This is long.. I think this was supposed to be half of Chapter 9 and then Chapter 10 in my word document but I must have messed up and added the second half of Chapter 9 here by mistake and yeah!

Last chapter!

Thank you for sticking with the story, it was a fun one to explore! Thank you to ELOSHAZZY for the request! Thank you all for the support! Sure, I write to pass some time I have free, but I also write for you guys so it's nice to know y'all like it! :)

Reviewers;

Niom Lamboise; Glad you liked it! Hope this chapter is worth the wait and thanks for sticking with it throughout!

IWriteSinsOrTragedies; Ah don't worry about Bucky! Address that in the first few lines actually! All heat is internal, like Tony programmed it to be! All good things must come to an end, that's right! But a thing isn't beautiful because it lasts. I hope you enjoyed the remainder of your trip and I hope you like the last chapter :)

clevervulpus; Why thank you my dear :) I don't like hurting Clint, but it's gotta be done sometimes! Glad you liked it :)

ELOSHAZZY; Oh they'll help him! Just not this story though. Cause there may be a sequel about all of that and him having a bit of fun, well, you'll know where at the end! Glad you enjoyed it, thank you so much for the idea, and I hope I did it justice for you! :)

Thanks again folks! Until next time! :) x

Disclaimer; Do not own! Disclaimed!

"You sure you're ok?"

"He wasn't even warm. Little sweaty, but he's been fighting through the base at some speed so that's normal."

Tony nodded at Bucky's explanation, the pair speaking in hushed tones, their backs turned towards Clint. He glanced over his shoulder at the archer and frowned slightly.

Maybe it wasn't the wisest thing to say, but it was the only thing he knew that would stop Clint from killing someone who would have information more valuable than any of them could ever dig up. But he took it hard.

As soon as the words sunk into his mind, Bucky and Tony could do nothing but watch him spiral in on himself. When two minutes passes, and he hadn't moved a muscle even with the soldier sitting on his back, Tony knew they might have fucked up. Once free, he just sat up, scooted back into a corner, and had sat there with his knees hugged close to his chest ever since. He hadn't said a word in the past five minutes, hadn't looked their way, just stared down at his hands. They left him to his thoughts as they tied up the scientist for extraction and now as they worked on making sure the kid that was strapped to the table was ok.

"I don't know how." Tony sighed, turning his attention back to the kid who Barnes was currently patching up with the little medical pouch from his belt. "You see how hot he was glowing?"

"That's not good." Barnes frowned, his head shaking. "Tony, whatever you did to make sure he doesn't blow didn't work. I think it's just trapping the heat inside him."

"If he gets too hot again he could fry himself instead of blowing." Tony frowned with a nod. He dropped down his face plate to check the kids vitals on the digital read out. "If we can get this guy to SHIELD soon, he'll be fine. No immediate danger."

"And Clint?" Bucky asked in a whisper.

And Clint..

"He's in no shape to continue this.." Tony sighed. He knew the archer wasn't going to come out of this funk anytime soon.

The pair jumped a little - yes when telling the story he doesn't say they jumped to the roof and swore like drunken sailors on helium.. At least Barnes didn't - when a shockwave tore trough the room, the muffled sound of an explosion quickly following. Bucky instinctively covered the injured man on the table, Tony instinctively turned to make sure Clint was ok. Barton didn't even seem to register that something happened, didn't seem bothered that there was sediment falling on his head at that very moment.

"One of ours?" Tony asked with an eyebrow raised, popping open his faceplate once more to look at Barnes. He was eyeing the roof suspiciously like it would collapse any moment.

"None of ours are strong enough to do that." He shook his head, moving quicker to try get the kid stable enough to move.

"Cap, any report?" Tony asked quickly, Steve replying half a second later.

'Not us. Not Doom's guards. Someone else is trying to blast in.'

"If word of experimentation got out.." Bucky started, lifting the kid up and over his shoulder when he had all the wounds wrapped up enough.

"Then it could be anyone." Tony finished with a nod, smirking a little when he noticed Jarvis already running a surveillance scan. "We can't fight off Doom and another agency, not with us in here and Clint broken."

"So?" Barnes asked. Tony's call, he was the one running this mission. He sighed and looked around the room. The scientist was still tied up against the wall, Clint still in a state of shock in the corner, a kid dying on Bucky's shoulder, and more mortars falling on the castle.

"Abort mission." Tony said sternly down the comms, the nod he received from Barnes let him know it was the right call. "Clint's out for the count and we have an injured kid needing help. Too many distractions to fight off two forces and, honestly, I could really go for a scotch and a sleep! So, abort. Back to the jet."

Silence met him. He knew it would, they hadn't given up on a mission yet and this was a hell of a one to start with. But this mission was about Clint, about letting him face his demons and get rid of that anger, and as he approached the archer on the ground he knew that the mission had failed so it was better to count their losses and high tail it out of the place.

'We will meet you there, Stark.' Thor's voice was the first one to break through the silence that had fallen upon the team. 'Bring our friend back safe. The graces of battle were not on our side this day, but we will regroup and come back stronger.'

"Well said, Shakespeare." Tony chuckled, approaching Clint carefully to make sure he wouldn't attack. Barnes was already leaving the room with the kid on one shoulder and the scientist on the other. "On our way."

He was mumbling something to himself. Tony couldn't figure out what, but the tone and the speed of it made it seem like Clint was repeating the same thing over and over to himself. His hands were shaking, his face pale, the billionaire really didn't think he'd take it this hard! Carefully, Tony hunched down infront of Barton, placing his armoured hand over one of his.

"Come on pal." He said softly, but Clint didn't lift his gaze, didn't even acknowledge that Tony was there. "We're calling this. Someone else is after Doom and I think you need some ice-cream."

"Nothing but a bad guy.." Tony finally caught what Clint was mumbling over and over, and it made him frown. "Need it out.. Nothing but a bad guy.."

"Clint, come on." Tony frowned, his metal covered arm shooting out to protect Clint's head from falling debris as another explosion wrecked through the building. "I'll get it out of you, I promise, but we gotta make it out of here first."

