Author's Note: And here is Why… 6. More fluffy nonsense from Clint and Cayden. Multi-chapter. Have done the first five chapters and am half way through chapter six so hopefully I won't keep you waiting.

Please note the series was started before Captain America: The Winter Soldier came out and I will not be working in any of those events. We will catch up here with the last chapter in Why Tony Should Not Interfere With Clint's Love Life which I will be replacing. The overall plot will remain – I'm just taunting Tony a bit.

Chronological order of Why series (at time of posting):

Why Clint Has Never Tried It On With Natasha

Why Tony Should Not Interfere With Clint's Love Life

Why Doctor Poole Gave Agent Barton An Extra Check Up

Why Natasha Is Allowed To Interfere With Clint's Love Life

Why Thor Is Responsible For Cayden Getting a Little TLC

Why Steve Did Not Need To Try the Subtle Approach

Warnings: Clint/OMC. That means Clint is gay. If that's not your cup of tea then please don't read.

Disclaimer: Don't have anything to do with Marvel and their wonderful play-land of creations … sigh…

Why Steve Did Not Need To Try the Subtle Approach

Chapter 1

Clint glanced at his watch as he begun the climb up the stairs towards Cayden's apartment. He was five minutes or so early but the doctor should have finished his shift over an hour ago and be waiting for him anyway. Heading along the landing he started on the next set of stairs, brow furrowing slightly as he felt his cell phone buzz in his pocket. Pulling it out his frown deepened as he found a message from Cayden.

Sorry, running late. Just leaving. Be there in 15

Clint rolled his eyes, quickly typing back ok, just here, see you soon before shoving the cell phone back in his pocket. Cayden had only returned to work two days before following his knee injury and he was supposed to be taking it easy. Not that Clint was surprised at all – this was why he had suggested ordering food in after the two of them were both in the apartment and not just pick have Clint pick something up on his way.

The archer climbed the last of the stairs and made his way along the hall to Cayden's door, dropping his rucksack and slumping to the ground, leaning against the wall. Bringing his knees up Clint rested his elbows on them and leant his head back and closed his eyes, not paying the blindest bit of attention to the sound of a nearby door opening. This was not the first time he had found himself waiting for the other man after a later than expected shift…

x-x-x

Cayden practically jumped out of his jeep, pushing the door shut quickly and locking the car over his shoulder as he made his way toward his apartment block. He started to run up the stairs but quickly stopped as he felt a twinge in his leg. Inhaling deeply and muttering a curse under his breath he climbed the stairs at a more sensible speed. The last thing he needed was a lecture about overdoing it on his first days back at work. As it was he probably had overdone it and Clint was more than likely going to notice at some point during the night… He was getting good at noticing things like that…

Climbing the last of the stairs Cayden turned into the hallway and stopped, eyebrow arching at the sight that greeted him.

"Good evening Mrs Sanders," Cayden offered the woman standing talking to Clint a smile as he stepped toward the two, thankful he recognised her and remembered her name from meeting her briefly as he had been moving in. Clint – who had been standing with his back mostly to the stairwell – looked over his shoulder with a blend of relief and a glower. The woman he was talking to returned a small smile.

"And here is the elusive doctor in person," she commented as Clint pulled a face, taking a step back and turning so his back was not longer to Cayden, giving the doctor a pointed look as he did so. "I was just saying to your… friend here that you've barely been seen around here since you moved in."

"Well you know… being a doctor ain't exactly nine to five," he smiled as he moved towards the door, twirling his set of keys to select the right one. "Speaking of which it's been a long day – you're going to have to excuse us."

"Oh, of course," the woman forced a smile and stepped back, giving a small nod as she turned to head on down the corridor. Cayden grinned as he unlocked the door and felt Clint step up behind him, head falling against his shoulder with an exasperated sigh.

"So you've met one of my neighbours then?" the doctor smirked, pushing the door open and gesturing for Clint to step through. The archer pulled a face and complied.

"I got the Spanish Inquisition from one of your neighbours," he corrected. "She was asking me everything…"

"Everything?" Cayden arched an eyebrow, dropping his bag on the sofa and shrugging off his jacket, collapsing onto the other sofa.

"Everything," Clint repeated, dumping his own bag next to Cayden's and clambering on next to the doctor. "She wanted to know if you were really a doctor, what department you worked in, where you're from, if you have family, who the hell I was – you know I've been spotted right? Apparently your building has been abuzz with chatter about the mysterious man visiting the mysterious doctor…" the archer punched Cayden in the chest as the doctor laughed before he buried his head in the same spot with another sigh. "Damn you for being late."

Cayden chuckled again, shrugging absently.

"Sorry?" he smirked, earning a snort from Clint. "So what did you tell her?"

Clint raised his head and grinned at the other man.

"I told her you were an assassin and I was your handler."

Cayden laughed out loud, shaking his head.

"Well that will have helped endear us to the building, thank you darlin'," he rolled his eyes. Clint just shrugged.

"Given how when she first approached me she commented I was the elusive doctor's friend and given the face she pulled I think she knows exactly who I am."

Cayden rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, that's the kind of tone my mother uses…" he mumbled. Clint's eyebrow arched as the doctor's face screwed up.

"Is she really that bad?" he asked, running a hand over Cayden's shoulder as he scoffed.

"The first thing she asks when I call her is if I'm getting enough sleep and eating right. The second is if I have a girlfriend yet."

"Really?" Clint screwed up his nose. Cayden sighed quietly and shrugged.

"Anyway. Don't know about you but I'm starving."

Clint nodded and moved to clamber off the sofa.

"I could eat…" he agreed, making his way through to the kitchen and retrieving the stack of take-away menus the doctor kept in the drawer. Returning to the lounge he slumped down next to Cayden and dropped them on his lap. Cayden chuckled dryly as he flicked through them.

"This is something Mom would not approve of," he muttered, waving the stack at Clint. Pulling a smile onto his lips he turned to the archer. "Maybe I could cook something for us tomorrow evening? From scratch?"

Clint's brows furrowed slightly.

"Oh… eh Tony's having one of his movie nights – he found out that Steve still hasn't watched the Lord of the Rings movies so he's wanting everyone round at about two," the archer pursed his lips slightly. "Sorry. I know you have a day off…"

"Hey…it's ok," Cayden shrugged, forcing a smile as he bit back a swell of disappointment. "I guess I'm just going to have to make the most of you while I have you then, eh?"