AN: All my random Winterhawk headcanons, for whatever universe, mostly unrelated. This chapter will be updated on its own, so check up on it from time to time ;-)
Headcanons
1. For a deaf!Clint Winterhawk universe.
Before Clint got hearing aids, Bucky used to sing around the apartment. He'd tell Clint how the others sometimes praised his voice, how he'd been encouraged to consider being a choirboy by one of the orphanage nuns back before the war, and Clint would secretly imagine Bucky singing to him. Then, when he finally does get the aids, he overhears Bucky singing in the kitchen; the first thing he says that morning is "You're a dirty liar, Barnes. And a dream-ruiner."
(This is just one of my Winterhawk 'verses - in most of them, Bucky's singing is pretty good and no-one has a problem with it on the off-chance they ever hear him.)
2. For a deaf!Clint Winterhawk 'verse again.
Sometimes, in the mornings, Bucky asks Clint if he'd like pancakes for breakfast - at least, he thinks he does. Clint decides not to tell him that he's got the gesture for 'pancake' wrong, because what he actually signs is much more amusing, and that's why he smiles whenever Bucky asks. Though he loves the pancakes, too.
Sadly, I don't know ASL well enough to be able to say what Bucky actually signs… :-(
3. Bucky and Clint have found the perfect way to wind Tony up. It starts over breakfast one morning, when in a moment of silence Bucky randomly says "One-hundred and seventy-eight" to Clint, who nods and carries on with his coffee. Tony asks what he means, but Bucky just shrugs and says "Nothing important," then leaves.
Later, as they're gathering for a movie night, Clint turns to Bucky and says "Two-hundred and three." Bucky scowls at him. Tony tries to ask what they're talking about again but Natasha glares at him because the movie's starting and he'd like to get through one screening with her unscathed.
This continues for weeks: Clint and Bucky randomly exchange numbers whenever they see each other, sometimes twice a day, and Tony cannot get a straight answer about it from them. "You're talking in code, aren't you?" he guesses. "That's what you assassin-spies do. What are you coding about? And does it involve me? It better not involve me. If it does you'll regret it, and then Steve'll try and make me regret making you two regret, and he might actually succeed and that's just too much regret." Bucky and Clint simply look at each other, raise an eyebrow, smirk, and say, "Nothing to do with you Stark."
"So it's a code - what for?" Of course, neither answers him, and he spends even more time trying to work out what they're up to. The numbers vary, but rarely exceed three digits. Sometimes Bucky gives the higher number, sometimes Clint. Sometimes one will say it in the morning, with the other replying later on, and sometimes they say them at the same time. Occasionally it happens on missions. Tony can't work it out (nor why no-one else seems bothered by it) but declares he won't rest until he finds out what Sniper One and Sniper Two are plotting. "Alright Pepper, I'll take naps, just for you and Steve. But between the naps I won't rest."
In reality, it's just their scores from target practise - or how many enemies they take out in a mission. It just amuses them to see Tony sweat. And there may be a few bucks riding on how long it takes the genius billionaire to figure it out.
4. Winterhawk in a Hogwarts AU.
It's no secret, thanks to a certain frosty-natured Slytherin, that Clint Barton is a Muggle-born and not the best when it comes to spells and potions. He shouldn't let it get to him - after all, he has a great group of friends spanning all the houses who couldn't give a damn about his aptitude in class or his family background - but the spiteful word (that shall not be mentioned here) still rings loud after three years of having it thrown his way, and sometimes he needs a break from this world.
Nobody knows where Clint goes to skip lessons and human contact - nobody except one Bucky Barnes, who worked out that the Hufflepuff tower facing the school on the Quidditch pitch offered the best view of the grounds during their second year. When he finds Clint, he asks him for stories about growing up in a Muggle circus, and for however long Clint talks Bucky can't take his eyes off him; and if he had to give up a limb to make Clint's face light up the way they do when he rambles on like this, hands and arms helping describe every action and interaction mentioned, Bucky thinks he'd do it in a heartbeat.