'We're taking fire, Stark.' Steve shouted through the comms, his voice a little strained which let Tony know the captain was fighting through something. 'AIM agents, three battalions of them.'

"Can you hold them off?" Tony asked quickly, not bothering with Clint's mental state anymore. He just grabbed the archers arm and swung it over his shoulders to drag him to his feet. Barton was like a dead weight but the suit still allowed Tony to pretty much drag him from the room.

'Of course we can.' Natasha replied. Tony knew the tone of voice as the 'Rolling her eyes because Tony said something stupid' tone. 'But they're pretty damn close to your pretty shiny jet so I will not take the blame for the bullet holes that end up in it!'

"You keep them away from that jet, Widow!" He growled down the comms. He blasted his way through the castle, through all the walls he could to try get out of the place as fast as humanly possible.

"Tash.." Clint whispered by his side, and he looked to see his eyes a little less clouded. His comms must still be in so. "Tash, you gotta help me.."

'Clint..?' Natasha's voice had taken on a scary tone. Not that she was trying to be scary, don't misunderstand, more like she was the one scared. 'Clint, what's wrong?'

"Gotta get this out." He groaned as he screwed his eyes shut. Tony cursed a little when he saw his whole body glow orange again.

He didn't know what was happening, couldn't tell what was going on inside the archer, but it seemed like he was at war with the virus and that the virus was trying to defend itself. Maybe he should have installed some kind of off switch to the thing..

Dammit Tony, you're a genius, figure this shit out!

He shook his head and pushed forward with the archer a little quicker, blowing through another wall just as another mortar hit the castle.

"I think we're losing him." Tony said quickly, referring to Barton of course since the mumbling idiot hadn't answered Natasha properly. "Actually, I think he's losing him. The virus is taking over him."

'How is that possible?' Steve asked through a shout. Not that it was hard to be heard. Tony was guessing that the Captain was a little too angry at him for yet another complication with the previously fine archer.

Tony frowned and glanced once more at Clint. His eyes had stayed closed, and the only reason Tony knew for sure that he was still awake and not dead in his arms was because he was still muttering under his breath about needing the stuff out. A new mutter had Tony worried more than anything. Clint was now complaining about the heat hurting him.

He developed the serum from the plans he had stolen from AIM, the plans that were supposed to be locked away but were done so behind possibly one of the easiest servers to break into that SHIELD possessed. He took the basics and tweaked them to make the serum something that could actually survive. He had to make the virus smart, had to make it able to determine when it was about to destroy it's host by blowing it up, and thus teach it how to look after itself.

It seemed like that - much like nearly all of Tony's plans lately - completely and totally backfired.

"I made it too smart.."

"How is it doing it?"

"I don't know." Tony sighed, the three words leaving his mouth at Steve's question for the millionth time.

"Can you get it out?"

"I don't know."

"Will he survive it?"

"I don't know."

"Dammit Stark! What do you know!?"

He stared Steve down for a moment, both men sending a glare to the other. He understood Steve's anger, understood why the last sentence was spat out in the most venomous tone he's ever heard cross Rogers' lips, but that didn't mean he had to like the attitude he was receiving!

"I know I need a fucking scotch and a minute to think." He growled out, going towards the back of the jet where he kept the mini bar to see what alcohol he actually had there. It was his brain fuel, it had been for years, since the first time he jimmied open his dads liquor cabinet when Jarvis wasn't paying attention it had helped him in the tricky situations he couldn't figure out.

This was one of them alright.

He glanced over his shoulder from where he was pouring himself a scotch. Clint was in bad shape and Tony couldn't figure out why, not let alone how to help. When they finally got back to the jet he placed Clint on a table next to the kid who Natasha was still working on. They weren't in the air yet, they needed to stabilise the guy they found before they risked flying him anywhere, so they taxi-ed the jet a bit away from the fight that was still going on. Each time he looked over he never noticed the kid though, his eyes just trained on the archer curled up on his side, his eyes screwed shut like he was in some crazy amount of pain. Every now and then there'd be a whimper and when Tony would look to see what was happening the orange glow would be running it's way through Barton's body.

"Thor, any word on Banner?" Tony asked into the comms, knowing the god as well as a pretty annoyed Bucky Barnes were searching to see if Hulk had calmed down yet or if he was still kicking ass in the castle.

'Nay, I am afraid to admit. I can not locate our friend.' Definitely still kicking ass in the castle. If he was Banner again, he'd have checked in by now. 'I have also lost Sergeant Barnes in the midst of fighting our foes.'

"Dammit.." Stark whispered under his breath, emptying his scotch in one gulp before turning to look at Clint once more. Barnes would be fine, always is, but Stark really needed Banner, needed some sort of medical advice. Even if the man isn't an MD, he was as close as and as good if not better than most of the doctors he'd be able to find in any hospital.

"What's it doing to him?" Steve asked with a frown, the captain now by Clint's side. Natasha glanced from the kid to Clint before finally looking to Tony with a frown of her own. She was worried about Clint, claiming when she gave him a check that he had a fever. He was cool to the touch, but still moaning about being way too warm.

Tony didn't know how to describe what was happening in soft terms, so he just went right into it. Sure they had seen some shit in their day, describing this should be fine!

"I think I fucked up." Yep, that's scientific shit right there! The eyebrows of both Rogers and Romanoff hitting the roof meant he had to elaborate. "I tried tweak the formula so it wouldn't blow up, so it wouldn't destroy Clint. But I think the virus is still trying to find a way to get rid of whatever heat and energy it would have expelled through exploding, so it's.. Well.. I think it's just imploding instead.."

"Imploding." Natasha didn't ask, didn't question the word, she tested it on her tongue like she just couldn't believe what Tony was saying, and held a face that would usually call his bullshit.

"Best layman term I could think of." He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he tried think of a better way. "All the heat is reverting backwards. Guys, this thing is cooking Clint alive."

"You idiot." Steve growled. His hands were in fists by his side, Tony never realised just how protective of Clint the captain was! "You made him worse!"

