Hawkeye's Revenge

Several weeks later:

Clint slowly pulled back the recurve bow as he sighted along the arrow shaft. He held the position for a moment, enjoying the strain from holding the bow string taught even though his injured shoulder was starting to scream in protest. Slowly he breathed out and released the arrow, smirking as it split the shaft of the previous arrow. From behind the safety glass Clint spotted Matt reading a braile book that Tony had had printed off for him and felt his smirk melt into a proud smile.

Matt was still recovering but each day he was able to do more and more and Clint knew soon he was going to have to make a decision about their future. When they had first brought Matt to the manor for treatment Clint had planned for them to slip away as soon as Matt was well enough but that time had come and gone and Clint was still delaying their departure even as he had allowed the Avangers to move them into their Tower. He kept planning that the next day he would get them out of there but each day he found himself putting their escape off and it was all the stupid Avengers fault.

Clint sighed while he absently continued his target practice and thought about his dilemma. It had all started when Tony had strolled into his hospital room the day after they had had to put Matt on the heavy dose of painkillers.

"Hey, Katniss, made a little something for you," Tony had said casually as soon as he had walked in the door and had been sure he had Clint's attention. The billionaire had slid a small case across the table situated beside the hospital bed where he was curled up with Matt. Clint had carefully opened the small red and gold box before simply staring at the pair of hearing aids within. Clint had never seen a pair like them and despite the flippant way Tony had talked about the aids Clint knew he must have spent a significant amount of time on them.

Clint had checked the smooth buds over then frowned at the small indented button on the side of both hearing aids. Unlike his last pair of aids he didn't see a volume control and looking up at Tony he found the man practically vibrating in place.

"The button is an emergency shut off incase anything goes wrong with them but volume is controlled automatically based on the tension of the muscles surrounding the eardrum and the vibrational feedback received from the semicircular canals," Tony explained like an over excited child and Clint found himself for the first time since the dosage of Matt's medicine had been upped smiling sincerely.

Quietly, he fitted the aids in place then had to brace himself as a rush of sound assualted him. Noises that he had never been able to hear with his old hearing aids, such as, the small scrape of Tony's jeans against the bedrail or the soft whoosh of the air unit washed over him and he gritted his teeth as he tried to process it all.

Gradually the intensity of the sounds lessened and he blinked his eyes open tilting his head to follow the sound of Tony fidgeting anxiously. Catching the other man's eyes he grinned at the inventor and watched as the tension leaked out of him.

"Woah, thought for a second I had miscalculated. I mean I went over the plans and tested but...," Tony rambled, tension leaking back into his frame, but Clint broke in before he could really work himself up.

"Stark....Tony, thanks. I really appreciate this," Clint told him with a grateful smile and a gesture to his ears.

Clint sighed at the memory. It was hard to maintain his distance from Tony after that but then Steve had happened and Clint had found his mind totally side tracked from planning their escape.

Clint blinked awake at the flashing lights that alerted him to a person at their hospital room. He glanced over at Matt to find him still deeply asleep and with an effort he shifted to grab the aids Tony had made for him from the bedside table. The aids fitted in place perfectly and Clint wondered once more how the genius had managed such a good fit, then decided he didn't want to know. While Tony was a nice guy his sense of personnel boundaries was almost nonexistant.

"My apologies for waking you, Mr. Barton, but Captain Rogers is requesting admittance," JARVIS spoke as soon as Clint had the hearing aids situated and Clint looked up to the ceiling.

"JARVIS you can call me Clint if you want," Clint told the A.I.. He opened his mouth to shout for Steve to enter then glanced at Matt biting his lip. He knew that a loud noise was unlikely to wake Matt but he was still hesitant to shout with him right there.

"Thank you for your consideration, Mr. Barton, but I am programmed for formality," JARVIS informed him then seeming to realize his problem added "If you would like I could inform Captain Rogers of your wishes."

"That would be great, JARVIS," Clint told the A.I. with relief "Can you tell him to just come in?"

"Of course, sir," JARVIS told him. A moment later the door handle turned and Steve peeked in at him as though asking permission to enter.

"I am sorry, I woke you didn't I," Steve said contritely as he hesitantly moved a bit more into the room. "I could come back later if you want?"

"Naw, I am good. Didn't mean to fall asleep in the first place," Clint drawled as he fought to hide his amusement. Who knew that Captain America was so shy when out of uniform?