And as easy as it is to take that back when you're scraping owl droppings from the Owlery floor because Filch went and snitched on you as you were sneaking back into the school, Bucky really does mean it. Clint tells him he's being idiotic instead of saying that nobody's ever expressed their love for him in such a way before. Not that he needs to: it's written on his face.
5. Who cooks: Mostly Bucky, because Clint's culinary skills have only ever needed to be 'microwave this' and 'stick that in the oven' - and that's when he remembers.
Who does the laundry and other chores: They each take care of their own laundry, and the rule is 'See the chore, do the chore'. Bucky tends to be cleaner, though.
How many children do they have: None. Theirs isn't a life that lends itself to families, and after one day of babysitting Danielle Cage they both agreed they weren't the best when it came to looking after kids.
Who's more dominant: Neither really. They take turns when it comes to sex, but the idea of submission doesn't sit well with them (for various reason).
Favorite nonsexual activity: Chilling down at the shooting range. Especially when there are new recruits doing target practise (which is also, coincidentally, the only time they'll go bow against rifle; every other mini contest has the same set-up for both man).
Their favorite place to be together: The couch, in front of the TV if not down on the range. It feels just that little bit more secure than a bed, and has the added bonus of Dog Cops on demand.
Any traditions: Birthday sex They have dinner with Steve and Natasha at least once a month; also, if one of them lands themselves in S.H.I.E.L.D Medical, it's the other guy's duty to bust him out. And, of course, Dog Cops Night, during which they catch up on however many episodes they've missed.
Their "song": Bruce Springsteen's 'Dancing in the Dark'. It's a song they both connect to, but it's not so depressing that Clint can't try a few dance moves while Bucky laughs at him.
What they do for each other on holidays: Record Dog Cops. Dog Cops Night depends on it. And, as holidays are usually actually recovery periods, they try to make sure nobody tears out their stitching.
Where did they go for their honeymoon: Unmarried, so no honeymoon, and neither of them have the desire to travel - it's part of their job, after all (and chances are someone will recognise them from this mission or that mission. Many places in Europe are no-go zones).
Where did they first meet: In a S.H.I.E.L.D holding cell. Clint had been sent to retrieve Steve (who was adamant he be allowed to keep Bucky company until he was cleared) for Fury, and Steve had asked him to take his place; when Bucky had woken up, Clint had said "Nice bed hair, Barnes," and thrown paper aeroplane number seventeen into formation at the other end of the cell (a giant 'H').
Any pets: Lucky, when Kate has dog-unfriendly things to do. Bucky cares about him more than he lets on, and secretly disapproves of the whole pizza gig.
What do they fight over: Team missions often lead to arguments, especially when one of them has attempted something "utterly stupid", and sometimes a bad day at the office coincides with a bad night's sleep and tiny things become major issues that they both regret the morning after (very rarely, Natasha has to knock their heads together and remind them to not be idiots).
Do they go on vacations, if so where: They were once dragged invited to Asgard, which they both thoroughly enjoyed. Apparently. Otherwise, as already mentioned, out-of-state travelling can be a risky business, and the job is plenty scenic itself.
6. High School AU. Love the High School AU.
On Clint's eighteenth birthday, Bucky brings him home for some birthday sexytimes while his parents are still at work - it's the first time Clint's ever been to Bucky's, so they're both pretty excited. Bucky runs ahead to make sure his room is as he wanted it to be, with Clint's present and card in view, sexy stuff hidden but reachable when the time comes, and no dirty laundry stinking the place out (he can deal with his suspicious mom later). Satisfied, he goes downstairs again only to find Clint isn't where he left him; slightly panicked, he runs into the living room to find Becca grilling his boyfriend in a painfully thorough session of Twenty Questions, and she won't leave them alone until she's asked all twenty.
Later, after Clint has to go, Bucky's ready to argue with her about it, but before he can get a word in edgeways Becca tells him Clint is perfect for him, and she's very happy they're dating one another. Giving him a hug, she even says she'll put up with the fondueing (a phrase she picked up from a young Steve some years ago), then goes to bed before Bucky can formulate words. Clint, when he receives the approval message, breathes a sigh of relief and confesses he'd never thought to be worried about meeting his boyfriend's sister. Both of them agree, though, that it went far better than when Bucky inadvertently met Barney, a mildly traumatic experience Clint is still reminded of daily by boyfriend and brother.