"You think I don't know that, grandpa!?" Tony snapped back ,stepping over to square up to Steve once more. "I fucking tried though! More than I can say for you! It was experimental and didn't fucking work, not my fault!"

"All your fault!" Steve yelled as he threw his hands in the air, a gesture letting Tony know he was too fed up. "Take some responsibility for once and fix this mess!"

"What..?" It was weak, but it was there. Barton's voice had all their attention snapping to him. His eyes were open for the first time in a while, even though he was still curled in on himself. Those steel eyes were locked on the kid, whose head had turned to look at Clint while the other three in the room were too focused on each other.

"Clint?" Natasha asked softly, moving back to stand by the archer.

Clint just shook his head quickly and sat up, shocking them all. He could barely lift his head a minute ago, but the wide eyes on him told them all they needed to know - Clint was back in mission mode.

"There's a kid still back there." Clint said quickly. He was sitting on the edge of the metal table, his hands gripping the sides. Tony had seen it before, when they'd try drag his ass out of bed for a mission - he was just trying to find the will to do what he needed to do. Despite the situation, Tony had to smile at the glimpse of the old Clint that was showing.

"How do you know?" Natasha asked with a confused frown, her hands on his back to support him if needed. Her eyes locked with the kid a half second later and they went wide enough to let Tony know she got her answer. When he got closer to them, he could hear it too.

A weak 'Brother.. Little brother' being repeated over and over like it was a last ditch prayer from the lips of the injured boy.

Family and kids; the two things that would have Clint Barton risking life and limb to save. It's like the kid knew that or something!

"Barton! Back on the table!" Steve commanded in a shout once Clint stood up. But Barton ignored him and went towards the back of the jet, for the one thing he brought on every mission but thus far hadn't even looked at.

"Cap, I can't leave a kid back there." Clint growled out in reply. He was trying to hide his pain, the pain that the now more prominent orange glow was causing him, but he was failing miserably. That wasn't what had the other three silent though; what had them silent was him snapping open his bow and throwing his quiver of arrows over his back just like he did all those times before, just like old Clint did. "I gotta go back for him!"

"You can't take on two armies, Clint." Natasha sighed, moving from the side of the bed to approach Clint. The look he sent her made her pause, but didn't make her back down. "Not on your own Clint. Just stay here and we can send Thor and Ban-"

"No!" Clint snapped. It even made Natasha jump, and that's saying something about how forcefully the word left the archer's lips. His hand tightened on his bow. "It's our fault the fucker isn't dead yet! We had so many chances to take him out, even before these kids were born I bet! So it's my job to get them out!"

He didn't wait for anyone to answer or argue with him, he just hit the release button for the doors and darted out full speed - full super enhanced speed - out of the jet.

"Dammit Barton get back here!" Steve shouted down the comms, but the archer didn't reply. Steve went to grab his shield, just as Tony began suiting back up.

"You're not in charge of this one, Cap." Tony reminded him with a smirk, purposely standing in between the super soldier and his shield as his trusty suit encased him. "I am. And I say let him go! I'll follow, you and Natasha get this kid air borne as soon as possible and get out of dodge. Got it, soldier?"

Normally, there'd be a witty retort. There'd be Steve telling him to fuck off, pushing the billionaire out of the way and running with his own orders. But that's when Steve would be in charge of the mission, when he'd be calling the shots and could ignore the billionaires suggestions. This time was different though! The setting of Steve's jaw, the slight straightening of his stance and lock of his eyes told Tony that his old army training was coming back to him at the sound of an order and there was nothing to stop the next words coming from the soldiers mouth.

"Yes, sir." It was through a growl, but Steve did turn back to go back over to Natasha who looked just as shocked as Tony did. Sometimes pre conditioning in soldiers - even super ones who single handedly ended World War 2 back in his day - was a god send!

"I'll bring him back in one piece this time." A bad joke, he knew it was, but Tony said it with a smirk and a wink anyway in Natasha's direction before letting his face plate fall into position. He was gone then, twirling in the air as he flew out of the jet and back towards the castle.

Over the comms for the past while, he was able to hear Barnes and Thor fight their way through the crowds. That had died down considerably since - so he doubted there was still alot of it going on. He still didn't know who really attacked the castle or why, if it was AIM or if Steve was just guessing at it, but if Doom stole some files from different organisations for whatever experiments he was at then he knew it was no one good leading the charge!

Barton would be fine though. It had been a while since Tony had seen that steely determination in the man's eyes, the look that let them know Hawkeye was there and not the yielding and caring Clint. This was a mission, and Hawkeye would complete it no matter what.

It scared Tony a little though - the no matter what thought. Because it was true. Clint would give anything to help someone, especially a kid. He saw it during the New York attack - when he'd ignore everything else to rescue kids trapped in building's or buses. Saw it during a siege that AIM held over a school - Clint went on a complete frenzy and nearly killed every last one of them single handedly. Not killed, never killed, not until today had Clint purposely killed anyone. He saw it alot closer and a hell of alot stronger during the Ultron attack. Those Maximoff kids buried their way into Barton's heart and Tony couldn't help but wonder if Clint saw them in these kids - experiments to everyone else, but scared and lonely kids needing protection to Clint.

He sped up when he saw the castle come into view. Clint couldn't protect Pietro and Wanda, as much as he tried. He still lived with that guilt and they all knew he did. So if these kids did remind him of the twins, then Tony was terrified of what it might cause the archer to do. That fear had him pushing the suit to it's limits so he could find Doom before Clint did.

Why he did it? He couldn't be entirely sure. His mind was telling him to forget it, forget the kid, fuck them all and focus on yourself. But his heart was screaming at his head and calling him a fucking idiot for even thinking of leaving someone as defenceless and innocent as a child behind. He didn't know how young the kid would be, but the one on the table called him little brother, and that was enough to send Clint's mind packing and his heart to take over. He had to save the kids, like he tried save the Maximoffs, he had to succeed this time or he wouldn't be able to live with it anymore.

It's the first time that's happened. All throughout the fighting, through the past few missions, his mind's been leading the charge. His heart hadn't had a say, his conscience was fucked out the window long before. He was a tool, a weapon, he was there to kill or be killed and that's all there was to it.