"If you are sure," Steve said hesitantly but finally fully entered the room shutting the door quietly behind him. Clint smiled in welcome but his smile faltered when he spotted the blue blanket in Steve's arms.

"I found it when we went to your apartment in Venice and I am really sorry that we invaded your privacy but I thought Matt might want it when he wakes up," Steve told him in a rush when he noticed where Clint's eyes were resting.

Clint shook himself out of his reverie honestly unsure how to feel about this, but then looking up at Steve he realized that the other man really did just want to ensure Matt's comfort, and any resentment he might have had melted away.

"Thanks. Matt loves that blanket," Clint said and reached out for the blanket with his good hand. He winced slightly as the thirty-five pound blanket was handed to him causing the muscles of his back to tighten and pull on his injury. Steve noticed his discomfort and reached to take back the blanket but Clint shook his head with a grimace.

"It is alright. Just lifting some things can be difficult right now," Clint reassured him then added " I really do appreciate you doing this."

Steve shuffled his feet shyly but a warm smile tentatively started curving his lips.

"It was nothing. I have some more of your things for when you are better. Also, I called your land lady to tell her that you and Matt were recovering. She seemed really releaved and said she would call in a week or so to see if you wanted her to pack up the rest of your things," Steve told him and Clint smiled wider at that. Mrs. Sarah had always taken great care of them and he felt a little bad for having worried her.

"Thanks. I will let her know that I will take care of it," Clint tells him but does not elaborate. He liked Steve but he wasn't about to trust Captain America with the knowledge that he would be sending a merc friend to pick up his stuff.

Awkward silence filled the room and Clint could see that Steve was wondering if he should make an excuse to leave but unsure how to when Clint decided to take pity on the poor guy.

Gesturing to Matt's blanket he asked "How did you know that this was important to Matt?"

Immediately Steve brightened up.

"I have been looking into weighted blankets for Bucky. They have been shown to help people with PTSD. I have one on order but it won't be here for a few months," Steve shrugged then explained "The company is pretty backlogged. Where did you order yours from?"

Clint looked at the blanket then ran a gentle hand over the alternating swaths of material before answering "I actually made it for Matt soon after his accident. Weighted blankets were kinda rare back then but a lot of research said they helped people with sensory problems so I tried my hand at it."

His smile widened at the memory as he explained "I had sewed a lot before, mostly patching clothes and stuff or making my gear, but my first few attempts with the blanket were terrible. I finally got it right though and it really seemed to help Matt."

"Gee, I never considered trying to make one myself. Do you think I could? I know how to sew but...," Steve trailed off biting his lip in thought.

"Sure you could. I can give you some tips on what helped me and what I learned not to do so that should help you," Clint promised with a smile and Steve grinned back at him "That would be great."

Still smiling Steve pulled up a chair and sat down with an expectant look on his face as he drew a pad of paper and a pencil from his pocket, evidently intending to take notes. Clint felt a bit bemused, he hadn't intended to start today but then smiled at the eager look on Steve's face, the man reminded him of an over eager puppy.

With a mental shrug Clint started explaining the problems that he had run into and the things that he found helpful and hours later when Steve had left Clint found himself smiling as he realized that he felt like he maybe had made a real friend in the Avengers.

The string thrummed into place and moments later the arrow hit his next target dead center. Clint ran his fingers over the fletching of his remaining arrows as he considered which type of arrow he wanted to try next.

Seven weeks later and Steve was almost done with Bucky's blanket. Turned out that when Captain America set his mind to something it unsurprisingly got done and nothing, including Hydra attacks, could keep him from finishing.

Yes, Steve had become a friend over the past few months and glancing over to Matt Clint realized that his son was becoming rather fond of both Steve and Tony which made his decision all the more urgent. He didn't want to rip Matt away from people he was starting to consider family but he also had to consider the risks to them if they stayed.

Clint sighed as he sighted along his bow once more and admitted if only to himself that he was also worried about himself and his heart if he stayed. He had learned young to guard his heart from other people and he had let very few people truely into his affections and none without reservations, except Matt, since he was sixteen but that was quickly changing. The Avengers were worming their way into his heart and one scientist was getting under his guard in a way he was not sure how to handle.

