#it’s color work so ten of those hanks would only use a few yards

[itslarsyouguys]

May I have the confidence and audacity of this knitting pattern that suggests I buy 11 different hanks of yarn at $28 each in order to knit ONE PAIR of socks

[judgement-free-sideblog]

Occupational hazards

Barry Berkman x Reader

Three part series: It was just another job, he doesn't even had to kill anyone, but the way she looked at him was more dangerous than the bullets.

Part I Part II Part III

Angst with a happy ending

Warnings: Violence, cursing, blood, stalkers.

Part II

Adrian's face smiled at you in the mirror, she was a nice looking woman, a few years younger than you, yet ten times more of a functional adult.

"Reservations are at 10:00 for brunch, and your... friend is waiting in the living room" Her voice had an ounce of disgust referring to Barry.

"Great! He is on time, and please don't be so harsh on him, I'll be down in a minute, chat with him, he is nice" She rolled her yes at you and walked out of your room, you knew she meant well and it made you happy having someone that caring around, even when this time you have lied to her about the true nature of your relationship with Barry.

You finished fixing up your hair and put on the summer dress you had picked up for you date it was the middle of June and it felt nice to have a reason to leave the house well dressed beside the fear that one of the many paparazzi lurking around would get a picture and sell it to a magazine with a stupid title.

And on the other hand even when you don't want to admit it, you were desperate to spend more time with Barry, you were not sure if he changed his mind out of pity, ambition or if he genuinely wanted to help you, but there was something about him so interesting you just needed to know more.

"You look beautiful" His del voice and the compliment take you by surprise "Shall we?" Even when chivalrous things like offering his arm like that or opening the car dormant nothing to you, it felt nice coming from him. "There was a bug in your living room, in the lamp next to your couch" He said once you were inside changing his voice back to the monotone he had used the day before and you felt a bit disappointed that his flattery was a lie.

"You know what? You are fired I'm going to kill him myself" You said jokingly, shaking that feeling away "How on earth did that psycho put a microphone in my house? I'm going to destroyed that shit the minute I get back" you started driving faster without noticing, the road helped to calm your nerves.

"Oh that that won't be necessary" He said showing you the small device crushed in his palm. "I crushed before Adrian could see"

"Then what you said earlier..." You started confused.

"That was a compliment, do big actresses don't receive those anymore?" He asked and youu could see a small grin on his face.

"So you met Adrian?" You better change the subject before things get complicated.

"I did, how much exactly did she knows? She send me an email with your address, and a few notes about places you like to go and stuff like that but she didn't mention anything else" He was looking at the road and you suspected he haven't see this side of L.A. before.

"Well, she knows I'm from Columbus, so I told her you were a childhood friend that came to work here as an extra in a movie I had a small role in, that we reconnected over emails and that now we wanted to explore more of that feelings" a complete fabrication but she had believed it and that made you feel worst about lying.

"I'm from Cleveland, but that would do. So you finally didn't tell her the truth?"

"I couldn't, you were right, is better if less people know" you were already at the restaurant so you allowed the valet to take away your car and you took his hand cautiously waiting for a reaction but he didn't pull away and just started walking in "How did your boss take it? That you end up taking the job?"

"Fuches is not my boss" He said again exasperated, just what you intended, there was a cute frown on his forehead when he do that "And he is happy, he didn't want to work with you either, so now he can ignore the whole thing and simply change his work number."

"A true dream that guy huh?" Even whit the heels you have to look up to him every time you talked to him.

"He is... terrible" He said after struggling to fine a compliment for Fuches "But just like you feel about Adrian, he is family." He talked low so only you could listen and you both walked behind the waitress to your table, in the open area of the restaurant. He opened the chair for you and wait for the waitress to walk away to ask a question that clearly was trying to get in the conversation since earlier "This Maverick guy, is he dangerous? Did he ever beat you or..."

"Or?" You said rising a brow but he couldn't get the words out "He is not that stupid, he wouldn't do anything that could physically incriminate him, but he was rough in verything, I really don't like to talk about it". Your palms were sweaty and the knot on your chest start tightening.

"I'm sorry" He said seeing your obvious discomfort "Is just that I have a friend, and I think she is working with him"

"A friend?" You asked very interested and it was his turn to be uncomfortable "Look Barry he is a bad men, I won't sugarcoat it for you, but it all depends on how known she is, he preys on extras and new faces with promises of big parts, but if she has a talking named role he probably would leave her alone."

"She is one of the leads I guess, is that movie of the moms that get divorce and fall for each other?" He said relieved with what you have said.

"Fantastic Richard make a movie to make everyone around him believe he is a feminist and I'm here paying a men to make me look like a decent woman" you said bitterly "Don't worry she would be fine, he would be the most perfect gentleman for everything about that project to cover his ass, your friend is safe" you reassure him and the waitress returned to take your orders, just when you were desperate for a drink.