Now he was there to help people and that's all there was to it.

The virus didn't like that. He could tell as soon as he sat up on that bed, as soon as he made the decision to go for the bow instead of the rifle, he could feel the virus that had been controlling him the past while try to tighten it's hold on him and drag him back under.

He knew the feeling, it was the feeling he had when he was first coming around from the control Loki had over him. It was the fuzzy brain, the warped memories that tried to trick him into giving in to his attackers will, it was the feeling that he was in danger and he had to think of nothing and no one but himself. How the serum got smarts that could rival the tricksters he'd never know! But now that he had a clear head, he knew he was to have one long and not so pleasant talk with one Tony Stark about it!

Another arrow went flying, and it easily hit the chest of an on coming guard from the entrance of the castle. Not to kill. Never to kill.

He didn't know how the virus took him over so easily. He really couldn't figure it out, and the more he tried, the worse his head ache got. All he knew right now was that he was defying what the damn thing wanted and it was making him pay.

He fought on though. He ran through the base while ignoring the migraine, he shot arrows with pre-serum precision despite the burning pain running through his right arm, he kept pushing to try save this kid even though it felt like he was being burned alive and he knew he was moments away from collapse.

He kept pushing because that's what heroes do. Heroes defy the odds in order to help others, they put their lives on the line so that others won't lose theirs. They save people, and that's all he wanted to do right now.

The only way to do that; send an arrow through the skull of Victor Von Doom once and for all. He didn't seem to mind that plan all too much!

How many times was he was supposed to do that by this stage? Alright, usually it was a capture mission, but the folder usually contained a foot note along the lines of - in Fury's words why not - 'If that mother-fucker comes back in a bodybag I wouldn't care!', so all those times before he was allowed kill the guy and never had.

Now these kids were in danger, and it was all his fault.

He paused halfway through a hallway leading to the middle of the castle, his eyes screwed shut from pain that was ripping through his body. This was new..

He braced himself against the wall with one hand, the other still gripping the bow and now wrapped around his stomach as if it would help the searing hot pain. This virus wasn't happy. This virus was honestly trying to kill him.

He needed it out.

He needed it out for so many god damn reasons that he couldn't even list them right now!

Would I survive..?

He pushed that thought to the back of his head and pushed on, an arrow held loosely against the bow string incase he had to fire - though it looked like he was clear of the remainder of guards. It'd hopefully be a clear path to Doom's place, and a clear shot through his skull when he got there.

He just had to last long enough to see that through, he just had to live until Doom no longer did, then he really didn't care what happened to him. He'd have made the world a safer place and that's all he cared about!

He couldn't move away from the wall though. As much as he tried, his back stayed against the wall and his eyes remained down cast. He willed the pain away, willed his mind to stay on point and not let the virus take over.

"Gotta keep your head up.. Ohoh~" He sang weakly to himself, trying to keep him mind clear as possible as he took deep breaths. He pushed away from the wall.

"And you can let your hair down..~" He started walking, the song continuing on as he made his way slowly through the wall. His mind began clearing, the pain began to ebb away, he started to slip back into the Hawkeye he always was. "I know it's hard. It's hard to remember sometimes..~"

'I swear, if you're singing again Barton..'

He had to laugh as Tony's voice in the comms. Of course he was singing! During missions there were two ways you could do things; the boring normal way where everything's all serious, or the fun Clint Barton way. The Clint Barton way made him sleep that little bit easier at night.

"Want some country songs?" He smirked into the comms, a bit more quiet now though. He was in the hallway just around the corner from Doom's main room. If this was an emergency situation, which it was judging by the sound of the alarms still going off, Clint had a feeling that there'd be alot of guards behind that steel door. And all he had was a bow and arrow. Great.

'How about some Metallica?'

"I know Wagon Wheel, kinda like Metallica." He chuckled, taking a deep breath then as he reached for the grenade on his belt. "Hey Stark? How far out are you buddy?"

'On your six.. Or seven, I really don't know this spy talk.' Tony said back and Clint could hear the confusion in his voice. 'J's readout says 30 seconds out from the trace of your vitals... Oh.'

Clint smiled a little sadly. He must have just looked at his vital signs to see how far out he was, and the pain that was rushing around the archers body made him think they weren't doing the greatest!

"Cover your ears! Or whatever you can do in that suit." He smirked, poking his head around the corner for a moment. He grinned and waved at the two guards at the door before throwing the live grenade and taking cover once more.

He covered his ears to avoid damaging them and waited. Even with them covered, he could hear the guards freaking out, before hearing and feeling the explosion less than a second later.

'Please tell me that was you.' Tony's slightly panicked tone came through a moment after the shaking settled, and Clint was already nocking three arrows to take out as many guards as he could in the attack that was about to come.

"Come on Stark." He laughed, the pain giving way to the adrenaline that was running through his system. "I bet there's easily 50 in there. Bet you a million I can take out more than you."

'You're on, Barton. I'm nearly there, but sure, take a head start!'

He smirked to himself and nodded. Before stepping out, he took a deep breath, made sure his arm was drawn back, and took a moment to think about how shit crazy this plan actually was!

He stepped out, the dust was still floating around the destroyed doorway and bits of rubble were still falling from the hole in the wall, but he could already see the shadows of a line of about twenty guards in the place.

Lining up. How nice of them! Making Clint's job that little bit easier for him!

With a smirk he sent the three arrows flying, each hitting the mark in the centre of three guards chests - painful but not lethal. Before they even hit the floor he had three more nocked and was running to the other side of the hallway. There was still dust, so he predicted that the guards would just use the trajectory of the arrows to guess where they should shoot. Sure enough, bullets hit the opposite side of the hallway, and before they knew what hit them, another three went down with arrows in their chests.

"That's six to me!" Clint laughed down the comms, slinging his bow around his back then so he could jump up and grasp onto the pipes above his head. He used some momentum he gathered and swung so he could hang from the pipe by his knees, waiting for enough smoke to clear so the guards could see he just disappeared. "About to be nine."

