Picture a door.

Picture a door and she can't read you.

In his mind, Clint repeated what Pietro had said. In case Wanda broke her promise and tried to look inside his head, picture a door and lock it. No one was going to find out about him and Pietro. It's not like Clint would be bothered with people knowing, if it wasn't for the fact that he was married with three kids. He imagined that would be a little awkward if Laura found out. Also, he knew Pietro was uncomfortable with the idea of anyone knowing about their relationship. The archer could keep Wanda out for him.

He was currently walking down the corridor, having just left his room, when suddenly he spotted a blue flash. Pietro? The light zoomed towards him, the rush of air whipping up his hair. The archer gripped a hand to Pietro's wrist with precise aim, making him stop running and the blue mist surrounding him faded.

Clint tilted his head to the side a little. Pietro looked upset, around his eyes were a little red, like he was about to start crying. "What is it?" Pietro just shook his head, blinking a little as if fighting back tears. Hesitantly reaching up, Clint touched the side of his jaw, looking at him closely. "Pietro… What's wrong?"

He didn't answer, just shaking his head again before he forced Clint's hand off his wrist and disappeared in a flash of blue smoke. Clint called his name, sprinting after him down the corridor. The door to his room slammed and he skidded to a halt. Before entering the room, he pressed his ear to the door, wondering if he could hear if Pietro was crying or not. He couldn't hear anything through the wood.

Taking in a silent breath, Clint twisted the door handle and carefully pushed it open.

"Pietro?" He murmured quietly, slowly stepping into the room.

The kid was curled up in a foetal position on Clint's bed, facing the wall. "Leave me alone." He muttered without looking to see who it was- he knew it was Clint. "I get it now, okay? I get the trust thing. You can't trust anyone."

Clint sighed, walking over and sitting beside him on the edge of the bed. "What happened Pietro?" He asked gently, reaching out a hand and laying it to Pietro's head. "Come on, talk to me."

"Wanda," Pietro began quietly. "She tried to look in my head. She promised she wouldn't… She promised…"

"Can't trust promises buddy." Clint told him, stroking his hair.

Pietro glanced up at him, looking dangerously close to tears. "But she's my sister. I'm supposed to be able to trust her. We have to look out for each other because we don't have anyone else… And she knows what it does to me if it goes wrong, if she's forced out of my mind by something. She knows it hurts."

"Hey, listen to me." Clint ordered softly. "She obviously saw you and thought something was wrong. She's trying to protect you, to look out for you because she loves you… It's okay to break promises sometimes, if it's to protect those you care about. I think she just wants you to be happy."

Pietro went quiet for a while. After several minutes of silence, he sighed and sat up, shifting himself so he was next to Clint. "When did you get so good at making me feel better?"

"Probably when I first decided I loved you."

"And when was that?"

Clint fell into silence. He'd fallen for the kid a long time ago. After Pietro had died, but didn't die. Clint had fallen in love with Pietro the first time he'd set eyes on him after the battle. He'd visited the young man while he was still unconscious from his injuries. Pietro had looked so weak, so pale. But, despite looking a little rough, he was still beautiful. He was so beautiful.

"Clint?"

Pietro's voice took him out of his memories, forcing his mind back to the present. He opened his eyes, unaware he'd closed them, and found Pietro looking at him anxiously. A spark of worry shot through Clint. What happened? Why is he looking at me like that?

"You okay?" Pietro asked gently. "Is it the PTSD again?"

Clint shook his head. "No, no, it's not that. I'm fine… I was just thinking."

The younger man frowned slightly but he didn't question him. "I think Natasha will come and ask you if you want to come down again soon." He said, getting to his feet. "I want to apologise to Wanda, I think I upset her by running away… But I don't want to do it by myself. Will you come?"

With a nod, Clint got to his feet. "Course I will." He murmured, giving Pietro's cheek a quick kiss. "Let's go."

A/N- Hey guys.
Hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year.
I just hit 30,000 views on this story and I'd like to say thank you to everyone who has viewed and favourited and followed, because I really didn't expect half as many people to read it. Big thank you, you're all amazing!

~Eniko