Chapter Text
Something was afoot.
As per usual, if once a month meant usual, Clint fell from a building. He got hurt, but this time it was absolutely not his fault. The arachnids had sharp legs, and apparently, they were smart enough to know they needed to cut the cord to get rid of him. They were fast too. They did it before he could fully get away from the building, meaning he had no way to get another grappling arrow out.
He knew exactly where everyone in the team was, there was no way for any of them to get there before he made a big splash on the pavement. He could have called for help, but it was useless and he knew it. He wasn’t one for goodbyes either. What do you even say to people in a case such as this?
Not that anyone but him could find himself in this position.
For some reason, the fall seemed to last forever. He didn’t think the building was all that high. As he kept thinking about possible goodbye messages, he decided to turn his com off. Someone was asking for his position. While none of the flying crew could get to him on time, Cap and Nat could, and he didn’t want them to see it.
So, he fell, in silence, looking at the clear blue sky above him.
It was dark to think about, but he hoped he’d die on impact, he didn’t want to suffer, didn’t want the team to find him only to see him die, and worse of all he didn’t want to live but be paralysed. His instructions on this specific SHIELD form were clear and concise. If he’d survive, he’d rather they shoot him rather than live his life with no escape from his own body, no hope to get his life back.
This was really getting too long for the short fall it should have been. He looked around himself, and saw several of the creatures coming for him. He didn’t crash on the floor. He fell right into one the gigantic webs they started sprouting all over the city.
He’d take roadside pancake over being fed on any day. Problem? He turned off his com and he couldn't turn it back on. His arms were stuck in the web.
He could still move his finger enough to check the arrow commands on his wrist. Not as bad as falling to the pavement. He could take them all out when they came closer, he wouldn't suffer from being eaten. He won’t suffer at all, really, there was no way they’ll even find enough parts of him to play Frankenstein with his remains.
They were close enough. He was about to click the last button when he heard the whirling of Tony’s armure. He killed all four of the creatures rapidly but cut down the web doing so, meaning Clint fell on the pavement anyway, and broke his wrist.
Really, the story of his death would have been epic. Instead, he had a broken wrist, and he was benched for the next month.
All of this led to his current observation.
Something was afoot.
He was on the third floor rafting. It had a great view of the open common area. He built himself a nest there when he moved in. There was no way he was going to stay in his room when he wasn’t feeling great. People could find him there.
This was the only reason he could spy on this strange dance.
Thor and Steve would come and go from one part of the tower to another. One of them would always stay in the room. They looked extremely worried. Maybe someone infiltrated the tower? No, the alarm wasn’t blaring. What did they lose? The more they looked the more stressed Steve seemed to get.
Finally, Thor stopped him before he could leave the room again.
They didn’t talk. Thor enveloped Steve into a hug. Steve seemed to deflate. Sighing so deep Clint could hear it all the way to his nest.
They stayed in the hug for a few minutes. Clint thought it looked nice. Thor kept running his hands up and down Steve’s back, kissing the top of his head, whispering to him.
Wait, back up, Thor was kissing Steve? Sure, it was on top of his head, but that was pretty intimate.
Now that Clint was paying attention to the details, Steve was leaning into Thor, mumbling or whispering things to him.
“You still haven’t found him?” Natasha came in, took one look at their hug and sighed.
Two new pieces of information. The person they were looking for was a male, and Natasha knew about the hugging thing and didn’t share the gossip.
“The tower is too big. We’ve managed for one of us to always stay here just in case, but he could be anywhere else. Anywhere but his apartment it seems.” Steve sighed and Thor kissed his forehead, holding him a little bit tighter.
“Did you ask JARVIS?” Natasha suggested.
Which would have been Clint’s first idea as well.
“Yes, JARVIS says he is in this room.” Thor recounted.
“JARVIS would know,” Natasha sat down to eat a snack, waiting for Steve and Thor to get distracted, before looking up right at him.
She looked at him and nodded to the men. She did it twice, then sighed, shook in her head. She was about to leave the room when she turned to speak to Steve and Thor one last time.
“He sees better from afar. Either be blunt when you catch your little birdie, or leave him where he is and find a way for him to know. I suggest staying here for a while. Talk about what you want, and why. Eventually, you’ll catch him.”
“Do you think she is right?” Steve asked.
“I think she knows him better than any of us.” Thor agreed. “Birds only come around when they want to, even my father’s ravens only come to him when called.”
“I thought with him being benched, and unable to train, we’ll finally have the chance to talk to him,” Steve said, as Thor led him to the couch. “God! Watching him fall, then watching the beasts come so close to eating him. I’m having nightmares.”
