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Prompt: Five Times someone chased Clint and 1-time Coulson did
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1.
Clint rolled as he landed on the next roof perfectly avoiding a broken ankle. It was situations like this that made him wish he was in his Hawkeye persona. At least then he could still carry his bow and trick arrows. The grappling hook arrow would come in particularly handy when jumping from rooftops.
Instead, he was in the black and gold jacket of Ronin. He was a single sidearm strapped to his thigh and his prized katana across his back. Unlike Hawkeye, Ronin preferred close-quarters combat. He did have it available to use a sniper but the price was significantly more. Besides most would rather have his special brand of killing. Up close and personal to send a message against their enemies. Which would be fine if he wasn't being chased by SHIELD. Again!
As he popped back to his feet a shot rang out but it missed. Turning he saw a familiar bald man standing on the last roof. Jasper Sitwell friend to Agent Barton, an enemy to Ronin the assassin. He was considering the gap but they both knew he would never take it. He could do many things but this was not one of them.
Sitwell shouted, "Give it up Ronin! SHIELD has you surrounded!"
Clint considered the man briefly before he shook his head. There was no way in hell he was surrounded. He had seen the agents trying to keep up with them below. They were lost four blocks back. No Sitwell was simply trying to buy for time.
"Don't make me shoot you," tried Sitwell again but it was already too late. Clint had taken a running leap off the building and was gone before he could even get off a single shot.
2.
Blood pooled around him as the body hit the floor. The now dead man's lifeless eyes stared up at the ceiling a hole straight through his heart from the katana. As Clint brought the blade back up he wiped the blood from it. In one quick movement, he sheathed the blade. There was no remorse in his cold grey-blue eyes as he stared at the dead man. He was a sex trafficker. One of the worst human beings on the planet. There was no redemption for someone like this.
Clint then took the back stairwell out of the building and onto the street. Only to pause as the hairs on the back of his neck raised. He was being watched.
Turning his head he saw a figure standing in the alleyway. For a moment his heart stopped thinking it was Nat. Out of everyone, he could face right now she was the most likely one to bring him in. It would be difficult for even Ronin to fight her one-on-one. And Ronin had a black belt in an almost forgotten martial art.
A familiar female said, "Ronin by order of Director Fury of SHIELD I am to bring you in."
Oh, fuck him that was Bobbie. He really didn't want to fight her. Like Nat, she was one of the few people he could count on. Until now at least. To make matters worse she could go toe to toe with Hawkeye. More often than not Coulson, something in him twisted at the thought of his ex-handler, had to pull them apart.
Low in his throat, he growled, "Agent Moore I have heard a lot about you. Do you really want to take your chances with me?"
Bobbie stepped forward so that he could see her better. Her gun was pointed directly at his chest. Clint sent silent thanks to whatever deity had decided he didn't need to die today.
She then questioned, "And where would you have learned my name, Ronin? Much less know what I can and cannot handle."
Behind his mask, Clint gave a dark smile, "Because I know a certain Hawk. He speaks quite highly of you."
That had the weapon lowering slightly as she asked her voice tight emotion, "Barton?"
The dark smile faded into something softer as he said, "It's hard to say goodbye."
That was enough of a confirmation to make her go stone stiff. Only those closest to Bobbie knew of that code. Clint would not have told anyone the code even under the pain of death and torture. It was a test of their friendship to see if she would rat him out. Using the distraction he disappeared back into the darkness.
3.
His first thought when he woke up was ow. Someone had flipped his mattress with him still on it over. Clint with his battered body and bruised ribs had hit the floor with a pained grunt. The last mission had not been as successful as he would have liked.
Opening his eyes he felt a shiver of terror run down his spine. That's what hit him. Who the fuck decided to send the Calvary after him? She barely tolerated him when he was an agent.
"Calvary," he greeted as he gingerly sat up an arm pressed into his ribs, "What brings you my way? Didn't we have an agreement to stay out of each other's way?"