Clint was bored, bored, bored and when he was bored he could never stay still. Case in point was why he was seeing if he could still keep himself up in a corner of the ceiling with only one arm. So far his experiment was going ok. His back was on fire and radiating agony from his injured arm but he had managed to hold the position for a little over ten minutes at this point. The cramped position wasn't helping the pain but he had found from a previous attempt that stretching out caused him to fall.

Without warning the hospital room door opened and a disheveled Dr. Banner bustled into the room seeming excited, a bit maniac if truth were told. The doctor paused staring at Clint's empty bed before looking to where Matt was sleeping peacefully in his own bed before he was looking around the room. Clint smirked as the man failed to look up.

"Doc, up here," Clint called with a smile then grimaced as Dr. Banner startled as he whipped around to look up into his corner.

Probably not the best plan to startle the guy who turns into a giant green rage monster,' Clint thought but without any real worry, he could already see that the Doc was getting it under control.

"What are you doing up there," Dr. Banner finally hissed once his skin tone had returned to normal.

"I was bored," Clint explained and started to shrug but the movement dislodged his tentative position and he found himself falling forward. With practiced grace Clint flipped himself in midair and landed on his feet on the floor and came up with a huge grin as though he had always meant to do that.

"Are you nuts? You were just shot in the shoulder," Dr. Banner asked him as he moved to examine his shoulder. Clint froze at the other man's close proximity but forced himself to relax as the man poked and prodded at his shoulder. He hissed once as Dr. Banner started to move his shoulder into a position that sent a spike of agony throughout his body and the Doc immediately gently set his arm back into place apologizing sincerely.

"I don't think you have hurt it further but you really should be resting and NOT climbing the walls," Dr. Banner told him the last part with a hint of exasperation in his voice. Clint got the impression that the man was used to the people around him only selectively listening to medical advice.

"No, worries Doc. Climbing the walls is tame for me but," he rushed to continue before the man could start lecturing "what brought you here. You look like you haven't been sleeping well."

That was an understatement, the man looked like he hadn't slept in days and Clint could swear that under the lab coat he was still wearing the same clothes he had seen him in last. Leaning forward Clint could even detect a slight hint of body oder indicating that the man had not taken the time to bathe in a while.

Dr. Banner blinked comically then glanced down at himself as though he had only just realized how he must look.

"Aww....umm...Yeah, I think I got a bit caught up in the lab," he said with a hint of a blush.

"Must have, Doc. Big break through," Clint asked with a friendly teasing smile as he met the other man's eyes. The man seemed to freeze before glancing down at his coat pocket then looking back up at Clint before a full on blush stole over his cheeks and traveled down his neck before disappearing under the collar of his shirt. Clint's eyes flicked down to follow the blush, wondering briefly how far the blush extended, before he resolutely brought his eyes and thoughts back to the matter at hand.

"Umm, I....I found a compound that might help Matt with his pain without making his hypersensitivity worse," Banner told him getting more animated as he went on but abruptly he bit his lip uncertainly and added "Well, I mean it should. It is all theoretical right now. I tested it but the compound is new and"

"Woah, breathe Doc," Clint told the other man feeling a little shocked and awed that this man, who knew so little about them, would go so out of his way to help his son. His eyes automatically moved to the vial Banner had pulled out of his coat pocket. The liquid inside didn't look like much, really just slightly cloudy water, but if it actually worked it could help Matt so much. Matt still occasionally had bad sensory spikes that caused severe headaches that no amount of meditation could lessen, during those times Clint could only black out the room as best as he could and rub gentle circles on Matt's oversensative back.

Dr. Banner misinterrupted his silence and quickly moved to reassure him "It has already been tested using a theoretical model, on animals, and using a human subject. Tony helped and didn't have any adverse reaction. It doesn't have any narcotic affects, just blocks neural output when it reaches a certain level based on ion concentration around the dendrites."

Banner trailed off seeming to realize that Clint didn't have the knowledge to follow this last part and simply bit his lip in an apparent habit that Clint was fighting not to find endearing.

"Doc,...," Clint started wanting to find the words to express how much this meant to him and Matt but failing before finally looking Bruce in the eye and saying simply "Bruce, thank you."

Bruce seemed to freeze again, the blush returning to his cheeks again.

"You're welcome," Bruce told him quietly a small, shy smile on his face.

They brought in Dr. Cho and the two scientists talked animatedly about the new compound while Clint walked over to smooth Matt's hair from his eyes, feeling more hopeful than he had in a while. Finally the two scientists broke apart and Cho left to prepare the serum for Matt. Bruce hesitantly approached him and then more confidently when Clint gave him a welcoming smile.

