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Clint holed herself up in the laundry room. She sat on the floor silently, her large wings surrounding her like a barrier to blot out the noise. She didn't remember what happened. An arrow, a spark of light, a sudden aching pain in her back..
She remembers the way everyone freaked out. The stares she got, the way Thor wanted to "strike it out of the sky". Was she now a monster?? Tears fell down her face as she thought about it. About them. How could the team she trusted so much turn against her so quickly?? The only one who wasn't there was Bruce, Hulk had been busy elsewhere.
BANG BANG BANG. The door rattled fiercely, and she immediately knew who it was. He was going to see her. He was going to think she was as much of a freak as everyone else.
"Arrows? Open up! It Hulk!" Hulk didn't sound as angry as he usually did. His voice was almost.. happy? Clint knew he hated the other avengers, he felt constant spite and hated being pushed around and told what to do. So why would he be so happy to see her.
"...arrows? Is arrows there..? It Hulk. Hulk want to see friend arrows!" Followed by another three furious bangs. The door shook on its hinges, threatening to break. Would she get in trouble??
"Y-yes! Yes I'm in here!" She cried out, feeling her wings tighten around her body. "Just.. push the door hard.. its.. its blocked."
"Blocked?" Hulk questioned, "Why door blocked. Stupid door.. stupid door prevent Hulk seeing arrows.." and with one forceful push, the door was thrown off its hinges and into the pile of clothes. Hulk stepped in, a mild snarl on his face, but he froze entirely upon seeing Clint.
"Arrows..?" He asked, approaching slowly. "What happen..?"
"J-just.. Just leave me be.." Clint sniffled, "I'm a freak. You don't have to hide it."
Hulk remained quiet as he approached, carefully sitting himself in front of them. The wings were definitely new. Everyone often called them "hawkeye", maybe that was why? Was she secretly a hawk? Very deep questions..
"Hulk thinks wings cool." He smiled. "Very cool.. Cupid. You like cupid.. HA. CUPID!" He clapped his hands as if it were the funniest things in the world, but Clint remained silent. She couldn't tell if he was mocking her. He stopped quickly.
"You like cupid.." he gently reached out, taking one hand. "Because.. you pretty. Like little heart. Make Hulk heart go faster when Hulk sees you.. Hulk not know if that normal. But Banner say it mean love? So maybe.. maybe Hulk love cupid."
Clint's wings gently unfurled as Hulk spoke. Did he really mean all of this? Everyone talked about Hulk like some monster, some freak completely incapable of love. And yet.. here he was, practically confessing he loved her just like that.
"Do.. do you mean all of that?" Her wings fluttered gently as she spoke. "Really?"
"Yes!" Hulk puffed his chest out like a proud bird. "Hulk means it all! Hulk not liar. Hulk like cupid. Like cupid a lot. Come.. why dont Hulk take cupid somewhere nice?" And before Cupid could even argue she was carefully scooped up.
Being held by Hulk was oddly comforting. Cupid was used to the way others carried her around, always rough and metallic and uncaring. Like she was just a tool. But Hulk was gentle. He held her as if she was a priceless gem, one hand resting under her like a seat while the other gripped her back to make sure she was held upright. The wind in her hair as Hulk scaled the tower made her feel more alive, her wings spreading out to take in the cold breeze.
The city was beautiful. She felt like a bird, gracefully flapping her wings as if she could take off at any second. She felt.. free. Safe. Almost at home..
"Cupid like view?" She snapped out of her gaze as Hulk spoke up. "Hulk know cupid sometimes climb here to stare at pretty city.."
"Yeah.." she smiled, taking his hand gently, "I always find myself in bed the next morning though. It's so strange."
"That because Hulk carry you!" Hulk admitted all to proudly. "Hulk.. get worried. What if cupid fall?? What if cupid get hurt in sleep?? So Hulk come check when cupid resting on roof.. make sure cupid okay."
"Youve really got attached to that name.. But.. you do all that for me? Why? What worth do I have?" She felt her heart sink lightly. Why would the strongest avenger need to help HER of all people?? But this feeling faded the moment Hulk picked her up, holding her up to the sky like an angel.
"Hulk.. like you. Hulk think you are amazing. You not hate Hulk for being Hulk.. You wanted to be friend with Hulk. Something not many people do." He gently pulled her in, resting her against his chest. "And.. Hulk think.. you very pretty. Very pretty.." He moved his hand gently, patting her head as if she were some sort of dog. But she found herself leaning into the warm touch of his hands. He felt.. comforting, in ways she didn't know how to explain.