She sneered, "Don't call me that Barton. We did, Barton until you decided to go AWOL. Do you know how much paperwork I had to do for you? What the hell were you thinking taking off like that? Becoming Ronin?"
Clint's eyes sharpened and color turned to a grey as he asked, "Who all knows?"
"Just myself and Agent May," came another voice and on instinct, Clint threw one of his many knives towards the voice. It was caught inches before it hit its target, "Good morning to you too, Barton."
He recognized the voice in an instant. Victoria Hand. She was... interesting. He didn't exactly trust her but he didn't dislike her. They had at least been able to work together without hostilities when he was still with SHIELD. SHIELD would come after its own but if it came between the mission and a single agent Hand would choose the mission. She had the courage to do what many could or would not.
Clint growled, "So Bobbie told after all. Are you here to bring me back? I haven't stayed away all this time just to be brought back by you. No offense May."
"None taken," she replied coldly, "I wouldn't want to be brought in by you either."
It was as if nothing had changed between them. As if Coulson hadn't come back from the dead and Fury lied to him as well as the rest of the Avengers. He had heard about the group that Coulson put together now that he was outside. A group May had been a part of. Yet here she was facing him down with only Hand with her.
Clint shuffled towards the wall and leaned against it. His head was back resting against the wall his eyes closed. Slow deep breaths were given as he relaxed in a way he hadn't since he left.
Slowly he asked, "Why are you here? I won't just return to SHIELD. Not with everything that has happened."
Hand questioned her eyes narrowing at him, "You blame SHIELD?"
Clint sighed, "Not SHIELD. I blame Fury. For lying to us. He broke what little trust I had left in the world."
"And so you left," finished May.
Clint opened his eyes and looked at her sadly, "I still go after those who would have SHIELD after them. But for now yes I left."
Hand pinched the bridge of her nose as she said, "You and Coulson are impossible. I told Fury it was a terrible idea to lie to you all. I told him it was an even worse idea to keep lying."
That was the most emotion he had ever seen Hand give. She was usually stoic in a similar way Coulson had been. But he could still read her. It was May that he had trouble with.
After a moment he asked, "What will it take for you to keep quiet?"
The two exchanged a look before Hand said, "Coulson has returned to Avengers Tower. This in turn leaves me in command of his team. Agent May was going to continue on when Moore got in contact. My offer is orders go through May. Keep in contact with me through her. I won't stop you but I won't stop SHIELD either."
"So essentially let you know someone hasn't killed me? And Avengers haven't brought my dumbass in? You will help funnel those who need killing to me."
"Or I could just take you in now? Your choice Barton."
He could take one or the other he couldn't take both of them. Especially not without a weapon. To make matters worse they both knew it.
4.
A year had passed since he ran from SHIELD and the Avengers. A year since he retook the mantle of Ronin. Blue eyes had turned back to the grey of his killer side. The change would surprise his friends but that would only be known if they caught up to him.
After his deal with Hand, he had kept ahead of SHIELD. Despite her words, he was given a warning when they were closing in. It wasn't much warning but enough to give him a head start. The rest was up to him.
This particular night was unusual for Ronin. He was not using his katana to kill his target. Instead, he was asked to shoot the target from afar. While it was an option for him to kill it wasn't supposed to be one of his specialties.
So here he was in the snow waiting to take a shot. This wasn't his first or even second choice of a nest. Choosing either of those places, however, ran the risk of someone putting together who he really was. From his current position, a kill could be done with a reasonable amount of skill.
Through the scope of his sniper, he finally saw his target. It had been three days since he had come up here. Three days of waiting in the freezing cold and snow. If he didn't return with frostbite it would be an absolute miracle.
Taking a breath in he held it and squeezed the trigger. The woman's head exploded in pieces of skull and brain matter. Her body slumped to the ground as the screaming began.
Turning he began to break down his weapon and put it into the bag he brought with him. For once he was not in his Ronin gear instead choosing a less conspicuous outfit with similar colors. As he was about to stand he felt a sense of danger wash over him.
