Chapter 2
Clint’s been living at the Avengers tower for six months. Steve and Tony are slowly making some progress with him, although they definitely don’t fully have his trust. Both alpha's knew it would be a long time before Clint has their full trusts. Clint trusts Steve more than Tony, but that’s because Tony doesn't put the same amount of effort to get to know Clint as Steve.
Until one night, when Clint finds himself standing outside of Tony’s lab, where he has learned that Tony spends a lot of time in his lab. Steve always complains about how much time Tony spends in the lab rather than spending time with him or anyone else. Clint can understand how frustrating that can be.
“Jarvis?” Clint asks quietly, glancing up at the ceiling. “Can you…?”
“Certainly. One moment Sir,”
…
“Sir, Agent Barton is standing outside your lab, asking for permission to come in,” Jarvis informs Tony.
“What?” Tony asks, looking up from his current project. He’s been making new arrows for Clint, as Clint has been joining them on more Avenger missions, and Tony wants nothing but the best for his team. “Uh, okay. Let him in I guess. Shit. What is he doing awake at three in the morning?”
“I asked you the same thing twenty minutes ago, Sir,”
Tony scoffs. “Okay, I didn’t ask for your attitude, Jarvis,” he grumbles, looking over when the door opens and Clint walks into the lab. “Clint. What are you doing down here? Shouldn’t you be asleep?”
Clint hesitates before responding, “shouldn’t you be asleep too?”
“Okay, I already have Jarvis and Steve down my neck about my sleeping schedule. I don't need you too,” Tony huffs. “Is there something I can do for you?”
“I- I had a nightmare,” Clint tells him,
“Don’t you usually go to Steve for this sort of stuff?” Tony asks, frowning.
“Steve’s asleep, like a normal human being. Jarvis said you were awake, so I… came down here,” Clint says.
“Well, I’m not so good at the comforting thing. But, maybe I can help get your mind off of whatever nightmare you had. Come and take a look at your new arrows. I’m just doing the finishing touches,” Tony says.
“What? You’re making me new arrows?” Clint asks, his ears perking up. He walks over to Tony’s desk, and his eyes widen when he sees how much fancier and how much cooler these new arrows are compared to the ones he’s been using from SHIELD. “You made these?”
“I make everyone’s equipment on the Avengers team. Aside from Cap’s shield. That was Howard's doing,” Tony tells him. “I want nothing for the best for my team, and since Cap has officially deemed you an Avenger…”
Clint hesitates, before looking over at Tony. “You don’t seem very… happy?”
“About what?” Tony asks, looking up at Clint. “About you being an Avenger? No. You’re a great asset to the team. We’ve been so much better since you’ve been going on missions with us. I’m perfectly okay with Steve making you an official member, and I’m sorry if I made it seem like I wasn’t.”
Clint slowly nods, and looks over at the arrows again. “Can I…?”
Tony nods, gently leaning back in his chair, watching as Clint reaches over to run his fingers over the arrows. “I’ll be finished with them later on today. You can test them out if you want, when I’m finished,”
“Yeah. Th- That would be nice. I would like to.” It’s silent for a moment, before Clint speaks again quietly. “My heat is coming up.” He nervously looks over at Tony. “It’s been six months…”
Tony takes a deep breath. “Way to spring that on someone,” he mumbles.
“I- I’m sorry. I-” Clint frowns, taking a step back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”
“Barton, relax,” Tony warns softly. “I’ll talk to Steve after his morning. We’ll figure something out.” Although, Tony has a feeling one of the two of them will most likely have to help Clint through his heat. Tony’s not comfortable being with an omega, and he’d really not want his husband being with one either, he knows Steve will end up helping him. The two have been bonding, and Steve would be more comfortable helping Clint. Tony’s fear of losing his husband to an omega is slowly coming to a reality. “Um, well, it’s getting late. You should get back to sleep. We’ll talk in the morning.”
****
During breakfast, Tony makes himself a simple bagel with cream cheese, waiting for Steve to come back.
“You’re up. Good morning,” Steve greets, walking over to Tony. He walks behind him, placing his hands on Tony’s arms and kissing his cheek. He frowns when he feels Tony tense suddenly, which is unlike him. “Hey. What’s wrong? Why are you so tense?”
“Clint mentioned his heat,” Tony mumbles, staring down at the untouched bagel on the counter.