(No, I am not referring to chapter 21 here. Sorry!)
7. Bucky Barnes snuggles.
He will deny it from the offset, but Bucky Barnes is a snuggler. Clint knows from experience. (Hell, so does his dog!) Whether it's on the couch or in the bed, Bucky will quite happily just plaster himself to Clint's side and stay there until he falls asleep, Clint's need to use the bathroom be damned. There isn't even an overarching reason why, from what Clint can tell - Bucky just likes to snuggle. Clint would protest, especially if he wants coffee, he's not in the comfiest position himself, or Bucky's buried his nose in a fairly ticklish spot, but why would he when a) he sort of likes the closeness, b) he doesn't want to disrupt Bucky's little moment, and c) it's kind of cute seeing the world's deadliest assassin snuggle. He just wishes the others would believe him when he blurts it out one evening.
(Lucky is the Clint-substitute, and has no problem being encouraged to sprawl out over the couch for hugs and strokes and sometimes nice little scratches along his neck or behind his ear. Of course, it's a secret kept between just them - so Clint's feelings aren't hurt, of course - and in return for acting as a breathing stuffed toy behind his master's back, Bucky doesn't stop Clint from feeding Lucky that most marvellous of foods: pizza.)
8. Small Winterhawk Things
Like Clint waking up with a huge red stripe down his face from where he'd been sleeping against Bucky's shoulder, half-on half-off the metal plate.
Bucky swapping the sugar for salt before Clint makes his morning coffee (and getting JARVIS to take a photo of the resulting Death Glare).
Falling asleep on the couch for the whole night - because they both know the value of uninterrupted sleep, and as trained snipers, discomfort isn't a bother.
Clint getting bored during debrief and sexting Bucky - who is already in the room.
Bucky training Lucky to bring Clint an arrow every time someone says "arrow" and not telling Clint how the dog even knows where the quiver is, let alone how he can reach the top of the wardrobe to get it (Lucky doesn't; Bucky hides arrows under the dog bed for this exact purpose).
Both of them arguing over the best Dog Cops character. Every episode. (Natasha now turns off her phone whenever the show airs.)
Y'know. Small things.
9. Maybe Clint's one of those people who likes to talk during TV shows or films - y'know, a comment about a character's behaviours here or a snide remark about the implausibility of such-and-such happening there, and he's often being shushed by the others (Steve Rogers, if you'll remember, did not appreciate people talking over the pre-movie news reel back in the day). So he learns to zip it, and keep his hilarious witticisms to himself. The others are just going to have to miss out.
Except he notices, on a few occasions, that Bucky has similar reactions in similar moments. He'll scoff at ridiculous lines, roll his eyes when something ridiculously absurd happens, and the way he complains about parts he didn't like afterwards delights Clint because he, too, wanted to say all that. And it's one more reason he and Bucky are together, right? Only it gets better.
During one movie night, with an action film on the go, Clint literally feels Bucky sighing in his lap. He looks down, and Bucky looks back up at him, expression saying 'Seriously?' And Clint, feeling the same way, grins back and goes to say what he's thinking - except he knows he can't, because it'll annoy the others. But he has to get this off his chest (because how else are he and Bucky going to appreciate the bad bits?), and so he resorts to doing the next best thing: he signs, right above Bucky's face.
And Bucky signs back.
They develop the habit throughout every subsequent TV episode and/or film the team watches together. They can have a whole conversation about the stupidity of Character A's dialogue, or the probability of the car rolling that many times, or why a different weapon would be better used in a particular scenario - and all anyone else knows about it is that, occasionally, one or both of them will laugh or groan or snort, but as long as they're not talking over what's showing, nobody really minds.
In other words: Clint and Bucky hold ASL conversations with each other through the bad films they aren't 'allowed' to talk over.