Hawkeye and Songbird

Chapter 185: Hawkeye and Songbird

Clint Barton, Old Hawkeye.

As his vision gradually failed, he tried to complete his final mission before he lost his sight forever: hunting down the Thunderbolts members who had betrayed the Avengers and caused their deaths.

He had already personally killed Atlas and Beetle. Though he had suffered a few setbacks, he remained full of anticipation for what came next. He knew his vengeance had come too late, but it would also be the only purpose left in his life.

It had to be said—

Without Bullseye and Venom hunting him down, Old Barton’s actions went much more smoothly. Especially after Bullseye took out quite a few assassins sent by Red Skull, which eased Old Barton’s pressure to some extent.

At this moment, the relationship between good and evil in the wasteland was caught in an exceedingly delicate balance. No one knew what would happen next, nor where all of this would lead the world.

After personally dealing with Beetle, Abner, who had spent day after day tightening screws in a factory and drowning his sorrows in alcohol for the rest of his life, Old Barton found letters on him, each one addressed to Songbird, Melissa.

Barton remembered that Beetle and Songbird had been lovers during their time in the Thunderbolts. To protect the person he loved, Abner had willingly become a traitor, and that became the fuse that later drove him and Songbird apart.

Songbird had long regarded herself as a true hero. She had also been deeply conflicted over betraying the Avengers, especially when every member of the Thunderbolts had become a traitor.

Before that battle began, Songbird had tried to tell Hawkeye the truth. But time had been tight, and Hawkeye Barton had been eager to reach the battlefield as quickly as possible, so she ultimately failed to tell Hawkeye about the traitors.

And that became the one thing Songbird, Melissa, could never forgive herself for. Watching her former comrades die miserably before her eyes, watching Hawkeye stare as the Black Widow he loved dearly perished, Melissa placed all those sins upon herself.

Melissa believed that since she had not spoken the truth back then, she no longer needed to speak again in the future.

So she joined the Monastery and founded the Silent Sisterhood, living among people who were unwilling to speak for the rest of their lives. And there she remained for a full forty-five years.

Looking at the imposing building, Old Hawkeye’s expression remained calm.

Since Venom had not pursued him and he had not suffered any serious injuries, Old Hawkeye had not sought help from his successor, the second Hawkeye, Kate Bishop. He had fought his way here alone.

Kate Bishop was also a hero who had survived the old war. Relying on her family background and her own abilities, she had built a large shelter in the wasteland, carefully concealing herself from Red Skull and Hydra. Her life was relatively comfortable.

Unless something absolutely impossible to resolve happened, Old Barton would never take the initiative to seek her out. As for his young apprentice, Barton only felt that he owed her far too much.

Entering the Monastery, Old Barton was about to loudly ask where Melissa was, but he suddenly remembered that this was the Silent Church, a place where utmost quiet had to be maintained.

So he took out the photograph he had collected from Abner. It showed Abner and Melissa together in their youth, their smiles happy and warm.

An elderly nun wrote on a piece of paper. This was how they communicated in daily life and with outsiders, since not everyone who came here could understand sign language.

There was only one line on the board—

In the small chapel.

Perhaps Melissa had long known this day would come. Perhaps she had been repenting for her sins every moment of every day.

But none of it could be undone, could it?

When he reached the small chapel, Hawkeye saw a figure in a long robe with her back to him. Though many years had passed since they last met, Hawkeye still knew she was the one he had come for.

Clenching the arrow hidden beneath his trench coat, Old Hawkeye slowly walked forward.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the silent chapel, and the figure praying began to move.

She slowly turned around, tears already soaking her face. Melissa held a sketchpad in her hands, its pages densely covered with the words "I’m sorry."

Perhaps she really had been prepared. She was not surprised at all by Hawkeye’s arrival. With her ability to manipulate sound waves, she had discovered him long before he approached this place.

Seeing Hawkeye’s head of white hair and his incomparably aged appearance, Melissa felt the guilt in her heart reach its peak. She stumbled into Barton’s arms and burst into tears.

Looking at Melissa in his arms, Hawkeye was genuinely surprised. But that did not stop him from raising the arrow in his hand. He knew that as long as he struck Melissa once in the back, he would have completed another objective.

"Clint, there are things you need to know."

"Sorry, Songbird, I don’t have time to chat right now. A lot of criminals are causing a riot in Las Vegas."

"But… but this is important."

"I’m sure that whatever you have to tell me,

it can wait until later."

Hiss.

He drew in a deep breath.

Old Barton hesitated for a long time, but in the end, he still could not drive the arrow in his hand into Melissa’s unguarded back.

This was different. It was different from personally killing Astra and Beetle, Abner.

"No!"

Hawkeye shoved Melissa away, forcing his expression to turn cold. Then he spoke.

"You don’t need to apologize. We’re not close enough to be embracing each other. We haven’t been since you stood there and watched all of this happen back then."

Melissa took several steps back, but she did not feel displeased by Barton’s actions. She lowered her head and wrote on the board. Seeing how serious she was, Old Barton frowned but did not interrupt her.

(I know you came to kill me. I just want to say a few things.)

(I heard what happened to Abner. You killed him, but I don’t blame you.)

(After that day, we no longer deserved happiness.)

(Every night, when I close my eyes, I see my comrades being killed again and again.)

"Enough!"

Old Barton roared, cutting Melissa off. He pointed straight at her face and said angrily,

"What exactly do you want from me!? Forgiveness? Or sympathy? I’m telling you, neither is possible! Those things died with Sam, Little Na, Thor, and everyone else on that day!"

But in the face of Hawkeye’s anger, Melissa remained exceptionally calm. Or rather, she had waited for this day for a long time.

After a moment of silence, Melissa finally raised the board in her hand.

(Clint, thank you for setting me free.)