[Fic] Reactivation - Chapter 8: Family Reunion, Part Deux (avengers_xbb)
Title: Reactivation
Chapter Title: Family Reunion, Part Deux
Rating: PG-13
Chapter Word Count: 1,233
Overall Word Count: 15,660
Spoilers/Warnings: Spoilers for all movies; Violence
Summary: Clint Barton is called in as William Brandt with his IMF team. Seems that they're tracking the last Black Widow of the Red Room's program. While Clint is off being another person, Natasha starts to feel like her old life is crawling back while Tony's problem with his heart becomes bigger.
Author's Note: I do not own Avengers, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Bourne Legacy or any of the characters from those various fandoms. Yes, the title is from Train's song; please don't sue me.
Thank Yous: A big thank you for my beta and cheerleader sirwynai for you are awesome and you know it. A huge HUGE thank you to evian_fork for all of the amazing art. I love it, all of it.
“Barton,” Tony said as he gently shook his fellow Avenger. He could see that Clint was awake or possibly sleeping with his eyes open. Which was a bit freaky if one thought about that. He certainly didn’t like it, just like he didn’t like being shoved into the back of a van and didn’t know what was happening to the rest of the team. He shook Clint again and smiled as he saw a bit more a reaction. “Thought that it hit you harder than normal.”
“No, I’m okay,” Clint said as he tried to move but felt himself cuffed to the seat that he was in. “How come I’m cuffed and you aren’t?”
“He’s more manageable than you,” a familiar voice said as he moved into the light. “Then again, you went down fast.”
“Amazing what a Taser can do,” Clint said. “Been a while, Barney. Or do you prefer Trickshot now?”
“Understatement of the century. And yes, I do prefer Trickshot or Trick. Easier on the mind that way,” Barney replied. “You enjoy your name though.”
“His isn’t as lame,” Tony retorted.
Barney cocked the gun he was holding and pointed it at Tony. “You were told more than once to shut up.”
“It’s Stark. He doesn’t know the meaning of the word quiet,” Clint said.
“I take offense to that. I can be quiet when I want to,” Tony said.
“Then do so now before I shoot you,” Barney said. He smiled as Tony was about to say something but decided against it. “That’s better.”
“Why are you doing this?” Clint asked.
“Why do you think?” Barney countered.
“Hell of way to get back at me for what you consider slights,” Clint said.
Barney laughed. “They are slights. There is nothing to consider about it. You couldn’t even call me to tell me that you were alive. I had to learn it through Byer when they decided to use me as well. Seems that they wanted to see how it worked on members of the same family.”
“That’s not my fault either,” Clint said. “I was given strict rules on what and what not to do. And you thought I was dead anyways. I got to see the funeral. They handed the flag to you. You waited until everyone was gone to drop it into the grave with my empty casket. It is not my fault for anything that happened to you or what you have done because of it. That is on you.”
“You’re seeing a shrink too?” Barney asked.
“No,” Clint said. “Just buried my past sins and life along ago. If you were smart, you’d do the right thing. You’d also turn yourself in and let me help you.”
Barney laughed. “Oh brother, that is not going to happen at all.”
Clint sighed and leaned against the seat. “At least tell me why you didn’t kill me before.”
“Orders,” Barney said. “But I wanted you to think I was going to.”
“Orders from who?” Tony asked. “Sorry, couldn’t help it.”
Barney sighed. “Is he stupid as well?”
“No,” Clint said. “He might have a touch of Asperger’s. It would explain a lot.”
“I’m too chaotic to have that,” Tony said.
Barney sighed and just shot Tony in the leg. “I did tell you to shut up.”
Clint tried to move to get to Tony, forgetting that he was chained to the chair. “And you’ve gone back to being a bastard again.”
“I do believe I told you not to harm either of them,” Loki’s voice said. “Bandage him up and don’t do that again.”
“… Well, that answers one question,” Tony said. “Fuck that hurts.”
“Don’t be such a baby, Stark,” Clint said.
“You get shot in the leg and tell me it doesn’t hurt then!” Tony said.
“I have been. Feels more like a bee sting if done right. Which means he didn’t do it right,” Clint said as the SUV came to a stop. “Where are we?”
“Base,” Barney replied as he finished bandaging up Tony’s leg. The SUV started moving again for a few moments before stopping again. The back of it opened up into space that had a few rooms off to one side before a doorway that probably opened to the street. There were few windows and those were boarded up so nobody could see in. The furniture looked out of place, due to being new, and Jane was there with her back to the people coming in and talking to someone who was sitting down on one of the chairs.
“Oh good,” Loki said from behind Jane. Jane moved out of the way, turning to see both Clint and Tony. He smiled as both men were brought over and made to sit down in chairs in front of them.
“I will say that you’ve come a long way from the last time we saw you,” Tony said.
“We both know that Thor isn’t the brightest being in the universe,” Loki said and looked to Clint. “Nothing to say, Barton?”
“The thought to hide behind HYRDA was a good choice for you,” Clint said and shrugged. “Otherwise, I really don’t care why you’re here or what you want. The last time you were on Earth, you were more impressive. You still lost and you’re going to lose again. You’ve pissed off the same people as before.”
“I’m not hiding behind anything,” Loki said. “I would ask the solider out of time about the Red Skull though and if he really died or not.”
“Well, that’s nice and all,” Tony said, “but Red Skull is dead. Read the reports myself.”
“He was holding the cube when he disappeared,” Clint said and looked at Loki. “He went to Asgard.”
“I think someone is ahead of you in the smarts department,” Loki said.
“More just in logic,” Tony countered. “So the two of you are working together. That’s peachy. But you don’t have your glow stick. So, why are we here? Vendetta? It’s a good reason but it’s petty.”
“For something better than that,” Loki said as he got up and touched Clint’s shoulder. “You were meant to be ruled, Barton,” he said in the Norse language.
Clint shook his head no as he felt it start all over again. The pit of fear in his stomach as his thoughts started to be pushed out with the overwhelming desire to serve. He looked up at Loki before his eyes rolled back in his head for a moment before coming back to normal. “Hello sir. It is good to be under your service again.”
“Shit,” Tony said.
“That’s enough swearing,” Loki said and looked to Barney. “You can take off the restraints him now.”
Barney nodded a yes and did so. “There you go, brother.”
“Thank you,” Clint said as he moved his arms, rubbing his wrists to get circulation back to his hands. “What now?”
“You three plan our next move - I am going to have a long word with Stark,” Loki said.
Clint moved, taking the handcuffs out of Barney’s hands and cuffing Tony to the chair. “That should help, sir.”
“Thank you, Barton,” Loki said.
Clint nodded a yes before moving over with Barney and Jane to plan where they were going next. He didn’t ask what they were going to do next, thinking that would make itself clear after the next step.