a cup of kindness yet
rating: g
characters: Clint Barton, Natasha Romanoff
author's note: Title and summary from Auld Lang Syne.
summary: But we've wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne. The comedown from a mission, in something as simple as a mug of tea.
a cup of kindness yet
The door swings open and Clint enters cautiously, sitting down gently on the corner of the safe house bed. He sets the chipped floral tray across her blanket-covered legs, making sure the tumbler of orange juice doesn't tip over, and offers her the tea in his other hand.
"Brought you something," he says, keeping his gaze on the gun-metal gray mug. He is being careful; good. She stares at him for a long moment before she leans the extra inch forward and takes the steaming drink from him, her fingertips settling onto the glazed porcelain and purposefully avoiding contact.
She has to be careful, too.
Holding onto bits of herself like she grasps the warm mug, Natalia - Natasha draws the mug closer, never looking away from him. She licks her lips, tongue running over cracks that no longer bleed and cuts that have begun to heal, and finds her voice.
"Thank you."
He glances up then, a hint of a smile quirking his lips.
"Welcome back."
"How'd you know?" She asks wryly, almost – almost – in jest.
"Well, the fact that I wasn't brained by the mug was a good sign..."
She nearly grins, too tired to do anything more, and considers at the peace offering.
Natalia doesn't drink tea; she doesn't believe in its medicinal properties. Natasha does. But as she traces the rim of the mug with her fingertip, she knows that the healing isn't in the drink; it's who you share it with.
fin