Dojo workout (Closed to Clint/Hawkeye)

[parisprincetroy]

Paris entered the dojo, searching for either Natasha or Clint. He spotted the archer and headed over to him greeting him with a friendly smile. "Not sure if you remember me? I'm Paris. You were going to give me some tips on modern archery? That is if you're available today. If not, I can come back another time?"

Comments

[nolessvirtuous]

"I've got time," Clint didn't quite smile, but then he wasn't really a smiler. "And of course I remember you. Not a lot of well known archers in history man."

Lucky shot or not, the guy was part of the whole death of Achilles by an arrow in the heel mythos.

[parisprincetroy]

"I've never met a lady warrior before, she's a remarkable woman. I would very much like to be her friend." It wasn't easy, but Paris enjoyed her company.

"I am seeing someone else..." Paris tried to clarify, he knew his reputation for poaching was infamous and he didn't want to start off a potential friendship on the wrong foot. "Her name is Belle."

[nolessvirtuous]

That got a chuckle, "I'm not worried."

It sounded conceited and didn't mean to be - he trusted Nat with his life - everything else was easy.

"And Nat doesn't really have friends... but there are a few of us."

[parisprincetroy]

"Well, you know when you're labeled a famous wife stealer..." Paris grinned a little. "I just wanted to be perfectly clear on that subject. I really like Belle and have learned from my mistakes. I don't want to mess anything up with her."

"I would consider myself very lucky if Natasha called me friend. As I said, she is a remarkable lady."

[nolessvirtuous]

"I've always sort of figured when it comes to wives, you can't steal what doesn't want to be stolen."

Well, you could kidnap - but he was gonna stay away from that interpretation.

[parisprincetroy]

"I didn't...I didn't force Helen to come with me you know. It was her idea and I didn't wish to see her suffer...I thought I could make her happy." Paris shook his head, what a fool he was to have believed that.

[nolessvirtuous]

"Never really thought you did, force her I mean." Nat had a sense for these things and she seemed to like the guy well enough.

[parisprincetroy]

The fact that Clint believed him when so many doubted made Paris smile. "Thank you for that. It is the truth though many would argue the point with me." He said with a sad sigh.

"As I lay dying, Helen and my younger brother Deiphobus planned their nuptials." Paris lined up another arrow using the modern composite bow and hit his mark, but not to Paris' satisfaction. "I need to practice on this I see. It does have a different feel to it....somewhat lighter."

[nolessvirtuous]

"Fickle of her," but that didn't diminish the fact that Paris obviously had loved the woman.

"You'll get used to it fast, your basics are solid and you have better than average aim."

[parisprincetroy]

Yes, it was terribly fickle of Helen. Paris tried not to think on it too much, it hurt to do so.

The prince did appreciate Clint's display of praise for his archery skills. "Thank you, Mr. Barton. I think with time and practice I shall master this modern bow."

[nolessvirtuous]

"I agree, and call me Clint. Mr Barton was my dad." And a bigger bastard Clint had never met - and that included Loki.

[parisprincetroy]

"Very well then, Clint." Paris stated aiming another arrow and letting it fly. It hit it's mark, but Paris knew that hit could improve.

"I hear conflicting stories regarding my own father. Some say he was the one that sent me to be killed as an infant by the shepherd, others say I was banished since I caused my mother great stress after my birth...what with the prediction of my being the reason Troy would fall, I wasn't wanted. And still others tell me that it wasn't my father at all, that the priests stole me and left me to die in the wilderness." Paris aimed his arrow again and shot, hitting the mark much closer this time. "I guess I will never know. I never had the courage to ask King Priam...how do you ask someone something like that?"

[nolessvirtuous]

"Hell if I know," Clint shrugged. "Certainly wouldn't have asked my old man. Not if I wanted to sit for a week."

[parisprincetroy]

Paris stopped in mid aim and stared at Clint in abject horror. "He...hurt you?" He shook his head. "And they call me a coward." More was the coward that abused defenseless children.

[nolessvirtuous]

Clint shrugged, "Mostly he hurt my mom and my older brother."

Barney had done his damnedest to keep Clint out of the line of fire.

"Bastard was a mean drunk, but now he's dead - so good riddance. Can't let him ruin my life." And Paris shouldn't let his dad, or Helen or his brothers memory ruin his.

[parisprincetroy]

"How very awful." Paris felt nothing but sympathy toward Clint. "I hate to voice this as it is quite horrible to say, but I am glad that man is out of your life as well." Nothing good could come of it if Clint's father was still alive.

"I wish I had your strength." Paris gave Clint the smallest of smiles. "I admire that. I wrestle with my own demons and sometimes...sometimes I feel they overwhelm me."