“Oh. It’s coming up, isn’t it?” Steve breathes. “What did you say to him? Did you talk to him about it?”
“No. I only told him that I would talk to you,” Tony tells him. “But, we both know that you’re going to be the one to help him through it. I’m not comfortable with it. You are. So, you’re going to help him.”
“Tony, you can say no. You know I won’t do it if you don’t want me to,” Steve tries to assure him.
“And let you feel guilty about not helping him?” Tony scoffs. “I’m not that cruel.”
“Tony,” Steve frowns, turning the alpha around so they’re facing each other. “Tell me no, and I won’t help Clint through his heat. Just say the word, and that’s all it’ll take.”
Tony takes a deep breath. “Just promise you’ll come back to me?” He asks. “When it’s over?”
“You know I will. I swear I will,” Steve promises him, leaning forward to kiss Tony. “You’re my best guy, and no omega will ever change that. Is that what you’re worried about?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Tony mumbles, turning back around.
“Tony,” Steve warns. “We’ve been together for how long? Married for two years? You honestly think that I’ll leave you for an omega I’ve only known for six months? I love you, Tony. God. I mean, of course I care about Clint, but not in the same way I care about you.”
“Bullshit, Steve. That’s bullshit and you know it,” Tony scoffs, shaking his head as tears suddenly well up in his eyes. “Nothing beats an alpha and omega bond, and I know that you’ve been spending more time with him. Every time I ask Jarvis where you are, you’re with him.”
“Well maybe if you didn’t spend every waking moment in that stupid lab of yours, I’d-”
Tony quickly turns back around, looking up at Steve with anger. “Don’t put the blame on me!” He shouts, angrily jabbing a finger at Steve’s chest. “This has nothing to do with what I do in my lab. I fucking knew that you would ending up forming a bond with the omega the second Fury brought it up, because that’s just who you are, Steve. You and you’re stupid, perfect fucking self. Let’s be real here. We all know that I’m going to end up losing you to Clint. No matter what I do.”
“Tony, that’s not-” Steve frowns as he watches Tony grab his plate and storms off. Steve lets out a sigh. “Jarvis, inform me when Clint has gone into heat.”
“Yes Sir,” Jarvis responds right away, earning a sigh of relief from Steve.
Steve looks over when he hears more footsteps approaching, and then he sees Natasha standing in the kitchen doorway. “Shit. How much of that did you hear?”
“Enough,” Natasha tells him, walking into the kitchen. “You should talk to Tony. Don’t let him shut you out.”
Steve scoffs. “We all know how Tony is. Once his mind is made up…”
“Steve, you can’t let your relationship be ruined over this. Trust me. This is exactly what Clint didn’t want. He didn’t want to be a homewrecker,” Natasha tells him.
“I never planned on caring so much about Clint. I thought he’d just be… another person living in the tower. But then, we got to talking one day. God, that omega has been through so much shit.”
“Language,” Natasha warns, a smirking forming on his face.
Steve glares at her, before letting out a sigh. “And, I care about him. Really, I do. Clint means a lot to me. But, I don’t love him. Not like I love Tony,”
“Maybe you should try to get Tony to see how wonderful Clint is. Then, talk to Tony about adding Clint to your relationship. I’m starving to agree with Fury. An omega would be good for the two of you,” she says.
“Tony would never agree to such a thing,” Steve says, frowning. “But, I’m not going to lose Tony so easily. I’m helping Clint with his heat, and that’s it. Nothing more, and nothing less. Tony is my top priority.”
“It’s a shame. Clint could use an alpha like you, and Tony. He seems happier now since he’s met you,” Natasha says, shrugging her shoulders before grabbing an apple out of the fruit bowl.
“Hey, quit trying to guilt trip me,” Steve warns. “You know how important Tony is to me.”
“I know. You’re right, Steve. I’m sorry. But, just think about it,” Natasha begs, before walking away.
“Fuck,” Steve grumbles, running a hand over his face.
Steve doesn’t see Tony for the rest of the day, though he wants to give him some space to calm down before he tries talking to him again. He wants to be able to talk to Tony properly.
It isn’t until two days later when Jarvis finally informs Steve Clint has officially started his heat, however, Steve has been sent on a mission for SHIELD with Natasha and Sam that would require him to be absent for the entirety of Clint’s heat. Steve knows Tony is going to be upset with him.
“What do you want?” Tony asks when he answers the phone, Steve calling him.
