Night Terrors

WARNING- M/M relationship, will be slash

CHAPTER 1

Tony had been forced to upgrade his building again. He had too, just to make up for all the superheroes he was now housing. He had upgraded the gym with special punching bags for Thor and Cap. Not only that, but he added another complete lab for Bruce, to do whatever he wanted. HE even added a ring for B.W. to kick everyone's ass at boxing. Although with Clint, they would end up tied.

Clint. He was something else to Tony. He never asked for any improvements, he didn't even want a room. Tony of course gave him one anyways, and he accepted it gratefully. Tony even went one further and added an archery room for Clint to practice. Stock full of different sorts of targets. Tony didn't know why he did it, he just wanted to do something special for Clint. It seemed his life had truly gone to hell since the Loki incident.

Truly Tony could say that he was falling for Clint. It was slow, but it was there. It all started a few weeks after the battle.

Tony paced in his room, He had just had another panic attack. Ever since the stupid battle and almost dieing, he had been afraid to sleep.

His pacing was interrupted by JARVIS, "Sir. I was to inform you that Clint Barton is not in his room."

Tony stopped pacing, "Where is he?"

"I am tracking him… he seems to be in the roof." JARVIS answered.

Tony shook his head, "Why the hell would he be on the roof?"

"I do not know. Would you like me to ask him?" JARVIS asked.

Tony shook his head, "No. If he went up there he probably doesn't want any company."

Tony sighed, what was he doing up there?

The next time Tony felt something for Clint was one he watched him give training lessons to some of the recruits. Tony had seen some of the other instructors and felt bad for the ones stuck with them.

Clint though, he didn't raise his voice. He taught through demonstration, he never put a person down because they made a mistake, he would correct them, and make sure they got it right before moving on.

He took care to make sure the recruits knew what to do, and offered them his time outside of training if they ever wanted any help. Some stayed and he helped them, or some wanted to lessons with sharp shooting or a bow and arrow. He always helped them and took time out of his day and made sure they got help.

Tony couldn't help but smile at his determination.

The final time Tony saw Clint was a few weeks after his panic attacks started, he was wondering the hallways when he heard voices. Stopping, he listened and followed the sounds and found himself in the dinning area.

Clint was sitting at the table, his blonde hair spiking as usual. His eyes were trained on a guy with a mug in his hands.

"You can trust me." Clint said in a gentle voice that Tony didn't know he possessed.

The guy nodded, "It's just that… some of the older agents, found out about my husband. I haven't heard the end of it. One guy even tried to jump me!"

From here Tony could see Clint's eyes narrow and darken dangerously. Tony thought he was about to attack the poor guy, he was about to open the door when Clint started speaking, "Don't worry about those assholes. Did you say they tried to jump you?"

The guy nodded, Clint shook his head, "attacking a new recruit… oh I'm going to have a field day with these guys. Do you know their names?"

The guy shook his head, "Sorry sir."

Clint smiled gently, and Tony couldn't help but wish that smile was directed at him, "You have nothing to apologize for. How about this… I'll keep my eye on you tomorrow, and if one of those guys bothers you, we'll see what we can do."

The guy looked at Clint hopeful, "Would you! I can't believe the famous Hawkeye is going to help me!"

Clint chuckled and clapped the guy in the shoulder, "Don't worry about it."

Clint did take care of it, there was talk of how four guys took a beating from the infamous Hawkeye. Tony finally knew what he felt for Clint. He had fallen for Clint.

Tony Stark paced the hallways of Stark tower, trying to find some comfort. He had drunk himself on his ass the previous night and that didn't seem to help. After the events of Loki's invasion, and his near death experience, Tony has tried to avoid sleep like the plague. He wasn't afraid, Tony Stark was never afraid… he just had a healthy avoidance. Well more unhealthy then anything.

He was more surprised when JARVIS interrupted his thoughts. Although he shouldn't have been… this seemed to be a nightly occurrence now.

"Sir. You wished for me to inform when Clint left his room."