'I'm fucking lost!' Tony growled back, causing Clint to laugh. He smirked at the confused faces of the guards, their heads turning left and right quickly to try find their attacker. That's all Clint needed though, that little second of doubt in their minds and lack of concentration. 'Ok, I see you!'

"Good! Cause I have one shot then I need you to take some out so I don't take a bullet to the skull." They were getting brave. A few of them were breaking line and stepping out of the room into the hallway. Five of them. He never shot straight more than three arrows, unless he was using his modified nine shooter that would do half the work for him. There were only enough finger gaps to properly nock three arrows. But, there's a first for everything! He added two more arrows, meaning while hanging upside down he was aiming 5 arrows at 5 guards, who all had some lovely looking AK-47's with his name on the little bullets.

This'll be fun!

He waited until he could see the Iron Man armour fly around the last corner before his. Only then did he let the arrows fly. Sure, they didn't hit dead on like they would if he single fired, but just be impressed the he just fired 5 arrows and each one hit somewhere around the chest area of each man!

He did a little celebratory jump dance before Tony went barrelling into the room, taking out the other guys with a fly-by as Clint untangled himself from the pipe.

"Did you see that!?" Clint cheered as he ran into the room, another arrow nocked incase there was someone else in there. He knew Doom was somewhere, probably in the back office on the top level of the main room, but he wouldn't show himself yet! "How awesome was I!?"

"Don't get cocky." Tony laughed, letting his face plate flip open to look at Clint. That smile was on him again, the one he saw in the past few months when he'd joke around or when he'd shoot the bow a certain way. The 'This is Hawkeye!' smile he now realised. "We still have one more."

"You're just jealous I took out eleven to your nine!" He grinned, patting Tony on the back as he passed to run towards the metal stairs at the side of the large area.

"We not going to plan this out?" Tony shouted after him. But the clanking let him know that the billionaire was following regardless!

"Past few times we've done that ended with nothing." Clint shrugged, running along the rafters to the back office. Through the glass of the windows he could see Doom, just waiting behind his desk with his hands held behind his back. He didn't have his mask on, which Clint found odd. He always wore the damn thing. When he knew they were coming, he realised.

He held a smirk, which made Clint slow down and raise an arrow. No way there was no trap. There had to be something, he had to have something behind his back or something attached to the door that would trigger as soon as Clint touched the thing. There was always something. Things with Doom were never straight forward.

"Shit.." He heard Tony mumbled from behind him. He turned and followed the man's gaze, skidding to a halt with a curse of his own when he saw guards filing in from all directions on the floor below.

"Well then.." Clint sighed, trying to count as many as he could as they aimed their guns at the pair. By the size of the room, about 5 guards across and 7 up, he'd guess close to 40 or so, with more coming in. He glanced at Tony with a smile. "You think you can handle them?"

"You know who I am?" Tony responded with a smirk, giving Clint a wink before letting his face plate fall. "Just watch and learn, Robin Hood."

With that, he took off. Flying down in an instant and taking out nearly a third of the field with one blast. Clint smiled to himself and nodded, satisfied that Tony would be just fine against them. He turned his attention back to Doom. The smug bastard had actually taken a seat behind his desk.

If Clint wasn't 200% certain that the glass was bullet proof, he'd shoot the arrow right then and there. Doom was smarter than that though. Alot smarter.

He sighed to himself and slowly approached the room, never taking his eyes off the man behind the desk. He didn't risk touching the handle, not knowing what it would do if he did, so instead he kicked the door down and aimed the arrow right at Victors head.

"Come on, man. Give it up." Clint sighed, taking a tentative step into the room.

"How did he do it?" Doom asked with a slightly impressed look. He was scanning Barton, assessing him, and Clint didn't like it. He felt like a piece of meat at a market. "There's no way that's the same arm. I pretty much severed everything in it. Mechanical?"

"I'm agent Clint Barton of SHIELD." He started through gritted teeth, taking another step closer. It was like a memorandum rights that had to be done before arrest. They weren't police, but they had to respect human rights and let the person know they were being taken into custody and not just abducted. Clint hated it, especially when it had to be offered to scum like this. "A warrant has been issued for your capture and/or assassination.."

"Not mechanical, your muscles are moving." Doom continued with a thoughtful hum, seemingly ignoring Clint words just like he was ignoring the asshole's. "Was someone a guinea pig for Mr. Stark?"

A deep breath. Calm down Barton. It's fine. You don't need that virus. Don't let it take you again.

The pain was flaring. It was seriously trying to get Clint to give in, but there was no way he would. Not when he needed control, not when he needed his right mind, not when he needed to save a kid.

"Assassination is last case scenario in this mission." He continued on, the arrow lowering in it's target path and instead aiming at Doom's chest. "So we would appreciate if you came along peacefully so no further harm befalls you."

Doom's eyebrows raised, but Clint doubted it was because of his methodical rendition of the capture bullshit every agent had to learn. No. Something in those eyes were sparkling and Barton found himself slightly worried.

"That orange glow.. Extremis.." He whispered beneath his breath, taking a step out from behind the desk then for the first time. "My lord how did he manage that..?"

"Are you coming or not, asshole?" Clint growled, fingers itching to release the tension of the bow string. He needed Doom alive now though. He realised the kid wasn't in here, he had no idea where he was, so he needed Doom to help with that.

"Obviously not." Doom smirked, shrugging a little at the end like it was supposed to be obvious. "I'm glad you didn't die, my boy! Now I can take you and figure out the secret to the virus that everyone wants!"

Clint didn't have the time to react. Before he knew it, a repulsor jet from seemingly no where - later he realised it was hidden behind Dooms shirt in a kind of Iron Man style system - sent him flying out the door and skidding along the rafters. The steel grate of the walkway cut his gear and began scraping his back, all before he hit the wall at the complete opposite end.

The pain didn't go away. The grazes and cuts along his back didn't heal even in the slightest. The thump on the back of the head received from the wall didn't die down.

The virus was giving up on him. He gave up on it so it was giving up on him. It was fighting him, it seemed to be amplifying the pain more than anything.

