Disclaimer: I only own Ella and her plotline.

Clint's arm was tight around my waist as he guided us through the twisting halls of the hospital. I couldn't help but marvel at the grace of his movements. Seamlessly pulling my body along beside him, pressed against the taught line of his torso. Turning each corner without a hitch in his step, flowing through the busy traffic without slowing or stopping. I stumbled numerous times as I attempted to keep up with his pace. His legs seemed twice the length of my own. Every time I was only moments away from falling, the archer steadied me as if I weighed nothing and continued on.

Air wheezed through my lungs in shallow puffs. The sounds I made were foreign to my own ears. It felt as though I was breathing through a straw; getting a small amount, but not nearly enough to sustain me. My head tipped back, brushing Clint's rigid chest. My eyes focused on the florescent bulbs in the ceiling above. Spots of black and red flickered in front of my vision.

My knees buckled beneath me.

"Ella?!" Clint cried out, catching me at the last moment. I could feel his cool palm on the heated flesh at the nape of my neck; the other pressed firmly against the base of my spine.

"Dizzy," I breathed after a moment, swallowing thickly.

The man huffed out a humorless laugh. "No kidding." In the next moment, the archer lifted me from the ground, easily tucking me into his arms. He started walking again, more briskly this time. "I'm sorry, baby, but we have to hurry. I shouldn't have made you strain-"

"It's fine," I lied, waving a dejected hand about in a way that directly betrayed my words. "I'm fine, honestly. Let me walk."

The man snorted and pressed his lips chastely against my feverish cheek. It took all of my energy to avoid his pointed stare.

He knew for a fact that I was still ill. That something was wrong. His tumultuous gaze was cataloguing each movement I made. He took in each stagger and waver in my steps. The knowledge behind those beautiful eyes was what I feared the most. He knew I wasn't just recovering from my injuries. I should've been healed days ago; mere hours after the car accident. Yet here I was, drained of all my power and energy from my body stitching itself back together. Even just walking to the entrance of the hospital felt like a massive undertaking. My heart thundered in my ears, pattering in my ears, echoing through my head. Coughing through the mucous that was building up in my throat, I leaned heavily against the strong body next to me. I internally cursed myself for having to rely so strongly on the people around me.

Thankfully, Clint didn't voice his turbulent thoughts. The obvious tightening around his mouth and brow spoke all the words that were needed: We're going to talk about this later. And I want the truth.

We finally brushed through the front doors. The air of the summer night was surprisingly chilled. The wind was gentle as it brushed across my body, cooling the heated sheen of perspiration that covered my frame. Turning my head to the side, I saw a beautiful red car parked in front of the hospital. It was sleek and low to the ground; probably worth enough money to feed a small nation. The door facing us opened, not sideways, but lifted upwards; revealing a white leather interior and the driver. Tony's expression was nothing short of grim. His lips were flattened into a single, terse line. His brow was creased, slight wrinkles deepening around his mouth and eyes.

"You gonna stand there all day, or do you actually want to get inside?"

What is going on? What's wrong? I questioned internally, glancing up at with wide eyes Clint. He ignored my gaze as he slid into the front seat, pulling me to sit on top of him. He adjusted me in his arms so I was seated on his lap, legs dangling between the two seats. The door closed without a moment's notice, making me wonder if Tony made the car himself.

Tony started the engine by pressing a single button on the consol. The gentle purr vibrated through my frame for a breath before the man sped away from the hospital and into oncoming traffic. "Did anyone see you?" The genius demanded; his voice barely restrained anxiety. I glanced over at him, finally noticing that the billionaire was clothed in a flawless tuxedo, complete with black bow tie.

"Just the doctor and his nurse," Clint responded, cradling my head under his chin. His fingers stretched as his palm flattened against my belly. My body's reaction to the man's touch was instantaneous but not entirely welcomed; considering Tony Stark was less than a couple inches away. Peering down, I noticed the thin hospital gown was hiked up around my upper thighs. For the first time since waking, I was distinctly aware that I was walking around virtually half-naked. I let out a soft whimper and ducked my head, melting further into the archer's embrace.

"Shhh...," He whispered. As if reading my mind, the man tugged the material back into place.

"Did you destroy the files? The tests?"

Clint nodded, brushing his cool, chapped lips over the shell of my ear. It was impossible, but the small touch kept my mind steady, my body grounded. At the same time, it was throwing fuel on the fire of desire I was feeling for him. "I destroyed the hardcopies and managed to steal the patient chart from the doctor while Ella was giving him an autograph," he stated, motioning towards the black duffle at his feet.

