A note from the author~ This is my first slash, so please let me know what you think of it. Also, if you don't like slash, don't read it ok? Reviews will be rewarded with love, puppies, and taco bell. Thank you

Chapter one: Tricks to Winning an Argument

"This is depressing."

"That's because it's the wrong version. Lacrymosa is not a depressing song; Evanescence is just a depressing band. Forget the music; just stop touching the equipment."

Bruce could be so impatient sometimes.

"I don't believe you." Clint smirked and watching the scientist carefully; he seemed to ignore the archer and focused on his work with unrelenting intensity. Oddly enough, the Hulk made that same face when he was concentrating on destroying something in the most painful way possible.

"So… you done yet?"

"Clint, why are you here?" Bruce looked up from his work with an incredibly annoyed expression; he has the best self-control known to man, but still managed to get ticked off by a lowly SHIELD agent. Clint felt a pang of pride at his accomplishment.

"I told you I wasn't going to leave you alone until-"

"No." Bruce fixed Clint with a dangerous glare; he refused to reopen this argument. Clint could help but flinch away from the fear lurking in the man's endless, brown eyes.

He laughed it off, pretending that Bruce's self loathing didn't make him want to kill things and cry while doing it. "You're ridiculously stubborn. You know only good can come of it."

"Clint, you and Stark are the only real friends I've got. I'm not about to risk the life of one of the only people I have, for any reason." Bruce's gaze had softened some, but Clint could still see his resolve.

Clint gave him a pained look. "That's so hypocritical. You're killing yourself with guilt because you can't control him, but I'm not allowed to help you fix it. I'm not allowed to save myself from losing one of my only friends, because you're paranoid."

Bruce's sigh was a very familiar sound to Clint. It often appeared when Bruce was thinking something along the lines of how-does-someone-have-such-a-good-argument-whilst-acting-like-a-child-and-pouting-to-boot.

You know things are bad when your friends start reading your thoughts based on the length of your exhalations.

"He likes me, Bruce. He goes out of his way to help me during battles. Do you really think he'll start hating me now?" Clint moved forward and put a reassuring hand on the scientists shoulder.

"What makes you think that he'll tolerate being trained? He's not a pet, Clint; he's a monster." Bruce was still clinging to his refusal, but Clint sensed that victory was at hand. Bruce really should've seen it coming; the archer never missed his target.

"He acts like a child most of the time. I think that he'll respond well to being taught. I've already got Stark building a gym big enough and strong enough for him to refine his skills without escaping. Also, maybe if he gets out more often, he won't be so hard for you to contain." At this point, Clint was practically massaging the scientist's shoulders. He was always easier to persuade when there was physical contact involved, though Clint hadn't quite figured out why. He suspected it had something to do with being lonely for so long.

"What's the point of refining his skills? They only want him to destroy things, not make strategic decisions." Bruce tried to pretend like he was still working, shuffling papers with complex equations and molecular structures.

"But you want him to have less collateral damage. That's all I care about; if he can become a little more coordinated, he'll destroy fewer buildings, threaten fewer lives." Bruce visibly stilled.

"It's still too dangerous for you."

"Dude!" Clint threw his arms up in exasperation. "I jump off buildings and shoot arrows at aliens for a living. I'm a god damn assassin. You really think I can't handle a few training sessions?" He glared at Bruce playfully.

"Clint…" The tortured look on Bruce's face showed how conflicted he really was.

"Please?" Clint broke out the pleading look he saved for special occasions. It had even worked on Fury once, though he had never been able to use it on him again. The word please was also an uncommon thing for him.

Tricks like that are why Clint always wins arguments.

Seeing that Bruce had caved, Clint grinned from ear to ear and clapped his friend on the back. "Great! We'll start as soon as Stark's done with the Hulk gym."

Bruce just sighed sadly and shook his head, trying not to imagine how terribly the situation could play out.

Clint looked over his shoulder on his way to the door, flashing his usual mischievous smile. "I could have him paint it all purple for you."

"Just go, Clint."