This wasn't going to be good. He was usually a little sloppy against Doom on a good day, but on a day when he had a virus trying to kill him on top of everything? Well, it wasn't going to end well at all, was it?

Doom was advancing, taking slow methodical steps along the rafter as he approached. Clint glanced around and spotted his bow, but it was behind the asshole. He just had to hold his own for maybe a minute or two, fight his way back to his trusty weapon, and send the arrow flying to finish the job.

Whatever chance there was of him capturing Doom before, it was thrown out the window now. He had to end this, he had to end him, or it would be Clint who'd be carried out of here in a body bag.

Gunfire could be heard down below, but Tony was mouthing off with Jarvis in his comms so he knew the man was doing just fine.

"You should know by now that you're no match, archer." Doom sighed when close enough. All Barton could do in that time was sit up against the wall, his hand rubbing his right shoulder where the pain was worst. This virus, man..

"Maybe." Clint shrugged, using the support of the wall to help him get to his feet. "But I'll be damned if I don't die trying."

"I won't kill you." Victor shook his head, his hands behind his back once more. It made him look like a school principal, hands behind his back and a slight lean in his body so he was close without being close. It was unnerving. "You're too valuable now."

Now.

That stung. Clint had always questioned his validity, never shied away from the jokes at his expense or the looks he'd get after missions. He knew he wasn't the strongest on the team, he knew he was the most vulnerable, he always knew that. But for even the bad guy to question his validity? Well, that stung more than any repulsor shot ever would.

"I'm a little defenceless here." Clint shrugged with a grin, taking a fighting stance regardless. "Unless you want to fight like a proper man, then I think I'm done."

"I'm more of a man than you'll ever be, boy." Doom growled, his composure slipping completely. It made Clint grin. He found a nerve and he was planning on poking it! "I'm a god!"

"Nah man, I've met gods!" Clint laughed, his fists lowering just slightly. Lure him out, use his human side as a weakness, get him to fight. Then take him out. "You sir? Definitely not. Have you seen Thor's arms? Now THEY'RE God worthy!"

Why hadn't they thought of this plan before? It was so simple. They thought Doom was this crazy maniac - which was true - but he was also human. Every human has flaws, every human has weak points, every human has something that they can be drawn out with. Reminding Doom of this was exactly what was needed to throw him off his game.

They always went into this mission thinking of elaborate plans, thinking of him as a mastermind who needed to be kept three steps behind them.

He was just an egotistical asshole who needed to be taken down a peg or two.

Clint couldn't help but smirk as a growl ripped through the man's throat as he lunged for the archer. He did what was natural to him, what had become first nature not even second nature to him over the years. To avoid someone charging for you like Doom was - a simple tactic is used!

He dropped to a knee and twisted his body into a roll, avoiding the contact of the person and jumping up behind them instead. He didn't give Doom a moment to react though, he just bolted over to his bow and scooped it up in one hand before he even had a chance to turn around. When he did, there was an arrow aimed at his head, and something akin to defeat flashed across his eyes for a moment.

"The great Hawkeye killing?" Doom started slowly, but there was no getting to Clint now. No way in hell. He knew what he did was wrong, but this was right.

He couldn't though. He seriously wanted to, more than anything in the world. The arrow was drawn, it was aimed, the asshole was right there ready to be killed, yet he couldn't do it.

His arm wouldn't listen.

It wouldn't obey his command to let go of the arrow, wouldn't listen to anything he told it to. He had to release the tension in the string with a curse, dropping to his knees then from pain. Why was this happening to him!? The searing heat in his arm was excruciating, and it had him dropping all weapons so he could grip at it, watching a laughing Doom approach with one slightly lidded eye.

"Seems like it's not perfect." Doom hummed, pouting slightly as he stepped up to Clint. His right arm was going numb now. He didn't know which terrified him more; the pain or the numbness. He held his breath a little when Victor reached down to his side and pulled out a pistol, the barrel of the gun aimed right between Clint's eyes. "I have no use for you. So much for being a man, Barton."

He was close. That was his mistake. There were some upsides to being close while threatening someone with a gun; one being it's more difficult to miss, another being more damage to the person. There are plenty of downsides though, one which Clint was about to utilise.

He may be one armed, but this wouldn't be the first time! Just as the trigger is squeezed; that's the best point to use. It's tricky, a second of hesitation or miss timing would have your brains blown out in an instant. Too soon and they'd be able to aim again, too late and it was too late. But Barton was a pro at this!

Just as the finger squeezed, he fell onto his back, meaning that the bullet flew harmlessly over him. His quiver though, man that hurt!

From this position, he could see the shock pass over Doom's face. His reflexes were too slow though. Before he even looked down at Clint, the archer kicked up and knocked the gun from his hands, sending it flying into the air.

With a smirk and a wink to the man above him he swung his legs and arched his back to jump up, using his not-numb arm then to catch the falling pistol.

Cocked and aimed at Dooms forehead, he knew he had it won. Doom knew he had it won, and the look that passed along his face was priceless.

"You can't go against me, Doom." Clint smirked, finger ghosting on the trigger. "I mightn't be at my best, but without your tricks and traps; you're powerless, and the shittest fighter I've ever been against."

"One last trick." Doom smirked. Of course there was..

He winced and lowered the gun when a sound ripped right thorough his head, the curse coming through the comms let him know it wasn't just him who heard it. Glancing over the railing he saw Tony go down like a sack of potatoes, guards closing in from all angles.

EMP..

Dammit, not again..

"Either kill me, or go help him." Doom smirked, hands up in the air in surrender. "As soon as they hear a gun shot though, Tony boy's a dead man."

Shit shit shit..

He didn't have to think of the decision. What choice did he have after all?

With a curse and a glare towards Doom, Clint gripped the handle of the railing and flung himself over the edge. He tucked and rolled when he landed before rushing over to stand guard over Tony, having to push his way through the circle of guards surrounding the unmoving Iron Man armour.

"Feels familiar.." Tony said from beneath him, his faceplate up this time.

Clint let out a breathless laugh, trying to figure out his odds here. There were fifteen of them, maybe thirteen, they're moving around in the circle so he couldn't count properly.

