Ned's eyebrows climb high on his forehead when Clint describes his profession - he's so blunt and matter-of-fact about it, too. He isn't the first assassin that Ned's met here, but it's still shocking, hearing him declare it out loud. Ned really hopes that it's not just the pain medication making him more honest than he'd choose to be otherwise; that wouldn't be fair, and he'd feel guilty later for knowing what he now does about the other man.

Subtle or not, Clint concedes and agrees to go back with him, and Ned is greatly relieved. He stills when Clint reaches out for his shoulder, ready to reach out and steady him but not quite doing it just yet. Clint's hiding it pretty well, but Ned can tell he's in pain. Ned hates that he's in pain. He hates that someone hurt Clint so badly and just dumped him in the woods as if he were an animal.

As the two of them start to make their way back Ned plays along, jokes with Clint. Some people cope with embarrassment and pain in this way, he knows - by being glib and flippant. "Kenzi's not taller than you," he points out, with just a hint of amusement. If he gets a smack for that, it will have been well-earned. Then, he asks, "You know a guy named Thor? Or is that like, a spy name?"

Is Clint's name really a spy name, for that matter? It's a lot more convincing than something like Captain America or Thor, but it just now occurs to Ned that it might not be his given name.