Immediately he dropped the bag and popped completely to his feet. Only to be knocked off his feet by what felt like a semi-truck hitting him. The air was knocked completely from his lungs and he was headed straight for the edge of the building.
Stars flashed before his eyes and he shook his head trying to clear it. What had hit him was none other than Natasha. He should have expected that they would send her. He just wasn't expecting her here. A quick run-through of the job though revealed that it was a hit most likely set up by SHIELD.
Without wasting a second he got his feet back under him. Getting fully taken to the ground would make this fight over faster than a schoolyard brawl. At least on his feet, he had a decent chance of beating her.
For a moment they both grappled. Clint was unable to put space between them but Natasha was unable to bring him down or use her Widow Gauntlets. Thank the Gods because she had used them once on him and they hurt like no other.
Clint took a ringing blow to the chin but kept his feet. This turn gave him the opening he needed to land a hard blow to Natasha's liver. No matter how hard one trained. A blow to the liver was a blow to the liver. She gasped in pain and her knees wobbled barely keeping her on her feet.
It was followed by a kick to her solar plexus that finally dropped her. He knew he didn't have long but he still hesitated in leaving her.
Steeling his resolve he asked, "What keeps you chasing him? Do you really believe he wants to be found?"
"Wh... what would you know about it, Ronin?" Gasped Natasha.
"More than you would think," he growled.
5.
SHIELD was closing in. He could feel the noose tightening around his neck. It was time to move safe houses again. The mantra ran through his mind. Keep moving. Stay safe. Stay alive.
There was a crash in the next in the room over. Throwing up the hood and replacing his mask he was already standing on the window sill. Time to go.
Before he could jump a strong muscular body hit him from behind. Unprepared for the sudden displacement he fell briefly before hitting the ground below with a thud and a groan. The person who knocked him from his perch landed on their feet.
Rolling over onto his back he found Rogers standing over him. Well, it could be worse he guessed. It could be Fury. If Clint saw Fury he wasn't sure that he wouldn't shoot the bastard.
Clint growled unsure if his voice changer had turned on, "Captain. What brings you to the middle of fucking nowhere? Surely not little Ole me?"
The Voice changer was not on. He would need to be careful about how much he talked here. Rogers didn't answer instead tried to plant his foot on Clint's chest. The assassin rolled narrowly avoiding it. A second later he had popped up to his feet.
Rogers ordered, "Ronin by order of Director Fury of SHIELD you are under arrest."
Fuck it had to be Fury. He should have guessed the man would track Ronin here. It meant when he got away he would have to be infinitely more careful. Maybe it was time to go off-grid for a while. Just because he was risking everything that didn't mean May and Hand did as well.
Clint turned his head to the side showing his curiosity as he asked, "And what makes you think I will go with you? Many have tried and failed before you, Captain. Including the Widow."
Roger's replied his voice still cold, "Ronin I suggest you surrender. We have the area cordoned off."
On the edge of his hearing, he could hear the rumble of the Iron Man suit. His katana could go through many things but that suit was not one of them. Neither was Rogers shield now that he thought of it.
The feeling of being trapped washed over him. It took every bit of effort he had left in him to keep his breathing under control. They couldn't know what was going through his mind. They would take advantage of it just like everyone else.
This wasn't going to be fun. Still, there had to be a way to get past Rogers. He could avoid the others it was just a matter of this one man.
The Avenger and the former Avenger then jumped into a fight. Clint had drawn his katana immediately. Rogers in turn didn't hesitate to use his shield to deflect as well as attack. Metal clanged against metal. As the two danced around each other.
Clint fell into old forms. He chose the more balanced form so that he could easily switch to a more appropriate form as needed. Practicing in secret had come in handy to keep his skills honed when he joined SHIELD.
At one point he landed a clean strike into Roger's arm. A hiss of pain was given. Behind his mask, Clint grinned. Few could say they did such a thing in single combat against Rogers.
Everything had gone so beyond FUBAR. He needed to get away from this man before the rest caught up. It was Budapest all over again. Wait... Budapest that was it.
