The Avengers ~*~Revised Edition~*~

Chapter Twelve: Here Comes Good-Bye For Now

~Author's Notes~ Hey ya'll! Just wanted to tell you, this is the chapter before the last chapter!!! Next chapter shall leave you on your toes! So if you haven't started When Love Goes Wrong, that is the continuation of the story. Yes i have my sequals up before i finish a story. I wrote When Love Goes Wrong before this one so that's why. Hope ya'll enjoy this chapter!! it's a cute fluffy chapter between Clint and Adeen! :)

Adeen’s POV

Since my apartment was almost completely destroyed from the battle, I was forced to reside with Stark and Pepper. I was perfectly fine with Pepper, she was one of my absolute best friends…but when you think about living under the same roof with Tony…you get this sudden urge to become a serial killer. He drove me insane most of the time, but ever since the benefit, he had been much more nicer to me. I felt I could rely on him more as a friend. It was a strange feeling after many endless years of ignoring him or lashing out on him. But anyway, I was glad the others were staying there as well and I’m glad Tony managed to convince Bruce to stay. I don’t think I could handle losing my best friend again. I was so happy when he announced to us he was staying. I’m pretty sure it didn’t please Clint all that much but Clint can deal with it. He’s been acting so strange lately as if I was going to leave him or something. Clint always got protective or clingy when I was around Buce. I had no idea why though. Bruce is my friend. We aren’t flirting or sleeping with each other. What did I have to do to prove to Clint nothing is going on between us?

I sat by myself in the living room area reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, engrossed in the chapter I was reading. I heard footsteps coming my way and looked up to see Clint walking my way. I put my bookmark on the page I was at and closed my book putting it on the table in front of me. Clint slowly sat down beside me and took my hands in his. I was quite confused on what was going on. He hid his emotions well from me and that always frustrated me at times like this.

“Clint, what’s wrong?” I asked softly, looking at him with a soft expression.

“I have to go away for a mission for a while…” he answered quietly, finally meeting his eyes with mine.

I was shocked to hear this and I became sad quickly. I always worried about him when he went away on missions. I usually went days or weeks without an insight on if he’s all right or if he was dead. I dropped my head, gazing down at my lap. I felt a gentle, calloused hand cup my chin and lift it up to face his face. His thumb gently stroked my cheek wiping something away. He smiled weakly down at me trying to make me feel better.

“Please don’t cry, Addie…” he calmly told me. “I won’t be gone for long…”

I hadn’t realized I was crying and quickly wiped the tears away.

“You said that last time…and you ended up going missing…you have no idea…how much I worried about you…” I told him knowing I sounded so pathetic at the moment.

“Sh…it’s all right…Nothing will happen…I will come back to you…and I will keep in contact this time…I promise…” he soothingly told me.

Clint smiled lightly down at me, brushing my hair lightly out of my face with a gentle touch. He leaned down towards my face and kissed me sweetly upon my lips. I returned the kiss, slowly closing my eyes and wrapping my arms around his neck. His lips were soft on mine as he kissed me for a moment longer before slowly pulling away. He wrapped his arms around me and held me close to him, not wanting to let go. I closed my eyes tightly and rested my chin on his shoulder, tears streaming down my face. I just wanted to hold him until he had to let go and leave. I really didn’t want him to go. Clint kissed my cheek then forehead, rubbing my back in soft, gentle circles.

“I have to go, Adeen…” he softly whispered into my ear, his hold around me not loosening.

I tightened my grip around his neck and kept my eyes clenched shut. I didn’t want him to go so soon. I just wanted time to stand still so I could stay in his arms for a while longer. He slowly pulled away from the hug and took my hands in his and began to stand up. I rested my hand on his cheek and leaned up towards him, kissing him passionately on the lips before slowly pulling away.

“I love you…” I softly told him, never taking my eyes off his.

He smiled down at me, keeping his hand in mine.

“I love you too…” he responded in a quiet voice.

Clint slowly let my hand go and started walking toward the elevators. The doors opened in a slow eerie manner. He entered the lift and turned around and smiled at me. His smile brightened my spirits slightly as he winked at me and blew me a kiss as the doors closed before me leaving me lonely. I laid down on the couch and curled up into a ball, staring at the wall. My eyes slowly fluttered shut and I must have fallen asleep, but it was a dreamless sleep filled with darkness.