Clint often downplayed how observant he was. If only so people underestimated him. But back before the world became a zombie buffet, he had been watching Selvig and the scientists working with the cube. Reading over the reports it was easy to deduce it was full of some sort of energy that could open portals through space. A fact he had told Fury moments before Loki had arrived.
"You wouldn't have stopped the takeover if I objected. You wanted it torn down because they resisted you and your boytoy." He met her eyes easily. "And I did go to try and find her. To get her out. But I couldn't find her." He tilted his head slightly. "As for keeping my distance? You were the one who recommended that after I was first turned so I wouldn't kill her." Although now he wished he had gone to the prison right then and asked for help. Maybe things would have been different. Or maybe not.
When she spoke of fine lines between love and hate he actually laughed and shook his head. "Rebekah, I was sent to kill Natasha back when things still made sense and I though demons and vampires and aliens were just Hollywood fiction." He watched her. "She hated me for a while when she found out who I really was. And now here we are." He noted the glint of danger in his eyes and kept his voice as non-threatening as he could.
"Just...help me understand Rebekah. Why are Stefan and his woman so damn important to kill? I want to understand. Please." And truly he did. If he could figure out why she was so adament about killing the two, maybe he could work on a solution.