The debrief took nearly four hours and as time went on Clint was getting more and more angry. Fischer's mistakes were being thrust onto him. He was being questioned on slip-ups that were because of the other agent and why the mission took so long. He only had so much patience and it was running out fast. He was trying to be as politically correct as he could rather than telling the truth bluntly.
Just as his hand balled into a fist and he was about to tell everything that the other agent had done on the assignment he felt a calming presence in his mind. Erica. His hand relaxed and he sat back in his chair, sighing before getting down to the nitty gritty.
"Agent Fischer was no help on this mission," he stated, happy that Erica had soothed him so that they would listen to his assessment rather than just thinking he was lashing out. "I could have done the same mission in half the time had she not been there. Honestly, the past four missions I've been on with her have been impeded by her presence. She needs to get better fast if I'm to work with her again."
Erica smiled as she listened to Clint's reasoning. His anger had washed over her like a fifty-foot wave. She usually shielded herself from reading people's thoughts and emotions, but she couldn't uphold that rule when Clint was this close. Half-way around the globe she could still sense that he was alive, but that was about it. But if he was anywhere in New York she could read him loud and clear.
Once Clint's meeting ended her went straight to the diner and hugged Erica just after she put a plate down in front of another agent. "Thank you," was all he said.
She smiled, "Of course, no one listens to someone when they're yelling." She tipped her head as she glanced him over, he looked even more haggard than he had when she'd seen him earlier. She wasn't sure he'd make it home on his motorcycle like this. "Go upstairs and lay down," she murmured quietly, "You look like shit," she added with a smirk.
Erica was good at her job and the agents that came in all usually ordered the same thing they always did so she had become accustomed to starting making orders as soon as she saw who walked in. However, today was a nice break from the same old thing. Not that she didn't like what she did, but it wasn't always very exciting. But today she had Clint's dreams to entertain her.
Once she had closed for the night she made Clint breakfast in bed for the two of them. It was still night, but she had a policy, only breakfast was allowed in bed.
She went up to her apartment and set the tray on the bedside table. Honestly, she was surprised that he was still asleep; his mission must have been harder than she originally thought.
Erica sat on the bed next to the sleeping man, noting how peaceful he looked as she stroked fingers gently through his hair.
She heard a tiny mumble that sounded like 'bacon' and looked down to find the agent stirring, immediately taking her fingers away.
"I thought I lost you there for a minute," Erica teased.
"Bullshit," Clint mumbled, "I know what you can do, remember."
"Maybe your heart stopped there for a bit and I actually thought you were dead, huh!"
Clint rolled his eyes and stretched, yawning as he relaxed again. "Did I smell…" Before he could say the word Erica was already holding a piece of bacon out for him. "You are a goddess," he sighed blissfully as he took the first bite.
"Demi-goddess," Erica corrected for what must be the ten-thousandth time.
Clint's response was instinctual, "So picky."
Erica had to swat Clint's hand out of the way when he reached for the last piece of bacon, "This meal is for both of us."
Clint let out a pathetic little whine and Erica rolled her eyes, "If you get the last piece of bacon I get all the strawberries."
Clint whined again and took a long minute trying to decide, bacon and strawberries were his favorite. Finally he reached for the last piece of bacon and took a bite.
Erica smiled and started to eat the strawberries, glad that she got to have them since these had the added bonus of whipped cream.
"You have weird dreams," Erica commented.
"Um, what did I dream?"
"I don't think that matters. I think it's better than nightmares."
Clint nodded, "True."
Erica sighed, "You were extremely sleepy."
"Yeah and I'm still exhausted."
"Well, you can stay the night if you want," she offered.
Clint smiled, she was so amazing and he had deep feelings for her, but he was afraid that if he expressed his feelings it could ruin their friendship. But the prospect of sleeping in the bed next to her made his heart soar. "I'd really like that."
They finished their meal in comfortable silence. They spoke here and there, but they were comfortable enough with each other that the silence wasn't at all awkward.
When they had finished Erica took the tray to the kitchen in her apartment and began washing the dishes, joined by Clint as he dried the dishes for her.
As they were on the last few dishes a slow smile crept onto her lips, "You dreamt of me," she hummed.
Clint's eyes went wide and he dropped the plate in his hands, shattering it on the ground.
He immediately dropped down and began picking up the pieces.
Erica joined him and helped him clean up, "I liked it," she whispered.
Clint looked up, blushing, "You did?" he asked quietly.
She nodded, "Very much. I like to know that our feelings match," she whispered.
Clint's eyes went wide, "Th-they do?"
"They do."
"Oh, wow."
Erica leaned in and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips.