"Nice work, Katniss," Tony muttered as he steered the vehicle, weaving through multiple lanes of traffic at a time, speeding around slower cars. "I hacked the hospital's firewall and deleted any and all trace of Sweet Cheeks from their system. I also applied one of my facial recognition programs to their security system, which I managed to code to white-out any trace of you from their cameras-"

"Alright, what the hell is going on?" I snapped, moving to pull away from the man holding me close. He didn't stop me, sensing my frustration and anger. My arms crossed over my waist. "This obviously has nothing to do with a Midgardian dance, so it has to do with something that happened before. Obviously the car crash, then. Now you're wiping me from cameras and files... I certainly appreciate your efforts, but I would also be grateful for some sort of explanation."

Tony flinched and shoulder checked before swerving the car again. Memories of the crash came back to me in waves. I sucked in a breath, attempting to quell the nausea in my belly. The archer's arms wound around my waist once more, and I didn't fight him, sinking into the warmth of his body again. I could sense that he needed the connection just as much as I did. I could feel the tension as if it was almost sparking through the man's muscles.

"I analyzed the remains of the car you and Pep were in after the crash," Tony started, breaking me from my thoughts.

"And?" I prodded.

The billionaire exhaled roughly, as if this was the last thing he wanted to be talking about. My eyes scoured his face. The barely-restrained fury had the man almost buzzing with movement. His fingers tightened on the wheel, knuckles going white. "I found a small device in the undercarriage. It had almost been burnt through, because of how hot the fire was. The engineer probably used the materials for that reason alone: so that the mechanism would burn up, and be entirely undetectable. Obviously, they severely underestimated my intelligence... But honestly, the technology's so simple, it's beautiful. Stunning actually-"

"Stark," Clint hissed, eyes flashing.

Tony cleared his throat, recollecting his thoughts. "-Untraceable and remote activated. It had to be attached in an incredibly precise location in the undercarriage. A single burst of localized energy severed the brake line and cut off the controls of the vehicle. No way to stop, reduce speed, or move. If it wasn't so disturbing, I'd use this kind of technology myself-"

"Stark-"

"It wasn't an accident," I surmised, feeling the pit of my stomach drop.

Clint brushed his lips across my temple, managing to ease my worries only the smallest amount this time.

"No," Stark confirmed, peering sideways at me from the corner of his eye. "This was planned. Everything. From the speed Pepper would be driving at, to your location and the path you were taking back to the tower. It wasn't random. It was strategic-"

"Stark...," Clint spat, voice filled to the brim with warning.

My brow creased at Tony's words. "How would they've known I wouldn't find a dress until the last store? That Pepper would send the others back to the Tower? What boutiques we'd enter? There are too many variables... It makes little sense, unless we were under surveillance..."

The car was filled with thick silence for what felt like hours.

"Why?" I finally asked, unable to stand the quiet.

"Huh?"

"Why would someone do this?" My voice sounded small to my own ears, almost childlike. I gulped down the thickness that was threatening to close off my throat.

"That we don't know yet," Clint interjected, shifting subtly underneath me. "Stark's analyzing the remains and hoping to find some sort of trace to lead back to a single source. If we can do that, then we can figure out the why."

I swallowed. "Alright. So... someone's trying to kill Pepper... or me."

"Yep," Tony sang, popping the p. Despite his nonchalance, I knew the genius was concerned.

"So... we're going to a dance...?" I arched a brow, eyes beginning to flutter drowsily.

"Yep!"

"Cause that makes sense...," I chuckled lazily, leaning further back into Clint's warmth. One of his large hands travelled down from my waist, moving to clasp my lower thigh. In soft, circular motions that were barely-there, the archer smoothed the pad of his thumb over the delicate, pale flesh just next to my knee. The noise that fled my lips was foreign to my ears; a breathy and exhausted groan.

"No need for sarcasm, Sweet Cheeks... Hey, wake up!"

"Sleepy..."

"Too bad," Tony shot back good-naturedly. "We're almost there."

I sighed dejectedly and let my eyes shut anyway.

"Stark...," Clint murmured, "I don't think we should do this. Ella's exhausted. She can barely move, for Christ's sake-"

The other man growled out a breath. "This isn't me, Legolas. Everyone had a vote-"

"Which was seven to six in favor; not too promising, in my opinion."

"Democracy at its finest." There was a pause. Tony swallowed. "I'm... sorry. I really am. But I can't have anything happening to Pepper. I can't put her in danger, knowing that person that did this is still out there..."

