Clint froze.

Yes, I know! Right than would have been the perfect time to run for his life waving his hands in the air, screaming for mercy. But instead, after hearing Tony's words, he froze.

He was caught by surprise okay? Cut him some slack!

Unfortunately that forced him into a rather odd position seeing he was in the midst dodging another attack by the wrinkled tomato and his faithful companion Thor. And now his current pose looked like he was giving a performance of the nutcracker, to an invisible audience on the over turned couch.

Clint hastily fixed his position and glanced at Thor who was wiping mustard from his cheek with lowered eyes. There was a steady stream of flour trickling from his shoulders onto the floor, like their wasn't enough evidence already. Though in Clint's opinion the living room was looking quite a bit better than it was in the first place.

But Tony didn't know that.

Still facing away from the angry billionaire, Clint could hear him ranting, probably telling them off. Of course there wasn't much they could do seeing that the damage was already done, but Tony made it clear he wasn't happy.

Putting his hands in the air and begging for mercy probably would have been a better idea. But like before, Clint wasn't feeling the vibe. Instead he did the next best thing, and played it off like it was nothing.

"Oh! Hello Tony! I didn't see you there, do you like the new design on the living room? It looks so much better don't you think?"

Clint perched himself upon the upside down couch and turned to face Tony, though truthfully he wished he hadn't. The billionaire was glaring at him, his sunglasses doing little to cover the angry air radiating off him. Clint smiled weakly and gestured to the remains of the living room with fake enthusiasm.

Tony stared at him for about a milo second before pulling his sunglasses from his face in one quick movement. "Oh yes. I specifically like the taco on the Flat screen, it adds such...," he gritted his teeth, pausing for a second with his sunglasses raised in his grip, like he was going to whack them with it. "A great pop of color to the room." He walked over them his shiny polished shoes slapping against the ground, and that's when Clint saw him.

ΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦ

The boy was, up until now, hidden behind Tony, his face swallowed by the shadows, so much in fact that Clint didn't notice him until Tony moved away. He looked around seven-teen, his Raven black hair contrasting against his sickly looking skin. He wore a large black sweatshirt, that hung off his fragile frame and dark wash ripped jeans that were covered in ashes, even in the hot weather. He held a bundle in his arms, a child. Her black tuffs of hair peeking out from the top of the blanket. But that wasn't what surprised him.

No. It was because Clint knew this boy.

The Raven black hair, the Unusual colored eyes. Clint remembered him, way back at the brink of his memory. But he knew for a fact that this boy had changed. His eyes were probably the most disturbing part about his image, lacking color and light in any way, shape, or form. Even the sea green hue like the crashing surf, was stormy and hollow. It's shattered look like a photograph ripped into unrepairable pieces, no matter how much glue you use its never the same. And his hair that was once wind blown and wild, stood wilted and matted to his scalp like damp clothing.

Though it was so long ago Clint had almost completely forgotten about the boy.

Almost.

And now, as he slowly stood from his position on the couch, the memory came hurtling back at him like a bullet train, about to crash.

flashback

The bow dug into his back, digging into his skin like seat belt that was strapped too tight. He could bare the pain, he was used to the discomfort. Of course it wasn't as simple or easy as a gun, something you could slip into you holster, or hide inside a boot. The rather bully acquires of a bow and arrow weren't so easily concealed. But it was his favored weapon, and wasn't going to change that for comfort or concealment problems.

He would admit though, that on undercover missions, it was a slight pain. As Fury had noticed, and had tried at a pitiful attempt to redirect him to another more durable and easier concealed weapon. Of course, this attempt was unsuccessful and Clint was still inseparable with his handy bow and arrow.

Though now he was slightly irritated with it.

He walked at an even pace though the parking lot, trying not to let his eyes dart, a dead give away for suspicious activity. His hand gripped the side of his bow, his sunglasses up against the bridge of his nose. But, against the crowds of New York he doubted anyone would notice the bow.

Except for security.

But his mission had been assigned with an employees outfit and card, which he was wearing now with slight displeasure. It would allow him to enter the back door, completely passing security. The laminated card hung from a Metal clip at his waist, the black printed letters spelling; Albert finnley.

He still wasn't sure how he felt about that.

