widows_kiss | Appointments Post

There's always plenty of other ways to shut you up, you know.

Do you promise?

Mmm, I know you know every one of them already.

[That gets a laugh from as she lets her head roll back to a more comfortable position, her eyes still closed, although she lifted a hand to flick water unerringly in his direction, splashing him with her fingers.]

Well, I've had a lot of time to discover them. It's a good skill to have. You can be awfully noisy.

[He flicks her back and then slides down into the water to swim a quick lap of the pool.]

You know you love it. You'd get bored if I didn't keep you entertained.

[She watches him swim from beneath dark lashes, a smirk curving across her lips.]

I never denied it. Why else do you think I keep you around, except to entertain me?

Because you occasionally need someone to draw fire? I don't know.

Well, you're good at that, too... [She muses this aloud for a moment, her voice thoughtful before she laughs, an impish grin stealing across her expression.]

You know I keep you around for far more than that.

[He turns in the water to return the grin and nods.]

Yeah, I know sweetheart. Don't even need to say it.

Yes, well, sometimes you're a bit thick-headed and I worry you forget. [Her tone is dry, but still full of affection for him. Her gaze is warm from his endearment, however, because she loves when he does that, rare occurrence that it is.]

Well, can't say I mind the reminder sometimes.

[He swims back over to her side, sitting back down next to her.]

[She shifts over until she's curled up against his side, letting her head dip to rest against his shoulder.]

So. Are you going to finally tell me what all this was about?

[He slides an arm around her, holding her comfortably against his side.]

Coulson's missing. Barnes is missing. Christmas was nice but... too many people around the whole time. I think we needed a break.

[She leans against him because yes, that's all been weighing heavily on her too. Especially James and Coulson's absence. It was a constant worry at the back of her mind, where they were, if they were alright, when they'd be returned. And in what state. She curls a little closer, a shiver slipping down her spine despite the heat of the water, letting her eyes close as she rests against Clint.]

There were a lot, I admit. Bit of a switch from previous years. Not sure what I think about that yet. [She'd rather enjoyed when it had been them, occasionally with Coulson thrown in, depending on where they were. Not that Christmas had been bad. Parts of it had been wonderful.

She tilted her head back to peer at him again.] And that's everything?

[He feels the shiver that runs through her and yeah, that tells him a lot about how much this is affecting her. This whole place, despite the comforts, seemed designed to drive the two of them crazy.]

Yeah, me either. I like these people for the most part, don't get me wrong, I just... I don't know. [He'd enjoyed Christmas but a lot of it had left him pretty drained.]

Oh hell no. That's just scratching the surface.

But it was easier when it was just the two of us, or three of us, doing what we knew how to do. It was simpler. [She finishes the thought for him, because she knows how he thinks. Especially when it's so close to what she's thinking as well.

She pokes him in the ribs at his answer.] Yeah I figured. Start spilling, Barton. I know all your ticklish spots if you don't.

Yeah. It really was. [She always knows how to put things into words when he can't. They worked so seamlessly together. It was safe.

He laughs when she pokes him, squeezing her for a moment.]

You wouldn't abuse poor little helpless me, would you?

[He's silent for a moment, contemplating everything that's been weighing on his mind recently.]

well, I got a mini-lecture from Steve about how sometimes you have to be in the thick of battle and how I could learn something about tactics. I'd be more annoyed but it's difficult to stay angry at him.

I kissed Saori.

That's hardly abuse. Just a little helpful coercion.

[His words about Steve have her straightening in surprise for a moment.] You? Needing to learn more about tactics? Granted, there are time you're a reckless idiot but that has nothing to do with how much you know, or see. What on earth brought that on?

[The second admission gave her pause as well, for entirely different reasons. She knew the name, although it took her a moment to recall anything more than her face.] Saori?

Oh, is that what they're calling it these days?

[He sighs and leans back, closing his eyes. It had stung a little. But he's not surprised.]

In fairness, don't think he's seen me do much more than take orders. And take out my own people.

...Black Friday shopping, actually.

[He doesn't push, gives her time to think and react.]

She's a friend. She's... helped me. Things were kind of bad for a while before you came. It was good to have someone didn't care about my past and the things I've done.

It is when it's me.