"He will be ok," Bruce promised quietly and Clint was actually starting to believe that.

"Yeah, he is a fighter."

They stood in a comfortable silence before something occurred to Clint and he turned to Bruce.

"Did you say that you used Tony to test the serum?"

Bruce blinked at him, then looked a bit shifty.

"Well, we had already done all the theoretical models and animal testing and he IS the only fully human member of the team," Bruce defended weakly. Clint starred at the other man silently until finally he burst out laughing. The Avengers were nuts and he realized that he and Matt just might fit in with them.

Clint grinned at the memory. A knock on the bullet proof glass of the viewing room drew his attention and he grinned to see the scientist in question looking at him with an expectant expression. Seeing he had Clint's attention he showed his watch and tapped it with a raised eyebrow.

Clint nodded his understanding. Ever since Dr. Cho had authorized him to start back with his exercises whenever it was time for him to break off for the day one of the Avengers had always been there to remind him not to overdue it with Bruce being the most common but even Natasha had made a visit, a rather intimidating visit if he were honest.

Packing up his equipment he watched out of the corner of his eye as Bruce discussed a passage with Matt and he couldn't help the proud smile that spread across his face as Matt animatedly explained something to Bruce. The smile faded as he considered how well Matt and Bruce had been getting on and how much Matt would miss Bruce if they were to leave. With those thoughts in mind it was with a more somber mood that he exited the range.

Bruce looked up at him with a bright smile and Clint felt his mood lift a little, he had to admit that the scientist had grown on him, too.

Bruce walked with them to the elevator chatting with Matt about a Thurgood Marshall essay that he had read in college and that Matt had been wanting to read for a while.

"JARVIS do you think you could look the paper up. I don't remember the title but it dealt with a court case involving the 1st amendment," Bruce asked.

"I have found three papers that might relate. I have started the braille printer in the Barton's suite printing them," JARVIS answered promptly and Matt lit up with excitement. Clint felt an answering grin spread across his face and considered kissing Tony square on the mouth next time he saw the billionaire for having invented a portable braille printer for Matt. He caught Bruce's eye and they shared a smile at Matt's excitement.

"I can hear you grinning," Matt said with a huff "What is so amusing?"

They exchanged a glance again and Bruce raised a demanding eyebrow telling him that this was his to explain.

"It is just you are so adorable, little devil," Clint said with a grin.

"I am not adorable," Matt said drawing himself up as he prepared to tell them all the reasons he was not adorable but ruined his arguement before he had even started when his voice broke on the last word causing him to squeak adorably.

Clint and Bruce burst out in laughter as Matt huffed and tried to scowl at the both of them. It looked like Matt wanted to argue further but he lost his momentum when the doors opened and Agent Coulson stepped out.

Agent Coulson raised a questioning eyebrow at Bruce and Clint as they continued to giggle but that only caused them to try unsuccessfully to stifle their laughter.

"Dad," Matt whined but didn't seem really put out.

"Sorry, Phil we were just joking around," Bruce explained.

"I see," Agent Coulson drawled then focused on Clint. "Mr. Barton, I was hoping to talk to you if you were free."

The smile immediately fell off Matt's face and Clint noted how he placed himself beside him but it was Bruce's reaction that surprised him. The scientist was shooting the agent a hard look and seemed to be trying to communicate something with his eyes. Agent Coulson met Bruce's eyes and whatever Bruce saw there seemed to reassure him.

"Matt, why don't we go and start dinner for your Dad. Let him rest the arm," Bruce added when it seemed like Matt might protest.

"Go on, little devil. I will be up in a bit," Clint told him with false cheer which Matt could hear but chose not to call him on. Clint watched as Matt reluctantly took Bruce's arm in order to allow him to guide him and they boarded the elevator.

Bruce met his eyes as the elevator doors were closing and nodded reassuringly to him.

"What can I do for you, Agent Coulson," Clint asked with a carefree air but inside he was wondering if the agent was here to finally arrest him.

"I had a matter to discuss with you," Agent Coulson told him calmly then said "JARVIS if you would initiate privacy mode."

"Of course, Agent Coulson," JARVIS responded and Clint narrowed his eyes in suspicion wondering what could be so secret.

To his surprise Agent Coulson smiled reassuringly and told him "Not to worry, Barton. While what we are going to talk about is classified the request for privacy was more to keep the team from bothering you if you should say no."