He had 5 bullets, two daggers - one in each boot -, and some arrows that were kind of useless without his bow.

And a ridiculous amount of pain.

"Just give me twenty seconds of distraction." Tony said softly, causing Clint to take his eyes off the guards who were shouting for him to drop his weapon. "Upgraded from last time. He'll be up in no time."

Clint smirked and nodded, turning his attention back to the shouting guards then.

"Bet I'll have them down before you even reboot." Clint laughed, hearing a faint 'Game on!' from Stark.

Without another word, Clint sprung into action. He didn't move too far from Stark, just incase they got close to him, but the five bullets emptied themselves into the chest of five guards before they even knew he made a move, sending them crumpling to the ground in no time.

Bullets fired, but he was on the floor already, rolling over to use one of the fallen bodies as a kind of shield, sniper position behind the groaning man. From his left boot he grabbed one of the daggers and sent it flying, hitting one of the remaining guards in the leg and sending him down aswell with a very satisfying call for his mother!

That makes six. Nearly half the field. The other half were trying to form another circle, but they were breaking ranks. They weren't expecting him to fight, not let alone pretty much win!

He reached for one of the AK-47's, but let out an agonising scream when the pain became too much - beginning in his stomach and ripping through him like wild fire would through a forest. Nothing hit him, no bullet even came close to it, he was too low down and they were trying to avoid hitting their fallen friend. He was losing the battle, the virus was becoming too much for him to handle.

He was on his stomach unable to move when he heard Tony call his name, but it was too late. The pain had him immobile, it had him tasting blood, it had him nearly crying. His hearing was leaving him, but he could just about hear the sound of repulsor's as - no doubt - Tony took care of the remaining guards with one blast.

He was over then, infront of Clint. He had to move Barton onto his back, earning a whimper from the archer as the movement sent pain waves all through him.

"You did good." Tony said a little quickly. That alone let Clint know that it was a bad situation. "You did great Clint! I'm gonna get you back to the jet, send Barnes looking for the kid, alright?"

"He got away." Clint said with a frown, his teeth gritted as Tony lifted him bridal style. "Tony, Doom got away again."

"I know pal." His sighed, even through the armour Clint could feel the action. "It's fine, I'll send Thor after him, but Clint you're going into shock and won't last long and-"

A growl coming from Clint shut Tony up immediately. His eyes had spotted the retreating form of one Victor Von Doom up on the rafters. He must have stuck around to enjoy the show.

Ignoring the pain, ignoring the fact that everything was screaming at him to go to sleep, to end it, to just let the pain lull him into a dreamless sleep for who knows how long - he reached back to pull an arrow from his quiver.

He was lying in Tony's arm at an awkward angle, and he could feel the confused stare from the billionaire - but he didn't care. He had a mission to complete. He was always a good shot, even without his bow, but it meant a normal arrow wouldn't be too effective.

"As soon as I throw - fly." He commanded through gritted teeth, waiting until Doom was walking along the straight part of the rafters to get a proper shot. When he was, Clint activated the tip of the explosive arrow in his hand. With a swift flick of his wrist - and alot of force that left his good arm feeling like lead - the arrow went flying towards Doom. "Go!"

Tony didn't need to be told twice. He tightened his hold on the archer and pushed all the power to the repulsor's on his feet and they were off. Not even a second later the explosion from the arrow sent shock waves through the castle. It was one of his stronger ones, ones that were usually only used for breaking and entering, so it might have been a little over kill!

But he needed overkill. He knew in his current state he wouldn't hit Doom. He probably barely even made the rafter - but the blast would be enough to at least knock the asshole out so someone else can go gather his remains later.

"Clint you're a mad man." Tony laughed from above him, giving Clint a weak chuckle of his own. His eyes were slipping closed, and all he could see was the underside of the Iron Man mask.

He finished his mission though. He got rid of Doom, Barnes would be going in search of the kid and wrangling up stragglers. Doom was finished once and for all and that's all he cared about.

"Thanks Tony.." He whispered softly, letting the pain finally take him.

He owed Tony. If it wasn't for the billionaire, he wouldn't have been able to finish the mission.

He wasn't going to make it this time, there was no way in hell that he was. He could feel his organs shutting down, could feel his muscles slowly disobeying his commands. He could feel pain, so much pain, and nothing else.

He let his eyes fall closed and welcomed the darkness to the sound of Tony's worried calls.

Tony was a good guy. He didn't mind leaving the world with that thought.

The first time he woke was.. Interesting.

There were voices, that's all he knew about where he was. Rushed voices commanding one another, none he knew, none he recognised.

The pain was there. That's all he could feel. The searing heat that began in his chest and rippled out all through out his body. Not as strong as before, not as prominent as before, but it was there.

The voices were interrupted by a scream, a blood curdling sound that wouldn't go a miss in a horror movie, y'know the parts where the zombies finally get the person? That was that sound that ran through the room.

Where it was coming from, he didn't know. It went on and on and only seemed to stop when his energy began to leave.

It was coming from him. The voices were more panicked, machines were beeping around him at too quick a rate. Someone shouted something about confining him. Were they talking about Clint? Surely not. Why would they..?

A hand on his wrist, and the pain became unbearable. Before the blackness took him, he could feel the energy surge leave his body, and heard the sound of something - or someone - crashing away from him.

The second time was alot calmer. Alot quieter. His eyes still wouldn't obey him - refusing point blank to even try open up for him - but he knew he was somewhere safe.

A quiet murmur was bouncing around the space. One voice he recognised - God of Thunder. His voice would always be impossible to forget.

The place didn't smell familiar to him. He was usually good with his senses, more so than most people, so that meant that he could tell where he was by scent alone if it was ever required. Like now, when his eyes were failing him, when they were rebelling against him, he needed scent to determine where he was.

"Will he make it through?" Thor sounded worried. He still sounded muffled.

What happened to him? Why was he lying down? Why was there such pain?

His wrists were confined to whatever he was lying on. And something cold was draped over him.