"...what about Bruce?" She couldn't help asking. She knew Hulk's small alter ego was anxious around her; The way he looked away when she saw him, the way he'd find excuses to leave when she was around, the way he seemed to stare when she wasn't looking. It was as if he studied her like some kind of freak. Like the outcast she was.
"...what about banner?" Hulk tilted his head to the side like a lost puppy. "You want speak to Banner?"
"I dont.. I dont know! I just.. Why is everything so infuriating?" Cupid looked out at the busy street. At the lives of people she should deem smaller than her own. And yet.. she felt just as lost as everyone else.
"I like him," she continued, "I want to like him. He's been so kind and caring and accepting of me, even when everyone else thought I was the weird abnormal one. The one who doesn't fit in." She felt tears roll down her cheeks as she kept speaking, not noticing how Hulk had taken a few steps away.
"Is it weird that I like him? I like a man who I feel is far out of my league.. one who doesn't see me as an equal. Bruce is so smart and he shines so bright and I'm just.. Clint. Stupid ol' unreliable Clint with my bow and arrows and my hearing aids and my uneventful lifestyle. What is a woman like me to a supergenius?"
"Well.. You're a very kind woman." The voice behind her startled her. It was meek, almost hesitant. One Hulk could never pull off. She finally turned to see Bruce standing there, visibly exhausted and carefully tying a knot to keep his trousers from dropping.
"...you heard all of that didn't you." Clint felt as if she were in some high school drama where Bruce was going to dramatically reject her proposition and walk away to be with one of the better avengers.
"I did." Bruce responded quietly, his voice almost void of emotion. "Is that really how you feel, Clint?" Clint didn't respond. She didn't know how. Why was he talking like this, like she was some sort of experiment? Just an analytic on a page.
He stepped forward carefully, keeping his eyes focused on her. She felt her body shuffle backwards in response. She wasn't thinking. She wasn't feeling. She was void of everything, waiting for the shutdown. Waiting for everything to break. Waiting for-
She lost her footing.
Everything slowed down. She felt weightless. She felt as if she were going to die. Was this it? Was this really it? It'd make sense. Such a stupid death for such a stupid person.
She suddenly slammed against the side of the building as her hand was grabbed.
"HOW THE FUCK DID THAT HAPPEN?!" Bruce. Bruce was there. He helped her. He SAVED her. Why? Why would he even-
"Can you stop having a crisis and help me?!" She snapped out of her daze to realise Bruce was struggling to pull her up. Her wings carefully latched onto the edge and pulled her up as she clung desperately to Bruce's arms, and once pulled over she fell into him. She waited for him to push her off. To yell. To call her a freak to-
She felt his arms embrace her warmly. She felt the gentle sobbing, the tears on her shoulder.
"Youre.. youre so STUPID.." Bruce yelled, voice cracking as he sobbed. "How didnt you notice the ledge?? You chose to stand there! It wasn't intentional right?? RIGHT?? YOU WEREN'T TRYING TO.." He had to stop himself before he changed, Hulk pressing against his skin. "Please.. please tell me it wasnt intentional.."
Clint's wings gently embraced Bruce as she held him close, her own tears beginning to fall. He cared this much?? But why??
"Why do you suddenly care now-" she spoke before she could even think. Bruce stared up at her, his eyes completely unreadable.
"Because I love you..??" He responded, "I always have i just.. I dont know.. does it seem like i dont?? Maybe I'm taking advice from the wrong people but.. I love you a lot. I've loved you since I first set eyes on you."
"You do..?" Clint's voice was barely above a whisper. "But.. i.. I'm just.. a freak.."
"Youre not "just a freak", Clint. If you were just a freak then I must be the worst person in the world huh? Because when I look at you I see more than billions of tiny galaxies in the sparkles in your eye, and your smile lights up a room more than a burning sun."
"..poetic.."
"I try to be. Now.." Bruce gently led her away from the ledge. "Maybe we can go for drinks maybe? Get to know each other a bit more than just workmates..?"
"What about.. yknow.." she fluttered her wings lightly. "Won't people think I'm.. weird..?"
"I know a cafe ran by a giant isopod. I doubt you'd be the weirdest guy in the room.. most gorgeous though? I can't argue against that.." Clints cheeks reddened as she held Bruce's hands tightly.
"Well.. I.. I think.. that'd be nice then.. Thank you, Bruce."