Clint stared at the man in order to judge his sincerity but could find no sign of deceit. Nodding finally he followed the agent as he motioned them to a set of benches beside the windows looking out over the range.

Once they were seated Agent Coulson leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees and looked at Clint.

"I won't insult you by beating around the bush, Barton, you have been on SHIELD's capture list for over fifteen years," Coulson told him plainly and Clint felt a little shocked that it had not been their kill list. Seeming to have read his surprise and interpreted it correctly as he explained "The reason you never made the kill list was most of the people you were targeting were already on SHIELD's lists or were going to make the list soon. Plus it was great practice for our agents to try to capture you."

Clint snorted as he tried to surpress a laugh. Still fighting his amusement he told the agent "And here I thought you were just punishing whichever asshole had pissed you off at the moment by sending them after me."

Agent Coulson surprised him again when a sly, amused smile spread across his face.

"There might have been a fair amount of that also," Agent Coulson allowed before he sobered adding "While you were not on the kill list you were and still are on are apprehension list."

Clint tensed ready to bolt and already cursing himself for having allowed Matt out of his sight. Now he would have to get up several floors of a tower where security was as tight as a miser's wallet and get back out with Matt in tow.

Agent Coulson's next words broke him from his train of thought "However, given your skill set, the restraint you have shown with contracts, and the ease with which you and Matt have been absorbed within the Avengers it has been decided that incarciration might not be the best avenue for you."

"Meaning," Clint asked cautiously.

"Meaning that I would like to offer you membership in the Avengers Initiative in exchange for a full pardon for your past crimes, a salary, and a position within SHIELD," Agent Coulson said simply. Clint simply blinked at the man stunned by what he was offering but quickly he sobered as he realized what joining the Avengers would involve.

While joining SHIELD was one thing, the Avengers were completely another. The Avengers were public, their faces were on the front covers of magazines, splashed across the internet, and they were the target of every villian or want-to-be villian in the world. While he didn't mind being in danger himself he had to think about Matt and what was best for him.

Coulson didn't press him as he considered what would be best and at first all he wanted to do was tell the agent hell no and get Matt and run but then an image of Matt's smiling face from earlier flashed before his mind's eye. Matt had seemed so happy over the last several weeks and that was mostly due to the Avengers.

'So what are the good and the bad points to this,' Clint thought.

If he joined the Avengers then Matt would have a permenant home and wouldn't have to move around everytime someone got close to finding Clint. Matt would also have other adults in his life who he could depend on. Even though Clint had only known them a short time he was sure that at least Steve and Bucky would take care of Matt if something happened to him and judging from what he had seen of Tony and Bruce he thought that even they would take care of Matt if push came to shove. Tony had a soft heart despite his public persona and Bruce just cared too much about everyone to allow a child to be homeless. Thinking about that brought him to another realization; he would no longer have to be afraid of what might happen to Matt if he were injured or killed. Clint had always known that Sam would take Matt in if Clint were killed but Sam was in an even more tenuous situation than himself since his face was known and he was constantly having to outrun the US government.

Feeling the pieces of a plan starting to fall into place he finally looked up at Agent Coulson after several minutes of silence.

"Alright but I have some conditions," Clint told the other man firmly while internally wondering if SHIELD would even try to negotiate or if they would just say fuck you and throw him in jail.

Coulson stared back at him seeming unsurprised by his demands and Clint was unsure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"First, if I am hurt or killed I want it in writing that Matt will be taken care of," Clint told him then added hastily "And no CPS or foster homes. If he is old enough he is to be emancipated and if not then he is to go to Sam. He gets a set sum of money to live on until he has graduated college AND obtained an advanced degree."

"SHIELD already offers a generous compensation package for our agents beneficiaries but I am sure that any reasonable requests can be added into the contract," Agent Coulson assured him.

"Ok," Clint allowed then took a fortiying breath before saying firmly "Sam is to be pardoned for his 'crimes' and given protection from Ross."

At this Coulson allowed a hint of surprise to cross his face before he smiled faintly "We are already working on getting Mr. Wilson cleared of all charges and once cleared I have been authorized to offer him a place within the Avengers Intiative."

Clint actually blinked in surprise at that then relaxed slightly to hear that Sam would be alright.

