Chapter 17 ━━ A Battle To The Death, Bro

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According to Clint, there's a high chance they'll wrap the issue up by the end of the day and sort out the whole Ronin situation. And now, Heather is walking Kate to work with Clint through the busy street of New York. 

"Your problem is branding." Kate concludes to Clint while Heather sips on his morning coffee. 

"No, my problem is you. And this ninja suit, and the people trying to kill you ’cause of it. It’s a problem that I’m going to solve today, so I can go home to my family." Clint replies. 

"No, it’s branding." Kate pushes on her theory. "Your whole thing is that you’re low-key. It’s a very hard brand to sell." 

"I think it's just about his age." Heather remarks sarcastically. 

"Well, I’m not really trying to sell anything." Clint says. 

"It should technically make you cooler, but with the scary stuff that’s happened since the Avengers appeared, people don’t want that cynical, cool thing anymore." Kate says, turning her head to look at the former Avenger. "They want sincerity." 

"That right?" 

"Not self-seriousness, but a heart-on-your-sleeve sincerity." 

"I see." 

"You are very contained. Keep your cards close to your vest, which you wear over a suit of armour and, like, 16 other layers of self-protection. All of which, under, finally, is your heart. So, not exactly on your sleeve." 

"Again, not really trying to sell anything." 

"But you do, anyway." 

"She has a point, Old chap." Heather mutters. 

Clint sighs."Yeah, okay, Kate. Um, what am I selling, then, huh? It’s certainly not Halloween costumes or toys off the shelf." Clint says as they arrive at their destination, which happens to be Kate’s office. 

"Inspiration, Clint." Kate stops on her track and gestures at the huge building standing. "The office is here. Shall we meet at the safehouse after work?" 

"Uh, if all goes as planned today, this is gonna be the last time we see each other." Clint states. 

"All you’ve taught me is how to lose a tail and I almost already knew that." Kate complains. 

"I taught you how to bandage a wound. How’s that?" Heather asks. 

"What about trick arrows?" Kate questions. 

"There are no trick arrows, Kate." Clint replies and takes out his phone. "Here, put your phone number in here. For emergencies only. Just go inside. Stay safe." 

Kate dials her number on Clint's phone and her phone begins to buzz in her bag. "Just lettin’ it ring, so I have your number." 

"Emergencies only, or I’ll block and delete you." Clint strictly says. 

"You already have mine in your phone. Call me anytime." Heather smirks. 

"Okay." Kate smiles at the younger Barton brother. "I'll call you." 

"Um, this is goodbye." Clint says to Kate. 

"Okay." 

"Great. Merry Christmas." 

"All right." 

"Okay?" 

"Cool. Call you both later." Kate says to the Barton brothers, walking towards the building. 

"No, please don’t." Clint replies. 

"I got your number!" Kate yells, waving her phone in the air. 

"She's some girl, isn't she?" Heather speaks as they walk in the other way, passing the heavy crowd of people. 

Clint sends a glare at him. "Kate’s off limits, okay?" 

"You're so uncool." 

"I'm not changing my mind." 

"Come on. 174 pounds of pale skin, cool hair, sexy abs, blue freaking eyes, medium sized dick, super soldier strength, sarcastic energy. Guess what it means. Stop guessing it's perfection. It means, this glorious art-" Heather motions at his body with his overconfident smirk slapped over his face. "-screams perfection, okay? Katy Perry is a freakin female with hormones and females dig my looks. Even some of the men do." 

Clint laughs, shaking his head. "You really are funny, Barney." 

Heather scoffs and turns to him. "So you're gonna tell me you don't believe a girl like her can't have feelings for me?"

"No, I don't." Clint states.

"Wow, you're so close minded." Heather mumbles as he looks at the path their heading. "Where's the action?" 

"When I went to Kate’s apartment yesterday, I noticed a sticker on one of the fire trucks for NYC LARPERS." 

"You noticed a sticker of what? You?" Heather laughs only to gain a dead glare from the Avenger. "Okay. Go on." 

