"Where are we going, Barney?" Clint spoke up, breaking the lingering silence. The two brothers had been walking for hours now; dawn breaking over the surface was definitely proof.

They had been through a small forest near the side of the road, hoping to not alert their presence to any passing pedestrians or cars. The trees gave pretty great cover, although the dim moonlight peaking at them wasn't very bright, nor clear to the outside eyes.

"I don't know, kid..." Barney trailed off when he noticed a sign for a train depot only a mile ahead. Trains were fast, they could hitch a ride, to put it gently. "That's it!"

Clint was a little slow to follow his brother's hand as he pointed, but he eventually caught on. He wasn't necessary a dumb kid, even without getting a proper education. In fact, he had only officially finished first grade. He was also forced to grow up a little too fast when death overtook the Barton family.

"Won't we get in trouble?"

"Well, yeah. But life's a risk in every way, and without them, it's boring and your opportunities are limited," Barney paused and looked at his brother, who was tracing a constellation with his fingers in the sky, "Opportunity will get you places, Clinton, remember that."

They smiled at each other, a real, genuine smile. Neither of them had done that in a long time. It just wasn't in their cards to live a normal life filled with endless joys. It wasn't in the cards given and played.

"C'mon, we won't get in trouble unless you get caught."

"You're worried about me making noise?" Clint asked, his words dripping with sarcasm and mock surprise, "Worry about yourself, Barney!"

And with that, he starting running towards one of the cargo compartments in the back. Even though Clint was quick to cross the railroad tracks, he didn't make a single sound. Barney took off after him.

They were officially committing their first crime, if you could call it that. The older Barton liked the feeling of adrenaline it gave him. Especially when he knew it was the right thing, after all, it was survival for both him and Clint.

Clint hopped up onto the train car and then have a hand to Barney. He gratefully took it and then dropped his backpack to the floor. Clint also had his- although his was more for clothes while Barney's contained scraps of food, water bottles, and spare change.

They sat in a comfortable silence in the back of the compartment. They hid in the shadows- Barney's idea- because they weren't sure if somebody would check on the cargo or not. It was mainly just a load of wooden crates with who knows what inside.

Then, Barney spoke up, "We'll make it work, amigo. You and I, we're a team no matter what, got it?"

Clint said no words and instead embraced his brother in a hug. He truly believed his brothers speeches, but Natasha knew better. She knew that Barney would be the reason for her best friends suffering in the upcoming years.

Eventually the train started chugging and lurching forward. The boys slid over to the open door and sat next to each other, the younger kid's head on his brother's shoulder. Clint's feet hung loosely while Barney had his knees tucked to his chest and an arm slung around his brother.

"You see any stars tonight?"

Clint nodded and pointed towards one. Then, he traced it with his left index finger. "Right there, see? It looks like a dog!"

Barney didn't know what the constellation was actually called, and neither did Clint, but they both didn't care about that. "You should name the dog."

"Hmm... I've always liked the name 'Lucky'! What do you think, Barney?" Clint exclaimed while gazing at the dog like formation in the stars.

"It's perfect, little buddy."

"Do you think he likes pizza?" Clint asked after a few seconds of silence, "Lucky the pizza dog! I think I'm psychic, you know? I just feel that Lucky likes pizza."

"Well, I think you're insane, but you're also still my brother."

Barney started humming a soft song. It gave off the feeling of hope, at least for him. He hoped it gave Clint that same vibe, and he guessed it did when his younger sibling fell asleep to the tune.

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