"-But you're fine with it being Ella?"

"Of course not!" The billionaire snapped, voice rising.

My heart was pounding wickedly against my ribcage, making my chest throb painfully. "You know I'm right here, don't you?"

Clint groaned, head dropping to brush my shoulder. He kissed my neck, sensing my unease. "Baby, you're not doing this."

Something sparked inside me, allowing for a small burst of energy. Frustration bubbled up in my throat. "How about you Midgardians tell me what you're talking about, before you decide to restrict my right to make concise decisions?"

There was silence in the car for several moments.

"Have you noticed how she calls us Earthlings whenever she's being sassy?" Tony whispered, loud enough for me to hear.

The agent snorted softly. "Yeah, I've figured that out by now."

My eyes narrowed dangerously.

Then, Tony was pulling the car off the main road. The tires crunched as they rolled over loose gravel.

"Well?" I snapped, brow raising. I shifted forward, out of Clint's reach, forcing him to break contact with my leg. There was little area to maneuver around in the tight space, but if the expressions on the men's faces were any consolation, they were aware of my anger.

"Baby, please-"

"Don't you baby me right now," I shot back. "You're going to use me as bait, yes?"

Tony's eyes hardened. "How did you-"

"Do not presume that I'm an idiot, just because I'm weak at the moment," I stated, running a hasty hand through my hair. The colorless length was dank with oil and grime from the past several days. "It's unwanted and exasperating," I breathed, allowing some of my antagonism to bleed from my veins. "You believe that by if I'm at this dance, that this... Criminal will come out of hiding. He'll- at the very least- be shocked by my attendance, possibly leading to an error in his logic, a mistake that will help you catch him."

"I- uh... yes. Actually, that's exactly what-"

"If it keeps everyone safe," I interjected, "Then I'll do it. Is Pepper going to be here?"

"For only a bit," Stark admitted. "Then Happy's going to drive her home."

"I see."

Neither men spoke as the car rolled up to a massive mansion. The house was surrounded by a thick forest, separating it from the rest of the city of Manhattan. The large structure was undeniably stunning. It was constructed of sweeping lines of spotless white marble and gray slate. The mansion towered over the trees around it, covering hundreds of acres of land. My mouth went dry with awe. It had been so long since I'd set eyes on such a beautiful estate. The front drive was covered in gravel, only cut off by a crystalline pool of water. Brick and tile made up the perimeter around the inky depths. At the center was a stunning fountain- again, carved out of white marble. It was a woman, holding a large pitcher in her left hand. In the other, she held a single rose. Water flowed from the pitcher, splashing into the depths of the basin beneath. There was something so familiar about the image, but I couldn't immediately place it.

As soon as Tony cut off the engine, I stepped out of the vehicle.

I approached the fountain slowly. The gravel was sharp under bare feet, but I paid it little attention. My head cocked to the side as I gazed at statue of the woman. Her eyes were eerie and emotionless, as pupils and irises had not been carved. Something tugged from the deepest part of my mind. I... know you. Don't I...? The woman's mouth was carved into a knowing smirk. It was almost as if she was answering.

Of course you do, old friend.

"Ella."

Clint's warm hand grasped my shoulder. Shocked from my confused thoughts, I shook my head and turned, peering up at him. "Yes?" My voice was still rough with irritation.

The man sighed dejectedly, rubbing his creased forehead. "Babe... I'm sorry, alright? I just... I want to be able to take care of you. For you to be safe for once in your life. To feel safe."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "I don't need you to take care of me, Clint."

"Christ," the man cursed, running a frustrated hand through his short-cropped hair. "I know, alright? Just... let me be the selfish man that I am. Let me take you back to the tower and away from danger. Please, Ella..." His words cut off with a soft choking noise.

It was in that moment when I realized that this was tearing him up inside. Breathing out the remnants of my anger, I took a single step forward. Arm lifting from my side, I pressed my palm flat against the center of his chest. "You're not selfish, Clint." The words were so quiet, I wondered if the archer even heard them.

The hand at my shoulder moved to grasp the nape of my neck. "I am. I'm a selfish, old, angry man." He leaned down to brush his nose over the length of my jaw. His lips touched my ear, hot tongue flicking out to taste the hollow beneath it. I shivered. "You don't have to do anything." His voice deepened an octave; rumbling, vibrating through my frame.

My hand moved to his neck, fingers brushing against the small hairs at the back. "I do, Clint. To keep Pepper safe. To keep the rest of you from harm-"

"Ella-"

"I don't need to ask you for permission," I reminded him tersely, glaring daggers.

