Chapter Text
Zack wrapped the scarf tighter around his head. He sped up to catch up to Clint and Agent “Call me Karen” Lawrence. Shopping for Christmas gifts was always a pain and getting lost in New York was not going to help him any. His world spun as his feet flew up and his view went from the crowd to clouds. He must have screamed because Clint and Karen were hovering over him.
Laughing, Clint held out his hand and helped Zack up. He stood there for a moment rubbing the back of his left leg. “Stupid ice.” This just caused Clint to let out a laugh and hold his friends side as they walked a few feet to get out of the slippery section of the sidewalk.
The three were about to continue on their journey when they heard a shout. Clint turned in time to see a lady continue to yell at the man that was running down the street with her purse. The hero didn’t even think, he stuck out his arm as the thief ran by and caught his neck. Hawkeye shoved him down onto the sidewalk, the ice helped to slip the man's feet out from under him. He landed with a crack as the back of his skull connected with the concrete.
Another lady nearby yelled, “Oh my God! You killed him!”
The world sped up and slowed down at the same time. Clint stood there staring at the man as the area around his head slowly turned to red. The blood seemed to take it’s time covering the ground inch by inch. The people on the other hand seemed to fly by him. Some walked back to give him space while others sped on by to clear the area before the police showed. Most though, they created a large circle around the men, their phones at the ready to record everything.
The sirens soon could be heard. Clint shook his head to clear it for a second. Agent Lawrence was on the phone with SHIELD urging the person on the other end to hurry. The police cars ground to a halt and four armed men came out yelling.
“Look, Zack. Just follow my lead,” Clint said as he kneeled down a bit away from the blood and placed his hands on the ground in front of him within easy sight.
The police slowly walked up with their pistols drawn. “Keep your hands where we can see them!” They shouted as one of them tentatively walked over and handcuffed the slaves. “Oh, shit! This one’s a permie.” The officer shouted as he stared at Clint's bar code. Another one came over with more chains and demanded Clint stand. He got up easily without the use of his hands. Then the new officer shackled Clint's ankles putting a chain up to connect to the ones on his wrists.
Then the officer read the two slaves their full list of rights, “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do may be used against you and your owner in a court of law. Your owner has the right to contact an attorney. If he or she cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to him or her if and when you go to court. If you chose to answer any questions without your owner present you have the right to stop answering at any time. You do not have the right to a phone call, we will contact your owner for you. Are there any questions?”
Neither man had anything to say. They were dragged to the squad car and shoved inside. There were SHIELD cars in the area but the police were making a legal arrest and this crime wasn’t in SHIELD’s jurisdiction. Their hands were tied.
XXX
JARVIS turned off all music and videos in the tower. Before anyone could complain they heard a news report:
This just in, we just got news that one of the Avengers, Clinton Barton, the hero known as Hawkeye, was just arrested on suspicion of murder. During an alleged purse snatching event Derrick Spencer received severe trauma to the back of his head killing him instantly. Police were soon on the scene. Witnesses reported that Hawkeye gave himself up to police without incident. They are trying to contact his owner...
The report droned on but failed to offer any further information.
XXX
Coulson was brushing his teeth. It had been another eventful day and he was fighting to keep his eyes open. All he wanted to do was crawl into his bed and ignore the outside world for a few hours. The beeping from his phone startled him. He groaned, knowing that sleep was now probably another hour away at best. He grabbed the phone and answered it with his mouth still full of toothpaste. He listened to the man on the other end of the line for a minute before he fully understood what was going on.
Running out of his room, a bit a foam still in the corner of his mouth, he ran to the cockpit and slammed the door open. “How fast can you get us to New York?”
XXX
The two slaves spent the night in lock up. The area set aside for slaves was clean and large enough to accommodate everyone inside at least. The other three men in the room tried to intimidate the newbies but Clint just had to sit and stare at them for a few minutes for them to get a hint. Neither he nor Zack were bothered during their stay.
The next day Coulson showed up with Stark and one of his lawyers. It took just a few minutes to convince the police to release Zack into his guardians care. He was an innocent bystander and should not have been taken in by police in the first place. Clint on the other hand was a bit tougher. The lawyer tried everything he could and Stark even tried to bribe the cops (That did not go over well. He is paying his fine and doing his community service like a good little citizen). Full charges were being pressed.
XXX
The media are all over the courthouse. Every inch that they are allowed was covered. The trial took a few weeks. Agent Barton steps into the courtroom everyday wearing one of his three suits. Gone were the sunglasses and shaggy hair. He was as cleaned up as possible. His lawyer spoke of his service to the city along with the number of lives that he has saved over the years. The apposing team spoke of Derrick Spenser’s orphaned son and the damage that Clint has done over the years. Both mentioned the Avengers but while Barton’s legal team talked about how the man had put himself in harms way countless times to keep from hurting a civilian, the other lawyers talked about how too much force was used and how everyone must follow the law, even over hyped superheroes with delusions of grandeur. (objected, sustained). After all, he was a slave for a reason. He has already shown a disregard for human life. How many others will he hurt in the future?
The jury took several hours to deliberate. They came back and sat down. The entire courtroom was quiet. Houses all throughout the country were stilled as the foreman read the verdict: guilty of voluntary manslaughter. For the repeat crime, slave number 334556 will be stripped of the name Clinton Francis Barton. He will be reprimanded to the State of New York and receive fifty lashes for his crime before being resold. Phillip J. Coulson lost all of his rights to slave 334556. He will not be compensated for his loss and is barred from purchasing this slave in the future.
Phil sat in shock as Clint was shackled and walked out of the courtroom.