"Are you ready to order?" She had a big smile with white teeth and bright pink lipstick and you could see her checking out Barry without discretion.

"Two black coffees please" He said before you could speak "I want the mushrooms omelet and the fruit cocktail" He said giving back the cart.

"And you madame?"

"A whites only spinach omelet, thank you" You said and she walked away no without giving one last look at him. "Coffee?"

"Decent women don't drink at 10 am" that actually made you laugh and he was pleased with your reaction "But actually there is somewhere I would like to take you after this and it would be better if you are completely sober" You gave him an intrigued look but he didn't say much else about it.

You eat in a comfortable silence, and you studied his face and his movements, how he keep moving his cup on the table and how he drink never taking the cup by the handle, like it was a glass. Then a loud ring interrupted the moment and you could see your least favorite person name popping up in the screen, you were going to turn the phone off but he took it first.

"Hello?" He said casually "Hi, I'm Barry, who are you?" you couldn't hear the response but you were almost sure he should be mad. "Oh that is not possible, she is very busy at the moment, right sweetheart? Do you want to leave her a message? Oh look he hung up" He give you back the phone and you immediately turned off. "Adorable guy".

"He is going to be pissed" You said with a big smile on your face "Thank you"

After the meal he took the car to drive outside town, there was something relaxing about it, that deserted area away from everyone and everything was definitely a place where nobody will follow and you felt completely safe next to him.

"Fuches told me how you get his number" he said opening the door for you. "And I invited someone here that may be happy to see you again" He said pointing at a man a few yards from you, he was wearing a hat to hide from the sun and a black best, but you could recognize his pale skin almost instantly.

"Hank?" You asked and he start approaching "Oh god is you, I'm so happy to see you.

"Y/N! This is gonna be so much fun, when Barry said he was working with you I was so excited" He said smiling and holding both of your hands.

"Wait a minute what is going to be fun exactly, and do you know each other?" You asked but it was obvious that they did, wich confirmed that NoHo Hank was everything but an ordinary men.

"Of course we know each other, Barry trained my men to be as good as him and take down the Burmeses but then he went crazy and kill them all. But hey! Water under the bridge right Barry?" He talked about murder an mafia the way he talked about color schemes for small rooms, and you could see just how dangerous Barry Berkman's world really was.

"You worked for the Chechen mafia?" You asked Barry.

"As a consultant" He said with indignation "Let's get started, put this on" he said tossing a bag with Gym clothes from Lululemon "I .... I guessed your size" He said a bit embarrassed.

"What exactly are we doing here?" You asked him and looked at the clothes, it was a nice purple sport bra and matching leggings.

"Well your ex is an asswhole, and I'm not that sure this plan of your will work, but since I can't stay at your place all the time to stop him for get close to you, I thought it would be good if you learn to defend yoursel" He said confidently. "Also I made some recon around your house this morning, your window is facing a blindspot on a roof perfect for someone to watch you from there" You remember the insidious calls from Richard and got chills thinking he may have been watching you from so close.

"Decent women don't drink at 10 am" He said sarcastically, making you laugh "I'm kidding, I actually want to take you somewhere else after brunch, and I'll be better if you are completely sober" he said with a playful look on his eyes that was enough to convince you to quit drinking...at least for that week.

You went to a small tent they have set up and put on the work out clothes to start, sadly your physical shape was no match for his, and after what he called just warm up you were sweating and panting. But you felt touch by the gesture, and your heart start holding to the illusion that he may not be doing all this for the money.

"Come on, like you mean it!" He said after you tried to hit him on the groin with your knee but stopped midair not wanting to hurt him.

"Hit him baby! Barry can take it" Hank said cheering you up, he was not actually helpful but it was nice to have him around.

You close your eyes and try to concentrate on Richard, on all the pain he caused you and how much you have sacrificed to get away from him and then you hit him again this time with all your strength, and even when Barry was way stronger he bend with paint for a moment.

"Barry? Oh shit I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" You start looking at him while he still had his hand holding his hurt manhood.

"No, it's fine" He said gasping for air "That was good, now do it to Hank" he said and start laughing watching how Hank went even paler. "Oh fuck that hurt" He said no longer holding his weight and Hank run to help you stand on his feet.

"I think that's more than enough, come on big guy I'll take you home" You said and helped him back in the car. "Thanks man" You said to NoHo Hank and offered your hand but he went for a hug.

"Barry is a good guy, he could be good for you" He whispered in your ear and you nodded with a blush in your face, either you were being obvious or he was just that sensitive.

You drive to your place in silence, except for you asking him every few minutes if he was okay. You helped him to your couch and went to the kitchen to find him some ice and an ibuprofen.

"That went well" He said once you were sitting next to him on the couch and he took the pill "Now make sure you do that if that son of a bitch comes near you"

"You can be sure I will, but seriously apart from probably keeping you from being a father I have a great day" you really meant that, maybe it was the way he looked at you or the way he spoke but he made you feel safe.