The man growled, the noise coming from the deepest depths of his body. "I don't want you to...," his words trailed off softly. I could feel his Adam's Apple bob against my questing fingertips. "Just... Promise me you'll be safe. Actually safe this time. No jumping out of cars. No explosions-"

"I'll be careful," I hedged, the corner of my mouth curling up into a crooked half-smile.

The agent sighed, hot breath puffing against my throat. "Alright, let's go get ready then."

...

As it turned out, Tony had taken the back entrance to the estate, wanting to give me the most privacy possible, given the situation. The thought and care that went into the choice warmed something deep in my chest. Clint helped me scale the steps up to the back doors. Tony took hold of the heavy brass knocker and rapped thrice, in rapid succession. Not a moment later, the door was opened a crack, revealing a petite woman. She was dressed in a slate-gray, high-waisted skirt and a white blouse. She couldn't have been older than eighteen; but the clothes, practical heels, and the string of pearls wrapped round her throat made her look at least a decade older.

"My Lord sends you wishes of welcome to his Estate," her voice was direct and clipped. Her eyes, a deep chocolate, remained forward, not making contact with ours. "Please, come in. My Lord has graciously offered several of the guest rooms to you and your company to dress and ready yourselves for the Gala," the girl stated. "If you would follow me, I will take you to your companions." Without another word, she gestured for us to enter the mansion.

Clint and I glanced at each other for a long breath. I couldn't help the odd shiver that travelled my spine. Tony, obviously thrilled to get away from the chill of the night, hopped excitedly across the entryway.

"Alright short stuff, take us to our people."

She bobbed her head, her brunette hair not moving from its tight bun. "Certainly, sir. Please, follow me."

A sliver of undeterminable anxiety ran through my frame. "Clint-"

"I know," he hushed. "I don't know what it is..."

The mansion was just as glamorous on the inside as it was on the exterior. The floors were made of unyielding, frigid marble. Statues and various medieval-style paintings lined the long halls, which were cloaked in darkness. We followed the young woman up a spiraling staircase which took us to the second floor. We passed numerous rooms before the woman stopped.

"Your room, Mr. and Mrs. Barton. The other men have the one at the end of the hall. Will that be all?"

"Yes. Thank you, ma'am," Clint said, not bothering to correct her slip. My heart thumped irregularly for several moments. I ducked my head, feeling my face flush.

The brunette curtseyed deeply, one foot behind the other and departed without another word, heels clicking down the stairs once more.

"Well... That chick's fucking creepy..." Tony whistled under his breath. "And are you seeing this place? It's like... come on, the gothic architecture? Is that really necessary? I mean, I have heaps of money, but I try to be a little more subtle-"

Clint snorted. "You built yourself a tower in the middle of Manhattan and plastered your name on the side of it. If that's subtle I don't know-"

"Oh hush, Miss Everdeen. At least I didn't build an arena where you'd be forced to kill a boatload of prepubescent teenagers."

"I actually liked that movie," the archer commented idly.

"Me too. Sweet Cheeks, put it on the list of Movies to Show the Sassy Princess to Make Her Head Explode." Stark stated. "The second one, though. The first one had too much shaky-cam."

"Agreed. That's one hell of a long title, though. I think Ella's Movie List Would work just as well-"

"Should I leave you two alone?" I asked, watching the humorous exchange.

The agent shook his head and laughed. "Come on, Stark. Go get ready."

"I'm ready to go already, Robin Hood. I wanna dance the pants off this haunted castle!" He grinned cheekily, eyes glimmering with mischief. I could tell he was putting on his typical mask of defiance and indifference, despite the apprehension he was voicing just minutes ago. "You think it'll be an open bar?" He continued, "Probably not, cause it's a fundraiser. Ugh... I hope Pepper remembered my check book... I wonder what kind of wine they'll be serving..."

I chuckled and rolled my eyes at the man's antics.

"I think Captain Rogers may require your help with his bowtie," the archer stated, smirking slightly.

Tony snapped his fingers and winked, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "Thanks for reminding me. I wouldn't really be a superhero if I didn't save the Ice Princess, hmm?" With a flippant wave, the man jogged off to the room at the end of the hall.

Clint shook his head and opened the door to the room. It was enormous and lavish. The color scheme was deep scarlet and shimmering gold. The floor was a cherry hardwood, waxed and polished. The bed at the center of the room was immense; enough to comfortably fit five or more. I shook my head and stepped inside. The agent followed, locking the door firmly behind us. Two black garment bags had been laid out on the gold duvet. Moving further into the room, found a ensuite bathroom. Plush towels were stocked; a plethora of products on the sink counter. I shook my head and walked to the marble tub, which was more along the lines of a bathing pool.

