Their next job was anything but easy. A self-appointed evil overlord hid a bomb in a huge building complex.

They had to find it and that fast but their main priority was to evacuate the staff.

It wasn't easy the building was huge and their time was limited.

"Cap we have ten minutes left," Coulson panted while he led a group of women to safety, there wasn't enough time left to find the bomb.

"Time is getting short," he searched for remaining people on the twelfth floor.

Iron man flew around the building bringing anyone to safety he could find.

They all tried to use the stairs and weaker people got hurt in the process and weren't able to flee on their own.

Hulk and Black widow split up to look on different floors but they couldn't find anyone.

That was a good sign.

Clint was less lucky, he found a middle aged woman while he searched the sixth floor. She broke her leg as she tried to flee. Someone had pushed her and she fell. People didn't mind her and stamped on her. She was lucky to be alive.

"Come on Mildred, we don't have much time left. I know it hurts."

"Leave me behind," she pleaded, the kid was so young compared to her. "I lived a satisfying life."

"No," he refused. "You have at least thirty more years ahead of you."

"I don't want to get us both killed," she urged. "Safe yourself."

"Can't do that," he panted looking around for an escape route, "it's not right."

"I'm a widow, my children are adults. They have their own families. It's okay for me to go."

"They need their mother," he pulled her up again and headed for the stairs.

"Do you have a family?" she gave her best not to slow him down too much.

"I have a husband," they hurried down the stairs.

"He needs you," she said gently. "What will he do without you?"

"Don't want to find it out," as if he could when he was dead but he was sure his partner would be devastated.

Blaming him just like he'd blamed Phil for giving his life to protect strangers.

"You're a good boy," she gave up and focused on his safety instead.

"We have to find shelter," he looked at his watch, they wouldn't make it. He turned his mic off a while ago.

Not wanting Phil to hear them struggle for their lives.

They reached the third floor, he let go of her and crushed one of the windows.

He pulled out an arrow and shot, hitting the building on the opposite. A rope followed his arrow providing a way out.

The ropeway was her last chance.

"Hold this," he found a makeshift handle in the abandoned office.

He helped her up and attached the handle to the rope. "Hold on," he said and gave her a push.

She screamed in shock as the man pushed her out the window, sliding in the direction of a house far enough away not to get blown up.

She hit the wall of the building with a little more force than she was comfortable with and her short fall was awfully painful but she was alive.

She couldn't believe it.

The building exploded, shortly after, but there was no trace of the brave young man who saved her life.

:::::::::::::::::

"I hope we got anyone out," Cap watched the building explode. "There is no chance to survive that."

Iron man landed close to them, carrying a young man.

He was unconscious but the medics said he would be fine.

"That was close," Bruce said after he transformed back into his human form.

"Too close." Natasha was covered in dust, "Phil are you okay?"

The older man was deadly pale and his mouth hung slightly open, he tapped frantically against his ear.

"No," he mouthed, unshed tears glimmered in his eyes. "Don't you dare."

"Phil," Tony said before he realized that someone was missing. "Where is Hawkeye?"

The question was followed by dead silence, all eyes fixed on the building or what was left of it.

"Hawkeye?" Steve got a grip on himself and tried to make contact but he was met by silence.

The line was dead.

Coulson closed his eyes for a brief moment before he gave out orders.

Looking for survivors, cleaning up the mess.

:::::::::::::::::::::

They waited for two hours before a paramedic approached them. "We found a survivor one block away from here. She said one of your Agents build a ropeway for her, with help of an arrow, and she asked me to tell you that he died as a hero. She wants his family to know that his death was not pointless but highly heroic."

"He didn't follow her?" Phil choked out.

"According to her there was not enough time."

"How is she?"

"Broken leg, that's the reason they didn't get out in time, he didn't get out in time. The impact with a brick wall was luckily not as bad as we feared. One cracked rib and bruises. She will be fine," the paramedic smiled sadly. "I have to go."

Phil nodded not really hearing what the man said.

His husband was gone.

Dead.

Killed in an explosion, at least he died quick.

"I'm sorry Phil," Steve said with tears in his eyes.

Natasha cried while Bruce held her tight.

He felt guilty for the feeling of relief.

Natasha was here in his arms, unharmed and very much alive.

Tony watched the disaster crew while they searched for any sign of life.

But their dogs kept quiet and his hope faded.

"He can't be gone," Phil stared at the rubble tip.

That was what Clint felt after he faked his death, despair, guilt.

His heart ached painfully but apart from the pain, he felt empty.

Steve couldn't stand around and do nothing, "Let's search for him."

They nodded in agreement, it was better than doing nothing.

They owed him that much.

Hours past without a sign and they had to give up, as painful as it was there was no hope left.

They gathered at HQ while Nick tried his best to offer comfort.

He wasn't good at it but they appreciated his attempt.

"Phil do you want coffee?" Nat offered, her eyes still red and puffy.

He shook his head. "No thank you," his voice sounded hollow even to him.

Tony and Steve sat on a couch at the foyer.

