"I'm sorry to interrupt, sirs, but there is currently an emergency situation; please report to Master Stark's lab."

As Bruce's grip slackened, Clint slipped through and ran out the door.

Bruce sighed and followed.

-o-

When Bruce got to the lab two minutes later, he saw Clint standing next to Natasha who was staring at Tony.

"Right. You know the drill. HYRDA is attacking a base near the east coast, blah blah. Let's go." Tony explained as he left the room.

Steve sighed and explained the situation to the rest.

HYRDA were using several drills to enter an underground SHIELD facility.

"Why is Tony so ready for this mission? Usually he's the last person to do anything." remarked Natasha.

"It's his big Masquerade party thing tonight; he'll want to get this out of the way." replied Steve.

Natasha replied with a nod.

"Right let's go, there's a Quinjet on the roof." ordered Steve, walking towards the door.

-o-

Six hours later and Bruce sat down in the lounge area back in Stark tower.

He hardly did anything at all as the Hulk was deemed too dangerous for the tunnels' stability. He stayed in the Quinjet and gave the others directions through the facility.

The rest of the team had come out relatively unscathed apart from Natasha who had broken her nose. She was in the medi-bay which Bruce never knew Stark tower had.

"Right everyone," Tony began to shout as he ran through the corridor. "The ball's in 2 hours, start getting ready!"

In response, Bruce heard a groan from behind the sofa. He shifted himself and looked behind it.

Clint lay on the floor looking exhausted with his eyes closed.

Bruce sat down normally again and a thought entered his mind.

He smiled and left the room.

-o-

How the hell do you even tie a bow-tie?

Clint had been getting ready for half an hour and half of that was trying to put on his bow-tie.

He stood in his black boxers and white shirt while cursing under his breath.

God damn it.

"JARVIS, could you ask-"

"Already have, sir."

"... you need to stop that."

"Of course, sir."

Natasha barged through the door, her hair a wet mess and ran towards Clint. She did his bow-tie as quickly as she could and ran out again.

He looked at the mirror and was impressed at how good the bow-tie looked.

He put on his dress pants and blazer and looked back at the mirror.

"Why, Mr. Barton, you could shoot my target any day of the week." he cooed to his refection.

He walked over to his dresser whilst grinning and picked up his things.

Wallet. Phone. Keys. Mask.

He put it on, slipping the leather band behind his head and walked back over in front of the mirror.

The purple-leather mask covered the top of his face leaving everything below the nose bare; both sides curved up to a point.

He wondered what the others' masks would look like.

Tony would no doubt just wear his Iron Man mask just to show off. Steve's will be blue and sparkly and patriotic as hell. Thor's will be extravagant, obviously. Natasha's will cover her broken nose but make her look like Cat Woman. And Bruce's...

The thought of Bruce made Clint close his eyes.

He never thought that Bruce would reciprocate his feelings, but he also never thought he'd want to reject the man too.

In Clint's profession he couldn't get too attached to anyone. He'd feel too vulnerable if he were to be involved with Bruce.

He sighed and opened his eyes again.

"Tony better appreciate this." he said as he walked to the door.

-o-

Two hours in and it's safe to say that Clint was feeling pretty good.

Sipping his eighth Jack'n'Coke and dancing with Natasha on the dance floor was the happiest he'd been in months.

The party was being held in the penthouse and it was going swimmingly. Tony was at the bar relishing the attention he was getting.

Steve was sitting at a table near the bar with a pretty lady. The old devil.

Thor was dancing – rather embarrassingly – with Jane Foster, a woman he had met when he was previously on Earth. Clint had only met her once before and she was charming and hopelessly infatuated by Thor.

Clint had not seen Bruce once at the party but the thought of him crept up on Clint more as he drank. Despite this, Clint was happy.

The song that was playing finished and Clint's dance ended with a particular flourish. Natasha laughed until she was on the floor. She had been drinking generously too.

Clint helped her up whilst laughing and went over to a table with her.

She sat down and called over a waiter and ordered another drink for them both.

Clint downed his drink and told her that he was going out on the balcony for some air.

He slid open the door and walked out, the cool breeze brushing by his face. He closed the door and the ambient noise of the party ceased. All he could hear was the wind passing by and the noise of the people in the streets below.

He walked over to the edge of the balcony and leaned against the railing.

He was feeling very light headed from all the booze and he smirked a little.

His eyes slid shut as he listened to the night. It relaxed him.

Somewhere in his mind he was vaguely aware that the door behind him opened and closed.

He honestly couldn't care, he felt on top of the world. He stood there for a few minutes more, just revelling in the glow of the alcohol and happiness.

Hands were placed on his hips; they slid around and joined at his abdomen. He felt a head being placed on his shoulder. He leaned in to the touch, bringing the body closer.

The head on his shoulder moved and he felt lips grazing his ear.

The lips whispered to him.

There's such a fooled heart,
Beating so fast
In search of new dreams.
A love that will last
Within your heart.
I'll place the moon
Within your heart.

The lips began kissing his neck causing him to moan. Clint brought has hand up behind him and pulled the head closer. The lips continued.

As the pain sweeps though,
Makes no sense for you.
Everything thrill is gone.
Wasn't too much fun at all,
But I'll be there for you...

Clint turned around and looked into Bruce's eyes through his green-leathered mask.

"As the world falls down." they whispered in unison.

Their lips met and time seemed to stand still.

Clint really was on top of the world.


A/N

Sorry for the long wait!

But yeah, I hope you enjoyed this story.

The song was 'As the World Falls Down' by David Bowie from Labyrinth.

Please tell you what think by reviewing. :)

Thanks for reading!