"I should leave" He said then putting apart the ice pack, "I have to work in the morning and I'll go to the hospital to make sure I don't have an hernia" He said and laughed at your concerned face "I'm kidding, I'll call you" He stood up and he gave you a handshake but following your instinct you pull him closer to kiss him on th cheek, he didn't move nor say anything but gave you a timid smile and just walked outside.

The peace you felt that night, that would extend for the next month was intoxicating, for the first time in a long time you went to sleep without worrying what would the tabloids were reserving for you in the morning, even when Pop sugar had a vicious article about the "Mysterious man taking Y/N on dates in L.A." the next morning, Barry made you happy, and maybe the only cloud in your sunny day was that your relationship wasn't real, it had an expiration date and a price tag attached to it.

Week after week you tried to keep you from falling for him, forcing you to remember how you actually met, but despite the fact that he was in fact a murderer he was a good man, and even when he called himself a bad actor he was excellent at faking caring for you, at holding you in his arms at the beach and giving you his jacket so you wouldn't get sunburned.

He mastered the art of making you believe he get nervous when he would get at your place earlier than planned and you would be walking around in a see trough sleepwear dress. And you have to force yourself to believe that a tender kiss on your forehead in public was just part of his job and meant nothing because otherwise you would be done when he left.

On the bright side was that people were talking about you two and the insidious calls and the nasty presents and threats have stopped, and since one friend of yours on Variety wanted an actual exclusive on your relationship by mid July you agreed to give her a candid interview about how marvelous your life was since Barry came along.

"Nervous?" You asked him and stop a minute to admire him in his old Marine uniform, you never quite get the kink about it until now, he did look amazing and the unholy thoughts in your mind were about to make you blush, you even had stop smoking to make the lie believable but god you could use one now.

"Not really, it's just weird I haven't use this in years" It was all part of the photoshoot that will go with the interview "Thankfully it still fits"

"You can always take it off and that would get attention too" You wink at him, your more efficient form of coping with your feelings was being extremely flirtatious, at least that way he would think it was a joke.

"Hi, I'm Danielle" the reporter said and shake Barry's hand once he was out of his uniform and you both were siting in a nice couch with the cameras around you. "First I want to say that you guys are a lovely couple, and it's such an honor that you allow this space to talk about it"

"Thank you for having us" strangely you felt actually nervous and when he notice you rubbing your hands together he took it one on his and hold it tight. "With all the things that are out there even when I like to keep my life private I prefer to tell the truth once before it hurt my relationship" You said, as you both have practiced for the last three days, your friend Charlie had been nice enough to send a copy of the questions to Adrian and you have choreographed your answers, now she would asked about how did you meet.

"So Barry tell me, all this media attention have had any negative impact in your life? How do you cope with being called a walking purse, as some headlines had said?" The question came out of nowhere and Charlie that was sitting behind the cameras was looking as baffled as you, and ypu could imagine who may have something to do with this.

Barry stay silent for a second that felt like an hour and then he finally spoke with a composed tone.

"When I first move to L.A. I have this delusional idea in mind of becoming an actor, and I used to think the spotlight was the goal, but then when we started dating I realized how damaging that could be for someone, the amount of pressure people put on women is insane, look ar this beautiful and wonderful women next to me, people should be talking about how great she is acting, how far she has get on her own, and how much she does for her community in her free time, I'm nothing, just an extra in a couple of commercials and a clerk in lululemon. If they want to call me a purse be my guest, nothing would make me happier as long as people give her the recognition she deserves"

If the interviewer was mad she didn't show, but that passionate speech was enough to make her back to the scheduled questions and the rest of the interview went smoothly.

"Well that was interesting" Barry had a sad smile in his eyes when he dropped you at your house "I think I overstepped, I'm sorry"

"Don't be, thanks for having my back, I froze I should have said something". It had make you feel week again and that was hurting you.

"Is fine, well good luck tomorrow" He said referring to the Emmy nominations that would be announced in the morning and that you had actually forgotten about.

"God you are right, well another reason to keep me awake I guess" Your mind formed an idea and you were not able to shake it and since he didn't respond you took your chance and went for it. "Would you like to stay? I mean I'm to anxious to sleep and I have some movies we could watch"

He looked completely taken by surprise, and he went dead silent, for a moment you even feard you have gone too far and that he might be mad at you for saying it.

"I would love to, we can finally watch one of those movies you always talk about" He walked in front of you to get in the house and you followed him more happy than you have ever been.

[thorne93]

Paranoia

Prompt: As a mutant and ex student/friend of Charles Xavier, you get a visit from an intimidating man, which sends Clint (your husband) into a peril of paranoia.

Word Count: 5158

Warnings: language, threats, intimidation, wounds, mentions of parental death, worry. 

