( he's out when the city's suddenly plunged into darkness. it seems to happen so suddenly that clint doesn't even notice until he nearly walks into the darkened storefront that he was sure had just been lit up a few moments earlier.

he steps back and looks around, confusion sliding into concern almost immediately. )

Oh shit.

( there's a low rumble of chatter, of people realizing what's happened and he rubs at his ear like that's going to make it better. reaching into his pocket, he pulls out his keys and the small flashlight that someone once gave him as a prize for entering a sweepstakes back in new york and that he'd never used before.

he clicks it on and it works. )

Well, that's some luck. ( he turns the flashlight onto the street, finding people moving around. someone catches sight of his flashlight and they point at it.

how much you want for that? the man asks and clint looks down at this tiny flashlight and then back up. )

Uh, it's not for sale.

( kinda thinks he'll need it. the man scoffs and says give you fifty bucks for it. )

Oh man, come on. That's too much. Just — no, it's mine.

( the man scowls but does move away especially when clint reaches behind him when the man steps closer to him. )

Jesus, this is gonna be a good night.

( he's had about five people try and buy his little piddly flashlight off him in the span of a few hours and each time, he's refused.

but when he turns the corner into a dark alley this time intending to cut through to try and see if he can find anyone that needs help, he runs right into a group of people that...probably don't need flashlights.

they're smoking, the light of their cigarettes illuminating their faces and clint just sighs because he knows this isn't going to be a good conversation. he clicks his flashlight off and puts it into his pocket. )

So, I suppose it's going to be too much for me to ask you all nicely to move aside so I can pass? Got no issues with you.

( they don't move, they don't let him pass. clint just sighs. )

Right.

( that's how it's going to be. he waits a second and when one of them makes the first move, he throws up an arm to block it and uses the momentum to send them into the wall, staggering one of them. the rest start to converge. )

All right, let's go then. Don't say I didn't warn you.

( if you'd like to do something else that doesn't fit above, throw it at me! )