I know I said Clint would be 10 in this chapter, but scratch that; he's still 9 years old and he'll stay that way until chapter 18. ;)

Annie ran through the Exchange tent, the flaps billowing in the wind behind her. She wished she'd just listened to herself from earlier, from before the stupid meeting with the stupidest man on the planet: Carson.

He just wouldn't listen, and Clint would pay the price.

Annie stalked off and looked for Clint. They could have reassuring conversations with each other, and forget their troubles for a few hours. She would push the thoughts about Carson out of her head, and he'd get press away his feelings about Barney and Jacques.

Annie would also pretend that she hadn't seen the pair sneaking off late at night. She wasn't exactly sure where they headed off to, hell, they could be a couple making out for all she knew! But her inner voice had a different opinion about the matter.

Clint was sitting against a pile of empty crates when Annie finally found him. Tears stung his eyes and they didn't even try to meet hers. She sat next to him and tried to put an arm around his shoulders. Clint scooted away-- something he'd never done before.

"Is everything alright?" He asked in a monotone voice.

"Of course, Clint," Annie lied. She read his expression, seeing through the tears and blank features. "What's wrong?"

Clint remained silent.

"I can't help you unless I know what's wrong. Besides, a smile suits you best." Clint finally looked at Annie and his face darkened.

"Stop. Just--" he stopped aruptly and stood up in a daze. "Carson's got a point y'know."

Annie froze. Clint had been listening in on their conversation. That explained the confusion and tears and the boy being upset. All I have to do, Annie thought, is clear it up in a way that Clint can't understand.

"Oh no," Steve whispered beneath his breath while Tony covered a smile.

Natasha rolled her eyes yet again. "It's okay to say 'shit'. Just saying," she teased.

Seeing her blank expression, Clint started again, "Carson's got a point. It's my decision and only I can make it."

"Yes, but Clint... it's risky and I don't think you're seeing that," Annie exclaimed, trying to keep her voice even. It wasn't really fooling anyone. "I- I don't want anything to happen to you."

"So what?" Clint snapped, falling back down to his knees. His jeans were covered in dry dirt, but he didn't seem to notice. "You're the only one who cares, anyway!"

Annie blinked. "Are we gonna pretend like your brother doesn't exist? And Jacques?"

"If Barney gives a damn-- then he'd be here!" Said Clint, voice breaking in the middle of his sentence.

"Oh yeah," Tony said aloud. "Where the hell is the other one?"

"He has a name, Tony," Steve added quitely, "you'd know if you hadn't fallen asleep earlier."

"Well, I was tired!" Tony whined before Natasha gave them both an icy glare. You didn't even get tired in whatever state they were in. The billionaire just wanted beauty sleep for the fun of it. "And our hawk kinda has a point, if you think about it.

"Where has Barney been lately? Have you seen him?" Clint asked, tears finally streaming down his flustered cheeks. "Is that another thing you've been keeping from me all these years?"

"I don't know where he is, Clint," Annie said in a voice barely above a whisper. Yelling at both Clint and Carson had taken a beating on her voice, as to be expected. "But hear me out: one person who loves you is better than none. It outweighs others opinions, and even including your family. Biological or not, I'll always be here...and I hope you consider things from my point of view," she finished.

The boy thought for a moment. "I'm sorry, Annie, but I just can't..." Clint wiped his tears on his jacket sleeve. "If you really do believe that...you know that I'm capable of deciding for myself."

He got up and headed towards the caravan, where they would be for the night. In the earliest light of dawn, the traveling circus would live up to its name and go to some other town. Annie just sat there, stunned at how quickly things were falling apart.

➳

A light drizzle had started by the time Clint had arrived at the circus caravan. He slowly opened the door to avoid the inevitable creeak! To his surprise, it opened without a sound.

Despite the late hour, most people were still out and around. Whether it was partying at a local bar or helping pack equipment into crates, the circus was still a lively place. The only people inside were Barney and Jacques.

He didn't notice the empty bottle of beer in the Swordsman's hands, or the cardboard crate lying next to him. Clint didn't smell the heavy scent of alcohol in the air, surrounding the pair asleep on the lofty hay  stacks.

Barney's snores were loud enough to cause an earthquake, but Clint didn't mind as he quitely shut the door, pulled the curtains shut to block out any moonlight, and curl up in the crook of his brother's arm.

His conversation with Annie reminded him that something was not as it seemed, but Clint merely closed his eyes and fell asleep-- and he was ready to choose a stand.