“Don’t hate me,” Steve begins. “Clint’s started his heat and I’m not there to help him.”
Tony instantly drops the pen he had in his hands, his eyes widening. “What do you mean you’re not here to help him? We agreed you would be the one to help him. What the hell, Steve?”
“I’m sorry, but Fury sent me on a mission. I won’t be back for a week. I didn’t have time to say goodbye,”
“Bullshit. Fury’s doing this on fucking purpose!” Tony shouts, slamming his fist on the table. “I’m not going near that omega. Where’s Natasha? Don’t tell me she’s with you.”
Steve lets out a sigh. “She’s beside me,” he mumbles. “So’s Sam. I’m sorry, Tony. I-”
“I’m not doing it, Steve. Clint can suffer on his own for all I fucking care about,” Tony growls.
“Tony,” Steve warns. “You don’t mean that. I know you’re not that cruel., Tony, why do you hate omegas?”
“I don’t hate omegas,” Tony snaps. “If I hated omegas, would I have allowed one in my home? No. Excuse me for having a preference. Didn’t know that was a crime.”
“Tony, it’s not. You’re allowed to have preferences. It’s just… you never really told me why you’ve never been with an omega. It’s always been alpha’s and beta’s for you,” Steve says.
“We can talk about it later,” Tony mumbles. “When you get home.”
“So, you’ll help Clint through his heat? Natasha says she’ll punch your throat when she gets home if you make him suffer through his heat alone. Tony, I really don't want that to happen to you,” Steve says.
Tony rolls his eyes at the sincerity in Steve’s voice. “I’m not helping him in the way you want me to, but I’ll make sure that he’s being taken care of. I’m sorry for what I said about him suffering alone,” he mumbles.
“It’s okay, Tony. Thank you for offering to look after him, at least. It’s better than nothing,” Steve says. “But, you have my permission to do more than that. I won’t be mad.”
“Not going to happen. Keep me updated, and try not to get killed,” Tony says.
Steve snorts. “Thanks for the pep talk, babe,” he says. “I gotta go. Love you, bye.”
“Be safe!” Tony warns before hanging up the phone. He sighs as he leans back in his chair, thinking. “Jarvis, where is Barton?” He stands up from the chair.
“Mr. Barton is in his room, Sir,” Jarvis responds.
Tony runs a hand over his face as he lets out a sigh of frustration, and then he storms out of his lab, grumbling curse words under his breath towards his husband. Steve so owes him for this.
Tony finally makes his way up to Clint’s apartment after trying to talk himself out of doing what he’s about to do. He hasn’t seen the omega since Clint came down to his lab after his nightmare.
Tony takes a deep breath before pushing Clint’s bedroom door open. He’s not even taken a step inside and he’s instantly hit with the strong smell of omega in heat, and he absolutely hates it. Tony curses quietly to himself before walking in. He looks up and sees Clint curled up in his bed, shaking.
“You shouldn’t fight it,”
Clint immediately shoots up, prepared to defend himself. He looks up and his eyes widen with shock when he sees Tony. He’d been expecting Steve, and certainly not Tony.
“Unfortunately for both of us, my husband is needed for a SHIELD mission,” Tony begins to explain. “Which means that I’m stuck to help you through this heat. I’m gonna make myself very clear though, Barton. I’m doing this because even I don’t like to see an omega suffer. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Clint stares at him, breathing heavily. “Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to fuck me?”
“Shit,” Tony hisses, before ripping his shirt off, walking over to the bed and kneeling down on it, and then crawling over to Clint, and quickly pulling him in for a bruising kiss. They kiss for a moment before Tony finally pulls away, breathing heavily. “I can’t give you my knot. I’m sorry. I won’t risk getting you pregnant. But, I’ll help in any way that I can to make this heat easier for you. Okay?”
Clint stares at him with disappointment, but nods in understanding anyways. “Yes, Sir,”
“Don’t call me Sir,” Tony says, before pushing Clint down on his back and climbing on top of him.
****
Clint’s heat lasts a total of five days. Tony stays throughout the whole heat, surprising both himself and Clint. Tony felt too guilty leaving Clint at all. Spending five whole days with Clint like that, and he already feels so much closer to the omega. He’s been avoiding it this whole time.
When Steve finally returns at the end of Clint’s heat, he surprisingly finds his husband snuggled up in the bed with Clint, the omega resting his head on Tony’s chest, sound asleep.