[She lets her hand reach out, slide comfortably over his chest and rest against his heart, inwardly indignant on his behalf.] No, he has. It was you calling the shots against the Chitauri when we fought them off in New York. He took charge, but he put you up high. Where you see best. It was you who sent people where they were needed. Tony, Thor, me. I know you were plucked out before that, but you did. I'm not sure we would have lasted half as long without your eyes and quick thinking. [And she'd expected Steve to have understood it as well.

Although Clint's admission as to the context had her scoffing in exasperation.] Well, it's shopping. You're male. It's expected you'd be hopeless there.

[She listens to his explanation, watching his face with a thoughtful gaze.] I'm sorry I wasn't here. [It's a quiet admission, but genuine, because she can only guess how hard he would have taken it, waking up here in the aftermath of Loki without her. She'd been there once, but he doesn't remember that, never experienced it, and she curses the Malnosso again for their interference.]

So. You kissed her as a friend? Or is she more than that?

[He shrugs, not quite dismissing her words but it hadn't happened for him yet, so it seems a distant hope that it would matter. He curls his hand over hers against his chest.]

I don't make the best impression, I know that. Certainly not to a squeaky clean American hero.

[He snorts softly at the joke.] And this is why I have you. Men stay home, do the cooking, women take on Black Friday and important political targets.

[He offers a small smile.] Not your fault. I know you would've been there if you could.

It was kind of... mutual kissing. More than a friend.

[She lets her head rest against his shoulder, her fingers tangling with his as she curls close against him.] He is rather squeaky, is't he? Don't fret about it, Clint. He'll learn better. Impressions aside, you always come through when and where you're needed. He'll figure that out.

[She grins at his reply, finger poking him lightly in the shoulder this time.] It's about time you admit that. Does this mean I get to come home after a long day of assassinating to find you making me dinner in a frilly apron?

[His admission gets him a green gaze narrowed intently on his face for a moment, reading his expression.] Well. That's interesting. Looks like I'll have to tell little Loki we don't have to worry about you and your bow anymore.

[He hadn't realised how much he'd missed this closeness until she was here and it was like something had slipped back into place.] I didn't think it was possible for a soldier to be that upright and respectable. I know, I'm being stupid, I just... well, I know who I work best with.

[He makes a show of considering that for a moment.] Would it have a pocket for knives?

[Obviously the most important question.

He looks back while she studies him.]

...I still have to get him back for that Christmas present. Have you been giving him ideas?

Me and my bow are purely platonic. It is a pure and selfless love.

[She glanced up at him with a fond smile] Yes. You do. Which is also why you're one of Fury's top Specialists. Despite your frequent disregard for protocol and direct orders. Then again, I'm not really one to talk. [She brushes her lips against his shoulder for a moment, still curled close.] Just remember there's a reason you were tapped for the Initiative. Trust me, I have to remind myself that sometimes as well.

What respectable frilly apron wouldn't?

[The grin she flashes him is quick and amused.] I don't think he needs me for ideas, Clint. He has plenty of his own. I just happen to approve of them wholeheartedly. That was the most useful present, admit it.

[Now she is the one giving a quiet snort of laughter.] Sure it is. You're not helping your case here, Clint.

[She turns a little more serious after that, however, searching his face. She tugs their hands up so she can brush her fingers against his cheek.] I'm happy for you.

[He drops his head to rest his face against the top of her head, lips brushing against her hair.]

Yeah, you're right. Don't get to our clearance level by standing around looking pretty. Although as far as secret alien fighting teams go, the Avengers do look damn good.

I dunno. People tend to be squeamish about knives. I never understood it.

[He rolls his eyes at the teasing and the laughter. See the abuse he has to put up with?] Well, thanks for the moral support there. Don't blame me when he turns his attention to you.

[His smile softens and he leans into her touch.]

Thanks, Natasha.

What, you mean I didn't have to stand around and look pretty all that time? [Her tone is appalled as she glances up at him in dismay for a moment before laughing and laying her head back down on his shoulder.]

No, I think I can safely say that he has enough information to keep fully fixated on you for a while. [And her innocent face is back, because he doesn't know the half of it.

Natasha leans up and presses a kiss to his jaw, her gaze warm.] Just be careful, okay? I don't want to see you hurt. And there's fewer places to hide bodies around here.

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