Casually he walked across the pavement, weaving in and out of passing families. He adjusted his bow against his back and grimaced slightly. He had pulled a jacket over the employee shirt, causing a slight confinement issue seeing it was a size to small. But he walked along anyway ignoring the pain in his chest as he watched the families wander by. But now wasn't the time to think of his wife back home. A mission was a mission and their was nothing he could do.

He ducked down behind an empty minivan, crouching beneath the Windows. Across from him a Camaro, presumably empty was parked. This hiding place probably wasn't ideal but he needed time to breath. His hand slipped into his jacket Pocket grasping for the file.

All that Fury had told him was that his mission was to take in three men for custody. The men had been hidden in the store room of the aquarium for a week now, not the best place to set base, so Clint knew these men were slight armatures.Their actions set major infliction upon the sea creatures, removing their substantial DNA strands and inserting them into a shark that they were to release to the wild. Of course all Clint got from that explanation was that these men were complete Jurassic park/world lover, which Fury did not think was funny.

Slowly he placed the file down before him and glanced up.

And that's when he had a heart attack.

Not literally but it was a close one.

"Ish shat bow and awo!?"

A boy maybe three or four was dangling out of the Camaro window, his eyes bright and excited. He grinned and pointed a finger at Clint's bow, his dimples deepening. The boy was unnaturally cute, Clint had to admit, his Raven black hair messy and windswept even in the still air. He reached out a hand his sea green eyes glowing with anticipation.

And than he noticed Clint's gaze and shrunk back, ducking behind the window his eyes turning scared.

"Shawy." He whispered his eyes peeking out from behind the window. Clint smiled slightly and glanced around noticing that the boy was presumably alone in the car. His eyebrows furrowed.

"No, It's okay. Where's your parents? Who drove you here?" The boy frowned.

"Shmelly Gabe did. Mommy went in shide to get auw tickets fwor the aquashium!" He smiled for about a second, but than his features dropped. "Mommy weft me wish Shmelly Gabe, bwut he went ta get shigwaretts." He pointed dejectedly towards a convenient store across the street where Clint could only presume sold cigarettes.

Clint debated what he should do. His mission couldn't get sidetracked, but yet he couldn't leave the kid here alone.

Finally he made up his mind.

"What's your name little guy?" The boy looked at him a bit guiltily.

"My mommy shaid not to talk to shangers, and not to tell shem my name." Clint smiled.

"Don't worry kiddo I'm not a stranger, I won't hurt you." The boy grinned widely his dimples growing even bigger with the movement.

"My names Pwercy!" He stated proudly. And Clint stood slipping the file back into his jacket.

"Well Percy, my names Clint Barton. And I'm gonna help you find your mommy."