"This place is ridiculous. I've never seen anything this... fancy." He turned to face me. "You?"

My heart seized for a breath. "Uh... yes. I have," I acknowledged, remember all those years ago in the Citadel of the Guardians and the Palace.

Sensing my unease, the archer walked forward and wrapped an arm around my waist, palm flattening over my ribs. I shuddered and melted back into his chest. "I'm sorry, I didn't even think-"

"Don't be, Clint. It's fine."

He sighed and pushed aside the material of my hospital gown, baring naked shoulder to his lips. His mouth was hot against the cool flesh as he dropped small kisses up to the hollow just under my ear. "Come on. You could use a bath. Let's get this off of you." Gently grasping the ties at the back and sides of the gown, Clint tugged with sure fingers. I nodded, gulping audibly, allowing the man to take care of me.

It was such an odd sensation, to be cared for by someone you lo... felt so deeply for. Like was too small a word for Clint Barton. My heart pounded when he was near; and even when he wasn't. Whenever an image of the man flickered through my mind, it was like a sudden blaze took over my insides. Fanning and coddling the minute embers that seemed to be always present in the recent weeks. Desire, I realized. I completely and fully desired the SHIELD agent. He was handsome- that fact was blatantly obvious. But the archer was also kind. Peaceful. Level-headed. Despite the hardships and horrors he'd been faced with years back, the man was strong and sure. At times, he could be jealous; but I found that to be oddly appealing. It made me want him even more, knowing that he yearned for me so strongly.

Calloused fingers brushing the hospital gown off my arms brought me back to reality. I felt a blush of red fill my cheeks, travelling across my sensitive skin. Entirely bare, the man pressed his mouth to one of protruding knobs of my spine. Then he pulled away, brushing past me, moving towards the bath. I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. The agent dropped to his knees next to the bath and proceeded to fiddle with the brass fixtures for the water.

It didn't take long for the marble basin to fill with steaming water. Clint used a bottle of perfumed oil set out on the edge of the tub, pouring the contents inside. Soon, the air smelled of lilacs, vanilla, and lavender. I couldn't help but inhale deeply, allowing the scents to calm my mind.

Clint hummed as he used his hand to test the temperature, as well as spread the oil evenly throughout the water. Once he was pleased with the final outcome, the archer turned off the flow of water and flipped a switch to plug the drain. Not turning to face me, the man reached out behind him, gesturing me forward.

"It's ready. I hope you like really hot baths."

I smiled and leaned down to kiss his jaw. "I'm sure it'll be perfect. Thank you."

He peered up at me through his lashes, which were surprisingly thick and long for a man. His gaze never wavered from my own, despite my lack of clothing. "Of course." His answering smile was boyish and endearing.

Laughing quietly, I stepped into the bath, sinking into the scented depths. A deep moan fell unwarranted from my lips as my eyes shut out of their own accord. I heard Clint shift on the floor just inches away. It made me wonder whether his knees were bothering him, or if it had something to do with the noise I had just made.

"I love this," I breathed, relishing the heat as it began sinking through the knots in my muscles.

"I love yo- your noises," the agent stuttered. "It makes me happy that I can take care of you. That you're so... pleased."

"Hmmm... I am...," I sighed, opening my eyes. I glanced over at him, taking in the masculine beauty of his face. The strength of his prominent brow. The line of his jaw. The perfect shape of his lips, which were lush, yet dry and cracked from neglect. An odd sensation stirred my insides. "Why don't you join me?" I asked softly, reaching out of the water to touch his mouth with the pad of my thumb, watching as droplets of moisture clung to his lower lip. He shuddered faintly with desire, pupils dilating. He caught my hand and pressed a kiss to the center of my palm. My belly quivered.

"I want to take care of you."

"And you can't do that while enjoying a hot bath?" I pondered, raising a brow.

He chuckled, the noise vibrating through his chest. "I think I can stay focused more easily from here, thanks."

"Hmmm... but I'm in the tub," I replied impishly, "That should give you a small bit of... incentive."

"Well, I suppose," Clint murmured, feigning reluctance. The corners of his mouth dragged into a wicked grin before he leaned forward to capture my mouth with his own.

Who planted the device? Who's house are they in? Let me know if you have any theories!

I'm planning to have a wee bit of smut in the next chapter ;) Hope you enjoyed!