Steve smiles fondly as he watches the pair, leaning against the doorway of Clint’s bedroom.
Tony looks up when he feels a new presence in the room, exhaustion in his eyes. He glares when he sees the look on Steve’s face. “Don’t,” he warns. “Don’t even say anything.”
Steve chuckles. “How’d it go?” He asks. “Assuming it went well.”
“Obviously,” Tony rolls his eyes. “This doesn’t mean anything, Steve. I’m just being a good alpha.”
“Why can’t you just give him a chance, Tony? He might be good for us,” Steve says quietly, not wanting to wake the sleeping omega. “Everybody can see it but you. You’re being stubborn, as usual.”
“We’re not talking about this right now. Clint’s asleep,” Tony hisses. “Don’t give me that stupid look.”
Steve snorts, and then he stands up, and then walks over to Tony and kisses him softly. “We’ll talk later. Just wanted to let you know that I’m back from the mission,” he says.
“Mission went well, then? Did you get the bad guys?” Tony asks, looking up at Steve tiredly.
“Yeah,” Steve chuckles. “We got the bad guys, babe. Of course we did. You need to rest. Come find me in the morning.” He leans forward and presses a kiss to Tony’s forehead, and smiles softly at the two before turning and walking out of the bedroom, leaving Tony alone with the omega once again.
Clint stirs a little, letting out a small whine.
“Shh, you’re alright. Go back to sleep,” Tony whispers, pulling the blanket up to keep Clint covered.
In the morning, Tony wakes up and he immediately goes to find Steve. He finds him making breakfast. Tony immediately walks up to him, wrapping his arms around Steve tightly. “‘M sorry,”
“Shit, Tony,” Steve lets out a breath, and gently wraps an arm around Tony. “Sorry for what?”
“For what I said to you the last time we talked. I let my anger get the best of me and I took it out on you. When we have a chance, I’d like to talk to you about Clint,” Tony says, looking up at Steve.
Steve instantly beams at Tony’s words, and leans down to kiss Tony. “Thank you,”
“Yeah. Whatever. Can I have my husband back now?” Tony asks, pouting as he leans against Steve.
Steve snorts. “You never lost me to begin with, but sure Tony,” he says, pulling Tony into a warm hug.
** A Year Later **
“Clint’s hit!”
Panic instantly rises in Tony as soon as he hears the words come out of Natasha’s mouth.
“What the hell do you mean Clint’s hit?” Tony hears Steve ask, seeming just as panicked as he is. Natasha doesn’t answer, and Tony assumes she’s busy taking care of Clint. At least, he hopes she is.
Ever since Clint’s officially bonded with Tony and Clint a year ago, the two alpha’s have been extremely protective of him. The two alpha’s quickly learn that Clint likes to be reckless during Avenger missions, and they know it’s because Clint feels like he has to prove himself to the team.
Tony never thought he would ever be bonded with an omega, especially after marrying Steve Rogers, but here he is now. But, he doesn’t regret it. So, Nick Fury was right about having an omega, and he absolutely hated hearing the ‘I told you so’ from Nick when they told him about bonding with Clint.
“Romanoff. Answer me. What’s going on with Clint?”
“Clint’s hit pretty bad, guys. We’re gonna need evac, and can someone please take care of that bunker?” Natasha asks. She pauses for a second. “Thank you. We need to get Clint to the quinjet. I'm gonna need some help over here.”
“Tony, where are you?” Steve asks.
“I’m closing in,” Tony replies instantly. “Where’s Thor? Get him to Clint. We’ll take care of the scepter.”
“Roger that,”
Steve looks around, and then he spots Thor, and instantly rushes over to him.
“I can get Barton to the jet. You and Stark get the scepter,” Thor says when he sees Steve.
“Great. Uh, yeah, thanks Thor. Glad we’re all on the same page. Take care of our omega,” Steve says, before taking off again. “We leave that omega alone for five minutes and he injures himself. Honestly.”
Tony snorts. “This is Clint we’re talking about, Cap. Are you really that surprised?”
“I know. We really need to have a talk with him when we get home. Let’s just focus on the scepter for now,”
Tony lets out a sigh. He has no idea how he's supposed to focus on the scepter when his omega is injured and he's not there to comfort him. Sure, Clint's in good hands with Natasha and Thor, but that won't stop Tony from worrying about him. “It’s going to be a long fucking day,”