2 Interlude Clint
Clint sat staring at the green ball.
Thor was honest. Loki might be lying, but Thor was very straightforward and was clearly on their side despite Loki being his brother. If the ball was real, what will Loki get have of it? What's the catch? Will he demand something for his protection? Maybe eternal work for him? Or something similar? Clint would like to call Laura, ask her what she thought about it, but he couldn't.
There were Stark's cameras everywhere and his goddamn AI.
Clint would like to go back to the farm. He never liked this project A.V.E.N.G.E.R.S. Fury was obsessed with it, and Clint really just wanted to pay off Shield (after all, they raised him and assured him that he had to pay them off with work if he refused to go to jail for debts) and live with his family; to be a good husband and father, but the world needed him. Maybe he wasn't a super soldier, he didn't turn into a mighty Hulk, he didn't have a brilliant brain, he wasn't a Norse god, or a master at spying. He was just an archer. He had a keen eye and could shoot well. Unlike Fury, he saw the door could open two side.
Loki appreciated him too.
Loki killed people very fast.
However, he spared him. He brainwashed him, but for a second Clint was grateful that he hadn't sank the scepter into his heart.
He did not make Laura a widow and the children half-orphans.
You have heart.
That's what Loki said.
Clint knew he couldn't tell anyone that. How would Fury and Nat be looking at him if they knew he was grateful to Loki? Clint respected of him a little? Mind control was weird. Virtually nothing has changed in it. He was practically the same. In addition to loyalty. Even his fight against Nat was weak. He did not fight with all his might. He didn't want to kill her. Loki's orders were simple. Protect, prepare a plan, find materials, find the people you need. Nothing wicked. Even the plan with the eye was his idea. Until hell started in New York.
Maybe that's why Clint immediately started asking Nat if he'd killed anyone.
Because he knew that if Shield had known that he was actually mostly himself, they would never forgive him.
Loki called them liars and killers, that's what Nat told him.
He was right. Clint was just an orphan which Shield took not because of goodness of heart, but because of his skill.
Laura and the children were protected, but they were also a bargaining chip.
The scary thing was that Loki, the alien from outer space, tyrant, killer of innocents who unleashed hell in New York was more forgiving than the Shield. He never screamed or rushed, understood that some things take time. And he never mentioned a word about his family. Although he knew about her. He could even free Clint and threaten him that if he didn't obey Loki, he would kill his family. He didn't, yeah as Shield did.
Such thoughts were forbidden. Loki was angry and they had to stop him.
The green ball was beautiful. Lila would immediately use it to play. Cooper too. Laura would use it as ornament.
Then the meeting began. Stark came, followed by Banner. Then Rogers, Thor, and Nat. All 6 Avengers was in room. Fury and Hill came in behind them. Both they were holding tablets and whispering to each other.
Clint was tired of all of this.
If they weren't going to let the Hulk go, Loki would sneak out again. They didn't stand a chance. Especially since now Loki had that Sylvie ally who too can control minds. The worst part was that they were completely blind for Loki's plans. The army was destroyed. What was Loki planning to do now? Clint remembered reading the files about what Red Skull had done with the tesseract. And he was only mortal. What can a Norse god do with it? Almost everything.
"The situation looks like this. The readings were observed after Loki escaped from Sylvie. They have not changed until now. They cover the entire surface of the Earth. All organisms, water, air, every city, even the smallest atom. World scientists are going crazy and we had to silence them. Doctor Jane Foster and her assistant Darcy Lewis are currently flying to us to help us with this, "Fury said.
Thor visibly perked up at that.
"You can't bring Jane here! Loki promised me he would hurt her!" Thor shouted.
"Is it really right to involve civilians?" Clint asked.
"We have no other options. Unless one of you persuades Hank Pym to help us," Fury replied.
"Hank Pym? Good luck with that, I tried to convince him to cooperate myself. My dad clearly alienated him because he never replied to any invitation and he said if I didn't leave him alone he would sue me, "Stark replied.
Clint was sick of this; they knew nothing. They had no options. Natasha was still pouting that Thor hadn't told them Loki had the title of Master of Magic and uses magic unknown to other magic users because of the killed witches. Clint felt there was more to this story. An unknown creature? It sounded unreliable. Maybe it's worth trying the ball. See what Loki does. Stark was still commenting on Pym's rudeness, and Clint looked around discreetly. Natasha was focused on Banner. According to her, only he could stop Loki. She had to keep an eye on him. She was afraid that Loki will somehow throw Banner out of the game. Only now worse, because he had a personal conflict with Hulk. Thor was still outraged that it was a mistake to bring Jane Foster. Banner remained silent and tried not to get involved in quarrels. Rogers too. Hill was still looking at the readings as Fury tried to curb the situation somehow.
The truth was, they weren't a band.
They were a jumble of different people with different temperaments. It's a miracle that they even managed to defeat Loki the first time.
This team had as many as three members who aspired to be the leader. Stark, Rogers and Thor.
Natasha did not trust them. Banner clearly wanted to disappear again. What about himself?
Who was he?
A mere archer among gods, superhumans, geniuses?
Clint smashed the ball.
Loki in golden armor appeared almost at the same moment. He looked pale. Almost the same as when he reached Shield base. He narrowed his eyes and clearly it was evident that he was asleep before Clint summoned him. The Avengers pounced on him, but it was another illusion. Clint was just standing there. He didn't move. He didn't draw his bow. Loki reappeared. Again, the Avengers were fooled. Another illusion.
Suddenly Clint felt someone grab his arm. Loki.
Clint couldn't break free from his grasp. Good thing Loki didn't break his collarbone.
They disappeared into the blue-gray smoke of the tesseract.