The Streets of Fandom (sort of), Tuesday Afternoon

[hehasheart.livejournal.com]

Some people liked to be very showy when they went on patrol, to frighten and intimidate people with their presence. That had never been Clint's style, and Umbridge's influence hadn't changed things. He still saw better from a distance, and that meant patrolling the streets from rooftops, hiding and staying out of sight while monitoring for unusual activity. After all, people were far more likely to do something they shouldn't if they didn't know he was there, and if he stopped people from misbehaving before they started, well, he'd be very bored indeed.

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[doesntbetray.livejournal.com]

Far below him, Alec, too, was on the move for the day. And he also had a bow with him. Way to steal Clint's schtick, Alec.

Unaware of the sniper whose territory he was crossing, he moved quickly and in the shadows, bow at the ready in case he should come across anyone hostile.

[hehasheart.livejournal.com]

Clint didn't know everyone who was on Umbridge's side, but he knew all the ones who used bows, because it was pretty much just him. When he spotted Alec, he started to follow him, and he had to admit, the kid was good at being stealthy. Unfortunately for Alec, Clint was better, so when Clint saw the chance to take a shot, he fired a warning arrow past Alec's head.

A tiny, resisting part of him was hoping the kid would come along quietly.

[doesntbetray.livejournal.com]

Alec heard the arrow's release an instant before it shot towards him, and with Shadowhunter speed he ducked out of the way, flattening himself against a wall.

Well. That would teach him to watch for snipers.

Almost as an afterthought -- defense, not offense, had always been his strength when it came to these things -- he squinted up and loosed an arrow from his own bow, hoping maybe he'd luck out with his aim and buy himself enough time to get the hell out of here before Clint recovered.

...Good luck with that, Alec.

[hehasheart.livejournal.com]

Oh, this kid was very good, and anyone with that kind of speed who wasn't on the right side was definitely a danger to Umbridge. Clint ducked down to avoid the arrow, and shot towards Alec again. "Stop running! I won't miss next time!" he called out.

[doesntbetray.livejournal.com]

Alec had heard that before, usually from overconfident Eidolon demons who thought they could talk him, Jace and Isabelle out of fighting with them. It was a pretty terrible strategy, because Alec and Isabelle's own stubbornness aside, there probably wasn't anything that could talk Jace out of engaging... but Alec preferred not to think about that at the moment.

Instead he focused on ducking, and on sprinting up a flight of convenient stairs to where he hoped he might find more cover, or a door to something that wasn't already someone's hideout.

This didn't allow him a chance to retaliate -- Alec lacked the superpower of being able to shoot at someone without looking, see -- but he drew his bow up and held it up and behind him, hoping he could at least shield himself from any more arrows fired his way.

It was a nice thought, at least.

[hehasheart.livejournal.com]

It was a nice thought, and it would have been a good one if Alec had been going up against anyone else. Clint watched him run up the stairs like a classic horror movie victim, and took a few moments to track his shot before loosing an arrow towards Alec's shoulder.

[doesntbetray.livejournal.com]

And that one hit.

Oddly, in all his years of Shadowhunting, Alec had never gotten to experience firsthand what it felt like to be shot with an arrow. The reality was much, much more painful than he'd expected, and his bow clattered to the ground as he stumbled forward, sucking in a hiss.

He knew better than to think that Clint would require much time to load in a second arrow to finish the job, though, so he pretty much needed to start moving right away -- and since he was sort of swaying a little as he limped toward the nearest building, he could only hope that that would make him harder to aim at. Quicker than a normal human could've made it, he was out of Clint's range, and then inside.

Where he could groan and bleed in peace, thanks.

[hehasheart.livejournal.com]

Clint cursed quietly as he lost track of Alec, and hopped down to where he'd last seem him. He'd definitely hit the kid, and it was worth losing the arrow to lean down and grab the bow from where Alec had dropped it.

He didn't like letting people go, and he knew he might pay for it if anyone found out. He'd have to make his shots a lot less forgiving from now on.

[drippingred.livejournal.com]

Of course Natasha knew Clint was up there somewhere. She sort of always assumed he was, unless his location elsewhere could be verified. But she had places to be, things to do...ammo to pick up. So she was out, walking along like she belonged on these streets, red hair like a beacon, or a target.

Clint might or might not be getting deja vu.

((Sorry so remarkably late, but I couldn't resist.))

[hehasheart.livejournal.com]

Of course Clint noticed Natasha. She would be a difficult woman to miss even if Clint's sights weren't glued on her every time he noticed her out and about. He knew which side she was on. He knew he should bring her in, or take her out, but he couldn't do it. It was one of his few failings and he really didn't have many when it came to his work.

Even with his bow in hand, all he could make himself do was follow her silently. Maybe soon, she'd see the light, and they could be partners again.

[drippingred.livejournal.com]

Natasha kept walking like she didn't have a care in the world, taking a circuitous, rambling path through the town. If one didn't know better, they might not think she had a destination in mind at all.

Of course, she didn't expect Clint to not know better.

[hehasheart.livejournal.com]

Clint knew full well that Natasha never did anything without a purpose, and he was very curious about what that purpose would be today. She might have been wandering, but Clint made sure he followed, focusing on little else but her.

[drippingred.livejournal.com]

Yep, Natasha had a tail. She'd picked up that 'being watched' feeling on the back of her neck. Which was why she stopped on a street corner, turned on her heel, and looked up at the rooftop she thought most likely to conceal a certain raptor of her acquaintance.

And waved.

[hehasheart.livejournal.com]

Clint glared a little, and waved back, except his wave came in the form of an arrow flying past Natasha's head.

It was disconcerting how he couldn't make himself aim at her head, but he was convinced it would be better to bring her in alive. And with no unnecessary holes.

[drippingred.livejournal.com]

Natasha shook her head, a fond smile lurking around the edges of her lips, and then turned and walked into...the Perk? Was she just after tea?

Except no matter how long Clint waited, she never came back out. Sorry, Clint. Well, not really. You understand.

[hehasheart.livejournal.com]

Clint waited for what was probably longer than necessary before slipping his bow back over his shoulder and finally moving again. She'd been lucky this time. He just needed to keep telling himself that.