(For those of you who do not know,...THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU SHOULDN'T DO. If a random person comes up to you and tells you to come with them what do you say? NO! Good job!)

~~~~~~~~~~

Clint picked Percy up by his armpits and slid him out of the window. The child grinned and started to run, faster than any three year old Clint knew, towards the entrance. But luckily Clint was quick enough to grab ahold of his shoulder before he got to far. The boy skidded to a stop and glanced back questioningly.

"Guess what little dude? We're gonna go a secret way...And if you go this way you have to be super quiet, okay?" Percy nodded eagerly and lifted his arms above his head, so Clint would pick him up. Clint sighed and grudgingly allowed Percy to clamber up his back, as Clint removed his bow and held it in his hand instead. They headed toward the back entrance Percy clutching onto Clings neck. It was simple getting in, he just slipped in his card and opened the door after the beep. But Percy was awed.

"Howsh you do shat?" He cried, much to Clint's aggravation as he tried to quiet the boy down.

Or rather failing to quiet the boy down.

They entered the back entrance and walked through to the public area, merging onto the crowd. The aquarium was pretty spectacular with fish tanks almost everywhere you can see, filled with exotic fish and sea creatures.

But almost the second they stepped foot in the room Percy started to hold onto him tighter his fist clenched.

"Stahp!" He cried, his hands flying to cover his ears, his eyes starting to water. Clint glanced back at him surprised, his eyebrows furrowed. But he still juggle around so Percy wouldn't fall, and jogged to a corner so he could pull Percy off his back.

"What's wrong?" He whispered holding the child at arms length, so he could see him better. But Percy just closed his eyes.

"The voices make em stahp!" He grabbed at Clint's arm, clinging onto his sleeve like it was a floatations device.

What was wrong with him?

"Helwp Pwees." The boy cried, "Their twalking to me helwp!!" He pointed to the fish tanks his eyes darting full of fear.

Clint tilted his head slightly and glanced back at the tanks.

And had another heart attack.

All the fish from the nearest tank had swum up to glass. Their glossy eyes trained on the boy in front of Clint, like they were stalking him. Cautiously he glanced more closely at the fish mob, their mouths moving up and down like they were gulping for air. He could see their glistening fins slapping the water as they pushed against the glass like they wanted a better view.

Truthfully Clint would have pinned it as a coincidence, but their was a nagging feeling in the back of his brain that it wasn't.

And that's what scared him.

Slowly Clint put an arm around the kid and glanced around. So far no one had heard the screams which was good. He picked the kid up, his cries echoing around the building.

"The voices Pwees!!! Stahp!!" He clung to Clint as he pushed through the crowd in search of the kids mother. Of course he had no idea what the kids mother looked like.

As they exited the main room with the fish tanks Percy quieted down, tears still streaming down his cheeks. Clint patted his back awkwardly. But than Percy gasped.

"Helwp!!!! Mommy!" Before he could stop him the boy had flung himself out of Clint's gasp, and lunged at a middle aged woman standing at the ticket counter. The woman looked surprised but embraced the boy anyways.

"What's wrong sweetie? Why are you out of the car...Where's Gabe?" The boy just cried into her shoulder.

The woman turned to Clint and her gaze turned suspicious as her eyes trailed to his bow.

"Who are you and why did you have my son."

Clint had the decency to look sheepish. "I'm sorry ma'am, your son was in your car with the no one around, he told me you were getting tickets. I'm Albert Finnely, I uh- work at the museum and we can't have kids all alone in cars like that. It's not safe, so I brought him in to find you."

Percy glanced up at this. "No! Your Cwint!"

Clint stared at him for a second. "Um no. I'm Albert."

The boy glared. "No! YOU AWRE CWINT!"

"I told you before that I was Albert remember?" Clint tried as Percy frowned, shook his head.

"No you didn't."

"You must have forgotten that's okay it happens." Clint patted his back. Percy frowned and dug his face into his mother jacket.

The woman's harsh gaze softened a little, as she looked at Percy who was leaning against her shoulder with tear streaked cheeks. But than her gaze hardened.

"I'm going to kill that man." Clint quickly backed up thinking she was talking about him, but than noticed that her gaze had centered itself on a rather fat middle age man, standing at the entrance of the aquarium.

Percy glanced up for a second, and spoke with all he could muster. "Pwees do."

His mother rolled her eyes slightly and held her son tighter. "What happened why is he crying."

Clint have her an apologetic shrug. He debated whether he should tell her about the fish swimming up to the glass. But decided against it.

"I'm not sure exactly...The second we walked in he started screaming saying that the fish were taking to him." The mother frowned and held Percy tighter, it could have been Clint's imagination but he thought he heard her mutter; 'I knew this would happen'. But he could have been hearing things.

The woman smiled at him slightly. "Oh, I bet it's nothing. Kids these days and their imagination." She sounded strained as she bounced a crying Percy on her hip. Clint narrowed his eyes slightly, he could tell that the woman was lying but decided not to push it, he had a mission to get back to.

"Well, I think we've had enough of the aquarium." The woman sighed, turning to Clint slightly. "My names Sally Jackson, by the way. Thank you for bringing me my son, I don't know what Gabe was thinking. I'd better go talk to him." She smiled and walked off with a Percy in her arms.

But the boy glanced up for a second as they walked alway and managed a slight wave.

And as they turned the corner, Clint smiled and went back to his mission.

ਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾਾ

੦੦੦੦੦੦੦੦੦੦੦੦੦੦

Clint staggers back slightly as he stared at the boy. He was positive it was Percy. He knew it was, even if he changed so much.

"You think I wanted to take the subway half-way across New York City? And all because someone wouldn't let me carry them in my iron man suit just because they're holding a newborn child! And now I come home to this! Seriously!"

Clint ignored Tony's rant and instead took a hesitant step towards the boy. And as the boy turned to look at him Clint spoke. But so did Steve.

"Percy?"

!!