined. He kept it off SHIELD's files, I'd like to keep it that way. I figure it's a good place to lay low.
Natasha [the only one who knew] was already a prominent part of their lives as Lila sked “Did you bring Auntie Nat?”, hugging her happily and later painting her a picture.
And when talking to Laura, Nat fondly touched her belly and asked, “How’s little Natasha?” – Further showing the whole families love for her that they would name their child after her. They had to compromise though, as it’s a boy: Nathaniel.
I see the whole point of the “family arch” as the most human thing to happen. How many men and women balance a home and work life??
I saw some posts saying Clint is selfish, and he’s endangering his family by being an Avenger and having a family at home?
BULLSHIT!
As stated before, it’s the most human and realistic aspect presented over the course of the films – You can, and should be able to have both – and not be shamed by trolls who have nothing better to do than be negative and abusive [look it up, people can be vile]
He represents the human side of the Avengers and what they fight for.
Clint’s protectiveness is shown further while talking to his wife about the Maximoff twins – saying they are kids, punks really, and they should be taught some manners. He doesn’t say this nastily or is anger [revenge for himself or Nat] I see it as him speaking as a father.
His and Laura’s relationship is beautiful. She’s shown to be smart, kind, understanding and encouraging. [just pointing out, basically every other romantic relationship over the course of the films has no way the level of communication that these two do] – [please leave a note if you think different]
L: You know I support your Avenging. I couldn’t be prouder.
She notes that most of the team are “God’s” – literally in Thor’s case.
C: You don’t think they need me?
L: I think they do, which is a whole lot scarier. They are a mess.
C: [sighs] Yeah. I guess they are my mess.
His commitment to all those around him mirror’s together, from his wife and children to his teammates.
His love for Natasha can almost outweigh his duty, shown when he’s flying the jet to get the Cradle, and she’s taken.
His panicked, and asks repeatedly where she is, while being ordered to get the Cradle away. He follows the order, but doesn’t do it blindly.
While she’s missing, he shows another skill – he picks up her Morse code message over the radio. [I tried to learn Morse code… it’s nuts!] Mad difficult so commitment is shown.
Later, when the Maximoff twins arrive with Steve, Clint shot a bullet though the floor when Pietro was standing [he could have killed him, as he wasn’t in the room, I don’t know if he heard they switched side yet] – he playfully taunted Pietro, using the quip he said to him on their first encounter, “You didn’t see that coming”.
During the Battle of Sokovia, Clint and Wanda took refuge and had to hide in a house. Clint was able to calm Wanda down, shoot arrows to take out the Ultron robots, stay calm AND provide Wanda [who’s terrified] with some home-truths, but without being harsh or mean.
C: Hey. Hey, you okay?
W: This is all our fault.
C: Hey, look at me. It's your fault, it's everyone's fault, who cares. Are you up for this? Are you? Look, I just need to know cause the city is flying. Ok, look, the city is flying, we're fighting an army of robots, and I have a bow and arrow. None of this makes sense. But I'm going back out there cause it's my job. Ok, and I can't do my job and babysit. Doesn't matter what you did, or what you were. If you go out there, you fight and you fight to kill. Stay in here, you're good. I'll send your brother to come find you. But if you step out that door, you are an Avenger. All right, good chat.
He goes back to fight, and his heart-felt talk proves affective as Wanda quickly joins him.
What’s great is that he gives her the option to hide and wait for her brother. He understands she's scared and doesn't want to push her. He really is a good person.
Also, his dry humour is always a joy: Case and point.
Pietro: [speeding off with Wanda] Keep up, old man!
Hawkeye: [Draws his bow and points it at Pietro's back] Nobody would know. Nobody. "The last I saw him, Ultron was sitting on him. Uh... yeah, he'll be missed. That quick little bastard. I miss him already..." [Jogs after them]
Clint managed to make it to one of the carriers, and despite having his family back home to get back to, he still left it’s safety to save a young boy. When they were shot at, he turned and USED HIS OWN BODY as a shield to protect the child, I mean how freaking selfless is that!! He himself was saved at Pietro saved them both, dying in the process :-(
He ensured Pietro was not left behind, and his body was taken to the carrier by the team – the area was about to be obliterated, and he helped save his body [for Wanda I assume].
He later returned home, taking retirement to be with his family – and Natasha saw a video from him with their new son: Nathaniel Pietro Barton. [a lovely honour and tribute].
The overall consensus of the film is you can be a hero is many ways:
• Saving someone
• Putting your safety at risk to help another
• Not giving up
• Being a parent
• Being a teammate
• Being a friend
• Being supportive
Clint Barton is all of these things.
His character arch wasn’t “a waste” or “pointless”.
Many so called fans were pissed off that his connection with Natasha wasn’t romantic [it is in come comic variations]
SO FREAKING WHAT!
She’s his best friend, his confidante, his partner and teammate, why is sex so damn important?
Men and women can just be friends, and I am glad they aren’t together. It makes their connection so much more prominent.
Clint Barton is real. He’s human and real… and that’s simply beautiful to see.