Note: First Clint/Hawkey fic! Made this for  @until-theend-oftheline‘s Summer of Love Challenge! Let me know what y’all think? Should I write more Clint/Hawkeye?? (Sorry for going over word limit, hun!!!) beta’d by the lovely @like-a-bag-of-potatoes & @mrs-dragneel-stark-solo

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Being an Avenger was hard, of course it was. Why wouldn’t it be? You put yourself on the line for people all the time, for huge missions, for city-saving, state-saving, country-saving missions. But being an Avenger with a gift… that was another thing. Being an Avenger with mutations was a whole class all its own.

You never recalled feeling unsafe due to your powers. In fact, your powers were mainly good. They helped heal people at nearly an instant rate, so why would that be bad? Well, it was only bad if and when someone saw them that shouldn’t have, because not only could you heal people unparalleled, you could also rob them of all their senses.

One touch from you and you paralyzed someone, blinded them, deafened them, made them lose sense of smell and taste. It wasn’t just whenever you touched them, you had to exert your energy over them. Push your power onto them.

This wasn’t all that bad though, Wanda could hold people in place or rip them apart. Thor could literally obliterate someone if he wanted to. Steve and Bucky could shred someone with their bare hands so why should your special gift be any more frightening? In a sense, it wasn’t. However, seeing you on the news just holding someone’s arm as the team struck them down was a whole other thing. That’s why you didn’t use it unless you or someone else’s life was on the line. Mainly, you used your ability to self-clone and heal the team rapidly.

On a bright, warm summer afternoon, you got a call from a man you hadn’t heard from in a long time.

“Hello?” you answered.

“Hello… Y/N?” the voice wondered on the other end of the line.

“Professor?” you breathed, shocked. “How are you?” you asked excitedly, delighted to hear from your old mentor. He had rescued you from  experimentation when you were younger. Thankfully, they never got you all the way to the compound to do their experiments because the X-Men intervened and saved you and three other kids. He offered to have you stay at the mansion until you were an adult, to which you jumped at, having no family to turn to.

“I’m well, I’m well. And you?”

“I’m great! Clint’s doing well,” you informed.

Professor Xavier had practically raised you and helped you slightly on your powers, but one good thing about your powers is they had never been out of control. You’d always known how to use them and just how strong they were so he really didn’t have to work with you much, which was nice. You stayed at the mansion until you were eighteen, then went off to college, and you heard through Professor that the Avengers were recruiting.

Right after graduating college, and going through rigorous tests, practice, and training, the Avengers finally accepted your application to join. That was five years ago now, and you’d met your husband through it.

When you first met, Clint seemed to be your biggest supporter. The others were a little worried that your powers were a little too dangerous, but he was the one that reminded them that Wanda was ten times more dangerous than you. Not to mention, no one on the team could heal and that would come in handy more often than not. He was practically your cheerleader and it made you feel warm and welcome.

At first, he started out training you nearly all the time, and it was only until Natasha made a point to tease him about spending a little too much time with the new recruit, did you realize he had a crush on you. The feeling was more than mutual. His easy going, humorous nature made you feel relaxed on missions. Steve could be uptight, with a good reason. Bucky was always on edge. Tony was sometimes too intense. But Clint… well he just made you feel relaxed and in the zone while you worked.

“Oh, I’m so glad to hear that,” Charles responded. “And the rest of the team?”

“Crazy as ever,” you informed with a laugh.

He returned the chuckle. “Well that’s so good to hear, my dear. Listen, I was wondering if you would be up for teaching.”

“Teaching?” you asked. “Teaching a class? At the school?”

“Yes. I’ve got a few students here for summer school, some that need a little more help and… well the most of the other teachers are wanting some vacation.”

“Naturally,” you said. Being an Avenger was a full time job, you couldn’t imagine the workload that came with being an X-Man and a teacher.

“Well I’d like to give some of them a few weeks off, but I thought you’d be a great fit. You have such control over your powers, and you’re a great example of what can happen when you learn to control them. I thought it’d be good for the kids.”

For a moment you were stunned. Professor thought you were good enough to teach for his students? Wow.

“This is such an honor. Um, let me just talk to Clint about it and I’ll call you back. Give me just a few hours.”

“Take your time. I won’t need you until next week,should you decide to accept. I can’t wait to hear from you.”

“Thank you, Professor.”

“Any time. Bye for now.”

“Bye.”

With that, you stood in the living room of your country abode, the phone resting against your chin as you thought. Clint had just come in from outside, doing some yard work.

“Hey, everything okay?” he asked as he walked up to you, clad in dirty jeans and white t-shirt. Even a dirty mess he was still the most handsome man you’d ever met. It was a good thing you finally asked him out all those years ago.

“Yeah. Uh… Professor X just called.”

“Oh? That’s cool. What’d he want?”

“He wants me to teach a summer course.”

“Teach? Like… work with the kids?”

“Yeah. Crazy, right? Me teaching someone.”