Stepping back he said, "This is Budapest all over again. Or do I remember Budapest differently?"
Confusion crossed Roger's face as he froze. His hand twitched as if to reach up towards his comms. There was a flash of uncertainty and hesitation. Clint threw one of his smoke bombs laced with pepper spray at the man. He knew the man's mask did not protect his eyes.
As soon as it went off he sheathed his katana and took off. Behind him, he could hear the sputtering and curses being thrown out. Who knew that Captain America was such a potty mouth? Clint let out a light laugh feeling better than he had in more than a year.
+ 1
After being stuck in the cold for the last four months due to missions Clint was happy to be in the warmth again. He had refused any new assignments and called in a favor to fly him south. No matter if he took the job or not Clint hated the cold. It reminded him too much of his days on the streets half-starving.
Clint sat outside enjoying the sun at a coffee shop. He ordered his third caramel latte and was waiting for it to come. A book sat in front of him untouched for the last few minutes. The feeling of being watched had settled upon him.
So he people watched wondering who was watching him? Who they were and what their intentions were? Was it SHIELD again? The Avengers? He hoped it was just an unfriendly gang that worked in the town. It was supposed to be a vacation of sorts.
The server returned with his latte and set it on the table in front of him. Clint gave a soft thank you but didn't look at the woman. Just kept watching waiting.
It was not the street from which his watcher came from. Instead, they came from inside of the cafe. Clint's hand went straight for the knife he kept hidden. Until he recognized the interloper.
In his usual grey suit Phil Coulson. His former handler had dark bags under his eyes. The man seemed positively exhausted. Dealing with the Avengers would do that to you.
Clint's hand eased off his knife knowing that it wouldn't help here. Coulson could shoot and kill him before he could draw it. So he returned his eyes to the crowds of people. Scanning the crowd he couldn't see anyone who might belong to SHIELD. Still, there was likely someone out there watching them. Making sure he wasn't going to kill Coulson.
Coulson didn't say anything as he took a seat across from him at the table. Clint reached out and took his latte. His eyes never left his ex-handler.
After a moment Clint asked his voice cold, "What are you doing here, Coulson? I don't remember inviting you to join me."
Coulson winced at the use of his last name before he replied, "You weren't exactly hiding when you came here, Clint."
"Stark?"
There was a twitch as he replied sullenly, "Stark."
Well, that explained that. Even if they weren't here they were still actively looking for him.
Taking another sip of his latte he questioned, "What do you want? I think I've made it quite clear that I'm not coming back."
Coulson said with some hurt in his hazel eyes, "I was hoping to convince you to return to Avengers Tower. It's been over a year Clint. Your team misses you. I..."
Clint laid his drink on the table as he said, "I know how long it's been. Do you think I want to be away from them?"
Coulson opened his mouth then closed it again.
Clint continued his low and full of his anger, "I want to have their backs. I want to help them. But I cannot return with SHIELD being there. I don't trust Fury."
The I don't trust you was left unsaid between them. Their lying to him had broken what trust he had learned to have in the world.
Coulson's eyes narrowed as he said, "Then change things. You did the first time you joined SHIELD. You can do so again."
"Why should I? I'm doing the same work I'd be doing for Fury."
Coulson sighed, "Alone? I remember when you first joined us how lonely you were. You were reluctant to let anyone in. Half the time you refused to eat because you had to go to the cafeteria. So, Sitwell, Morse, and I took turns bringing you food. Don't cut yourself out again."
"No one would miss me if I stayed away," said Clint as he pushed himself away from the table.
It was time to go. Coulson had also stood up his face normally so stoic now showed confliction. Clint however was already mapping out his escape. His time here was over.
As Clint turned to leave Coulson grabbed his arm and said, "Clint they need you. Out of all of the Avengers, you are the one who makes the team. It's not just in their fighting but in their lifestyle. Everyone misses you. I," Coulson looked away from Clint, "I miss you. Please come home."
His heart clenched. And he hesitated unable to leave but unwilling to stay.