“I am aware.” Thor said but had Steve lay down his head on his laps before he could answer. “I have them, also.”
Wait! He fell from the building! He was almost eaten! They couldn’t possibly talk about him. Why would they talk about him? Why would they get into a frenzy over him? He was fine. It was just a wrist, he would be better in a month. Way better than the pancake scenario.
Clint moved to try and hear them better. He saw them both freeze and stood still, barely breathing. Thor leaned in and kissed Steve, whispering something softly against his mouth and they both relaxed.
Clint got down one level. To hear better.
“We will find a way, my Love.” Thor was talking to Steve, louder this time.
So, they were a couple. He was missing a lot staying in his nest.
“I’ve tried,”Steve said. He sounded so defeated. “You tried. Natasha tried. I think Bruce is at one innuendo to strangle Tony. I don’t get it. I used to be pushed aside in favor of Bucky all the time, but when Peggy made her intention known, I knew what she meant. I wasn’t used to anyone looking at me this way. But,...”
“But, it looks as if no matter how many people look at him with Love or Lust in their eyes, he doesn’t see it.”
“Damn Sharpshooters,” Steve cursed with a wet laugh.
Wet laugh? Was Steve crying? This wouldn’t do. Thor needed to find the person who made Steve cry and beat them to a pulp. Although, Steve was a beautiful cryer. His eyes were glossy, his long eyelashes wet and darker.
Thor’s hand covered the entire side of Steve’s face, his thumb brushing his tears away. When did Thor’s hands get so big? Steve wasn’t exactly small.
Instead of saying something else, Thor caressed Steve side until his hand was on the back of his upper thigh, his other hand cradling his head, he moved swiftly and in seconds, in a move so fluid Natasha would be jealous, Thor had Steve straddle him. He started kissing all over Steve’s face until he started laughing.
“I prefer you to be happy,” Thor told him. “We will make ways for him to be happy, it is my promise.”
“I know.” Steve kissed him, from Clint’s point of view, it looked tender and loving. They were taking their time, they were not trying to make it something more.
“You promised I could have whatever I wanted.” Steve recalled.
“You continue to refuse to ask for anything, my Love,” Thor reminded him. “Unless we are in our bedroom. You can be very demanding in our love making. And, you blush, so easily, still.”
“We are in the middle of the common room,” Steve hissed at him.
“You were more open to this suggestion last week,” Thor told him.
“It was adrenaline high,” Steve protested.
“No, my delightful lover,” Thor corrector, “you were worried for our friend. When one worries about his loved ones, there is always a part of us who wishes to ascertain the wellbeing of others. You were not alone in your need. Seeing our little Hawk on the hospital bed, no matter how loud he was protesting his restrictions was not easy for me either.”
“We were so close to losing him,” Steve said softly. “We never even had the occasion to tell him.”
“Tell me,” Thor probed. “Tell me what you would tell him. We already know you can speak to me without becoming a blushing babbling mess, as you explained after our first night.”
“I want him so much, Thor.” Steve started. “I know it makes very little sense. As Tony keeps saying, I am being greedy.”
“I think it is for us to decide if your wish is greed, or more,” Thor interrupted him. “If it is greed, let us be greedy together. I wanted both of you before you even spoke of it, but the action of my brother stopped me from voicing my desire.”
“I wouldn’t even know where to begin if he asked for an explanation.” Steve continued after one long kiss shared with Thor. “I feel safe when I’m with you. I don’t need to be strong, I don’t need to be in charge, I can relax and trust you’d catch me if I fall. I’m pretty sure, people seeing it from the outside would say I just want to take care of someone in the same way. They wouldn’t be entirely wrong, only mostly.” Steve let a little laugh out. “I mean, it’s fucking sexy when you manhandle me, and I can’t try it with you, but I wouldn’t mind lifting him up against the wall to kiss him until he understood how much we care for him.”
“Counter idea, hold him up against me,” Thor told him, his voice deeper than usual. “I want to get my mark on his beautiful skin. Yours always disappear before we wake.”
“You’re very possessive.” Steve agreed. “It’s not as if the mark I try to leave on you last long. One day at most.”
“Which is why you have to apply them daily.” Thor nodded with a smirk.
Weird, Clint never saw a hickey on Thor. Or did he? He couldn’t think about it at the moment. He needed to concentrate on staying balanced while having a hard on. He looked at his wrist. Damn! He won’t even be able to take care of it.
“Do I not satisfy you then, my Love?” Thor asked.