“I’ve heard crazier,” he teased before walking into the kitchen to grab some juice. “So? You gonna do it?”

“I’m not sure. What do you think?”

“It’s up to you,” he answered as he walked back in with a glass full of cold liquid. “Do you want to teach?”

“I mean, I’m not sure I’d be any good. I’ve never had problems controlling my powers.”

“Doesn’t mean you can’t tell them how you do it,” he offered.

“That’s true.”

“Would you have to stay there?” he inquired.

“At the mansion?” You shook your head and shrugged. “I wouldn’t think so. They’re only an hour away. I could commute.”

“Well if you feel like you’re up to it,” he insinuated as he leaned against the beam of the built in bookcase.

“I think I’d like to at least try. He wants to give some of the teachers a vacation.”

“That’d be nice.”

“What about the team?” you wondered. “Are they going to be okay with me taking off for a few weeks?”

He put down the glass and walked over to you, putting his arms around your waist. “They’ll be fine. You know them. If it’s too big, we’ll call you.”

You screwed your mouth to the side in contemplation. “Alright. I think I’ll take it.”

---------------------

Two weeks into your summer course and things were looking great. It was amazing to catch up with Charles, Hank, Jean, Scott, and Logan. All the people you remembered that helped keep you safe. Storm helped you come up with a loose curriculum for the kids and so far they seemed to really like your class - if you could call it that.

One sweltering summer day, you decided to have the kids go outside and work on their powers. You gave them each an objective and had them work on it while you observed and only assisted if they needed it.

Inside the mansion, however, some students that weren’t in your class were gossiping about you.

Jenny, a young mutant, was talking to Bradley in the hall. “I hear she can paralyze people,” she whispered as she stared at you on the lawn.

“Not only that but she can make them blind too!” he responded.

“Children,” Charles’s calm, authoritative voice sounded behind them, making them jump and spin. Their eyes landed on the professor and his old friend, Erik Lehnsherr, nowadays better known as Magneto. He was by visiting Charles and the school briefly when they encountered the snooping children.

“Professor!” they cried in unison, guilt and shame coloring their faces.

“Just what do you think you’re up to?” he inquired.

“We’re just watching Mrs. Barton teach her class,” Jenny sheepily informed.

“I see, and gossiping as well?” he wondered, with a gleam in his eye.

Both of their gazes dropped to the floor.

“If you want to know the truth about Y/N, I can tell you. So the two of you aren’t spreading silly rumors over the school.”

Their eyes lit up as their faces shot up to look at them. They nodded vigorously, as if he just offered them a lifetime supply of candy.

“You see, Mrs. Barton has some very unique abilities. She can clone herself, which comes in handy on the missions she faces as an Avenger. This is because she can heal people, so when she clones herself, she can heal all of her teammates at once. Meaning they can still fight the good fight. I found her when she was just a young girl,” he remarked, the tone of memory washing over his voice.

“And what of the blindness, Charles? Is that true as well?” Magneto inquired.

Charles sighed and nodded. “Yes, Erik. She does have the ability to block one’s senses. One touch from her and a person can no longer hear, see, smell, touch, taste, or move. But it’s only while she has a hold of them, and it’s not permanent.”

“I see,” he mused, staring at you through the window as you walked up and down the line of children, instructing them. “How marvelous.”

---------------------------------

Only a week later, you were at home on a Saturday, about to get started on dinner for you and Clint when a knock came at the door.

“I got it!” Clint called as he jogged through the house to the front door. Being back in the kitchen, you could hear him talking to someone but couldn’t make anything out.

After a few minutes, Clint came into the kitchen where you were cutting vegetables from your own garden.

“Hey, a guy’s here. Say’s he’s a friend of Xavier’s. He wants to talk to you?” he informed, sounding confused.

With a curious look, you put down the knife and wiped your hands on a towel then the two of you met the man in your living room. He was older, probably around Professor X’s age, with light gray hair and a long coat and dress pants.

“Please, have a seat,” you offered, still very unaware of what was going on. You and Clint sat on the sofa across from him.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” the man asked suddenly.

You shook your head and frowned. “Uh, no. I’m sorry I don’t. Should I?”

“Possibly not. My name is Erik Lehnsherr. Today I typically go by Magneto.”

At those words, your eyes went wide. You’d heard of him. And what you’d heard wasn’t particularly positive, other than being Professor X’s old friend.  

“I’ve heard you have some very special gifts, is that true?” he wondered and all you could do was slowly nod. “Tell me, have you ever felt… scared?” he inquired curiously.

You remained silent as images of those awful scientists flickered in your head. Your slight flinch at his question gave him all the answer he needed.

“Or have you ever felt in fear for your life, due to your mutation?”

Again, you remained quiet, not giving him any sort of answer, for fear he might use it against you.

“I think you have,” he concluded, eyeing you. “How do you feel about humans?”

