Big thanks to my Beta reader, PansyParkinslut. And the dialogue at the end, I borrowed the idea from this lovely post, so credit goes to her 3
Disclaimer: I do not own anything Marvel related, unless you could my merchandise ;)
It dropped like a complete bomb. No one saw it coming. No one could have seen it coming.
Natasha walked out of the mission debriefing with Clint by her side, as usual. She barely even paid attention to how close he stood. It was naturally now, the way they stood close together 90% of the time when they weren't on a mission. She used to hate to close proximity all the time, just because it felt natural, not forced, even then. Even when she didn't know him. It was still as natural now, but she'd grown fond of it in a way.
The pair rounded the corner and came face to face with a frazzled looking Steve, a smile half turned on his lips and hair mussed up like he'd been sleeping on a couch for too long. His whole appearance screamed "just-slept-on-a-couch-all-night".
"Agent Barton, Romanoff." He gave them each a nod of his head. Natasha was surprised, he usually addressed them by their first name, and she easily noticed the smile that he was trying to suppress as he spoke to them.
"Where ya off ta Cap?" Clint asked before Natasha had the chance to ask him herself. Steve usually found them first and asked how the mission went, inquiring if they wanted to do something, playing cards, watching a movie, and so on. The three of them had grown reasonably close, she supposed.
"Uh…" This caught the assassins' attentions. Steve wasn't one to lie, but that didn't mean he wasn't incapable. He let out a soft sigh, the edges of a smile still tugging at the corners. "Well a recent comrade of mine was brought into SHIELD and they're getting ready to release him today. I promised I'd be there." His eyes had a certain sparkle to them that Natasha couldn't recognize. "It's Bucky."
Clint was the first to react of the two, recovering quicker from the minor confusion. "That's great Cap!" He said with a clap on the back. The assassin had already joined his friend in grinning from ear to ear while Natasha stay reluctantly quiet. It took her a moment to fully process everything before reacting, a smile forming on her lips.
"I'm happy for you, Steve." She kept it simple, not too overly dramatic, nothing of the sort to be honest. She might have been happy for the guy, but she wouldn't let that show so much. It didn't feel right, showing emotion. It simply felt like a weakness. Steve nodded fervidly. He bounded off to go find his friend, leaving Natasha and Clint to their peace.
"It's good for him." Clint said after a little while. "To have a friend. One from his own time, it'll be a connection to the closet thing he 'ver had for a home." It was amazing how a bunch of people who never knew meaning to the word home could find it with each other the way the avengers did in the mansion. Natasha nodded.
"I think I'm going to turn in for the night." Natasha yawned, stretching out her limbs. She looked over at Clint, lifting a brow. "What about you?" She asked lightly. His usual mischievous smirk rose to his lips.
"I dunno yet, darling. Why so curious?" He drawled out. The archer walked around to stand behind Natasha. He ran his fingertips up her arm, resting his head on her shoulder. "Is there something you needed me for?" He whispered, pulling back to brush his lips over the nape of her neck.
Shivers and goose bumps were sent across her skin with each breath he inhaled and exhaled. "I don't need anyone." She said breathily. Clint chuckled behind her, laying fresh kisses across her skin. "Fuck it." She growled spinning around to grab him, wrapping her hand around his neck, pulling his lips to hers.
Natasha woke up the next morning before Clint. He was in another one of his famous "deep sleeps". They were rare, especially after New York and Loki, but somehow, when she slept by his side, he fell into the sleep easier. Natasha slipped out of the bed, tip-toeing lightly about the room trying to find her various articles of clothing. At best she slipped her panties back on, as well as her bra, but as for her pants and shirt, Natasha had no idea where they'd disappeared.
She grabbed one of Clint's faded grey t-shirts and tugged it on. She walked casually to the kitchen. The mansion was filled with early risers, but Natasha knew every schedule of the home's residents. Clint and herself had the next couple days off until their next mission; Bruce was going to see Tony at Stark tower; Thor was seeing Jane for possibly the sixth time this month; and undoubtedly Steve would be busy with his friend.
Turning the water on for coffee and grabbing the eggs Natasha started on her way to making the two of them breakfast. She enjoyed cooking. It wasn't something she got to do often, but when she did, it reminded her how much she missed it. She wasn't an amazing chef; Clint probably cooked better than her, but eggs – eggs she could make.
She finished plating the eggs on a plate, running a hand through her hair. With a sigh, she grabbed the plate and cups of coffee, turning to make her way back to Clint's room. But as she made her way down the hall, she stopped, tilting her head to the side as she saw someone approaching. Biting her bottom lip she prepared herself to make excuses, but knew it would be futile. But to her surprise, the person that rounded the corner would have been the last on her list to see.
One of the coffee mugs tumbled aimlessly from her hands, shattering against the floor. "J-James?" She stumbled. And sure enough, when the man with dark chocolate hair looked up at her, she was met with the brown eyes that melted her n the inside, just like she remembered.
"Tasha?" Clint slurred as he stepped out of his room, rubbing his eyes lightly. As soon as he noticed her staring at the man in a soldier clad, he wrinkled his nose and frowned. Taking minimal strides to reach her side. The man was gazing at her in completely confusion and desire.
"Na-" He started but frowned, the frustration obvious in his face. "Do I know you?" He breathed out after a moment.
His fingers moved reflexively, drumming away on the table to fill a silence that had never been awkward before. Clint had been sitting patiently by her side for a few hours. Neither of them really moved from the spot at the table.
Natasha had been brought in, Fury talked to her alone - refusing to let Clint anywhere near the area until he was done with her. Then the two quietly walked back and sat down at the conference table.
"So who is he?" Clint finally tugged from his lips, edging out the question that had been itching in the back of his mind since she'd seen him. The New Soldier. Who did the guy think he was anyway? Staring at Natasha like that. Clint had to suppress the protective growl that grew in his chest.
"It doesn't matter." Her voice was deadly silent, cold and decisive. "He doesn't remember anyway." Sure he didn't now, Clint thought, but soon enough he would. Everyone in the damn labs did, god he hated 'em SHIELD scientists.
"Look, M'not trying to pry, Tasha, and I know you can take care of yourself…." He looked away from her, glancing at the door. Waiting - no, hoping, someone would come in and stop him from continuing to talk. "But if there's something wrong, you can tell me. I'm your partner."
"So was he."