Chapter 2
Clint really wished he would stop getting into situations like this.
But this time it was especially bad. He never did like being deprived of his senses. The first time he'd realized he was practically deaf he'd had a fit about it. Thankfully, it hadn't been permanent once he'd been given hearing aids by Shield.
Unfortunately, they were easily knocked out of his ears when he was fighting. Which was exactly what had happened.
Clint usually always fought from a distance with a bow and arrow as that's what he specialized in. This time, he'd been up in the rafters of the ceiling of an abandoned insane asylum (which was always fun. Thankfully, he didn't believe in ghosts), picking off the robots fighting his friends. The robots were small, more to cause an annoyance or distraction while the villain tried to get away which, sadly, seemed to be working.
Luckily, Clint had always had a keen eye and had seen their villain of the week slipping through a doorway at the end of the hall.
He had leaped down into the chaos and took off after Stark, bursting through the door he'd disappeared into. It was dark in the room, far too dark to make out anything which made it all the more easier for the android robot to slam into the back of his head, knocking him out cold.
When he'd woken, the first thing he'd noticed was that he was tied to a chair. He could feel the rope rubbing against his bound arms to the armrests, his ankles tied to the legs of the chair.
The second thing he'd realized was he was blindfolded. He couldn't see anything besides black. The blindfold wasn't tight but wasn't loose either and wouldn't be easy to get off.
The third and most important thing he noticed was that he could no longer hear his friends fighting. He couldn't hear the sounds of battle or whirring robot sounds. In fact, he couldn't hear anything. He couldn't make out the sound of his own harsh breathing, nor anything around him though he sensed there was someone with him.
He hated to admit it, but he was afraid. It was one thing to be unable to see his captor though he had a pretty good idea who it was. It was another to not be able to hear them coming. It scared the shit out of him to not be prepared for whatever came next.
Clint flinched back when someone's knuckles brushed over his cheek, cursing aloud and attempted to turn his head away from the touch. His heart rate picked up, thudding in his chest and had to force back a whimper fighting to leave his mouth.
Forcing himself not to shout or scream, he spoke as calmly as he thought he could though he doubted he sounded calm at all. "Take the blindfold off!"
Okay, he hadn't been planning to say that. But still, he would need it off to communicate with Stark as he was sure that's who had him tied up.
There was a long pause when he thought he'd left before a hand was on the back of his head and the blindfold was pulled off.
Clint blinked the spots out of his eyes at the sudden light, looking up into curious golden brown eyes. Sure enough, Tony stood in front of him.
He said something so fast that Clint almost missed it.
'Are you hurt?'
Clint mouth parted, unsure how to respond. Surely he'd gotten it wrong. Why the hell would Tony, a villain, care if he was hurt or not? Unless he was messing with him. Perhaps the tone was meant to be mocking. Clint couldn't tell as he couldn't hear it.
Nevertheless, Clint was pretty grumpy from being tied up and rendered blind and deaf at the same time. And when he was grumpy he tended to get a bit pissy.
"Yeah, just fucking peachy, don't you know? Always feel great after having a metal robot smacked against my head," Clint seethed, trying his arms but finding the rope wouldn't break under force.
Tony grimaced, shaking his head. 'That was an accident.'
"Accident my ass," Clint growled.
Tony seemed to sigh as he turned away. Clint saw he was saying something else but couldn't see his lips to read it. Despite himself, Clint didn't like not knowing what was being said.
Obviously Tony didn't know about his deafness otherwise he wouldnt have turned his face away which meant the stupid robot had knocked them out his ears. Clint still didn't think it a good idea to tell Tony of his deafness but it was the only way they'd be able to talk.
"Turn around when you talk to me," Clint mumbled, just loud enough that he was sure Tony heard.
Stark looked over at him, eyebrows knitting together, confused. 'Excuse you?'
After an internal struggle of wondering if it was a good idea to tell his enemy a weakness of his, Clint decided it was better Tony knew so they could at least communicate some. Hopefully he could gather some information from the brunette so the other's would find him if he managed to get away.
"I'm deaf. I can't tell what you're saying unless I can see your lips," Clint explained reluctantly. "Your stupid robot knocked out my hearing aids."