“Humans?” you questioned, unable to resist, because his question made no sense to you.

“Non-mutants,” he clarified with a head nod.

“They’re wonderful people. I work with humans all the time, and I enjoy it.” You gently shrugged.

He scoffed softly as he stared at you as if you were merely a child, trying to understand a mature idea far beyond your comprehension.

“Wonderful people? You do realize you’re talking about the same people who persecute our kind, correct?”

“And you’re talking about the same people I work with every day, people who have my back no matter what, including my husband.”

“My god, you married one?” he asked as he eyed Clint to your left, disgust painted on his features.

“Yes, and it’s a happy one,” you evenly shot back, staring him down.

“Happy? You think him holding you back, making you complacent is happiness?”

“I think working with brave, kind, heartfelt people is happiness. I think being with a non-mutant who accepts me as I am is happiness. I’m sorry to say it seems you haven’t found that.”

“How can you possibly stomach being around humans?”

“Why do you say that as if I have some special reason to not like them?” you asked curiously, slightly agitated.

“Your parents were killed by humans!” he erupted, his form practically shaking from rage as he leaned forward.

“That’s not true!” you nearly shouted back at him, your own emotions stirring inside you as the memory of your parents rushed to surface. The mangled car, the blood, the newspapers, the double funeral. It was amazing you could even remember all of it, seeing as you were only five. A terrible age to lose your parents. Old enough to remember them to miss them like there was no tomorrow, but young enough to only have a handful of memories to keep close to your heart.

“They died in a car wreck. That wasn’t the work of humans.”

His face suddenly morphed from pure anger to understanding and thoughtful as he leaned slightly back. “Is that what they told you?” he asked calmly, eyeing you.

Your jaw set as you tried to keep tears at bay, not making any form of an answer.

“My dear, your parents were lab rats. Dying at the hands of those beasts that called themselves scientists. They killed them and didn’t shed a tear, or blink an eye.”

Rage boiled inside you. Lies. This was all lies.

“And how the hell would you know?” you questioned, teeth clenched, fists tightening, your nails digging into your palms.

“Because…” he simply said, “I was there.”

You shook your head vigorously, the tears no longer held captive. “No, no, that’s a lie. You couldn’t have been there. It was a car wreck,” you insisted.

“No. They were victims of experiments and experimentation at the secret lab ran by the United States military. They were captured, held in an underground lab in upstate New Jersey, and used for nothing but research over, and over, and over again, until they couldn’t take it any longer.”

“And how do you know all this? Were you a prisoner there too, hmm?” you pressed, the venom in your voice not concealed.

He seemed to take a second to answer. “Ah, no. I was there with other mutants to free your parents and other imprisoned mutants. Unfortunately for your parents, I was too late. I got there just after their death.”

Your eyes cast down to the floor. How could this be? How could your parents have been held captive? How could they stage the accident? How could they have been killed and have  it be covered up?

In a quiet voice, you asked, “What did you do to the scientists?”

“I gave them the same fate they gave your parents. My assumption is after the military came to clean up the mess, they had to do something with the deceased. I suppose they thought a car accident for the mutants was appropriate, and said the scientists died in a common lab experiment gone wrong.”

What were you supposed to think now? You being captured was one thing, but you got away. You escaped. You were freed thanks to Xavier. But your parents… they weren’t so lucky. They… they died because of their mutation.

White hot rage flamed through your veins as you tried to hold back the tears of hate.

“So now you see, my dear, that’s what your precious humans are capable of. War, destruction, hate, malice, murder. All as they see fit, not a care in the world. Mutants aren’t equals in a humans eyes. They are something to study, something to inquire about, something to turn into a science project. To them, we are no better than a dead frog on a slab to poke around in for mere entertainment.”

“Stop. Stop it!” you begged, the fight against the tears losing. Clint reached over and grabbed your hand as he rubbed your back soothingly, not saying anything.

“Why? Because it’s the cold truth. It isn’t one we want to face, but we must, for the survival of our kind.”

“No… I refuse to believe that. My parents fate was unfortunate but it doesn’t represent every mutants life or experience.”

“Really? Is that so? Is that why you live far out in the country? Far out where no one can find you? Isn’t that why you hate the media seeing you use your powers?”

“Hey, man, lay off,” Clint suddenly interrupted. “I don’t appreciate you coming into our house and opening up old wounds and making her scared and paranoid about something she’s never had to fear in her life before.”

You turned to him and slightly shook your head. “No, it’s okay. Let him talk. I want to hear what he possibly has to say.” You turned back to face Magneto. “In any manner, that’s not fair, our job is extremely dangerous.”

“Oh, I don’t know. Mr. Stark seems to live in the central of the most populated city in the United States. Your friend Captain Rogers doesn’t seem to be hidden out on a farm. It seems the only people on your team that have to hide are you and Dr. Banner, who, last I checked, has an off brand of a mutation.”

