You stood behind your boyfriend of two years as he quietly flew the quinjet, bringing the team to their next mission. It was one that the two of you had fought about for weeks; he didn't want you to be here, thinking it was far too dangerous. You knew that you could handle yourself, and you knew that he knew it too, but he was playing the over-protective boyfriend and let it get out of hand.

"Okay, any last words before we land, (Y/N)? One more good fight before we go in? Make our last words angry ones?"

"Why are you being such a jerk about this?"

Clint sighed and turned the seat around to face you, his expression was cold. "Because I don't think you're taking this seriously. Didn't you hear what Steve said at the meeting yesterday? We might not all come back from this one."

"Yeah, I heard him."

"Then why are you here?" he snapped, "I told you not to come."

You took a step back and put your hands up dismissively, "so this is about you, Barton, not me. It's because I won't follow your orders, right?"

"It's because I can't lose you!" The words came out in a harsh whisper, his eyes widening at his outburst, not realizing that they were going to be said rather than only in his mind. "Dammit," he mumbled, spinning the chair back to face out the window.

"That's a beautiful sentiment, Clint, and I get it," you said, "but you can't hold me back from living my life and being a part of the team. I was here long before we were together." You put your hand on his shoulder and leaned closer, "I'll try not to die, I promise."

He shrugged your hand away and tightened his grip on the handles, "It's not funny."

"Clint, I-"

"Is there a problem up here?" Steve stepped up to your side so that he could see the both of you, his arms crossed over his chest in his best authoritative pose. "Anything I can help with?"

"No, Cap," Clint huffed, "she won't listen to a damn thing you say anyway."

"That's right, Steve," you growled, "but it's okay, we're more than done here."

~~~

Steve's assessment of the fight was spot on; it was one of the most physical and most daring that you had been a part of. It was only an hour into the battle and Tony had already destroyed his suit, and Clint had spent his supply of arrows. The latter was the greater problem for you; without the use of his bow he had no purpose for his position on the high ground, so he switched gears to task himself as your sidekick.

"What are you doing, Barton, trying to piss me off again? I don't need you here." You were pushed up against a wall, waiting for the gunfire to slow before you returned the attack. "Here," you threw your second gun to him, "make yourself useful at least. Take the other side." You peeked around the corner and shot at the opposition, smiling to yourself at your marksmanship.

A small group of assailants pushed closer, and you decided that you needed to take a different position, finding a better spot on the other side of the clearing from where you stood. "Hey, Rogers!" you hollered, holding your hand in the air.

Steve spun at the sound of your voice, throwing his shield towards you. "Barton, cover me," you yelled as you caught the shield and began to cross the opening, still firing at the other group. He hurried to the spot you had just vacated and watched you run with the shield, impressed at your speed and aim, but neglecting his duties as your cover. It took only a matter of seconds for his focus on you to be broken.

"(Y/N)" he screamed as you fell limp to the ground, a bullet coming from behind, from an unseen enemy that Clint quickly eliminated as he ran towards you. Steve ran to you from the other direction, grabbing his shield and holding it in front of himself and Clint as the gunfire became stronger.

"We need to get out of here!"

"Take the shield," Steve commanded, "I'll take her. Get to the jet! Everyone fall back!"

~~~

"Stop saying it was your fault, Clint. It wasn't," Steve sighed, rubbing his eyes in frustration as they both sat at the window, looking into the infirmary as the team doctor and Bruce attended to you. "If it's anyone's fault, it's mine. We were in over our heads and I didn't see it."

"I didn't cover her. It's not on you, Steve."

"Let's just agree to disagree then."

Clint nodded and looked at the floor, leaning forward and wringing his hands together. "If we could have done that," he paused, "if I could have done that, then (Y/N) and I wouldn't have fought right before this happened." Clint's head snapped up at the sound of the door opening and he jumped from his seat to meet the doctor.

"She's going to be fine," the doctor said, "just out of commission for a while. Go on in, just don't be too long." Clint and Steve took turns giving the doctor a firm handshake, but Steve walked away to allow your boyfriend time alone with you.

"Hey, jerk. Thanks for that great cover," you groaned, holding the bandages on your side so you could roll to see him. "Last time I ask you, I swear."

Clint stood near your head, slowly running his hands through your hair but not saying anything. He stayed this way for several minutes, and you didn't dare interrupt him; you knew that he had things he wanted to say but needed this time to find his words.

"I..." he paused and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, "I was right."

You shook your head slightly, not sure if you had heard him right. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I was right."

"Wow, we've really got to work on your apologies, Barton." You grabbed his hand and pushed it away from your head, starting to sit up but stopped quickly when the pain in your side increased. You sucked in a harsh breath at the sensation and laid back down in frustration.

"Listen to me, okay? I was right in that I can't lose you," he returned his hand to the soft waves of your hair, "you were right about everything else."

"Okay, that's more like it. Now you're getting somewhere."

"Oh, come on!" he laughed, "you're such a pain in my ass, you know that?"

You smiled up at him, closing your eyes to the sensation of the strands of your hair winding through his fingers and the sound of his quiet breathing with a soothing rhythm. "Yeah, I know. But you love me anyway."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."