"Where is he?" Tony asked.

JARVIS took a moment, "Scans say he is in the gym."

Tony nodded, "Thanks JARVIS."

Tony moved through he hallways, and eventually stopped in front of the gym door. He could hear the pounding of fists against a punching bag. He opened the door and strode in, he stopped when he saw Clint. He was shirtless, in a pair of shorts. His ripped chest and abs gleaming with sweat.

Clint threw one last punch before placing his hands on the bag and catching his breath, "What are you doing out of bed?"

Tony shook his head with a tired smile, "I could be asking you the same thing."

Clint looked at him with steely grey eyes, blonde hair matting his forehead, "Restless."

Tony nodded, "Same. You should really be asleep."

Clint shook his head, "Tried." Tony took in the bags under his eyes.

"When was the last time you slept?" Tony asked.

Clint shrugged, "Couple weeks ago? I don't know."

"Clint… you really need to sleep. You're gonna crash sooner or later." Tony argued.

Clint chuckled, "Since when did you start caring?"

"I don't. We don't need you dead on your feet during a mission." Lie, well the first part was. He started caring about Clint when he first got to Stark tower.

Clint shook his head, "I just can't sleep."

Tony cocked his head, "Why?"

Clint gave him a look over, "Same as you I'm guessing, fear of sleeping. Insomnia."

Tony looked startled, "I'm not scared of sleeping."

Clint laughed, "No… I guess you would say you have a healthy avoidance."

Tony shook his head, "Fine… so I have a fear of sleeping. At least I have a reason. I almost died."

Clint's head snapped up, his eyes hardened, "So you think I don't have a reason?" he growled.

Tony looked at him, "Well then… why can't you sleep?"

"Fear. My mind was taken over… I killed people and did things… Damn it! That's all I see in my sleep! Their faces… accusing me." Clint whispered as he went over to the wall. He slammed his fist into before putting his back to it and sliding down.

Tony walked over to him, and sat down beside him, "It wasn't your fault."

Clint shook his head, "Wasn't it though. My skills killed those people. When Nat knocked me out, and I gained my mind back… it was like waking up, and discovering you were sleep walking. That's what I'm afraid of. Waking up and discovering I did something bad." Clint whispered putting his head in his hands."

Tony put his arm around Clint, he had never done this with anyone, "Clint… none of that was your fault. Loki scrambled your brain. You were a human being taking a god on by yourself while trying to protect the Tesseract."

Clint nodded, "I know it wasn't my fault… but that doesn't quell the guilt… or the nightmares. Every time, it's me killing someone. An innocent child, and elder couple, you." he whispered.

Tony was thrown back by the last part, Clint had nightmares of killing him, "Why do you think you have these nightmares?"

Clint looked at him crossly, "Who the hell are you? A therapist? I don't know why I have them. Guilt… a lasting gift from Loki. Hell I don't know, I just want them to stop. I'm about to drop."

"Maybe because you think you're alone." Tony said, and blinked at what he said. Why did he say that?

Clint looked at him, "I've always been alone. Why should now be different?"

Tony shook his head, "You're not alone. While I'm the playboy, genius, philanthropist-"

"Modest." Clint interrupted.

"I'm just naming titles." Tony defended, "Anyway. I'm here for you, so are the others. You're a member of the Avenger's, you're not alone."

Clint nodded, but then a thought struck him, "Why are you not sleeping."

Tony shrugged and decided to be partially honest, "I decided that I wanted to help you get past these nightmares."

Clint looked at him and laughed, "You're a terrible liar when you're tired. If I had a guess, your problem's related to mine. You siad you almost died… you're afraid that if you go to sleep you won't wake up."

Tony looked at him startled, "Why couldn't you be ignorant just his once!"

Clint smiled, that gentle smile he used with that new recruit, and Tony felt his heart flip, it was directed at him. Clint stood up and held out a hand, "You here, so you might as well train with me. It helps a lot to relieve the stress."

Tony grinned and took Clint's hand, "I think I'll take you up on that offer.