"So, Thor." Clint stared up at the massive creature looming over him, uncertainty every line of his expression. "When you said you had birds big enough to ride, you actually meant it."

"Aye, Barton." Thor clapped his hand on Clint's shoulder with a trace of his usual grin for his teammate's surprise. Then he executed a deep bow that was, Clint had to admit it, pretty kingly. "They have graciously agreed to take us to our destination, for the beings there have raided their nests and brought much destruction to their lands. With their aid we should be able to reach the fortress ere long, saving us the dangerous journey across the ground."

"You know, when I agreed to become an Avenger, I didn't think we'd be involved in heroic quests across alien planets," Clint told Natasha when she stepped beside him, watching Thor approach the avian giants.

"You never agreed to become an Avenger," she pointed out as she adjusted her gauntlets, clearly unconcerned by the prospect of riding the enormous beasts.

"Yeah, how'd that happen again?" He asked her, fingers running over the comforting surface of his bow. She let him see the briefest flash of a smile before Thor invited her forward to meet her guide. Transport? 'Mount' would probably get his eyes pecked out.

"So which one's yours, Stark?"

"Funnily enough, I've got my own method of flying. Looks like it's your turn to re-enact Lord of the Rings, Barton," Tony tossed back before his visor snapped shut.

"Screw you," Clint had time to say before Thor was gesturing him forward as well. Eying the gigantic aquiline alien that the God of Thunder was standing beside, he took a deep breath and told himself to man up. After all, it couldn't be worse than that emergency evac in Bogota, could it?

Turns out, it was a hell of a lot better. (And Clint, riding the currents with feathers clutched in both hands and a joyful shout caught up in his throat, couldn't help but think if the Fellowship had had any idea of what this was like, they would have skipped the whole 'walking into Mordor' idea entirely. After all, no one had said you couldn't fly there.)

Really lovely!

And I'm reminded of Harry Potter riding Buckbeak too. :)

Thank you! And while I wasn't thinking of that, there are definitely similarities. ;)

Clint would so love flying on a giant bird, with his love of heights.

clearly unconcerned by the prospect of riding the enormous beasts

Yeah, after facing down the Hulk, what's gonna scare you?

Awesome treat!

I think there might be a slight difference between a Quinjet he's flying and an alien eagle he can't, but nevertheless, I agree. :)

Thank you very much!

This was unique and wonderful and great!

PS: And yeah, that whole walking-into-Mordor thing when there is air transport available? Never did figure that one out myself.

Thank you so much; I really appreciate it! <3

I think I saw a defense of the "let's not fly" approach somewhere on Tumblr, but yeeaaah... Or we could just go to that .gif of Boromir launching Frodo with a catapult. I mean, that works for me! ;)

OMG I LOVE IT

Thank you so much!

"BIRDS."

First thing I thought of when you commented, and so birds there were! :) You are most welcome, lady!

This was great! I have such a clear picture of Clint grinning ear to ear on the back of his giant bird alien. :)

You know he's loving every minute of it. :) Thank you so much for reading!