"So I investigated it a little bit more and turns out, one of the firefighters at Kate’s apartment picked up the suit and is now going to wear it in a LARPing battle, that is." Clint explains. 

Heather looks confused. "What the fuck is a LARPing battle?" 

"Live Action Role Playing." 

"Sounds like some kickass shit." 

When they arrive at the place, LARPers are already preparing for the battle. 

"It is some kickass shit." Heather comments, his blue eyes taking in the view. 

Clint finds a man wearing the Ronin suit and begins to walk towards him as Heather follows him. 

But then, they're stopped by a girl in braids. "Uh, Hey. There’s no looky-loos." 

"We're not trying to cause any trouble here." Heather says. 

"Just wanna talk to that ninja right there." Clint points at the man with the Ronin suit. "Stole that suit. So, I’d like to talk to him." 

"So, you can take that up with him when the LARP is over. The Live Action Role Play. This, you know… This whole thing." The girl explains. 

"Wait, when is it over?"

"Midnight." 

"Yeah, that’s not gonna work. It’s just gonna take a couple minutes…" Clint trails off, trying to walk, only to stop again by the girl. 

"Uh… Hey. Look, I know who you are, but most of those folks out there are firefighters and cops. And if you break the rules, it’s gonna get real messy." 

Clint sighs. "What are the rules?" 

"You have to play." The girl says. 

"Oh, crap!" 

Seeing no other way to get the Ronin suit back, Clint finds himself on a different kind of battlefield, going up against the New York City firefighter to win the suit back. Clint is now wearing the armour and wielding his fake sword. 

"There. You look like a sexy Viking." Heather says, taking a picture of Clint and pocketing his phone. "I can't wait to show this to Ver." 

Clint huffs without a response. 

"Look, don't let our family name down, Clinty. You've got this. K?" Heather encourages, patting on Clint's back. "I'll pray for your victory and cheer for you from the audience." 

Clint grumbles as Heather pulls his bag over his shoulders. "You're not playing?" 

"Your suit. Your problem. Have fun, big bro." Heather winks and walks away to join the audience. 

Somehow, Clint makes his way to the ninja with the Ronin suit fighting the LARPers in his way. 

"I love this whole thing. Whatever it is." Heather mumbles to himself. 

"I can't believe Hawkeye's here. He's my favourite Avenger." The guy next to Heather exclaims. He has blue eyes, light freckles on his face and short-cropped Ivy-league hair that is dark blonde. He reminds Heather a young version of Clint.

Heather rolls his eyes. "He is everyone's favourite Avenger lately. And I know for sure, he’s gotta fuck this up." 

"50 bucks if Hawkeye wins. What do you say?" 

Heather grins at the guy. "75 bucks for me if he loses." 

"Deal." They shake hands to seal their deal. 

Gathering all the LARPers around, Clint and Grills battle it out, with the latter victorious. 

"Winner! For Mount Deepdale!" The girl in braids yells and the crowd including Heather cheer with excitement. "And now, we burn the corpse!" 

"I think you owe me 75 bucks." Heather says to the guy. 

"That I do." The dark blond replies, handing him the promised money. "But Hawkeye's still my favourite Avenger." 

"Charles Everton." 

"Heather Barton." 

Charles raises an eyebrow. "You're related to Hawkeye?" 

Heather nods. "His one and only lil brother." 

"Cool. You two don't look alike." 

"All my neighbours keep saying that." Heather shrugs casually. "Especially the blond ones." 

"It's pleasure to do business with you." Heather does a fist bump with him. "Merry Christmas, dude." 

"You too, Heather." 

When Heather walks back to Clint, he's already waiting for him.

Heather gives him a knowing smirk, which Clint groans. 

"Oh shut up!" 

"I didn't say anything." Heather defends himself as he pockets in his dollar bundle. His blue eyes gaze back the spot he talked with Charles to find him gone.

"Yeah, well. Your face did." Clint grumbles and points at Heather's wallet pocket. "Where’d you get all that money? Wait. Did you bet against me?" 

"No." Heather lies as they jogs down the path back to the city.