He let out a slight sigh and felt his head loll to the side, not being able to stay conscious long enough to hear the answer to Thor's question or figure out much more about his current situation.

He doesn't remember the other times he woke, nor how many there were. He remembers pain. Pain that was slowly ebbing away with each wave of consciousness. He didn't know what caused it, his memory still fuzzy, but something had him in the worst shape of his life and he was scared to find out what.

Finally - or miraculously - his eyes obeyed him one day. The haze in his mind slowly faded away and gave him a chance to muster all the energy he had to his eyelids. His right one was a little more responsive and actually opened a little, but the light flooding into his retina made him shut it with a groan a half second later.

The pain was just a dull ache all through his body. He had a whopper headache that he doubted would leave any time soon and he was yet to get the rest of his muscles to listen to him. But he could open an eye, and that was a start.

"Welcome back." That voice he'd know anywhere too! Mr. Tony Stark. "Lights are dimmed, try again Barton. You won't believe where we are!"

He was too hyper.. He hated when Tony was hyper. It usually meant that he had stayed up way too long and was over tired or he had some new contraption he wanted the archer to try out.

He tried again, slower this time, and sure enough the lights were down to a much more manageable level.

He waited until the fog over his eye cleared before trying the left one. It wouldn't open as far as righty did, but it was enough.

He frowned in confusion. He was sitting up in a bed, that much he could feel. One tube was in each arm, he couldn't figure out for what though. None of that was what confused him though.

It was the place he was in. It wasn't a normal hospital room, no way in hell. The whole room was made from what looked like marble, though he was never good with his rock types so he couldn't be sure. Pillars adorned the walls with statues of people and creatures and gold decorations scattered around them all. Real gold. Clint would definitely know that anywhere from his days in the circus.

He glanced to his side and saw Tony sitting there, a grin plastered on his face. Was this some new fancy room in the tower? He always joked with the billionaire that he wanted a throne room, but this was a little much..

Tony looked like he hadn't slept in a year. His eyes were sunken and looked like they aged in however long Clint's been out. His shirt was rumpled but that wasn't surprising - if Pepper wasn't around then he never looked after them.

Clint tried ask what happened, but it came out as a croak followed by a cough. His throat wouldn't even obey him..

"Easy.." Tony soothed, a hand resting gently on the archers shoulder. He couldn't feel it though. "We're completely swapping out your system here pal."

He has to be dead. Right? He felt like he was dying back in..

Dooms castle. That's what happened. That fucking virus was trying to finish you off, Barton..

Swapping out his system sounded odd, even by Stark standards.. Glancing down at the tubes in his arm he did notice one feeding liquid in and another feeding liquid out. An agonisingly slow rate, but it was happening.

It wasn't possible. That's why he was convinced he was dead. That, and this place genuinely looked like those old painting of heaven.

A straw to his lips was a welcome feature. He slowly drank the water offered, nearly choking on it when he saw it was coming from a gold cup.

What the hell was going on!?

"Friend Barton!" He winced a little at Thor's voice, looking over to see him in full battle gear entering through the door with a grin. Why would he be in battle gear?

"Tone it down there, Shakespeare." Tony scolded softly, taking his seat once more when Clint was finished with the water. "He's only just awake."

"What's going on..?" Clint finally got the words out, his head falling back against the pillow when he did. It took way too much of his energy.

"You weren't making it." Tony eventually said, after sharing a glance with Thor for a moment. "You just weren't responding and none of us knew what to do. You barely survived the trip here, but Thor and I got you to help. They're actually miracle workers here and got you out of your funk in no time! Been asleep for.. I don't know time here.."

"Three Midgard weeks plus four days." Thor said with a nod when Tony raised an eyebrow at him for an answer.

Midgard weeks.. Tony talking about miracles.. There's no way..

"Asgard?" Clint asked with slightly wide eyes. Adrenaline was surging through him now. He had read about this place, the story books in the old children homes told of Thor and Asgard and since the moment he met the God he had been begging to come! Odin didn't like humans visiting though, so it never seemed right! "You're shitting me."

"I assure you we are not. The archers are most excited about meeting the famous Hawkeye with who their prince talks so highly!" Thor chuckled. His hand came down to pat Tony on the shoulder. "Stark did a fine job keeping you alive. But our healers can finish off that healing for him."

"They're getting rid of the virus." Tony said softly, trying to simplify Thor's way of speaking for Clint. "You'll be recovering here for the next while, then I'll take you back to Earth and we'll get you back to 100 percent."

"Asgard.." Clint whispered in slight shock, a small grin spreading across his face. He glanced behind Thor and out the door, seeing nothing but the beautiful scenery he could only ever imagine. The mood seemed to lighten with his grin, but he soon frowned and glanced back to Tony when a realisation hit him. "They're getting rid of it.."

"Yeah." Tony nodded, a confused frown spreading across his face. "I thought that's what you wanted.."

"It is.. But.." He sighed gently and looked to his hands. He couldn't feel them, couldn't feel any part of his body. He didn't know what the healers had him on, but all but his head was numb and heavy.

"Clint." Tony pushed softly. "Do you want us to stop?"

"It's just." He struggled for the words. He knew it was right to get rid of it, knew it was the proper thing to do. But one thing would be missing. "I won't have powers anymore.."

"Probably not." Tony agreed, his hand going to cover Clint's. This made Barton look to him, both he and Thor giving him smiles. "But that's fine Hawk."

"I liked the powers.." He frowned, shaking his head a little. Sure the virus turned on him in the end, but if Tony can tweak it then maybe he can keep the powers he's become accustomed to, the powers he's come to love. "They made me like you guys. They made me a hero."

"Clint." His name was chuckled by Tony and he couldn't figure out why. Even Thor's shoulders were shaking in a gentle laugh. "Even without the powers you were the best damn hero out of the lot of us. We won't let that change."

There was never a moment in the past few years of being an Avenger where Tony spoke with such sincerity. It eased Clint's worries and gave him a slight grin.

He didn't need powers. He'd love to have them alright, and who knows maybe they'd still be there after this.

But he didn't need them.

He was a damn fine hero without them.