Phil broke down the moment they entered HQ and he wasn't able to go further than the armchair at the other end of the foyer, so they occupied all seats down there.

"Phil," Nick sat on a chair next to his friend. "You should see Julian."

"No," he said vehemently. "He has no right to tinker with my grief."

"He can help."

"I don't want his help," Phil hissed. "He will force me to talk and talk and talk but before he does that he will take my pain away. Making me happy and comfortable. But I am not!"

"Okay." Fury gave in, "but you have to talk about it at one point."

"Geez, Nick. He isn't even 10 hours dead," he yelled.

"I know," the director said.

"Do you want to tell us something about him?" Tony learned that it could help to remember nice things but he knew just as well that the feeling did not last long and the down fall was ugly.

Phil shrugged. "He asked me to marry him after a mission went south," he smiled sadly. "He waited for me at my office and didn't grant me any time to write my report. He just dragged me out of HQ, not saying a word. I tried to fight him off, I was everything but pleased because he interfered with my work but I can't deny him anything so I gave up and followed him. He... he didn't say a single word even though I threatened him. Extra paperwork, he hates paperwork. No, he just smiled at me while he held my hand. We drove to a clearing, outside of town. It was dark and the stars glittered like jewels. He spread a blanket over the ground and provided the best food I ever had. He sweet talked the owner of my favorite restaurant to cook for him. After we ate and talked he got on his knee. He can be old-fashioned at times.

He asked me to marry him, in the middle of nowhere under the star-spattered sky.

We married three month later. He wore a suit just for me, everything he ever did was for me.

He isn't selfish, never was. He'd do anything to make people happy," he chuckled, Clint gave him hell for sacrificing himself for the need of many and what did he do?

"He wore a suit at your funeral." Nick remembered, he had been surprised. "Black suit, black shirt and tie, and shades."

"What?" that stung, a lot. Phil felt even more agitated.

"It was his own decision," his friend had done it to honor his husbands memory.

"I miss him," Tony confessed. "My favorite trouble maker."

"That he was," Steve agreed. "It's nice to be around him," when his mood was good.

"I was stuck in a life I never wanted. I had to work for people I despised until the day I met him. He didn't ask any questions, he just looked at me and before I knew what was happening I boarded a plane towards America. He convinced Fury to keep me and then he vanished.

One year passed before we met again, I got transferred to black ops. From there on he was my boss," the memory hurt, deeply. Clint was her savior.

"I love you too," their heads shot around.

In front of them stood a bettered and dusty archer, the wall he leaned at was the only reason he didn't keel over. "Clint," Phil got up and flung himself at his husband. "You're alive."

"Barely," he coughed, his knees gave in and he slumped against his lover.

"Clint," Phil panicked even more. "Hold on."

They brought him immediately to the medical department.

Phil wasn't sure what felt worse thinking Clint was dead or fearing for his life with the knowledge that he might die again.

They started surgery 3 hours ago and he felt his hope slip through his fingers with each passing minute.

"Coulson," a pretty doctor approached them.

"How is he?" Coulson blurted out in panic.

"He will be fine," she assured. "We stopped the internal bleeding and fixed his shoulder.

He needs rest and physiotherapy. His scratches and bruises will heal in no time."

"Thank you." Phil sighed in relieve, "Thank you."

"Lucky bastard," Nick huffed. "Leave it to Barton to get caught in an explosion and walk out of it practically unharmed."

"He's clever," Phil smiled. "He's our Hawk."

::::::::::::::::::::

"Don't move" Phil put a hand on Clint's chest, his other hand caressed the archer's head.

"You look terrible," the younger man whispered.

"I thought you're dead," Coulson blinked his tears away, his hands still trembled. "I thought you left."

"I'm sorry," his voice got stronger. "Is she okay?"

"She's fine. How did you get out of there?"

"Luck," the archer took Phil's hand, which lay on his chest. "I was halfway out of the building as it exploded. I was trapped under debris. It took me a while to get out of there. I came straight to you."

Phil caressed Clint's bruised cheek, "I'm proud of you but do it again and I'll shoot you."

Clint chuckled, "Ow. Don't make me laugh."

"It wasn't a joke."

"No but you threw my own words back at me," Clint brought Phil's hand to his mouth and kissed his knuckles. He couldn't stand to see his lover's hands shake.

"I learned my lesson believe me. You don't have to blow yourself up, for me to understand," he let his tears fall. "I'm so sorry for the pain I caused you. I lost you for half a day and was already a wreck. Months without you? Not possible."

"I'm not going anywhere," as if he could.

"I know," he kissed the archer, "but we have to stop sacrificing our lives. Deal?"

"Deal. No more 'I'll die for you whoever you are' but 'sorry I have to survive for the one I love' got it," they knew it wasn't that easy but they could work something out.

They had their friends and each other, the chance to grow old together was pretty good for all of them.

They sealed their reunion with a loving kiss.

Together.

They were still together.

Fighting with tooth and nail against all odds.

Life can be wonderful when you make the best out of it and they had every intention to enjoy the time they had, less arguing about personality traits but more appreciation and tons of love.

The End