You turned your head, trying to hide the pain he was inflicting. The truth in his words stinging.

“My child, we could put a stop to all of this heartache, the trauma that humans cause. Join me, join my cause. Mutants that join me, we can put an end to it all.”

“You mean an end to humans.”

“I mean an end to our persecution. Believe me when I say it’s either us or them.”

After a moment, you finally stopped crying and you looked at him and squared your shoulders. “No. I won't join you.”

“And why not?” he demanded.

“Because I’m not like you. I hate what happened to my parents, but killing other humans won’t bring them back. Killing innocent people or stopping them, or whatever you plan on doing will only ignite this war between the humans and mutants.”

With disdain, he spat, “You sound just like him. You sound just like Charles. You’re both naive and prideful.”

“It isn’t naivety, and it isn’t pride. It’s truth. If we never trust them, how can we expect their trust in return? We have to have hope.”

A look of cold darkness entered his eyes before he stood up. “Hope doesn’t save lives, Mrs. Barton. Action does. You and Charles, and all you other mutants are going to die because you’re too weak to see the truth.”

“Magneto, I don’t share your vision. I don’t think humans are bad. I’ve met bad mutants, and I’ve met good humans. A mutation doesn’t make someone special, or good, or kind, or worthy of life. A good heart does. Compassion does. I love humans. I married a human. I work with them all the time, and I will never, ever change that.”

“Well then,” he stated, “if you’re not with me, you’re against me. Please remember that for the future. I’ll show myself out.”

He swiftly turned and left out of the living room, making you release the breath you’d been holding before Clint raced to the door and dead bolted it behind the man.

You laughed humorlessly. “A deadbolt won’t keep a man out who can control metal, babe.”

“Hey, it’s something,” he tried before walking back over to you and sitting in front of you on the coffee table. “Are you okay?”

You shook your head before a new wave of fresh tears hit, making Clint take you in his arms.

“I’m so sorry you had to find out about them that way,” he offered as he held you.

When you were all cried out, you pulled away from him and looked at him.

“So… you aren’t going to reconsider his offer, right?”

You frowned at your husband. “Are you nuts? Of course not.”

“I’m just asking,” he said gently, grabbing your hand, lacing your fingers with his before he scooted over to the couch. “Because no one would blame you if you felt some bitterness towards someone. I mean what happened to your parents was awful.”

You nodded gently. “Yeah, it was. And those people paid for it, and that’s where it stops.”

“I was sort of worried you’d…”

“Join him?”

He shrugged meekly.

You shook your head. “Never. No. I’m not like that.”

“I know, but I--”

“But nothing,” you assured with a soft kiss. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Then we need to tell the others about his little visit,” he said.

“Why? He’s harmless,” you said as you got up to finish dinner.

“Well I’m not taking the chance. The team needs to know and we gotta keep you safe.”

“Clint…” you started, sighing before he wrapped his arms around you from behind and kissed your hair.

“Just let me do this, please? For peace of mind?”

“Alright.”

------------------------------

Two more weeks had gone by without a peep from Magneto or his team. You went on working your summer course and it had now ended, just a few days before July 4th weekend. With no threat in sight, and the course ending, you decided to throw a huge bash. You and Clint had put in a nice pool the summer before, but never held a party. Now was your chance.

The veggie and fruit plate were all made, the cracker plate had been sat out, the burgers and hot dogs were ready to go on the grill. Drinks were chilling in ice in the oversized cooler Clint had made. Decorations and banners had been pinned up the day before. Everything was all set and guests had been arriving.

You invited pretty much all of the Xavier mansion, and of course the team met up. All of them were aware of the whole “Magneto Trying to Recruit You” business, making them alert and keen while they were here.

Everyone was getting along, mingling, but after twenty minutes, Tony had started to pressure you for food.

“Y/N, I thought you were going to feed us,” he teased as he walked up to you at the pool.

“Yeah,” Sam chimed in. “I was promised some gnarly food, now where’s it at?” he asked with a smile.

“Ugh, let me find Clint and see what’s taking so long to get him to start the grill,” you noted before excusing yourself. You searched all over for him inside, calling for him.

“Everything okay?” Nat asked, standing in a bright red bikini as she stood munching on the red, white, and blue trail mix you’d made up.

“I can’t find Clint,” you informed.

“That’s not a surprise. He’s like a cat, as soon as there’s a huge party, he hides under the bed,” she joked with a coy smile.

You returned one half-heartedly.

“Hey, what’s up?” she wondered.

You let out a huge breath as you leaned against the counter. “It’s all of this Magneto business. It’s had Clint up late at night. He checks every lock and bolt three times at least, he hardly sleeps. He wakes up constantly to check the house. It breaks my heart because I know he’s suffering through this because of me.”

“That’s just who he is. He’ll practically die to save the ones he loves,” she commented without thought and sorrow filled your chest and painted your expression. When you didn’t say anything, Nat looked up at you, apologizing immediately. “Oh, Y/N, I didn’t mean it like that!”

