Clint sat Lady Hawk down on the countertop, before moving over to the fridge. The archer rummaging around, to find something suitable for his new friend.

"Well, you can either have one of Steve's New York Strips. Or Stark's expensive piece of wagyu. Which one do you think?" Clint asked, holding up the raw slabs of meat for the bird to peruse. Laughing out loud, as the hawk looked straight at the expensive lump of wagyu and screeched.

"Good girl. I'm sure that Steve actually wouldn't mind if I gave you some of his steak. But Stark will grumble and complain about it. Therefore, its much more fun. And anyway, he can afford more." Clint told the hawk. Dropping the expensive slab of raw meat onto the counter and cutting it into pieces, before taking a seat in front of her and feeding Lady Hawk the first piece. The bird carefully taking it from his fingers, before gripping the raw flesh with her talons and pulling small pieces off.

"How is she?" Nat asked, as she walked into the kitchen area. Pulling a cup out of the cupboard and pouring herself a coffee, before joining Clint at the counter.

"Well, Bruce just had to put another splint on her wing, as she managed to take the last one off. But other than that, she seems fine. She has a healthy appetite anyway." Clint chuckled, as he gave the bright eyed hawk another piece of the beef. Natasha rolling her eyes and smiling as realised what Clint was feeding his new favourite girl.

"Is that thing still here?" Tony huffed as he entered the room. This time making sure not to get too close to the hawk, as he moved past to get a mug of his own.

"This is not a "thing", Stark. This is Lady Hawk. And she is currently enjoy a piece of your very expensive, Japanese steak." Clint explained. Nat rolling her eyes again. The widow knowing quite well that her friend couldn't help but goad the billionaire whenever he got the chance.

"WHAT! You're feeding that thing my wagyu? Do you know how much that stuff costs? I........." Tony began. Hurriedly making way over to the counter where the archer had just handed his feathered friend yet another piece of beef. The billionaire stopping in his tracks, as the bird let out a shill screech, and hopped forward.

"Okay, okay. It's yours. I wasn't in the mood for steak anyway." Tony stammered. Almost falling backwards, as the raptor hopped a little closer.

"Keep........keep that thing.........Lady Hawk under control will you." The billionaire added. Quickly filling up his mug and exiting the room.

"Wow! I wish I'd found you sooner, girl. I have never seen Stark haul ass as fast in my life. You are definitely worth keeping around." Clint laughed, as his hand carefully smoothed down some of her ruffled feathers. Lady Hawk's eyes closing, as she nuzzled her head into the archer's palm.

"You do know that hawks mate for life, don't you Clint?" Nat chuckled, as she watched her old friend coo softly at the feathered creature in front of him. The Widow sure that she had never seen Clint act like this with another living thing before.

"Huh?!............."

"Hawks mate for life. And I think that you two make the perfect couple. And I am pretty sure that Lady Hawk thinks that too. I'd say, that even when that wing of hers is better, I doubt that she will be going anywhere." Natasha reiterated. Smiling, as the archer scratched the top of the hawk's head. Clint seemingly lost in the presence of his feathered friend.

"Well, I suppose I could do worse. I goad Stark, and Lady Hawk threatens to bite him. I'd say that we were meant for one another." Clint finally replied, as he gave Lady Hawk another piece of meat. The bird hopping up onto his leather arm guard, as he offered it to her.

"Come on girl, let's go and get some practice in. Stark and his wild goose chase have wasted enough of my time today. You coming, Nat?" Clint asked, as he carefully got up from his seat and made his way to the door.

"What, and come between you two love birds? No way. I'll leave you to it. Anyway, I promised to kick Sam's ass. Don't want to miss out on that." Natasha explained, before waving the archer and his hawk off. The Widow knowing that whether Stark liked it or not, Lady Hawk wouldn't be leaving the compound any time soon.

                                                           >>-------------------------------<<

She had watched him practice for hours. Shot after shot. Each projectile hitting its target, perfectly. Sure that she had never seen anyone with such abilities before. But now, now her archer slumbered once again. And once again she was human. The rays of the moon lighting up the room and allowing her to look over his form. His ever so pleasing form. She so wished that she could wake him. Explain what she truly was. Yet she feared losing him. Feared that if he were to see her in her true form, he would send her away. And that was the last thing that she wanted.

It had been so long since she had been turned into the hawk. In truth, she had no idea how long. Yet over all the long years, she had never met anyone like this archer. There had been others of course. Others that had cared for her, and she had been known by many names. But none had made her feel the way that this man made her feel. None had taken her eye, as much as the slumbering man. It had been true what the woman had said, hawks did mate for life. And for the first time, she felt that she might have found her one and only. That she may have found the man to break the curse. The man that could bring an end to her suffering. But for now, she would remain the creature that walked between this world and the next. The spirit that watched over him in the darkest of hours. Hoping that if the time ever came, his lips would be the ones to make her whole again.

"Rest well, my bowman. Lady Hawk and I will always watch over you." She cooed softly. Not wishing to rouse the sleeping man, yet unable to stop her fingers from ghosting over the flesh of his muscular arms. A smile pulling at the corners of her lips, as he let out a small murmur.

"But for now, I wish to once again explore this strange world of yours. To see if there is a place within it, for me." She whispered, as she slowly rose to her feet and made her way over to the door of the room. The ingress opening quietly and allowing her to take another of her nocturnal wanderings.