“Don’t ask stupid questions,” Steve protested. “We barely made it to the battle on time. Though you were right, I couldn’t go out with a hard on. None of us would have found Clint in time if I hadn’t seen him fall.” Steve shuddered violently. “Seeing his line cut, watching him fall. It was so hard, Thor.”
“I know, my Love. Bad memories,” Thor assured him.
“Missed chances,” Steve countered. “Yes, it reminded me of Bucky, but that came later, at night, in my nightmares. At that moment, when I saw him fall, all I could think about was that we’ll never get a chance to tell him how much we want him. How much we love him. He is a human disaster, but he is so beautiful inside and out.”
“Just like you,” Thor told him. “It is what attracted me to the two of you. Warriors on the outside, and on the battlefield, but soft, glorious, generous, beautiful humans inside. I am used to being surrounded by warriors. You two shine above all.”
“You keep saying that,” Steve squirmed in his lap, clearly embarrassed. “I don’t know what it means. I don’t understand. You never really explained.”
“I have met a lot of warriors in my years,” Thor told him. “None shone as bright as you. You, my Sun, chose to be a fighter, not because you wanted to defeat the enemy, not because you wanted to be hailed as a hero. You wanted to help. You want to help. You want to make everyone safe. Including the warriors at your side. You take so many responsibilities for yourself. Responsibilities no one forced on you. You do it so others won’t have to. Your heart shines so bright. How could I not bask in its beauty?”
“What about Clint?” Steve wanted to know.
Which was great, because Clint wanted to know, also. He might be oblivious, but they were really hamming it up. He got it. Sure, it was after Steve said his name, but he got it.
“Clint is like a cat, you have to approach him gently, slowly. I don’t know his past, but you can see the pain through his smiles. He tries so hard to make others happy even if it means mocking him for a laugh. It breaks my heart to watch him have so little faith in himself. He is the fiercest warrior of us all. He doesn’t have your serum, my strength, Tony’s suit, the Hulk…”
“What about Natasha?” Steve asked, laughing.
“I am unconvinced of her Earthly birth. I would confirm this theory, but it would mean leaving you. I’ll let her keep her secret for now,” Thor admitted, sounding suspicious.
Clint almost laughed. Well, this was one version he had never heard before. She will love it. Steve laughed long and hard. He was beautiful when he laughed. It used to be a rare sight, but he had been laughing more for a few months now. Which Clint now knew was Thor’s work.
“Let’s get back to Clint then,” Steve nodded, “hopefully, he will be another reason to keep you from investigating Natasha’s origins.”
“Do you think yourself not enough?”
“No, but you’ll need all the help when she decides you know too much,” Steve joked with him.
“Clint then,” Thor asked. Steve nodded with a large smile. “He has none of the protections we do, but still jumps into the fray. He is there every time. Even now, too hurt to pick his bow, he would probably grab one of the guns in Tony’s armory and go out to fight, if just to save one life, even at the detriment of his own. I have never seen anyone other than yourself being so selfless. While you make sure everyone is physically intact, Clint will spend the following days making sure everyone would smile. I have told you of Fandral?” He didn’t wait for an answer, surely Steve already knew. “He would be jealous of Hawkeye’s prowess with a bow. It has always been his favored weapon, but he would be humbled by Clint’s skills. I have never witnessed anything as extraordinary as what he accomplishes. He never misses. Unless he is sending a grappling arrow.”
Thor was looking right at Clint, who was way closer than he thought he was. He had no idea how he ended up next to the sofa. He was kind of caught now though. They were both watching him with desire, yes, but with something else, something he never saw turned to him.
“Hum…” He didn’t know what to say.
He couldn’t disappear now that they knew he was there.
They both reached a hand toward him. Not moving from the other side of the couch. Steve stayed on Thor’s lap. They were inviting him to join them. Did he want to join them? The picture Thor painted of him was nice, as was how he saw Steve, but he had to know…
“What is your role, then?” He asked Thor.
“A prince must look after his closest people. A partner must look after his lovers. A man must look after those he loves. Make sure they don’t lose themselves in their responsibilities,” he said looking at Steve, “Make sure they don’t deny themselves the happiness they give so freely to others.”
“Our anchor, into the present time,” Steve added, “against the storm brewing in our heads.”
“A body to keep you warm and safe when the rest of the world becomes too much.” Thor finished.
“I think…” Clint took a step closer then stopped, hesitant.
“If you don’t take that step, I will shoot you in the ass,” Natasha yelled from where she was walking from the elevator to the fridge.
Thor might be right. She might be an alien. She left with her ice cream, glaring at Steve and Thor for good measure.
Clint didn’t want to get shot in the ass, so he took the last step, grabbing their hands.
Also, he really wanted what they had to offer.