The problem was, it wasn't just a crush.
"I thought I was the one who was supposed to swoon and be the damsel in distress" Natasha teased, slicing the frog with what was far too much precision in Clint's opinion.
"I'm not squeamish" Clint responded tersely, "I'd just rather not have to butcher Kermit".
Natasha smirked. "I'll do the labor, you write up the notes".
"Deal" Clint said and began arranging the papers that were cluttered around their shared desk.
"Why is it always frogs?'' Clint mused "Is it just for the sake of clichés and scenes in bad teenage romance stories?"
"They represent the typical vertebrate anatomy, " Natasha answered, and Clint didn't have to look up to know she was smiling. "And it weeds out the weak in every Bio class".
"I don't damsel well. Distress, I can do. Damseling? Not so much."
The teacher then called for the attention of the class and Clint redirected his gaze towards him.
He was two weeks in to the school year. He didn't have any relationships platonic or otherwise, outside of Phil. But there was one he really, really wanted.
Phil's garbled and paranoid warnings did nothing to lessen Clint's interest in Natasha. Aside from the fact that she was beautiful, she was funny. And smart. They laughed and joked together. And she didn't recoil at the sight of him. In fact, Clint would even go as far as to say she liked him.
The class began to pack up at the sound of the bell and Clint handed Natasha her books from his side of the desk.
"Well im glad you were here to save me from a horrible turn of events. I'll be sure to call should I find myself in distress and I can't possibly survive without you".
The corners of her mouth curled up in amusement. "Is this your idea of hitting on me Piss pants?"
His eyes widened in surprise-he hadn't meant it the way it came out. "No, I, um…no."
The mirth didn't leave her expression as she rose from her seat. "That's a shame," she said casually as she departed the room.
Maybe, just maybe she liked him.
"You should have gone for it Barton" the teacher called from two desks away where he was clearing up some equipment.
Clint blinked and looked around, realizing he was the only student left in the room, and he hurried of to his next class.
"I've never actually been on a date," Clint confessed to Phil as they set their lunch trays down. "I've never actually done anything with a girl, not even kiss one as a toddler". He left out the fact that it was because not even toddlers were interested in the snivelly orphan kid.
Phil glared at him but said nothing, shoving a forkful of mashed potatoes in his mouth.
"Phil? Were you listening to me? I swear, she flirted with me!''.
"She's baiting you" Phil hissed. "In to her web, so she and her brothers can feast on you. Like a spider. She's the Black Widow and you're the fly!''
Clint stared at him wordlessly and Phil looked away sheepishly.
"Not exaggerating'' he mumbled.
Clint looked over to where Natasha was sitting with two of her friends, a blonde named Virginia who everyone called Pepper and a brunette whose name he didn't know.
"Her web is worth getting caught in" he said. Then he frowned. "Fuck that was sappy. Don't repeat that. It was a crap line".
It was another week before he actually built up the courage to do anything. Rather than grasp for an opening in the middle their Biology lecture, he waited for her after school.
"Hey'' he called out from where he was waiting as he caught sight of her. "Nat! Wait up!''
She turned to face him and smiled when she saw it was he. She began walking towards him.
"Hey" she said when she reached him. "In distress again?''
Clint grinned and stood up straight, squaring his shoulders. He was going to be confident. Girls liked confident.
"You like me" he blurted out. Well fuck.
She raised an eyebrow at him. "It's normal to like guys who seem to like you''.
"Huh" Clint said, "Do a lot of guys seem to like you?"
She merely grinned at him in response.
"Ok. Well…since I'm apparently vying for a place here…what are you looking for?''
" I'm sixteen. Cheap thrills, mostly," she said teasingly.
"I could be that. And more" Fuck he was just on fire today, wasn't he?
Natasha gave him a demure smile. "This sounds like a job interview". She looked behind her as a black car drove up. "I have to go or I'll be late for my martial arts class" she turned to him again. ''Why don't you meet at the park at five o'clock for a walk and we'll see if you're fit for the job?''
"The job of cheap thrills, or more?''
"Up to you'' she called to him as she walked away smiling.
For the first time since entering the desolate town, Clint went home wearing a smile and with a skip in his step.
"Ok. So…I've heard things."
Natasha blinked. "About me?"
"About what could happen to me if I ask you out".
"Ah". Natasha smiled. "Phil told you about my brothers. And you never did ask me out. I had to take initiative. Again".
"Well I have to know what I'm getting in to'' he answered jokingly. "How many people do I have to get through to court the fair Lady Natasha?''
Natasha scowled. "My opinion is the only one that matters. It's the twenty-first century. And you move fast, talking about meeting my family when you haven't even officially asked me out yet''.
Clint stops walking abruptly. "Natasha. Will you do the honor of continuing this walk in the park with me, and considering it a date?''
Natasha mock gasped and grabbed both his hands. "Yes, yes a thousand times yes!"
They both grinned at each other and then carried on walking. This time with their hands entwined.
"Five'' she told him abruptly.
"What?''
''I have five brothers. Thor is in his last year of college, but he still lives with us since he isn't far from us. Steve is in his first year of college, but he still lives at home and goes to the same college as Thor. Bruce and Tony are fraternal twins and they're eighteen but they're home schooled, cos they're kind of geniuses. And Bucky is Steve's best friend, but we've practically adopted him since his family moved away and he stayed for college and he pretty much lives with us. He's been around all my life. And then there's my Uncle Nick. There is a lot of testosterone in my family".
"You have a brother named Thor?"
"His real name is Donald. But we call him Thor because when I was younger I though that when he walked around he sounded like thunder. He's huge and rowdy. And you know. Because his real name is Donald."
"Huh. Interesting" Clint said. He didn't mention the absence of her parents in the picture. "A big family. Sounds…nice?"
Natasha snorted. "You wont be meeting them for a while.''
Clint gripped her hand. "I know it sounds insane that we're talking as though I'm going to need the blessing of your family. But I like you Nat. And I'm not sure I believe in all that crap about young love or love at first sight, but I have a feeling I'm going to be meeting your family sooner than you think. For whatever reason you want to call it, I don't see us not working out. I really really like you.''
He heard rather than saw the smile in her voice when she answered "Its not insane. I get it. I really really like you too".