[AI] If there was a better way to go then it would find me

[earnedthename]

Apparently, the universe decided that when it was spitting out heroic archers, it might as well deposit a pair of them at once because they go together, right? Right? Close, but no cigar, universe. You tried.

Kate staggers as her feet hit the street, reaching for an arrow automatically even though her head and vision are spinning. The arrow's on the string by the time it stabilizes, and... there's nothing there. No villain, no threat, just empty and unfamiliar street, a few passing cars... and a guy with a bow she doesn't recognize at all.

She lowers her bow, frowning a little.

"Are you lost, kid?"

Like he's more than a couple years younger than her. Shhh.

Comments

[makethatwork]

Well, that's fortuitous timing if ever Clint saw it. He's still startled by the tiny nod Kate gave him, like she knew what his plan was before he'd even looked away from the window, but he's not going to question it now.

Later, yes, but not now. Especially when Nate has provided them with the perfect opportunity to enact said plan.

Clint whirls as fast as he can, ripping his grappling arrow out of the quiver as he does, putting it on the string as he drives himself towards the window behind them, just before he twists and ducks his head so his shoulder takes the brunt of the impact with the glass.

HAWKEYE OUT.

[earnedthename]

Kate's just a step behind him - far enough that she avoids being hit by most of the falling glass, close enough that she crashes into him and wraps her arms around his neck as she jumps out the window, because she doesn't habitually carry grappling arrows. They've done this before, though, once or twice, and she hates herself a little for the fact that that's even a thing in her life. She had the chance to be Mockingbird, once upon a time. Why wasn't that the direction her life took?

Please let this work out...

[holydarkavenger]

Bullseye knew he couldn't hurt Osborn's naive little golden boy, but no way in hell was he letting those two go without a little parting gift, so he dove around Nate, throwing one of the knives as hard as he could.

He only had time for one.

He was aiming for spine but some falling glass deflected the knife just slightly so that it wouldn't quite hit where he wanted it to hit.

[makethatwork]

Honestly, Clint wasn't exactly expecting the solid thump of Kate's body hitting and latching onto his, but it's not enough to throw him too off his game. He twists, taking advantage of her weight and momentum to get him facing up so he can fire off his grappling arrow and hope it can find purchase somewhere.

Thankfully it does, turning their downward movement into a somewhat more horizontal momentum about ten feet off the ground just in time for Clint to realize he can't just let go and roll like he'd planned with Kate attached to him.

Luckily for Kate, she already knows the deal, and drops off at just the right time to give him a chance to drop and roll if he knows she's going to do it. Unluckily for Clint, by the time he processes what she's done...

He's smacked face-first into the side of the building, his nose crunching in a far-too-familiar way.

He lets go of the line and drops the last few feet straight down, trying not to think about the fact that he's lacerated all to hell and has a broken nose.

"Well, that could've gone better..."

[earnedthename]

Kate yelps in Clint's ear as she feels a sharp impact, much more solid than the pain of bits of glass glancing off her. What the hell just hit her...? There's not a lot of time to figure it out, as they're falling.

She hits the street badly, losing chunks of exposed skin on the blacktop as she rolls, but she manages to avoid smashing her bow or quiver, or getting hit by a car. She's a little dazed as she staggers to her feet, and winces at a sharp pain as she moves her leg. Wincing, she cranes her neck around to look.

There is a knife in her ass. That's just great. She probably shouldn't touch it, but they need to move, so she grits her teeth and pulls it out. It can't be that bad, right?

Ow. Ow ow ow ow ow. She risks a glance up at the broken window, and then looks around to locate Clint.

"Can you run? We need to..." And then she notices his face is gushing blood. She blinks, realizing what must have happened. "Why didn't you let go of the line?"

Dumbass.

[inb4conquering]

Nate was far too distracted by the sound of glass crashing to stop Bullseye from moving, or to do much of anything until Kate and Clint were already out the window-- they jumped out the god damned WINDOW!

Nate dashed towards the window, and while he could've dived out after them, he stopped at the edge. He was gambling that they weren't stupid enough to end up as street pizza, and he was right abut that, for the most part. He definitely couldn't say that was the smoothest landing he's seen, but they'll live.

For now.

He could've went after them in pursuit, but stayed his hand. This was a big enough mess as it was, no need to make it worse by have a running battle through the streets. It was a frustrating situation, but time to cut his losses on this one.

"I'll explain this to Osborn," he told Bullseye, and turned to leave. "But if you want to go after them... feel free to take a flying leap."

[holydarkavenger]

Bullseye thought about it, then shrugged dismissively and walked off.

"Eh."

He'd already had his fun.

[makethatwork]

"I didn't know you were gonna drop in time!" Clint protests, a little muddled by his broken nose and the blood that is still flowing. He looks up at the broken window, then, wincing a little from everything, moves at a trot to get away from the building, grabbing Kate's wrist as he passes to tug her behind him.

"Come on, we gotta get out of here."