You waved her off. “No, it’s okay. It’s one of the reasons I love him, I just wish there was a way to get him to not worry so much about me.”

“Yeah I doubt that’ll happen any time soon.”

You nodded in agreement. “Well I’m gonna check upstairs,” you informed. “Thanks for the talk.” You squeezed her shoulder and walked upstairs, checking every room, until you reached your bedroom. You stood with your hands on your hips, wondering just where your husband could be. Next step would be to check the barn to see if for some odd reason he went out there. But before you could make the full decision to go there, you heard footsteps above you -- on the roof.

A frown etched on your face as you walked out of the room, down the stairs, and out the front door. Putting a hand over your eyes to shield you from the sun high in the sky, you looked up at the two story country home. At first you didn’t see anything, but a few seconds later you saw your husband come over the other side of the roof.

He was crouched, walking stealthily, his bow in hand as his eyes scanned his surroundings.

“Clint? Why are you on the roof? We have guests over!” you called up to him. “What the hell are you doing?”

He looked down at you and gave a wave. “Hey, hun! I heard a noise.”

“A noise?” you asked. “What the hell kind of noise would bring you to the roof?”

“I don’t know, but I intend on finding out,” he called back down.

“This is insane! Get down right now! I think Sam and Tony are going to start eating the side of the house if you don’t make the burgers!” you shouted up at him.

“In a minute. I gotta make sure no one’s up here.”

“What the hell, why would anyone be up there?”

He finally stood all the way up and looked down at you with a disappointed face. “Come on, Y/N, we both know why I’m up here.”

You looked down and sighed, heaving your shoulders. “Do you really think they’d be on the roof?” you asked, worry settling into your stomach.

“Don’t know,” he answered before crouching again. He was just about to step over one of the gabled dormers when a huge black bird flew at him, making him duck quickly.

A playful laugh bubbled out of you, quickly realizing that was the noise he’d been hearing on the roof. “I think I found the spy,” you teased, calling up. “Didn’t know you were worried about birds that much, Hawkeye.” You winked at him and he narrowed his gaze at you and nodded mockingly.

“Ha-ha. I would think you’d be thanking me for making sure people aren’t here to kill you,” he remarked.

You  flock of large black birds suddenly fluttered up around him. With an outcry, he lost his footing, his arms flailing before he fell backwards off the roof.

“Clint!” you screamed, running to meet where he might land, hoping you could break the fall, but you were just a little too slow.

He landed with a hard thud, screaming when he hit.

“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.” You ran and kneeled beside him. “Are you okay?” you asked, looking him over.

“I think I broke my arm,” he informed as he held it up, showcasing that it was bent at an odd angle. Without hesitating you put your hand on his arm and began healing him, concentrating extra hard, and within just a few moments he was good as new.

“Man am I lucky I have you,” he noted with adoration soaking his tone, making you blush.

“You’re just now realizing this?” you teased.

“Hey, I nearly just died trying to save you,” he shot back playfully with a grin.

Nodding slowly, you agreed. “Yes…. yes you saved me from a murderous flock of birds,” you joked with a laugh you tried to hold back. “So brave,” you teased.

Within the blink of an eye, he grabbed you by the arms and whirled maneuvered you over his lap, then underneath him, lying in the grass as he hovered above you. He gazed into your eyes with a loving spark swimming in his eyes.

“When are you going to stop being so paranoid?” you asked lightly.

“When I stop worrying about you,” he answered as he slowly lowered his face closer to yours

“And just when will that be?” you wondered with a tiny smile.

“When birds stop scaring the shit out of me,” he informed with a thoughtful nod of the head. After a moment, he got serious though. “Never,” he eventually breathed, his lips just grazing yours for a moment before giving you an earnest kiss.

Neither of you noticed that someone had come around the corner of the house though. To your dismay and embarrassment, it was Tony.

“Found ‘em! They’re neglecting us to swap spit on the yard. Okay you two, do I have to run the hose on you?” he asked sternly before you and Clint slowly broke apart.

“Keep your shirt on, Stark, I’m getting the grill going right now,” Clint informed as he stood up, dusted himself off, and helped you up.

Tony gave you too a coy look and said, “I don’t think I’m the one that needs to be told to keep my clothes on. Chop chop, we’re getting ravenous.”

At that, the two of you went through the farmhouse, grabbed the food, and went out to the grill where Clint got the fire going and began grilling up a storm. While he stood there with a cold beer in hand as Thor, Sam, and Steve surrounded him, and you stood with Wanda, Nat, and Vis, you couldn’t help but stare in amazement.

That brave, loving, selfless, kind, sweet, goofy man was your husband, always looking out for you, always supporting you. So long as you two had each other, there wasn’t anything you two couldn’t conquer -- whether it was birds or a hell bent mutant leader -- you’d be okay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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