MC4A

Fill 8
Prompt: 3B (Love)
Representations: Clint Barton; Natasha Romanoff; Phil Coulson; Triad; Sleep
Bonus Challenges: Ladylike (Aggressive); Not a Lamp; White Dress; Demo (Three's Company; Unicorn)
Word Count: 311
Beta: Aya Diefair


A hand shot out to grab the pillow just before it hit the sleeping man's face. Natasha grinned at him and nodded in approval. She liked to check his reflexes after he returned from a mission. He did the same to her. The ritual had started when they were freelancing together (Clint on the run from SHIELD after disobeying orders to take out Black Widow, and Natasha slowly being convinced to at least meet Clint's awesome handler who just told Clint to not die when he skedaddled with a notorious assassin).

"Start building," Natasha ordered quietly, throwing more pillows at him with her usual accuracy (Clint catching them with his).

Clint did as he was told and the two agents started silently building up the pillows against the chairs sitting around the patch of floor for this precise reason. Blankets were retrieved from the Fort Box to drape over the chair backs to create a den. The man in the middle did not stir even as he was rolled onto the cushy duvet and pillow; he was far too exhausted from his run of sleepless nights and knew he was in a safe place.

With the fort done, they crawled into it and curled against the sleeping Phil Coulson. Phil sighed contentedly in his sleep and reached out to pull the man in front of him closer as Natasha snuggled into his back. It wasn't often they had time to make a pillow fort and sleep in it, but they always took the opportunity when it came up.

It was easy to sleep in their fort. The various traps and security measures around their home were set, the padding blocked out the noise from outside, but didn't block it so much that they wouldn't be aware if danger approached, and they were surrounded by the comforting presence of their chosen partners.