"Alright then," Clint said steeling himself for the demands that would come next but instead of immediately laying down the law Coulson simply looked at him in a puzzled manner.

"That is it. Those are all your demands," Coulson asked and Clint nodded firmly his stomach churning as he asked "What else is there?"

"Medical care in case you are hurt, medical care in case Matt were ever hurt or gets sick, what missions you will and will not take," Coulson listed and continued to list things that made Clint blink. The plain fact was that he had always had to scrape by for him and Matt and the idea that that might change was just confusing for him.

Finally, Coulson stopped but Clint had a feeling that he had other things to say but that he had realized that Clint was in a bit of shock.

"Maybe we should talk about the details at a later time. I will have the preliminary paperwork drawn up and we can hash out the details," Agent Coulson told him as he began to get up but abruptly stopped and met his eyes. "Mr. Barton, I recommend that you consult Mr. Stark and ask to use his lawyers in order to review the paperwork."

Clint blinked then blurted "I don't think I could afford Tony's lawyers."

"I doubt Tony would ask you to pay," Coulson said with a fond smile then bid him good-bye.

Clint sat for a bit longer then slowly made his way back up to the floor Tony had given Matt and him to use. As soon as the elevator doors had opened Clint heard the sounds of laughter and unconsciously smiled as he headed toward the kitchen.

He paused in surprise as he took in the kitchen and the two messy individuals laughing like loons while flinging batter at each other.

"What is going on," he said mock sternly and internally smirked as Bruce at least turned to face him looking guilty. Matt simply rolled his eyes as Bruce started to apologize and threw a glob of batter toward him. Clint easily dodged the badly aimed projectile and smirked as he sing-songed "Really little devil, you are the son of the world's greatest marksman and you can't do better than that?"

"Blind," Matt sing-songed back as he threw another glob which Clint dodged again.

"That same old excuse," Clint teased and Matt grinned as he grabbed fist fulls of batter to hurl at Clint but before he could a glob of batter hit Clint square on the face. Matt jerked at the sound of the batter hitting then as he realized what had happened he collapsed on the floor laughing.

With what dignity he could Clint wiped the batter from his eyes then asked flatly "So it is like that, Doc?"

Bruce nodded seriously saying with a wide grin "Yeah, it is like that."

"You know this means war," Clint told the man simply.

"Bring it," Bruce said grin still in place then stumbled in surprise as a glob of batter hit him square in the nose.

"World's greatest marksman," Clint told him before the batter really started to fly. Matt the traitor teamed up with Bruce to pelt him relentlessly with batter while he hit them both with pinpoint accuracy.

The war was called a draw when they ran out of batter and Clint collapsed on the floor laughing and feeling more relaxed than he had thought possible after his talk with Agent Coulson. Looking over to Matt, Clint saw that while he was still giggling he was also looking a bit pale. Clint started to stand with an effort and a hand came into his vision. Looking up he smiled at Bruce as he took the other man's hand and allowed him to help him up.

"Go ahead and take Matt to get cleaned up. I will handle it in here," Bruce told him with a smile then blushed and Clint realized that he was still holding Bruce's hand.

Clint let go of Bruce's hand immediately but smiled up at the other man as he thanked him and bustled a visibly tired Matt to the bathroom.

As Clint was getting down a towel Matt asked quietly "Are we leaving?"

Clint paused then turned to face Matt as he set the towel down next to a shelf by the shower.

"Do you want to leave," Clint asked and knew he had his answer when Matt paused, biting his lip before saying softly "I like the Avengers and JARVIS."

"I do, too," Clint told him. Matt shuffled his feet then said a bit slyly "Bruce likes you."

Clint blinked a bit then felt himself blush. "Yeah, I think he does."

"You like him, too," Matt told him sounding more sure of himself now and Clint felt his blush grow.

"And how do you know that, little demon," Clint teased to stall.

"Your heart beat picks up when he is around and your voice softens when you are talking to him," Matt explained simply.

"Yeah, I guess you are right," Clint admitted.

"So we are staying," Matt asked a hopeful note in his voice and Clint brushed a hand gently over Matt's hair.

"Yeah, we are staying," Clint told him with a smile. Matt grinned at that and Clint hugged him briefly before leaving.

As he shut the bathroom door he heard Bruce moving around in the kitchen and allowed himself to believe that maybe they could make a home here. With a bit of a spring in his step he moved down the hall to help Bruce with the clean up and to maybe flirt a bit.