Clinton Francis Barton
In this universe, some things are the same.
Clinton Francis Barton is still born September 19th, 1979.
He still never completes high school.
Still runs away to join the circus.
Still becomes known as ‘the greatest marksman on the planet’.
He is still recruited by Phil Coulson.
Still is a loyal SHIELD agent.
He still marries Laura Barton.
He still is assigned to track and assassinate the infamous Black Widow.
Still decides to give her a chance.
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In this universe, other, far more important things are different.
Maybe, in this universe, he wakes up, several hours later, with the notorious assassin long gone.
Maybe, he still doesn’t know why she spared him.
Maybe, he spends another 3 years chasing her, always arriving at her victims a couple minutes late.
Maybe, in this universe, his wife publishes an article about corruption in the senate.
Maybe, she dies a couple days later in a suspicious building fire.
Maybe, the courts find no evidence against the person of one Senator Stern {They were bribed}.
Maybe, this is the death of Clint’s faith in humanity.
Maybe, he never does have any children.
Maybe, in this universe, he falls in love with one of the only people he trusts, Phil Coulson.
Maybe, Phil introduces Clint to a good friend, Anthony Stark, and his wife, Natasha Romanoff-Stark.
(Wha- You!)
Maybe, she smiles sweetly.
(Me.)
Maybe, Stark and Coulson snicker quietly together in the background.
Maybe, in this universe, Coulson and Barton are sometimes invited to participate in the purging of humanity.