Clint Barton leaned against the gritty brick of a Manhattan alley, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows on the pavement. The city buzzed around him—honking taxis, snippets of conversation, and the distant wail of sirens forming a chaotic symphony. He took a deep breath, letting the familiar scents of street food and exhaust fill his lungs. It was a welcome distraction from the weight of his recent missions, and for now, he was just Clint, a guy enjoying a moment of peace.
His thoughts drifted back to the last few months, filled with high-stakes missions and too many close calls. He’d come to New York to lay low, recharge, maybe even indulge in some of the city's famous pizza. But of course, nothing ever went as planned.