Understanding passed Tony's face and even a little bit of...guilt. There was definitely guilt in his expression. Tony held up his hands and signed what he was saying which did help a ton. It was easier to read signed than read lips.
'I'm sorry. Accident,' Tony signed.
"Yeah, you keep saying that," Clint grumbled but not as annoyed as clearly Tony was going out of his way to make sure Clint understood what he was saying. He was grateful for that at least.
Stark shook his head. 'Robot programmed to protect me. Thought you were a threat.'
"Oh, I am a threat. Don't you dare forget it," Clint said, his words sinister but he guessed his tone didn't match it as Tony smiled. Actually smiled. Like they were friends or something which was absolutely ridiculous.
'Don't doubt it,' Tony signed. 'Why do you think I tied you up?'
"Good point," Clint muttered, tugging his arms but it was in vain. These ropes weren't coming off by force. "What happened to my friends?"
Tony shrugged. 'Still alive. Looking for you.'
"How do you know?" Clint asked, blue eyes narrowing.
Stark didn't seem to notice. 'Eyes. Everywhere.'
Well, that explained a lot considering Stark always seemed to know when they were coming and always made an escape before they caught him. "What do you want from me?"
Tony frowned at this. 'Nothing.'
"But—"
'Told you. Accident,' Tony repeated insistently.
"So," Clint licked his dry lips. "You're not gonna hurt me? Or torture information out of me?"
Tony wrinkled his nose as if disgusted or offended. Clint couldn't decide which. He found it...cute.
Wait, what?!
'Would never,' Tony signed, shaking his head almost violently.
Clint was relieved of course, but was suspicious also. Stark had him at his mercy and yet he did nothing to gain information on the Avengers or Shield? That wasn't how it was meant to go.
Tony bit his lip as if thinking of something before finally signing. 'How come you're deaf?'
Clint flinched as though Tony had tried to hit him. He considered answering the question. He had to remind himself that this man was his enemy, that he shouldn't tell him anything.
Then his eyes drifted to the shine though Stark's shirt. "Only if you tell how you got that," he compromised, nodding towards Tony's chest.
It was Tony's turn to flinch back, taking a step away from Clint as pure fear crossed the geniuses face before a mask of scary calm crossed over it. There was a tense moment when Tony didn't speak a word or move a muscle. Clint wondered if he had finally pushed his luck and Tony was going to shoot his brains all over the wall.
Finally, Tony lifted his hands once more. 'Explosion. Shrapnel in chest. Electromagnet keeps it away from my heart.'
Clint breathed out slowly. He hadn't expected Tony to tell him the truth but it definitely seemed like he was. Clint realized it was his turn to explain and opened his mouth to tell him but he didn't get that far.
The door behind Clint burst open and the Avengers poured in. Clint saw a curse word leave Stark's mouth before he threw something metallic in front of him that expanded out as the villain caught it again, covering his hand like water metal before he took off, throwing open the window across the room and promptly leaped out of it.
Steve raced to the window while Natasha untied Clint, allowing the archer to collapse into her arms as all his adrenaline faded. Thor gave chase to Stark but unfortunately lost him after a good ten minutes.
Once home, Clint walked exhausted into his room at the Avenger compound, kicking off his boots and shrugging off his jacket.
He prepared to flop down on the bed and fall asleep for the next week or so when he saw a small box on his bed. A small note was tapped to it.
Hopefully these will be harder to knock out the next time you fight me. Maybe next time you'll even hear the robot coming.
T.S.
Clint swallowed, opening the box and found two hearing aids nestled in soft purple velvet. The hearing aids were also a dark purple and Clint couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips, knowing the color was like that only because it was his favourite.
Despite knowing it could be a trap or ploy or something along those lines, Clint took them out and fitted them into his ears comfortably. He pressed the button on the side and heard the telltale noise of them starting up.
Instantly noise came back to him, birds chirping outside his open window that blew the sound of a gentle breeze, the curtains rustling from it. Hell, he could even hear his heartbeat thumping in his chest.
This was...amazing. The technology must be the best quality he'd ever had. Not even Shield could make hearing aids as good as these.
Clint looked down at the note before noticing there was more on the back.
P.S. You still owe me an explanation.
Clint had never enjoyed the sound of his own laugh in that moment.